Aristotle Form 8-K



UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM 8-K


CURRENT REPORT


PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


DATE OF REPORT (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED): NOVEMBER 5, 2009



THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)



DELAWARE

0-14669

06-1165854

(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION

(COMMISSION FILE

(I.R.S. EMPLOYER

OF INCORPORATION)

NUMBER)

IDENTIFICATION NO.)



96 CUMMINGS POINT ROAD, STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT

 (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)



06902

(ZIP CODE)



(203) 358-8000

(REGISTRANT’S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE)


Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:


Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)


Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))


Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))












Page 1 of 2 Pages







Page 2 of 2 Pages


Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.


On November 5, 2009, The Aristotle Corporation issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1.


Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits


(d)

Exhibits


Exhibit 99.1 - Press release of The Aristotle Corporation, dated November 5, 2009.



SIGNATURES


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 hereunto duly authorized.



THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION

 

(Registrant)

 

By:  /s/  H. William Smith

 

Name:  H. William Smith  

Title:    Vice President, General Counsel

 

and Secretary

  


Date: November 5, 2009





EXHIBITS


Exhibit 99.1 Press release issued November 5, 2009.





Exhibit 99.1

For Immediate Release

News Release

Contacts:

Bill Smith or Dean Johnson

The Aristotle Corporation

Phone: (203) 358-8000 or (920) 563-2446

Fax: (203) 358-0179 or (920) 563-0234

wsmith@ihc-geneve.com

int@enasco.com


The Aristotle Corporation Announces

2009 Third Quarter and Nine Month Results


Stamford, CT, November 5, 2009 - The Aristotle Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTL; ARTLP) announced today its results of operations for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.


Net earnings applicable to common stockholders for the first nine months of 2009 were $8.3 million, or $.46 per diluted common share, compared to $12.0 million, or $.67 per diluted common share, for the comparable nine months of 2008.  Pursuant to a final settlement with the Internal Revenue Service of an audit previously reported by the Company, the nine months ended September 30, 2009 includes additional Federal income taxes of $.5 million and $1.0 million for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, respectively, plus approximately $.1 million of interest, related to a partial disallowance of the Company’s historical Federal net operating tax losses that were utilized.  Such amounts reduced net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 by approximately $.09 per diluted common share.  For the third quarter ended September 30, 2009, net earnings applicable to common stockholders were $4.8 million, or $.27 per diluted common share, compared to $4.7 million, or $.26 per diluted common share, in the third quarter of 2008.  An adjustment to the initial IRS settlement reduced the Federal tax expense by $.3 million and the related interest expense by $.1 million, or approximately $.02 per diluted common share, in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.  No additional taxes were due for any years prior to 2006.     


In the nine months ended September 30, 2009, net sales decreased 7.8% to $158.9 million from $172.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2008.  Earnings from operations decreased by 11.5% in the first nine months of 2009 to $26.8 million, or 16.9% of net sales.  In the first nine months of 2008, earnings from operations totaled $30.3 million (including a $.7 million insurance recovery), or 17.6% of net sales. In the third quarter of 2009, net sales decreased 5.9% to $61.1 million from $65.0 million in the third quarter of 2008.  Earnings from operations decreased by 2.6% in the third quarter of 2009 to $11.4 million, or 18.6% of net sales.  In the same quarter of 2008, earnings from operations totaled $11.7 million, or 17.9% of net sales.


About Aristotle


The Aristotle Corporation, founded in 1986, and headquartered in Stamford, CT, is a leading manufacturer and global distributor of educational, health, medical technology and agricultural products.  A selection of over 80,000 items is offered, primarily through 50 separate catalogs carrying the brand of Nasco (founded in 1941), as well as those bearing the brands of Life/Form®, Whirl-Pak®, Simulaids, Triarco, Spectrum Educational Supplies, Hubbard Scientific, Scott Resources, Haan Crafts, CPR Prompt®, Ginsberg Scientific and Summit Learning.  Products include educational materials and supplies for substantially all K-12 curricula, molded plastics, biological materials, medical simulators, health care products and items for the agricultural, senior care and food industries.  Aristotle has approximately 850 full-time employees at its operations in Fort Atkinson, WI, Modesto, CA, Fort Collins, CO, Plymouth, MN, Saugerties, NY, Chippewa Falls, WI, Otterbein, IN and Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.


There are 18.0 million shares outstanding of Aristotle common stock (NASDAQ: ARTL) and 1.1 million shares outstanding of Series I preferred stock (NASDAQ: ARTLP); there are also 11.0 million privately-held shares outstanding of Series J preferred stock.  Aristotle has about 3,600 stockholders of record.  






Further information about Aristotle can be obtained on its website, at aristotlecorp.net.


Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

 

To the extent that any of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements.  Aristotle cautions investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the ability of Aristotle to obtain financing and additional capital to fund its business strategy on acceptable terms, if at all; (ii) the ability of Aristotle on a timely basis to find, prudently negotiate and consummate additional acquisitions; (iii) the ability of Aristotle to manage any to-be acquired businesses; (iv) there is not an active trading market for the Company’s securities and the stock prices thereof are highly volatile, due in part to the relatively small percentage of the Company’s securities which is not held by the Company’s majority stockholder and members of the Company’s Board of Directors and management;  and (v) other factors identified in Item 1A, Risk Factors, contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.  As a result, Aristotle’s future development efforts involve a high degree of risk.  For further information, please see Aristotle’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K, 10-K/A, 10-Q and 8-K.                                         





THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS     

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)


 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

September 30,

 

September 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

$

61,128 

 

64,976 

 

158,854 

 

172,202 

Cost of sales

 

37,089 

 

40,123 

 

95,440 

 

105,116 

 

Gross profit

 

24,039 

 

24,853 

 

63,414 

 

67,086 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expense

 

12,669 

 

13,178 

 

36,607 

 

36,795 

 

Earnings from operations

 

11,370 

 

11,675 

 

26,807 

 

30,291 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other (expense) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(104)

 

(260)

 

(733)

 

(833)

 

Other, net

 

167 

 

(428)

 

448 

 

162 

 

 

       63

 

(688)

 

(285)

 

(671)

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

11,433 

 

10,987 

 

26,522 

 

29,620 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

4,371 

 

4,234 

 

11,616 

 

10,568 

 

Deferred

 

95 

 

(109)

 

156 

 

564 

 

 

 

4,466 

 

4,125 

 

11,772 

 

11,132 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

6,967 

 

6,862 

 

14,750 

 

18,488 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred dividends

 

2,155 

 

2,155 

 

6,467 

 

6,467 

 

Net earnings applicable to common stockholders

$

4,812 

 

4,707 

 

8,283 

 

12,021 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

.27 

 

.26 

 

.46 

 

.67 

 

Diluted

$

.27 

 

.26 

 

.46 

 

.67 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

17,962,875

 

17,962,875

 

17,962,875

 

17,962,209

 

Diluted

 

17,962,875

 

17,968,921

 

17,962,875

 

17,971,305










THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 (in thousands)




Assets

 

September 30,

 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

September 30,    2008

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents


$

29,690 

 

15,290 

 

7,138      

 

 

Marketable securities

 

4,220 

 

4,437 

 

2,480      

 

 

Investments

 

2,996 

 

2,876 

 

21,991      

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

24,065 

 

14,048 

 

26,175      

 

 

Inventories, net

 

39,716 

 

44,653 

 

42,388      

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

4,478 

 

8,542 

 

4,000      

 

 

Income tax receivable

 

 

5,396 

 

-      

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

4,070 

 

4,644 

 

1,788      

 

 

Total current assets

 

109,235 

 

99,886 

 

105,960      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

27,530 

 

27,808 

 

28,429      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

14,162 

 

13,712 

 

14,186      

 

Deferred income taxes

 

6,668 

 

6,668 

 

5,646      

 

Investments

 

4,318 

 

4,318 

 

4,318      

 

Other assets

 

1,127 

 

884 

 

817      

 

 

Total assets

$

163,040 

 

153,276 

 

159,356      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current installments of long-term debt

$

309 

 

294 

 

299      

 

 

Trade accounts payable

 

7,820 

 

9,576 

 

9,331      

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

12,907 

 

11,641 

 

7,537      

 

 

Income taxes

 

2,057 

 

 

184      

 

 

Accrued dividends payable

 

 

2,156 

 

-      

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

23,093 

 

23,667 

 

17,351      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long term debt, less current installments

 

10,126 

 

10,364 

 

10,434      

 

Long term pension obligations

 

5,587 

 

5,891 

 

2,115      

 

Other long term accruals

 

2,489 

 

2,467 

 

2,458      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, Series I

 

6,489 

 

6,489 

 

6,489      

 

 

Preferred stock, Series J

 

65,760 

 

65,760 

 

65,760      

 

 

Common stock

 

180 

 

180 

 

180      

 

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

7,690 

 

7,690 

 

7,685      

 

 

Retained earnings

 

43,262 

 

34,979 

 

46,985      

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(1,636)

 

(4,211)

 

(101)      

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

121,745 

 

110,887 

 

126,998      

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

163,040 

 

153,276 

 

159,356