Cover Page
Cover Page - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Feb. 25, 2022 | Jun. 30, 2021 | |
Cover [Abstract] | |||
Document Type | 10-K | ||
Document Annual Report | true | ||
Document Period End Date | Dec. 31, 2021 | ||
Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 | ||
Document Transition Report | false | ||
Entity File Number | 001-36376 | ||
Entity Registrant Name | 2U, INC. | ||
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code | DE | ||
Entity Tax Identification Number | 26-2335939 | ||
Entity Address, Address Line One | 7900 Harkins Road | ||
Entity Address, City or Town | Lanham, | ||
Entity Address, State or Province | MD | ||
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 20706 | ||
City Area Code | 301 | ||
Local Phone Number | 892-4350 | ||
Title of 12(b) Security | Common stock, $0.001 par value per share | ||
Trading Symbol | TWOU | ||
Security Exchange Name | NASDAQ | ||
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer | Yes | ||
Entity Voluntary Filers | No | ||
Entity Current Reporting Status | Yes | ||
Entity Interactive Data Current | Yes | ||
Entity Filer Category | Large Accelerated Filer | ||
Entity Small Business | false | ||
Entity Emerging Growth Company | false | ||
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag | true | ||
Entity Shell Company | false | ||
Entity Public Float | $ 2,169,673,643 | ||
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares) | 76,350,667 | ||
Documents Incorporated by Reference | Portions of the Company’s definitive proxy statement, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, for its 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, or an amendment on Form 10-K/A are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K. | ||
Entity Central Index Key | 0001459417 | ||
Amendment Flag | false | ||
Document Fiscal Year Focus | 2021 | ||
Document Fiscal Period Focus | FY | ||
Auditor Name | KPMG, LLP | ||
Auditor Location | McLean, VA |
Audit Information
Audit Information | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Audit Information [Abstract] | |
Auditor Location | McLean, VA |
Auditor Firm ID | 185 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Current assets | ||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 232,932 | $ 500,629 |
Restricted cash | 16,977 | 18,237 |
Accounts receivable, net | 67,287 | 46,663 |
Other receivables, net | 29,439 | 1,076 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 47,217 | 38,277 |
Total current assets | 393,852 | 604,882 |
Other receivables, net, non-current | 21,568 | 24,332 |
Property and equipment, net | 48,650 | 52,734 |
Right-of-use assets | 76,841 | 60,785 |
Goodwill | 834,539 | 415,830 |
Intangible assets, net | 665,523 | 312,770 |
Other assets, non-current | 68,033 | 72,931 |
Total assets | 2,109,006 | 1,544,264 |
Current liabilities | ||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 166,458 | 130,674 |
Deferred revenue | 91,926 | 75,493 |
Lease liability | 13,985 | 10,024 |
Other current liabilities | 61,138 | 21,178 |
Total current liabilities | 333,507 | 237,369 |
Long-term debt | 845,316 | 273,173 |
Deferred tax liabilities, net | 1,726 | 2,810 |
Lease liability, non-current | 98,666 | 83,228 |
Other liabilities, non-current | 636 | 6,694 |
Total liabilities | 1,279,851 | 603,274 |
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7) | ||
Stockholders’ equity | ||
Preferred stock, $0.001 par value, 5,000,000 shares authorized, none issued | 0 | 0 |
Common stock, $0.001 par value, 200,000,000 shares authorized, 75,754,663 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2021; 72,451,521 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2020 | 76 | 72 |
Additional paid-in capital | 1,735,628 | 1,646,574 |
Accumulated deficit | (890,638) | (695,872) |
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (15,911) | (9,784) |
Total stockholders’ equity | 829,155 | 940,990 |
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ 2,109,006 | $ 1,544,264 |
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Pa
Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract] | ||
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.001 | $ 0.001 |
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares) | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 |
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares) | 0 | 0 |
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share) | $ 0.001 | $ 0.001 |
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares) | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 |
Common stock, shares issued (in shares) | 75,754,663 | 72,451,521 |
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) | 75,754,663 | 72,451,521 |
Consolidated Statements of Oper
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Income Statement [Abstract] | |||
Revenue | $ 945,682 | $ 774,533 | $ 574,671 |
Costs and expenses | |||
Curriculum and teaching | 130,817 | 107,968 | 63,270 |
Servicing and support | 138,548 | 125,851 | 98,890 |
Technology and content development | 179,061 | 155,949 | 115,473 |
Marketing and sales | 456,096 | 390,174 | 342,395 |
General and administrative | 208,598 | 173,526 | 131,020 |
Impairment charge | 0 | 0 | 70,379 |
Total costs and expenses | 1,113,120 | 953,468 | 821,427 |
Loss from operations | (167,438) | (178,935) | (246,756) |
Interest income | 1,475 | 1,354 | 5,800 |
Interest expense | (51,222) | (27,317) | (13,419) |
Loss on debt extinguishment | (1,101) | (11,671) | 0 |
Other income (expense), net | 22,324 | (1,429) | (707) |
Loss before income taxes | (195,962) | (217,998) | (255,082) |
Income tax benefit | 1,196 | 1,514 | 19,860 |
Net loss | $ (194,766) | $ (216,484) | $ (235,222) |
Net income (loss) per share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ (2.61) | $ (3.22) | $ (3.83) |
Net loss per share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ (2.61) | $ (3.22) | $ (3.83) |
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic (in shares) | 74,580,115 | 67,142,976 | 61,393,666 |
Weighted-average shares used in computing net loss per share, diluted (in shares) | 74,580,115 | 67,142,976 | 61,393,666 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $0 for all periods presented | $ (6,127) | $ (2,980) | $ 1,710 |
Comprehensive loss | $ (200,893) | $ (219,464) | $ (233,512) |
Consolidated Statements of Op_2
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (Parenthetical) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Other comprehensive loss | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustments, tax | $ 0 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Consolidated Statement of Chang
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Total | Common Stock | Additional Paid-In Capital | Accumulated Deficit | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss |
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018 | 57,968,493 | ||||
Balance at Dec. 31, 2018 | $ 705,009 | $ 58 | $ 957,631 | $ (244,166) | $ (8,514) |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with business combination, net of offering costs (in shares) | 4,608,101 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with business combination, net of offering costs | 184,322 | $ 5 | 184,317 | ||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings (in shares) | 502,795 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings | (2,574) | (2,574) | |||
Exercise of stock options, net (in shares) | 361,134 | ||||
Exercise of stock options, net | 3,119 | $ 0 | 3,119 | ||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares) | 123,365 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 3,382 | 3,382 | |||
Issuance of common stock award (in shares) | 5,221 | ||||
Shares Issued, Value, Share-based Payment Arrangement, before Forfeiture | 0 | ||||
Stock-based compensation expense | 51,504 | 51,504 | |||
Net loss | (235,222) | (235,222) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | 1,710 | 1,710 | |||
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019 | 63,569,109 | ||||
Balance at Dec. 31, 2019 | 711,250 | $ 63 | 1,197,379 | (479,388) | (6,804) |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with a public offering of common stock, net of offering costs (in shares) | 6,800,000 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with a public offering of common stock, net of offering costs | 299,796 | $ 7 | 299,789 | ||
Equity component of convertible senior notes, net of issuance costs | 114,551 | 114,551 | |||
Purchases of capped calls in connection with convertible senior notes | (50,540) | (50,540) | |||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings (in shares) | 1,582,362 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings | (4,782) | $ 2 | (4,784) | ||
Exercise of stock options, net (in shares) | 353,480 | ||||
Exercise of stock options, net | 4,177 | $ 0 | 4,177 | ||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares) | 146,570 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 3,960 | $ 4,000 | 3,960 | ||
Stock-based compensation expense | 82,042 | 82,042 | |||
Net loss | (216,484) | (216,484) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | $ (2,980) | (2,980) | |||
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020 | 72,451,521 | 72,451,521 | |||
Balance at Dec. 31, 2020 | $ 940,990 | $ 72 | 1,646,574 | (695,872) | (9,784) |
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings (in shares) | 2,839,887 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with settlement of restricted stock units, net of withholdings | $ (18,780) | $ 4 | (18,784) | ||
Exercise of stock options, net (in shares) | 326,430 | 312,570 | |||
Exercise of stock options, net | $ 6,489 | 6,489 | |||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares) | 150,685 | ||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | 3,583 | $ 3,600 | 3,583 | ||
Stock-based compensation expense | 97,766 | 97,766 | |||
Net loss | (194,766) | (194,766) | |||
Foreign currency translation adjustment | $ (6,127) | (6,127) | |||
Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021 | 75,754,663 | 75,754,663 | |||
Balance at Dec. 31, 2021 | $ 829,155 | $ 76 | $ 1,735,628 | $ (890,638) | $ (15,911) |
Consolidated Statements of Cash
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Cash flows from operating activities | |||
Net loss | $ (194,766) | $ (216,484) | $ (235,222) |
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash (used in) provided by operating activities: | |||
Non-cash interest expense | 25,403 | 16,267 | 1,153 |
Depreciation and amortization expense | 108,448 | 96,469 | 69,843 |
Stock-based compensation expense | 97,766 | 82,042 | 51,504 |
Non-cash lease expense | 18,933 | 15,153 | 11,725 |
Loss on sublease | 4,845 | 0 | 0 |
Provision for credit losses | 8,036 | 4,642 | 1,425 |
Impairment charge | 0 | 0 | 70,379 |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 1,101 | 11,671 | 0 |
Gain on sale of investment | (27,762) | 0 | 0 |
Other | 2,515 | 1,443 | 1,982 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets and liabilities acquired: | |||
Accounts receivable, net | (31,756) | (17,877) | 11,949 |
Other receivables | (27,001) | (21,148) | (1,354) |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (7,467) | (5,230) | (27,166) |
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | 21,212 | 41,959 | 11,542 |
Deferred revenue | 9,388 | 26,061 | 10,014 |
Other liabilities, net | (26,969) | (5,364) | (29,748) |
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities | (18,074) | 29,604 | (51,974) |
Cash flows from investing activities | |||
Purchase of a business, net of cash acquired | (761,118) | (949) | (388,004) |
Additions of amortizable intangible assets | (60,546) | (62,784) | (64,923) |
Purchases of property and equipment | (9,788) | (6,517) | (13,421) |
Purchase of investments | (1,000) | 0 | (10,000) |
Proceeds from investments | 38,818 | 0 | 25,000 |
Advances made to university clients | 0 | 0 | (400) |
Advances repaid by university clients | 200 | 925 | 350 |
Net cash used in investing activities | (793,434) | (69,325) | (451,398) |
Cash flows from financing activities | |||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs | 0 | 299,796 | 0 |
Proceeds from debt | 569,477 | 371,681 | 244,724 |
Payments on debt | (4,334) | (837) | 0 |
Extinguishment of long-term facility | 0 | (250,000) | 0 |
Purchases of capped calls in connection with issuance of convertible senior notes | 0 | (50,540) | 0 |
Prepayment premium on extinguishment of senior secured term loan facility | 0 | (2,528) | 0 |
Payment of debt issuance costs | (11,575) | (3,419) | (1,953) |
Tax withholding payments associated with settlement of restricted stock units | (18,780) | (4,784) | (2,574) |
Proceeds from exercise of stock options | 6,489 | 4,177 | 3,119 |
Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan share purchases | 3,583 | 3,960 | 3,382 |
Payments for acquisition of intangible assets | 0 | 0 | (2,180) |
Net cash provided by financing activities | 544,860 | 367,506 | 244,518 |
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (2,309) | 1,212 | (1,049) |
Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash | (268,957) | 328,997 | (259,903) |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period | 518,866 | 189,869 | 449,772 |
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period | $ 249,909 | $ 518,866 | $ 189,869 |
Organization
Organization | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
Organization | Organization 2U, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is an online education platform company. The Company’s mission is to expand access to high-quality educational opportunities that unlock human potential. On November 16, 2021, pursuant to the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, edX Inc., a Massachusetts nonprofit corporation (“edX Inc.”) and edX LLC (f/k/a Circuit Sub LLC), a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of edX Inc. (“edX”), edX Inc. contributed substantially all of its assets to edX and the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding membership interests of edX (the “edX Acquisition”) including the edX brand, website, and marketplace. As a result of the edX Acquisition, the Company expanded its digital education offerings to include open courses and micro-credential offerings at the undergraduate and graduate levels and added an education consumer marketplace, edx.org, with over 42 million registered learners. Substantially all of the results of edX’s operations are included in the Alternative Credential Segment. Following the completion of the edX Acquisition, the Company now serves more than 230 top-ranked global universities and other leading institutions, and offers more than 3,600 high-quality online learning opportunities, including open courses, executive education offerings, boot camps, micro-credentials, professional certificates as well as undergraduate and graduate degree programs. The Company expects edX to be the primary brand for its products and services and that edx.org will operate as its global online learning marketplace. Refer to Note 3 for further information about the edX Acquisition. With the edX Acquisition, the Company is now positioned as one of the world’s most comprehensive free-to-degree online learning platforms. The Company believes its platform and robust consumer marketplace provide clients with the digital infrastructure to launch world-class online education offerings and allow students to easily access high-quality, job-relevant education offerings without the barriers of cost or location. The Company has two reportable segments: the Degree Program Segment and the Alternative Credential Segment. The Company’s Degree Program Segment provides the technology and services to nonprofit colleges and universities to enable the online delivery of degree programs. Students enrolled in these programs are generally seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree of the same quality they would receive on campus. In the first quarter of 2021, the Company changed the name of this segment from Graduate Program Segment to Degree Program Segment because this segment now includes undergraduate degree programs. |
Significant Accounting Policies
Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Significant Accounting Policies | Significant Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Reclassifications The Company has reclassified prior period amounts in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows to conform to the current period’s presentation of other receivables. Within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, the Company reclassified $1.1 million from prepaid expenses and other assets to other receivables, net and $24.3 million from other assets, non-current to other receivables, net, non-current. Within the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company reclassified $21.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from changes in prepaid expenses and other assets to changes in other receivables. This reclassification had no impact on the previously reported operating cash flows. The Company has reclassified certain other prior period amounts in the consolidation statements of cash flows to conform to current period presentation. These reclassifications had no impact on previously reported operating, financing, or financing cash flows. Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported herein. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Significant items subject to such estimates include, but are not limited to, the measurement of provisions for credit losses, implied price concessions, acquired intangible assets, the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, deferred tax assets, and the fair value of the convertible senior notes. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Revenue Recognition, Receivables and Provision for Credit Losses The Company generates substantially all of its revenue from contractual arrangements, with either its university clients or students, to provide a comprehensive platform of tightly integrated technology and technology-enabled services that support its offerings. Performance Obligations A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Any estimates, including the effect of the constraint on variable consideration, are evaluated at each reporting period, and if necessary, the Company adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Revenue is then recognized over the remaining estimated period of performance using the cumulative catch-up method. The Degree Program Segment derives revenue primarily from contractually specified percentages of the amounts the Company’s university clients receive from their students in 2U-enabled degree programs for tuition and fees, less credit card fees and other specified charges the Company has agreed to exclude in certain university contracts. The Company’s contracts with university clients in this segment typically have terms of 10 to 15 years and have a single performance obligation, as the promises to provide a platform of tightly integrated technology and services that university clients need to attract, enroll, educate and support students are not distinct within the context of the contracts. The single performance obligation is delivered as the university clients receive and consume benefits, which occurs ratably over a series of academic terms. The amounts received from university clients over the term of the arrangement are variable in nature in that they are dependent upon the number of students that are enrolled in the program within each academic term. These amounts are allocated to and are recognized ratably over the related academic term, defined as the period beginning on the first day of classes through the last. Revenue is recognized net of an allowance, which is established for the Company’s expected obligation to refund tuition and fees to university clients. The Alternative Credential Segment derives revenue primarily from contracts with students for the tuition and fees paid to enroll in, and progress through, the Company’s executive education programs and boot camps. The Company’s executive education programs run between two and 16 weeks, while boot camps run between 12 and 24 weeks. In this segment, the Company’s contracts with students include the delivery of the educational and related student support services and are treated as either a single performance obligation or multiple performance obligations, depending upon the offering being delivered. All performance obligations are satisfied ratably over the same presentation period, which is defined as the period beginning on the first day of the course through the last. The Company recognizes the proceeds received, net of any applicable pricing concessions, from the students enrolled and shares contractually specified amounts received from students with the associated university client, in exchange for licenses to use the university brand name and other university trademarks. These amounts are recognized as curriculum and teaching expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company’s contracts with university clients in this segment are typically shorter and less restrictive than the Company’s contracts with university clients in the Degree Program Segment. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for the Degree Program Segment because the variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a service that forms part of a single performance obligation. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for the Alternative Credential Segment because the performance obligations are part of contracts that have original durations of less than one year. Contract Acquisition Costs The Company pays commissions to certain of its employees to obtain contracts with university clients in the Degree Program Segment. These costs are capitalized and recorded on a contract-by-contract basis and amortized using the straight-line method over the expected life, which is generally the length of the contract. With respect to contract acquisition costs in the Alternative Credential Segment, the Company has elected to apply the practical expedient in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 to expense these costs as incurred, as the terms of contracts with students in this segment are less than one year. Payments to University Clients Pursuant to certain of the Company’s contracts in the Degree Program Segment, the Company has made, or is obligated to make, payments to university clients at either the execution of a contract or at the extension of a contract in exchange for various marketing and other rights. Generally, these amounts are capitalized as other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and amortized as contra revenue over the life of the contract, commencing on the later of when payment is due or when contract revenue recognition begins. Receivables, Contract Assets and Liabilities Balance sheet items related to contracts consist of accounts receivable, net, other receivables, net, and deferred revenue on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Accounts receivable, net includes trade accounts receivable, which are comprised of billed and unbilled revenue. The Company’s trade accounts receivable balances have terms of less than one year. Accounts receivable, net is stated at amortized cost net of provision for credit losses. The Company’s methodology to measure the provision for credit losses requires an estimation of loss rates based upon historical loss experience adjusted for factors that are relevant to determining the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Some of these factors include current market conditions, delinquency trends, aging behavior of receivables and credit and liquidity quality indicators for industry groups, customer classes or individual customers. The Company’s estimates are reviewed and revised periodically based on the ongoing evaluation of credit quality indicators. Historically, actual write-offs for uncollectible accounts have not significantly differed from prior estimates. The Company recognizes unbilled revenue when revenue recognition occurs in advance of billings. Unbilled revenue is recognized in the Degree Program Segment because billings to university clients do not occur until after the academic term has commenced and final enrollment information is available. The Company’s unbilled revenue represents contract assets. Other receivables, net are comprised of amounts due under tuition payment plans with extended payment terms from students enrolled in certain of the Company’s alternative credential offerings. These plans, which are managed and serviced by third-party providers, are designed to assist students with covering tuition costs after all other student financial assistance and scholarships have been applied. The associated receivables generally have payment terms that range from 12 to 42 months and are recorded net of any implied pricing concessions, which are determined based on our collections history, market data and any time value of money component. There are no fees or origination costs included in these receivables. Deferred revenue represents the excess of amounts billed or received as compared to amounts recognized in revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as of the end of the reporting period, and such amounts are reflected as a current liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s deferred revenue represents contract liabilities. The Company generally receives payments from Degree Program Segment university clients early in each academic term and from Alternative Credential Segment students, either in full upon registration for the course or in full before the end of the course based on a payment plan, prior to completion of the service period. These payments are recorded as deferred revenue until the services are delivered or until the Company’s obligations are otherwise met, at which time revenue is recognized. Marketing and Sales Costs The Company’s marketing and sales costs relate to activities to attract students to offerings across both of the Company’s segments. This includes the cost of Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing and Social Media Optimization, as well as personnel and personnel-related expense for the Company’s marketing and recruiting teams. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, expense related to the Company’s marketing and advertising efforts of its own brand were not material. All such costs are expensed as incurred and reported in marketing and sales expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Stock-Based Compensation The Company provides stock-based compensation awards consisting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) and stock options to employees, directors and consultants. The Company measures all stock-based compensation awards at fair value as of the grant date. The fair values of RSUs and PRSUs containing performance-based vesting conditions are based on the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The Company uses a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of PRSUs containing market-based vesting conditions and uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of stock option grants. The Company also maintains the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and estimates the fair value of each purchase right thereunder as of the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. For awards subject only to service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the awards’ requisite service period. For awards subject to both service and performance-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. For awards subject to both service and market-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method over the requisite service period beginning with the date of the grant and ending upon completion of the service period, with stock-based compensation expense being recognized irrespective of the achievement of the market condition. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. For shares subject to the ESPP, the Company uses the straight-line method to record stock-based compensation expense over the respective offering period. Refer to Note 12 for further information about the Company’s stock-based compensation awards. Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that are included in the financial statements. Under this method, the deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of the assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on the deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted. Deferred tax assets are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence relating to the realization of the deferred tax assets in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in the U.S. and certain entities in the foreign jurisdictions. The Company records a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach for evaluating tax positions. Step one, recognition, occurs when the Company concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Step two, measurement, determines the amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur if the Company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold of being sustained. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank checking accounts, money market accounts, investments in certificates of deposit that have an original maturity of three months or less and highly liquid marketable securities with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less. Restricted Cash The Company maintains restricted cash as collateral for standby letters of credit for the Company’s leased facilities and in connection with the deferred government grant obligations. Fair Value Measurements The carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, advances to university clients, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the Company’s principal or, in the absence of a principal, most advantageous, market for the specific asset or liability. U.S. GAAP provides for a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as a result of impairment charges. The Company remeasures non-financial assets such as goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment, and records them at fair value only when recognizing an impairment loss. The fair value hierarchy requires the Company to use observable inputs when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. Refer to Notes 4 and 5 for further discussion of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The three tiers are defined as follows: • Level 1 —Observable inputs that reflect quoted market prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; • Level 2 —Observable inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly in the marketplace for identical or similar assets and liabilities; and • Level 3 —Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. The Company has financial instruments, including cash deposits, receivables, accounts payable and debt. The carrying values for such financial instruments, other than than the Company’s convertible senior notes, each approximated their fair values as of December 31, 2021 and 2020. Refer to Note 9 for more information regarding the Company’s convertible senior notes. Long-Lived Assets Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for major additions, construction and improvements are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization is expensed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three five four Amortizable Intangible Assets Acquired Definite-lived Intangible Assets. The Company capitalizes purchased intangible assets, such as software, websites and domains, and amortizes them on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life. Historically, the Company has assessed the useful lives of these acquired intangible assets to be between three Capitalized Technology. Capitalized technology includes certain purchased software and technology licenses, direct third-party costs, and internal payroll and payroll-related costs used in the creation of our internal-use software. Software development projects generally include three stages: the preliminary project stage (all costs are expensed as incurred), the application development stage (certain costs are capitalized and certain costs are expensed as incurred) and the post-implementation/operation stage (all costs are expensed as incurred). Costs capitalized in the application development stage include costs of designing the application, coding, integrating the Company’s and the university’s networks and systems, and the testing of the software. Capitalization of costs requires judgment in determining when a project has reached the application development stage and the period over which the Company expects to benefit from the use of that software. Once the software is placed in service, these amounts are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally three Capitalized Content Development. The Company develops content for each offering on a course-by-course basis in collaboration with university client faculty and industry experts. Depending upon the offering, the Company may use materials provided by university clients and their faculty, including curricula, case studies, presentations and other reading materials. The Company is responsible for the creation of materials suitable for delivery through the Company’s online learning platform, including all expenses associated with this effort. With respect to the Degree Program Segment, the development of content is part of the Company’s single performance obligation and is considered a contract fulfillment cost. The content development costs that qualify for capitalization are third-party direct costs, such as videography, editing and other services associated with creating digital content. Additionally, the Company capitalizes internal payroll and payroll-related expenses incurred to create and produce videos and other digital content utilized in the university clients’ offerings for delivery via the Company’s online learning platform. Capitalization ends when content has been fully developed by both the Company and the university client, at which time amortization of the capitalized content development begins. The capitalized costs for each offering are recorded on a course-by-course basis and included in intangible assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. These costs are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the respective course, which is generally four Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, which consist of property and equipment, capitalized technology, capitalized content development and acquired finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. In order to assess the recoverability of the capitalized technology and content development, the amounts are grouped by the lowest level of independent cash flows. Recoverability of a long-lived asset is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of an asset or asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group. If such assets are not recoverable, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of an asset exceeds the estimated fair value (discounted cash flow) of the asset or asset group. The Company’s impairment analysis is based upon cumulative results and forecasted performance. Non-Cash Long-Lived Asset Additions The Company had non-cash capital asset additions of $1.8 million and $3.3 million in property and equipment, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets The Company reviews goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, as of October 1, and more frequently if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of goodwill or an indefinite-lived asset below its carrying value. Goodwill Goodwill is the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identified net assets of businesses acquired. The Company’s goodwill balance relates to its acquisitions of GetSmarter in July 2017, Trilogy in May 2019 and edX in November 2021. The Company tests goodwill at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. The Company initially assesses qualitative factors to determine if it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment review. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment using a quantitative approach if it decides to bypass the qualitative assessment or determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value based on a qualitative assessment. Upon completion of a quantitative assessment, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment based on the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit by utilizing a weighted combination of the income-based and market-based approaches. The income-based approach requires the Company to make significant assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates primarily include, but are not limited to, the selection of appropriate peer group companies, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation and amortization expense, capital expenditures and future working capital requirements. When determining these assumptions and preparing these estimates, the Company considers each reporting unit’s historical results and current operating trends, revenue, profitability, cash flow results and forecasts, and industry trends. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, general economic and regulatory conditions, market capitalization, the continued efforts of competitors to gain market share and prospective student enrollment patterns. In addition, the value of a reporting unit using the market-based approach is estimated by comparing the reporting unit to other publicly traded companies and/or to publicly-disclosed business mergers and acquisitions in similar lines of business. The value of a reporting unit is based on pricing multiples of certain financial parameters observed in the comparable companies. The Company also makes estimates and assumptions for market values to determine a reporting unit’s estimated fair value. Based on the Company’s quantitative assessment performed during 2019 and the qualitative assessments performed as of October 1 in 2020 and 2021, the Company believes that the estimated fair values of the reporting units exceeded their carrying values by no less than 10%. It is possible that future changes in the Company’s circumstances, including potential impacts from COVID-19, or in the variables associated with the judgments, assumptions and estimates used in assessing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units, could require the Company to record additional impairment charges in the future. Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible asset was acquired in November 2021 and represents the established edX trade name. Given the timing of the edX Acquisition, the Company will review this asset for impairment as of October 1, 2022, or earlier if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of this asset below its carrying value. Equity Interests As of December 31, 2020, the Company had a $10.0 million investment in an education technology company recorded within other assets, non-current on the consolidated balance sheets. This investment did not have a readily determinable fair value, and was accounted for as a cost method investment, which was subject to fair value remeasurement upon the occurrence of an observable event. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company sold its investment in this education technology company and recorded a gain on sale of $27.8 million. Refer to Note 7 for further information. Employee Benefits The Company offers a variety of benefits to its employees (e.g., health care, gym memberships and tuition reimbursement). The Company accounts for costs related to providing employee benefits as incurred, unless there is a service requirement, in which case, such costs are recognized over the service commitment period. Convertible Senior Notes In April 2020, the Company issued 2.25% convertible senior notes due May 1, 2025 (the “Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $380 million, including the exercise by the initial purchasers of an option to purchase additional Notes, in a private offering. Refer to Note 9 for more information regarding the Notes. The Notes are accounted for in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Subtopic 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASC 470-20”). Pursuant to ASC 470-20, issuers of certain convertible debt instruments, such as the Notes, that have a net settlement feature and may be settled wholly or partially in cash upon conversion are required to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument. The carrying amount of the liability component of the instrument is computed by estimating the fair value of a similar liability without the conversion option using a market-based approach. The amount of the equity component is then calculated by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the principal amount of the instrument. The difference between the principal amount and the liability component represents a debt discount that is amortized to interest expense over the term of the Notes using the effective interest rate method. The equity component is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. In accounting for the issuance costs related to the Notes, the allocation of issuance costs incurred between the liability and equity components was based on their relative values. Debt Issuance Costs Debt issuance costs are incurred as a result of entering into certain borrowing transactions and are presented as a reduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Debt issuance costs are amortized over the term of the associated debt instrument. The amortization of debt issuance costs is included as a component of interest expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. If the Company extinguishes debt prior to the end of the underlying instrument’s full term, some or all of the unamortized debt issuance costs may need to be written off, and a loss on extinguishment may need to be recognized. Refer to Note 9 for further information about the Company’s debt. Leases For the Company’s operating leases, an assessment is performed to determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the information necessary to determine the rate implicit in the Company’s leases is not readily available, the Company determines its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any prepaid lease payments made, less lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is |
Business Combination
Business Combination | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract] | |
Business Combination | Business Combination On November 16, 2021, the Company completed its acquisition of edX pursuant to a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”). The total preliminary purchase price was $773.0 million in cash consideration, of which $23.0 million was distributed to an escrow account to satisfy indemnification claims and purchase price adjustments, as applicable. The preliminary purchase price is subject to customary adjustments based on, among other things, the finalization of working capital as of the closing date. The Company recorded $14.8 million and $0.3 million of acquisition costs in general and administrative expense related to this acquisition during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The transaction was accounted for under the acquisition method of accounting and revenue of $5.2 million and operating expense of $14.4 million have been included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations since the date of acquisition. Under the acquisition method of accounting, the total preliminary purchase price was allocated to edX’s net tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of November 16, 2021. The allocation of the preliminary purchase price is pending the finalization of the acquired company’s working capital as of the closing date and the finalization of the fair value of acquired deferred revenue and other liabilities, deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and assumed non-income tax liabilities. The following table summarizes the preliminary purchase price allocation based on the estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of the acquisition: Estimated Purchase Price (in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,901 Accounts receivable 6,608 Prepaid expenses and other assets 11,379 Property and equipment, net 529 Right-of-use assets 2,868 Other assets, non-current 572 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (17,024) Deferred revenue (20,264) Lease liability (2,868) Other liabilities (32,934) Intangible assets: Developed technology 3 15,400 University client relationships 10 104,000 Enterprise client relationships 10 14,300 Trade names indefinite 255,000 Goodwill 423,552 $ 773,019 Of the total preliminary purchase price, the Company allocated $255.0 million and $133.7 million to indefinite-lived intangibles and definite-lived intangibles, respectively. The estimated values of the definite-lived intangibles is being amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives. The methodologies utilized to determine the estimated fair values of the acquired intangible assets are Level 3 measurements. The acquired indefinite-lived intangible asset represents the established edX trade name that we expect to be the primary brand for the Company’s marketplace, educational offerings and services. Acquired client relationships represent agreements with existing clients as of the acquisition date. The fair values of the trade name and the client relationships were determined using the discounted cash flow method. Under this method, the Company’s significant assumptions and estimates included expected future cash flows and the weighted-average cost of capital. The acquired developed technology represents technology that had reached technological feasibility and for which development had been completed as of the date of the Acquisition. The Company utilized the relief-from-royalty valuation method to value the acquired technology. Under this method, the Company’s significant assumptions and estimates included an estimated market royalty rate, remaining useful life, future revenue, and a rate of return utilized in the determination of a discounted present value. The goodwill balance is primarily attributed to the assembled workforce, expanded market opportunities and operating synergies anticipated upon the integration of the operations of the Company and edX. The goodwill is expected to be deductible for tax purposes. Refer to Note 5 for details. The Company’s unaudited pro forma combined financial information below is presented for illustrative purposes and does not purport to represent what the results of operations would actually have been if the business combination occurred as of the date indicated or what the results would be for any future periods. The following table presents the Company’s unaudited pro forma combined revenue, pro forma combined net loss and pro forma combined net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and and 2020, as if the acquisition of edX had occurred on January 1, 2020. Year Ended 2021 2020 (in thousands) Pro forma revenue $ 985,016 $ 818,700 Pro forma net loss $ (273,889) $ (323,277) Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (3.67) $ (4.81) |
Property and Equipment, Net
Property and Equipment, Net | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] | |
Property and Equipment, Net | Property and Equipment, Net The following table presents the components of property and equipment, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, December 31, (in thousands) Computer hardware $ 9,454 $ 9,053 Furniture and office equipment 16,739 18,041 Leasehold improvements 57,972 58,443 Leasehold improvements in process 5,667 2,184 Total 89,832 87,721 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (41,182) (34,987) Property and equipment, net $ 48,650 $ 52,734 Depreciation expense of property and equipment was $12.5 million, $13.4 million and $11.6 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Intangible Assets | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets | Goodwill and Intangible Assets The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated. Alternative Credential Segment Unassigned Goodwill Total (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 418,350 $ — $ 418,350 Foreign currency translation adjustments and other (2,520) — (2,520) Balance as of December 31, 2020 415,830 — 415,830 Goodwill recognized in connection with business combination* — 423,552 423,552 Foreign currency translation adjustments (4,843) — (4,843) Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 410,987 $ 423,552 $ 834,539 * See Note 3 for a discussion of the Acquisition. The Acquisition was completed within close proximity of the Company’s year end and, as a result, the assignment of the preliminary goodwill balance of $423.6 million to the Company’s reporting units has not been completed as of December 31, 2021. This preliminary goodwill balance will be assigned to the relevant reporting units in advance of the Company’s next annual goodwill impairment test that will be performed as of October 1, 2022, or earlier, in the event of a triggering event for assessing the goodwill balance for impairment. The Company experienced a sustained decline in its stock price during the third quarter of 2019, which management deemed a triggering event that required the Company to perform an interim goodwill impairment test as of September 1, 2019. The Company’s test relied in part on the work of an independent valuation firm engaged to provide inputs as to the fair value of the reporting units and to assist in the related calculations and analysis. The results of the interim impairment test indicated that the carrying value of the boot camp business acquired in 2019 within the Company’s Alternative Credential Segment exceeded the fair value by $70.4 million. The decrease in this reporting unit’s fair value was primarily due to lower expectations of future performance due to the impact of changes in key management as well as an increased focus in integrating the operations of the newly acquired reporting unit, which impacted the estimated operating cash flows. As a result, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $70.4 million on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the third quarter of 2019. For purposes of testing the Company’s goodwill for impairment, fair value measurements were determined primarily using a weighted combination of the income-based and market-based approaches. The income-based approach largely relied on inputs that were not observable to active markets, which would be deemed “Level 3” fair value measurements, as defined in the Fair Value Measurements section of Note 2. These inputs included the Company’s expectations about future revenue growth, profitability, income tax rates, cash flows and the rate at which cash flows should be discounted, in order to determine this fair value estimate. The primary input used in the market-based approach was publicly-available data on the financial ratios of the Company’s competitors. The carrying amount of goodwill in the Alternative Credential Segment included accumulated impairment charges of $70.4 million as of both December 31, 2021 and 2020. The following table presents the components of intangible assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net (in thousands) Definite-lived intangible assets Capitalized technology 3-5 $ 199,766 $ (112,357) $ 87,409 $ 165,254 $ (75,822) $ 89,432 Capitalized content development 4-5 243,687 (125,599) 118,088 208,170 (88,168) 120,002 University client relationships 9-10 211,680 (34,995) 176,685 109,498 (23,376) 86,122 Enterprise client relationships 10 14,300 (179) 14,121 — — — Trade names and domain names 5-10 27,161 (12,941) 14,220 26,697 (9,483) 17,214 Total definite-lived intangible assets 696,594 (286,071) 410,523 509,619 (196,849) 312,770 Indefinite-lived intangible assets Trade names indefinite 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total indefinite-lived intangible assets 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total intangible assets, net $ 951,594 $ (286,071) $ 665,523 $ 509,619 $ (196,849) $ 312,770 The amounts presented in the table above include $46.3 million and $38.6 million of in process capitalized technology and content development as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. The Company recorded amortization expense related to amortizable intangible assets of $95.9 million, $83.1 million and $58.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. The following table presents the estimated future amortization expense of the Company’s amortizable intangible assets placed in service as of December 31, 2021. Future Amortization Expense (in thousands) 2022 $ 90,116 2023 75,153 2024 59,615 2025 35,305 2026 24,291 Thereafter 79,734 Total $ 364,214 |
Other Balance Sheet Details
Other Balance Sheet Details | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
Other Balance Sheet Details | Other Balance Sheet Details Prepaid expenses and other assets As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had balances of $23.0 million and $14.0 million, respectively, of prepaid assets within prepaid expenses and other assets on the consolidated balance sheet. Other Assets, Non-current As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company had balances of $7.0 million and $6.3 million, respectively, of deferred expenses incurred to integrate the software associated with its cloud computing arrangements, within other assets, non-current on the consolidated balance sheets. Such expenses are subject to amortization over the remaining contractual term of the associated cloud computing arrangement, with a useful life of between three Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses The following table presents the components of accounts payable and accrued expenses on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Accrued university and instructional staff compensation $ 36,806 $ 27,371 Accrued marketing expenses 26,469 24,682 Accrued transaction, integration and restructuring-related expenses 4,072 3,492 Accrued compensation and related benefits 49,143 52,820 Accounts payable and other accrued expenses 49,968 22,309 Total accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 166,458 $ 130,674 Other Current Liabilities As of December 31, 2021, the Company had a balance of $21.9 million within other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet, which represents proceeds received from students enrolled in certain of the Company’s alternative credential offerings that are payable to associated university client. In response to COVID-19, various government programs have been announced to provide financial relief for affected businesses. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), which was enacted in the United States on March 27, 2020, the Company is allowed to defer payment of the employer’s share of Social Security taxes incurred from March 27, 2020 through December 31, 2020. In addition, the CARES Act provides eligible employers with an employee retention tax credit for employees whose services were impacted by COVID-19. As of December 31, 2021, the amount of payroll taxes subject to deferred payment, net of employee retention tax credits of $0.5 million, was approximately $5.0 million. The balance is recorded within other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. |
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Commitments and Contingencies | Commitments and Contingencies Legal Contingencies The Company is involved in various claims and legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company accrues a liability when a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. While the Company does not expect that the ultimate resolution of any existing claims and proceedings (other than the specific matters described below, if decided adversely), individually or in the aggregate, will have a material adverse effect on its financial position, an unfavorable outcome in some or all of these proceedings could have a material adverse impact on the results of operations or cash flows for a particular period. This assessment is based on the Company’s current understanding of relevant facts and circumstances. With respect to current legal proceedings, the Company does not believe it is probable a material loss exceeding amounts already recognized has been incurred as of the date of the balance sheets presented herein. As such, the Company’s view of these matters is subject to inherent uncertainties and may change in the future. In re 2U, Inc., Securities Class Action On August 7 and 9, 2019, Aaron Harper and Anne M. Chinn filed putative class action complaints against the Company, Christopher J. Paucek, the Company’s CEO, and Catherine A. Graham, the Company’s former CFO, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, based upon allegedly false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business prospects and financial projections. The district court transferred the cases to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, consolidated them under docket number 8:19-cv-3455 (D. Md.), and appointed Fiyyaz Pirani as the lead plaintiff in the consolidated action. On July 30, 2020, Mr. Pirani filed a consolidated class action complaint (“CAC”), adding Harsha Mokkarala, the Company’s former Chief Marketing Officer, as a defendant. The CAC also asserts claims under Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, against Mr. Paucek, Ms. Graham, members of the Company’s board of directors, and the Company’s underwriters, based on allegations related to the Company’s secondary stock offering on May 23, 2018. The proposed class consists of all persons who acquired the Company’s securities between February 26, 2018 and July 30, 2019. On October 27, 2020, defendants filed a motion to dismiss. On August 5, 2021, the court largely denied the defendants’ motion to dismiss. On February 18, 2022, the court stayed discovery until April 19, 2022, pending mediation. The Company believes that the claims are without merit, and it intends to vigorously defend against these claims. However, due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved, the outcome of this matter is not presently determinable. Stockholder Derivative Suits On April 30, 2020, Richard Theis filed a stockholder derivative complaint purportedly on behalf of the Company and against Christopher J. Paucek, the Company’s CEO, Catherine A. Graham, the Company’s former CFO, and the Company’s board of directors in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, with docket number 20-cv-3360. The complaint alleges claims for breaches of fiduciary duty, insider sales and misappropriation of information, unjust enrichment, and violations of Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, based upon allegedly false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business prospects and financial projections. On July 22, 2020, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case pending resolution of the securities class action. On January 5, 2022, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case for sixty days. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved, the outcome of this matter is not presently determinable. On August 21, 2020, Thomas Lucey filed a stockholder derivative complaint purportedly on behalf of the Company and against Christopher J. Paucek, the Company’s CEO, Catherine A. Graham, the Company’s former CFO, Harsha Mokkarala, the Company’s former Chief Marketing Officer and the Company’s board of directors in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, with docket number 1:20-cv-02424-GLR. The complaint alleges claims for breaches of fiduciary duty, insider trading, and contribution for alleged violations of Sections 10(b) and 21D of the Exchange Act, based upon allegedly false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business prospects and financial projections. On September 3, 2020, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case pending resolution of the securities class action. On January 5, 2022, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case for sixty days. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved, the outcome of this matter is not presently determinable. On November 30, 2020, Leo Shumacher filed a stockholder derivative complaint purportedly on behalf of the Company and against Christopher J. Paucek, the Company’s CEO, Catherine A. Graham, the Company’s former CFO, Harsha Mokkarala, the Company’s former Chief Marketing Officer, and the Company’s board of directors in the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware, with docket number 2020-1019-AGB. The complaint alleges claims for breaches of fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, based upon allegedly false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s business prospects and financial projections. On January 6, 2021, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case pending resolution of the securities class action. On January 10, 2022, the court entered a joint stipulation staying the case for sixty days. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved, the outcome of this matter is not presently determinable. Marketing and Sales Commitments Certain agreements entered into between the Company and its university clients in the Degree Program Segment require the Company to commit to meet certain staffing and spending investment thresholds related to marketing and sales activities. In addition, certain agreements in the Degree Program Segment require the Company to invest up to agreed-upon levels in marketing the programs to achieve specified program performance. The Company believes it is currently in compliance with all such commitments. Future Minimum Payments to University Clients Pursuant to certain of the Company’s contracts in the Degree Program Segment, the Company has made, or is obligated to make, payments to university clients in exchange for contract extensions and various marketing and other rights. Generally, these amounts are capitalized as other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and amortized as contra revenue over the life of the contract, commencing on the later of when payment is due or when contract revenue recognition begins. The following table presents the estimated future minimum payments due to university clients as of December 31, 2021. Future Minimum Payments (in thousands) 2022 $ 1,725 2023 625 2024 625 2025 625 2026 625 Thereafter 1,900 Total future minimum payments to university clients $ 6,125 Contingent Payments The Company has entered into agreements with certain of its university clients in the Degree Program Segment that require the Company to make future minimum payments in the event that certain program metrics are not achieved on an annual basis. The Company recognizes any estimated contingent payments under these agreements as contra revenue over the period to which they relate, and records a liability in other current liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets. In the first quarter of 2019, the Company entered into an agreement to make investments in an education technology company of up to $15.0 million, upon demand by the investee. During the second quarter of 2021, the Company sold its investment in this education technology company and was released from any further obligation to make additional investments. |
Other Income (Expense)
Other Income (Expense) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract] | |
Other Income (Expense) | Other Income (Expense) The following table presents the components of other income (expense) on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Other income (expense): Gain on sale of investment $ 27,762 $ — $ — Foreign currency loss (2,491) (1,429) (707) Other (2,947) — — Total $ 22,324 $ (1,429) $ (707) During the year ended December 31, 2021, the Company recorded a gain of $27.8 million on the sale of its interest in an education technology company. Refer to Note 7 for further information. |
Leases
Leases | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Leases [Abstract] | |
Leases | LeasesThe Company leases facilities under non-cancellable operating leases primarily in the United States, South Africa, the United Kingdom and Canada. The Company’s operating leases have remaining lease terms of between less than one In October 2020, the Company entered into an agreement with an unrelated party to sublease a portion of the Company’s office space in the United States. As of December 31, 2021, this sublease was classified as an operating lease and had a remaining term of 1.8 years, with scheduled annual rent increases and no option to extend or renew the sublease term. Sublease income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the sublease term as a reduction to expense incurred by the Company under the associated head lease. In August 2021, the Company entered into an agreement with an unrelated party to sublease a portion of the Company’s office space in Denver, Colorado, as part of its overall real estate management strategy. As of December 31, 2021, this sublease was classified as an operating lease and had a remaining term of 2.9 years with scheduled annual rent increases and no option to extend or renew the sublease term. Sublease income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the sublease term as a reduction to expense incurred by the Company under the associated master lease. In connection with the execution of this agreement, the Company recognized a loss on sublease of $4.8 million in the third quarter of 2021. The following table presents the components of lease expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended 2021 2020 (in thousands) Operating lease expense $ 18,933 $ 15,153 Short-term lease expense 185 362 Variable lease expense 6,279 5,837 Sublease income (489) (36) Total lease expense $ 24,908 $ 21,316 As of December 31, 2021, for the Company’s operating leases, the weighted-average remaining lease term was 7.7 years and the weighted-average discount rate was 11.2%. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of operating lease liabilities was $21.7 million and $17.3 million, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets were $28.0 million and $26.7 million, respectively. The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of the date indicated, and excludes the impact of future sublease income totaling $4.4 million in aggregate. December 31, 2021 (in thousands) 2022 $ 24,200 2023 21,789 2024 21,535 2025 17,716 2026 18,229 Thereafter 69,674 Total lease payments 173,143 Less: imputed interest (60,492) Total lease liability $ 112,651 As of December 31, 2021, the Company had additional operating leases for facilities that have not yet commenced with future minimum lease payments of approximately $5.8 million. Each of these operating leases will commence during the fiscal year ending 2022 and have lease terms of approximately 8 years. |
Debt
Debt | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Debt | Debt The following table presents the components of outstanding long-term debt on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Term loan facilities $ 572,374 $ — Convertible senior notes 380,000 380,000 Deferred government grant obligations 3,500 3,500 Other borrowings 4,423 1,343 Less: unamortized debt discount and issuance costs (107,777) (111,043) Total debt 852,520 273,800 Less: current portion of long-term debt (7,204) (627) Total long-term debt $ 845,316 $ 273,173 The Company believes the carrying value of its long-term debt approximates the fair value of the debt as the terms and interest rates approximate the market rates, other than the 2.25% convertible senior notes due 2025 (the “Notes”), which had an estimated fair value of $403.3 million and $616.6 million as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Each of the Company’s long-term debt instruments were classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s cash interest payments, net of amounts capitalized, were $25.5 million, $10.8 million and $5.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement The Company entered into a Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement, dated June 28, 2021 (the “Term Loan Agreement”), among the Company, as borrower, the subsidiaries of the Company party thereto, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto, and Alter Domus (US) LLC as administrative agent and collateral agent. Pursuant to the Term Loan Agreement, the lenders thereunder made term loans to the Company on June 29, 2021 (the “Funding Date”) in the aggregate principal amount of $475 million (the “Term Loan Facilities”). The Term Loan Facilities have an initial maturity date of December 28, 2024 (the “Maturity Date”). Commencing on the Funding Date, loans under the Term Loan Facilities will bear interest at a per annum rate equal to a base rate or adjusted Eurodollar rate, as applicable, plus the applicable margin of 4.75% in the case of the base rate loans and 5.75% in the case of the Eurodollar loans. The Term Loan Agreement requires the Company to make quarterly principal repayments equal to 0.25% of the $475 million aggregate principal amount, beginning September 2021. If the loans under the Term Loan Facilities are prepaid prior to the second anniversary, subject to certain customary exceptions, the Company shall pay the Applicable Premium (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) on the amount of the loans so prepaid. On November 4, 2021, the Company entered into a First Amendment to Term Loan Credit and Guaranty Agreement and a Joinder Agreement, which amended the Term Loan Agreement (collectively, the “Amended Term Loan Facility”) primarily to provide for an incremental facility to the Company in an original principal amount of $100 million. The Company is required to make quarterly principal repayments equal to 0.25% of this original principal amount beginning in December 2021. The proceeds of the Amended Term Loan Facility may be used for general corporate purposes. The associated effective interest rate of the Amended Term Loan Facility for the year ended December 31, 2021 was approximately 7.56% and the associated interest expense was approximately $19.5 million. The obligations under the Term Loan Agreement are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s subsidiaries (the Company and the guarantors, collectively, the “Credit Parties”). The obligations under the Term Loan Agreement are secured, subject to customary permitted liens and other agreed-upon exceptions, by a perfected security interest in all tangible and intangible assets of the Credit Parties, except for certain customary excluded assets. The Term Loan Agreement contains customary affirmative covenants, including, among others, the provision of annual and quarterly financial statements and compliance certificates, maintenance of property, insurance, compliance with laws and environmental matters. The Term Loan Agreement contains customary negative covenants, including, among others, restrictions on the incurrence of indebtedness, granting of liens, making investments and acquisitions, paying dividends, repurchases of equity interests in the Company and entering into affiliate transactions and asset sales. The Term Loan Agreement contains a financial covenant that requires the Company to maintain minimum Recurring Revenues (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement) as of the last day of any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of the Company commencing with fiscal quarter ending September 30, 2021 through the Maturity Date. The Term Loan Agreement also provides for customary events of default, including, among others: non-payment of obligations; bankruptcy or insolvency event; failure to comply with covenants; breach of representations or warranties; defaults on other material indebtedness; impairment of any lien on any material portion of the Collateral (as defined in the Term Loan Agreement); failure of any material provision of the Term Loan Agreement or any guaranty to remain in full force and effect; a change of control of the Company; and material judgment defaults. The occurrence of an event of default could result in the acceleration of obligations under the Term Loan Agreement. If an event of default under the Term Loan Agreement occurs and is continuing, then, at the request (or with the consent) of the lenders holding a majority of the commitments and loans under the Term Loan Agreement, upon notice by the administrative agent to the borrowers, the obligations under the Term Loan Agreement shall become immediately due and payable. In addition, if the Credit Parties become the subject of voluntary or involuntary proceedings under any bankruptcy, insolvency or similar law, then any outstanding obligations under the Term Loan Agreement will automatically become immediately due and payable. Credit Agreement On June 25, 2020, the Company entered into a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent and collateral agent, and certain other lenders party thereto that provided for $50 million in revolving loans (the “Loans”). The Credit Agreement allowed for incremental borrowings from time to time in an aggregate amount for all such incremental amounts not to exceed (i) the lesser of (x) $50 million and (y) an amount such that the aggregate principal amount of the lenders’ commitments under the revolving credit facility does not exceed $100 million, plus (ii) certain specified prepayments of indebtedness, plus (iii) an unlimited amount subject to satisfaction of a leverage ratio based compliance test. The Loans bore interest, at the Company’s option, at variable rates based on (i) a customary base rate plus an applicable margin of 2.75% or (ii) an adjusted LIBOR rate (with a floor of 0.00%) for the interest period relevant to such borrowing plus an applicable margin of 3.75%. In connection with entering into the Term Loan Agreement in June 2021, the Company terminated the Credit Agreement and recognized a loss on debt extinguishment of $1.1 million in connection with the write-off of previously capitalized deferred financing costs and associated fees. Convertible Senior Notes In April 2020, the Company issued the Notes in an aggregate principal amount of $380 million, including the exercise by the initial purchasers of an option to purchase additional Notes, in a private placement to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes were approximately $369.6 million after deducting the initial purchasers’ discounts, commissions and offering expenses payable by the Company. The Notes are governed by an indenture (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Wilmington Trust, National Association, as trustee. The Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per annum, payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year, beginning on November 1, 2020. The Notes will mature on May 1, 2025, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The interest expense related to the Notes, including amortization of the debt discount and debt issuance costs, was $30.9 million and $19.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. The associated effective interest rate of the Notes was approximately 11.0% for each of the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020. The Notes are the senior, unsecured obligations of the Company and are equal in right of payment with the Company’s senior unsecured indebtedness, senior in right of payment to the Company’s indebtedness that is expressly subordinated to the Notes, effectively subordinated to the Company’s senior secured indebtedness (including indebtedness under the Term Loan Facilities), to the extent of the value of the collateral securing that indebtedness, and structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables, and (to the extent the Company is not a holder thereof) preferred equity, if any, of the Company’s subsidiaries. In accounting for the issuance of the Notes, the Company separated the Notes into liability and equity components. The carrying amount of the liability component was calculated using a discount rate of 10.3%, which was determined by measuring the fair value of a similar debt instrument that does not have an associated convertible feature. The carrying amount of the equity component representing the conversion option, excluding debt issuance costs, was $117.8 million and was determined by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the par value of the Notes. The equity component is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. The Company allocated debt issuance costs of $7.2 million and $3.2 million to the debt and equity components, respectively. The excess of the principal amount of the liability component over its carrying amount, inclusive of debt issuance costs, represents the debt discount, which is amortized to interest expense at an annual effective interest rate over the contractual term of the Notes. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the unamortized debt discount was $88.7 million and $111.0 million, respectively, and the net carrying amount of the liability component of the Notes was $291.3 million and $269.0 million. Holders may convert their Notes at their option in the following circumstances: • during any calendar quarter commencing after the calendar quarter ending on September 30, 2020 (and only during such calendar quarter), if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock, exceeds 130% of the conversion price for each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the last trading day of the immediately preceding calendar quarter; • during the five consecutive business days immediately after any 10 consecutive trading day period (such 10 consecutive trading day period, the “measurement period”) in which the trading price per $1,000 principal amount of Notes for each trading day of the measurement period was less than 98% of the product of the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock on such trading day and the conversion rate on such trading day; • upon the occurrence of certain corporate events or distributions on the Company’s common stock, as provided in the Indenture; • if the Company calls such Notes for redemption; and • at any time from, and including, November 1, 2024 until the close of business on the second scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date. The initial conversion rate for the Notes is 35.3773 shares of the Company’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of Notes, which represents an initial conversion price of approximately $28.27 per share of the Company’s common stock, and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events as set forth in the Indenture. Upon conversion, the Company will pay or deliver, as applicable, cash, shares of the Company’s common stock or a combination of cash and shares of the Company’s common stock, at the Company’s election. In the event of the Company calling the Notes for redemption or the holders of the Notes electing to convert their Notes, the Company will determine whether to settle in cash, common stock or a combination thereof. Upon the occurrence of a “make-whole fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture), the Company will in certain circumstances increase the conversion rate for a specified period of time. As of December 31, 2021, the if-converted value of the Notes did not exceed the principal amount. In addition, upon the occurrence of a “fundamental change” (as defined in the Indenture), holders of the Notes may require the Company to repurchase their Notes at a cash repurchase price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time, and from time to time, on or after May 5, 2023 and on or before the 40th scheduled trading day immediately before the maturity date, at a cash redemption price equal to the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, but only if the last reported sale price per share of the Company’s common stock exceeds 130% of the conversion price on (i) each of at least 20 trading days, whether or not consecutive, during the 30 consecutive trading days ending on, and including, the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends the related redemption notice, and (ii) the trading day immediately before the date the Company sends such notice. In addition, calling any Note for redemption will constitute a “make-whole fundamental change” with respect to that Note, in which case the conversion rate applicable to the conversion of that Note will be increased in certain circumstances if such Note is converted after it is called for redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the Notes. As of December 31, 2021, the conditions allowing holders of the Notes to convert had not been met and the Company has the right under the Indenture to determine the method of settlement at the time of conversion, and the Notes, therefore, are classified as a non-current on the consolidated balance sheets. In connection with the Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions (the “Capped Call Transactions”) with certain counterparties. The Capped Call Transactions are generally expected to reduce potential dilution to the Company’s common stock upon any conversion of Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap, based on the cap price of the Capped Call Transactions. The cap price of the Capped Call Transactions is initially $44.34 per share. The cost of the Capped Call Transactions was approximately $50.5 million. In April 2020, the Company used a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Notes to repay in full all amounts outstanding, and discharge all obligations in respect of, the $250 million senior secured term loan facility. The Company intends to use the remaining net proceeds from the sale of the Notes for working capital or other general corporate purposes, which may include capital expenditures, potential acquisitions and strategic transactions. Deferred Government Grant Obligations Government grants awarded to the Company in the form of forgivable loans are recorded within long-term debt on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets until all contingencies are resolved and the grants are determined to be realized. The Company has a total of two outstanding conditional loan agreements with Prince George’s County, Maryland and the State of Maryland for an aggregate amount of $3.5 million, each bearing an interest rate of 3% per annum. These agreements are conditional loan obligations that may be forgiven, provided that the Company attains certain conditions related to employment levels at 2U’s Lanham, Maryland headquarters. In July 2020, the Company amended its conditional loan agreement with Prince George’s County to modify the terms of the employment level thresholds. The conditional loan with Prince George’s County has a maturity date of June 22, 2027. In January 2021, the Company amended its conditional loan agreement with the State of Maryland to modify the terms of the employment level thresholds and extend the maturity date to June 30, 2028. The interest expense related to these loans for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 was immaterial. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company’s combined accrued interest balance associated with the deferred government grant obligations was $0.5 million and $0.4 million, respectively. Letters of Credit Certain of the Company’s operating lease agreements entered into require security deposits in the form of cash or an unconditional, irrevocable letter of credit. As of December 31, 2021, the Company has entered into standby letters of credit totaling $16.2 million as security deposits for the applicable leased facilities and in connection with the deferred government grant obligations. The Company maintains restricted cash as collateral for standby letters of credit for the Company’s leased facilities and in connection with the deferred government grant obligations. Future Principal Payments Future principal payments under the Amended Term Loan Facility, the Notes, and the government grants, as of the date indicated are as follows: December 31, 2021 (in thousands) 2022 $ 5,753 2023 5,753 2024 560,869 2025 380,000 2026 — Thereafter* 3,500 Total future principal payments $ 955,875 * Amounts represent conditional loan obligations that may be forgiven, provided that the Company attains certain conditions related to employment levels at 2U’s Lanham, Maryland headquarters. |
Income Taxes
Income Taxes | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Income Taxes | Income Taxes The following table presents the components of loss before income taxes on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Loss before income taxes: United States $ (172,856) $ (204,522) $ (239,629) Foreign (23,106) (13,476) (15,453) Total $ (195,962) $ (217,998) $ (255,082) The following table presents the components of the income tax benefit (provision) on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Current income tax (provision) benefit: United States federal and state $ (240) $ (347) $ (97) Foreign (636) (249) 3 Total current income tax provision $ (876) $ (596) $ (94) Deferred income tax (provision) benefit: United States federal and state $ (389) $ — $ 17,459 Foreign 2,461 2,110 2,495 Total deferred income tax benefit $ 2,072 $ 2,110 $ 19,954 Total income tax benefit $ 1,196 $ 1,514 $ 19,860 The following table presents a reconciliation between the Company’s statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 U.S. statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % Increase (decrease) resulting from: U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefits 4.4 5.0 4.2 Foreign tax rate differential 0.1 0.3 0.2 Non-deductible expenses (0.4) (0.4) (0.7) Non-deductible compensation (6.7) (2.0) (0.4) Stock-based compensation 6.7 0.7 0.5 Change in valuation allowance (26.5) (23.9) (10.9) Change in tax rate 1.0 0.1 — Non-deductible impairment — — (5.8) Other 1.0 (0.1) (0.3) Effective tax rate 0.6 % 0.7 % 7.8 % The following table presents the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. As of December 31, 2021 2020 (in thousands) Deferred tax assets: Accrued expenses and other $ 12,095 $ 8,772 Accrued compensation and related benefits 10,285 12,552 Property and equipment 100 — Stock-based compensation 21,729 18,811 Deferred income 2,096 1,113 Lease liability 24,463 24,775 Interest expense carryforwards 12,868 5,393 Foreign net operating loss carryforwards 6,981 3,499 U.S. net operating loss carryforwards 208,585 186,089 Valuation allowance (190,779) (137,767) Total deferred tax assets $ 108,423 $ 123,237 Deferred tax liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other $ (322) $ (197) Property and equipment — (1,684) Right-of-use assets (15,310) (16,116) Intangibles (70,865) (79,164) Deferred rent (414) (912) Nondeductible interest on debt discount (22,083) (27,974) Total deferred tax liabilities (108,994) (126,047) Net deferred tax liabilities $ (571) $ (2,810) As of December 31, 2021, the Company had a U.S. net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward of approximately $793.9 million, of which $265.0 million expires between 2029 and 2037. In accordance with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act”), U.S. NOLs arising in a tax year ending after 2017 will not expire. The Company has generated $528.9 million of U.S. NOLs in tax years ending after 2017. The gross amount of the state NOL carryforwards is equal to or less than the federal NOL carryforwards and expires over various periods based on individual state tax laws. The Company also has an NOL carryforward of $27.3 million in its foreign jurisdictions, of which $1.2 million begins to expire in 2038 and the remainder will not expire. A full valuation allowance has been established to offset its net deferred tax assets in the U.S., and certain foreign jurisdictions as the Company has not generated taxable income since inception and does not have sufficient deferred tax liabilities to recover the deferred tax assets in these jurisdictions. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the beginning valuation allowance in Australia of $0.8 million was released as management has concluded, based on the evaluation of the positive and negative evidence, that the deferred tax assets are more likely than not to be realizable. The total increase in the valuation allowance was $53.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The utilization of the NOL carryforwards to reduce future income taxes will depend on the Company’s ability to generate sufficient taxable income prior to the expiration of the NOL carryforwards. Under the provisions of Internal Revenue Code Section 382, certain substantial changes in the Company’s ownership may result in a limitation on the amount of U.S. net operating loss carryforwards that could be utilized annually to offset future taxable income and taxes payable. The Company does not expect such limitation, if any, to impact the use of the net operating losses prior to their expiration. The Company recorded an income tax expense of approximately $0.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 related to recording of a U.S. deferred tax liability. The deferred tax liability was recorded to account for the book vs. tax basis difference related to the acquired edX indefinite lived intangibles (including goodwill), also known as a “naked credit”. The deferred tax liability was excluded from sources of future taxable income available to realize definite lived deferred tax assets, as the timing of its reversal cannot be predicted due to the indefinite life of the intangibles. In accordance with the Tax Act, losses generated beginning with the 2018 tax year may be carried forward indefinitely for U.S. federal tax purposes, however utilization is limited to offsetting 80% of taxable income in future years. Thus, 80% of the U.S. deferred tax liability related to the edX indefinite lived intangibles was able to be used as a source of income to realize the indefinite lived deferred tax assets as of December 31, 2021. A one-time tax benefit of approximately $17.5 million related to the acquisition of Trilogy was included in the Company’s income tax benefit for the year ended December 31, 2019. This one-time benefit relates to the release of the Company’s tax valuation allowance that was no longer needed as a result of recognizing an additional net deferred tax liability, due to the acquisition of Trilogy. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company has not recognized any amounts for uncertain tax positions. The Company has analyzed its filing positions in all significant federal, state and foreign jurisdictions where it is required to file income tax returns, as well as open tax years in these jurisdictions. With few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state and local tax examinations by tax authorities for the years prior to 2018, though the NOL carryforwards can be adjusted upon audit and could impact taxes owed in open tax years. No income tax returns are currently under examination by the taxing authorities. The Tax Act includes Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income (“GILTI”) provisions that require a company to include in its U.S. income tax return foreign subsidiary earnings in excess of an allowable return on the foreign subsidiary’s tangible assets. Due to foreign subsidiary losses, this provision did not apply to the Company in 2021. Another significant section of the Tax Act, the Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax (“BEAT”), did not apply to the Company’s 2021 tax year as the Company’s base erosion payments are less than 3% of the Company’s total deductions. As these taxes may become applicable in the future, the Company will continue to monitor the potential impact. |
Stockholders' Equity
Stockholders' Equity | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] | |
Stockholders' Equity | Stockholders’ Equity Common Stock As of December 31, 2021, the Company was authorized to issue 205,000,000 total shares of capital stock, consisting of 200,000,000 shares of common stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of December 31, 2021, there were 75,754,663 shares of common stock outstanding, and the Company had reserved a total of 24,352,021 of its authorized shares of common stock for future issuance as follows: Shares Reserved for Future Issuance Outstanding restricted stock units 2,613,063 Outstanding performance restricted stock units 1,121,277 Outstanding stock options 3,477,439 Reserved for convertible senior notes 17,140,242 Total shares of common stock reserved for future issuance 24,352,021 On August 6, 2020, the Company sold 6,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to the public. The Company received net proceeds of $299.8 million, which the Company uses for working capital and other general corporate purposes. On May 22, 2019, the Company issued 4,608,101 shares of common stock in connection with its acquisition of Trilogy. On May 22, 2018, the Company sold 3,833,334 shares of its common stock to the public, including 500,000 shares sold pursuant to the underwriters’ over-allotment option, and received net proceeds of $330.9 million. Stock-Based Compensation The Company maintains two stock-based compensation plans: the Amended and Restated 2014 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan” and together with the 2014 Plan, the “Stock Plans”). Upon the effective date of the 2014 Plan in January 2014, the Company ceased using the 2008 Plan to grant new equity awards. 2014 Plan In February 2014, the Company’s stockholders approved the 2014 Plan. The 2014 Plan provides for the grant of incentive stock options to the Company’s employees and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards, restricted stock unit awards, stock appreciation rights, performance stock awards and other forms of stock compensation to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants. The 2014 Plan also provides for the grant of performance-based cash awards to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants. A total of 2,800,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were initially reserved for issuance pursuant to the 2014 Plan. In addition, the shares reserved for issuance under the 2014 Plan include (a) those shares reserved but unissued under the 2008 Plan, and (b) shares returned to the 2008 Plan as the result of expiration or termination of awards (provided that the maximum number of shares that may be added to the 2014 Plan pursuant to (a) and (b) is 5,943,348 shares). The number of shares of the Company’s common stock that may be issued under the 2014 Plan will automatically increase on January 1st of each year, for a period of ten years, from January 1, 2015 continuing through January 1, 2024, by 5% of the total number of shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding on December 31st of the preceding calendar year, or a lesser number of shares as may be determined by the Company’s board of directors. The shares available for future issuance under the 2014 Plan increased by 3,782,719 and 3,619,344 on January 1, 2022 and 2021, respectively, pursuant to the automatic share reserve increase provision in the 2014 Plan. In addition, shares subject to outstanding stock awards granted under the 2008 Plan and 2014 Plan that (i) expire or terminate for any reason prior to exercise or settlement; (ii) are forfeited because of the failure to meet a contingency or condition required to vest such shares or otherwise return to the Company; or (iii) are reacquired or withheld (or not issued) to satisfy a tax withholding obligation in connection with an award or to satisfy the purchase price or exercise price of a stock award, return to the 2014 Plan’s share reserve and become available for future grant under the 2014 Plan, up to the maximum number of shares of 5,943,348. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had 7,465,698 shares available for issuance under the 2014 Plan. Further, as of December 31, 2021, under the 2014 Plan, options to purchase 2,593,719 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding at a weighted-average exercise price of $46.38 per share, and 2,613,063 RSUs and 1,121,277 PRSUs were also outstanding. 2008 Plan In October 2008, the Company’s stockholders approved the Company’s 2008 Plan. The 2008 Plan was most recently amended on May 8, 2013. The 2008 Plan provided for the grant of incentive stock options to the Company’s employees and the employees of the Company’s subsidiaries, and for the grant of nonstatutory stock options, restricted stock awards and deferred stock awards to the Company’s employees, directors and consultants. The Company ceased granting equity awards under the 2008 Plan, and accordingly, as of January 30, 2014, no shares were available for future grant under the 2008 Plan. However, the 2008 Plan will continue to govern the terms and conditions of outstanding awards granted thereunder. As of December 31, 2021, options to purchase 883,720 shares of the Company’s common stock were outstanding under the 2008 Plan at a weighted-average exercise price of $6.04 per share. Employee Stock Purchase Plan The Company also has an ESPP. The Company’s ESPP provides (i) for two offering periods each year and (ii) that the purchase price for shares of the Company’s common stock purchased under the ESPP will be 90% of the lesser of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the purchase date or the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the first day of the offering period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the compensation committee of the Company’s board of directors may exercise its discretion, subject to certain conditions, to make changes to certain aspects of the ESPP including, but not limited to, the length of the offering periods and that the purchase price will be 85% of the lesser of the fair market value of the Company’s common stock on the purchase date or the fair market value of 2U’s common stock on the first day of the offering period. Participating eligible employees select a rate of payroll deduction between 1% and 15% of their salary or wage compensation received from the Company as in effect at the start of the offering period, with the aggregate purchase limited to a maximum fair market value of $25,000 per employee per year. Participation in the ESPP began on January 1, 2018. The ESPP is intended to qualify as an employee stock purchase plan under Section 423 of the Internal Revenue Code. A maximum of 1,000,000 shares of 2U’s common stock may be issued under the ESPP, subject to adjustments for certain capital transactions. During the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, an aggregate of 150,685 and 146,570 shares, respectively, of the Company’s common stock were purchased in accordance with the ESPP. Net proceeds from the issuance of these shares were $3.6 million and $4.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of December 31, 2021, 515,709 shares remained available for purchase under the ESPP. Stock-Based Compensation Expense The following table presents stock-based compensation expense related to the Stock Plans and the ESPP, contained on the following line items on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Curriculum and teaching $ 69 $ 230 $ 45 Servicing and support 15,352 14,033 8,915 Technology and content development 11,832 12,014 8,241 Marketing and sales 6,711 8,217 7,021 General and administrative 63,802 47,548 27,282 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 97,766 $ 82,042 $ 51,504 Restricted Stock Units The 2014 Plan provides for the issuance of RSUs to employees and consultants. RSUs generally vest over a three Throughout 2021 and 2020, the Company granted RSUs under the 2014 Plan to the Company’s directors and certain of the Company’s employees and certain consultants. The terms of the restricted stock unit grants under the 2014 Plan, including the vesting periods, are determined by the Company’s board of directors or the compensation committee thereof. Restricted stock units are generally subject to service-based vesting conditions and vest at various times from the date of the grant, with most restricted stock units vesting in equal annual tranches, generally over a period of three The following table presents a summary of the Company’s RSU activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 3,010,019 $ 29.41 Granted 1,470,090 37.07 Vested (1,480,281) 31.31 Forfeited (386,765) 31.76 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 2,613,063 $ 32.29 The total compensation cost related to the unvested RSUs not yet recognized as of December 31, 2021 was $56.6 million and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.4 years. Performance Restricted Stock Units The 2014 Plan provides for the issuance of PRSUs to employees and consultants. PRSUs generally include both service conditions and market conditions related to total shareholder return targets relative to that of companies comprising the Russell 3000 Index. During the fourth quarter of 2019, the Company granted 1.3 million PRSUs with a weighted-average grant date fair value per share of $22.94 to certain of its employees. These PRSU awards are subject to vesting over a period of three years, based on the Company’s stock price achieving predetermined total shareholder return targets relative to that of companies comprising the Russell 3000 Index during each of the one, two and three-year vesting periods. The PRSU award agreements provide that the quantity of units subject to vesting may range from 200% to 0% of the granted quantities, depending on the achievement of market-based targets. The expense recognized each period is determined at the time of grant and not subject to fluctuation due to the achievement of market-based targets. In each of the fourth quarters ending 2020 and 2021, as a result of the achievement of market-based targets for the first and second performance periods of these PRSUs, 200% of the eligible units vested. During the first quarter of 2020, as part of its annual equity awards cycle, the Company awarded 1.9 million PRSUs with an aggregate intrinsic value of $37.8 million. Of these PRSUs, 0.6 million were granted in January 2020 with a weighted-average grant date fair value per share of $22.45, and 0.6 million were granted in January 2021 with a weighted-average grant date fair value per share of $61.14. These PRSU awards are subject to vesting over respective one year periods, based on the Company’s stock price achieving predetermined total shareholder return targets relative to that of companies comprising the Russell 3000 Index. The PRSU award agreements provide that the quantity of units subject to vesting may range from 200% to 0% of the granted quantities for each of the first and second performance periods, depending on the achievement of market-based targets. The expense recognized each period is determined at the time of grant and not subject to fluctuation due to the achievement of market-based targets. In January 2021, as a result of the achievement of market-based targets for the first performance period of these PRSUs, 200% of the granted quantities vested. In January 2022, as a result of not achieving the market-based targets for the second performance period of these PRSUs, 0% of the granted quantities vested. Achievement percentages applicable to each performance period will be determined prior to the grant date. During the first quarter of 2021, as part of its annual equity awards cycle, the Company awarded 0.4 million PRSUs with an aggregate intrinsic value of $20.0 million. Of these PRSUs, 0.1 million were granted with a weighted-average grant date fair value per share of $40.69. Certain of these PRSU awards are subject to vesting over a period of one year, while certain other of these awards are subject to vesting over a period of three years, all of which are based on the Company’s internal financial performance achieving predetermined targets. The PRSU award agreements provide that the quantity of units subject to vesting may range from 200% to 0% of the granted quantities for the first performance period, depending on the achievement of internal financial performance-based targets. The expense recognized each period is estimated at the time of grant and is subject to fluctuation due to the achievement of internal financial performance-based targets. In January 2022, as a result of the achievement of internal financial performance-based targets for the first performance period of these PRSUs, 112.7% of the goals were achieved, and the PRSUs subject to a one-year service period vested. Achievement percentages applicable to each performance period will be determined prior to the grant date. During the first quarter of 2021, as part of its annual equity awards cycle, the Company granted 0.2 million PRSUs with an aggregate intrinsic value of $9.1 million and a weighted-average grant date fair value of $61.94. These PRSU awards are subject to vesting over a single three-year period, based on the Company’s stock price achieving predetermined total shareholder return targets relative to that of companies comprising the Russell 3000 Index. The PRSU award agreements provide that the quantity of units subject to vesting may range from 200% to 0% of the granted quantities for the performance period, depending on the achievement of market-based targets. The expense recognized each period is determined at the time of grant and not subject to fluctuation due to the achievement of market-based targets. The Company values PRSUs subject to market-based vesting conditions using a Monte Carlo valuation model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, expected life, expected stock price volatility and dividend yield. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates for constant maturity U.S. Treasury securities consistent with the performance period. The expected life is consistent with the performance period of the awards. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over the estimated expected life. The Company assumes no dividend yield because dividends are not expected to be paid in the near future, which is consistent with the Company’s history of not declaring or paying dividends to date. The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair values of the PRSUs subject to market-based vesting conditions that were granted for the periods presented. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 Risk-free interest rate 0.10% – 0.26% 1.51% Expected term (years) 1.00 – 3.00 1.00 Expected volatility 85% – 89% 75% Dividend yield 0% 0% The following table presents a summary of the Company’s PRSU activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 1,355,296 $ 23.51 Granted 1,916,354 41.10 Vested (1,928,729) 24.25 Forfeited (221,644) 42.17 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 1,121,277 $ 48.62 The total compensation cost related to the unvested PRSUs not yet recognized as of December 31, 2021 was $11.5 million and will be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.3 years. Stock Options The Stock Plans provide for the issuance of stock options to employees and consultants. Stock options issued under the Stock Plans generally are exercisable for periods not to exceed 10 years and generally vest over four years. The terms of stock option grants, including the exercise price per share and vesting periods, are determined by the Company’s board of directors or the compensation committee thereof. Stock options are granted at exercise prices of not less than the estimated fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. Stock options are generally subject to service-based vesting conditions and vest at various times from the date of the grant, with most options vesting in tranches, generally over a period of four years. Stock options granted under the 2014 Plan and the 2008 Plan are subject to service-based vesting conditions, and generally expire ten years from the grant date. The Company values stock options using the Black-Scholes option pricing model, which requires the input of subjective assumptions, including the risk-free interest rate, expected life of the option, expected stock price volatility and dividend yield. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates for constant maturity U.S. Treasury securities consistent with the expected term of the Company’s employee stock options. The expected life represents the period of time the stock options are expected to be outstanding and is based on the “simplified method.” Under the “simplified method,” the expected life of an option is presumed to be the mid-point between the vesting date and the end of the contractual term. The Company uses the “simplified method” due to the lack of sufficient historical exercise data to provide a reasonable basis upon which to otherwise estimate the expected life of the stock options. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s common stock over the estimated expected life of the stock options. The Company assumes no dividend yield because dividends are not expected to be paid in the near future, which is consistent with the Company’s history of not declaring or paying dividends to date. The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair value of the stock options granted for the periods presented. No stock options were granted during the year ended December 31, 2021. Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 Risk-free interest rate 1.5% 1.6% - 2.6% Expected term (years) 6.04 5.96 - 6.08 Expected volatility 64% 45% - 64% Dividend yield 0% 0% The following table presents a summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 3,916,867 $ 35.63 5.08 $ 59,906 Granted — — — Exercised (326,430) 21.29 1.68 Forfeited (60,388) 55.64 Expired (52,610) 68.81 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 3,477,439 36.13 3.87 16,246 Exercisable as of December 31, 2021 3,154,910 $ 32.62 3.58 $ 16,191 The weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 was $11.48 and $28.49 per share, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 was $6.8 million, $8.7 million and $15.4 million, respectively. |
Net Loss per Share
Net Loss per Share | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] | |
Net Loss per Share | Net Loss per Share Diluted net loss per share is the same as basic net loss per share for all periods presented because the effects of potentially dilutive items were anti-dilutive, given the Company’s net loss. The following securities have been excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding because the effect is anti-dilutive for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Stock options 3,477,439 3,916,867 4,373,895 Restricted stock units 2,613,063 3,010,019 2,281,142 Performance restricted stock units 1,121,277 1,355,296 1,413,773 Shares related to convertible senior notes 13,443,374 3,432,837 — Total antidilutive securities 20,655,153 11,715,019 8,068,810 The following table presents the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share for each of the periods indicated. The calculation of diluted net loss per share reflects the Company’s intent to settle conversions of the Notes through a combination settlement, which contemplates repayment in cash of the principal amount and repayment in shares of the Company’s common stock of any excess of the conversion value over the principal amount. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Numerator (in thousands): Net loss $ (194,766) $ (216,484) $ (235,222) Denominator: Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted 74,580,115 67,142,976 61,393,666 Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (2.61) $ (3.22) $ (3.83) |
Segment and Geographic Informat
Segment and Geographic Information | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Segment Reporting [Abstract] | |
Segment and Geographic Information | Segment and Geographic Information The Company has two reportable segments: the Degree Program Segment and the Alternative Credential Segment. The Company’s reportable segments are determined based on (i) financial information reviewed by the chief operating decision maker, the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), (ii) internal management and related reporting structure, and (iii) the basis upon which the CEO makes resource allocation decisions. The Company’s Degree Program Segment includes the technology and services provided to nonprofit colleges and universities to enable the online delivery of degree programs. The Company’s Alternative Credential Segment includes the premium online executive education programs and technical skills-based boot camps provided through relationships with nonprofit colleges and universities. Significant Customers For the year ended December 31, 2021, no university clients accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2020, one university client in the Degree Program Segment accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenue, contributing $74.6 million, or approximately 10% of the Company’s consolidated revenue. For the year ended December 31, 2019, one university client in the Degree Program Segment accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated revenue, contributing $83.5 million, or approximately 15% of the Company’s consolidated revenue. As of December 31, 2021, two university clients in the Degree Program Segment each accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable, net balance, as follows: $9.8 million and $8.8 million, which equaled 14% and 13% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable, net balance, respectively. As of December 31, 2020, two university clients in the Degree Program Segment each accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable, net balance, contributing $5.8 million and $5.2 million, or approximately 12% and 11% of the Company’s consolidated accounts receivable, net balance, respectively. Segment Performance The following table presents financial information regarding each of the Company’s reportable segment’s results of operations for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Revenue by segment* Degree Program Segment $ 592,288 $ 486,676 $ 417,206 Alternative Credential Segment 353,394 287,857 157,465 Total revenue $ 945,682 $ 774,533 $ 574,671 Segment profitability** Degree Program Segment $ 126,141 $ 49,607 $ 5,770 Alternative Credential Segment (59,564) (33,534) (29,716) Total segment profitability $ 66,577 $ 16,073 $ (23,946) Segment profitability margin*** Degree Program Segment 21 % 10 % 1 % Alternative Credential Segment (17) % (12) % (19) % Total segment profitability margin 7 % 2 % (4) % * The Company has excluded immaterial amounts of intersegment revenues from the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. ** The Company defines segment profitability as net income or net loss, as applicable, before net interest income (expense), other income (expense), net, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, deferred revenue fair value adjustments, transaction costs, integration costs, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, losses on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. Some or all of these items may not be applicable in any given reporting period. *** The Company defines segment profitability margin as segment profitability as a percentage of the respective segment’s revenue. The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s total segment profitability to net loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Net loss $ (194,766) $ (216,484) $ (235,222) Adjustments: Stock-based compensation expense 97,766 82,042 51,504 Other (income) expense, net (22,324) 1,429 707 Net interest expense 49,747 25,963 7,619 Income tax benefit (1,196) (1,514) (19,860) Depreciation and amortization expense 108,448 96,469 69,843 Loss on debt extinguishment 1,101 11,671 — Impairment charge — — 70,379 Other* 27,801 16,497 31,084 Total adjustments 261,343 232,557 211,276 Total segment profitability $ 66,577 $ 16,073 $ (23,946) * Includes (i) transaction and integration costs of $16.9 million, $2.3 million and $8.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, (ii) restructuring-related costs of $8.5 million, $6.8 million and $10.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, (iii) stockholder activism and litigation-related costs of $2.4 million, $7.4 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and (iv) deferred revenue fair value adjustments of $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. The following table presents the Company’s total assets by segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, December 31, (in thousands) Total assets Degree Program Segment $ 546,572 $ 830,706 Alternative Credential Segment 1,562,434 713,558 Total assets $ 2,109,006 $ 1,544,264 Geographical Information The Company’s non-U.S. revenue is based on the currency of the country in which the university client primarily operates. The Company’s non-U.S. revenue was $98.5 million, $73.0 million and $40.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Substantially all of the Company’s non-U.S. revenue for each of the aforementioned periods was sourced from the Alternative Credential Segment’s operations outside of the U.S. The Company’s long-lived tangible assets in non-U.S. countries as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 totaled approximately $3.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively. |
Receivables and Contract Liabil
Receivables and Contract Liabilities | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Receivables And Contract Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Receivables and Contract Liabilities | Receivables and Contract Liabilities Trade Accounts Receivable The Company’s trade accounts receivable balances relate to amounts due from students or customers occurring in the normal course of business. Trade accounts receivable balances have a term of less than one year and are included in accounts receivable, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The following table presents the Company’s trade accounts receivable in each segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Degree Program Segment accounts receivable $ 31,762 $ 16,424 Degree Program Segment unbilled revenue 4,440 6,072 Alternative Credential Segment accounts receivable 42,771 29,717 Total 78,973 52,213 Less: Provision for credit losses (11,686) (5,936) Trade accounts receivable, net $ 67,287 $ 46,277 The following table presents the change in provision for credit losses for trade accounts receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the period indicated. Provision for Credit Losses (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 5,936 Current period provision 6,794 Amounts written off (157) Amounts recovered (874) Foreign currency translation adjustments (13) Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 11,686 Other Receivables The Company’s other receivables are comprised of amounts due under tuition payment plans with extended payment terms from students enrolled in certain of the Company’s alternative credential offerings. These payment plans, which are managed and serviced by third-party providers, are designed to assist students with paying tuition costs after all other student financial assistance and scholarships have been applied. The associated receivables generally have payment terms that range from 12 to 42 months and are recorded net of any implied pricing concessions, which are determined based on collections history, market data and any time value of money component. There are no fees or origination costs included in these receivables. The carrying value of these receivable balances approximate their fair value. The following table presents the components of the Company’s other receivables, net, as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Other receivables, amortized cost $ 52,428 $ 25,587 Less: Provision for credit losses (1,421) (179) Other receivables, net $ 51,007 $ 25,408 Other receivables, net, current $ 29,439 $ 1,076 Other receivables, net, non-current $ 21,568 $ 24,332 The following table presents the change in provision for credit losses for other receivables on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the period indicated. Provision for Credit Losses (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 179 Current period provision 1,242 Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 1,421 The Company considers receivables to be past due when amounts contractually due under the extended payment plans have not been paid. As of December 31, 2021, 93% of other receivables, net due under extended payment plans were current. At the time of origination, the Company categorizes its other receivables using a credit quality indicator based on the credit tier rankings obtained from the third-party providers that manage and service the payment plans. The third-party providers utilize credit rating agency data to determine the credit tier rankings. The Company monitors the collectability of its other receivables on an ongoing basis. The adequacy of the allowance for credit losses is determined through analysis of multiple factors, including industry trends, portfolio performance, and delinquency rates. The following tables present other receivables, at amortized cost including interest accretion, by credit quality indicator and year of origination, as of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 Year of Origination 2021 2020 2019 2018 Total (in thousands) Credit Quality Tier High $ 18,466 $ 1,635 $ 24 $ 115 $ 20,240 Mid 14,352 2,992 1,312 392 19,048 Low 8,135 2,802 1,873 330 13,140 Total $ 40,953 $ 7,429 $ 3,209 $ 837 $ 52,428 December 31, 2020 Year of Origination 2020 2019 2018 Total (in thousands) Credit Quality Tier High $ 9,506 $ 28 $ 104 $ 9,638 Mid 7,821 1,126 356 9,303 Low 4,892 1,453 301 6,646 Total $ 22,219 $ 2,607 $ 761 $ 25,587 Contract Liabilities The Company’s deferred revenue represents contract liabilities. The Company generally receives payments from Degree Program Segment university clients early in each academic term and from Alternative Credential Segment students, either in full upon registration for the course or in full before the end of the course based on a payment plan, prior to completion of the service period. These payments are recorded as deferred revenue until the services are delivered or until the Company’s obligations are otherwise met, at which time revenue is recognized. The following table presents the Company’s contract liabilities in each segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Degree Program Segment deferred revenue $ 3,462 $ 1,714 Alternative Credential Segment deferred revenue 88,464 73,779 Total contract liabilities $ 91,926 $ 75,493 For the Degree Program Segment, revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 that was included in the deferred revenue balance that existed at the end of each preceding year was $1.7 million and $2.2 million, respectively. For the Alternative Credential Segment, revenue recognized during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 that was included in the deferred revenue balance that existed at the end of each preceding year was $71.9 million and $46.6 million, respectively. Contract Acquisition Costs The Degree Program Segment had $0.5 million and $0.5 million of net capitalized contract acquisition costs recorded primarily within other assets, non-current on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, the Company capitalized an immaterial amount of contract acquisition costs and recorded an immaterial amount of associated amortization expense in the Degree Program Segment. |
Retirement Plan
Retirement Plan | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Retirement Benefits [Abstract] | |
Retirement Plan | Retirement PlanThe Company has established a 401(k) plan for eligible employees to contribute up to 100% of their compensation, limited by the IRS-imposed maximum contribution amount. The Company matches 100% of the first 2% of each employee’s contribution, and 50% of the next 4% of each employee’s contribution, each plan year. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, the Company made employer contributions of $7.8 million, $3.6 million and $3.0 million, respectively. |
Subsequent Events
Subsequent Events | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Subsequent Events [Abstract] | |
Subsequent Events | Subsequent EventSubsequent to year-end and through the date of this filing, the Company has experienced a significant decline in its market capitalization, from $1.5 billion to $0.8 billion. Management is evaluating whether this decline represents a triggering event for assessing the goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset balances for impairment in the first quarter of 2022. As of December 31, 2021, the balances of the Company’s goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset were $834.5 million and $255.0 million, respectively. |
Schedule II - Valuation and Qua
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Valuation and Qualifying Accounts [Abstract] | |
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts | Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (in thousands) Balance at Beginning of Period Additions Charged to Expense/Against Revenue Deductions Balance at End of Period Provision for credit losses for trade accounts receivable: Year ended December 31, 2021 $ 5,936 $ 6,794 $ (1,044) $ 11,686 Year ended December 31, 2020 1,331 4,642 (37) 5,936 Year ended December 31, 2019 $ 257 $ 1,425 $ (351) $ 1,331 Balance at Beginning of Period Additions Deductions Balance at End of Period Income tax valuation allowance: Year ended December 31, 2021 $ 137,767 $ 53,012 $ — $ 190,779 Year ended December 31, 2020 116,244 21,523 — 137,767 Year ended December 31, 2019 $ 88,061 $ 45,642 $ (17,459) $ 116,244 |
Significant Accounting Polici_2
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Accounting Policies [Abstract] | |
Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation | Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and include the assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash flows of the Company. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. |
Reclassifications | Reclassifications The Company has reclassified prior period amounts in the consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows to conform to the current period’s presentation of other receivables. Within the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2020, the Company reclassified $1.1 million from prepaid expenses and other assets to other receivables, net and $24.3 million from other assets, non-current to other receivables, net, non-current. Within the Company’s consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019, the Company reclassified $21.1 |
Use of Estimates | Use of Estimates The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported herein. The Company bases its estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on various other factors that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Significant items subject to such estimates include, but are not limited to, the measurement of provisions for credit losses, implied price concessions, acquired intangible assets, the recoverability of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, deferred tax assets, and the fair value of the convertible senior notes. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making estimates, particularly in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, actual results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in those estimates. The Company evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. |
Revenue Recognition, Receivable and Provision for Credit Losses | Revenue Recognition, Receivables and Provision for Credit Losses The Company generates substantially all of its revenue from contractual arrangements, with either its university clients or students, to provide a comprehensive platform of tightly integrated technology and technology-enabled services that support its offerings. Performance Obligations A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to the customer. A contract’s transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when, or as, the performance obligation is satisfied. The transaction price is determined based on the consideration to which the Company will be entitled in exchange for transferring services to the customer. To the extent the transaction price includes variable consideration, the Company estimates the amount of variable consideration that should be included in the transaction price utilizing the expected value method. Variable consideration is included in the transaction price if, in the Company’s judgment, it is probable that a significant future reversal of cumulative revenue under the contract will not occur. Any estimates, including the effect of the constraint on variable consideration, are evaluated at each reporting period, and if necessary, the Company adjusts its estimate of the overall transaction price. Revenue is then recognized over the remaining estimated period of performance using the cumulative catch-up method. The Degree Program Segment derives revenue primarily from contractually specified percentages of the amounts the Company’s university clients receive from their students in 2U-enabled degree programs for tuition and fees, less credit card fees and other specified charges the Company has agreed to exclude in certain university contracts. The Company’s contracts with university clients in this segment typically have terms of 10 to 15 years and have a single performance obligation, as the promises to provide a platform of tightly integrated technology and services that university clients need to attract, enroll, educate and support students are not distinct within the context of the contracts. The single performance obligation is delivered as the university clients receive and consume benefits, which occurs ratably over a series of academic terms. The amounts received from university clients over the term of the arrangement are variable in nature in that they are dependent upon the number of students that are enrolled in the program within each academic term. These amounts are allocated to and are recognized ratably over the related academic term, defined as the period beginning on the first day of classes through the last. Revenue is recognized net of an allowance, which is established for the Company’s expected obligation to refund tuition and fees to university clients. The Alternative Credential Segment derives revenue primarily from contracts with students for the tuition and fees paid to enroll in, and progress through, the Company’s executive education programs and boot camps. The Company’s executive education programs run between two and 16 weeks, while boot camps run between 12 and 24 weeks. In this segment, the Company’s contracts with students include the delivery of the educational and related student support services and are treated as either a single performance obligation or multiple performance obligations, depending upon the offering being delivered. All performance obligations are satisfied ratably over the same presentation period, which is defined as the period beginning on the first day of the course through the last. The Company recognizes the proceeds received, net of any applicable pricing concessions, from the students enrolled and shares contractually specified amounts received from students with the associated university client, in exchange for licenses to use the university brand name and other university trademarks. These amounts are recognized as curriculum and teaching expenses on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. The Company’s contracts with university clients in this segment are typically shorter and less restrictive than the Company’s contracts with university clients in the Degree Program Segment. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for the Degree Program Segment because the variable consideration is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a service that forms part of a single performance obligation. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for the Alternative Credential Segment because the performance obligations are part of contracts that have original durations of less than one year. Contract Acquisition Costs The Company pays commissions to certain of its employees to obtain contracts with university clients in the Degree Program Segment. These costs are capitalized and recorded on a contract-by-contract basis and amortized using the straight-line method over the expected life, which is generally the length of the contract. With respect to contract acquisition costs in the Alternative Credential Segment, the Company has elected to apply the practical expedient in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 606 to expense these costs as incurred, as the terms of contracts with students in this segment are less than one year. Payments to University Clients Pursuant to certain of the Company’s contracts in the Degree Program Segment, the Company has made, or is obligated to make, payments to university clients at either the execution of a contract or at the extension of a contract in exchange for various marketing and other rights. Generally, these amounts are capitalized as other assets on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets, and amortized as contra revenue over the life of the contract, commencing on the later of when payment is due or when contract revenue recognition begins. Receivables, Contract Assets and Liabilities Balance sheet items related to contracts consist of accounts receivable, net, other receivables, net, and deferred revenue on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. Accounts receivable, net includes trade accounts receivable, which are comprised of billed and unbilled revenue. The Company’s trade accounts receivable balances have terms of less than one year. Accounts receivable, net is stated at amortized cost net of provision for credit losses. The Company’s methodology to measure the provision for credit losses requires an estimation of loss rates based upon historical loss experience adjusted for factors that are relevant to determining the expected collectability of accounts receivable. Some of these factors include current market conditions, delinquency trends, aging behavior of receivables and credit and liquidity quality indicators for industry groups, customer classes or individual customers. The Company’s estimates are reviewed and revised periodically based on the ongoing evaluation of credit quality indicators. Historically, actual write-offs for uncollectible accounts have not significantly differed from prior estimates. The Company recognizes unbilled revenue when revenue recognition occurs in advance of billings. Unbilled revenue is recognized in the Degree Program Segment because billings to university clients do not occur until after the academic term has commenced and final enrollment information is available. The Company’s unbilled revenue represents contract assets. Other receivables, net are comprised of amounts due under tuition payment plans with extended payment terms from students enrolled in certain of the Company’s alternative credential offerings. These plans, which are managed and serviced by third-party providers, are designed to assist students with covering tuition costs after all other student financial assistance and scholarships have been applied. The associated receivables generally have payment terms that range from 12 to 42 months and are recorded net of any implied pricing concessions, which are determined based on our collections history, market data and any time value of money component. There are no fees or origination costs included in these receivables. Deferred revenue represents the excess of amounts billed or received as compared to amounts recognized in revenue on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss as of the end of the reporting period, and such amounts are reflected as a current liability on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s deferred revenue represents contract liabilities. The Company generally receives payments from Degree Program Segment university clients early in each academic term and from Alternative Credential Segment students, either in full upon registration for the course or in full before the end of the course based on a payment plan, prior to completion of the service period. These payments are recorded as deferred revenue until the services are delivered or until the Company’s obligations are otherwise met, at which time revenue is recognized. Marketing and Sales Costs The Company’s marketing and sales costs relate to activities to attract students to offerings across both of the Company’s segments. This includes the cost of Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing and Social Media Optimization, as well as personnel and personnel-related expense for the Company’s marketing and recruiting teams. For the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, expense related to the Company’s marketing and advertising efforts of its own brand were not material. All such costs are expensed as incurred and reported in marketing and sales expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. |
Stock-Based Compensation | Stock-Based Compensation The Company provides stock-based compensation awards consisting of restricted stock units (“RSUs”), performance restricted stock units (“PRSUs”) and stock options to employees, directors and consultants. The Company measures all stock-based compensation awards at fair value as of the grant date. The fair values of RSUs and PRSUs containing performance-based vesting conditions are based on the fair value of the Company’s stock on the date of grant. The Company uses a Monte Carlo valuation model to estimate the fair value of PRSUs containing market-based vesting conditions and uses a Black-Scholes option pricing model to measure the fair value of stock option grants. The Company also maintains the 2017 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”) and estimates the fair value of each purchase right thereunder as of the grant date using a Black-Scholes option pricing model. For awards subject only to service-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the awards’ requisite service period. For awards subject to both service and performance-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method when it is probable that the performance condition will be achieved. For awards subject to both service and market-based vesting conditions, the Company recognizes stock-based compensation expense using an accelerated recognition method over the requisite service period beginning with the date of the grant and ending upon completion of the service period, with stock-based compensation expense being recognized irrespective of the achievement of the market condition. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. For shares subject to the ESPP, the Company uses the straight-line method to record stock-based compensation expense over the respective offering period. |
Income Taxes | Income Taxes Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that are included in the financial statements. Under this method, the deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of the assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on the deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in earnings in the period when the new rate is enacted. Deferred tax assets are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. Valuation allowances are established, when necessary, to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that more likely than not will be realized. The Company considers all positive and negative evidence relating to the realization of the deferred tax assets in assessing the need for a valuation allowance. The Company currently maintains a full valuation allowance against deferred tax assets in the U.S. and certain entities in the foreign jurisdictions. The Company records a liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulting from uncertain tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company accounts for uncertainty in income taxes using a two-step approach for evaluating tax positions. Step one, recognition, occurs when the Company concludes that a tax position, based solely on its technical merits, is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. Step two, measurement, determines the amount of benefit that is more likely than not to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. Derecognition of a tax position that was previously recognized would occur if the Company subsequently determines that a tax position no longer meets the more likely than not threshold of being sustained. The Company recognizes interest and penalties, if any, related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. |
Cash and Cash Equivalents | Cash and Cash Equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank checking accounts, money market accounts, investments in certificates of deposit that have an original maturity of three months or less and highly liquid marketable securities with maturities at the time of purchase of three months or less. |
Restricted Cash | Restricted Cash The Company maintains restricted cash as collateral for standby letters of credit for the Company’s leased facilities and in connection with the deferred government grant obligations. |
Fair Value Measurements | Fair Value Measurements The carrying amounts of certain assets and liabilities, including cash and cash equivalents, receivables, advances to university clients, accounts payable and accrued expenses and other current liabilities, approximate their respective fair values due to their short-term nature. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date, based on the Company’s principal or, in the absence of a principal, most advantageous, market for the specific asset or liability. U.S. GAAP provides for a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. Generally, assets are recorded at fair value on a non-recurring basis as a result of impairment charges. The Company remeasures non-financial assets such as goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets at fair value when there is an indicator of impairment, and records them at fair value only when recognizing an impairment loss. The fair value hierarchy requires the Company to use observable inputs when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. Refer to Notes 4 and 5 for further discussion of assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis. The three tiers are defined as follows: • Level 1 —Observable inputs that reflect quoted market prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets; • Level 2 —Observable inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly in the marketplace for identical or similar assets and liabilities; and • Level 3 —Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions about the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability based on the best information available in the circumstances. |
Property and Equipment | Property and Equipment Property and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Expenditures for major additions, construction and improvements are capitalized. Depreciation and amortization is expensed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets, which range from three five four |
Amortizable Intangible Assets | Amortizable Intangible Assets Acquired Definite-lived Intangible Assets. The Company capitalizes purchased intangible assets, such as software, websites and domains, and amortizes them on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life. Historically, the Company has assessed the useful lives of these acquired intangible assets to be between three Capitalized Technology. Capitalized technology includes certain purchased software and technology licenses, direct third-party costs, and internal payroll and payroll-related costs used in the creation of our internal-use software. Software development projects generally include three stages: the preliminary project stage (all costs are expensed as incurred), the application development stage (certain costs are capitalized and certain costs are expensed as incurred) and the post-implementation/operation stage (all costs are expensed as incurred). Costs capitalized in the application development stage include costs of designing the application, coding, integrating the Company’s and the university’s networks and systems, and the testing of the software. Capitalization of costs requires judgment in determining when a project has reached the application development stage and the period over which the Company expects to benefit from the use of that software. Once the software is placed in service, these amounts are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, which is generally three Capitalized Content Development. The Company develops content for each offering on a course-by-course basis in collaboration with university client faculty and industry experts. Depending upon the offering, the Company may use materials provided by university clients and their faculty, including curricula, case studies, presentations and other reading materials. The Company is responsible for the creation of materials suitable for delivery through the Company’s online learning platform, including all expenses associated with this effort. With respect to the Degree Program Segment, the development of content is part of the Company’s single performance obligation and is considered a contract fulfillment cost. four |
Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets | Evaluation of Long-Lived Assets The Company reviews long-lived assets, which consist of property and equipment, capitalized technology, capitalized content development and acquired finite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. In order to assess the recoverability of the capitalized technology and content development, the amounts are grouped by the lowest level of independent cash flows. Recoverability of a long-lived asset is measured by a comparison of the carrying value of an asset or asset group to the future undiscounted net cash flows expected to be generated by that asset or asset group. If such assets are not recoverable, the impairment to be recognized is measured by the amount by which the carrying value of an asset exceeds the estimated fair value (discounted cash flow) of the asset or asset group. The Company’s impairment analysis is based upon cumulative results and forecasted performance. |
Non-Cash Long-Lived Asset Additions | Non-Cash Long-Lived Asset AdditionsThe Company had non-cash capital asset additions of $1.8 million and $3.3 million in property and equipment, during the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. |
Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets | Goodwill Goodwill is the excess of purchase price over the fair value of identified net assets of businesses acquired. The Company’s goodwill balance relates to its acquisitions of GetSmarter in July 2017, Trilogy in May 2019 and edX in November 2021. The Company tests goodwill at the reporting unit level, which is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. The Company initially assesses qualitative factors to determine if it is necessary to perform a quantitative goodwill impairment review. The Company reviews goodwill for impairment using a quantitative approach if it decides to bypass the qualitative assessment or determines that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value based on a qualitative assessment. Upon completion of a quantitative assessment, the Company may be required to recognize an impairment based on the difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the reporting unit. The Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit by utilizing a weighted combination of the income-based and market-based approaches. The income-based approach requires the Company to make significant assumptions and estimates. These assumptions and estimates primarily include, but are not limited to, the selection of appropriate peer group companies, discount rates, terminal growth rates, and forecasts of revenue, operating income, depreciation and amortization expense, capital expenditures and future working capital requirements. When determining these assumptions and preparing these estimates, the Company considers each reporting unit’s historical results and current operating trends, revenue, profitability, cash flow results and forecasts, and industry trends. These estimates can be affected by a number of factors including, but not limited to, general economic and regulatory conditions, market capitalization, the continued efforts of competitors to gain market share and prospective student enrollment patterns. In addition, the value of a reporting unit using the market-based approach is estimated by comparing the reporting unit to other publicly traded companies and/or to publicly-disclosed business mergers and acquisitions in similar lines of business. The value of a reporting unit is based on pricing multiples of certain financial parameters observed in the comparable companies. The Company also makes estimates and assumptions for market values to determine a reporting unit’s estimated fair value. Based on the Company’s quantitative assessment performed during 2019 and the qualitative assessments performed as of October 1 in 2020 and 2021, the Company believes that the estimated fair values of the reporting units exceeded their carrying values by no less than 10%. It is possible that future changes in the Company’s circumstances, including potential impacts from COVID-19, or in the variables associated with the judgments, assumptions and estimates used in assessing the fair value of the Company’s reporting units, could require the Company to record additional impairment charges in the future. |
Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets | Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible asset was acquired in November 2021 and represents the established edX trade name. Given the timing of the edX Acquisition, the Company will review this asset for impairment as of October 1, 2022, or earlier if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of this asset below its carrying value. |
Equity Interests | Equity InterestsAs of December 31, 2020, the Company had a $10.0 million investment in an education technology company recorded within other assets, non-current on the consolidated balance sheets. This investment did not have a readily determinable fair value, and was accounted for as a cost method investment, which was subject to fair value remeasurement upon the occurrence of an observable event. |
Employee Benefits | Employee Benefits The Company offers a variety of benefits to its employees (e.g., health care, gym memberships and tuition reimbursement). The Company accounts for costs related to providing employee benefits as incurred, unless there is a service requirement, in which case, such costs are recognized over the service commitment period. |
Convertible Senior Notes and Debt Issuance Costs | The Notes are accounted for in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) ASC Subtopic 470-20, Debt with Conversion and Other Options (“ASC 470-20”). Pursuant to ASC 470-20, issuers of certain convertible debt instruments, such as the Notes, that have a net settlement feature and may be settled wholly or partially in cash upon conversion are required to separately account for the liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument. The carrying amount of the liability component of the instrument is computed by estimating the fair value of a similar liability without the conversion option using a market-based approach. The amount of the equity component is then calculated by deducting the fair value of the liability component from the principal amount of the instrument. The difference between the principal amount and the liability component represents a debt discount that is amortized to interest expense over the term of the Notes using the effective interest rate method. The equity component is not remeasured as long as it continues to meet the conditions for equity classification. In accounting for the issuance costs related to the Notes, the allocation of issuance costs incurred between the liability and equity components was based on their relative values. Debt Issuance Costs |
Leases | Leases For the Company’s operating leases, an assessment is performed to determine if an arrangement is a lease at inception. Right-of-use (“ROU”) assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease. Operating lease ROU assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. As the information necessary to determine the rate implicit in the Company’s leases is not readily available, the Company determines its incremental borrowing rate based on the information available at the lease commencement date in determining the present value of lease payments. The operating lease ROU asset also includes any prepaid lease payments made, less lease incentives. The Company’s lease terms include options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option. Lease expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The Company does not have any finance leases for any periods presented. The Company has elected, as an accounting policy for its leases of real estate, to account for lease and non-lease components in a contract as a single lease component. In addition, the recognition requirements are not applied to leases with a term of 12 months or less. Rather, the lease payments for short-term leases are recognized on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable payments that depend on an index or a rate are initially measured using the index or rate at the lease commencement date. Such variable payments are included in the total lease payments when measuring the lease liabilities and ROU assets. The Company will only remeasure variable payments that depend on an index or a rate when the Company is remeasuring the lease liabilities due to any of the following occurring: (i) the lease is modified and the modification is not accounted for as a separate contract; (ii) a contingency, upon which some or all of the variable lease payments that will be paid over the remainder of the lease term are based, is resolved; (iii) there is a change in lease term; (iv) there is a change in the probability of exercising a purchase option; or (v) there is a change in the amount probable of being owed under residual value guarantees. Until the lease liabilities are remeasured due to one of the aforementioned events, additional payments for an increase in the index or rate will be recognized in the period in which they are incurred. Variable payments that do not depend on an index or a rate are excluded from the measurement of the lease liabilities and recognized in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss in the period in which the obligation for those payments is incurred. |
Business Combinations | Business Combinations The purchase price of an acquisition is allocated to the assets acquired, including intangible assets, and liabilities assumed, based on their respective fair values at the acquisition date. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. The excess of the cost of an acquired entity, net of the amounts assigned to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, is recognized as goodwill. The net assets and results of operations of an acquired entity are included on the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the acquisition date. |
Foreign Currency Translation | Foreign Currency Translation For the portion of the Company’s non-U.S. business where the local currency is the functional currency, operating results are translated into U.S. dollars using the average rate of exchange for the period, and assets and liabilities are converted at the closing rates on the period end date. Gains and losses on translation of these accounts are accumulated and reported as a separate component of stockholder’s equity and comprehensive loss. For any transaction that is in a currency different from the entity’s functional currency, the Company records a gain or loss based on the difference between the exchange rate at the transaction date and the exchange rate at the transaction settlement date (or rate at period end, if unsettled) as other income (expense), net on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss. |
Concentration of Credit Risk | Concentration of Credit Risk Financial instruments that subject the Company to significant concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and accounts receivable. All of the Company’s cash is held at financial institutions that management believes to be of high credit quality. The Company’s bank accounts exceed federally insured limits at times. The Company has not experienced any losses on cash to date. The Company maintains an allowance for doubtful accounts, if needed, based on collection history. |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements | Recent Accounting Pronouncements In October 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2020-10, Codification Improvements . The amendments in this ASU affect a wide variety of topics in the Accounting Standards Codification by either clarifying the codification or correcting unintended application of guidance. The amendments do not change U.S. GAAP and, therefore, are not expected to result in a significant change in current accounting practice. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers . The new guidance requires companies to apply ASC Topic 606 to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities with customers acquired in a business combination, which creates an exception to the general recognition principle in ASC Topic 805. In addition, the guidance clarifies that companies should apply the definition of a performance obligation in ASC Topic 606 when recognizing contract liabilities assumed in a business combination. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022 and interim periods within those years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the standard in the fourth quarter of 2021, effective January 1, 2021. Adoption of this standard is reflected in the preliminary purchase price allocation of the edX Acquisition. Refer to Note 3 for further information about the edX Acquisition. In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-06, Debt—Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic 470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. This ASU simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts indexed to and potentially settled in an entity’s own equity. The new guidance eliminates the beneficial conversion and cash conversion accounting models for convertible instruments. As a result, in more cases, convertible debt will be accounted for as a single instrument. The guidance also removes certain conditions for equity classification related to contracts in an entity’s own equity and requires the application of the if-converted method for calculating diluted earnings per share. This ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021. Early adoption is permitted. The Company will adopt this ASU on a modified retrospective basis in the first quarter of 2022, effective as of January 1, 2022. The Company expects that the adoption of this ASU will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Although the Company continues to evaluate the effect of the ASU on the Company’s consolidated financial statements, the adoption of this ASU is expected to result in an increase in long-term debt of approximately $81.7 million to reflect the full principal amount of the Notes outstanding, net of issuance costs, a reduction of approximately $114.6 million to additional paid-in capital to remove the equity component separately recorded for the conversion features associated with the Notes, a reduction in deferred tax liabilities of approximately $22.1 million, and a cumulative-effect adjustment to opening accumulated deficit of $32.8 million. After the adoption of this ASU, the Company’s interest expense will be reduced as there will not be any further amortization of the debt discount due to the derecognition of the equity component that represents the value of the conversion option on the issuance date of the Notes. In addition, adoption of this ASU requires the use of the if-converted method for all convertible notes in the diluted net income (loss) per share calculation and the inclusion of the effect of potential share settlement of the convertible notes, if the effective is more dilutive. No impact to the number of potentially dilutive shares is expected upon adoption. Adoption of this standard is not expected to impact the Company’s liquidity or cash flows. In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting . This ASU is intended to provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying U.S. GAAP to contract modifications and hedging relationships, subject to meeting certain criteria, to ease the potential accounting and financial reporting burden associated with the expected market transition from the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) and other interbank offered rates to alternative reference rates. This ASU may be applied as of the beginning of any interim period that includes its effective date (i.e., March 12, 2020) through December 31, 2022. The Company will adopt this standard when LIBOR is discontinued and does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. In January 2020, the FASB issued ASU No. 2020-01, Investments—Equity Securities (Topic 321), Investments—Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323), and Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Clarifying the Interactions between Topic 321, Topic 323, and Topic 815 . This ASU was issued to clarify the interaction of the accounting for equity securities under ASC 321 and investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting in ASC 323 and the accounting for certain forward contracts and purchased options accounted for under ASC 815. With respect to the interactions between ASC 321 and ASC 323, the amendments clarify that an entity should consider observable transactions that require it to either apply or discontinue the equity method of accounting when applying the measurement alternative in ASC 321, immediately before applying or discontinuing the equity method of accounting. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes , as part of its initiative to reduce complexity in the accounting standards. The amendments in this ASU include removal of certain exceptions to the general principles in Topic 740 related to recognizing deferred taxes for investments, performing intraperiod tax allocation and calculating income taxes in an interim period. The ASU also clarifies and simplifies other aspects of the accounting for income taxes, including the recognition of deferred tax liabilities for outside basis differences. The Company adopted this ASU on January 1, 2021. Adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements or related disclosures. |
Business Combination (Tables)
Business Combination (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Business Combination and Asset Acquisition [Abstract] | |
Schedule of estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed | Estimated Purchase Price (in thousands) Cash and cash equivalents $ 11,901 Accounts receivable 6,608 Prepaid expenses and other assets 11,379 Property and equipment, net 529 Right-of-use assets 2,868 Other assets, non-current 572 Accounts payable and accrued expenses (17,024) Deferred revenue (20,264) Lease liability (2,868) Other liabilities (32,934) Intangible assets: Developed technology 3 15,400 University client relationships 10 104,000 Enterprise client relationships 10 14,300 Trade names indefinite 255,000 Goodwill 423,552 $ 773,019 |
Schedule of unaudited pro forma combined revenue and net loss | The Company’s unaudited pro forma combined financial information below is presented for illustrative purposes and does not purport to represent what the results of operations would actually have been if the business combination occurred as of the date indicated or what the results would be for any future periods. The following table presents the Company’s unaudited pro forma combined revenue, pro forma combined net loss and pro forma combined net loss per share for the years ended December 31, 2021 and and 2020, as if the acquisition of edX had occurred on January 1, 2020. Year Ended 2021 2020 (in thousands) Pro forma revenue $ 985,016 $ 818,700 Pro forma net loss $ (273,889) $ (323,277) Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (3.67) $ (4.81) |
Property and Equipment, Net (Ta
Property and Equipment, Net (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Property, Plant and Equipment [Abstract] | |
Schedule of property and equipment, net | The following table presents the components of property and equipment, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, December 31, (in thousands) Computer hardware $ 9,454 $ 9,053 Furniture and office equipment 16,739 18,041 Leasehold improvements 57,972 58,443 Leasehold improvements in process 5,667 2,184 Total 89,832 87,721 Accumulated depreciation and amortization (41,182) (34,987) Property and equipment, net $ 48,650 $ 52,734 |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Intangible Assets (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Goodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Schedule of goodwill | The following table presents the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the periods indicated. Alternative Credential Segment Unassigned Goodwill Total (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2019 $ 418,350 $ — $ 418,350 Foreign currency translation adjustments and other (2,520) — (2,520) Balance as of December 31, 2020 415,830 — 415,830 Goodwill recognized in connection with business combination* — 423,552 423,552 Foreign currency translation adjustments (4,843) — (4,843) Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 410,987 $ 423,552 $ 834,539 * See Note 3 for a discussion of the Acquisition. |
Schedule of amortizable intangible assets | The following table presents the components of intangible assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net (in thousands) Definite-lived intangible assets Capitalized technology 3-5 $ 199,766 $ (112,357) $ 87,409 $ 165,254 $ (75,822) $ 89,432 Capitalized content development 4-5 243,687 (125,599) 118,088 208,170 (88,168) 120,002 University client relationships 9-10 211,680 (34,995) 176,685 109,498 (23,376) 86,122 Enterprise client relationships 10 14,300 (179) 14,121 — — — Trade names and domain names 5-10 27,161 (12,941) 14,220 26,697 (9,483) 17,214 Total definite-lived intangible assets 696,594 (286,071) 410,523 509,619 (196,849) 312,770 Indefinite-lived intangible assets Trade names indefinite 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total indefinite-lived intangible assets 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total intangible assets, net $ 951,594 $ (286,071) $ 665,523 $ 509,619 $ (196,849) $ 312,770 |
Schedule of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets | The following table presents the components of intangible assets, net on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 Estimated Gross Accumulated Net Gross Accumulated Net (in thousands) Definite-lived intangible assets Capitalized technology 3-5 $ 199,766 $ (112,357) $ 87,409 $ 165,254 $ (75,822) $ 89,432 Capitalized content development 4-5 243,687 (125,599) 118,088 208,170 (88,168) 120,002 University client relationships 9-10 211,680 (34,995) 176,685 109,498 (23,376) 86,122 Enterprise client relationships 10 14,300 (179) 14,121 — — — Trade names and domain names 5-10 27,161 (12,941) 14,220 26,697 (9,483) 17,214 Total definite-lived intangible assets 696,594 (286,071) 410,523 509,619 (196,849) 312,770 Indefinite-lived intangible assets Trade names indefinite 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total indefinite-lived intangible assets 255,000 — 255,000 — — — Total intangible assets, net $ 951,594 $ (286,071) $ 665,523 $ 509,619 $ (196,849) $ 312,770 |
Schedule of estimated future amortization expense for amortizable intangible assets | The following table presents the estimated future amortization expense of the Company’s amortizable intangible assets placed in service as of December 31, 2021. Future Amortization Expense (in thousands) 2022 $ 90,116 2023 75,153 2024 59,615 2025 35,305 2026 24,291 Thereafter 79,734 Total $ 364,214 |
Other Balance Sheet Details (Ta
Other Balance Sheet Details (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | |
Schedule of accounts payable and accrued expenses | The following table presents the components of accounts payable and accrued expenses on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Accrued university and instructional staff compensation $ 36,806 $ 27,371 Accrued marketing expenses 26,469 24,682 Accrued transaction, integration and restructuring-related expenses 4,072 3,492 Accrued compensation and related benefits 49,143 52,820 Accounts payable and other accrued expenses 49,968 22,309 Total accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 166,458 $ 130,674 |
Commitments and Contingencies (
Commitments and Contingencies (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Schedule of future minimum payments to university clients | The following table presents the estimated future minimum payments due to university clients as of December 31, 2021. Future Minimum Payments (in thousands) 2022 $ 1,725 2023 625 2024 625 2025 625 2026 625 Thereafter 1,900 Total future minimum payments to university clients $ 6,125 |
Other Income (Expense) (Tables)
Other Income (Expense) (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract] | |
Schedule of Components of Other Income (Expense) | The following table presents the components of other income (expense) on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Other income (expense): Gain on sale of investment $ 27,762 $ — $ — Foreign currency loss (2,491) (1,429) (707) Other (2,947) — — Total $ 22,324 $ (1,429) $ (707) |
Leases (Tables)
Leases (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Leases [Abstract] | |
Schedule of lease cost | The following table presents the components of lease expense on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended 2021 2020 (in thousands) Operating lease expense $ 18,933 $ 15,153 Short-term lease expense 185 362 Variable lease expense 6,279 5,837 Sublease income (489) (36) Total lease expense $ 24,908 $ 21,316 |
Schedule of maturities of operating lease liabilities | The following table presents the maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of the date indicated, and excludes the impact of future sublease income totaling $4.4 million in aggregate. December 31, 2021 (in thousands) 2022 $ 24,200 2023 21,789 2024 21,535 2025 17,716 2026 18,229 Thereafter 69,674 Total lease payments 173,143 Less: imputed interest (60,492) Total lease liability $ 112,651 |
Debt (Tables)
Debt (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Debt Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Schedule of long-term debt | The following table presents the components of outstanding long-term debt on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Term loan facilities $ 572,374 $ — Convertible senior notes 380,000 380,000 Deferred government grant obligations 3,500 3,500 Other borrowings 4,423 1,343 Less: unamortized debt discount and issuance costs (107,777) (111,043) Total debt 852,520 273,800 Less: current portion of long-term debt (7,204) (627) Total long-term debt $ 845,316 $ 273,173 |
Schedule of Maturities of Long-term Debt | Future principal payments under the Amended Term Loan Facility, the Notes, and the government grants, as of the date indicated are as follows: December 31, 2021 (in thousands) 2022 $ 5,753 2023 5,753 2024 560,869 2025 380,000 2026 — Thereafter* 3,500 Total future principal payments $ 955,875 * Amounts represent conditional loan obligations that may be forgiven, provided that the Company attains certain conditions related to employment levels at 2U’s Lanham, Maryland headquarters. |
Income Taxes (Tables)
Income Taxes (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Schedule components of loss before income taxes | The following table presents the components of loss before income taxes on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Loss before income taxes: United States $ (172,856) $ (204,522) $ (239,629) Foreign (23,106) (13,476) (15,453) Total $ (195,962) $ (217,998) $ (255,082) |
Schedule of components of income tax (provision) benefit | The following table presents the components of the income tax benefit (provision) on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Current income tax (provision) benefit: United States federal and state $ (240) $ (347) $ (97) Foreign (636) (249) 3 Total current income tax provision $ (876) $ (596) $ (94) Deferred income tax (provision) benefit: United States federal and state $ (389) $ — $ 17,459 Foreign 2,461 2,110 2,495 Total deferred income tax benefit $ 2,072 $ 2,110 $ 19,954 Total income tax benefit $ 1,196 $ 1,514 $ 19,860 |
Schedule of reconciliation of the statutory federal income tax rate to the actual effective income tax rate | The following table presents a reconciliation between the Company’s statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 U.S. statutory federal income tax rate 21.0 % 21.0 % 21.0 % Increase (decrease) resulting from: U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefits 4.4 5.0 4.2 Foreign tax rate differential 0.1 0.3 0.2 Non-deductible expenses (0.4) (0.4) (0.7) Non-deductible compensation (6.7) (2.0) (0.4) Stock-based compensation 6.7 0.7 0.5 Change in valuation allowance (26.5) (23.9) (10.9) Change in tax rate 1.0 0.1 — Non-deductible impairment — — (5.8) Other 1.0 (0.1) (0.3) Effective tax rate 0.6 % 0.7 % 7.8 % |
Schedule of significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities | The following table presents the significant components of deferred tax assets and liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of each of the dates indicated. As of December 31, 2021 2020 (in thousands) Deferred tax assets: Accrued expenses and other $ 12,095 $ 8,772 Accrued compensation and related benefits 10,285 12,552 Property and equipment 100 — Stock-based compensation 21,729 18,811 Deferred income 2,096 1,113 Lease liability 24,463 24,775 Interest expense carryforwards 12,868 5,393 Foreign net operating loss carryforwards 6,981 3,499 U.S. net operating loss carryforwards 208,585 186,089 Valuation allowance (190,779) (137,767) Total deferred tax assets $ 108,423 $ 123,237 Deferred tax liabilities: Prepaid expenses and other $ (322) $ (197) Property and equipment — (1,684) Right-of-use assets (15,310) (16,116) Intangibles (70,865) (79,164) Deferred rent (414) (912) Nondeductible interest on debt discount (22,083) (27,974) Total deferred tax liabilities (108,994) (126,047) Net deferred tax liabilities $ (571) $ (2,810) |
Stockholders' Equity (Tables)
Stockholders' Equity (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Stockholders' Equity Note [Abstract] | |
Schedule of shares of common stock reserved for future issuance | Shares Reserved for Future Issuance Outstanding restricted stock units 2,613,063 Outstanding performance restricted stock units 1,121,277 Outstanding stock options 3,477,439 Reserved for convertible senior notes 17,140,242 Total shares of common stock reserved for future issuance 24,352,021 |
Schedule of stock-based compensation expense included in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss | The following table presents stock-based compensation expense related to the Stock Plans and the ESPP, contained on the following line items on the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss for each of the periods indicated. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they occur. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Curriculum and teaching $ 69 $ 230 $ 45 Servicing and support 15,352 14,033 8,915 Technology and content development 11,832 12,014 8,241 Marketing and sales 6,711 8,217 7,021 General and administrative 63,802 47,548 27,282 Total stock-based compensation expense $ 97,766 $ 82,042 $ 51,504 |
Schedule of restricted and performance restricted stock unit activity | The following table presents a summary of the Company’s RSU activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 3,010,019 $ 29.41 Granted 1,470,090 37.07 Vested (1,480,281) 31.31 Forfeited (386,765) 31.76 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 2,613,063 $ 32.29 The following table presents a summary of the Company’s PRSU activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 1,355,296 $ 23.51 Granted 1,916,354 41.10 Vested (1,928,729) 24.25 Forfeited (221,644) 42.17 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 1,121,277 $ 48.62 |
Schedule of assumptions used for estimating the fair value of the stock options granted | The following table summarizes the assumptions used for estimating the fair values of the PRSUs subject to market-based vesting conditions that were granted for the periods presented. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 Risk-free interest rate 0.10% – 0.26% 1.51% Expected term (years) 1.00 – 3.00 1.00 Expected volatility 85% – 89% 75% Dividend yield 0% 0% Year Ended December 31, 2020 2019 Risk-free interest rate 1.5% 1.6% - 2.6% Expected term (years) 6.04 5.96 - 6.08 Expected volatility 64% 45% - 64% Dividend yield 0% 0% |
Schedule of stock option activity | The following table presents a summary of the Company’s stock option activity for the period indicated. Number of Weighted-Average Weighted-Average Aggregate Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2020 3,916,867 $ 35.63 5.08 $ 59,906 Granted — — — Exercised (326,430) 21.29 1.68 Forfeited (60,388) 55.64 Expired (52,610) 68.81 Outstanding balance as of December 31, 2021 3,477,439 36.13 3.87 16,246 Exercisable as of December 31, 2021 3,154,910 $ 32.62 3.58 $ 16,191 |
Net Loss per Share (Tables)
Net Loss per Share (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Earnings Per Share [Abstract] | |
Schedule of potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss | The following securities have been excluded from the calculation of weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding because the effect is anti-dilutive for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Stock options 3,477,439 3,916,867 4,373,895 Restricted stock units 2,613,063 3,010,019 2,281,142 Performance restricted stock units 1,121,277 1,355,296 1,413,773 Shares related to convertible senior notes 13,443,374 3,432,837 — Total antidilutive securities 20,655,153 11,715,019 8,068,810 |
Schedule of calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share | The following table presents the calculation of the Company’s basic and diluted net loss per share for each of the periods indicated. The calculation of diluted net loss per share reflects the Company’s intent to settle conversions of the Notes through a combination settlement, which contemplates repayment in cash of the principal amount and repayment in shares of the Company’s common stock of any excess of the conversion value over the principal amount. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 Numerator (in thousands): Net loss $ (194,766) $ (216,484) $ (235,222) Denominator: Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic and diluted 74,580,115 67,142,976 61,393,666 Net loss per share, basic and diluted $ (2.61) $ (3.22) $ (3.83) |
Segment and Geographic Inform_2
Segment and Geographic Information (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Segment Reporting [Abstract] | |
Schedule of revenue, segment profitability and segment profitability margin by segment | The following table presents financial information regarding each of the Company’s reportable segment’s results of operations for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Revenue by segment* Degree Program Segment $ 592,288 $ 486,676 $ 417,206 Alternative Credential Segment 353,394 287,857 157,465 Total revenue $ 945,682 $ 774,533 $ 574,671 Segment profitability** Degree Program Segment $ 126,141 $ 49,607 $ 5,770 Alternative Credential Segment (59,564) (33,534) (29,716) Total segment profitability $ 66,577 $ 16,073 $ (23,946) Segment profitability margin*** Degree Program Segment 21 % 10 % 1 % Alternative Credential Segment (17) % (12) % (19) % Total segment profitability margin 7 % 2 % (4) % * The Company has excluded immaterial amounts of intersegment revenues from the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019. ** The Company defines segment profitability as net income or net loss, as applicable, before net interest income (expense), other income (expense), net, taxes, depreciation and amortization expense, deferred revenue fair value adjustments, transaction costs, integration costs, restructuring-related costs, stockholder activism costs, certain litigation-related costs, consisting of fees for certain non-ordinary course litigation and other proceedings, impairment charges, losses on debt extinguishment, and stock-based compensation expense. Some or all of these items may not be applicable in any given reporting period. *** The Company defines segment profitability margin as segment profitability as a percentage of the respective segment’s revenue. |
Schedule of reconciliation of net loss to total segment profitability | The following table presents a reconciliation of the Company’s total segment profitability to net loss for each of the periods indicated. Year Ended December 31, 2021 2020 2019 (in thousands) Net loss $ (194,766) $ (216,484) $ (235,222) Adjustments: Stock-based compensation expense 97,766 82,042 51,504 Other (income) expense, net (22,324) 1,429 707 Net interest expense 49,747 25,963 7,619 Income tax benefit (1,196) (1,514) (19,860) Depreciation and amortization expense 108,448 96,469 69,843 Loss on debt extinguishment 1,101 11,671 — Impairment charge — — 70,379 Other* 27,801 16,497 31,084 Total adjustments 261,343 232,557 211,276 Total segment profitability $ 66,577 $ 16,073 $ (23,946) * Includes (i) transaction and integration costs of $16.9 million, $2.3 million and $8.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, (ii) restructuring-related costs of $8.5 million, $6.8 million and $10.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, (iii) stockholder activism and litigation-related costs of $2.4 million, $7.4 million and $1.0 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively, and (iv) deferred revenue fair value adjustments of $11.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2019. |
Schedule of total assets by segment | The following table presents the Company’s total assets by segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, December 31, (in thousands) Total assets Degree Program Segment $ 546,572 $ 830,706 Alternative Credential Segment 1,562,434 713,558 Total assets $ 2,109,006 $ 1,544,264 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_2
Receivables and Contract Liabilities (Tables) | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Receivables And Contract Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Schedule of receivables | The following table presents the Company’s trade accounts receivable in each segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Degree Program Segment accounts receivable $ 31,762 $ 16,424 Degree Program Segment unbilled revenue 4,440 6,072 Alternative Credential Segment accounts receivable 42,771 29,717 Total 78,973 52,213 Less: Provision for credit losses (11,686) (5,936) Trade accounts receivable, net $ 67,287 $ 46,277 December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Other receivables, amortized cost $ 52,428 $ 25,587 Less: Provision for credit losses (1,421) (179) Other receivables, net $ 51,007 $ 25,408 Other receivables, net, current $ 29,439 $ 1,076 Other receivables, net, non-current $ 21,568 $ 24,332 |
Schedule of accounts receivable, allowance for credit loss | The following table presents the change in provision for credit losses for trade accounts receivable on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the period indicated. Provision for Credit Losses (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 5,936 Current period provision 6,794 Amounts written off (157) Amounts recovered (874) Foreign currency translation adjustments (13) Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 11,686 |
Schedule of other receivable, allowance for credit loss | The following table presents the change in provision for credit losses for other receivables on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets for the period indicated. Provision for Credit Losses (in thousands) Balance as of December 31, 2020 $ 179 Current period provision 1,242 Balance as of December 31, 2021 $ 1,421 |
Other receivable credit quality indicators | The following tables present other receivables, at amortized cost including interest accretion, by credit quality indicator and year of origination, as of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 Year of Origination 2021 2020 2019 2018 Total (in thousands) Credit Quality Tier High $ 18,466 $ 1,635 $ 24 $ 115 $ 20,240 Mid 14,352 2,992 1,312 392 19,048 Low 8,135 2,802 1,873 330 13,140 Total $ 40,953 $ 7,429 $ 3,209 $ 837 $ 52,428 December 31, 2020 Year of Origination 2020 2019 2018 Total (in thousands) Credit Quality Tier High $ 9,506 $ 28 $ 104 $ 9,638 Mid 7,821 1,126 356 9,303 Low 4,892 1,453 301 6,646 Total $ 22,219 $ 2,607 $ 761 $ 25,587 |
Contract liabilities by segment | The following table presents the Company’s contract liabilities in each segment as of each of the dates indicated. December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020 (in thousands) Degree Program Segment deferred revenue $ 3,462 $ 1,714 Alternative Credential Segment deferred revenue 88,464 73,779 Total contract liabilities $ 91,926 $ 75,493 |
Organization (Details)
Organization (Details) | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021segmentuniversitylearningOpportunity | Nov. 16, 2021 | |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||
Number of universities and other leading institutions that company serves (more than) | university | 230 | |
Number of learning opportunities offered (more than) | learningOpportunity | 3,600 | |
Number of reportable segments (in segments) | segment | 2 | |
edX Sub | ||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | ||
Membership Interests (in percent) | 100.00% |
Significant Accounting Polici_3
Significant Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | ||||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2022 | Apr. 30, 2020 | |
Non-Cash Long-Lived Asset Additions | |||||
Increase in capital expenditures | $ 1,800,000 | $ 3,300,000 | |||
Equity Interests | |||||
Equity securities | 10,000,000 | ||||
Convertible Senior Notes | |||||
Other receivables, net | 29,439,000 | 1,076,000 | |||
Other receivables, net, non-current | 21,568,000 | 24,332,000 | |||
Other receivables | (27,001,000) | (21,148,000) | $ (1,354,000) | ||
Total debt | 852,520,000 | 273,800,000 | |||
Additional paid-in capital | 1,735,628,000 | 1,646,574,000 | |||
Deferred tax liabilities, net | 1,726,000 | 2,810,000 | |||
Accumulated deficit | (890,638,000) | (695,872,000) | |||
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment | Subsequent Event | Accounting Standards Update 2020-06 | |||||
Convertible Senior Notes | |||||
Total debt | $ 81,700,000 | ||||
Additional paid-in capital | (114,600,000) | ||||
Deferred tax liabilities, net | (22,100,000) | ||||
Accumulated deficit | $ 32,800,000 | ||||
The Notes | Convertible Debt | |||||
Convertible Senior Notes | |||||
Interest rate | 2.25% | ||||
Aggregate principal amount | $ 380,000,000 | ||||
Total debt | $ 291,300,000 | $ 269,000,000 | |||
Minimum | |||||
Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable and Provision for Credit Losses | |||||
Term of other receivables | 12 months | ||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | ||||
Maximum | |||||
Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable and Provision for Credit Losses | |||||
Term of other receivables | 42 months | ||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | ||||
Internally-developed software | Minimum | |||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | ||||
Internally-developed software | Maximum | |||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 5 years | ||||
Capitalized content development | Minimum | |||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 4 years | ||||
Capitalized content development | Maximum | |||||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | |||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 5 years | ||||
Computer hardware | Minimum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 3 years | ||||
Computer hardware | Maximum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 5 years | ||||
Furniture and office equipment | Minimum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 5 years | ||||
Furniture and office equipment | Maximum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 7 years | ||||
Leasehold improvements | Minimum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 4 years | ||||
Leasehold improvements | Maximum | |||||
Property and Equipment | |||||
Useful lives | 11 years | ||||
Degree Program Segment | |||||
Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable and Provision for Credit Losses | |||||
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing | The Company’s contracts with university clients in this segment typically have terms of 10 to 15 years and have a single performance obligation, as the promises to provide a platform of tightly integrated technology and services that university clients need to attract, enroll, educate and support students are not distinct within the context of the contracts. | ||||
Alternative Credential Segment | |||||
Revenue Recognition, Accounts Receivable and Provision for Credit Losses | |||||
Revenue, performance obligation, description of timing | The Company’s executive education programs run between two and 16 weeks, while boot camps run between 12 and 24 weeks. |
Business Combination - Narrativ
Business Combination - Narrative (Details) - edX - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Nov. 16, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | |||
Net purchase price | $ 773,000 | ||
Escrow deposit | 23,000 | ||
Business combination, acquisition related costs | $ 14,800 | $ 300 | |
Amortizable intangible assets | 133,700 | ||
Revenue from acquiree since acquisition date | 5,200 | ||
Operating expense of acquiree since acquisition date | $ 14,400 | ||
Trade names | |||
Business Acquisition [Line Items] | |||
Identifiable-lived intangible assets | $ 255,000 |
Business Combination - Estimate
Business Combination - Estimated Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Nov. 16, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
Acquisition | ||||
Goodwill | $ 834,539 | $ 415,830 | $ 418,350 | |
Enterprise client relationships | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | |||
edX | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Cash and cash equivalents | $ 11,901 | |||
Accounts receivable | 6,608 | |||
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 11,379 | |||
Property and equipment, net | 529 | |||
Right-of-use assets | 2,868 | |||
Other assets, non-current | 572 | |||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses | (17,024) | |||
Deferred revenue | (20,264) | |||
Lease liability | (2,868) | |||
Other liabilities | (32,934) | |||
Amortizable intangible assets | 133,700 | |||
Goodwill | 423,552 | $ 423,600 | ||
Total | 773,019 | |||
edX | Trade names | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Identifiable-lived intangible assets | 255,000 | |||
edX | Developed technology | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Amortizable intangible assets | $ 15,400 | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | |||
edX | University client relationships | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Amortizable intangible assets | $ 104,000 | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | |||
edX | Enterprise client relationships | ||||
Acquisition | ||||
Amortizable intangible assets | $ 14,300 | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 10 years |
Business Combination - Pro Form
Business Combination - Pro Forma Information (Details) - edX - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Acquisition | ||
Pro forma revenue | $ 985,016 | $ 818,700 |
Pro forma net loss | $ (273,889) | $ (323,277) |
Pro forma net loss per share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ (3.67) | $ (4.81) |
Pro forma net loss per share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ (3.67) | $ (4.81) |
Property and Equipment, Net (De
Property and Equipment, Net (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Property and Equipment, Net | |||
Property and equipment, gross | $ 89,832 | $ 87,721 | |
Accumulated depreciation and amortization | (41,182) | (34,987) | |
Property and equipment, net | 48,650 | 52,734 | |
Depreciation expense | 12,500 | 13,400 | $ 11,600 |
Computer hardware | |||
Property and Equipment, Net | |||
Property and equipment, gross | 9,454 | 9,053 | |
Furniture and office equipment | |||
Property and Equipment, Net | |||
Property and equipment, gross | 16,739 | 18,041 | |
Leasehold improvements | |||
Property and Equipment, Net | |||
Property and equipment, gross | 57,972 | 58,443 | |
Leasehold improvements in process | |||
Property and Equipment, Net | |||
Property and equipment, gross | $ 5,667 | $ 2,184 |
Goodwill and Intangible Asset_2
Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Goodwill [Roll Forward] | ||
Beginning balance | $ 415,830 | $ 418,350 |
Goodwill recognized in connection with business combination* | 423,552 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (4,843) | (2,520) |
Ending balance | 834,539 | 415,830 |
Corporate, Non-Segment | ||
Goodwill [Roll Forward] | ||
Beginning balance | 0 | 0 |
Goodwill recognized in connection with business combination* | 423,552 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | 0 | 0 |
Ending balance | 423,552 | 0 |
Alternative Credential Segment | Operating Segments | ||
Goodwill [Roll Forward] | ||
Beginning balance | 415,830 | 418,350 |
Goodwill recognized in connection with business combination* | 0 | |
Foreign currency translation adjustments and other | (4,843) | (2,520) |
Ending balance | $ 410,987 | $ 415,830 |
Goodwill and Intangible Asset_3
Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||
Sep. 30, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Nov. 16, 2021 | |
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||
Goodwill | $ 834,539 | $ 415,830 | $ 418,350 | ||
Impairment charge | $ 70,400 | 70,400 | |||
In process capitalized technology and content development | 410,523 | 312,770 | |||
Amortization of intangible assets | 95,900 | 83,100 | $ 58,300 | ||
edX | |||||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||
Goodwill | 423,600 | $ 423,552 | |||
Alternative Credential Segment | |||||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||
Goodwill, Impaired, Accumulated Impairment Loss | 70,400 | 70,400 | |||
In Process Capitalized Technology And Content Development | |||||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | |||||
In process capitalized technology and content development | $ 46,300 | $ 38,600 |
Goodwill and Intangible Asset_4
Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | $ 696,594 | $ 509,619 |
Accumulated Amortization | (286,071) | (196,849) |
Net Carrying Amount | 410,523 | 312,770 |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) | 255,000 | 0 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | 951,594 | 509,619 |
Accumulated Amortization | (286,071) | (196,849) |
Net Carrying Amount | $ 665,523 | 312,770 |
Minimum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | |
Maximum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | |
Trade names | ||
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) | $ 255,000 | 0 |
Capitalized technology | ||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | 199,766 | 165,254 |
Accumulated Amortization | (112,357) | (75,822) |
Net Carrying Amount | 87,409 | 89,432 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Accumulated Amortization | $ (112,357) | (75,822) |
Capitalized technology | Minimum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | |
Capitalized technology | Maximum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 5 years | |
Capitalized content development | ||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | $ 243,687 | 208,170 |
Accumulated Amortization | (125,599) | (88,168) |
Net Carrying Amount | 118,088 | 120,002 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Accumulated Amortization | $ (125,599) | (88,168) |
Capitalized content development | Minimum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 4 years | |
Capitalized content development | Maximum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 5 years | |
University client relationships | ||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | $ 211,680 | 109,498 |
Accumulated Amortization | (34,995) | (23,376) |
Net Carrying Amount | 176,685 | 86,122 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Accumulated Amortization | $ (34,995) | (23,376) |
University client relationships | Minimum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 9 years | |
University client relationships | Maximum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | |
Enterprise client relationships | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | |
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | $ 14,300 | 0 |
Accumulated Amortization | (179) | 0 |
Net Carrying Amount | 14,121 | 0 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Accumulated Amortization | (179) | 0 |
Trade names and domain names | ||
Amortizable Intangible Assets | ||
Gross Carrying Amount | 27,161 | 26,697 |
Accumulated Amortization | (12,941) | (9,483) |
Net Carrying Amount | 14,220 | 17,214 |
Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) [Abstract] | ||
Accumulated Amortization | $ (12,941) | $ (9,483) |
Trade names and domain names | Minimum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 5 years | |
Trade names and domain names | Maximum | ||
Finite-Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items] | ||
Estimated Average Useful Life (in years) | 10 years |
Goodwill and Intangible Asset_5
Goodwill and Intangible Assets - Estimated Future Amortization Expense and License agreement (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Future Amortization Expense | ||
Net Carrying Amount | $ 410,523 | $ 312,770 |
Excluding In Process Capitalized Technology and Content Development | ||
Future Amortization Expense | ||
2022 | 90,116 | |
2023 | 75,153 | |
2024 | 59,615 | |
2025 | 35,305 | |
2026 | 24,291 | |
Thereafter | 79,734 | |
Net Carrying Amount | $ 364,214 |
Other Balance Sheet Details - A
Other Balance Sheet Details - Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ||
Accrued university and instructional staff compensation | $ 36,806 | $ 27,371 |
Accrued marketing expenses | 26,469 | 24,682 |
Accrued transaction, integration and restructuring-related costs | 4,072 | 3,492 |
Accrued compensation and related benefits | 49,143 | 52,820 |
Accounts payable and other accrued expenses | 49,968 | 22,309 |
Total accounts payable and accrued expenses | $ 166,458 | $ 130,674 |
Other Balance Sheet Details - N
Other Balance Sheet Details - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | |||
Prepaid assets | $ 23 | $ 14 | |
Deferred expenses incurred to integrate software | 7 | 6.3 | |
Amortization of capitalized software implementation costs | 2.4 | $ 1.3 | $ 0.3 |
Due to university client | 21.9 | ||
Employee retention tax credits | 0.5 | ||
Accrued payroll taxes CARES Act | $ 5 | ||
Minimum | |||
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | ||
Minimum | Capitalized technology | |||
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 3 years | ||
Maximum | |||
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 10 years | ||
Maximum | Capitalized technology | |||
Research and Development Arrangement, Contract to Perform for Others [Line Items] | |||
Estimated Useful Life (in years) | 5 years |
Commitments and Contingencies -
Commitments and Contingencies - Future Minimum Payments Due to University Clients (Details) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021USD ($) |
Future Minimum Payments | |
2022 | $ 1,725 |
2023 | 625 |
2024 | 625 |
2025 | 625 |
2026 | 625 |
Thereafter | 1,900 |
Total future minimum payments to university clients | $ 6,125 |
Commitments and Contingencies_2
Commitments and Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions | Mar. 31, 2019USD ($) |
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract] | |
Additional investment In educational technology, contingent payment | $ 15 |
Other Income (Expense) (Details
Other Income (Expense) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Other Income and Expenses [Abstract] | |||
Gain on sale of investment | $ 27,762 | $ 0 | $ 0 |
Foreign currency loss | (2,491) | ||
Other | (2,947) | 0 | 0 |
Total | $ 22,324 | $ (1,429) | $ (707) |
Leases - Additional Information
Leases - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||
Sep. 30, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items] | ||||
Renewal term (in years) | 5 years | |||
Option to terminate, term (in years) | 1 year | |||
Loss on sublease | $ 4,845 | $ 0 | $ 0 | |
Weighted average remaining lease term (in years) | 7 years 8 months 12 days | |||
Weighted average discount rate | 11.20% | |||
Operating lease payments | $ 21,700 | 17,300 | ||
Lease liabilities arising from obtaining right-of-use assets | 28,000 | $ 26,700 | ||
Future sublease income expected to be earned | 4,400 | |||
Lease liability, leases not yet commenced | $ 5,800 | |||
Term of leases not yet commenced | 8 years | |||
Sublease Of Office Space | ||||
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items] | ||||
Remaining lease term | 1 year 9 months 18 days | |||
Sublease Of Office Space, Denver, Colorado | ||||
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items] | ||||
Remaining lease term | 2 years 10 months 24 days | |||
Loss on sublease | $ 4,800 | |||
Minimum | ||||
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items] | ||||
Contract term (in years) | 1 year | |||
Maximum | ||||
Lessee, Lease, Description [Line Items] | ||||
Contract term (in years) | 12 years |
Leases - Lease Cost (Details)
Leases - Lease Cost (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Leases [Abstract] | ||
Operating lease expense | $ 18,933 | $ 15,153 |
Short-term lease expense | 185 | 362 |
Variable lease expense | 6,279 | 5,837 |
Sublease income | (489) | (36) |
Total lease expense | $ 24,908 | $ 21,316 |
Leases - Maturities of Operatin
Leases - Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities (Details) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021USD ($) |
Future minimum lease payments | |
2022 | $ 24,200 |
2023 | 21,789 |
2024 | 21,535 |
2025 | 17,716 |
2026 | 18,229 |
Thereafter | 69,674 |
Total lease payments | 173,143 |
Less: imputed interest | (60,492) |
Total lease liability | $ 112,651 |
Debt - Long-Term Debt (Details)
Debt - Long-Term Debt (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
Less: unamortized debt discount and issuance costs | $ (107,777) | $ (111,043) |
Total debt | 852,520 | 273,800 |
Less: current portion of long-term debt | (7,204) | (627) |
Total long-term debt | 845,316 | 273,173 |
Term loan facilities | ||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
Long-term debt | 572,374 | 0 |
Convertible senior notes | ||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
Long-term debt | 380,000 | 380,000 |
Deferred government grant obligations | ||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
Long-term debt | 3,500 | 3,500 |
Other borrowings | ||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||
Long-term debt | $ 4,423 | $ 1,343 |
Debt - Narrative (Details)
Debt - Narrative (Details) | Jun. 25, 2020USD ($) | Apr. 30, 2020USD ($)day$ / shares | Apr. 30, 2020USD ($)$ / shares | Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)agreement | Dec. 31, 2020USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019USD ($) | Nov. 04, 2021USD ($) | Jun. 29, 2021USD ($) |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Cash interest payments | $ 25,500,000 | $ 10,800,000 | $ 5,300,000 | |||||
Loss on debt extinguishment | 1,101,000 | 11,671,000 | 0 | |||||
Proceeds from debt | 569,477,000 | 371,681,000 | $ 244,724,000 | |||||
Total debt | $ 852,520,000 | 273,800,000 | ||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion ratio | 0.0353773 | |||||||
Purchases of capped calls in connection with convertible senior notes | 50,540,000 | |||||||
Number of contracts (in contracts) | agreement | 2 | |||||||
Standby Letters of Credit | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Maximum borrowing capacity | $ 16,200,000 | |||||||
Prince Georges County Maryland | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Interest rate | 3.00% | |||||||
Convertible senior notes | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Long-term debt | $ 380,000,000 | 380,000,000 | ||||||
Deferred government grant obligations | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Long-term debt | 3,500,000 | 3,500,000 | ||||||
Interest payable | $ 500,000 | $ 400,000 | ||||||
The Notes | Convertible senior notes | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Interest rate | 2.25% | 2.25% | ||||||
Aggregate principal amount | $ 380,000,000 | $ 380,000,000 | ||||||
Debt instrument, effective interest rate percentage | 11.00% | 11.00% | ||||||
Proceeds from debt | 369,600,000 | |||||||
Debt issuance costs | $ 30,900,000 | $ 19,800,000 | ||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, carrying amount | $ 117,800,000 | $ 117,800,000 | ||||||
Allocated debt issuance costs | 7,200,000 | |||||||
Allocated debt issuance costs for equity components | 3,200,000 | |||||||
Unamortized debt discount | 88,700,000 | 111,000,000 | ||||||
Total debt | 291,300,000 | 269,000,000 | ||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, threshold percentage of stock price trigger | 130.00% | |||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, threshold trading days | day | 20 | |||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, threshold consecutive trading days | day | 30 | |||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, threshold consecutive trading days, sale price per share | day | 5 | |||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, measurement period | day | 10 | |||||||
Debt instrument, threshold percentage of sales price per share | 98.00% | |||||||
Debt instrument, convertible, conversion price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 28.27 | $ 28.27 | ||||||
Capped call, cap price (in dollars per share) | $ / shares | $ 44.34 | |||||||
Purchases of capped calls in connection with convertible senior notes | $ 50,500,000 | |||||||
The Notes | Convertible senior notes | Measurement Input, Discount Rate | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Debt instrument, discount rate | 0.103 | 0.103 | ||||||
The Notes | Convertible senior notes | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Long-term debt, fair value | $ 403,300,000 | $ 616,600,000 | ||||||
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Maximum borrowing capacity | $ 50,000,000 | |||||||
Debt instrument, principal amount of the lenders' commitments, maximum | 100,000,000 | |||||||
Loss on debt extinguishment | $ 1,100,000 | |||||||
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | Base Rate | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Variable rate, applicable margin | 2.75% | |||||||
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | LIBOR | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Variable rate, applicable margin | 3.75% | |||||||
Credit Agreement | Letter of Credit | LIBOR | Minimum | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Variable rate, applicable margin | 0.00% | |||||||
Term Loan Agreement | Line of Credit | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Aggregate principal amount | $ 475,000,000 | |||||||
Principal repayments | 0.25% | |||||||
Debt instrument, effective interest rate percentage | 7.56% | |||||||
Interest expense, debt | $ 19,500,000 | |||||||
Term Loan Agreement | Line of Credit | Base Rate | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Interest rate | 4.75% | |||||||
Term Loan Agreement | Line of Credit | Eurodollar | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Interest rate | 5.75% | |||||||
Amended Term Loan Facility | Line of Credit | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Aggregate principal amount | $ 100,000,000 | |||||||
Principal repayments | 0.25% | |||||||
Senior Secured Term Loan Facility | Line of Credit | ||||||||
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
Senior secured term loan facility | $ 250,000,000 |
Debt - Future Principal Payment
Debt - Future Principal Payments (Details) - Term Loan Facility, Convertible Notes And Government Grants $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021USD ($) |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] | |
2022 | $ 5,753 |
2023 | 5,753 |
2024 | 560,869 |
2025 | 380,000 |
2026 | 0 |
Thereafter | 3,500 |
Total debt | $ 955,875 |
Income Taxes - Other (Details)
Income Taxes - Other (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Components of loss before income taxes | |||
United States | $ (172,856) | $ (204,522) | $ (239,629) |
Foreign | (23,106) | (13,476) | (15,453) |
Loss before income taxes | $ (195,962) | $ (217,998) | $ (255,082) |
Income Taxes - Components of in
Income Taxes - Components of income tax (provision) benefit (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Current income tax (provision) benefit: | |||
United States federal and state | $ (240) | $ (347) | $ (97) |
Foreign | (636) | (249) | 3 |
Total current income tax provision | (876) | (596) | (94) |
Deferred income tax (provision) benefit: | |||
United States federal and state | (389) | 0 | 17,459 |
Foreign | 2,461 | 2,110 | 2,495 |
Total deferred income tax benefit | 2,072 | 2,110 | 19,954 |
Total income tax benefit | $ 1,196 | $ 1,514 | $ 19,860 |
Income Taxes - Statutory federa
Income Taxes - Statutory federal income tax rate and the effective tax rate (Details) | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Income Tax Disclosure [Abstract] | |||
U.S. statutory federal income tax rate | 21.00% | 21.00% | 21.00% |
U.S. state income taxes, net of federal benefits | 4.40% | 5.00% | 4.20% |
Foreign tax rate differential | 0.10% | 0.30% | 0.20% |
Non-deductible expenses | (0.40%) | (0.40%) | (0.70%) |
Non-deductible compensation | (6.70%) | (2.00%) | (0.40%) |
Stock-based compensation | 6.70% | 0.70% | 0.50% |
Change in valuation allowance | (26.50%) | (23.90%) | (10.90%) |
Change in tax rate | 1.00% | 0.10% | 0.00% |
Non-deductible impairment | 0.00% | 0.00% | (5.80%) |
Other | 1.00% | (0.10%) | (0.30%) |
Effective tax rate | 0.60% | 0.70% | 7.80% |
Income Taxes - Components of de
Income Taxes - Components of deferred tax assets and liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Deferred tax assets: | ||
Accrued expenses and other | $ 12,095 | $ 8,772 |
Accrued compensation and related benefits | 10,285 | 12,552 |
Property and equipment | 100 | 0 |
Stock-based compensation | 21,729 | 18,811 |
Deferred income | 2,096 | 1,113 |
Lease liability | 24,463 | 24,775 |
Interest expense carryforwards | 12,868 | 5,393 |
Foreign net operating loss carryforwards | 6,981 | 3,499 |
U.S. net operating loss carryforwards | 208,585 | 186,089 |
Valuation allowance | (190,779) | (137,767) |
Total deferred tax assets | 108,423 | 123,237 |
Deferred tax liabilities: | ||
Prepaid expenses and other | (322) | (197) |
Property and equipment | 0 | (1,684) |
Right-of-use assets | (15,310) | (16,116) |
Intangibles | (70,865) | (79,164) |
Deferred rent | (414) | (912) |
Nondeductible interest on debt discount | (22,083) | (27,974) |
Total deferred tax liabilities | (108,994) | (126,047) |
Net deferred tax liabilities | $ (571) | $ (2,810) |
Income Taxes - Carryforwards (D
Income Taxes - Carryforwards (Details) - USD ($) | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Valuation allowance | $ 190,779,000 | $ 137,767,000 | |
Increase in valuation allowance | 53,000,000 | ||
Income tax expense | 400,000 | ||
Tax benefit related to acquisition of Trilogy | $ 17,500,000 | ||
Uncertain tax positions recognized | 0 | $ 0 | |
Income tax returns currently under examination | 0 | ||
Australian Taxation Office | |||
Valuation allowance | 800,000 | ||
U.S. | |||
Operating loss carryforwards | 793,900,000 | ||
Operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration | 265,000,000 | ||
operating loss carryforwards, not subject to expiration | 528,900,000 | ||
Foreign | |||
Operating loss carryforwards | 27,300,000 | ||
Operating loss carryforwards, subject to expiration | $ 1,200,000 |
Stockholders' Equity - Common S
Stockholders' Equity - Common Stock and Stock-based Compensation (Details) $ in Thousands | Aug. 06, 2020USD ($)shares | May 22, 2019shares | May 22, 2018USD ($)shares | Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)planshares | Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)shares | Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)shares | Dec. 31, 2018shares |
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Capital stock shares, authorized (in shares) | 205,000,000 | ||||||
Authorized shares of common stock (in shares) | 200,000,000 | 200,000,000 | |||||
Authorized shares of preferred stock (in shares) | 5,000,000 | 5,000,000 | |||||
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) | 75,754,663 | 72,451,521 | |||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 24,352,021 | ||||||
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net of offering costs | $ | $ 299,800 | $ 330,900 | $ 0 | $ 299,796 | $ 0 | ||
Number of stock-based compensation plans | plan | 2 | ||||||
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 7,465,698 | ||||||
Restricted stock units | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 2,613,063 | ||||||
Performance restricted stock units | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 1,121,277 | ||||||
Stock options | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 3,477,439 | ||||||
Shares related to convertible senior notes | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 17,140,242 | ||||||
Employee Stock | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 515,709 | ||||||
Common Stock | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares) | 75,754,663 | 72,451,521 | 63,569,109 | 57,968,493 | |||
Sale of common stock (in shares) | 6,800,000 | 3,833,334 | |||||
Issuance of common stock in connection with business combination, net of offering costs (in shares) | 4,608,101 | 6,800,000 | |||||
Common Stock | Underwriters' over-allotment option | |||||||
Stockholders' Equity | |||||||
Sale of common stock (in shares) | 500,000 |
Stockholders' Equity - Addition
Stockholders' Equity - Additional Information (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions | 1 Months Ended | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | |||||||||
Jan. 31, 2022 | Jan. 31, 2021 | Jan. 31, 2020 | Mar. 31, 2021 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Jan. 01, 2021 | Jan. 01, 2020 | Jan. 30, 2014 | |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 24,352,021 | |||||||||||
Option to purchase common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 3,477,439 | 3,916,867 | ||||||||||
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ 36.13 | $ 35.63 | ||||||||||
Aggregate intrinsic value of employee options exercised | $ 6.8 | $ 8.7 | $ 15.4 | |||||||||
Granted (in shares) | 0 | |||||||||||
Weighted average grant date fair value (in dollars per share) | $ 11.48 | $ 28.49 | ||||||||||
Restricted stock units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 2,613,063 | |||||||||||
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares) | 2,613,063 | 3,010,019 | ||||||||||
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs | $ 56.6 | |||||||||||
Weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost | 1 year 4 months 24 days | |||||||||||
Granted (in shares) | 1,470,090 | |||||||||||
Unrecognized compensation cost period expected to be realized | 1 year 4 months 24 days | |||||||||||
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 37.07 | |||||||||||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 1,121,277 | |||||||||||
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares) | 1,121,277 | 1,355,296 | ||||||||||
Vesting period | 1 year | 3 years | ||||||||||
Total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested RSUs | $ 11.5 | |||||||||||
Weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost | 1 year 3 months 18 days | |||||||||||
Granted (in shares) | 1,900,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,916,354 | |||||||||
Aggregate weighted average grant date fair value for PRSU (in dollars per share) | $ 22.94 | |||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 200.00% | 200.00% | ||||||||||
Aggregate grant date fair value of awards | $ 37.8 | |||||||||||
Aggregate intrinsic value of employee options exercised | $ 0.6 | $ 0.6 | ||||||||||
Unrecognized compensation cost period expected to be realized | 1 year 3 months 18 days | |||||||||||
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 61.14 | $ 22.45 | $ 41.10 | |||||||||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | One and Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Stock Price Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 3 years | |||||||||||
Aggregate grant date fair value of awards | $ 9.1 | |||||||||||
Aggregate intrinsic value of employee options exercised | $ 0.2 | |||||||||||
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 61.94 | |||||||||||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Internal Financial Performance Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Granted (in shares) | 400,000 | |||||||||||
Aggregate grant date fair value of awards | $ 20 | |||||||||||
Aggregate intrinsic value of employee options exercised | $ 0.1 | |||||||||||
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 40.69 | |||||||||||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | Subsequent Event | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 0.00% | |||||||||||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | Subsequent Event | Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Internal Financial Performance Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 1 year | |||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 112.70% | |||||||||||
Stock options | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 3,477,439 | |||||||||||
Vesting period | 4 years | |||||||||||
Weighted average period for recognition of compensation cost | 1 year 8 months 12 days | |||||||||||
Expiration period | 10 years | |||||||||||
Compensation cost related to the nonvested awards not yet recognized | $ 8.9 | |||||||||||
Unrecognized compensation cost period expected to be realized | 1 year 8 months 12 days | |||||||||||
Minimum | Restricted stock units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 3 years | |||||||||||
Minimum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 0.00% | 0.00% | ||||||||||
Minimum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | One and Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Stock Price Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 0.00% | |||||||||||
Minimum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Internal Financial Performance Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 1 year | |||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 0.00% | |||||||||||
Maximum | Restricted stock units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 4 years | |||||||||||
Maximum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 200.00% | 200.00% | ||||||||||
Maximum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | One and Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Stock Price Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 200.00% | |||||||||||
Maximum | Performance Restricted Stock Units | Three Year Performance Based Vesting, Internal Financial Performance Achievement | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Vesting period | 3 years | |||||||||||
PRSU award vesting percentage | 200.00% | |||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Shares authorized under the plan (in shares) | 2,800,000 | |||||||||||
Number of shares that may be added to the 2014 Plan (in shares) | 5,943,348 | |||||||||||
Period of annual automatic increase in the number of shares authorized | 10 years | |||||||||||
Percentage applied on total number of shares of common stock outstanding on previous calendar year for automatic inclusion in the plan | 5.00% | |||||||||||
Increase in shares in available for future issuance (in shares) | 3,782,719 | 3,619,344 | ||||||||||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 7,465,698 | |||||||||||
Option to purchase common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 2,593,719 | |||||||||||
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ 46.38 | |||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 | Restricted stock units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares) | 2,613,063 | |||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 | Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Restricted stock units outstanding (in shares) | 1,121,277 | |||||||||||
Equity Incentive Plan 2014 | Maximum | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Number of options or stock awards available for grant under the plan (in shares) | 5,943,348 | |||||||||||
2008 Equity Incentive Plan | ||||||||||||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | ||||||||||||
Number of options or stock awards available for grant under the plan (in shares) | 0 | |||||||||||
Option to purchase common stock, outstanding (in shares) | 883,720 | |||||||||||
Weighted average exercise price (in dollars per share) | $ 6.04 |
Stockholders' Equity - Employee
Stockholders' Equity - Employee Stock Purchase Plan (Details) | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)offeringshares | Dec. 31, 2020USD ($)shares | Dec. 31, 2019USD ($)shares | |
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
Number of offering periods | offering | 2 | ||
Percentage of purchase price to fair market value | 85.00% | ||
Maximum payroll deduction amount per calendar year | $ | $ 25,000 | ||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | $ | $ 3,583,000 | $ 3,960,000 | $ 3,382,000 |
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 24,352,021 | ||
Employee Stock | |||
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
Available shares of common stock reserved for future issuance (in shares) | 515,709 | ||
Common Stock | |||
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares) | 150,685 | 146,570 | 123,365 |
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan | $ | $ 3,600,000 | $ 4,000,000 | |
Minimum | |||
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
Percentage of payroll deduction | 1.00% | ||
Maximum | |||
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items] | |||
Percentage of payroll deduction | 15.00% | ||
Issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock purchase plan (in shares) | 1,000,000 |
Stockholders' Equity - Stock-ba
Stockholders' Equity - Stock-based Compensation Expense (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ 97,766 | $ 82,042 | $ 51,504 |
Curriculum and teaching | |||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | 69 | 230 | 45 |
Servicing and support | |||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | 15,352 | 14,033 | 8,915 |
Technology and content development | |||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | 11,832 | 12,014 | 8,241 |
Marketing and sales | |||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | 6,711 | 8,217 | 7,021 |
General and administrative | |||
Stock-based compensation expense included in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations | |||
Total stock-based compensation expense | $ 63,802 | $ 47,548 | $ 27,282 |
Stockholders' Equity - Restrict
Stockholders' Equity - Restricted and Performance Restricted Stock Units (Details) - $ / shares | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | ||
Mar. 31, 2021 | Mar. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | Dec. 31, 2021 | |
Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | ||||
Restricted Stock Units [Roll Forward] | ||||
Outstanding balance at the beginning of the period (in shares) | 3,010,019 | 3,010,019 | ||
Granted (in shares) | 1,470,090 | |||
Vested (in shares) | (1,480,281) | |||
Forfeited (in shares) | (386,765) | |||
Outstanding balance at the end of the period (in shares) | 2,613,063 | |||
Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward] | ||||
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 29.41 | $ 29.41 | ||
Granted (in dollars per share) | 37.07 | |||
Vested (in dollars per share) | 31.31 | |||
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | 31.76 | |||
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 32.29 | |||
Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||||
Restricted Stock Units [Roll Forward] | ||||
Outstanding balance at the beginning of the period (in shares) | 1,355,296 | 1,355,296 | ||
Granted (in shares) | 1,900,000 | 1,300,000 | 1,916,354 | |
Vested (in shares) | (1,928,729) | |||
Forfeited (in shares) | (221,644) | |||
Outstanding balance at the end of the period (in shares) | 1,121,277 | |||
Grant Date Fair Value [Roll Forward] | ||||
Outstanding at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 23.51 | $ 23.51 | ||
Granted (in dollars per share) | $ 61.14 | $ 22.45 | 41.10 | |
Vested (in dollars per share) | 24.25 | |||
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | 42.17 | |||
Outstanding at the end of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 48.62 |
Stockholders' Equity - Fair Val
Stockholders' Equity - Fair Value Assumptions (Details) | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Performance Restricted Stock Units | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Risk-free interest rate | 1.51% | |
Risk-free interest rate minimum | 0.10% | |
Risk-free interest rate maximum | 0.26% | |
Expected term (years) | 1 year | |
Expected volatility | 75.00% | |
Expected volatility minimum | 85.00% | |
Expected volatility maximum | 89.00% | |
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Performance Restricted Stock Units | Minimum | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Expected term (years) | 1 year | |
Performance Restricted Stock Units | Maximum | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Expected term (years) | 3 years | |
Stock options | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Risk-free interest rate | 150.00% | |
Risk-free interest rate minimum | 1.60% | |
Risk-free interest rate maximum | 2.60% | |
Expected term (years) | 6 years 14 days | |
Expected volatility | 64.00% | |
Expected volatility minimum | 45.00% | |
Expected volatility maximum | 64.00% | |
Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.00% |
Stock options | Minimum | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Expected term (years) | 5 years 11 months 15 days | |
Stock options | Maximum | ||
Fair value assumptions and methodology | ||
Expected term (years) | 6 years 29 days |
Stockholders' Equity - Stock Op
Stockholders' Equity - Stock Options (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Number of Options | ||
Outstanding balance at the beginning of the period (in shares) | 3,916,867 | |
Granted (in shares) | 0 | |
Exercised (in shares) | (326,430) | |
Forfeited (in shares) | (60,388) | |
Expired (in shares) | (52,610) | |
Outstanding balance at the end of the period (in shares) | 3,477,439 | 3,916,867 |
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares) | 3,154,910 | |
Weighted-Average Exercise Price per Share | ||
Outstanding balance at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 35.63 | |
Granted (in dollars per share) | 0 | |
Exercised (in dollars per share) | 21.29 | |
Forfeited (in dollars per share) | 55.64 | |
Expired (in dollars per share) | 68.81 | |
Outstanding balance at the end of the period (in dollars per share) | 36.13 | $ 35.63 |
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share) | $ 32.62 | |
Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Term | ||
Outstanding balance (in years) | 3 years 10 months 13 days | 5 years 29 days |
Exercised (in years) | 1 year 8 months 4 days | |
Weighted-average remaining contractual term of options exercisable at the end of the period (in years) | 3 years 6 months 29 days | |
Aggregate Intrinsic Value | ||
Outstanding balance at the end of the period | $ 16,246 | $ 59,906 |
Exercisable at the end of the period | $ 16,191 |
Net Loss per Share (Details)
Net Loss per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss (in shares) | 20,655,153 | 11,715,019 | 8,068,810 |
Numerator | |||
Net loss | $ (194,766) | $ (216,484) | $ (235,222) |
Denominator: | |||
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, basic (in shares) | 74,580,115 | 67,142,976 | 61,393,666 |
Weighted-average shares of common stock outstanding, diluted (in shares) | 74,580,115 | 67,142,976 | 61,393,666 |
Net loss per share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ (2.61) | $ (3.22) | $ (3.83) |
Net loss per share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ (2.61) | $ (3.22) | $ (3.83) |
Stock options | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss (in shares) | 3,477,439 | 3,916,867 | 4,373,895 |
Restricted stock units | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss (in shares) | 2,613,063 | 3,010,019 | 2,281,142 |
Performance restricted stock units | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss (in shares) | 1,121,277 | 1,355,296 | 1,413,773 |
Shares related to convertible senior notes | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive | |||
Potential dilutive securities that would have been anti-dilutive due to net loss (in shares) | 13,443,374 | 3,432,837 | 0 |
Segment and Geographic Inform_3
Segment and Geographic Information - Narrative (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021USD ($)segment | Dec. 31, 2020USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2019USD ($) | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Number of reportable segments (in segments) | segment | 2 | ||
Revenue | $ 945,682 | $ 774,533 | $ 574,671 |
Accounts receivable, net | 67,287 | 46,663 | |
Long-lived assets | 2,109,006 | 1,544,264 | |
Degree Program Segment | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Revenue | 592,288 | 486,676 | 417,206 |
Long-lived assets | $ 546,572 | 830,706 | |
Degree Program Segment | Customer concentration risk | University client 1 | Sales Revenue, Net | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Revenue | $ 74,600 | $ 83,500 | |
Percentage of concentration of credit risk | 10.00% | 10.00% | 15.00% |
Degree Program Segment | Credit concentration risk | University client 1 | Accounts receivable | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Percentage of concentration of credit risk | 14.00% | 12.00% | |
Accounts receivable, net | $ 9,800 | $ 5,800 | |
Degree Program Segment | Credit concentration risk | University client 2 | Accounts receivable | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Percentage of concentration of credit risk | 13.00% | 11.00% | |
Accounts receivable, net | $ 8,800 | $ 5,200 | |
Alternative Credential Segment | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Revenue | 353,394 | 287,857 | $ 157,465 |
Long-lived assets | 1,562,434 | 713,558 | |
Alternative Credential Segment | Non-US | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Revenue | 98,500 | 73,000 | $ 40,800 |
Long-lived assets | $ 3,300 | $ 1,600 |
Segment and Geographic Inform_4
Segment and Geographic Information - Segment Results of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Total revenue | $ 945,682 | $ 774,533 | $ 574,671 |
Total segment profitability | $ 66,577 | $ 16,073 | $ (23,946) |
Total segment profitability margin | 7.00% | 2.00% | (4.00%) |
Degree Program Segment | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Total revenue | $ 592,288 | $ 486,676 | $ 417,206 |
Total segment profitability | $ 126,141 | $ 49,607 | $ 5,770 |
Total segment profitability margin | 21.00% | 10.00% | 1.00% |
Alternative Credential Segment | |||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | |||
Total revenue | $ 353,394 | $ 287,857 | $ 157,465 |
Total segment profitability | $ (59,564) | $ (33,534) | $ (29,716) |
Total segment profitability margin | (17.00%) | (12.00%) | (19.00%) |
Segment and Geographic Inform_5
Segment and Geographic Information - Reconciliation of Net Loss to Total Segment Profitability (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Segment Reporting [Abstract] | |||
Net loss | $ (194,766) | $ (216,484) | $ (235,222) |
Adjustments: | |||
Stock-based compensation expense | 97,766 | 82,042 | 51,504 |
Other (income) expense, net | (22,324) | 1,429 | 707 |
Net interest expense | 49,747 | 25,963 | 7,619 |
Income tax benefit | (1,196) | (1,514) | (19,860) |
Depreciation and amortization expense | 108,448 | 96,469 | 69,843 |
Loss on debt extinguishment | 1,101 | 11,671 | 0 |
Impairment charge | 0 | 0 | 70,379 |
Other | 27,801 | 16,497 | 31,084 |
Total adjustments | 261,343 | 232,557 | 211,276 |
Total segment profitability | 66,577 | 16,073 | (23,946) |
Transaction costs | 16,900 | 2,300 | 8,000 |
Restructuring charges | 8,500 | 6,800 | 10,800 |
Stockholder activism costs | $ 2,400 | $ 7,400 | 1,000 |
Deferred revenue fair value adjustments | $ 11,200 |
Segment and Geographic Inform_6
Segment and Geographic Information - Total Assets by Segment (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total assets | $ 2,109,006 | $ 1,544,264 |
Degree Program Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total assets | 546,572 | 830,706 |
Alternative Credential Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total assets | $ 1,562,434 | $ 713,558 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_3
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Trade Accounts Receivable and Contract Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Accounts receivable, before allowance for credit loss, current | $ 78,973 | $ 52,213 |
Less: Provision for credit losses | (11,686) | (5,936) |
Trade accounts receivable, net | 67,287 | 46,277 |
Degree Program Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Accounts receivable, before allowance for credit loss, current | 31,762 | 16,424 |
Degree Program Segment unbilled revenue | 4,440 | 6,072 |
Alternative Credential Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Accounts receivable, before allowance for credit loss, current | $ 42,771 | $ 29,717 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_4
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Change in Provision for Credit Losses for Trade Receivables (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021USD ($) | |
Accounts Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward] | |
Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ 5,936 |
Current period provision | 6,794 |
Amounts written off | (157) |
Amounts recovered | (874) |
Foreign currency translation adjustments | (13) |
Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ 11,686 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_5
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Other Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Receivables And Contract Liabilities Disclosure [Abstract] | ||
Other receivables, amortized cost | $ 52,428 | $ 25,587 |
Less: Provision for credit losses | (1,421) | (179) |
Other receivables, net, non-current | 51,007 | 25,408 |
Other receivables, net | 29,439 | 1,076 |
Other receivables, net, non-current | $ 21,568 | $ 24,332 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_6
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | |
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Percentage of other receivables that are current | 93.00% | |
Minimum | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Term of other receivables | 12 months | |
Maximum | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Term of other receivables | 42 months | |
Degree Program Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Contract with customer, liability, revenue recognized | $ 1.7 | $ 2.2 |
Capitalized contract cost | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Alternative Credential Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Contract with customer, liability, revenue recognized | $ 71.9 | $ 46.6 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_7
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Change in Provision for Credit Losses for Other Receivables (Details) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended |
Dec. 31, 2021USD ($) | |
Other Receivable, Allowance for Credit Loss [Roll Forward] | |
Balance as of December 31, 2020 | $ 179 |
Current period provision | 1,242 |
Balance as of December 31, 2021 | $ 1,421 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_8
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Other Receivables Credit Quality Indicators (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items] | ||
Other receivable year one | $ 40,953 | |
Other receivable year two | 7,429 | $ 22,219 |
Other receivable year three | 3,209 | 2,607 |
Other receivable year four | 837 | 761 |
Other receivables, amortized cost | 52,428 | 25,587 |
High | ||
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items] | ||
Other receivable year one | 18,466 | |
Other receivable year two | 1,635 | 9,506 |
Other receivable year three | 24 | 28 |
Other receivable year four | 115 | 104 |
Other receivables, amortized cost | 20,240 | 9,638 |
Mid | ||
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items] | ||
Other receivable year one | 14,352 | |
Other receivable year two | 2,992 | 7,821 |
Other receivable year three | 1,312 | 1,126 |
Other receivable year four | 392 | 356 |
Other receivables, amortized cost | 19,048 | 9,303 |
Low | ||
Financing Receivable, Credit Quality Indicator [Line Items] | ||
Other receivable year one | 8,135 | |
Other receivable year two | 2,802 | 4,892 |
Other receivable year three | 1,873 | 1,453 |
Other receivable year four | 330 | 301 |
Other receivables, amortized cost | $ 13,140 | $ 6,646 |
Receivables and Contract Liab_9
Receivables and Contract Liabilities - Contract Liabilities (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total contract liabilities | $ 91,926 | $ 75,493 |
Degree Program Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total contract liabilities | 3,462 | 1,714 |
Alternative Credential Segment | ||
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] | ||
Total contract liabilities | $ 88,464 | $ 73,779 |
Retirement Plan (Details)
Retirement Plan (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | |||
Eligible employees to contribute | 100.00% | ||
Contributions made by Company | $ 7.8 | $ 3.6 | $ 3 |
Defined Contribution Plan, Tranche One | |||
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | |||
Employee contribution | 100.00% | ||
Maximum matching contributions as a percentage of eligible compensation | 2.00% | ||
Defined Contribution Plan, Tranche Two | |||
Defined Contribution Plan Disclosure [Line Items] | |||
Employee contribution | 50.00% | ||
Maximum matching contributions as a percentage of eligible compensation | 4.00% |
Subsequent Events (Details)
Subsequent Events (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | Feb. 24, 2022 | Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 |
Subsequent Event [Line Items] | ||||
Goodwill | $ 834,539 | $ 415,830 | $ 418,350 | |
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) | 255,000 | 0 | ||
Market capitalization | 1,500,000 | |||
Forecast | ||||
Subsequent Event [Line Items] | ||||
Market capitalization | $ 800,000 | |||
Trade names | ||||
Subsequent Event [Line Items] | ||||
Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets (Excluding Goodwill) | $ 255,000 | $ 0 |
Schedule II - Valuation and Q_2
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 12 Months Ended | ||
Dec. 31, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020 | Dec. 31, 2019 | |
Provision for credit losses for trade accounts receivable: | |||
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward] | |||
Balance at Beginning of Period | $ 5,936 | $ 1,331 | $ 257 |
Additions | 6,794 | 4,642 | 1,425 |
Deductions | (1,044) | (37) | (351) |
Balance at End of Period | 11,686 | 5,936 | 1,331 |
Income tax valuation allowance: | |||
SEC Schedule, 12-09, Movement in Valuation Allowances and Reserves [Roll Forward] | |||
Balance at Beginning of Period | 137,767 | 116,244 | 88,061 |
Additions | 53,012 | 21,523 | 45,642 |
Deductions | 0 | 0 | (17,459) |
Balance at End of Period | $ 190,779 | $ 137,767 | $ 116,244 |