a50326651.htm
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC  20549

FORM 11-K

FOR ANNUAL REPORTS OF EMPLOYEE STOCK PURCHASE, SAVINGS AND SIMILAR PLANS PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

(Mark One)

[X]
Annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011
 
Or
 
[  ]
Transition report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the transition period from ____________________ to ____________________
 
 
Commission file number 001-33810
 

A.
Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the
 
issuer named below:
 
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
RETIREMENT PLAN
 
B.
Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of
 
its principal executive office:

American Public Education, Inc.
111 West Congress Street
Charles Town, West Virginia 25414
 
 
 

 
 
AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION, INC.
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
RETIREMENT PLAN
CHARLES TOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2011 and 2010

CONTENTS

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
1
   
Financial Statements
 
   
Statements of Net Assets Available For Benefits
  2
Statement of Changes In Net Assets Available For Benefits
  3
Notes to Financial Statements
  4
   
Supplemental Schedule
 
   
Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
11
   
Signatures
 
   
Exhibits
 
   
Exhibit 23.1 – Consent of McGladrey LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
 
 
 

 
 
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Trustees, Plan Administrator, and Participants
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Charles Town, West Virginia

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of American Public University System Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011.  These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of American Public University System Retirement Plan as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2011, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audits were performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole.  The supplemental schedule of assets (held at year-end) as of December 31, 2011, is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.  This supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan's management.  The supplemental schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
 

 



 
/s/ McGladrey LLP
Baltimore, Maryland
June 28, 2012
 
 
1

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
           
             
Statements Of Net Assets Available For Benefits
           
December 31, 2011 And 2010
           
             
             
   
2011
   
2010
 
Assets
           
Investments at fair value
  $ 22,504,169     $ 17,090,225  
                 
Receivables:
               
Employer contributions
    40,796       48,077  
      40,796       48,077  
Total assets
    22,544,965       17,138,302  
                 
Liabilities
    -       -  
Net assets available for benefits
  $ 22,544,965     $ 17,138,302  
                 
                 
                 
                 
See Notes To Financial Statements.
               
 
 
2

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
     
       
Statement Of Changes In Net Assets Available For Benefits
     
Year Ended December 31, 2011
     
       
       
       
Additions to net assets attributed to:
     
Contributions:
     
Employee
  $ 4,280,769  
Employer
    1,985,643  
Rollovers
    506,701  
Total contributions
    6,773,113  
         
Total additions
    6,773,113  
         
Deductions from net assets attributed to:
       
Investment loss (income):
       
Net depreciation in fair value of investments
    1,038,640  
Interest and dividends
    (593,216 )
Net investment loss
    445,424  
         
Benefits paid to participants
    917,048  
Administrative expenses
    3,978  
Total deductions
    1,366,450  
         
Net increase
    5,406,663  
         
Net assets available for benefits:
       
Beginning
    17,138,302  
Ending
  $ 22,544,965  
         
         
See Notes To Financial Statements.
       
 
 
3

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 1.                 Plan Description and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
The following description of the American Public University System Retirement Plan (the Plan) provides only general information.  Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
 
General:
 
The Plan, a 401(k) profit sharing plan sponsored by American Public University System, Inc. (the Company), a subsidiary of American Public Education, Inc. (APEI) covers all eligible employees under the Plan’s provisions.  The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
 
Eligibility:
 
All employees of the Company are eligible for participation in the Plan except for employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement and non-resident aliens who do not receive income from the employer which constitutes United States income and residents of Puerto Rico.
 
Contributions:  
 
Each year, participants may contribute a specified amount or percentage of compensation, up to 60% of their gross annual earnings not to exceed ERISA and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) limits. Participants who have attained the age of 50 before the end of the plan year are eligible to make catch-up contributions.  Participants may also contribute amounts representing distributions from other qualified plans (rollovers).Participants direct the investment of their contributions into various investment options offered by the Plan.  The Plan currently offers various mutual funds and APEI common stock as investment options for participants. The Company makes a safe harbor non-elective contribution of 100% of the first 3% of the participant’s eligible compensation deferred into the Plan and 50% of the next 2% of the participant’s eligible compensation deferred into the Plan.  Additional amounts may be contributed at the discretion of the Company.  Contributions are subject to certain limitations.
 
Participant accounts:
 
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contributions and allocations of (a) the Company’s contribution and (b) Plan earnings/losses and charged with administrative expenses, if applicable.  Allocations are based on participant’s earnings or account balances, as defined.  The benefit to which a participant is entitled is the benefit that can be provided from the participant’s vested account.
 
Vesting:  
 
Participants are immediately vested in their voluntary contributions, the safe harbor non-elective contributions and any non-elective Company contribution to the Plan, plus actual earnings thereon.
 
Payment of benefits:  
 
On termination of service due to death, disability, or retirement, a participant may elect to receive either a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant’s vested interest in his or her account, or annual installments over a ten-year period.  For termination of service for other reasons, a participant may receive the value of the vested interest in his or her account as a lump-sum distribution. If a participant’s account balance is less than $1,000 upon termination of service, the Plan Administrator will direct the trustee to make a lump-sum distribution.  In addition, participants may make withdrawals from their account upon attainment of age 59 1/2. Participants may also make withdrawals from their vested balance for reasons of financial hardship under specific guidelines set forth in the Plan.
 
Hardship withdrawals:
 
Hardship withdrawals shall be allowed in accordance with the Plan provisions, subject to a $500 minimum.
 
 
4

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 1.                 Plan Description and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
 
Forfeited accounts:   
 
At December 31, 2011 and 2010, the Plan had forfeiture balances of $2,317 and $2,175, respectively.  This account can be used to reduce future employer contributions.  No forfeitures were used during the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
Administrative expenses:
 
The Plan’s administrative expenses are paid by either the Plan or the Plan Sponsor as provided by the Plan document.  The Plan paid administrative expenses of $3,978 during the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
A summary of the Plan’s significant accounting policies follows:
 
Basis of accounting:  
 
The accompanying financial statements are prepared under the accrual method of accounting.
 
Use of estimates:
 
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) requires the Plan’s management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits and changes therein and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.  Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
Investment valuation and income recognition:
 
Investments are reported at fair value.  Fair value is 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.  See Note 2 for discussion of fair value measurements.
 
Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date. Net appreciation or depreciation includes the Plan’s gains and losses on investments bought, sold and held during the year.
 
Payment of benefits:
 
Benefits are recorded when paid.
 
Recent accounting pronouncements:
 
In May 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-04, “Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs.” This update changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements particularly for Level 3 fair value measurements. This update is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2011, with early adoption prohibited, and requires prospective application. The Plan is currently evaluating the impact this update will have on the Plan’s net assets available for benefits or changes in net assets available for benefits.
 
 
5

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 1.                 Plan Description and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued)
 
Income taxes:
 
GAAP requires Plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken any uncertain tax positions that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by a tax authority.  Management evaluated the Plan’s tax positions and concluded that the Plan had maintained its tax-exempt status and had taken no uncertain tax positions that require adjustment to the financial statements.  Therefore, no provision or liability for income taxes has been included in the financial statements.  With few exceptions, the Plan is no longer subject to income tax examinations by U.S. federal, state or local tax authorities for five years before 2008.
 
 
6

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 2.                 Investments
 
The following is a summary of the investment information as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.  Single investments representing more than 5% of the Plan's net assets are separately identified:
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Mutual Funds
           
FID Diversified International
  $ 1,014,129 *   $ 902,960  
FID Contrafund
    1,272,561       975,046  
FID Growth Company
    1,348,225       1,140,591  
FID Mid Cap Stock
    1,123,104 *     1,003,667  
FID Freedom 2020
    1,184,114       915,072  
FID Freedom 2030
    1,186,079       832,552  
FID Freedom 2040
    1,106,397 *     864,312  
Pimco Total Return Administrative
    1,131,603       705,944  
Fidelity Retirement Money Market
    1,235,693       915,884  
Other investments
    11,902,264       8,834,197  
    $ 22,504,169     $ 17,090,225  
                 
                 
* Amount was less than 5% of Plan assets in the year indicated.
         
 
During 2011, the Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) depreciated in value by $1,038,640 as follows:
 
Mutual funds
  $ (1,155,134 )
APEI Common stock
    116,494  
    $ (1,038,640 )
 
GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value. The framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value.  The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements).  The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under ASC 820 are described below:
 
Level 1.      Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.
 
Level 2.      Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
 
 
Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets
 
 
Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets
 
 
Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability
 
 
Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means
 
 
7

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 2.                 Investments (Continued)
 
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the Level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
 
Level 3.                 Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
 
The asset’s or liability’s fair value measurement level within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement.  Valuation techniques used need to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.
 
Following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
Common stock:  Valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded.
 
Mutual funds:  Reported at fair value based on quoted market price of the fund which represents the net asset value of the shares held by the fund at year end.
 
The methods described above may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, while the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
 
The following table sets forth by level, within the fair value hierarchy, the Plan’s investments at fair value as of December 31, 2011 and 2010.
 
   
Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2011
 
       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Mutual Funds:
                       
     Large Cap Funds
  $ 5,055,405     $ -     $ -     $ 5,055,405  
     Mid Cap Funds
    2,852,764       -       -       2,852,764  
     Small Cap Funds
    837,482       -       -       837,482  
     Blended Funds
    7,846,867       -       -       7,846,867  
     International Funds
    1,596,715       -       -       1,596,715  
     Bond Funds
    2,139,463       -       -       2,139,463  
     Money Market Funds
    1,235,693       -       -       1,235,693  
     Sector Funds
    148,795       -       -       148,795  
APEI Common stock
    790,985       -       -       790,985  
Total Investments at Fair Value
  $ 22,504,169     $ -     $ -     $ 22,504,169  
 
 
8

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements


Note 2.                 Investments (Continued)
 
   
Investments at Fair Value as of December 31, 2010
 
       
   
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Mutual Funds:
                       
     Large Cap Funds
  $ 4,150,808     $ -     $ -     $ 4,150,808  
     Mid Cap Funds
    2,509,501       -       -       2,509,501  
     Small Cap Funds
    573,856       -       -       573,856  
     Blended Funds
    5,537,787       -       -       5,537,787  
     International Funds
    1,365,890       -       -       1,365,890  
     Bond Funds
    1,373,893       -       -       1,373,893  
     Money Market Funds
    915,885       -       -       915,885  
     Sector Funds
    139,630       -       -       139,630  
APEI Common stock
    522,975       -       -       522,975  
Total Investments at Fair Value
  $ 17,090,225     $ -     $ -     $ 17,090,225  
 
The Plan’s mutual funds and common stock are publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange and are considered Level 1 assets.
 
Note 3.                 Risks and Uncertainties
 
The Plan invests in various investment securities.  Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market and credit risks.  Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the value of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for benefits.
 
Note 4.                 Plan Termination
 
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Company has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions and terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA.
 
Note 5.                 Tax Status

The IRS has determined, and informed the Plan by a letter dated March 5, 2012, that the Plan is qualified and the trust established under the Plan is tax exempt, under the appropriate sections of the Internal Revenue Code.
 
 
9

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
Notes to Financial Statements

 
Note 6.                 Related Party Transactions
 
Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by Fidelity.  Fidelity is the trustee as defined by the Plan, and therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions.  Administrative expenses paid by the Plan to Fidelity amounted to $3,978 for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
The Plan allows participants to invest in common stock of APEI.  The Plan Sponsor, which is the Company, is the subsidiary of APEI and therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest.  Participants are not required to make investments in employer securities.
 
Note 7.                 Reconciliation of Financial Statements to Form 5500
 
The following is a reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010:
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
Net assets available for benefits per the financial statements
  $ 22,544,965     $ 17,138,302  
Contributions receivable
    (40,796 )     (48,077 )
Net assets available for benefits per the Form 5500
  $ 22,504,169     $ 17,090,225  
 
The following is a reconciliation of changes in net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 for the year ended December 31, 2011:
 
       
Contributions per the financial statements
  $ 6,773,113  
Employer Contributions Receivable, 2011
    (40,796 )
Employer Contributions Receivable, 2010
    48,077  
Contributions per the Form 5500
  $ 6,780,394  
 
Note 8.                 Plan Amendments
 
In December 2009, the Plan was amended effective January 1, 2010, to limit the percentage of future contribution investment election selections into employer stock to 30%, to exclude from compensation the value of restricted stock or of a qualified or a non-qualified stock option granted to an employee, and to clarify that the amount of compensation used for purposes of determining the employer matching contribution is limited to compensation earned while the employee is eligible to participate in the Plan.
 
 
10

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
       
               
Schedule Of Assets (Held At End Of Year)
       
Form 5500, Schedule H, Item 4i
         
December 31, 2011
         
               
Employer Identification Number: 01-0724370
       
Plan Number: 001
         
               
   
 (b)
         
(a)
 
 Identity of Issuer, Borrower,
 (c)
 (d)
 
(e)
 
   
 Lessor, or Similar Party
 Description
 Cost **
 
Current Value
 
               
   
Mutual funds:
         
*  
Pimco
Pimco Total Return Administrative
    $ 1,131,603  
*  
Vanguard
Vanguard International Growth
      492,215  
*  
American
Selected American Shares Fund
      620,359  
*  
Invesco Van Kampen
Invesco Van Kampen Growth and Income
    88,381  
*  
Eaton Large
Eaton Large Cap Value A
      65,413  
*  
Vanguard
Vanguard Short Term Investment Grade
    213,276  
*  
MFS
MFS Value R3
      341,781  
*  
Fidelity
FID Puritan
      501,199  
*  
Fidelity
FID Contrafund
      1,272,561  
*  
Fidelity
FID Growth Company
      1,348,225  
*  
Fidelity
FID Intermediate Bond
      575,780  
*  
Fidelity
FID Value
      480,302  
*  
Fidelity
FID OTC Portfolio
      293,890  
*  
Fidelity
FID Leveraged CO Stock
      400,761  
*  
Fidelity
FID Real Estate Investment
      148,795  
*  
Fidelity
FID International Discovery
      90,370  
*  
Fidelity
FID Blue Chip Growth
      766,999  
*  
Fidelity
Fidelity Low Price Stock
      748,212  
*  
Fidelity
FID Diversified International
      1,014,129  
*  
Fidelity
FID Mid Cap Stock
      1,123,104  
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedon Income
      153,028  
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedom 2000
      106,011  
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedom 2010
      386,003  
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedom 2020
      1,184,114  
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedom 2030
      1,186,079  
*  
Fidelity
FID Small Cap Discovery
      571,800  
*  
Fidelity
Fidelity Spartan Total Market Index
      257,797  
 
 
11

 
 
American Public University System Retirement Plan
       
               
Schedule Of Assets (Held At End Of Year)
       
Form 5500, Schedule H, Item 4i
         
December 31, 2011
         
               
Employer Identification Number: 01-0724370
       
Plan Number: 001
         
               
   
 (b)
         
(a)
 
 Identity of Issuer, Borrower,
 (c)
 (d)
 
(e)
 
   
 Lessor, or Similar Party
 Description
 Cost **
 
Current Value
 
*   Fidelity
Fidelity Spartan Extended Market Index
    100,385  
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2040
   
1,106,397
 
*   Fidelity
FID Total Bond
   
218,805
 
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2005
   
34,251
 
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2015
   
480,573
 
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2025
   
672,945
 
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2035
   
908,677
 
*   Fidelity
FID Small Cap Value
   
265,682
 
*  
Fidelity
FID Freedom 2045
   
620,535
 
*   Fidelity
FID Freedom 2050
   
507,053
 
*   Fidelity
Fidelity Retirement Money Market
   
1,235,693
 
               
    Total Mutual Funds      
21,713,183
 
           
*  
American Public Education Inc.
American Public Education Inc. Common Stock
     
790,985
 
   
Total Investments
      $
22,504,169
 
 
   * Party-in-interest.
 ** Historical cost information is not required for participant-directed investments.
 
 
12

 
 
SIGNATURES
 
The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
AMERICAN PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
SYSTEM RETIREMENT PLAN
 
       
Dated: June 28, 2012
By:
/s/ Harry T. Wilkins  
  Name: 
Harry T. Wilkins
 
  Title: 
Executive Vice President and
 
   
Chief Financial Officer of American
 
   
Public Education, Inc.
 
 
 
13

 
 
EXHIBITS
 
Exhibit
 
Number
Description of Exhibit
   
23.1
Consent of McGladrey LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm