D2L Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results

Total revenue increased 11% year-over-year to US$49.2 million

Subscription and support revenue grew 12% year-over-year to US$44.0 million

Annual Recurring Revenue1 reached US$198.3 million, up 11% over the prior year, and Constant Currency Annual Recurring Revenue1 grew 12%

Adjusted EBITDA2 of US$4.2 million (8.6% margin) in the quarter

Company increases revenue guidance to $199 million to $202 million and Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $22 million to $24 million

TORONTO, Sept. 4, 2024 /CNW/ - D2L Inc. (TSX:DTOL) ("D2L" or the "Company"), a leading global learning technology company, today announced financial results for its Fiscal 2025 second quarter ended July 31, 2024. All amounts are in U.S. dollars and all figures are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") unless otherwise indicated.

"Our second-quarter results demonstrate continued execution on our balanced growth and profitability plan, highlighted by strong growth in Annual Recurring Revenue, subscription revenue, and Free Cash Flow generation," said John Baker, CEO of D2L. "Our year-to-date performance positions us for continued growth and meaningful Adjusted EBITDA margin expansion in the second half of the year. At the same time, we are reinforcing our commitment to innovation that empowers our customers to create greater impact, achieve better outcomes, and deepen the human connection to learning. In recent months, we have significantly expanded our products and solutions, both through internal development and acquisition, which gives us more opportunity to create even deeper relationships with our growing customer base." 

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Highlights

Total revenue was $49.2 million, up 11% from the same period in the prior year.

Subscription and support revenue was $44.0 million, an increase of 12% over the same period of the prior year.

Annual Recurring Revenue1 as at July 31, 2024 increased by 11% year-over-year, from $178.5 million to $198.3 million. Constant Currency Annual Recurring Revenue1 increased 12% to $200.6 million.

Cash flow from operating activities was $31.4 million, up 37% versus $22.9 million in the same period in the prior year, and Free Cash Flow2 was $31.2 million, up 53% from $20.4 million in the same period in the prior year. Cash flows from operations have a seasonal low in the first quarter each year and a seasonal high in the second quarter each year.

Cash flow from operating activities for the trailing 12-month period ended July 31, 2024 was $26.4 million, compared with $8.7 million for the trailing 12-month period ended July 31, 2023.

Gross profit increased 12% to $33.4 million (67.9% gross profit margin) from $29.7 million (66.7% gross profit margin) in the same period of the prior year.

Gross profit margin for subscription and support revenue increased to 72.9%, from 72.5% in the same period of the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA2 increased to $4.2 million from a loss of $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year, and grew to $8.2 million year to date from $2.3 million in the comparative six-month period in the prior year.

Loss for the period was $0.3 million, compared with a loss of $4.8 million for the comparative period of the prior year. The Q2 2025 results included approximately $1.2 million in non-recurring expenses and transaction-related costs. These expenses are net of a gain of $0.9 million on the disposal of the Company's majority ownership stake in SkillsWave.

During the quarter, the Company completed the acquisition of H5P Group for an initial total consideration of $31.3 million.

Strong balance sheet at quarter end, with cash and cash equivalents of $98.1 million and no debt.

During the quarter ended July 31, 2024, the Company repurchased and canceled 106,900 Subordinate Voting Shares under its normal course issuer bid ("NCIB"). The Company has repurchased 279,480 shares since the inception of the NCIB on December 3, 2024.

1 Refer to "Key Performance Indicators" section of this press release.

2 A non-IFRS financial measure or non-IFRS ratio.  Refer to "Non IFRS Financial Measures" section of this press release.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2025 Financial Results, Selected Financial Measures(in thousands of U.S. dollars, except for percentages)

Three months ended July 31

Six months ended July 31

2024

2023

Change

Change

2024

2023

Change

Change

$

$

$

%

$

$

$

%

Subscription & Support Revenue

44,017

39,405

4,612

11.7 %

86,971

78,595

8,376

10.7 %

Professional Services & Other Revenue

5,151

5,065

86

1.7 %

10,692

10,103

589

5.8 %

Total Revenue

49,168

44,470

4,698

10.6 %

97,663

88,698

8,965

10.1 %

Constant Currency Revenue1

49,568

44,470

5,098

11.5 %

98,019

88,698

9,321

10.5 %

Gross Profit

33,373

29,681

3,692

12.4 %

66,050

59,561

6,489

10.9 %

Adjusted Gross Profit 1

33,522

29,853

3,669

12.3 %

66,345

59,844

6,501

10.9 %

Adjusted Gross Margin1

68.2 %

67.1 %

67.9 %

67.5 %

Loss for the period

(262)

(4,828)

4,566

94.6 %

310

(3,718)

4,028

108.3 %

Adjusted EBITDA (Loss)1

4,213

(534)

4,747

889.0 %

8,232

2,277

5,955

261.5 %

Cash Flows From Operating Activities

31,443

22,888

8,555

37.4 %

16,617

5,853

10,764

183.9 %

Free Cash Flow1

31,223

20,449

10,774

52.7 %

16,271

1,765

14,506

821.9 %

1 A non-IFRS financial measure or non-IFRS ratio.  Refer to the "Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Reconciliation of Non-IFRS Financial Measures" section of this press release for more details.

Second Quarter Business & Operating Highlights

D2L continued to grow its customer base in education in North America, including the additions of Stark State College and University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley.

D2L continued to expand its international customer base, including Hanze University of Applied Sciences and SteelCorp Construction S.A.

Signed new corporate customers, including Ontario Nurses' Association and a large healthcare non-profit with 50,000 learners.

Acquired H5P Group, a leading SaaS learning solution and provider of interactive content creation software with a global user base serving millions of individuals spanning more than 50 countries.

Hosted its annual, sold-out user-conference, Fusion 2024, where global edtech leaders had access to inspiring keynotes, engaging discussions on the future of learning, and demonstrations of learning innovation.

Launched D2L Lumi, a new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered feature in Brightspace to help build better content, assessments, and activities, saving educators valuable time.

Launched D2L Achievement+ for Brightspace, a new add-on package that can help institutions and organizations implement a competency-based learning model, allowing learners to advance and master material at a pace that suits them best.

Completed the previously announced transaction to spin-out SkillsWave into a new independent standalone company.

Subsequent to quarter end, appointed Marta DeBellis to the Company's Board of Directors. DeBellis is an executive leader and leadership coach bringing over 30-years of global go-to-market experience focused on technology, for brands such as Adobe, Intel, and Instructure.

Financial Outlook

D2L updated its previously issued financial guidance for the year ended January 31, 2025 ("Fiscal 2025") as follows:

Subscription and support revenue in the range of $178 million to $181 million, implying growth of 11% at the midpoint over Fiscal 2024, an increase from previously issued guidance of $177 million to $180 million (growth of 10% at the midpoint);

Total revenue in the range of $199 million to $202 million, implying growth of 10% at the midpoint over Fiscal 2024, an increase from previously issued guidance of $197 million to $201 million (growth of 9% at the midpoint); and

Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $22 million to $24 million, an increase from previously issued guidance of $21 million to $23 million (implying Adjusted EBITDA margin of 11% at the midpoint, consistent with previous guidance).

The Company expects revenue and Adjusted EBITDA to increase as Fiscal 2025 progresses, enabling the Company to exit the year with low-to-mid-teen Adjusted EBITDA Margin.

These guidance revisions reflect the Company's continued progress in balancing revenue growth with operating efficiency improvements, as well as the partial year contributions in the Company's third and fourth quarter from the acquisition of H5P on July 9, 2024, inclusive of business combination accounting.

For additional details on the Company's outlook, including the principal underlying assumptions and risk factors regarding achievement, refer to the "Financial Outlook" section of the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three and 12 months ended January 31, 2024 (the "Annual MD&A"), as well as the "Forward-Looking Information" section therein, below and in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis for the three months ended July 31, 2024 (the "Interim MD&A").

Conference Call & Webcast

D2L management will host a conference call on Thursday, September 5, 2024 at 8:30 am ET to discuss its second quarter Fiscal 2025 financial results.

Date:

Thursday, September 5, 2024

Time:

8:30 am (ET)

Dial in number:

Canada/US: 1 (833) 470-1428

International: 1 (404) 975-4839

Access code: 540799

Webcast:

A live webcast will be available at ir.d2l.com/events-and-presentations/events/

The webcast will also be archived

Forward-Looking Information

This press release includes statements containing "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "outlook", "target", "forecasts", "projection", "potential", "prospects", "strategy", "intends", "anticipates", "seek", "believes", "opportunity", "guidance", "aim", "goal" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain future conditions, actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "should", "might", "will", "can", or negative versions thereof, "be taken", "occur", "continue" or "be achieved", and other similar expressions. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts, but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events or circumstances.  

This forward-looking information relates to the Company's future financial outlook and anticipated events or results and includes, but is not limited to, statements under the heading "Financial Outlook" and information regarding: the Company's financial position, financial results, business strategy, performance, achievements, prospects, objectives, opportunities, business plans and growth strategies, including the Company's balanced growth and profitability plan; the Company's budgets, operations and taxes; and judgments and estimates impacting on financial statements. 

Forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions, expectations and projections, and analyses made by the Company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate, including the following: the Company's ability to win business from new customers and expand business from existing customers; the timing of new customer wins and expansion decisions by existing customers; the Company's ability to generate revenue and expand its business while controlling costs and expenses; the Company's ability to manage growth effectively; the Company's ability to hire and retain personnel effectively; the effects of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on our operations; the ability to seek out, enter into and successfully integrate acquisitions, including the acquisition of H5P; business and industry trends, including the success of current and future product development initiatives; positive social development and attitudes toward the pursuit of higher education; the Company's ability to maintain positive relationships with its customer base and strategic partners; the Company's ability to adapt and develop solutions that keep pace with continuing changes in technology, education and customer needs; the ability to patent new technologies and protect intellectual property rights; the Company's ability to comply with security, cybersecurity and accessibility laws, regulations and standards; the assumptions underlying the judgments and estimates impacting on financial statements; and the Company's ability to retain key personnel; the factors and assumptions discussed under the "Financial Outlook" of the Annual MD&A; and that the list of factors referenced in the following paragraph, collectively, do not have a material impact on the Company.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking information were reasonable when made, they are inherently uncertain and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and may prove to be incorrect. The Company cautions investors that forward-looking information is not a guarantee of the future and that actual results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. Whether actual results, performance or achievements will conform to the Company's expectations and predictions is subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including but not limited to the risks identified herein, or at "Summary of Factors Affecting Our Performance" of the Company's Interim MD&A or in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's most recently filed annual information form, in each case filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.com. If any of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results might vary materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information.

Given these risks and uncertainties, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information, including any financial outlook. Any forward-looking information that is contained in this press release speaks only as of the date of such statement, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to publicly announce the results of any revisions to any of those statements to reflect future events or developments, except as required by applicable securities laws. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless specifically expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data. 

About D2L Inc. (TSX:DTOL)

D2L is transforming the way the world learns—helping learners of all ages achieve more than they dreamed possible. Working closely with customers all over the world, D2L is supporting millions of people learning online and in person. Our global workforce is dedicated to making the best learning products to leave the world better than they found it. Learn more at www.D2L.com. 

D2L Inc.Condensed Consolidated Interim Statements of Financial Position(In U.S. dollars)

As at July 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024(Unaudited)

July 31, 2024

January 31, 2024

Assets

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

$    98,059,870

$   116,943,499

Trade and other receivables

28,519,428

23,025,690

Uninvoiced revenue

3,542,139

3,971,861

Prepaid expenses

7,643,525

10,517,226

Deferred commissions

5,365,809

5,334,864