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8-K - FORM 8-K - SCHOOL SPECIALTY INCd260016d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO   

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2011

 

Contact:

David Vander Ploeg

Executive VP and CFO

920-882-5854

  

W6316 Design Drive, Greenville, WI 54942

P.O. Box 1579, Appleton, WI 54912-1579

  

School Specialty Reports Fiscal 2012 Second Quarter and Year-to-Date Results

 

  - Year-to-date revenues declined 3 percent to $528 million

 

  - Cost reductions implemented for additional annual savings of $10 million

 

  - Revenue and earnings guidance revised

Greenville, WI, November 22, 2011—School Specialty (NASDAQ: SCHS) today reported fiscal 2012 second quarter and year-to-date financial results. Because of the company’s seasonality and the extra week in the prior year, operating results are more accurately evaluated over the full six-month period.

Revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2012 was $527.5 million, compared with $544.9 million in the first six months of the prior year, a decline of 3.2 percent. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) totaled $71.7 million compared with $85.2 million in the previous year. Net income was $22.4 million or $1.18 per diluted share in the first six months of fiscal 2012, compared with a net loss in the first six months of last year of $313.5 million, or $16.62 per share. Excluding net of tax impairment charges of $344.9 million or $18.28 per share last year, earnings per share were $1.66 in the first six months of the prior year.

“Unit pricing pressure and reductions in funding for student agendas resulted in two-thirds of the company’s revenue decline in the first six months,” said David J. Vander Zanden, Chief Executive Officer. “Curriculum revenues declined in the mid-single digits from the prior year as order rates across the industry slowed sharply at the start of the new school year, offsetting both our first quarter gains and strong Science adoption revenues in Indiana. Revenue in Educational Resources for the six-month period was nearly the same as last year, and our gross margins expanded in the last two months of the quarter in a market place that remains challenged.”

Vander Zanden continued, “We expect Educational Resources’ revenue and gross margins to continue to improve over the prior year beginning in January as we introduce our new programs for the next selling season. In addition, we have implemented company-wide cost reductions that are expected to contribute ongoing savings of approximately $10 million annually. The entire organization remains focused on how we can best serve our customers in providing cost-effective solutions with our high quality curriculum and educational products in this challenging environment.”

 

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Second Quarter Financial Results

 

   

Revenue for the second quarter was $251.4 million, compared with $291.9 million for the same period last year. Approximately $18 million of this decrease was related to the shift in the high volume shipping weeks between the first and second quarters. Educational Resources revenue was $173.2 million in the second quarter, down 3 percent after adjusting for the shift in weeks. Second quarter revenue for the Accelerated Learning Group was $78.0 million, a decline of 16 percent compared with the same period last year, adjusted for the shift in weeks. The remaining decline was related to lower student agenda sales and slightly lower curriculum sales.

 

   

Gross profit was $95.1 million compared with $117.5 million in last year’s second quarter, a decline of 19.1 percent. Consolidated gross margin declined to 37.8 percent compared with 40.3 percent in the prior year. The decline in gross margin was primarily due to a shift in product mix towards Educational Resources products and to lower gross margin products within the Accelerated Learning segment.

 

   

Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses declined $5.9 million to $73.4 million from the prior year’s $79.3 million. The decline was primarily related to lower volume related expenses and lower compensation and benefit costs.

 

   

Second quarter interest expense increased to $6.9 million from last year’s $6.7 million.

 

   

Net income in this year’s second quarter was $8.9 million or $0.47 per diluted share, compared with last year’s second quarter net income of $18.1 million or $0.96 per diluted share.

Six-Month Financial Results

 

   

Revenue for the first six months of fiscal 2012 was $527.5 million, compared with $544.9 million in the same period of the prior year, a decline of 3.2 percent. Revenue for the six-month period of fiscal 2012 for Educational Resources declined 1.1 percent, at $359.3 million compared with $363.1 million in fiscal 2011. Accelerated Learning revenue declined 7.5 percent to $167.8 million in the first six months of fiscal 2012 compared with $181.4 million in the prior year, primarily as a result of lower student agenda sales and slightly lower curriculum sales.

 

   

Gross profit for the first six months of the fiscal year was $206.3 million compared with $225.6 million in the same period last year. Year-to-date consolidated gross margin declined to 39.1 percent from 41.4 percent in the six months of fiscal 2011. Product mix between segments and Educational Resources price discounting were the major contributors to the gross margin decline.

 

   

SG&A expenses declined to $153.2 million compared with the prior year’s $157.2 million. This decline is due to a combination of decreased variable costs associated with the revenue decline and lower compensation costs.

 

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Interest expense in the first six months of the fiscal year was $14.8 million compared with last year’s $14.9 million. Fiscal 2012 interest expense for the first six months included $0.7 million of accelerated debt issuance cost amortization related to debt re-financing and $5.0 million of non-cash interest expenses related to the company’s convertible debt, compared to $5.5 million of non-cash interest expense in last year’s first half.

 

   

During the first half of fiscal 2012, $57.5 million of outstanding 3.75% convertible subordinated debentures were exchanged and refinanced with new debentures. Expenses of $1.1 million associated with this convertible debt exchange were recognized in the current year’s first six months.

 

   

Net income was $22.4 million or $1.18 per diluted share in the first half of fiscal 2012, compared with a net loss of $313.5 million, or $16.62 per share in last year’s first half. Last year’s net loss included a net of tax, non-cash goodwill and other intangible asset impairment charge of $344.9 million, or $18.28 per share. Excluding this charge, prior year earnings per share was $1.66.

 

   

Free cash flow declined in the first half of fiscal 2012 by $72 million compared to fiscal 2011’s first half. This expected decline was a result of planned early inventory purchases made during the company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 and the timing of accounts payable payments in the current fiscal year.

Outlook

Due to the weaker than anticipated educational industry sales trends, School Specialty is revising its financial guidance for fiscal 2012 as follows:

 

    

Revised

 

Prior

Revenue

   $730 million to $740 million   $755 million to $780 million

EBITDA

   $48 million to $52 million   $53 million to $59 million

Loss per share

   ($0.65) to ($0.50)   ($0.35) to ($0.10)

Free cash flow1

   $0 million to $10 million   $5 million to $15 million

 

1

Including deferred tax payments of approximately $30 million

The company remains focused on working capital management and debt reduction. During the quarter, continued progress was made to improve days of inventory on hand as well as days of sales outstanding. In addition, the company expects to retire the remaining $42.5 million of the original convertible subordinated notes due 2026 at the end of November, utilizing a portion of the term loan feature of the company’s existing credit facility.

 

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Conference Call

School Specialty will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2012 second quarter financial results. The conference call begins today, November 22, at 10:00 a.m. Central (11:00 a.m. Eastern). The call will be simultaneously broadcast in the Investors section of the School Specialty web site at www.schoolspecialty.com, and a replay of the call will be available.

About School Specialty, Inc.

School Specialty is a leading education company that provides innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to help educators engage and inspire students of all ages and abilities to learn. The company designs, develops, and provides preK-12 educators with the latest and very best curriculum, supplemental learning resources, and school supplies. Working in collaboration with educators, School Specialty reaches beyond the scope of textbooks to help teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators ensure that every student reaches his or her full potential.

For more information about School Specialty, visit www.schoolspecialty.com.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information

Any statements made in this press release about future results of operations, expectations, plans, prospects, or asset values, including but not limited to statements included under the heading “Outlook,” constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “should,” “plans,” “targets” and/or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on School Specialty’s current estimates and assumptions and, as such, involve uncertainty and risk. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of a number of factors, including the factors described in Item 1A of School Specialty’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws, School Specialty does not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements.

 

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School Specialty, Inc.

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Unaudited

 

     Three Months Ended     Six Months Ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 23,
2010
    October 29,
2011
    October 23,
2010
 

Revenues

   $ 251,375      $ 291,879      $ 527,459      $ 544,863   

Cost of revenues

     156,315        174,357        321,123        319,269   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     95,060        117,522        206,336        225,594   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     73,405        79,318        153,181        157,166   

Impairment charge

     —          —          —          411,390   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income/(loss)

     21,655        38,204        53,155        (342,962

Other expense:

        

Interest expense

     6,867        6,747        14,779        14,876   

Expense assocated with convertible debt exchange

     —          —          1,090        —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) before provision for income taxes

     14,788        31,457        37,286        (357,838

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     6,044        13,222        14,972        (44,447
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income/(loss) before investment in unconsolidated affiliate

   $ 8,744      $ 18,235      $ 22,314      $ (313,391
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Equity in earnings/(losses) of unconsolidated affiliate

     135        (135     115        (135
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

   $ 8,879      $ 18,100      $ 22,429      $ (313,526
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     18,880        18,870        18,877        18,867   

Diluted

     19,020        18,873        18,972        18,867   

Net Income/(Loss) Per Share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.47      $ 0.96      $ 1.19      $ (16.62

Diluted

   $ 0.47      $ 0.96      $ 1.18      $ (16.62

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and impairment charges (EBITDA) reconciliation:

        

Net income (loss)

   $ 8,879      $ 18,100      $ 22,429      $ (313,526

Equity in (earnings)/losses of unconsolidated affiliate

     (135     135        (115     135   

Provision for / benefit from income taxes

     6,044        13,222        14,972        (44,447

Expense associated with convertible debt exchange

     —          —          1,090        —     

Impairment charge

     —          —          —          411,390   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     7,319        6,881        14,536        13,869   

Amortization of development costs

     2,356        1,395        3,959        2,931   

Interest expense

     6,867        6,747        14,779        14,876   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ 31,330      $ 46,480      $ 71,650      $ 85,228   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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School Specialty, Inc.

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Unaudited

 

     October 29,
2011
    April 30,
2011
    October 23,
2010
 

ASSETS

      

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 4,141      $ 9,821      $ 8,105   

Accounts receivable, net

     127,722        67,442        147,057   

Inventories

     77,253        111,266        75,190   

Deferred catalog costs

     7,079        16,639        7,997   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     14,218        14,516        16,099   

Deferred taxes

     1,700        —          9,866   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     232,113        219,684        264,314   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     59,962        65,571        64,259   

Goodwill

     127,990        129,390        127,146   

Intangible assets, net

     150,521        155,889        160,852   

Other

     35,054        36,383        33,321   

Deferred taxes long-term

     7,218        10,227        —     

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     20,515        20,400        28,080   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 633,373      $ 637,544      $ 677,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

      

Current liabilities:

      

Current maturities—long-term debt

   $ 43,272      $ 98,243      $ 849   

Accounts payable

     40,816        85,639        81,412   

Accrued compensation

     12,284        7,972        8,567   

Deferred revenue

     4,389        3,600        4,895   

Deferred taxes

     —          4,454        —     

Accrued income taxes

     13,122        11,855        29,103   

Other accrued liabilities

     29,223        25,428        33,567   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     143,106        237,191        158,393   

Long-term debt—less current maturities

     266,350        198,036        266,471   

Deferred taxes

     —          —          15,252   

Other liabilities

     688        688        1,423   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     410,144        435,915        441,539   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

      

Shareholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, 1,000,000 shares authorized; none outstanding

     —          —          —     

Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 150,000,000 authorized and

      

24,300,545; 24,290,345 and 24,290,345 shares issued, respectively

     24        24        24   

Capital paid-in excess of par value

     443,293        441,335        437,943   

Treasury stock, at cost 5,420,210; 5,420,210 and 5,420,210 shares, respectively

     (186,637     (186,637     (186,637

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     23,603        26,390        21,839   

(Accumulated deficit)

     (57,054     (79,483     (36,736
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     223,229        201,629        236,433   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 633,373      $ 637,544      $ 677,972   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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School Specialty, Inc.

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

Unaudited

 

     Six Months Ended  
     October 29,
2011
    October 23,
2010
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 22,429      $ (313,526

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and intangible asset amortization expense

     14,536        13,869   

Amortization of development costs

     3,959        2,931   

Amortization of debt fees and other

     1,751        1,118   

Share-based compensation expense

     1,181        1,443   

Impairment charge

     —          411,390   

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     (115     135   

Deferred taxes

     (4,246     (77,606

Expense associated with convertible debt exchange

     1,090        —     

Non-cash convertible debt deferred financing costs

     5,005        5,542   

Changes in current assets and liabilities (net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed in business combinations):

    

Accounts receivable

     (61,162     (74,064

Inventories

     34,000        24,718   

Deferred catalog costs

     9,560        5,596   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     295        (243

Accounts payable

     (45,089     33,051   

Accrued liabilities

     10,101        33,248   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

     (6,705     67,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (3,667     (5,917

Investment in product development costs

     (3,816     (4,254
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (7,483     (10,171
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from bank borrowings

     300,600        449,400   

Repayment of debt and capital leases

     (290,429     (386,761

Redemption of convertible debt

     —          (133,000

Payment of debt and other

     (1,663     —     
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by/(used in) financing activities

     8,508        (70,361
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (5,680     (12,930

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     9,821        21,035   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 4,141      $ 8,105   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free cash flow reconciliation:

    

Net cash (used in)/provided by operating activities

   $ (6,705   $ 67,602   

Additions to property and equipment

     (3,667     (5,917

Investment in product development costs

     (3,816     (4,254
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ (14,188   $ 57,431   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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School Specialty, Inc.

School Specialty, Inc.

Segment Analysis—Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis

(In thousands)

Unaudited

 

Segment Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis-QTD

                         
                             % of Revenues  
     2Q12-QTD     2Q11-QTD     Change $     Change %     2Q12-QTD     2Q11-QTD  

Revenues

            

Educational Resources

   $ 173,222      $ 187,693      $ (14,471     -7.7     68.9     64.3

Accelerated Learning

     77,986        104,019        (26,033     -25.0     31.0     35.6

Corporate and Interco Elims

     167        167        —            0.1     0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Revenues

   $ 251,375      $ 291,879      $ (40,504     -13.9     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
                             % of Gross Profit  
     2Q12-QTD     2Q11-QTD     Change $     Change %     2Q12-QTD     2Q11-QTD  

Gross Profit

            

Educational Resources

   $ 53,481      $ 58,740      $ (5,259     -9.0     56.3     50.0

Accelerated Learning

     40,825        57,903        (17,078     -29.5     42.9     49.3

Corporate and Interco Elims

     754        879        (125       0.9     0.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Gross Profit

   $ 95,060      $ 117,522      $ (22,462     -19.1     100.1     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment Gross Margin Summary-QTD

            
     2Q12-QTD     2Q11-QTD                          

Gross Margin

            

Educational Resources

     30.9     31.3        

Accelerated Learning

     52.3     55.7        

Total Gross Margin

     37.8     40.3        

 

Segment Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis-YTD

                         
                             % of Revenue  
     2Q12-YTD     2Q11-YTD     Change $     Change %     2Q12-YTD     2Q11-YTD  

Revenues

            

Educational Resources

   $ 359,286      $ 363,111      $ (3,825     -1.1     68.1     66.6

Accelerated Learning

     167,839        181,418        (13,579     -7.5     31.8     33.3

Corporate and Interco Elims

     334        334        —            0.1     0.1
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Revenues

   $ 527,459      $ 544,863      $ (17,404     -3.2     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 
                             % of Gross Profit  
     2Q12-YTD     2Q11-YTD     Change $     Change %     2Q12-YTD     2Q11-YTD  

Gross Profit

            

Educational Resources

   $ 113,918      $ 120,850      $ (6,932     -5.7     55.2     53.6

Accelerated Learning

     90,982        103,218        (12,236     -11.9     44.1     45.8

Corporate and Interco Elims

     1,436        1,526        (90       0.7     0.6
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Gross Profit

   $ 206,336      $ 225,594      $ (19,258     -8.5     100.0     100.0
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment Gross Margin Summary-YTD

            
     2Q12-YTD     2Q11-YTD                          

Gross Margin

            

Educational Resources

     31.7     33.3        

Accelerated Learning

     54.2     56.9        

Total Gross Margin

     39.1     41.4        

 

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