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8-K - FORM 8-K - SCHOOL SPECIALTY INCd8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

  

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 2011

  

Contact:

David Vander Ploeg

Executive VP and CFO

920-882-5854

  

    Mark Fleming

    Investor Relations & Communications

    920-882-5646

W6316 Design Drive, Greenville, WI 54942

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

SCHOOL SPECIALTY REPORTS FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL 2011 RESULTS

 

  ¡    

Fourth Quarter Consolidated organic revenue growth of 2 percent

  ¡    

Educational Resources grows 2 percent; Accelerated Learning grows 4 percent

  ¡    

Fiscal 2012 guidance issued

Greenville, WI, June 16, 2011—School Specialty (NASDAQ:SCHS) today reported fiscal fourth quarter and year-end results with revenue growth in both segments, despite continuing budget pressures facing pre-kindergarten through grade 12 educators. Revenue for the final quarter of School Specialty’s 2011 fiscal year grew 8.8 percent compared to last year’s fourth quarter, reaching $127.4 million. Excluding the additional week in this year’s fourth quarter, revenue was $119.3 million, an increase of 2 percent. Consistent with the seasonally slow fourth quarter, the company reported a fourth quarter loss of $22.6 million compared with a loss of $13.7 million in same period last year. The loss in the current-year fourth quarter includes pre-tax special charges related to an equity-method investment impairment of $6.9 million and a $1.9 million loss on exchange of debt. Excluding these special charges, the net loss for the fourth quarter was $17.2 million. Loss per share in the quarter was $1.20. Excluding special charges loss per share was $0.91 versus a prior-year loss of $0.73.

“We are cautiously optimistic with the business trends we saw in the fourth quarter,” said Chief Executive Officer David J. Vander Zanden. “With state income and sales tax revenues starting to exceed most states’ internal projections, we believe education budgets should stabilize and could lead to greater budget visibility and spending confidence on the part of educators for the remainder of the calendar year.

“During the fourth quarter we saw improvement in order volume both in supplies, which met our expectations, and furniture, which exceeded our expectations since that category has been the most impacted by reductions in spending and construction projects. Orders received subsequent to year end show loose furniture up 2 percent and supplies down 2 percent to prior year. Our margins in consumables continued to be impacted by pricing pressures. However, we expect this margin degradation to lessen as we proceed through the selling season and begin to grow as we implement new programs. Our fourth quarter furniture margins did show modest improvement from prior quarter levels, and we expect this improvement to continue through the heavy delivery season for furniture.

“Our Accelerated Learning Group reported revenue growth in the fourth quarter of about 4 percent after adjusting for the incremental week in fiscal 2011, led by our science, math and health categories. Science is building good momentum, with better prospects for state adoptions this year compared to the last selling season. We expect these trends to continue through the busy season.”

Fourth Quarter Financial Results

 

 

Revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 was $127.4 million, an increase of 8.8 percent compared with $117.0 million in last year’s fourth quarter. Excluding an incremental week in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 (14 weeks) as compared to the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 (13 weeks), revenue increased by 2 percent. The revenue increase reflects growth across both company segments.

 

 

Gross profit was $49.0 million compared with $50.8 million in last year’s fourth quarter. Consolidated gross margin declined 490 basis points to 38.5 percent, primarily due to one-time credits realized in fiscal 2010 and pricing discounts required in consumables and furniture. The company expects the rate of decline to lessen substantially over the next several quarters. In addition, product mix within the Accelerated Learning segment contributed to the decline, and is also expected to improve.

 

 

As expected, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $71.2 million from the prior year’s $64.7 million, primarily due to the additional week in the current-year fourth quarter, higher volumes, and increased transportation and marketing costs in Educational Resources.


 

A non-cash charge of $6.9 million was recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011 related to an impairment of the company’s 35 percent ownership interest in an unconsolidated affiliate. Macro-economic conditions affecting school spending levels have impacted the results of this investment which led to a decreased valuation.

 

 

Fourth quarter net interest expense was $6.9 million, a decrease of $0.8 million from last year’s fourth quarter due to a reduction in non-cash interest related to convertible debt.

 

 

During the quarter $100 million of outstanding 3.75% convertible subordinated debentures was exchanged and refinanced with new debentures. Expenses of $1.9 million associated with this convertible debt exchange were recognized in the current-year’s fourth quarter.

 

 

Net loss in the fourth quarter was $22.6 million ($1.20 per share) compared to a loss of $13.7 million ($0.73 per share) in the same period last year. Excluding the special charges described above, net loss in fiscal 2011’s fourth quarter was $17.2 million ($0.91 per share).

Fiscal 2011 Financial Results

 

 

Revenue for fiscal 2011 was $762.1 million compared with $896.7 million last year, a decline of 15.0 percent. Excluding $17.5 million of revenue in fiscal 2010 from School Specialty Publishing, which was sold prior to last year’s third quarter, consolidated revenue declined 13.3 percent. The decline in revenue was due to K-12 education budget pressures resulting in reduced spending by schools, a significant decline in furniture sales as a result of fewer construction projects, and various performance challenges within the Educational Resources segment.

 

 

Gross profit for the year was $307.5 million compared with $379.1 million last year. Gross margin declined 190 basis points to 40.4 percent versus last year’s 42.3 percent. Most of the reduction was due to competitive pricing pressures within the Educational Resources segment.

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses declined to $287.6 million (37.7 percent of revenue), from the prior year’s $304.5 million (34.0 percent of revenue). The expense decrease is primarily attributable to lower revenue, general cost reductions, operational consolidations and a divestiture.

 

 

Non-cash impairment charges totaling $418.3 million, or $349.1 million net of tax, were recorded in fiscal 2011 associated with impairment of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets, and the charge associated with the decreased valuation of the company’s ownership interest in its unconsolidated affiliate. The tax benefit associated with the impairment was negatively impacted by the portion of the goodwill that is non-deductible for tax purposes.

 

 

Full-year net interest expense decreased $2.3 million to $28.2 million from last year’s $30.5 million. This decrease was attributable to the reduction in non-cash interest expense primarily due to the retirement of $133.0 million of convertible debt early in the company’s second quarter.

 

 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), was $53.1 million in fiscal 2011 as compared to $106.6 million in fiscal 2010. The decrease is related to a combination of the revenue declines and the reduction in gross margin.

 

 

Fiscal 2011’s net loss was $356.3 million ($18.88 per share), including the non-cash impairment and debt exchange charges, compared to net income of $25.9 million ($1.37 per diluted share) in the same period last year. Excluding the net of tax impact of all special charges, net loss was $5.9 million ($0.31 per share).

 

 

Free cash flow for fiscal 2011 was $35.2 million. Free cash flow was impacted by the company’s increased inventory investments of nearly $11 million over earlier plans due to early buying opportunities and business growth.

Outlook

For fiscal 2012, School Specialty is expecting:

   

Revenue to be in the range of $755 million to $780 million, representing flat to positive 3.5 percent growth, on a normalized 52-week comparison.

   

EBITDA to be in the range of $53 million to $59 million, representing margins of 7.0 percent to 7.5 percent.

   

Loss per share to be in the range of $0.35 per share to $0.10 per share. This range reflects a charge of $0.25 per share for non-cash interest related to the convertible debt.

   

Free cash flow to be in the range of $5 million to $15 million, which includes one-time deferred tax payments of approximately $30 million.

 

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Conference Call

School Specialty will host a conference call to discuss its fiscal 2011 financial results. The conference call begins today, June 16, 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 or prospects, 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 24, 2010, 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.

-Financial Tables Follow-

 

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SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)

Unaudited

 

     Three Months Ended      Fiscal Year Ended  
       April 30,  
2011
       April 24,  
2010
       April 30,  
2011
       April 24,  
2010
 

Revenues

     $ 127,355          $ 117,039          $ 762,078          $ 896,678    

Cost of revenues

     78,378          66,205          454,557          517,530    
                                   

Gross profit

     48,977          50,834          307,521          379,148    

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     71,225          64,745          287,560          304,451    

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                     411,390            
                                   

Operating income (loss)

     (22,248)         (13,911)         (391,429)         74,697    

Other (income) expense:

           

Interest expense

     6,916          7,705          28,157          30,532    

Interest income

             (33)                 (66)   

Impairment of equity-method investment

     6,861                  6,861            

Loss on convertible debt exchange

     1,920                  1,920            
                                   

Income (loss) before provision for income taxes

     (37,945)         (21,583)         (428,367)         44,231    

Provision for (benefit from) income taxes

     (15,299)         (8,320)         (73,132)         17,678    
                                   

Income (loss) before investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     $ (22,646)         $ (13,263)         $ (355,235)         $ 26,553    
                                   

Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliate

     47          (460)         (1,038)         (701)   
                                   

Net income (loss)

     $ (22,599)         $ (13,723)         $ (356,273)         $ 25,852    
                                   

Weighted average shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     18,868          18,859          18,870          18,843    

Diluted

     18,868          18,859          18,870          18,874    

Net Income (Loss) Per Share:

           

Basic

     $ (1.20)         $ (0.73)         $ (18.88)         $ 1.37    

Diluted

     $ (1.20)         $ (0.73)         $ (18.88)         $ 1.37    

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

           

Net income (loss)

     $ (22,599)         $ (13,723)         $ (356,273)         $ 25,852    

Equity in (losses) earnings of unconsolidated affiliate

     (47)         460          1,038          701    

Provision for income taxes

     (15,299)         (8,320)         (73,132)         17,678    

Loss on convertible debt exchange

     1,920                  1,920            

Impairment of equity-method investment

     6,861                  6,861            

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

                     411,390            

Depreciation and amortization expense

     7,090          6,964          27,832          26,847    

Amortization of development costs

     1,496          875          5,334          5,067    

Net interest expense

     6,916          7,672          28,157          30,466    
                                   

EBITDA

     $ (13,662)         $ (6,072)         $ 53,127          $ 106,611    
                                   

 

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SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands)

 

       April 30,  
2011
       April 24,  
2010
 
       (Unaudited)          (Unaudited)    

ASSETS

     

Current assets:

     

Cash and cash equivalents

     $ 9,821         $ 21,035    

Accounts receivable, net

     67,442          72,734    

Inventories, net

     111,266          99,910    

Deferred catalog costs

     16,639          13,593    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     14,516          14,318    

Refundable income taxes

             1,539    

Deferred taxes

             9,867    
                 

Total current assets

     219,684          232,996    

Property, plant and equipment, net

     65,571          66,607    

Goodwill

     129,390          540,248    

Intangible assets, net

     155,889          166,552    

Other

     36,383          33,118    

Deferred taxes - long-term

     9,676            

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     20,400          28,299    
                 

Total assets

     $ 636,993          $ 1,067,820    
                 

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

     

Current liabilities:

     

Current maturities - long-term debt

     $ 95,207          $ 132,397    

Accounts payable

     85,639          47,954    

Accrued income taxes

     14,089            

Accrued compensation

     7,972          7,501    

Deferred revenue

     3,600          4,312    

Deferred taxes

     1,973            

Other accrued liabilities

     25,428          30,905    
                 

Total current liabilities

     233,908          223,069    

Long-term debt - less current maturities

     201,073          199,742    

Deferred taxes and other

             92,398    

Other liabilities

     383          1,423    
                 

Total liabilities

     435,364          516,632    
                 

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 24,290,345 and 24,280,097 shares issued, respectively

     24          24    

Capital paid-in excess of par value

     441,335          436,959    

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

     (186,637)         (186,637)   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     26,390          24,052    

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

     (79,483)         276,790    
                 

Total shareholders’ equity

     201,629          551,188    
                 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

     $ 636,993          $ 1,067,820    
                 

 

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SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(In Thousands)

Unaudited

 

     Fiscal Year Ended  
       April 30,  
2011
       April 24,  
2010
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

     

Net income (loss)

     $ (356,273)         $ 25,852    

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

     

Depreciation and intangible asset amortization expense

     27,832          26,847    

Amortization of development costs

     5,334          5,067    

Investment in unconsolidated affiliate

     1,038          701    

Amortization of debt fees and other

     2,162          2,420    

Share-based compensation expense

     2,846          2,448    

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

     411,390            

Impairment of equity-method investment

     6,861            

Loss on convertible debt exchange

     1,920            

Deferred taxes

     (92,090)         5,981    

Loss on disposal of property, equipment and other

             652    

Non-cash convertible debt deferred financing costs

     9,999          13,062    

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

     

Accounts receivable

     5,783          29,008    

Inventories

     (11,297)         13,586    

Deferred catalog costs

     (3,046)         1,944    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     1,347          1,417    

Accounts payable

     38,430          (9,267)   

Accrued liabilities

     7,774          (7,659)   
                 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     60,010          112,059    
                 

Cash flows from investing activities:

     

Cash paid in acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (360)         (11,700)   

Additions to property, plant and equipment

     (15,789)         (13,832)   

Acquisition of intangible and other assets

             (1,800)   

Proceeds from note receivable

             700    

Investment in product development costs

     (9,052)         (10,035)   

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

             2,083    

Investment in Noncontrolling Interest

             (2,226)   
                 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (25,201)         (36,810)   
                 

Cash flows from financing activities:

     

Proceeds from bank borrowings

     810,600          304,400    

Repayment of debt and capital leases

     (720,068)         (356,979)   

Redemption of Convertible Debt

     (133,000)           

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

             117    

Payment of debt fees and other

     (3,555)         (3,623)   
                 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (46,023)         (56,085)   
                 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (11,214)         19,164    

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     21,035          1,871    
                 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

     $ 9,821          $ 21,035    
                 

Free cash flow reconciliation:

     

Net cash provided by operating activities

     $ 60,010          $ 112,059    

Additions to property and equipment

     (15,789)         (13,832)   

Investment in development costs

     (9,052)         (10,035)   

Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment

             2,083    
                 

Free cash flow

     $ 35,169          $ 90,275    
                 

 

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School Specialty, Inc.

Segment Analysis - Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis

4th Quarter, Fiscal 2011

(In thousands)

Unaudited

 

Segment Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis-QTD

 
                                        % of Revenues  
     4Q11-QTD      4Q10-QTD      Change $      Change %             4Q11-QTD      4Q10-QTD  

Revenues

                    

Educational Resources

   $ 101,906        $ 94,258        $ 7,648          8.1%                              80.0%         80.5%   

Accelerated Learning

     25,282          22,584          2,698          11.9%            19.9%         19.3%   

Corporate and Interco Elims

     167          197          (30)               0.1%         0.2%   
                                                  

Total Revenues

   $ 127,355        $ 117,039        $ 10,316         8.8%            100.0%         100.0%   
                                                  
                                        % of Gross Profit  
     4Q11-QTD      4Q10-QTD      Change $      Change %             4Q11-QTD      4Q10-QTD  

Gross Profit

                    

Educational Resources

   $ 36,333        $ 37,476        $ (1,143)         -3.0%            74.2%         73.7%   

Accelerated Learning

     12,383          12,498          (115)         -0.9%            25.3%         24.6%   

Corporate and Interco Elims

     261          860          (599)               0.5%         1.7%   
                                                  

Total Gross Profit

   $ 48,977        $ 50,834        $ (1,857)         -3.7%            100.0%         100.0%   
                                                  

Segment Gross Margin Summary-QTD

                      
Gross Margin    4Q11-QTD      4Q10-QTD                                     

Educational Resources

     35.7%         39.8%                  

Accelerated Learning

     49.0%         55.3%                  

Total Gross Margin

     38.5%         43.4%                  
                    
                                                                    

Segment Revenues and Gross Profit/Margin Analysis-YTD

                      
                                        % of Revenue  
     4Q11-YTD      4Q10-YTD      Change $      Change %             4Q11-YTD      4Q10-YTD  

Revenues

                
            
  
     

Educational Resources

   $ 534,803        $ 641,048        $ (106,245)         -16.6%            70.2%         71.5%   

Accelerated Learning

     226,607          256,157          (29,550)         -11.5%            29.7%         28.6%   

Corporate and Interco Elims

     668          (527)         1,195                0.1%         -0.1%   
                                                  

Total Revenues

   $ 762,078        $ 896,678        $ (134,600)         -15.0%            100.0%         100.0%   
                                                  
                                        % of Gross Profit  
     4Q11-YTD      4Q10-YTD      Change $      Change %             4Q11-YTD      4Q10-YTD  

Gross Profit

                    

Educational Resources

   $ 179,379        $ 233,011        $ (53,632)         -23.0%            58.4%         61.5%   

Accelerated Learning

     125,868          143,442          (17,574)         -12.3%            40.9%         37.8%   

Corporate and Interco Elims

     2,274          2,695          (421)               0.7%         0.7%   
                                                  

Total Gross Profit

   $ 307,521        $ 379,148        $ (71,627)         -18.9%            100.0%         100.0%   
                                                  

Segment Gross Margin Summary-YTD

                      
Gross Margin    4Q11-YTD      4Q10-YTD                                     

Educational Resources

     33.5%         36.3%                  

Accelerated Learning

     55.5%         56.0%                  

Total Gross Margin

     40.4%         42.3%                  

 

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