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, 2008.
First Quarter 2008 Results
For the quarter ended March 31, 2008, net earnings applicable to common
stockholders increased 20.5% to $2.8 million, or $.16 per diluted common
share, compared to $2.4 million, or $.13 per diluted common share, for
the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (weighted average common shares
outstanding were 18.0 million for the first quarter of 2008 versus 17.5
million for the same period in 2007). Earnings before income taxes
increased 8.9% to $8.0 million for the current quarter from $7.4 million
for last year’s quarter. The results of
operations for the quarter ended March 31, 2008 were generated from net
sales of $50.4 million, which increased 4.6% compared to $48.2 million
in net sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.
Steven B. Lapin, Aristotle’s President and
Chief Operating Officer, stated, “I am pleased
to report the solid sales and earnings performance for the first quarter
of 2008. The educational segment revenues increased 4.8% compared to the
same quarter last year, and the commercial segment experienced a 3.3%
increase; this balanced growth confirms the Company’s
approach to market the right product with the right value to its
customer base. At the same time, effective management efficiencies held
the increase in selling and administrative expenses to less than 2%.”
Dean T. Johnson, Aristotle’s Chief Financial
Officer, commented, “Working capital was $86.2
million at March 31, 2008, compared to $70.3 million at March 31, 2007.
Inventory levels related to strategic purchasing activities accounted
for $4.5 million of the change in working capital. Substantially all of
the remaining increase in working capital was attributed to the
aggregate increase in marketable securities and other liquid investments
to $27.1 million at March 31, 2008 from $15.0 at the same date last
year. The Company maintains a strong and liquid financial position;
stated stockholders’ equity increased $20.9
million to $118.0 million at March 31, 2008 from $97.1 million at March
31, 2007, while long-term debt increased by only $1.0 million
period-to-period.”
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 900
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 17.9 million shares outstanding of Aristotle common stock
(NASDAQ: ARTL) and 1.1 million shares outstanding of Series I preferred
stock (NASDAQ: ARTLP); there are also 11.0 million privately-held shares
outstanding of Series J preferred stock. Aristotle has about 4,000
stockholders of record.
Further information about Aristotle can be obtained on its website: 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, 2007.
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,
2008
2007
Net sales
$
50,432
48,224
Cost of sales
30,536
29,261
Gross profit
19,896
18,963
Selling and administrative expense
11,826
11,627
Earnings from operations
8,070
7,336
Other income (expense):
Interest expense
(288
)
(326
)
Other, net
232
351
(56
)
25
Earnings before income taxes
8,014
7,361
Income taxes:
Current
2,328
1,523
Deferred
687
1,319
3,015
2,842
Net earnings
4,999
4,519
Preferred dividends
2,156
2,159
Net earnings applicable to common stockholders
$
2,843
2,360
Earnings per common share:
Basic
$
.16
.14
Diluted
$
.16
.13
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
17,961,040
17,266,573
Diluted
17,973,632
17,536,665
THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
Assets
March 31,
2008
December 31,
2007
March 31,
2007
(unaudited)
(unaudited)
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
4,514
5,604
2,013
Marketable securities
3,305
3,335
-
Investments
19,277
18,150
14,958
Accounts receivable, net
20,481
15,631
19,557
Inventories
44,156
42,297
39,609
Prepaid expenses and other
7,601
9,611
6,581
Deferred income taxes
1,910
2,484
2,774
Total current assets
101,244
97,112
85,492
Property, plant and equipment, net
28,193
27,476
26,357
Goodwill
14,338
14,476
13,890
Deferred income taxes
5,646
5,646
8,188
Investments
4,319
4,279
-
Other assets
518
446
311
Total assets
$
154,258
149,435
134,238
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Current liabilities:
Current installments of long-term debt
$
302
305
288
Trade accounts payable
8,632
10,500
8,495
Accrued expenses
6,100
6,765
6,434
Accrued dividends payable
-
2,156
-
Total current liabilities
15,034
19,726
15,217
Long-term debt, less current installments
16,083
8,655
14,913
Long-term pension obligations
2,704
2,944
4,653
Other long-term accruals
2,439
2,429
2,397
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock, Series I
6,489
6,489
6,601
Preferred stock, Series J
65,760
65,760
65,760
Common stock
180
179
173
Additional paid-in capital
7,674
7,580
3,294
Retained earnings
37,807
34,964
22,417
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
88
709
(1,187
)
Total stockholders' equity
117,998
115,681
97,058
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
154,258
149,435
134,238