Peoples Educational Holdings Inc. (PEDH) News

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 April 8, 2010 - 03:45 AM PST
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Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

SADDLE BROOK, NJ -- (Marketwire) -- 04/08/10 -- Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PEDH), a leading provider of supplemental educational material for the K-12 school market, today announced financial results for the three and nine months ended February 28, 2010.

Net revenue for the quarter was $5.5 million, an increase of 4.7% from the same period in the prior year. Revenue from the Test Preparation, Assessment and Instruction product group was $4.4 million, a decline of 1.1% from the prior year. College Preparation revenue for the period was $521,000, a decline of $285,000. In addition, $579,000 of revenue was generated from our Literacy product offering, which was launched in March 2009. Net loss for the quarter was $801,000, a decrease of 15.2% from the prior year. Basic and diluted net loss per share was $0.18, compared to a loss of $0.21 in the prior year. Non-GAAP net loss, which excludes non-recurring costs, and adjusts for the difference between prepublication expenditures and amortization was, $672,000, or $0.15 per share, compared to a Non-GAAP net loss of $458,000 or $0.10 per share in the prior year (see Exhibit 1).

Net revenue for the nine months ended February 28, 2010 was $27.5 million, a decline of 6.7% from the same period in the prior year. Test Preparation, Assessment and Instruction revenue was $15.5 million, a 9.4% year-over-year decline, while College Preparation revenue was $10.1 million, a decline of 17.9%. Revenue generated from our Literacy products was $1.8 million. Net income for the period was $357,000; an increase of 126% over the prior year. Earnings per share for the period was $0.08, an increase of $0.04 over the prior year. Non-GAAP net income for the nine month period was $1.2 million, or $0.27 per share compared to $1.0 million or $0.23 per share in the prior year.

Financial Highlights for the Nine Months Ended February 28, 2010


-- Net income increased 126% and Non-GAAP net income increased 16% on a
year-over-year basis, despite a decline in revenue.
-- Free cash flow (cash provided by operating activities reduced by
expenditures for prepublication cost, equipment and intangibles, see
Exhibit 2) for the nine months continues to be strong at $3.3 million,
which is a $1.2 million increase over the prior year.
-- Gross profit as a percentage of revenue, increased from 38.0% to 41.7%,
due to revenue mix and a decline in prepublication cost amortization.
-- General and administrative expenses declined 1.4% from the prior year
to $3.4 million.
-- Bank debt declined by $3.3 million on a year-over-year basis.
-- Interest expense for the period was $206,000 a decrease of 63.5%
compared to the prior year. The decrease is due to lower average
outstanding debt, lower interest rates, and $117,000 of income from the
fair value adjustment of our swap agreement.

Business Outlook - Guidance Reiterated

Brian T. Beckwith, President and CEO, commented, "We continue to operate in a challenging environment for K-12 instructional material sales and I'm encouraged that our revenue for the quarter exceeded the prior year. Although revenue declined for the nine months ended February 28, 2010, I am pleased that net income, Non-GAAP net income, and free cash flow all exceeded prior year results. We are managing our operating expenses well, while continuing to invest strongly in our next generation of new and revised product, with an emphasis on the rollout of our new online product, the ePath Knowledge Suite."

"Based on our year-to-date results and our forecast for the balance of the year, we are reaffirming our previous guidance. We expect revenue to be between $36 million and $38 million, net income of $0.5 million to $0.9 million or $0.11 to $0.20 per basic share, Non-GAAP net income to be between $0.7 million and $1.1 million or $0.16 to $0.25 per basic share and positive free cash flow to range between $2.0 million to $2.5 million."

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Some of the measures in this press release are Non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of SEC Regulation G. Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc., believes presenting Non-GAAP net income and Non-GAAP earnings per share and Free Cash Flow are useful to investors because they describe the operating performance of the Company and helps investors gauge the Company's ability to generate cash flow excluding non-recurring charges and fluctuations between new product development amortization and new product development expenditures. Company management uses these Non-GAAP measures as important indicators of the Company's past performance and to plan and forecast performance in future periods. The Non-GAAP financial information Peoples Educational Holdings presents, may not be comparable to similarly titled financial measures used by other companies, and investors should not consider Non-GAAP financial measures in isolation from, or in substitution for, financial information presented in compliance with GAAP.

Conference Call

We have scheduled a conference call today, April 8, 2010, at 11:00 am Eastern Time. The call will be hosted by Brian Beckwith, President and Chief Executive Officer and Michael DeMarco, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. A slide presentation highlighting points discussed in our conference call will also be available prior to the conference call, through the investor relations section of our web site at www.peopleseducation.com.

About Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc.

Peoples Educational Holdings, Inc., is a publisher and marketer of print and electronic educational materials for the K-12 school market. The Company focuses its efforts in three market areas:

Test Preparation, Assessment, and Instruction


-- Test Preparation and Assessment: We create and sell state-customized,
print and electronic, test preparation and assessment materials that
help teachers prepare students for success in school and for required
state proficiency tests, grades 1-12.
-- Instruction: We produce and sell proprietary state-customized print
worktexts and print and web-based delivered assessments, for Grades
1-8. These products provide students with in-depth instruction and
practice in reading, language arts, and mathematics. In addition, our
backlist remedial and multicultural products are included in this
group.

Literacy


-- We distribute for three publishers, on an exclusive basis in the United
States, supplemental literacy materials for grades K-8. These materials
include an extensive selection of leveled reading materials, high
interest engaging resources for striving readers, series that integrate
reading, science and social studies, and selections and strategies for
students who are in the process of learning English.

College Preparation


-- We distribute and publish instructional materials that meet the
required academic standards for high school honors, college
preparation, and Advanced Placement courses. We are the exclusive high
school distributor for two major college publishers. We also publish
our own proprietary college preparation supplements and ancillary
materials.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements (as defined in section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) regarding the Company and its markets. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, including (1) changes in demand from customers, (2) changes in product or customer mix or revenues and in the level of operating expenses, (3) rapidly changing technologies and the Company's ability to respond thereto, (4) the impact of competitive products and pricing, (5) federal, state and local levels of educational spending, (6) the Company's ability to retain qualified personnel, (7) the Company's ability to retain its distribution agreements in the College Preparation and Literacy markets, (8) the sufficiency of the Company's copyright protection, and (9) the Company's ability to continue to rely on the services of a third-party warehouse, and other factors as discussed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from any forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Readers are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this press release and the reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission that attempt to advise interested parties of the risks and factors that may affect the Company's business and results of operations.



PEOPLES EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In Thousands-Except Share Data) UNAUDITED UNAUDITED
February May 31, February
28, 2010 2009 28, 2009
---------- -------- ----------
ASSETS

Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 95 $ 42 $ 33
Accounts Receivable Net of Allowances for
Doubtful Accounts and Returns 2,261 2,842 1,706
Inventory, Net 3,980 4,219 3,941
Prepaid Expenses and Other 357 323 370
Prepaid Marketing Expenses 443 862 964
Deferred Income Taxes 938 1,092 661
---------- -------- ----------
Total Current Assets 8,074 9,380 7,675

Equipment - At Cost, Less Accumulated
Depreciation of $2,405, $2,241 and $2,215,
respectively 272 387 446
---------- -------- ----------

Other Assets
Deferred Prepublication Costs, Net 11,991 13,466 13,826
Deferred Income Taxes 212 1,006 1,796
Trademarks, Net 189 170 191
Prepaid Expenses and Other 185 273 376
Prepaid Marketing Expenses - - 123
---------- -------- ----------
Total Other Assets 12,577 14,915 16,312
---------- -------- ----------

Total Assets $ 20,923 $ 24,682 $ 24,433
========== ======== ==========

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Current Liabilities
Current Maturities of Long Term
Obligations $ 2,000 $ 2,034 $ 2,045
Accounts Payable 3,322 3,998 2,830
Accrued Compensation 241 170 232
Other Accrued Expenses 444 855 294
Deferred Revenue 546 278 403
---------- -------- ----------
Total Current Liabilities 6,553 7,335 5,804

Long Term Obligations, Less Current
Maturities 8,475 11,854 11,885
---------- -------- ----------

Total Liabilities 15,028 19,189 17,689
---------- -------- ----------

Commitments and Contingencies

Stockholders' Equity
Preferred Stock, authorized 1,500,000
shares; none issued
Common Stock, $0.02 par value; authorized
8,500,000 shares; issued: 4,478,434,
for all periods 90 90 90
Additional Paid In Capital 8,105 8,060 8,042
Accumulated Deficit (2,236) (2,593) (1,324)
Treasury Stock - 16,232 shares, at cost (64) (64) (64)
---------- -------- ----------
Total Stockholders' Equity 5,895 5,493 6,744
---------- -------- ----------

Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity $ 20,923 $ 24,682 $ 24,433
========== ======== ==========

PEOPLES EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
February 28, February 28,

2010 2009 2010 2009
--------- --------- ---------- ----------

Revenue, Net $ 5,450 $ 5,204 $ 27,504 $ 29,481

Cost of Revenue
Direct Costs 1,809 1,733 11,950 13,242
Prepublication Cost
Amortization 1,364 1,688 4,092 5,040
--------- --------- ---------- ----------
Total 3,173 3,421 16,042 18,282
--------- --------- ---------- ----------

Gross Profit 2,277 1,783 11,462 11,199

Selling, General and
Administrative Expenses 3,398 3,146 10,548 10,366
--------- --------- ---------- ----------

Income (Loss) from Operations (1,121) (1,363) 914 833

Other Expenses, Net 11 2 25 18
Interest Expense 46 126 206 564
--------- --------- ---------- ----------

Income (Loss) Before Income
Taxes (1,178) (1,491) 683 251

Income Tax Expense (Benefit) (377) (546) 326 93

--------- --------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (Loss) $ (801) $ (945) $ 357 $ 158
========= ========= ========== ==========

Net Income (Loss) per Common
Share:
Basic $ (0.18) $ (0.21) $ 0.08 $ 0.04
Diluted $ (0.18) $ (0.21) $ 0.08 $ 0.04

Weighted-average Number of
Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic 4,462 4,457 4,462 4,455
Diluted 4,462 4,457 4,465 4,455
========= ========= ========== ==========

PEOPLES EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(In Thousands) Nine Months Ended
February 28,
2010 2009
-------- --------
Cash Flows From Operating Activities
Net Income $ 357 $ 158
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income to Net Cash
Provided by Operating Activities
Depreciation 164 221
Amortization of Prepublication Costs and Intangible
Assets 4,104 5,048
Stock-Based Compensation 45 30
Market Value Adjustment of Interest Rate Swap (117) 36
Deferred Income Taxes 948 103
Changes in Assets and Liabilities
Accounts Receivable 581 1,958
Inventory 239 453
Prepaid Expenses and Other 54 (79)
Prepaid Marketing Expenses 419 237
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses (1,016) (2,144)
Deferred Revenue 268 (72)
-------- --------
Net Cash Provided By Operating Activities 6,046 5,949
-------- --------

Cash Flows From Investing Activities
Purchases of Equipment (49) (101)
Expenditures for Intangibles (31) (8)
Expenditures for Prepublication Costs (2,617) (3,666)
-------- --------
Net Cash Used In Investing Activities (2,697) (3,775)
-------- --------

Cash Flows From Financing Activities
Net Payments Under Line of Credit (1,762) (663)
Principal Payments On Long-Term Debt (1,534) (1,531)
-------- --------
Net Cash Used In Financing Activities (3,296) (2,194)
-------- --------

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Cash
Equivalents 53 (20)

Cash and Cash Equivalents
Beginning of Period 42 53
-------- --------
End of Period $ 95 $ 33
======== ========

Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Cash Payments for:
Interest $ 382 $ 581
======== ========

Exhibit 1

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to Non-GAAP Adjusted Net Income (Loss)

(In Thousands - Except Share Data)

Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
2/28/2010 2/28/2009 2/28/2010 2/28/2009
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Income (Loss) $ (801) $ (945) $ 357 $ 158
Amortization of
Prepublications Costs 1,364 1,688 4,092 5,040
Cash Expenditures for
Prepublication Costs (1,122) (926) (2,617) (3,666)
Market Value Adjustment of
Interest Rate Swap (38) 11 (117) 36
Adjusted Income Tax Benefit (75) (286) (502) (522)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Non-GAAP Net Income (Loss) $ (672) $ (458) $ 1,213 $ 1,046
========== ========== ========== ==========

Basic Weighted Shares
Outstanding 4,462 4,457 4,462 4,455

Non-GAAP Earnings Per Share $ (0.15) $ (0.10) $ 0.27 $ 0.23

Exhibit 2

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided By (Used In) Operating Activities to
Free Cash Flow

(In Thousands)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
2/28/2010 2/28/2009 2/28/2010 2/28/2009
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net Cash Provided By (Used
In) Operating Activities $ (868) $ (2,484) $ 6,046 $ 5,949
Cash Expenditures for
Equipment and Intangibles (6) (10) (80) (109)
Cash Expenditures for
Prepublication Costs (1,122) (926) (2,617) (3,666)
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Free Cash Flow $ (1,996) $ (3,420) $ 3,349 $ 2,174
========== ========== ========== ==========

Contacts:

Peoples Education, Inc.
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

Investor Contact:
James Kautz
Phone: 888-654-5318

Press Contact:
Victoria Kiely
Phone: 201-712-0090 ext. 215
Email Contact