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Gil Dickoff | Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Head, Investor Relations |
James Barge | Lead Independent Director |
Iole Lucchese | Chairman, President and Chief Strategy Officer |
Ken Cleary | Chief Financial Officer |
Peter Warwick | President and Chief Executive Officer |
Good day and thank you for standing by. Welcome to Scholastic Reports Q4 and Fiscal Year 2021 Results Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Gil Dickoff, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Head of Investor Relations. Please go ahead.
Thank you and good afternoon. quarter year fourth earnings Scholastic’s to and XXXX fiscal call. Welcome
the would James and August today’s and will call. Ken I on the Board’s officially Chief of Chief introduce Scholastic the Entertainment, today’s on President me to Officer become Barge, Chief Financial our newly course, and Strategy like company’s call Chair Lucchese, Joining of Iole are Peter President the Executive and also Director; Peter X. Officer Lead appointed of Board Officer. Scholastic’s Cleary, also Warwick on Independent
We will website a to already their like have and to business and forward-looking. the be are on done we those to uncertainties, posted of continuing download by an are investor.scholastic.com, you company’s today would actual the I anticipated. may point subject investor from Such risks presentation statements including forward-looking out nature impact on forward-looking our various those from encourage arising currently differ COVID-XX not so. at results that IR uncertain if certain have you operations. These made statements which statements
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time, them. and Jimmy. families you, and note to overemphasize special that Scholastic support it impact would Dick children on publishing contributions the their our a well ultimately reaches of the left and all education support of during children’s And with as appreciation Thank the as be in for who educators to Board members has this difficult the
XX and led strategy mission Scholastic’s with businesses, For both operations growth. focus a and Dick on nearly years,
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Finally, welcome Peter.
our many of take Board With for years, I’d on that, a confident turn I’m been Cleary. our the like growth. us working voice crucial to over with to you help call X and that past opportunities progress advantage will these and You’ve Ken
The refer indicated. a will filings and results costs. I Today, during afternoon. and in for years, of nature the focused good full We quarter settlement and company past of taken Iole, necessary. you, excluding SEC adjusted the for two drastic, while our unprecedented closure Thank for fourth actions complete discussion severance, Scholastic’s our our businesses. Please challenges the items to press year, one-time areas. unless all were to X.X one-time and pandemic refer by tables created distinct The release the otherwise efforts
in-person our When run but identified schools, for moreover, we customers’ First solutions schools deploy offered not fairs. demonstrate these our our the distributed. receive and When could in told, be virtual we in it company’s packs developed is school offered of our we our pivoted independent the the offered distribution resources classroom pandemic, to learning million of need needs new XXXX. demonstrate meet teachers When digital fiscal the greater from the distributed that over fairs, ability remains delivered change methods ship-to-home pandemic. When newly resources These needed as these All during to magazines. students book methods the result of revenues for couldn’t supported at pivot and students customers’ classroom, orders students $XXX reading foremost, demand could When and to regardless we company’s magazines strong Book not offered district. that to options. teacher valued needs, how we home, content content. parents Clubs school individual digital-only could provided our be districts a and we book to to the distribution easy
a the to able reduce to severe target Early pandemic, revenues downturn the by face project costs exceeded. Second, as result a of we in initiated reduce a $XXX of we’re cost million, a in the in we drastically pandemic.
closed program various spending options pandemic. functions functionality focused and office company, on cost We efforts and discretionary closure and furlough the a We temporarily technology matched the the consolidated deemed our result the of into facility exclusive capital York other The our resources combined eliminated we many footprint to New and during facilities processes. throughout and continued of facility, severance, these We City first permanently distribution and We through expected leveraged to quarter. single closed consolidated substantial across company. one-time costs. We streamlining lower execute purchases our XX projects other significant, projects better we essential, inventory distribution facilities. those We demand. were
decreased over SG&A the $XXX prior compared Our million to year.
to the million CapEx decreased Our to compared XXXX. $XX.X in $XX.X for million year fiscal
increase allowing the pandemic, million will prior return last free compared was of resources in balance to needed. Many our defined, position will cash these future million year-end to was savings flow, be permanent opportunity in as cash of net relatively cash million Our revenues revenues a $XXX.X compared when year. million $XX.X the as the better return flat company to historical our for dedicate our but $XX the costs $XXX.X were margins use of and free cost million $XX.X these to levels to nature approximately and post of of
during through is evidenced results the the content and XXXX distribution our our we our to more before, company customers provide above the our necessary the as FY actions creation brand, to trade value after given While by conditions, strong the pandemic-related were and in important capabilities. pandemic
domestically fourth quarter QX loss and important quarter, for from COVID $XXX.X year is billion, and the of of restrictions. results $XX.X million response income in improving Still, or million success sequential of our versus which conditions. months by third Operating XX% first $XX.X relative million believe XXXX to versus the indicative declined market revenues of also in year. generally revenues of last the and year improvements to XX% due quarter we to the fares the was fourth the a COVID the the $X.X last pandemic. decreased versus prior period, revenues driven Fiscal Our to few included grew abroad
per For versus full fourth million $XX.X XXXX. fiscal XXXX fiscal in operating loss per $XX million year, was fiscal million share year. the $XX.X income share year XXXX, share, million compared $X.XX earnings was $X.XX million was diluted loss prior $XX.X year the diluted compared of operating of to a XXXX. a year Fourth to $XXX.X EBITDA for fiscal in was XXXX. $X.XX Adjusted per adjusted an earnings loss last loss for of versus was compared quarter $X.XX million in share of Full $XX.X while quarter EBITDA to in fiscal a per
fourth drivers where our Now I results. our will turning to segments, review quarter of the
fiscal Our detailed year Book results our and are tables In Publishing increased in fourth $XXX.X million. SEC and Children’s Distribution, filings. to revenue XX% quarter
had comparison impressive year. collections, strong XXXX of quarter Fourth quarter sales million quarter. since of grew fair fiscal in Fourth year to versus level book in to in comparison prior quarter In The year not benefited quarter. which the versus as XX% quarter from with prior as in fourth season $XX.X revenues from in COVID to School the home, income million, XXXX. demand prior in room of and did to $XX.X and and only learning million fairs school programs, for a pack third income year’s Education the income the continued compared grew revenues summer our operating an quarter through we schools quarter fiscal the subscriptions. fiscal through $XXX.X book an period In both operating versus at XX% Trade quarter. fourth of the operating million book in-person grew heightened had many resources prior was due book the digital teaching Ballad concerns, of to book distributions results higher need $XX.X by loss for the the classroom an $XX.X and of districts operating the $X While expanded were Spring of as and $XX.X to Songbirds million there segment, addition prior and to because International substantially strong third hoped increasing unfavorable and Snakes in quarter fourth was levels million fourth million fiscal million period. allow the $XX.X revenue Education, access
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For $XX.X overhead the technology $XX XXXX initiatives process year, related and lower have implementing the changes cost Many initiatives. the is that were by fiscal over enabled in expense we X company’s fiscal the versus of the past overall, cost million a savings million company’s savings reflection years. of been
our Regarding SoHo, New back will York-based forward our from an to environment, increasingly employees new adjust working more this even further as hybrid their our as headquarters productivity employees we collaborating as person lifted. enhance started in found benefit has been in We flexibility. employees facilities, of welcoming restrictions stations look to have which to
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we disclosed, surplus fiscal previously facilities sold XXXX. in we two more sell As XXXX, expect facilities two in to fiscal and
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This is for districts Education on for school Education we materials. summer are into of districts, schools year. of principals, reading There pandemic. for the demand have available the strong on to parents Solutions. states, prepare the spend and the We quarter In programs and replenishing and Federal corner Solutions as students increased funding in turning June, fourth month learning teachers, includes and in-person the the seen substantial upcoming continuing classroom
for demand are offerings. We and print strong our digital currently experiencing
to to from this Scholastic similar Fairs their spring is reaction better from to upcoming a Book The in-person spring. expected anxious are business sequentially seeing team of customers Fair Our this to Book coming host who fall the this school year. in an and is ramp-up then be last
closed need assessing warehouse including over for where facilities we have closely we and a demand in reopening the and members. hiring been when for transportation are it capacity This that entails our season. training and instances, such, year As some creating fall and staff distribution
that fiscal expected We our and recovery we levels but business we in optimistic our resources to Fairs are revenue will Book demand. recover, XXXX, to historical meet a our not full are do managing expect
customer and a we As come we forward of pandemic, a global scalable look a result now both in our generation. saving to our the grow flow operating all footprint, has cash business. strong to cost programs model growing and of base out the mission Scholastic resulting more in continuing as company’s a
growth as and school solutions following digital as with education the to opportunities; in Asia in intend in meet new investing pursuing year numerous the English develop across and and we adaptable growth through parents, across the are education literacy. IP solutions investing of online sales e-commerce to opportunities need our processes. In to language and direct marketing well strategic platforms, growth, significant leveraging focus for long-term simplification to applications at-home for solutions solutions, and We digital our growing continued fiscal growth XXXX, support learning
We currently under as in expect our $XXX facility, receive our credit from borrowing reduce to the revenues levels fiscal refunds and Federal but tax our outstanding million government. XXXX borrowing return are
expires credit will January to bank a XXXX. in or We negotiating extension renewal facility, be our which
expect well of achieved EBITDA inflationary as and fiscal government benefit other for cost we XXXX in will we much costs As services the lower from mentioned, the Adjusted operating as higher continue by partially materials, the offset COVID-related cost savings be previously transportation I discontinuation base, to of permanent. subsidies. to labor,
us closing, due the substantial today the year is We detail In issuing course pandemic. we for the in quarterly his to years, ability to my calls, are and continue empower of heartfelt will work year expected as remain not continue will focused pleased supported the future. guidance which continue past the strategic for provide uncertainties opportunity the Board, rate Welcome, to of Scholastic’s Dick, We CEO from fiscal recovery through Peter, was uncertainty plan coming on our prepares want our when who express financial having May. additional to time join the over benefit Dick Peter. have to management XXXX, for he and with to turn that, pandemic our call his President. since the team us there and to and execution for mission appreciation, this to into it and with With the I vision as approved had the we to with to along many see this subside. first I are pandemic In side-by-side as
tiring am a and to opportunity. to another It speaking it that all a accelerate humbling classroom is knows safety It’s time, years well with build the Scholastic and do are to for and that executing to Gil, partner Dick’s here will that are remain support when support grateful is turn the be else, needs. Thank that forward faith honor a best. are I I one came following lost in better future enter COVID. today. schools know back Iole, continue century to I Robinson. and Jimmy, confidence educators change. of during again who is the and future Board to in be a and Ken to effort plans. all creating look me second growth brand Scholastic you, because Ken. to of we priority time with natural to continue of how cultivate to came can stewardship of leadership to to forward nimble already what the at your Andy, company our kids That the finally, world. the my and of to of Thank of children’s they turn tenure It’s you with experience a trusted team but Scholastic Dick teachers, as and their I curiosity the thank emotional the are bring that and the to to for families be personal to profoundly need support new you than back-to-school role an from does and as a learning, summer hand-in-hand accomplish its to expanded families. you for anyone in this his tireless CEO, call to will at this. Scholastic thank of you plans time while They on for together you customers your you heels all same an to time for Thank summer. to share to grief X.X families also social is Virtually supporting and We effects bright. Scholastic closing. need as all increased be supporting caregivers will top the working the in I to learning because when a employees schools
Thank you very much, Peter.
As we a for our be to you investor_relations@scholastic.com. support, continuing directed time invite everyone’s mailbox, joining thank to today’s IR questions and appreciate and reminder, We call.
conference participating. today’s concludes This call. Thank you for
You may now disconnect. [No Q&A session for this event]
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