Revenues for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 were $675.7 million, up 2.4% from $660.1 million in the prior fiscal year period. Net income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 was $74.9 million, up $19.4 million from $55.5 million in the prior fiscal year period. Consolidated earnings per diluted share were $2.14 versus $1.51 in the prior fiscal year quarter. The prior year fiscal quarter includes non-cash asset write-downs of $40.1 million. The current fiscal quarter results include higher revenues in Trade, School Book Fairs and International, partially offset by lower sales of educational technology relative to a year ago, as well as higher promotion spending in School Book Clubs and increased investments in digital initiatives.
Sales of educational technology did not reach last year’s record levels, when the Company benefited from the 2009 federal stimulus program. However, sales were up over 50% compared to pre-stimulus levels two years ago, driven by a larger customer base.
During the second quarter the Company repurchased approximately 5.2 million shares of its Common Stock at $30.00 per share, returning approximately $156 million to shareholders, funded with cash and a temporary draw-down under its credit facility, which was repaid by quarter end. The Company had total debt of $231.2 million at the end of the second quarter, down from $279.6 million a year ago and continued to maintain a strong balance sheet and free cash flow.
While positive, these results were below the Company’s fiscal 2011 plan, reflecting lower spending by school districts and lower than expected revenue in Clubs. For the remainder of the fiscal year, the Company expects that sustained higher service revenue and new product launches will enable it to hold sales in Scholastic Education level with those in the prior year period, in spite of a continued challenging funding environment. In addition, the Company believes that increased on-line ordering, as well as this fall’s increased promotional spending, will generate modest growth in clubs during the remainder of the year.
Based on the factors referred to above and its year-to-date results, the Company expects fiscal 2011 revenue of $1.9 to $1.95 billion and earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $1.80 to $2.05, before the impact of any one-time items. The foregoing includes a benefit of approximately $0.15 per diluted share associated with the Company’s share repurchase pursuant to the tender offer. The Company continues to expect free cash flow of $90 million to $100 million.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) |
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Cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenue for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased to 43.8%, compared to 41.4% in the prior fiscal year quarter. Cost of goods sold as a percentage of revenue for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased to 45.9%, compared to 44.3% in the prior fiscal year. The increase in both periods is primarily related to product, fulfillment and postage costs attributable to increased promotional activities in the Company’sChildren’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment. Components of Cost of goods sold for the three and six months ended November 30, 2010 and 2009 are as follows:
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Product, service and production costs | | $ | 180.1 | | $ | 167.6 | | $ | 257.4 | | $ | 255.7 | |
Royalty costs | | | 27.4 | | | 30.2 | | | 46.7 | | | 50.6 | |
Prepublication and production amortization | | | 12.4 | | | 12.2 | | | 24.5 | | | 24.3 | |
Postage, freight, shipping, fulfillment and all other costs | | | 76.3 | | | 63.6 | | | 115.3 | | | 101.3 | |
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Total | | $ | 296.2 | | $ | 273.6 | | $ | 443.9 | | $ | 431.9 | |
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Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $232.3 million in the quarter, or 34.4% of revenue, compared to $220.5 million, or 33.4% of revenue, in the prior fiscal year quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended November 30, 2010 were $402.9 million, or 41.7% or revenue, compared to $392.0 million, or 40.2% of revenue, in the prior fiscal year period. The increases over the prior periods are primarily due to increased technology spending on digital growth initiatives, as well as higher promotional expenses.
Bad debt expense decreased by $1.4 million, to $3.0 million, for the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to $4.4 million in the prior fiscal year quarter. Bad debt expense decreased by $0.6 million to $5.9 million for the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to $6.5 million in the prior fiscal year period.
The prior year fiscal quarter reflects a non-cash charge of $36.3 million in theEducational Publishing segment for impairment of intangible and prepublication costs associated with print publishing for libraries, as well as a non-cash impairment charge of $3.8 million in theInternational segment related to a customer list acquired in connection with the dissolution of a joint venture.
Severance expense decreased slightly to $1.0 million for the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to $1.1 million in the prior fiscal year quarter. For the six months ended November 30, 2010, severance expense decreased by $2.3 million, to $3.1 million, compared to $5.4 million in the prior year fiscal period when the Company was implementing its cost reduction plans.
The resulting operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 was $128.7 million, compared to $105.6 million in the prior fiscal year quarter. For the six months ended November 30, 2010, the resulting operating income was $81.9 million, compared to $70.3 million in the prior fiscal year period.
Net interest expense decreased by $0.3 million to $4.0 million in the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to $4.3 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, due to lower average borrowings. For the six months ended November 30, 2010, net interest expense decreased by $0.4 million to $7.8 million, compared to $8.2 million in the prior fiscal year period, also due to lower average borrowings.
The Company’s effective tax rates were 38.1% and 43.9% for the fiscal quarters ended November 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Significant factors that impact the effective tax rate include changes in the Company’s assessment of certain tax contingencies and the mix of earnings among the Company’s U.S. and international operations.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Earnings from continuing operations were $76.9 million or $2.19 per diluted share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to earnings of $56.8 million, or $1.54 per diluted share, for the prior year fiscal quarter. For the six months ended November 30, 2010, earnings from continuing operations were $42.7 million, or $1.19 per diluted share, compared to $32.2 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year period.
The Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, was $2.0 million, or $0.05 per share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to a loss of $1.3 million, or $0.03 per share, for the prior year fiscal quarter. The Loss from discontinued operations for the six months ended November 30, 2010 was $3.0 million, or $0.08 per share, compared to Earnings from discontinued operations of $0.3 million, or less than $0.01 per share, for the prior fiscal year period. The six months ended November 30, 2010 includes a charge associated with the partial settlement of the pension plan of Grolier Limited, a Canadian entity in the continuities business.
The Net income was $74.9 million or $2.14 per diluted share, for the quarter ended November 30, 2010, compared to $55.5 million, or $1.51 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year quarter. Net income was $39.7 million, or $1.11 per diluted share, for the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to $32.5 million, or $0.88 per diluted share, in the prior fiscal year period.
Results of Continuing Operations
Children’s Book Publishing and Distribution
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($ amounts in millions) | | Three months ended November 30, | | Six months ended November 30, | |
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Revenues | | $ | 387.3 | | $ | 368.8 | | $ | 460.2 | | $ | 445.0 | |
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Operating income | | | 97.3 | | | 107.8 | | | 45.7 | | | 60.3 | |
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Operating margin | | | 25.1 | % | | 29.2 | % | | 9.9 | % | | 13.6 | % |
Revenues in theChildren’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $18.5 million, or 5.0%, to $387.3 million, compared to $368.8 million in the prior fiscal year quarter. The increase is principally related to increased revenues in the Company’s book fairs business, driven primarily by an increase in revenue per fair and, to a lesser extent, an increase in the number of fairs held as compared to the prior fiscal year quarter. Revenues for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased by $15.2 million to $460.2 million, compared to $445.0 million in the prior fiscal year period. This increase is related to higher revenues in the Company’s trade business, driven by a strong frontlist that includedMockingjay by Suzanne Collins, which completedThe Hunger Gamestrilogy, andThe 39 Cluesseries, as well as by the increased revenues in the Company’s book fairs business discussed above.
Segment operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 decreased by $10.5 million, or 9.7%, to $97.3 million, compared to $107.8 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, primarily related to increased promotional spending in the Company’s book club business and increased expenditures related to the Company’s children’s book digital format. Segment operating income for the six months ended November 30, 2010, decreased by $14.6 million, or 24.2%, to $45.7 million, compared to $60.3 million in the prior fiscal year period, principally due to increased expenditures related to the Company’s children’s books digital format, e-commerce and eBook initiatives, as well as higher promotional spending in book clubs.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Educational Publishing
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($ amounts in millions) | | Three months ended November 30, | | Six months ended November 30, | |
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Revenues | | $ | 101.6 | | $ | 122.6 | | $ | 220.2 | | $ | 271.3 | |
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Operating income (loss) | | | 11.0 | | | (4.1 | ) | | 39.5 | | | 37.2 | |
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Operating margin | | | 10.8 | % | | * | | | 17.9 | % | | 13.7 | % |
* Not meaningful
Revenues in theEducational Publishingsegment for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 decreased by $21.0 million, or 17.1%, to $101.6 million, compared to $122.6 million in the prior fiscal year quarter. This decrease was principally driven by the strong growth in sales of educational technology products in the prior year period, which have experienced a significant change in the funding environment for these programs in fiscal 2011 and the absence of a large library sale to New York City in the current period. This was partially offset by incremental revenues of $2.2 million from the Math Solutions business in the current fiscal quarter. Revenues for the six months ended November 30, 2010 decreased by $51.1 million, or 18.8%, to $220.2 million, compared to $271.3 million in the prior fiscal year period. The decrease was primarily due to the strong level of sales in the prior year period as referred to above, as well as lower school classroom and library revenues in the current period.
Segment operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $15.1 million to $11.0 million, from an operating loss of $4.1 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, when the Company recognized an asset impairment charge of $36.3 million in connection with its decision to consolidate supplemental non-fiction and library publishing activities into theChildren’s Book Publishing and Distribution segment. This increase was partially offset by the unfavorable results in educational technology products and services noted above. Segment operating income for the six months ended November 30, 2010, increased by $2.3 million, or 6.2%, to $39.5 million, from $37.2 million in the prior fiscal year period, related to the prior year’s impairment charge noted above, partially offset by declines in revenue.
International
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($ amounts in millions) | | Three months ended November 30, | | Six months ended November 30, | |
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Revenues | | $ | 145.9 | | $ | 130.9 | | $ | 227.8 | | $ | 206.5 | |
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Operating income | | | 25.3 | | | 14.8 | | | 23.1 | | | 12.9 | |
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Operating margin | | | 17.3 | % | | 11.3 | % | | 10.1 | % | | 6.2 | % |
Revenues in the Internationalsegment for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $15.0 million, or 11.5%, to $145.9 million, compared to $130.9 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, primarily due to the favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates of $5.8 million, in addition to an increase in revenue of $6.2 million in the Company’s Canadian and Australian operations. Revenues for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased $21.3 million, or 10.3%, to $227.8 million, compared to $206.5 million during the prior fiscal year period, primarily due to higher revenues of $10.5 million in the Company’s Australian and Canadian operations and the favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates of $9.0 million.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Segment operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $10.5 million, or 70.9%, to $25.3 million, compared to $14.8 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, which included an impairment charge of $3.8 million related to customer lists acquired in connection with the dissolution of a joint venture, as well as restructuring costs of $1.9 million related to the consolidation of distribution facilities in the UK, as well as favorable results in the current fiscal quarter in the foreign rights business of $1.6 million. Segment operating income for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased by $10.2 million, or 79.1%, to $23.1 million, compared to $12.9 million in the prior fiscal year period, primarily due to the reasons noted above, as well as the favorable results in the current period in the Company’s Australian and Canadian operations.
Media, Licensing and Advertising
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($ amounts in millions) | | Three months ended November 30, | | Six months ended November 30, | |
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Revenues | | $ | 40.9 | | $ | 37.8 | | $ | 58.4 | | $ | 52.9 | |
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Operating income (loss) | | | 4.7 | | | 2.6 | | | 1.8 | | | (1.1 | ) |
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Operating margin | | | 11.5 | % | | 6.9 | % | | 3.1 | % | | * | |
* Not meaningful
Revenues in the Media, Licensing and Advertising segment for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $3.1 million, or 8.2%, to $40.9 million, compared to $37.8 million in the prior fiscal year quarter, primarily due to increased revenues related to magazine advertising, partially offset by lower sales of software and interactive products. Revenues for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased by $5.5 million, or 10.4%, to $58.4 million, compared to $52.9 million in the prior year fiscal period, primarily due to higher advertising and production revenues partially offset by lower sales of software and interactive products.
Segment operating income for the quarter ended November 30, 2010 increased by $2.1 million to $4.7 million, compared to $2.6 million in the prior fiscal year quarter primarily due to higher magazine advertising revenues. Segment operating income for the six months ended November 30, 2010 increased by $2.9 million to $1.8 million, compared to a segment operating loss of $1.1 million in the prior fiscal year period, primarily due to the higher magazine advertising results.
Seasonality
The Company’s school-based book clubs, school-based book fairs and most of its magazines operate on a school-year basis. Therefore, the Company’s business is highly seasonal. As a result, the Company’s revenues in the first and third quarters of the fiscal year generally are lower than its revenues in the other two fiscal quarters. Typically, school-based book club and book fair revenues are greatest in the second and fourth quarters of the fiscal year, while revenues from the sale of instructional materials and educational technology products are highest in the first and fourth quarters. The Company typically experiences losses from operations in the first and third quarters of each fiscal year.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents totaled $54.4 million at November 30, 2010, compared to $244.1 million at May 31, 2010 and $178.3 million at November 30, 2009.
Cash provided by operating activities decreased by $22.3 million to $83.5 million for the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to $105.8 million of cash provided by operating activities in the prior fiscal year period.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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While Net income in the current period increased from $32.5 million to $39.7 million, the prior period included $40.1 million of non-cash impairment charges. Accordingly, Net income adjusted for non-cash items yielded cash from operations of $122.1 million in the current year, compared to $155.6 million in the prior period, as a result of lower cash from operations of $33.5 million in the current year.
The Company’s working capital and other operating accounts increased by $43.1 million in the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to an increase of $51.9 million in the prior period. The decrease in net cash provided by operations of $8.8 million in the current period compared to the prior period was attributable to:
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| • | a $75.7 million increase in accounts receivable in the current period compared to a $90.5 million increase in accounts receivable in the prior year period. Higher prior period sales of education technology products drove higher receivables in the first six months of fiscal 2010, and |
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| • | an increase in accounts payable in the current period of $59.2 million compared to an increase in the prior period of $4.6 million. Higher accounts payable resulted from inventory purchases and the timing of payments. |
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Partially offsetting these items were: |
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| • | a $62.8 million increase in inventories in the current period compared to an increase of $39.1 million in the prior year period driven by higher inventory purchases in the current period to re-stock following significant inventory reductions during the second half of fiscal 2010; |
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| • | a greater increase of prepaid expenses and other current assets in the current period than in the prior year period; |
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| • | higher accruals in the prior year period than in the current period for employee-related and other costs, some of which were paid in fiscal 2011; and |
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| • | higher income tax payments in the current period of $8.8 million. |
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Cash used in investing activities increased by $42.0 million to $81.1 million for the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to $39.1 million in the prior fiscal year period. This change was primarily related to: |
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| • | investment in property, plant and equipment, and prepublication and production costs in the current period of $47.6 million, compared to $39.3 million in the prior period, largely related to increased spending on digital initiatives; |
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| • | acquisitions and related payments of $9.2 million in the current period; and |
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| • | the purchase of the land upon which the Company’s corporate headquarters are located for $24.3 million in the current period. |
Cash used in financing activities was $195.4 million for the six months ended November 30, 2010, compared to $29.2 million for the prior fiscal year period. The change was primarily due to the completion of a modified Dutch tender offer in the current period. The Company accepted for purchase 5,199,699 of its common shares at a price of $30.00 per share, for a total cost of $156.0 million, exclusive of related fees and expenses. The common shares purchased pursuant to the tender offer represented approximately 15.1 % of the common shares outstanding as of October 27, 2010. The Company funded the purchase of the shares in the tender offer using cash on hand and short term borrowings under its existing credit facility, which, borrowings were repaid prior to November 30, 2010.
Due to the seasonal nature of its business as discussed under “Seasonality” above, the Company usually experiences negative cash flows in the June through October time period. As a result of the Company’s business cycle, borrowings have historically increased during June, July and August, have generally peaked in September or October, and have been at their lowest point in May.
The Company’s operating philosophy is to use cash provided from operating activities to create value by paying down debt, reinvesting in existing businesses and, from time to time, making acquisitions that will complement its portfolio of businesses, as well as engaging in shareholder enhancement initiatives, such as share repurchases or dividend declarations. The Company believes that funds generated by its operations and funds available under its current credit facilities will be sufficient to finance its short-and long-term capital requirements for the foreseeable future.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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The Company has maintained sufficient liquidity to fund ongoing operations, dividends, authorized common share repurchases (including its recently-completed tender offer), debt service, planned capital expenditures and other investments. As of November 30, 2010, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity consisted of cash and cash equivalents of $54.4 million, cash from operations, and borrowings remaining available under the Revolving Loan (as described under “Financing” below) totaling $325.0 million. Approximately 69% of the Company’s outstanding debt is not due until fiscal 2013, 28% is spread ratably over each preceding period and the remaining 3% represents borrowings under the Company’s lines of credit. The Company may at any time, but in any event not more than once in any calendar year, request that the aggregate availability of credit under the Revolving Loan be increased by an amount of $10.0 million or an integral multiple of $10.0 million (but not to exceed $150.0 million). Accordingly, the Company believes these sources of liquidity are sufficient to finance its ongoing operating needs, as well as its financing and investing activities. The Company’s credit rating from Standard & Poor’s Rating Services is “BB-” and its credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service is “Ba2.” Moody’s Investors Service has rated the outlook for the Company as “Positive,” and Standard and Poor’s Rating Services has rated the outlook for the Company as “Stable.” The Company is currently compliant with its debt covenants and expects to remain compliant for the foreseeable future.
The Company’s interest rates for the Loan Agreement are associated with certain leverage ratios, and, accordingly, a change in the Company’s credit rating does not result in an increase or decrease in interest costs under the Company’s Loan Agreement.
Financing
Lines of Credit
As of November 30, 2010, the Company’s credit lines available under unsecured money market bid rate credit lines totaled $20.0 million. There were no outstanding borrowings under these credit lines at November 30, 2010, May 31, 2010 and November 30, 2009. All loans made under these credit lines are at the sole discretion of the lender and at an interest rate and term agreed to at the time each loan is made, but not to exceed 365 days. These credit lines may be renewed, if requested by the Company, at the option of the lender.
As of November 30, 2010, the Company had various local currency credit lines, with maximum available borrowings in amounts equivalent to $33.8 million, underwritten by banks primarily in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. These credit lines are typically available for overdraft borrowings or loans up to 364 days and may be renewed, if requested by the Company, at the sole option of the lender. There were borrowings outstanding under these international facilities equivalent to $7.2 million at November 30, 2010 at a weighted average interest rate of 4.0%; $7.5 million at May 31, 2010 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.9%; and $13.0 million at November 30, 2009 at a weighted average interest rate of 3.0%.
Loan Agreement
On June 1, 2007, Scholastic Corporation and Scholastic Inc. (each, a “Borrower” and together, the “Borrowers”) entered into a $525.0 million credit facility with certain banks (the “Loan Agreement”), consisting of a $325.0 million revolving credit component (the “Revolving Loan”) and a $200.0 million amortizing term loan component (the “Term Loan”). The Loan Agreement is a contractually committed unsecured credit facility that is scheduled to expire on June 1, 2012. The $325.0 million Revolving Loan component allows the Company to borrow, repay or prepay and reborrow at any time prior to the stated maturity date, and the proceeds may be used for general corporate purposes, including financing for acquisitions and share repurchases. The Loan Agreement also provides for an increase in the aggregate Revolving Loan commitments of the lenders of up to an additional $150.0 million. The Term Loan, which may be prepaid at any time without penalty, requires quarterly principal payments of $10.7 million, with the first payment on December 31, 2007, and a final payment of $7.4 million due on June 1, 2012.
On August 16, 2010, the Borrowers entered into an amendment to the Loan Agreement, which added certain provisions related to covenants and interest.
Interest on both the Term Loan and Revolving Loan is due and payable in arrears on the last day of the interest period (defined as the period commencing on the date of the advance and ending on the last day of the period selected by the Borrower at the time each advance is made). At the election of the Borrower, the interest rate charged for each loan made under the Loan Agreement, as amended, is based on (1) a rate equal to the higher of (i) the prime rate, (ii) the prevailing Federal Funds rate plus 0.500% or (iii) the Eurodollar Rate for a one month interest period plus 1%; or (2) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin, ranging from 0.500% to 1.250% based upon the Company’s prevailing consolidated debt to total capital ratio. As of November 30, 2010, there were no borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Loan.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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As of November 30, 2010, the applicable margin of the Term Loan was 0.750% and the applicable margin on the Revolving Loan was 0.600%. The Loan Agreement also provides for the payment of a facility fee ranging from 0.125% to 0.250% per annum on the Revolving Loan only, which at November 30, 2010, was 0.150%. As of November 30, 2010, $71.6 million was outstanding under the Term Loan at an interest rate of 1.01%.
As of November 30, 2010, standby letters of credit outstanding issued under the Loan Agreement totaled $1.4 million. The Loan Agreement contains certain covenants, including interest coverage and leverage ratio tests and certain limitations on the amount of dividends and other distributions, and at November 30, 2010, the Company was in compliance with these covenants. See Note 5 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements – unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements,” for outstanding balances and interest rates for these notes.
5% Notes due 2013
In April 2003, Scholastic Corporation issued $175.0 million of 5% Notes (the “5% Notes”). The 5% Notes are senior unsecured obligations that mature on April 15, 2013. Interest on the 5% Notes is payable semi-annually on April 15 and October 15 of each year through maturity. The Company may at any time redeem all or a portion of the 5% Notes at a redemption price (plus accrued interest to the date of the redemption) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount, or (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest discounted to the date of redemption. The Company repurchased $5.0 million and $2.5 million of the 5% Notes on the open market in fiscal 2010 and 2009, respectively. The Company did not make any additional repurchases during the six-month period ended November 30, 2010.
The Company’s total debt obligations were $231.2 million at November 30, 2010, $252.8 million at May 31, 2010 and $279.6 million at November 30, 2009. The lower level of debt at November 30, 2010 as compared to May 31, 2010 and November 30, 2009 was primarily due to repayments made on the Term Loan, repurchases of the Company’s 5% Notes on the open market in fiscal 2010 and reduced borrowings resulting from lower debt requirements.
For a more complete description of the Company’s debt obligations, see Note 5 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements – unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements.”
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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New Accounting Pronouncements
Reference is made to Note 1 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1, “Financial Statements,” for information concerning recent accounting pronouncements since the filing of the Company’s Annual Report.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. MD&A |
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Forward Looking Statements
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements. Additional written and oral forward-looking statements may be made by the Company from time to time in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings and otherwise. The Company cautions readers that results or expectations expressed by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, those relating to the Company’s future business prospects, plans, conditions in the children’s book and educational material markets and acceptance of the Company’s products in those markets, earnings per share, levels of government spending for educational programs, e-commerce and digital initiatives strategies, goals, revenues, improved efficiencies, general costs, manufacturing costs, medical costs, merit pay, operating margins, working capital, liquidity, capital needs, expected investing activity, interest costs and income, are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements, due to factors including those noted in the Annual Report and other risks and factors identified from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC.
The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk |
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The Company conducts its business in various foreign countries, and as such, its cash flows and earnings are subject to fluctuations from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The Company manages its exposures to this market risk through internally established procedures and, when deemed appropriate, through the use of short-term forward exchange contracts. As of November 30, 2010, these transactions were not significant. The Company does not enter into derivative transactions or use other financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
Market risks relating to the Company’s operations result primarily from changes in interest rates, which are managed through the mix of variable-rate versus fixed-rate borrowings. Additionally, financial instruments, including swap agreements, have been used to manage interest rate exposures. Approximately 34% of the Company’s debt at November 30, 2010 bore interest at a variable rate and was sensitive to changes in interest rates, compared to approximately 40% at May 31, 2010 and 45% at November 30, 2009. The decrease in variable-rate debt as of November 30, 2010 compared to May 31, 2010 and November 30, 2009, was primarily due to repayments made on the Term Loan. The Company is subject to the risk that market interest rates and its cost of borrowing will increase and thereby increase the interest charged under its variable-rate debt.
Additional information relating to the Company’s outstanding financial instruments is included in Item 2, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
The following table sets forth information about the Company’s debt instruments as of November 30, 2010 (see Note 5 of Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements - unaudited in Item 1, “Financial Statements”):
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($ amounts in millions ) | | Fiscal Year Maturity | |
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| | 2011(1) | | 2012 | | 2013 | | 2014 | | 2015 | | Thereafter | | Total | |
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Debt Obligations | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lines of Credit | | $ | 7.2 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 7.2 | |
Average interest rate | | | 4.0 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Long-term debt including current | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Fixed-rate debt | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 153.0 | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 153.0 | |
Interest rate | | | | | | | | | 5.0 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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Variable rate debt | | $ | 21.4 | | $ | 42.8 | | $ | 7.4 | (3) | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | — | | $ | 71.6 | |
Interest rate(2) | | | 1.0 | % | | 1.0 | % | | 1.0 | % | | | | | | | | | | | | |
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(1) | Fiscal 2011 includes the remaining six months of the current fiscal year, ending May 31, 2011. |
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(2) | Represents the interest rate under the Term Loan at November 30, 2010; the interest rate is subject to change over the life of the Term Loan. |
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(3) | Represents the final payment under the Term Loan, which has a final maturity of June 1, 2012, but may be repaid at any time. |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 4. Controls and Procedures |
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The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation, after conducting an evaluation, together with other members of the Company’s management, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2010, have concluded that the Corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Corporation in its reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and accumulated and communicated to members of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. There was no change in the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended November 30, 2010 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 1. Legal Proceedings |
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As previously reported, the Company is party to certain actions originally filed by each of Alaska Laborer Employers Retirement Fund and Paul Baicu, which were consolidated on November 8, 2007. On September 26, 2008, the plaintiff sought leave of the Court to file a second amended class action complaint, in order to add allegations relating to the Company’s restatement announced in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on July 30, 2008. The Court thereafter dismissed the Company’s pending motion to dismiss as moot. On October 20, 2008, the plaintiff filed the second amended complaint, and on October 31, 2008, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the second amended complaint. On September 30, 2010, the Court granted the Company’s motion to dismiss the second amended complaint for failure to state a cause of action, while also granting leave to the plaintiff to move to file a new proposed amended complaint. On December 1, 2010, the plaintiff filed a motion for leave to file a proposed third amended class action complaint, as well as a motion to replace Alaska Laborer Employers Retirement Fund with City of Sterling Heights Police and Fire Retirement System as lead plaintiff. The proposed third amended class action complaint shortens the original class action period to end on December 16, 2005 rather than on March 23, 2006, but otherwise continues to allege securities fraud relating to statements made by the Company concerning its operations and financial results, now for the period between March 18, 2005 and December 16, 2005, and seeks unspecified compensatory damages. The Company continues to believe that the allegations in such complaint are without merit and is vigorously defending the lawsuit.
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |
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The following table provides information with respect to repurchases of shares of Common Stock by the Corporation during the three months ended November 30, 2010:
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Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) | |
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Period | | Total number of shares purchased | | Average price paid per share | | Total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs | | Maximum number of shares (or approximate dollar value) that may yet be purchased under the plans or programs(1) | |
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September 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010 | | — | | | | $ | — | | | | | | | | | $ | 0.5 | | |
October 1, 2010 through October 31, 2010 | | 5,199,699 | | | | $ | 30.00 | | | | | 5,199,699 | | | | $ | 44.5 | | |
November 1, 2010 through November 30, 2010 | | — | | | | $ | — | | | | | — | | | | $ | 44.5 | | |
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Total | | 5,199,699 | | | | $ | 30.00 | | | | | 5,199,699 | | | | | | | |
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(1) | On December 16, 2009, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a new program to purchase up to $20.0 million of Common Stock, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or through negotiated private transactions. As of September 30, 2010 approximately $0.5 million remained of such authorization. |
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| On September 28, 2010, the Company announced the commencement of a modified Dutch auction tender offer to purchase up to $150 million of its common stock at a price not less than $27.00 per share and not more than $33.00 per share. On November 3, 2010, the Company announced that it had purchased the shares indicated in the table above at a purchase price of $30.00 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $156 million, and that approximately $44.5 million remained for the repurchase of common stock under the current Board authorizations, which amount includes the $0.5 million remaining from the prior Board authorization. These purchases may be made from time to time on the open market or through negotiated private transactions. Accordingly, as of November 30, 2010, approximately $44.5 million remained of the current Board authorizations. |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
Item 6. Exhibits |
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Exhibits: | | |
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31.1 | | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2 | | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32 | | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document |
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101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document |
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101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document |
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101.DEF | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document |
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101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document |
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101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
SIGNATURES |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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| | SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
| | (Registrant) |
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Date: December 22, 2010 | By: | /s/ Richard Robinson |
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| | Richard Robinson |
| | Chairman of the Board, |
| | President and Chief |
| | Executive Officer |
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Date: December 22, 2010 | | /s/ Maureen O’Connell |
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| | Maureen O’Connell |
| | Executive Vice President, |
| | Chief Administrative Officer |
| | and Chief Financial Officer |
| | (Principal Financial Officer) |
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SCHOLASTIC CORPORATION |
QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q, DATED NOVEMBER 30, 2010 |
Exhibits Index |
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Exhibit Number | | Description of Document |
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31.1 | | Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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31.2 | | Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation filed pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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32 | | Certifications of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Scholastic Corporation furnished pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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101.INS | | XBRL Instance Document * |
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101.SCH | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document * |
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101.CAL | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Document * |
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101.DEF | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definitions Document * |
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101.LAB | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels Document * |
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101.PRE | | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Document * |
* In accordance with Regulation S-T, the XBRL-related information in Exhibit 101 to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q shall be deemed to be “furnished” and not “filed.”
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