The Aristotle (MM) (NASDAQ:ARTLP)
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The Aristotle Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTL; ARTLP) announced today its
results of operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, and set the
date for its 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
First Quarter 2007 Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2007, net sales increased 4.5% to $48.2
million from $46.2 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
Earnings before income taxes increased 13.7% to $7.4 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 2007 from $6.5 million for the quarter ended
March 31, 2006, and net earnings increased 14.1% to $4.5 million for the
quarter ended March 31, 2007 from $4.0 million from the quarter ended
March 31, 2006. Net earnings applicable to common stockholders for the
quarter ended March 31, 2007 were $2.4 million, or $.13 per diluted
common share, compared to $1.8 million, or $.10 per diluted common
share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.
The reported net earnings are shown after deduction for Federal, state
and foreign income tax expenses. Approximately $1.3 million and $1.9
million of the income tax provision for the quarters ended March 31,
2007 and 2006, respectively, relate to the non-cash charge for
utilization of Federal net operating tax loss carryforwards (“NOL’s”).
The utilization of NOL’s for the reported
quarters reduced Aristotle’s current Federal
tax liability, thereby conserving cash. In the quarter ended March 31,
2007, the remaining balance of NOL’s available
as of December 31, 2006, approximately $3.6 million, was utilized by
Federal taxable income generated by the Company.
Steven B. Lapin, Aristotle’s President and
Chief Operating Officer, stated, “I am
delighted to report the increase in quarterly earnings per share, on a
fully diluted basis, to $.13 per common share compared to $.10 per
common share in the same quarter of last year. Although the first
calendar quarter is historically one of the lower revenue quarters of
the year, the Company’s ability to yield
improved earnings in the 2007 first quarter is an indication that
management continues to effectively control the Company’s
operating expenses.”
“Additionally, gross profit margins improved
in the 2007 first quarter to 39.3% of net sales, compared to 38.1% in
the 2006 first quarter. Each business unit applies
corporately-coordinated procurement practices that effectively
consolidate purchasing leverage to attain the best available merchandise
pricing from vendors. The Company continues to nurture
mutually-beneficial business relationships with vendors so as to expand
the value of its product offerings to all customers.”
Dean Johnson, Aristotle’s Chief Financial
Officer, commented, “At December 31, 2006,
the Company had approximately $3.6 million of NOL’s
available that could be utilized to offset future Federal income tax
obligations. In the first quarter of 2007, the Company generated taxable
income in excess of the $3.6 million balance of NOL’s.
Utilization of this remaining balance of NOL’s
provided the Company a Federal tax benefit of approximately $1.3 million
in the first quarter of 2007. In future quarters, the Company will
utilize cash to pay its Federal income tax obligations.”
In providing EBITDA information, Aristotle offers a non-GAAP financial
measure to complement its condensed consolidated financial statements
presented in accordance with GAAP. This non-GAAP financial measure is
intended to supplement the reader’s overall
understanding of Aristotle’s current
financial performance. However, this non-GAAP financial measure is not
intended to supercede or replace Aristotle’s
GAAP results. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP results to the GAAP
results is provided in the “Reconciliation of
GAAP Net Earnings to EBITDA” schedule below.
EBITDA is defined as net earnings before income taxes, interest expense,
other income and expense, and depreciation and amortization.
2007 Annual Meeting
Aristotle also announced today that it will hold its 2007 Annual Meeting
of Stockholders on August 8, 2007. Stockholders of record on June 29,
2007 will be entitled to vote at the meeting. Any stockholder wishing to
submit a proposal to be considered for inclusion in Aristotle’s
proxy statement and proxy for the Annual Meeting must deliver the
proposal by May 25, 2007, addressed to Aristotle’s
Secretary at 96 Cummings Point Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.
About Aristotle
The Aristotle Corporation, founded in 1986, and headquartered in
Stamford, CT, is a leading manufacturer and global distributor of
educational, health, medical technology and agricultural products. A
selection of over 80,000 items is offered, primarily through more than
45 separate catalogs carrying the brand of Nasco (founded in 1941), as
well as those bearing the brands of Life/Form®,
Whirl-Pak®, Simulaids, Triarco, Spectrum
Educational Supplies, Hubbard Scientific, Scott Resources, Haan Crafts,
To-Sew, CPR Prompt®, Ginsberg Scientific, and
Summit Learning. Products include educational materials and supplies for
substantially all K-12 curricula, molded plastics, biological materials,
medical simulators, health care products and items for the agricultural,
senior care and food industries. Aristotle has approximately 850
full-time employees at its operations in Fort Atkinson, WI, Modesto, CA,
Fort Collins, CO, Plymouth, MN, Saugerties, NY, Chippewa Falls, WI,
Otterbein, IN and Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.
There are approximately 17.3 million shares outstanding of Aristotle
common stock (NASDAQ: ARTL) and approximately 1.1 million shares
outstanding of 11%, cumulative, convertible, voting, Series I preferred
stock (NASDAQ: ARTLP); there are also approximately 11.0 million
privately-held shares outstanding of 12%, cumulative, non-convertible,
non-voting shares of Series J preferred stock. Aristotle has about 4,000
stockholders of record.
Further information about Aristotle can be obtained on its website, at www.aristotlecorp.net.
Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
To the extent that any of the statements contained in this release are
forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations that
involve a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in such
forward-looking statements. Aristotle cautions investors that there can
be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not
differ materially from those projected or suggested in such
forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including,
but not limited to, the following: (i) the ability of Aristotle to
obtain financing and additional capital to fund its business strategy on
acceptable terms, if at all; (ii) the ability of Aristotle on a timely
basis to find, prudently negotiate and consummate additional
acquisitions; (iii) the ability of Aristotle to manage any to-be
acquired businesses; (iv) there is not an active trading market for the
Company’s securities, and the stock prices
thereof are highly volatile, due in part to the relatively small
percentage of the Company’s securities which
is not held by the Company’s majority
stockholder and members of the Company’s
Board of Directors and management; (v) the ability of Aristotle to
retain its Federal net operating tax loss carryforward position and
other deferred tax positions; and (vi) other factors identified in Item
1A, Risk Factors, contained in the Company’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
As a result, Aristotle’s future development
efforts involve a high degree of risk. For further information, please
see Aristotle’s filings with the Securities
and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K, 10-K/A, 10-Q and 8-K.
THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except share and
per share data)
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2007
2006
Net sales
$
48,224
46,164
Cost of sales
29,261
28,565
Gross profit
18,963
17,599
Selling and administrative expense
11,627
11,082
Earnings from operations
7,336
6,517
Other income (expense):
Interest expense
(326)
(447)
Other, net
351
405
25
(42)
Earnings before income taxes
7,361
6,475
Income taxes:
Current
1,523
722
Deferred
1,319
1,792
2,842
2,514
Net earnings
4,519
3,961
Preferred dividends
2,159
2,159
Net earnings applicable to common stockholders
$
2,360
1,802
Earnings per common share:
Basic
$
.14
.10
Diluted
$
.13
.10
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
17,266,573
17,249,302
Diluted
17,536,665
17,494,518
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET EARNINGS TO EBITDA
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
March 31,
2007
2006
Net earnings
$
4,519
3,961
Add:
Income taxes
2,842
2,514
Interest expense
326
447
Other, net
(351)
(405)
Depreciation and amortization
441
435
EBITDA
$
7,777
6,952
THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Assets
March 31,
2007
December 31, 2006
March 31, 2006
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
2,013
5,814
1,999
Investments
14,958
14,586
13,258
Accounts receivable, net
19,557
15,458
19,381
Inventories
39,609
37,487
38,222
Prepaid expenses and other
6,581
8,123
7,013
Deferred income taxes
2,774
4,051
9,501
Total current assets
85,492
85,519
89,374
Property, plant and equipment, net
26,357
25,426
23,045
Goodwill
13,890
13,860
13,872
Deferred income taxes
8,188
8,188
2,712
Other assets
311
328
373
Total assets
$
134,238
133,321
129,376
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt
$
288
287
589
Trade accounts payable
8,495
9,440
9,704
Accrued expenses
6,434
8,207
4,630
Accrued dividends payable
-
2,159
-
Total current liabilities
15,217
20,093
14,923
Long-term debt, less current installments
14,913
11,985
31,268
Long-term pension obligations
4,653
4,469
858
Other long-term accruals
2,397
2,383
-
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, Series I
6,601
6,601
6,601
Preferred stock, Series J
65,760
65,760
65,760
Common stock
173
172
173
Additional paid-in capital
3,294
3,106
3,219
Retained earnings
22,417
20,057
6,693
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,187)
(1,305)
(119)
Total stockholders' equity
97,058
94,391
82,327
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
134,238
133,321
129,376