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): AUGUST 7, 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 August 7, 2009, The Aristotle Corporation issued a press release announcing financial results for the quarter ended June 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 August 7, 2009.



The information in this Form 8-K and the Exhibit attached hereto shall not be deemed filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, unless expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.




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: August 10, 2009





EXHIBITS


Exhibit 99.1 Press release issued August 7, 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 Second Quarter and Six Month Results


Stamford, CT, August 7, 2009 - The Aristotle Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTL; ARTLP) announced today its results of operations for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009.


In the second quarter of 2009, net sales decreased 9.5% to $51.4 million from $56.8 million in the second quarter of 2008.  Earnings from operations decreased by 18.9% in the second quarter of 2009 to $8.6 million, or 16.6% of net sales.  In the same quarter of 2008, earnings from operations totaled $10.5 million (including a $.7 million insurance recovery), or 18.6% of net sales. In the six months ended June 30, 2009, net sales decreased 8.9% to $97.7 million from $107.2 million in the six months ended June 30, 2008.  Earnings from operations decreased by 17.1% in the first six months of 2009 to $15.4 million, or 15.8% of net sales.  In the same six months of 2008, earnings from operations totaled $18.6 million (including the insurance recovery), or 17.4% of net sales.  


For the second quarter ended June 30, 2009, net earnings applicable to common stockholders were $1.5 million, or $.08 per diluted common share, compared to $4.5 million, or $.25 per diluted common share, in the second quarter of 2008.  Net earnings applicable to common stockholders for the first six months of 2009 were $3.5 million, or $.19 per diluted common share, compared to $7.3 million, or $.41 per diluted common share, for the comparable six months of 2008. Pursuant to a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service of an audit previously reported by the Company, the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 includes additional Federal income taxes of $.5 million and $1.3 million for the 2006 and 2007 tax years, respectively, plus approximately $.2 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 quarter and six months ended June 30, 2009 by approximately $.11 per diluted common share.  No additional taxes were due for any years prior to 2006.     


Steven B. Lapin, Aristotle’s President and Chief Operating Officer, stated, “The continuing budgetary uncertainty in many key states has kept sales at disappointing levels, and significant federal stimulus monies accessible by our K-12 accounts have not yet been observed.  As always, management diligently applies all available skills to retain historical operating efficiencies on behalf of its customers and stockholders.”


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

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

June 30,

 

June 30,

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

$

51,425 

 

56,794 

 

97,726 

 

107,226 

Cost of sales

 

30,869 

 

34,457 

 

58,351 

 

64,993 

 

Gross profit

 

20,556 

 

22,337 

 

39,375 

 

42,233 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling and administrative expense

 

11,999 

 

11,791 

 

23,938 

 

23,617 

 

Earnings from operations

 

8,557 

 

10,546 

 

15,437 

 

18,616 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other (expense) income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense

 

(435)

 

(285)

 

(629)

 

(573)

 

Other, net

 

381 

 

358 

 

281 

 

590 

 

 

(54)

 

73 

 

(348)

 

17 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

8,503 

 

10,619 

 

15,089 

 

18,633 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current

 

4,752 

 

4,006 

 

7,245 

 

6,334 

 

Deferred

 

115 

 

(14)

 

61 

 

673 

 

 

 

4,867 

 

3,992 

 

7,306 

 

7,007 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

3,636 

 

6,627 

 

7,783 

 

11,626 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred dividends

 

2,156 

 

2,156 

 

4,312 

 

4,312 

 

Net earnings applicable to common stockholders

$

1,480 

 

4,471 

 

3,471 

 

7,314 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

$

.08 

 

.25 

 

.19 

 

.41 

 

Diluted

$

.08 

 

.25 

 

.19 

 

.41 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

17,962,875

 

17,962,706

 

17,962,875

 

17,961,873

 

Diluted

 

17,962,875

 

17,971,444

 

17,962,875

 

17,972,490










THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 (in thousands)




Assets

 

June 30,

 2009

 

December 31, 2008

 

June 30,    2008

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

 

 

(unaudited)

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents


$

22,905 

 

15,290 

 

6,444 

 

 

Marketable securities

 

4,040 

 

4,437 

 

3,195 

 

 

Investments

 

2,927 

 

2,876 

 

21,656 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

17,766 

 

14,048 

 

20,902 

 

 

Inventories, net

 

46,257 

 

44,653 

 

48,215 

 

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

5,292 

 

8,542 

 

5,034 

 

 

Income tax receivable

 

912 

 

5,396 

 

 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

4,344 

 

4,644 

 

1,879 

 

 

Total current assets

 

104,443 

 

99,886 

 

107,325 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

27,514 

 

27,808 

 

28,603 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goodwill

 

13,859 

 

13,712 

 

14,358 

 

Deferred income taxes

 

6,668 

 

6,668 

 

5,646 

 

Investments

 

4,318 

 

4,318 

 

4,318 

 

Other assets

 

1,046 

 

884 

 

604 

 

 

Total assets

$

157,848 

 

153,276 

 

160,854 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current installments of long-term debt

$

300 

 

294 

 

303 

 

 

Trade accounts payable

 

8,952 

 

9,576 

 

11,762 

 

 

Accrued expenses

 

12,736 

 

11,641 

 

7,191 

 

 

Income taxes

 

 

 

240 

 

 

Accrued dividends payable

 

2,156 

 

2,156 

 

2,156 

 

 

Total current liabilities

 

24,144 

 

23,667 

 

21,652 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long term debt, less current installments

 

10,211 

 

10,364 

 

11,506 

 

Long term pension obligations

 

5,639 

 

5,891 

 

2,617 

 

Other long term accruals

 

2,482 

 

2,467 

 

2,449 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 

 

7,683 

 

 

Retained earnings

 

38,450 

 

34,979 

 

42,278 

 

 

Accumulated other comprehensive earnings (loss)

 

(3,197)

 

(4,211)

 

240 

 

 

Total stockholders' equity

 

115,372 

 

110,887 

 

122,630 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

$

157,848 

 

153,276 

 

160,854