UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 6, 2016
Apollo Education Group, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Arizona | 0-25232 | 86-0419443 | ||
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) | ||
4025 S. Riverpoint Parkway, (Address of principal executive offices) |
85040 (Zip Code) | |||
(480) 966-5394
(Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instructions A.2. below):
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
On May 6, 2016, Apollo Education Group, Inc. (the Company) reconvened a Special Meeting of the holders of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, originally convened and adjourned on April 28, 2016, at which a quorum was present (the Special Meeting), to consider matters regarding the proposed acquisition by a consortium of investors including The Vistria Group, LLC, funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC and the Najafi Companies.
Class A Vote
The two matters listed below were submitted to a vote of the Class A shareholders through the solicitation of proxies. The two proposals are described in detail in the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2016, as supplemented by the supplement to the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2016. The final results of the vote of the Class A shareholders are as follows:
Proposal 1 To approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 7, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 1, 2016 among Apollo Education Group, Inc., AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. and Socrates Merger Sub, Inc.
The Class A shareholders approved Proposal 1 as follows:
For |
Against | Abstain | Broker-Non Votes | |||
57,914,394 |
31,909,282 | 1,428,255 | 0 |
Proposal 2 To approve by non-binding, advisory vote, certain compensation arrangements for the Companys named executive officers in connection with the merger.
The Class A shareholders approved Proposal 2 as follows:
For |
Against | Abstain | Broker-Non Votes | |||
67,820,645 |
21,908,757 | 1,522,529 | 0 |
Class B Vote
The three matters listed below were submitted to a vote of the Class B shareholders through the solicitation of proxies. The proposals are described in detail in the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 23, 2016, as supplemented by the supplement to the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2016. The final results of the vote of the Class B shareholders are as follows:
Proposal 1 To approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 7, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 1, 2016 among Apollo Education Group, Inc., AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. and Socrates Merger Sub, Inc.
The Class B shareholders approved Proposal 1 as follows:
For |
Against | Abstain | Broker-Non Votes | |||
475,149 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Proposal 2 To approve by non-binding, advisory vote, certain compensation arrangements for the Companys named executive officers in connection with the merger.
The Class B shareholders approved Proposal 2 as follows:
For |
Against | Abstain | Broker-Non Votes | |||
475,149 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Proposal 3To adjourn the Special Meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 7, 2016, as amended by Amendment No. 1, dated as of May 1, 2016, among Apollo Education Group, Inc., AP VIII Queso Holdings, L.P. and Socrates Merger Sub, Inc.
The Class B shareholders approved Proposal 3 as follows:
For |
Against | Abstain | Broker-Non Votes | |||
475,149 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
Adjournment of the Special Meeting was not necessary or appropriate because there were sufficient votes at the time of the Special Meeting to approve the proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, as amended.
Item 8.01 | Other Events. |
Press Release Announcing the Results of the Special Meeting
On May 6, 2016, the Company issued a press release dated May 6, 2016, titled Apollo Education Group Shareholders Approve Merger Agreement to be Acquired by Consortium of Investors announcing the results of the Special Meeting, which is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statement and Exhibits. |
(d) | Exhibits |
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release dated May 6, 2016, titled Apollo Education Group Shareholders Approve Merger Agreement to be Acquired by Consortium of Investors |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Apollo Education Group, Inc. | ||
By: |
/s/ Gregory J. Iverson | |
Gregory J. Iverson | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: May 6, 2016
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No. |
Description | |
99.1 | Press release dated May 6, 2016, titled Apollo Education Group Shareholders Approve Merger Agreement to be Acquired by Consortium of Investors |
Exhibit 99.1
|
Apollo Education Group, Inc. News Release |
Apollo Education Group Shareholders Approve Merger Agreement
to be Acquired by Consortium of Investors
PHOENIX & NEW YORK (BUSINESS WIRE) May 6, 2016 Apollo Education Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: APOL) today announced that its shareholders have approved the merger agreement for the proposed acquisition by a consortium of investors including The Vistria Group, LLC, funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management, LLC (NYSE: APO) and the Najafi Companies.
More than 63 percent of the Class A shares voted at Apollo Education Groups Special Meeting of Shareholders today voted in favor of the transaction, representing approximately 54 percent of all outstanding Class A shares. One hundred percent of Class B shares voted in favor of the proposals. At completion of the merger, Apollo Education Group shareholders will receive $10.00 per share in cash.
We appreciate the support from our shareholders in approving this transaction, said Greg Cappelli, Chief Executive Officer of Apollo Education Group. This has been a robust process in which our Board of Directors reviewed many strategic alternatives and found this transaction to be in the best interest of all stakeholders. We believe this new ownership structure will allow Apollo Education Group to continue to transform University of Phoenix, further expand our global operations, drive operational efficiency, and serve as the leading provider of high quality education for working adults.
Tony Miller, Partner at The Vistria Group who will become Chairman of the Apollo Education Group upon transaction close said, We are committed to making University of Phoenix the most trusted provider of career-relevant higher education for working adults in the country. We have a vision for how to dramatically improve student outcomes while addressing the concerns from critics of the for-profit education industry. It remains our belief that success is rooted in graduating students with the knowledge and skills that employers need, in an affordable way that ensures a compelling return on their educational investment.
The transaction is subject to financial, operational and customary closing conditions. It is also subject to foreign and domestic regulatory conditions and approvals, including by the U.S. Department of Education, the Higher Learning Commission and state regulatory and programmatic accreditation bodies. The acquisition is expected to be completed by year-end 2016.
About Apollo Education Group, Inc.
Apollo Education Group, Inc. is one of the worlds largest private education providers, serving students since 1973. Through its subsidiaries, Apollo Education Group offers undergraduate, graduate, professional development and other non-degree educational programs and services, online and on-campus principally to working learners. Its educational programs and services are offered throughout the United States and in Europe, Australia, Latin America, Africa and Asia, as well as online throughout the world. For more information about Apollo Education Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, call (800) 990-APOL or visit the Companys website at www.apollo.edu.
About The Vistria Group
The Vistria Group is a Chicago, IL based private investment firm focused on investing in middle market companies in the healthcare, education, and financial services sectors. Vistrias team is comprised of highly experienced operating partners and private equity executives with proven track records of working with management teams in building innovative market leading companies.
About Apollo Global Management
Apollo Global Management, LLC is a leading global alternative investment manager with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Chicago, Bethesda, Toronto, London, Frankfurt, Madrid, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Delhi, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Apollo Global Management had assets under management of approximately $173 billion as of March 31, 2016 in private equity, credit and real estate funds invested across a core group of nine industries where Apollo Global Management has considerable knowledge and resources. Affiliates of Apollo Global Management have significant experience managing investments in the education sector with current and former private equity fund investments in leading companies including McGraw Hill Education, Connections Academy and Sylvan Learning Centers. The portfolio companies owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management are managed and operate independently from one another. For more information about Apollo, please visit www.agm.com.
About Najafi Companies
Najafi Companies is an international private investment firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, targeting education, media, consumer products, internet services, and direct marketing sectors. The firm makes highly selective investments in companies with strong management teams across a variety of industries, often in areas undergoing rapid transformation. Najafi Companies funds its investments with internally generated capital, not through a fund. The firm is able to move quickly and decisively when investing and make investments that create maximum value for the long term.
Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor
Statements about Apollo Education Group and its business in this release which are not statements of historical fact, including statements regarding Apollo Education Groups future strategy and plans and commentary regarding future results of operations and prospects, are forward-looking statements and are subject to the Safe Harbor provisions created by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on current information and expectations and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual plans implemented and actual results achieved may differ materially from those set forth in or implied by such statements due to various factors, including, without limitation: (i) the timing of the completion of the merger; (ii) the failure of Parent to obtain the necessary equity financing set forth in the equity commitment letters received in connection with the merger agreement or the failure of that financing to be sufficient to complete the merger and the transactions contemplated thereby; (iii) the inability to complete the merger due to the failure to satisfy conditions to completion of the merger, including receipt of required regulatory approvals; (iv) the risk that regulatory agencies impose restrictions, limitations, costs, divestitures or other conditions in connection with providing regulatory approval of the merger; (v) the outcome of pending or potential litigation or governmental investigations; (vi) disruptions resulting from the proposed merger making it more difficult for Apollo Education Group to maintain relationships with its students, customers, employees, suppliers and strategic partners; (vii) competitive responses to the proposed merger; (viii) unexpected costs, liabilities, charges or expenses resulting from the merger; (ix) the inability to obtain, renew or modify permits in a timely manner, or comply with government regulations; (x) the inability to retain key personnel of Apollo Education Group or its subsidiaries; (xi) the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement, including a termination of the merger agreement under circumstances that could require Apollo Education Group to pay a termination fee; (xii) unexpected expenses or other challenges in integrating acquired businesses, student, consumer or regulatory impact arising from consummation of such acquisitions, and unexpected changes or developments in the acquired businesses; (xiii) diversion of managements attention from ongoing business concerns; (xiv) limitations placed on Apollo Education Groups ability to operate its business by the merger agreement; (xv) the impact of increased competition from traditional public universities and proprietary educational institutions; (xvi) the impact of the initiatives to transform the University of Phoenix into a more-focused, higher-retaining and less-complex institution, including the near-term impact on enrollment; (xvii) the impact of Apollo Education Groups ongoing restructuring and cost-reduction initiatives; (xviii) impacts from actions taken by our regulators that could affect the University of Phoenixs eligibility to participate in or the manner in which it participates in U.S. Federal and state student financial aid programs, including the recent requirement that all substantial changes be approved by the U.S. Department of Education in advance; (xix) further delay in the University of Phoenixs pending recertification by the U.S. Department of Education for participation in Title IV student financial aid programs, or any limitations or qualifications imposed in connection with any recertification; (xx) the impact of any reduction in financial aid available to students, including active and retired military personnel, due to the U.S. government deficit reduction proposals, debt ceiling limitations, budget sequestration or otherwise; (xxi) changes in regulation of the U.S. education industry and eligibility of proprietary schools to participate in U.S. Federal student financial aid programs; (xxii) changes in the University of Phoenixs enrollment or student mix; (xxiii) the impact on student enrollments of the announcement of the proposed merger and general economic conditions; (xxiv) the impact of third party claims that Apollo Education Groups products and services infringe their intellectual property rights; and (xxv) fluctuations in non-U.S. currencies that could impact reported operating results of foreign subsidiaries. For a discussion of the various factors that may cause actual plans implemented and actual results achieved to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements, please refer to the risk factors and other disclosures contained in Apollo Education Groups Form 10-K for fiscal year 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on October 22, 2015, Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended February 29, 2016, filed with the SEC on April 7, 2016, Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended November 30, 2015, filed with the SEC on January 11, 2016, and other filings with the SEC which are available at www.apollo.edu. The cautionary statements referred to above also should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that may be issued by Apollo Education Group or persons acting on Apollo Education Groups behalf. Apollo Education Group undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements for any facts, events, or circumstances after the date hereof that may bear upon forward-looking statements. Furthermore, Apollo Education Group cannot guarantee future results, events, levels of activity, performance, or achievements.
Contacts:
For Apollo Education Group, Inc.:
Investors
Beth Coronelli
+1 312 660 2059
beth.coronelli@apollo.edu
Media
Brunswick Group
Tripp Kyle / Tom Maginnis
+1 212 333 3810
apollo@brunswickgroup.com
For Apollo Global Management:
Investors
Gary M. Stein
Head of Corporate Communications
Apollo Global Management, LLC
+1 212 822 0467
gstein@apollolp.com
Noah Gunn
Investor Relations Manager
Apollo Global Management, LLC
+1 212 822 0540
ngunn@apollolp.com
Media
Charles Zehren
Rubenstein Associates, Inc.
+1 212 843 8590
czehren@rubenstein.com
For The Vistria Group:
Amy Brundage
SKDKnickerbocker
+1 202 464 6900
abrundage@skdknick.com
For The Najafi Companies:
Anne Robertson
Lavidge Company
+1 480 998 2600
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