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School Specialty Announces Fiscal Year 2018 Third Quarter Financial Results

GREENVILLE, Wis., Nov. 08, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — School Specialty, Inc. (OTCQB: SCOO) (“School Specialty”, “SSI” or the “Company”), home of the 21st Century Safe School™ and leading provider of products and innovative solutions that support integrated learning environments for improved student social, emotional, mental and physical well-being, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2018 third quarter ended September 29, 2018.

Joseph M. Yorio, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “Throughout the year, we have focused on generating growth and positioning School Specialty for the future. We continue to make progress, particularly as it relates to the realignment and buildout of our sales team and repositioning our Company as a comprehensive 21st Century Safe School partner. However, we experienced some operational challenges in the third quarter, primarily related to staffing levels to support peak-season needs. From a top-line perspective, we saw modest revenue growth in the quarter and year-to-date revenue is up over 2%. This is very encouraging given the anticipated decline in Curriculum this year due to the lack of statewide science adoptions and fewer large non-adoption opportunities in the market; importantly, we are preparing for what is expected to be very strong Curriculum years ahead. Our efforts to better optimize pricing has contributed to lower gross margins in certain areas, but they have enabled growth and we believe they position us well moving into 2019. We believe we have a real opportunity to improve the mix of products we provide our customers and drive revenue from higher-margin proprietary products.”

Mr. Yorio continued, “Our competitive position continues to improve, as evidenced by strong order momentum heading into the peak season. Challenges in our fulfillment centers slowed our momentum, but we have recovered. Growth trends are strengthening once again, and we expect this momentum to carry through into 2019. We are well positioned to take market share and develop deeper, more valued customer relationships. While our results for 2018 will come in lower than expected, we believe School Specialty is poised for a sharp rebound with strong top-line growth and improved profitability in 2019.”

Q3 Results (for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017)

      Within the Distribution segment:

       
YTD Results (for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017)

      Within the Distribution segment:

Information on the Company’s outlook for 2018 can be found in the investor presentation on page 15, which will be posted shortly in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website.

School Specialty will be hosting a teleconference and webcast on Friday, November 9, 2018 at 8:00 a.m. ET to discuss its results and outlook. Speaking from management will be Joseph M. Yorio, President and Chief Executive Officer; Ryan M. Bohr, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer; and Kevin Baehler, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

Conference Call Information:

Interested parties can also participate on the webcast by visiting the Investor Relations section of School Specialty’s website at http://investors.schoolspecialty.com. For those who are unable to participate on the live conference call and webcast, a replay will be available approximately one hour after the completion of the call.

About School Specialty, Inc.
School Specialty designs, develops and delivers a broad assortment of innovative and proprietary products, programs and services to the education marketplace, including essential classroom supplies, furniture, educational technology, supplemental learning resources, science-based curriculum, and evidence-based safety and security training. The Company applies its unmatched team of subject-matter experts and customized planning, development and project management tools to deliver this comprehensive offering as the 21st Century Safe School, a concept built around best-practice school environments that support the social, emotional, mental, and physical safety of students – improving both their learning outcomes and school district performance.

For more information, visit  https://corporate.schoolspecialty.com/ or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. Find ideas, resources and inspiration by visiting our blog: https://blog.schoolspecialty.com/.

Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Information
Any statements made in this press release about School Specialty’s future financial condition, results of operations, expectations, plans, or prospects constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements also include those preceded or followed by the words “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “projects,” “should,” “targets” and/or similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on School Specialty’s current estimates and assumptions and, as such, involve uncertainty and risk. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements because of a number of factors, including the risk factors described in Item 1A of School Specialty’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017, which risk factors are incorporated herein by reference. Other risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: failure to comply with restrictive covenants under our credit facilities and other debt instruments; material adverse effects on our operating flexibility resulting from our debt levels; volatile or uncertain economic conditions; inability to timely respond to the needs of our clients; declining school budgets; cyberattack or improper disclosure or loss of sensitive or confidential company, employee or client data; and other factors that may be disclosed from time to time in our SEC filings or otherwise. Any forward-looking statement in this release speaks only as of the date on which it is made. Except to the extent required under the federal securities laws, School Specialty does not intend to update or revise the forward-looking statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Information
This press release includes references to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA represents net income (loss) adjusted for: provision for (benefit from) income taxes; purchase accounting deferred revenue adjustments; restructuring costs; restructuring-related costs included in SG&A; loss on early extinguishment of debt; depreciation and amortization expense; amortization of development costs; net interest expense; and stock-based compensation. 

The Company considers Adjusted EBITDA a relevant supplemental measure of its financial performance. The Company believes this non-GAAP financial measure provides useful supplemental information for investors regarding trends and performance of our ongoing operations and is useful for year-over-year comparisons of such results. We also use this non-GAAP financial measure in making operational and financial decisions and in establishing operational goals. 

In summary, we believe that providing this non-GAAP financial measure to investors, as a supplement to GAAP financial measures, helps investors to (i) evaluate our operating and financial performance and future prospects, (ii) compare financial results across accounting periods, (iii) better understand the long-term performance of our core business, and (iv) evaluate trends in our business, all consistent with how management evaluates such performance and trends.

Adjusted EBITDA does not represent, and should not be considered, an alternative to net income or operating income as determined by GAAP, and our calculation may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Company Contacts                                                         
Ryan Bohr, EVP and Chief Operating Officer                         Kevin Baehler, EVP and Chief Financial Officer
ryan.bohr@schoolspecialty.com                                             kevin.baehler@schoolspecialty.com
Tel: 920-882-5868                                                                  Tel: 920-882-5882

Investor and Media Relations Contact
Glenn Wiener
Gwiener@gwcco.com
Tel: 212-786-6011

Tables to Follow

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands, except share and per share amounts)
                       
                       
              September 29, 2018   December 30, 2017   September 30, 2017
ASSETS              
Current assets:            
  Cash and cash equivalents   $   7,922     $   31,861     $   8,167  
  Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts            
    of $1,004, $1,059, and $1,575, respectively       175,111         69,297         162,343  
  Inventories, net       96,024         77,162         84,250  
  Deferred catalog costs       –          3,450         2,924  
  Prepaid expenses and other current assets       17,731         14,121         15,357  
  Refundable income taxes       –          547         6  
    Total current assets       296,788         196,438         273,047  
Property, plant and equipment, net       31,732         33,579         33,884  
Goodwill       26,842         26,842         31,437  
Intangible assets, net       34,245         37,163         32,347  
Development costs and other       15,407         16,339         18,487  
Deferred income taxes long-term     2,002         2,046         150  
    Total assets   $   407,016     $   312,407     $   389,352  
                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY            
Current liabilities:            
  Current maturities – long-term debt   $   90,450     $   10,989     $   56,142  
  Accounts payable       43,219         26,591       38,352  
  Accrued compensation       5,211         11,995       9,199  
  Contract liabilities       7,232         3,454       5,592  
  Accrued royalties     2,105         5,699         –   
  Accrued income tax payable       6,001         –        3,367  
  Other accrued liabilities       17,884       15,442       20,019  
    Total current liabilities       172,102       74,170       132,671  
Long-term debt – less current maturities       128,830         130,574       138,817  
Other liabilities       569       172       169  
    Total liabilities       301,501       204,916       271,657  
                       
Commitments and contingencies – Note 16            
                       
Stockholders’ equity:            
  Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share, 500,000            
    shares authorized; none outstanding       –          –         –   
  Common stock, $0.001 par value per share, 50,000,000 shares            
    authorized; 7,000,000 shares outstanding       7         7       7  
  Capital in excess of par value       124,228         123,083       122,512  
  Accumulated other comprehensive loss       (1,720 )       (1,425 )     (1,379 )
  Accumulated deficit       (17,000 )       (14,174 )     (3,445 )
    Total stockholders’ equity       105,515       107,491       117,695  
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity   $   407,016     $   312,407     $   389,352  
                       
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
                       

 

SCHOOL SPECIALTY, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(In Thousands, Except Per Share Amounts)
                         
          For the Three Months Ended   For the Nine Months Ended  
          September 29, 2018   September 30, 2017   September 29, 2018   September 30, 2017  
                         
Revenues   $   290,280     $   288,641   $   558,839     $   545,928  
Cost of revenues     192,776       181,513     366,470       343,782  
  Gross profit       97,504       107,128       192,369       202,146  
Selling, general and administrative expenses       59,607       64,694       170,553       163,882  
Facility exit costs and restructuring       667         138       1,149       354  
  Operating income       37,230       42,296       20,667       37,910  
Other expense:                  
  Interest expense     4,157       3,537     11,351       11,783  
  Loss on early extinguishment of debt       –          –       –          4,298  
Income before provision for  income taxes       33,073       38,759       9,316       21,829  
Provision for income taxes     14,517       4,614     9,420       4,321  
  Net income (loss)   $   18,556     $   34,145   $   (104 )   $   17,508  
                         
Weighted average shares outstanding:                  
  Basic       7,000         7,000       7,000         7,000  
  Diluted       7,063         7,025       7,000         7,023  
                         
Net income (loss) per Share:                  
  Basic   $   2.65     $   4.88   $   (0.01 )   $   2.50  
  Diluted   $   2.63     $   4.86   $   (0.01 )   $   2.49  
                         
          For the Three Months Ended   For the Nine Months Ended  
          September 29, 2018   September 30, 2017   September 29, 2018   September 30, 2017  
      Adjusted (EBITDA) reconciliation:                  
        Net income (loss)   $   18,556     $   34,145   $   (104 )   $   17,508  
        Provision for income taxes       14,517         4,614       9,420         4,321  
      Purchase accounting deferred revenue adjustments       77         –        716         –   
        Restructuring costs        667         138       1,149         354  
        Restructuring-related costs incl in SG&A        313         1,039       2,001         2,930  
        Loss on early extinguishment of debt       –          –        –          4,298  
        Depreciation and amortization expense       4,213         2,952       13,606         9,425  
        Amortization of development costs       1,503         1,690       4,189         3,973  
        Net interest expense       4,157         3,537       11,351         11,783  
        Stock-based compensation       (20 )       572       1,177         1,663  
        Adjusted EBITDA   $   43,983     $   48,687   $   43,505     $   56,255