RYB Education, Inc. Reports First Quarter 2019 Financial Results

BEIJING,May 29,2019 -- RYB Education,Inc.("RYB" or the "Company") (NYSE: RYB),a leading early childhood education service provider inChina,today announced its unaudited financial results for the first quarter of2019.

FirstQuarter2019 Operational and Financial Summary

Number of students enrolled at RYB directly operated kindergartens was 24,572 as of March 31,2019,compared with 22,087 as of March 31,2018.

Net revenues increased by 19.2% to $34.3 million,compared with $28.8 million for the first quarter of 2018.

Gross profit was $1.8 million,compared with $0.6 million for the first quarter of 2018.

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first quarter of 2019 was $2.3 million,compared with $2.7 million for the first quarter of 2018. Adjusted net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders[1] of RYB for the first quarter of 2019 was $1.2 million,compared with $1.0 million for the first quarter of 2018.

Cash generated from operating activities was $13.2 million in the first quarter of 2019,compared with $5.3 million for the first quarter of 2018.

Subsequent Events

The Company has successfully closed the previously announced acquisition of a Singapore-based private childhood education group in early April. In total,the Company acquired approximately 77% equity interest of the group for a combined consideration of RMB146 million.

"We ended first quarter of 2019 with solid performance,delivering 19.2% year-over-year revenue growth. We attribute this healthy performance to our consistent investment in enhancing the quality of education and services we provide to our children and our continuous pursuit of differentiated product and services offerings. Such commitment was rewarded with 11.3% net enrollment increase at our directly operated kindergartens this quarter," said Ms. Yanlai Shi,Co-founder,Director and Chief Executive Officer of RYB.

"Going forward,we aim for a balanced growth strategy. With the policies and regulations relating to kindergartens continuing to be implemented this year,we will work alongside relevant government agencies to adopt those policies at our facilities.

We continue to focus on our core offerings of play-and-learn center and kindergarten services. Our play-and-learn center network continues to expand at a healthy pace. With the Singapore acquisition now closed,we have expanded our directly-operated kindergarten network and brands considerably. The high-quality personnel and bilingual curriculum that came with the Singapore acquisition,together with other smaller strategic acquisitions and investments,have also positioned us well for broader product and services offerings such as proprietary course content,teacher training,management systems and standards and other tailored service solutions. In conjunction with other growth initiatives such as care and education for children 0 to 3 years old,we look forward to servicing a wider target market at home and abroad."

Ms.Ping Wei,Chief Financial Officer of RYB,added,"2019 began with net revenues increasing 19.2% year-over-year in the first quarter and enrollments at directly operated kindergartens growing 11.3%. In addition,first quarter adjusted operating loss narrowed to $2.7million from $3.4million in the first quarter of last year. Our improving top-line and bottom-line results were driven by focused execution of ourgrowth strategy,prudent cost management and our continuous investments in offering more quality product and services solutions.

"China's early childhood education market is big and still growing. Looking ahead,we will continue to balance growth and profitability. We remain committed to investing in our teachers and in our R&D initiatives to drive better educational quality and eventually healthier long-term growth. In addition,we will also continue to adopt strict security and safety standards at our facilities and stringent cost-control measures,especially in non-core functions. We believe such a balanced approach will help optimize long-term shareholder value."

First quarter 2019 Financial Results

Net Revenues

Net revenues for the first quarter of 2019 increased by 19.2% to$34.3 million,from$28.8 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

Service revenues for the first quarter of 2019 increased by 22.5% to$31.9million,from$26.0 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to increased tuition fees from increased average student payments due to student-mix shift and an increase in the number of students enrolled in the Company's directly operated kindergartens. The increase in the number of studentsenrolled was attributable to newly opened facilities,acquired facilities as well as higher utilization rates at existing facilities as they ramp-up.

Product revenues for the first quarter of 2019 decreased by 12.1% to$2.4 million,from$2.8 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. The decrease was mainly timing difference as some products typically delivered in the quarter were delayed to later quarters.

Cost of Revenues

Cost of revenues for the first quarter of 2019 was$32.4million,a 15.3% increase from$28.1 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. Cost of revenues for services for the first quarter of 2019 was$31.2 million,compared with$26.7 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to increase in staff compensation at the Company's directly operated kindergartens and higher operating costs,such as rental and material consumption as the Company's kindergarten facilities network expanded in the quarter. Cost of products revenues for the first quarter of 2019 was$1.2 million,compared with$1.4 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. The decrease was generally in line with the decrease in products revenue.

Gross Profit and Gross Margin

Gross profit for the first quarter of 2019 increased by 195.0% to$1.8 million,compared with$0.6 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

Gross margin for the first quarter of 2019 was 5.4%,compared with 2.2% for the same quarter last year. The increase was primarily due to incrementally higher utilization rates at directly operated kindergartens and increased tuition fees from a student-mix shift.

Operating Expenses

Total operating expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were$5.9 million,comparable with $5.8 million for the first quarter of 2018. Excluding share-based compensation expenses,operating expenses were$4.6 million,an increase of 13.1% from$4.1 millionfor the first quarter of 2018.

Selling expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were$0.6million,compared with$0.3 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

General and administrative ("G&A") expenses for the first quarter of 2019 were$5.3million,a 3.1% decrease from$5.5 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. Excluding share-based compensation expenses,G&A expenses were $4.0million,compared with $3.8 million for the same quarter of 2018. The share-based compensation expenses included in G&A expenses were$1.3 millionfor the first quarter of 2019.

Operating Loss

Operating loss for the first quarter of 2019 was$4.0 million,compared with$5.1 millionfor the same quarter last year. Adjusted operating loss[2]was$2.7millionfor the first quarter of 2019,compared with $3.4 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

Net Income/loss

Net loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first quarter of 2019 was$2.3million,compared with$2.7 millionfor the same quarter of 2018. Adjusted net lossattributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB,which excludes the impact of$1.3 millionof share-based compensation expense and$0.2 milliondecrease in redeemable non-controlling interests for the first quarter of 2019,was$1.2 million,compared with$1.0 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

Basic and diluted net loss per American depositary share ("ADS") attributable to ordinary shareholders of RYB for the first quarter of 2019 were both$0.08,compared to $0.09 for the same quarter of 2018. Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share.

Adjusted basic and diluted net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders[3]of RYB for the first quarter of 2019 wereboth $0.04,compared with $0.03for the same quarter of 2018.

EBITDA[4] for the first quarter of 2019 wasa loss of $0.7million,compared witha loss of $2.8 millionfor the same period of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA[5] for the first quarter of 2019 was$0.6 million,compared with a loss of$1.0 millionfor the same quarter of 2018.

[1] Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders is a non-GAAP financial measure,which is defined as net income (loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses andchanges in redeemable non-controlling interests. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release.

[2] Adjusted operating income (loss) is a non-GAAP financial measure,which is defined as operating income (loss) excluding share-based compensation expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release.

[3] Adjusted basic and diluted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders is a non- GAAP financial measure,which is defined as basic and diluted net income (loss) per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release.

[4] EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) excluding depreciation,amortization and income tax expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non- GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release.

[5] Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure,which is defined as net income (loss) excluding depreciation,amortization,interest expenses,income tax expenses,and share-based compensation expenses. See "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" and "Reconciliations of GAAP and non- GAAP results" elsewhere in this earnings release.

Operating Cash Flow

Cash generated fromoperating activities was$13.2 millionduring the first quarter of 2019,compared with$5.3 million during the first quarter of 2018. The increase was primarily due to higher advance payments from customers in the quarter as compared to the last year,further enlarged by one-off refunds to potential and contracted franchisees in the same period of 2018.

Balance Sheet

As of March 31,the Company had total cash and cash equivalents of $100.1 million,adecrease from $104.1 million as of December 31,2018 as operating cash inflow generated from this quarter was used in acquisition and other investments activities. $4.5 million of share repurchase executed in the quarter also contributed to the decrease in cash balance.

In February 2016,the FASB issued ASU 2016-02,"Leases Topic (842): Leases." This ASU supersedes existing guidance on accounting for leases in Leases (Topic 840). The update requires disclosures regarding key information about leasing arrangements and requires all leases for a lessee to be recognized on the balance sheet as a right-of-use asset and a corresponding lease liability. For leases with a term of 12 months or less,a practical expedient is available whereby a lessee may elect,by class of underlying asset,not to recognize a right-of-use asset or lease liability. The Company adopted the new standard during the quarter just ended using the modified retrospective transition method resulting in the recording of a right-to-use asset of $75.3 million and lease liabilities of $79.7 million on the balance sheet and a corresponding liability. Prior period amounts have not been adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the previous accounting guidance. The Company utilized the package of practical expedients allowing the Company to not reassess whether a contract is or contains a lease,lease classification and initial direct costs. As part of the adoption of the accounting standard,the Company elected to not recognize short-term leases on the condensed consolidated balance sheet.

Outlook

For the second quarter of 2019,the Company's management currently expects:

Net revenues to be between $52.1 million and $54.5 million,representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 10% to 15%.

For the full year of 2019,the Company's management currently expects:

Net revenues to be between $195.5 million and $203.5 million,representing a year-over-year increase of approximately 25% to 30%.

The above outlook is based on the current market conditions and reflects the Company management's current and preliminary estimates of market and operating conditions,customer demand and foreign exchange environment,which are all subject to change.The above outlook includes revenue consideration of the Company's completed acquisition of a leadingSingapore-based private childhood education group,as initially announcedFebruary 5,2019.

Conference Call

Management will hold a conference call at8:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Wednesday,2019 (8:00 p.m.Beijing Time onMay 29,2019) to discuss financial results and answer questions from investor and analysts.Listeners may access the call by dialing:

United States (toll free):

1-888-317-6003

International:

1-412-317-6061

Mainland China (toll free):

400-120-6115

Hong Kong (toll free):

800-963-976

Participant Elite Entry Number:

7291851

Participants should dial-in at least 10-15 minutes before the scheduled start time and ask to be connected to the RYB Education,Inc. conference call.

A telephone replay will be available approximately one hour after the call untilJune 5,2019by dialing:

United States (toll free):

1-877-344-7529

International:

1-412-317-0088

Replay Access Code:

10131784

Additionally,a live and archived webcast of the conference call will be available athttp://ir.rybbaby.com.

About RYB Education,Inc.

Founded on the core values of "Care" and "Responsibility," "Inspire" and "Innovate," RYB Education,Inc. is a leading early childhood education service provider in China. Since opening its first play-and-learn center in 1998,the Company has grown and flourished with the mission to provide high-quality,individualized and age-appropriate care and education to nurture and inspire each child for his or her betterment in life. During its two decades of operating history,the Company has built "RYB" into a well-recognized education brand and helped bring about many new educational practices in China's early childhood education industry. RYB's comprehensive early childhood education solutions meet the needs of children from infancy to 6 years old through structured courses at kindergartens and play-and-learn centers,as well as at-home educational products and services.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use EBITDA,adjusted EBITDA,adjusted operating income,adjusted net income,and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS,each a non-GAAP financial measure,in evaluating our operating results and for financial and operational decision-making purposes.

EBITDA is defined as net income excluding depreciation,and income tax expenses; adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income excluding depreciation,and share-based compensation expenses; adjusted operating income is defined as operating income excluding share-based compensation expenses; adjusted net income attributable to ordinary shareholders is defined asnet income attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest; and adjusted basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders are defined as basic and diluted net income per ADS attributable to ordinary shareholders excluding share-based compensation expenses and changes in redeemable non-controlling interest.

We believe that EBITDA,help identify underlying trends in our business that could otherwise be distorted by the effect of certain expenses that we include in income from operations and net income. We believe that EBITDA,provide useful information about our operating results,enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects and allow for greater visibility with respect to key metrics used by our management in its financial and operational decision-making.

EBITDA,should not be considered in isolation or construed as an alternative to net income or any other measure of performance or as an indicator of our operating performance. Investors are encouraged to review the historical Adjusted financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures. EBITDA,presented here may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies. Other companies may calculate similarly titled measures differently,limiting their usefulness as comparative measures to our data. We encourage investors and others to review our financial information in its entirety and not rely on a single financial measure.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Statements that are not historical facts,including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations,are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement,including but not limited to the following: the Company's brand recognition and market reputation; student enrollment in the Company's teaching facilities; the Company's growth strategies; its future business development,results of operations and financial condition; trends and competition inChina'searly childhood education market; changes in its revenues and certain cost or expense items; the expected growth of the Chinese early childhood education market; Chinese governmental policies relating to the Company's industry and general economic conditions inChina. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's filings with the SEC. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release,and the Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement,except as required under applicable law.

For investor and media inquiries,please contact:

InChina:

RYB Education,Inc.

Investor Relations

Tel: 86-10-8767-5752

E-mail:ir@rybbaby.com

The Piacente Group,Inc.

Ross Warner

Tel: +86 (10) 5730-6200

E-mail:ryb@tpg-ir.com

Inthe United States:

The Piacente Group,Inc.

Brandi Piacente

Tel: +1-212-481-2050

E-mail:ryb@tpg-ir.com

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

As of

March

31,2019

December

31,2018

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents

100,092

104,084

Accounts receivable,net

1,058

876

Inventories

6,159

4,811

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

11,804

11,243

Loan receivables-current

596

582

Total current assets

119,709

121,596

Non-current assets:

Restricted cash

660

746

Property,plant and equipment,net

47,718

45,896

Acquired intangible assets

4,408

4,491

Goodwill

26,538

25,096

Long-term investments

4,835

4,805

Deferred tax assets

18,015

16,195

Other non-current assets

26,302

24,048

Operating lease right-of-use assets

75,269

-

Loan receivables - noncurrent

596

582

Total assets

324,050

243,455

Liabilities

Current liabilities:

Prepayments from customers,current portion (including

prepayments from customers of the consolidated VIEs

without recourse to the Group of $8,897 and $6,647 as of

March 31,2019 andDecember 31,2018,respectively)

8,897

6,647

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (including

accrued expenses and other current liabilities of the c

onsolidated VIEswithout recourse to the Group of $44,216

and $54,443 as of March 31,

respectively)

46,261

60,429

Income taxes payable(including income taxes payable of the

consolidated VIEswithout recourse to the Group of $12,282

and $11,298 as of March 31,

respectively)

12,702

11,685

Deferred revenue,current portion(including deferred

revenue of the consolidated VIEswithout recourse to the

Group of $47,994 and $29,578 as of March 31,2019 and

December 31,respectively)

47,994

29,578

Operating lease liabilities,current portion (including

operating lease liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to the Group of $13,125 and nil as of March 31,

2019 andDecember 31,respectively)

13,461

-

Total current liabilities

129,315

108,339

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS(Continued)

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

As of

March

31,2018

Non-current liabilities:

Prepayments from customers,non-current portion (including

prepayments from customers of the consolidated VIEs

without recourse to the Group of $3,592 and $3,582 as of

March 31,respectively)

3,592

3,582

Deferred revenue,non-current portion (including deferred

revenue of the consolidated VIEswithout recourse to the

Group of $5,343 and $5,567 as of March 31,respectively)

6,721

6,915

Other non-current liabilities (including other non-current

liabilities of the consolidated VIEswithout recourse to the

Group of $8,484 and $8,541 as of March 31,484

8,541

Deferred income tax liabilities (including deferred income

tax liabilities of the consolidated VIEswithout recourse to

the Group of $1,089 and $1,110 as of March 31,respectively)

1,089

1,110

Operating lease liabilities,non-current portion (including

operating lease liabilities of the consolidated VIEs without

recourse to the Group of $65,629 and nil as of March 31,respectively)

66,248

-

Total liabilities

215,449

128,487

Mezzanine equity

Redeemable non-controlling interests

1,527

1,628

Equity

Ordinary shares

29

29

Treasury stock

(4,480)

-

Additional paid-in capital

137,178

135,881

Statutory reserve

3,362

3,362

Accumulated other comprehensive income

(334)

(122)

Accumulated deficit

(32,770)

(30,421)

Total RYB Education,Inc. shareholders' equity

102,985

108,729

Non-controlling interest

4,089

4,611

Total equity

107,074

113,340

Total liabilities,mezzanine equity and total equity

324,455

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars,except share,ADS,per share and per ADS data)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2019

2018

Net revenues:

Services

31,843

26,000

Products

2,421

2,753

Total net revenues

34,264

28,753

Cost of revenues:

Services

31,196

26,688

Products

1,230

1,442

Total cost of revenues

32,426

28,130

Gross profit

1,838

623

Operating expenses

Selling Expenses

550

278

General and administrative

5,323

5,492

Total operating expenses

5,873

5,770

Operating loss

(4,035)

(5,147)

Interest income

205

535

Government subsidy income

125

89

Gain on disposal of subsidiaries

697

1

Loss before income taxes

(3,008)

(4,522)

Less: Income tax credits

(437)

(1,479)

Loss before loss in equity method

investments

(2,571)

(3,043)

Loss from equity method investment

(113)

(55)

Net loss

(2,684)

(3,098)

Less: Net loss attributable to non-controlling

interest

(192)

(378)

Decrease in redeemable non-controlling

interests

(143)

-

Net loss attributable to ordinary

shareholders of RYB

(2,349)

(2,720)

Net loss per share attributable to ordinary

shareholders of RYB Education,Inc.

Basic

(0.08)

(0.09)

Diluted

(0.08)

(0.09)

Net loss per ADS attributable to ordinary

shareholders of RYB Education,Inc. (Note 1)

Basic

(0.08)

(0.09)

Diluted

(0.08)

(0.09)

Weighted average shares used in calculating net

income per ordinary share

Basic

29,033,754

29,213,801

Diluted

29,801

Note 1: Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share.

UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands of U.S. dollars)

Three Months Ended March 31,

2019

2018

Net loss

(2,098)

Other comprehensive (loss) income,net of tax of nil:

Change in cumulative foreign currency translation

adjustments

(63)

659

Total comprehensive loss

(2,747)

(2,439)

Less: Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling

interest

(43)

(324)

Comprehensiveloss attributable to RYB Education,

Inc.

(2,704)

(2,115)

RECONCILIATION OFGAAP AND NON-GAAP RESULTS

(in thousands of U.S. dollars,per share and per ADS data)

Three Months Ended

March 31,

2019

2018

Operating loss

(4,035)

(5,147)

Share-based compensation expenses

1,297

1,762

Adjusted operating loss

(2,738)

(3,385)

Net loss attributable to RYB

(2,349)

(2,720)

Decrease in redeemable non-controlling interest

(143)

-

Share-based compensation expenses

1,762

Adjusted net loss attributable to RYB

(1,195)

(958)

Net loss

(2,684)

(3,098)

Add: Income tax expense

(437)

(1,479)

Depreciation of property,plant and equipment

2,441

1,770

EBITDA

(680)

(2,807)

Share-based compensation expenses

1,762

Adjusted EBITDA

617

(1,045)

Net loss per ADS attributable to RYB- Basic

(Note1)

(0.08)

(0.09)

Net lossper ADS attributable to RYB- Diluted

(Note1)

(0.08)

(0.09)

Adjusted net loss per ADS attributable to RYB -

Basic (Note1)

(0.04)

(0.03)

Adjusted net lossper ADS attributable to RYB -

Diluted (Note1)

(0.04)

(0.03)

Weighted average shares used in calculating

basic net loss/adjusted net loss per ADS (Note1)

29,801

Weighted average shares used in calculating

diluted net loss/adjusted net loss per ADS (Note1)

29,801

Adjusted net lossper share attributable to ordinary

shareholders of RYB Education,Inc.- Basic

(0.04)

(0.03)

Adjusted net lossper share attributable to ordinary

shareholders of RYB Education,Inc.- Diluted

(0.04)

(0.03)

Note 1: Each ADS represents one Class A ordinary share.

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