10-Q 1 d10q.htm NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES INC--FORM 10-Q Nobel Learning Communities Inc--Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended: December 27, 2008

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission File Number 1-10031

NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   22-2465204
(State or other jurisdiction   (IRS Employer
of incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

 

1615 West Chester Pike, Suite 200, West Chester, PA   19382-6223
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(484) 947-2000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check whether the registrant (1) has filed all report(s) required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer and large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, “non-accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  ¨                Accelerated filer  x                Non-accelerated filer  ¨                Smaller reporting company  ¨

(do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No  x

APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS:

The number of shares of the issuer’s common stock outstanding at February 2, 2009 was 10,462,409.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

Nobel Learning Communities, Inc.

 

PART I.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION    Page
Number

Item 1.

   Financial Statements   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 27, 2008 (Unaudited) and June 28, 2008    2
   Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007    3
   Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 (Unaudited)    4
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007    5
   Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements (Unaudited)    6

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    16

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    29

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    29
PART II.    OTHER INFORMATION   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    31

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders    31

Item 6.

   Exhibits    32

 

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PART I

 

Item 1. Financial Information

CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Statements included or incorporated herein which are not historical facts are forward-looking statements pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. (the “Company”) uses words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects,” “may,” “intends,” “seeks” or similar expressions, the Company is making forward-looking statements, but these terms are not the exclusive means of identifying forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements reflect management’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance, and are based on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and management’s assumptions regarding future events. While management believes that its assumptions are reasonable, forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied herein. In connection with the “safe harbor provisions” of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company notes that certain factors, among others, which could cause future results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein are discussed in greater detail under Part I Item 2 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and in Part I Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008. In addition, potential risks and uncertainties include among others, changes in general economic conditions; the implementation and results of the Company’s ongoing strategic initiatives, the Company’s ability to compete with new or existing competitors; dependence on senior management and other key personnel; and risks and uncertainties arising in connection with Knowledge Learning Corporation’s unsolicited proposal to acquire the Company. In addition, the Company’s results may be affected by general factors, such as political developments and policy, interest and inflation rates, accounting standards and requirements, taxes, and laws and regulations affecting it in markets where it competes.

Readers are cautioned that the forward-looking statements reflect management’s analysis only as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

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Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except share amounts)

 

     December 27, 2008     June 28, 2008  
     (Unaudited)        

ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 304     $ 1,064  

Customer accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $286 at December 27, 2008 and $227 at June 28, 2008

     1,061       922  

Note Receivable, current portion

     500       —    

Deferred tax asset

     371       221  

Prepaid rent

     3,222       3,086  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,487       3,467  
                

Total Current Assets

     7,945       8,760  
                

Property and equipment, at cost

     77,878       76,253  

Accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (48,723 )     (48,155 )
                

Property and equipment, net

     29,155       28,098  
                

Goodwill

     66,683       65,223  

Intangible assets, net

     6,837       7,080  

Note Receivable

     668       1,138  

Deposits and other assets

     2,942       2,849  
                

Total Assets

   $ 114,230     $ 113,148  
                

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

   $ 15,994     $ 18,606  

Income taxes payable

     524       1,271  

Current portion of lease obligations for discontinued operations

     176       265  

Deferred revenue

     13,701       15,003  
                

Total Current Liabilities

     30,395       35,145  
                

Long-term debt

     15,325       12,500  

Long-term portion of lease obligations for discontinued operations

     728       800  

Deferred tax liability

     676       174  

Other long term liabilities

     1,770       1,615  
                

Total Liabilities

     48,894       50,234  
                

Commitments and Contingencies

    

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred stock, $0.001 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized; 1,063,830 shares issued and outstanding

     1       1  

Common stock, $0.001 par value; 20,000,000 shares authorized; 10,462,409 and 10,394,177 shares issued and outstanding at December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, respectively

     10       10  

Additional paid-in capital

     58,586       57,729  

Retained earnings

     6,926       5,165  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (187 )     9  
                

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     65,336       62,914  
                

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

   $ 114,230     $ 113,148  
                

The accompanying notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(Dollars and shares outstanding amounts in thousands; except per share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     For the Thirteen Weeks Ended     For the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
    December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
 

Revenues

   $ 56,354     $ 51,207     $ 107,730     $ 95,839  
                                

Personnel costs

     27,220       24,778       52,429       46,635  

School operating costs

     6,921       6,435       14,887       13,195  

Rent and other

     13,708       12,129       27,268       24,030  
                                

Cost of services

     47,849       43,342       94,584       83,860  
                                

Gross profit

     8,505       7,865       13,146       11,979  

General and administrative expenses

     4,709       4,463       9,651       8,923  
                                

Operating income

     3,796       3,402       3,495       3,056  

Interest expense

     268       105       535       152  

Other income

     (19 )     (298 )     (48 )     (315 )
                                

Income from continuing operations before income taxes

     3,547       3,595       3,008       3,219  

Income tax expense

     1,366       1,402       1,158       1,255  
                                

Income from continuing operations

     2,181       2,193       1,850       1,964  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax effect

     (62 )     (67 )     (89 )     (128 )
                                

Net income

   $ 2,119     $ 2,126     $ 1,761     $ 1,836  
                                

Basic income per share:

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.21     $ 0.21     $ 0.18     $ 0.19  

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )
                                

Net income per share

   $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.17     $ 0.18  
                                

Diluted income per share:

        

Income from continuing operations

   $ 0.20     $ 0.21     $ 0.17     $ 0.19  

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )     (0.01 )
                                

Net income per share

   $ 0.20     $ 0.20     $ 0.16     $ 0.17  
                                

Weighted average of basic common shares outstanding:

        

Basic

     10,454       10,379       10,436       10,373  

Diluted

     10,713       10,551       10,705       10,546  

Net income per share totals may not sum due to rounding.

The accompanying notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

For the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended December 27, 2008

(Dollars in thousands except share data)

(Unaudited)

 

     Preferred Stock    Common Stock    Additional
Paid-In
Capital
   Retained
Earnings
   Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
       
     Shares    Amount    Shares    Amount            Total  

June 28, 2008

   1,063,830    $ 1    10,394,177    $ 10    $ 57,729    $ 5,165    $ 9     $ 62,914  

Net income

   —        —      —        —        —        1,761      —         1,761  

Change in fair value of swap contracts, net of tax

   —        —      —        —        —        —        (196 )     (196 )

Stock option compensation

   —        —      —        —        549      —        —         549  

Stock award shares issued and related tax benefit

   —        —      41,632      —        91      —        —         91  

Stock options exercised and related tax benefit

   —        —      26,600      —        217      —        —         217  
                                                      

December 27, 2008

   1,063,830    $ 1    10,462,409    $ 10    $ 58,586    $ 6,926    $ (187 )   $ 65,336  
                                                      

The accompanying notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     December 27, 2008     December 29, 2007  

Cash flows provided from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 1,761     $ 1,836  
                

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided from operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     4,454       3,430  

Reserve for lease costs for discontinued operations

     119       83  

Deferred taxes

     351       (276 )

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

     220       158  

Stock based compensation

     549       354  

Other

     (105 )     55  

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of business combinations:

    

Customer accounts receivable

     (357 )     (260 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     962       (85 )

Other assets and liabilities

     56       (791 )

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     (130 )     (107 )

Deferred revenue

     (1,790 )     52  

Accounts payable and current liabilities

     (4,165 )     8  
                

Total adjustments

     164       2,621  
                

Net cash provided from operating activities

     1,925       4,457  
                

Cash flows used in investing activities:

    

Purchases of fixed assets, net of acquired amounts

     (3,781 )     (5,365 )

School acquisitions

     (2,049 )     (4,447 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (5,830 )     (9,812 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Borrowings of long term debt

     45,975       21,350  

Repayment of long term debt

     (43,150 )     (19,000 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     190       202  

Tax benefits from exercise of stock options and issuance of stock awards

     130       107  
                

Net cash provided by financing activities

     3,145       2,659  
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (760 )     (2,696 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     1,064       3,814  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 304     $ 1,118  
                

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

    

Interest

   $ 406     $ 61  

Income taxes

   $ 1,262     $ 2,738  

The accompanying notes to the financial statements are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Notes to Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

for the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended December 27, 2008

(Unaudited)

Note 1. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

The unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the Company’s financial position at December 27, 2008 and results of operations for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations. It is suggested that these financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008.

Due to the inherent seasonal nature of the education and child care businesses, annualization of amounts in these interim financial statements may not be indicative of the actual operating results for the full year.

Future results of operations of the Company involve a number of risks and uncertainties including those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

References to Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008 are to the 52 weeks ended June 27, 2009 and June 28, 2008, respectively. The second quarter of Fiscal 2009 and Fiscal 2008, are each comprised of thirteen weeks.

The Company has conformed previously reported amounts in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended December 29, 2007 to reflect discontinued operations. Certain other prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period’s presentation.

At the beginning of Fiscal 2008, discontinued operations consisted of eight schools that the Company did not operate during Fiscal 2008. In addition to the eight schools not operated by the Company during Fiscal 2008, as part of an acquisition during the first quarter of Fiscal 2008, one additional school was added to discontinued operations. The added school was operated by the Company during part of the first quarter of Fiscal 2008 and closed during the same period; subsequently, the Company terminated its lease with the landlord of this property and was fully released from all future obligations. For Fiscal 2009, discontinued operations consisted of eight schools that the Company did not operate.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2008. The Company’s critical accounting policies are unchanged from those described in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2008.

New Accounting Pronouncements:

In June 2008, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Staff Position (“FSP”) EITF 03-6-1, “Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities” (“FSP EITF 03-6-1”). FSP EITF 03-6-1 addresses whether instruments granted in share-based payment transactions are participating securities prior to vesting and, therefore, need to be included in the earnings allocation in computing earnings per share under the two-class method as described in SFAS No. 128, “Earnings per Share.” Under the guidance in FSP EITF 03-6-1, unvested share-based payment awards that contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends or dividend equivalents (whether paid or unpaid) are participating securities and shall be included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. FSP EITF 03-6-1 is effective fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008 and will be applicable to the Company during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. After the effective date of FSP EITF 03-6-1, all prior-period earnings per share data presented must be adjusted retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the potential impact of adopting FSP EITF 03-6-1.

In May 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 162, “The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles” (“SFAS 162”). SFAS 162 is intended to improve financial reporting by identifying a consistent framework or hierarchy for selecting accounting principles to be used in preparing financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP. The adoption of this standard had no impact on the Company.

 

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In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of SFAS 133” (“SFAS 161”). This new standard requires enhanced disclosures for derivative instruments, including those used in hedging activities. It is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008 and will be applicable to the Company in the third quarter of Fiscal 2009. The Company is assessing the potential impact that the adoption of SFAS 161 may have on its financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141(R)”). SFAS 141(R) expands the definition of a business combination and requires the fair value of the purchase price of an acquisition, including the issuance of equity securities, to be determined on the acquisition date. SFAS 141(R) also requires that all assets, liabilities, contingent considerations, and contingencies of an acquired business be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. In addition, SFAS 141(R) requires that acquisition costs generally be expensed in the period incurred and changes in accounting for deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the measurement period to impact income tax expense. SFAS 141(R) is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with early adoption prohibited. SFAS 141(R) will be applicable to the Company during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. The Company is evaluating the effect the implementation to SFAS 141(R) will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS 160”). SFAS 160 changes the accounting and reporting for minority interests such that minority interests will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and will be required to be reported as a component of equity, and requires that purchases or sales of equity interests that do not result in a change in control be accounted for as equity transactions and, upon a loss of control, requires the interest sold, as well as any interest retained, to be recorded at fair value with any gain or loss recognized in earnings. SFAS 160 is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 with early adoption prohibited. SFAS 160 will be applicable to the Company during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. The Company is evaluating the effect the implementation of SFAS 160 will have on the consolidated financial statements.

Note 2. Earnings Per Share

Earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of shares and common stock equivalents outstanding during the period. In the calculation of basic earnings per share, weighted average number of shares outstanding is used as the denominator. In the calculation of diluted earnings per share, shares outstanding are adjusted to assume the exercise of options if such shares are dilutive. Earnings per share is computed as follows (dollars and average common stock outstanding in thousands):

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended

Basic income per share:

   December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007

Net income

   $ 2,119    $ 2,126    $ 1,761    $ 1,836

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     10,454      10,379      10,436      10,373
                           

Basic income per share

   $ 0.20    $ 0.20    $ 0.17    $ 0.18
                           

Diluted income per share:

                   

Net income

   $ 2,119    $ 2,126    $ 1,761    $ 1,836
                           

Weighted average common shares outstanding

     10,454      10,379      10,436      10,373

Stock options

     259      172      269      173
                           

Average common stock and dilutive securities outstanding

     10,713      10,551      10,705      10,546
                           

Diluted income per share

   $ 0.20    $ 0.20    $ 0.16    $ 0.17
                           

For the periods ended December 27, 2008, 420,000 stock options were issued, outstanding and deemed to be anti-dilutive for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 and 300,000 stock options were issued, outstanding and deemed to be anti-dilutive for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008; these stock options are not included in the above diluted earnings per share calculations.

Note 3. Acquisitions

During the past six quarters, the Company completed seven acquisitions. Each acquisition is consistent with the Company’s growth strategy in the private pay education market and includes both expansion in existing markets and entrance into new markets. The acquisitions are summarized as follows:

 

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During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of the assets of Southern Highlands Preparatory Schools (“Southern Highlands”). The acquisition expands the Company’s existing market coverage in the Las Vegas, Nevada market in which the Company currently operates. Southern Highlands provides programs for preschool students through grade 8.

 

   

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of the assets of the Ivy Kids Learning Center School (“Ivy Kids”). The acquisition expands the Company’s existing market coverage in the Houston, Texas market adding one preschool to a market in which the Company currently operates.

 

   

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of the assets of two Camelback Desert Schools, which offer elementary school programs. The Camelback Desert Schools are located in the Phoenix, Arizona market, which is a new geographic market for the Company.

 

   

During the third quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company completed the acquisition of all the outstanding shares of Enchanted Care Learning Centers, Inc. (“Enchanted Care”). For U.S. Federal and State tax purposes, this transaction was treated as an asset purchase and the goodwill related to this purchase is tax deductible. Enchanted Care adds nine preschools and six before-and-after school programs located in the central Ohio market, which is a new geographic market for the Company.

 

   

During the third quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company acquired the assets of three Ivy Glen preschools and one before-and-after school program building. Each of these schools will be rebranded under the Company’s existing Merryhill brand. These schools expand the Company’s existing market coverage in the Dallas, Texas market.

 

   

During the second quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company acquired the assets of two Teddy Bear Tree House preschools. Both schools have been rebranded under the Company’s existing Discovery Isle brand. These schools expand the Company’s existing market coverage in the San Diego, California.

 

   

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company acquired the assets of four Learning Ladder preschools, three of which have been rebranded under the Company’s existing Chesterbrook Academy brand. The fourth Learning Ladder school was closed during the first quarter of Fiscal 2008. These schools expand the Company’s existing market coverage in the Lancaster, Pennsylvania market.

A summary of the purchase price, allocation of estimated fair value of the assets acquired, and acquisition costs are presented below (dollars in thousands):

 

                  Acquired Intangible Assets at Fair Value    

Acquired Entity

  Purchase Price,
including
transaction costs
  Net
Working
Capital
Assets/
(Liabilities)
included in
purchase
price
    Goodwill   Trade Name   Amortizable
Asset Life
(years)
  Student Roster   Amortizable
Asset Life
(years)
  Other Long-
Term Assets at
Fair Value

Fiscal 2009 Acquisitions through December 27, 2008:

       

Southern Highlands

  $ 1,255   $ (392 )   $ 995   $ 94   20   $ 255   7   $ 303

Ivy Kids

    729     19       400     —     n/a     120   4     190

Purchase accounting adjustments to prior year acquisitions:

    65     —         65     —         —         —  
                                         

Fiscal 2009 acquisitions through December 27, 2008

  $ 2,049   $ (373 )   $ 1,460   $ 94     $ 375     $ 493
                                         

Fiscal 2008 Acquisitions:

 

           

Camelback Desert Schools

  $ 194   $ (294 )   $ 127   $ 43   20   $ 115   4   $ 203

Enchanted Care

    14,303     (1,097 )     12,074     608   20     1,936   7     782

Ivy Glen

    2,132     3       1,583     —     n/a     423   6     123

Teddy Bear Treehouse

    2,279     4       1,925     —     n/a     281   3     69

Learning Ladder

    2,153     (183 )     1,972     —     n/a     252   4   $ 112
                                         

Total-Fiscal 2008 acquisitions

  $ 21,061   $ (1,567 )   $ 17,681   $ 651     $ 3,007     $ 1,289
                                         

Each of the above acquisitions includes tax deductible goodwill recorded at the same basis as their respective book values. To date, we have not identified material unrecorded pre-acquisition contingencies where the related asset or liability is probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated. Prior to the end of the one-year purchase price allocation period, if information becomes available which would indicate it is probable that such events existed at the acquisition date and the amounts can be reasonably

estimated, such items will be included in the final purchase price allocation and may result in an adjustment to goodwill. Due to the seasonality and variations of accounting methodologies from each of the non-public acquired companies, management does not believe it would be meaningful to present pro-forma information regarding these acquisitions on a quarterly basis; rather this information has been and will be presented in the Company’s annual Form 10K where it will reflect pro-forma information over a full business cycle.

 

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Note 4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net

Intangible assets include a franchise agreement and identifiable intangibles from acquisitions. Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill and intangibles were primarily due to the acquisition of the Southern Highlands and Ivy Kids schools. At December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, the Company’s goodwill and intangible assets were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Weighted
Average
Amortization
Period (in
months)
  

 

December 27, 2008

   June 28, 2008
        Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Balance
   Gross Carrying
Amount
   Accumulated
Amortization
   Net
Balance

Goodwill

   n.a.    $ 66,683    $ —      $ 66,683    $ 65,223    $ —      $ 65,223
                                            

Amortized intangible assets:

                    

Franchise agreement

   130      580      158      422      580      124      456

Trade Names

   240      2,855      283      2,572      2,761      205      2,556

Student Rosters

   69      5,488      1,645      3,843      5,112      1,044      4,068
                                            

Total Intangible Assets

      $ 8,923    $ 2,086    $ 6,837    $ 8,453    $ 1,373    $ 7,080
                                            

Amortization expense related to intangible assets was $359,000 and $199,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 and $713,000 and $387,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively.

Note 5. Credit Agreement

At the beginning of Fiscal 2008, the Company had a credit agreement in the amount of $50,000,000, which provided for a $50,000,000 Revolving Credit Commitment and up to $3,500,000 in letters of credit as a sub-limit of the Revolving Credit Commitment (as amended, the “Prior Credit Agreement”). The Prior Credit Agreement was scheduled to terminate on October 29, 2011. During Fiscal 2008, the Company amended the loan facility under its Prior Credit Agreement (the “2008 Credit Agreement”). The 2008 Credit Agreement provides for a $75,000,000 Revolving Credit Commitment with a $25,000,000 accordion feature permitting the Company to increase the size of the facility under its current terms and conditions by obtaining additional credit from either participating or new banks. Under the terms of the 2008 Credit Agreement, proceeds may be used to fund permitted acquisitions, capital expenditures and ongoing business operations. The borrowing rates on the 2008 Credit Agreement are adjusted by a debt to EBITDA leverage based matrix with LIBOR or bank base rate indexed borrowings. The 2008 Credit Agreement has a five-year term that ends on June 5, 2013. As of December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, outstanding borrowings equaled $15,325,000 and $12,500,000, respectively and outstanding letters of credit as of December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008 were $2,265,000 and $2,437,000, respectively.

The Company’s obligations under the 2008 Credit Agreement are guaranteed by subsidiaries which are 80% or more owned by the Company, and collateralized in part by a pledge of the stock of the Company’s subsidiaries and liens on all real and personal property owned by the Company.

The Company’s obligation under its 2008 Credit Agreement as well as under the Prior Credit Agreement, bear interest, at the Company’s option, at either of the following rates, which may be adjusted in quarterly increments based on the achievement of performance goals. The applicable rate as of December 27, 2008 is both (1) an adjusted LIBOR rate plus a debt to defined EBITDA-indexed rate or (2) base rate plus a debt to defined EBITDA-indexed rate. The Company also pays a letter of credit fee based on the face amount of each letter of credit calculated at the rate per year then applicable to loans under the 2008 Credit Agreement bearing interest based on an adjusted LIBOR rate plus a debt to defined EBITDA-indexed rate. The range of EBITDA-indexed rates applicable for each of the agreements during the first two quarters of Fiscal 2009 and during the first two quarters of Fiscal 2008 was as follows:

 

     October 26, 2006 -
June 5, 2008
   June 6, 2008 -
Present Period

LIBOR rate plus debt to defined EBITDA-indexed rate

   1.00% - 2.00%    1.15% - 2.40%

Base rate plus debt to defined EBITDA-indexed rate

   0.00% - 0.50%    0.15% - 0.90%

Letter of Credit fees LIBOR plus defined-EBITDA-indexed rate

   1.00% - 2.00%    1.15% - 2.40%

 

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The 2008 Credit Agreement contains customary covenants and provisions that restrict the Company’s ability to change its business, declare or pay dividends, grant liens, incur additional indebtedness, make capital expenditures, govern the use of proceeds from disposition of assets or equity related transactions and requires repayment in certain change of control events. In addition, the 2008 Credit Agreement provides that the Company must meet or exceed amounts for defined EBITDA and fixed charge coverage ratios and must not exceed certain leverage ratios. The Company’s loan covenants under its 2008 Credit Agreement limit the amount of senior debt borrowings permitted.

Included in deposits and other assets are deferred financing costs that are incurred by the Company in connection with the issuance of debt. These costs are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the life of the underlying indebtedness. As of December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, $737,000 and $813,000 in unamortized financing costs was carried on the Company’s balance sheet, respectively.

Note 6. Note Receivable

During the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008, the Company settled a contract dispute with a former sub-lessee. The settlement included the issuance to the Company of a note to be paid to the Company over five years with a face amount of $1,250,000. The first payment is scheduled for August 2009. The Company has imputed an interest rate of 4.25% in determining the present value of this receivable and this rate is consistent with other published discounts for liabilities the payee has with other creditors. The accretion of the discount related to this note will be recognized as income from discontinued operations during the collection period of the note. As of December 27, 2008, the unaccreted discount related to this note was $82,000. During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, $13,000 and $26,000 of interest income was recognized as income from discontinued operations, respectively.

Note 7. Derivative Financial Instruments – Cash Flow Hedges

The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for trading purposes. The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The instruments involve, to varying degrees, market risk, as the instruments are subject to rate and price fluctuations and elements of credit risk in the event the counterparty should default. At December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, the Company had two interest rate swap contracts outstanding, each had a notional amount of $5,000,000. Under the interest rate swap contracts, the Company agreed to pay fixed rates of 3.68% and 2.74% and the counterparty agreed to make payments based on the designated LIBOR rate. The market value of the interest rate swap agreements was a long-term net liability balance of $303,000 at December 27, 2008 and a long-term net asset balance of $13,000 at June 28, 2008. The Company utilized the shortcut method in accounting for its hedged transactions utilizing interest rate swaps. Unrealized losses of $184,000 and $196,000 are included as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, respectively. These financial instruments are the Company’s only component of Other Comprehensive income relative to the periods presented. Comprehensive income for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
     December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
   December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007

Net Income

   $ 2,119     $ 2,126    $ 1,761     $ 1,836

Other Comprehensive loss

     (184 )     —        (196 )     —  
                             

Total comprehensive income

   $ 1,935     $ 2,126    $ 1,565     $ 1,836
                             

Note 8. Advertising

General advertising costs which include yellow pages and mass media advertising, consulting fees towards the development and delivery of advertising and marketing strategies and internet based hosting and search engine fees are expensed as incurred. Media production costs, targeted mailings and other marketing collateral are expensed when distributed to schools or when specific marketing events take place. Advertising and marketing costs during the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 were $972,000 and $990,000, respectively. Advertising and marketing costs during the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 were $1,996,000 and $1,875,000, respectively. As of December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, prepaid advertising expense totaled $506,000 and $575,000 respectively.

 

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Note 9. Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company has an agreement with its primary bank that allows the bank to act as the Company’s agent in making daily investments with available funds in excess of a selected minimum account balance. This investment amounted to approximately $19,000 and $350,000 at December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, respectively. The Company’s funds were invested in money market accounts, which periodically exceed federally insured limits.

Note 10. Lease Reserves

In accordance with Statement of Accounting Standards No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities” (“SFAS 146”), the Company records estimated costs for school closures when they are incurred rather than at the date of a commitment to an exit or disposal plan. The reserves for closed schools are recorded at their estimated fair value by discounting to present value the net of all future rent payments and known or estimated sublease rentals over the respective lease term for the closed schools. The leases on the closed schools expire through 2017. At December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, the lease reserve for closed schools was $904,000 and $1,065,000, respectively. The following table summarizes activity recorded to the lease reserves (dollars in thousands):

 

Lease reserve at June 28, 2008

   $ 1,065  

Payments against reserve

     (280 )

Adjustments to reserve

     119  
        

Lease reserve at December 27, 2008

   $ 904  
        

The Company has made guarantees for ten leases that were assigned to a third party on or before Fiscal 2000 and four properties during Fiscal 2007 (the “Guaranteed Properties”). In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45 “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others”, the Company has assessed its exposure regarding the assignment of the Guaranteed Properties and has determined that the fair value of this exposure is de minimis and therefore has not recorded a liability for this contingency. The maximum potential undiscounted amount of future payments the Company could be required to pay under these guarantees at December 27, 2008 is $659,000.

Note 11. Discontinued Operations

In accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” the results of operations for schools that are no longer operating under the Company’s management have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements and notes as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

The operating results for discontinued operations in the unaudited statements of operations for all periods presented, net of tax, are as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
    December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
 

Revenues

   $ —       $ 2     $ —       $ 44  

Cost of services

     (7 )     (13 )     (21 )     (48 )

Rent and other

     (93 )     (99 )     (124 )     (206 )
                                

Loss from discontinued operations before income tax benefit

     (100 )     (110 )     (145 )     (210 )

Income tax benefit

     38       43       56       82  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations

   $ (62 )   $ (67 )   $ (89 )   $ (128 )
                                

Note 12. Accounts Payable and Other Current Liabilities

Accounts payable and other current liabilities were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

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     December 27,
2008
   June 28,
2008

Accounts payable

   $ 5,543    $ 6,601

Accrued payroll and related items

     5,715      6,648

Accrued property tax

     654      1,083

Accrued rent

     1,267      1,073

Other accrued expenses

     2,815      3,201
             
   $ 15,994    $ 18,606
             

Note 13. Stock Based Compensation

As of December 27, 2008, approximately 1,190,000 stock options were issued and outstanding and 59,000 shares of restricted stock had been granted. As of December 27, 2008, the total number of shares of common stock still available for issuance under the Company’s stock compensation plans was 572,000.

2004 Omnibus Incentive Equity Compensation Plan:

On October 6, 2004, the stockholders approved the 2004 Omnibus Incentive Equity Compensation Plan (“the Plan”). Under the Plan, new shares of common stock may be issued in connection with stock grants, incentive stock options and non-qualified stock options for key employees and outside directors. The purpose of the Plan is to attract and retain quality employees. All stock option grants to date under the Plan have been non-qualified stock options which vest over three years (except that stock options issued to directors vest at the end of the fiscal year in which the options were granted and options granted to new directors upon joining the Board of Directors vest immediately).

Beginning in Fiscal 2008, stock-based compensation awarded to the Company’s non-employee Board of Directors was granted in the form of restricted stock awards (“RSA”) that vest the earlier of the first anniversary of the date of the grant or the day prior to the next annual meeting of the Company’s stockholders at which directors are elected. The first RSAs included 16,632 shares that were granted to the Company’s non-employee Board of Directors during the second quarter of Fiscal 2008 and vested during the second quarter of Fiscal 2009. An additional 17,368 awards were granted during the second quarter of Fiscal 2009 and are anticipated to vest during the second quarter of Fiscal 2010.

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, 25,000 restricted shares were issued from the plan as the criteria for a previously granted market based award had been met.

Through December 27, 2008, approximately 902,000 non-qualified stock options, 34,000 restricted stock awards, and 25,000 market based awards had been issued under the Plan.

2000 Stock Option Plan for Consultants:

In February 2000, the Company established the 2000 Stock Option Plan for Consultants. This plan reserved up to an aggregate of 200,000 shares of common stock of the Company for issuance in connection with non-qualified stock options for non-employee consultants. Through December 27, 2008, approximately 33,000 non-qualified stock options have been issued under the 2000 Stock Option Plan for Consultants.

1995 Stock Incentive Plan:

With the approval of the 2004 Omnibus Incentive Equity Compensation Plan, the 1995 Stock Incentive Plan was terminated and the remaining shares reserved for issuance thereunder of 719,044 were cancelled. At December 27, 2008, 255,000 non-qualified stock options remain issued under the 1995 Stock Incentive Plan.

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
     December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
 

Expected dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %

Expected stock price volatility

   26.3 %   21.7 %

Risk-free interest rate

   3.6 %   4.2 %

Weighted average expected life of options

   6 years     6 years  

Expected rate of forfeiture

   5.1 %   7.3 %

 

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Stock option awards are amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service periods of the awards, which are generally the vesting periods. Stock-based compensation expense included in the statement of operations for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 was approximately $301,000 and $184,000, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense included in the statement of operations for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 was approximately $549,000 and $354,000, respectively. As of December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, there was approximately $1,608,000 and $1,158,000 of total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to options granted under our plans that will be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.5 and 1.4 years, respectively. The Company expects to continue its historical practice of issuing stock options and board grants, which will result in additional stock-based compensation in the future, although amounts may vary.

A summary of option activity under the Company’s employee stock option plans as of June 28, 2008 and changes during the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 is presented below:

 

           Outstanding    Exercisable
     Shares
Available
for Grant
    Shares     Weighted
Average
Grant & Exercise
Price
   Shares    Weighted
Average
Grant & Exercise
Price

Balance at June 28, 2008

   853,000     978,000     $ 8.82    687,000    $ 7.26
                              

Stock options:

            

Granted at market

   (239,000 )   239,000       15.26    —        —  

Cancelled

   —       (1,000 )     14.73    —        —  

Exercised

   —       (27,000 )     7.13    —        —  
                              

Balance at December 27, 2008, prior to restricted stock awards

   614,000     1,189,000     $ 10.13    790,000    $ 7.98
                              

Vested RSAs and market performance awards

   (42,000 )   n.a.       n.a.    n.a.      n.a.
                              

Balance at December 27, 2008, net of restricted stock awards

   572,000     1,189,000     $ 10.13    790,000    $ 7.98
                              

The aggregate intrinsic value for options outstanding and options exercisable at December 27, 2008 was approximately $3,860,000 and $3,721,000, respectively. The aggregate intrinsic value for options exercised during the first twenty-six weeks of Fiscal 2009 was $186,000. The weighted average remaining contractual terms for options outstanding and options exercisable at December 27, 2008 were approximately 3.7 years and 3.2 years, respectively. The total fair value of options vested during the first twenty-six weeks of Fiscal 2009 was $490,000. The weighted average fair value of stock options granted during the first twenty-six weeks of Fiscal 2009 was $4.88. The total number of options not yet vested as of December 27, 2008 was 400,140 shares with a weighted average exercise price of $14.37.

Note 14. Employee Benefit Plans

The Company has a 401(k) Plan in which eligible employees may elect to enroll after six months of service on scheduled enrollment dates. The Company matches 25% of an employee’s contribution to the Plan, up to 6% of an employee’s salary. The Company’s matching contributions under the Plan were $94,000 and $205,000 for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 27, 2008 and $84,000 and $183,000 for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 29, 2007.

The Company has a deferred compensation plan that permits certain members of management and highly compensated employees to defer up to 100% of their compensation and for identified individuals to receive a contribution from the Company. Company contributions are made at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors. At December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, the Company has included $774,000 and $915,000 in “Other long term liabilities” to reflect its liability under the plan. The following table summarizes activity recorded to the deferred compensation plan liability (dollars in thousands):

 

Deferred compensation plan liability at June 28, 2008

   $ 915  

Compensation expense under the plan

     125  

Adjustment to prior periods’ compensation expense under the plan

     (266 )
        

Deferred compensation plan liability at December 28, 2008

   $ 774  
        

 

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The Company’s contributions to the deferred compensation plan are subject to a five-year vesting period. Prior to the second quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company had overstated its expense in connection with the deferred compensation plan, primarily as a result of the vesting provisions of the deferred compensation plan. In accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB 108”), the Company recorded a pretax adjustment of $266,000 reducing the deferred compensation plan liability and reducing general and administrative expense for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008. This adjustment to the Company’s financial statements is immaterial both as it relates to the current period as well as each of the periods from the inception of the deferred compensation plan. In evaluating materiality and determining the appropriateness of applying SAB 108 to this error, the Company considered materiality both qualitatively and quantitatively as proscribed by the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 99.

The Company has established a rabbi trust fund to finance the obligations under the plan with corporate owned whole life insurance contracts on certain individuals who are participants in the plan. The Company has included $963,000 and $902,000 in “Deposits and other assets” as of December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008 respectively, which represents the cash surrender value of these policies. During the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, the Company recognized $229,000 and $292,000 of general and administrative expense from the decrease in the cash surrender values of the life insurance contracts.

Note 15. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company is engaged in legal actions arising in the ordinary course of its business. The Company currently believes that the ultimate outcome of all such pending matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The significance of these pending matters on the Company’s future operating results and cash flows depends on the level of future results of operations and cash flows as well as on the timing and amounts, if any, of the ultimate outcome.

The Company carries fire and other casualty insurance on its schools and liability insurance in amounts which management believes are adequate. As is the case with other entities in the education and preschool industry, the Company cannot effectively insure itself against certain risks inherent in its operations. Some forms of child abuse coverage have insurance sublimits per claim in the general liability coverage.

Note 16. Shareholder Rights Plan

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted a limited duration Shareholder Rights Plan designed to protect the Company’s shareholders in the event of an attempt to acquire control of the Company on terms which do not secure fair value for all of the Company’s shareholders. The Board adopted a limited duration Plan that expires in four years, on July 19, 2012, rather than the more common ten-year term. The four-year term was selected to provide the Company with an opportunity to maximize long-term shareholder value by enabling management of the Company to execute on its growth strategy, while protecting shareholders from a creeping acquisition or other tactics to gain control of the Company without offering all shareholders an adequate price. In addition, the Plan is not intended to prevent a takeover. Instead, it is intended to encourage anyone seeking to acquire the Company to negotiate with the Company’s Board of Directors prior to attempting a takeover in order to ensure that any takeover reflects an adequate price and that the interests of all of the Company’s shareholders and other constituencies are protected.

Terms of the Plan provide for a dividend distribution of one right (each, a “Right” and collectively, the “Rights”) for each share of common stock of the Company to holders of record at the close of business on July 31, 2008. The Rights will become exercisable only in the event, with certain exceptions, an acquiring party acquires 20% or more of the Company’s common stock then outstanding or, as of July 19, 2008, any existing holder of more than 20% of the Company’s common stock acquires any additional shares. Each Right will entitle the holder to buy one one-hundredth of a share of a new series of preferred stock at a price of $45.00. In addition, upon the occurrence of certain events, holders of the Rights will be entitled to purchase either the Company’s stock or shares in an “acquiring entity” at half of market value. The Company will generally be entitled to redeem the Rights at $0.01 per right at any time until the tenth day following the acquisition of 20% of its common stock, subject to extension by a majority of the Directors. The Rights will expire on July 19, 2012.

Note 17. Unsolicited Expression of Interest

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors received an unsolicited expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company for $17.00 per share in cash. The Company said that it had informed Knowledge Learning Corporation that its Board of Directors will evaluate this proposal carefully and promptly in consultation with financial and legal advisors in order to decide whether pursuing the possible transaction would be in the best interest

 

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of all of the Company’s stockholders. Subsequently, during the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a committee consisting solely of independent directors to evaluate the previously-announced expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company. The independent committee is currently evaluating strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value. The Company further announced that J.P.Morgan Securities Inc. had been engaged as financial advisor in connection with the evaluation process. There can be no assurance that an acquisition of the Company will result from the evaluation process, which is still ongoing.

Note 18. Subsequent Event

During the third quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company completed the acquisition of the assets of Country Tyme Preschool. The acquisition expands the Company’s existing market coverage in the Southeastern Pennsylvania market. The purchase price for the assets acquired was $1,300,000 plus transaction costs.

 

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008 with the SEC.

The Company has made statements in this report that constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements concern the Company’s operations, economic performance and financial condition and may include statements regarding: opportunities for growth; the number of pre-elementary and elementary schools expected to be added in future years; the profitability of newly opened schools; capital expenditure levels; the ability to incur additional indebtedness; strategic acquisitions, investments and other transactions; and changes in operating systems and policies. The forward-looking statements are subject to various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. When words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “estimates,” “projects” or similar expressions are used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, the Company is making forward-looking statements.

Although the Company believes that any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, expected results may not be achieved. Actual results may differ materially from the Company’s expectations. Among other risk factors that are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 28, 2008, filed with the SEC, and, from time to time in the Company’s other SEC reports and filings, important factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include:

 

   

the Company’s ability to hire and retain qualified executive directors, principals, teachers and teachers’ aides;

 

   

the Company’s ability to retain key individuals in acquired schools and/or successfully grow and integrate acquired schools’ operations;

 

   

the Company’s inability to defend successfully against or counter negative publicity associated with claims involving alleged incidents at its schools;

 

   

control of a majority of the outstanding common stock of the Company by a small number of shareholders;

 

   

the effect of anti-takeover provisions in the Company’s certificate of incorporation, bylaws and Delaware law;

 

   

the impact on the Company’s business and management stability related to the proposal by Knowledge Learning Corporation to acquire 100% of the Company;

 

   

the impact on management time and resources directed towards the Company’s strategic growth plans related to the proposal by Knowledge Learning Corporation;

 

   

the impact on certain potential sellers of schools to the Company and their possible reluctance to do so with the uncertainty of this potential transaction related to the Knowledge Learning Corporation proposal;

 

   

changing economic conditions;

 

   

the Company’s ability to find affordable real estate and renew existing locations on terms acceptable to the Company and the impact this may have on enrollment;

 

   

the Company’s ability to obtain the capital required to fully implement its business and strategic plan;

 

   

competitive conditions in the pre-school and elementary school education and services industry, such as the growth of competitors as possible alternatives to the public school system, including virtual charter schools, charter schools and magnet schools;

 

   

government regulations affecting school operations, including student/teacher ratios, accreditation and the acceptance of course credits from our special purpose high schools;

 

   

the establishment of government-mandated universal pre-K or similar programs or benefits that do not allow for participation by for-profit operators or allow for participation at unprofitable reimbursement rates;

 

   

environmental or health-related events that could affect schools in areas impacted by such events; and

 

   

the Company’s ability to maintain effective controls over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

Negative developments in these areas could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s valuation, business, financial condition and results of operations.

Readers are cautioned that these risks may not be exhaustive. The Company operates in a continually changing business and regulatory environment and new risks and requirements emerge from time to time. Readers should not rely upon forward-looking statements except as statements of management’s present intentions and expectations that may or may not occur. Readers should read these cautionary statements as being applicable to all forward-looking statements wherever they appear. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements.

During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors received an unsolicited expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company for $17.00 per share in cash. The Company said that it had informed Knowledge Learning Corporation that its Board of Directors will evaluate this proposal carefully and promptly in consultation with financial and legal advisors in order to decide whether pursuing the possible transaction would be in the best interest of all of the Company’s stockholders. Subsequently, during the first quarter of Fiscal 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a committee consisting solely of independent directors to evaluate the previously-announced expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company. The independent committee is currently evaluating strategic alternatives to enhance stockholder value. The Company further announced that J.P.Morgan Securities Inc. had been engaged as financial advisor in connection with the evaluation process. There can be no assurance that an acquisition of the Company will result from the evaluation process, which is still ongoing.

Results of Operations

Results from operations are measured each fiscal period by reporting and analyzing results at the Company level. Additionally, the Company seeks to measure and balance revenue and profit growth in four growth initiative categories; (1) Comparable Schools, (2) Core Schools, (3) New Schools and (4) Acquired Schools or businesses. Management seeks to balance growth in order to improve revenue and gross profit while adding to overall system capacity and total company performance. These four categories are measured individually and through different metrics to help management better understand where growth is derived and facilitate the balance between growth, investment and profitability the Company seeks to achieve. It is important to note that the set of schools in each category may differ from reporting period to reporting period as schools may be opened, acquired, closed or become comparable at different times during the fiscal year. The four categories are more fully described below.

 

  (1) Comparable Schools – an identical set of schools open for each of the entire periods being reported, sometimes referred to as “same schools.” By definition, Comparable Schools are always the same number of schools in each period. Comparing results of the performance of these schools provides an “apples-to-apples” comparison of results between periods. Results are measured by revenue, operating expense and gross profit performance for this identical group of schools for the current period versus the prior period. Management seeks to grow revenue and increase gross margin in this category through annual tuition rate increases, enrollment growth, and expense management. Information related to Comparable Schools is included in each relevant section below and summarized in the Gross Profit sections below.

 

  (2) Core Schools – consists of schools reported as Comparable Schools for each specific period presented. By definition, the population of Core Schools is schools open and comparable versus the prior period at a fixed point in time. The number and specific Core Schools may be different in each period presented as the Company continues to add or close schools. We measure Core Schools’ performance as a percent of revenue to develop period over period trends to understand the contribution provided by our efforts to grow the Core School base. The table presented in the gross profit sections below shows this information.

 

  (3) New Schools – consists of newly developed schools. By definition the population of schools in each period should be different for each period as the Company continues to add schools.

New Schools are an integral part of the Company’s business development strategy and are defined as newly developed schools as compared to “Acquired Schools” as discussed below. In planning New School development activity, management typically seeks to balance the pre-opening costs and start-up losses associated with the ramp up of new schools with achieving an appropriate growth and profitability balance for the Company as a whole.

 

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New School revenue is measured by New School revenue as a percent of total operating revenue for each comparative period. This information is included in the revenue section below. We also measure New School gross profit, gross margin and expense items as a percent of revenue to develop period over period trends to understand the contribution provided by our efforts from this activity when compared to the prior period. We seek to improve New School period over period performance by minimizing the impact of pre-opening and ramp up costs and the time it takes a new school to ramp up. The tables presented in the gross profit sections below show New School percent of revenue information for each period presented.

 

  (4) Acquired Schools – purchased schools previously operated by independent third parties.

Acquired Schools are an integral part of the Company’s business development strategy. Management seeks to acquire schools that fill out existing markets or provide platforms for additional growth in new markets within our demographic parameters. For acquired school activity, management seeks to add schools in pursuit of adding to the appropriate growth and profitability balance described above. While the Company has typically acquired schools that are already profitable, in some cases a school is acquired that may be either early in its respective ramp up period and so not yet profitable, or in the case of Camelback Desert Schools, in a well matched demographic but with issues that have made them not profitable but acquired for their potential as we believe our core competencies are appropriate to solve the school’s issues and move them to profitability.

Acquired Schools’ revenue is measured by the Acquired Schools’ revenue as a percent of total operating revenue for each comparative period. This information is included in the revenue section below. We measure Acquired School gross profit, gross margin and expense items as a percent of revenue to develop period over period trends to understand the contribution provided by our efforts from this activity when compared to the prior period. We seek to improve Acquired School period over period performance by honing our screening and due diligence processes and streamlining our integration activities. The table presented in the gross profit sections below shows Acquired School percent of revenue information for each period presented.

At December 27, 2008, the Company operated 178 schools. Since June 28, 2008, the Company has opened two new preschools and acquired one elementary school and two preschools. During the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007, the Company opened four new preschools and acquired six new preschools, one of which was subsequently closed during the same twenty-six week period. School counts for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 are as follows:

 

     Twenty-six weeks ended  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
 

Number of schools at the beginning of period

   173    151  

Acquisitions

   3    6  

Openings

   2    4  

Closings

   —      (1 )
           

Number of schools at the end of the period

   178    160  
           

The following table sets forth certain statement of operations data as a percentage of revenue for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 (dollars in thousands):

 

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     Thirteen
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Thirteen
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
       
               Increase  
               Dollar    Percent  

Revenues

   $ 56,354    100.0 %   $ 51,207    100.0 %   $ 5,147    10.1 %
                                       

Personnel costs

     27,220    48.3       24,778    48.4       2,442    9.9  

School operating costs

     6,921    12.3       6,435    12.6       486    7.6  

Rent and other

     13,708    24.3       12,129    23.7       1,579    13.0  
                                       

Cost of services

     47,849    84.9       43,342    84.6       4,507    10.4  
                                       

Gross profit

     8,505    15.1       7,865    15.4       640    8.1  

General and administrative expenses

     4,709    8.4       4,463    8.7       246    5.5  
                                       

Operating income

   $ 3,796    6.7 %   $ 3,402    6.6 %   $ 394    11.6 %
                                       
     Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
       
               Increase  
               Dollar    Percent  

Revenues

   $ 107,730    100.0 %   $ 95,839    100.0 %   $ 11,891    12.4 %
                                       

Personnel costs

     52,429    48.7       46,635    48.7       5,794    12.4  

School operating costs

     14,887    13.8       13,195    13.8       1,692    12.8  

Rent and other

     27,268    25.3       24,030    25.1       3,238    13.5  
                                       

Cost of services

     94,584    87.8       83,860    87.5       10,724    12.8  
                                       

Gross profit

     13,146    12.2       11,979    12.5       1,167    9.7  

General and administrative expenses

     9,651    9.0       8,923    9.3       728    8.2  
                                       

Operating income

   $ 3,495    3.2 %   $ 3,056    3.2 %   $ 439    14.4 %
                                       

The table below shows the number of schools included in each of the four growth initiative categories. Each section category is discussed below for the thirteen and twenty-six week periods ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively:

 

     Thirteen Weeks Ended    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended

School Category

   December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007

Comparable

   155    155    149    149
                   

Core

   155    143    149    142

New

   4    6    7    7

Acquired

   19    11    22    11
                   

Total

   178    160    178    160
                   

Revenue

Revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $5,147,000, or 10.1%, to $56,354,000 from $51,207,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. The revenue increase for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008, as compared to the same period in the prior year, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

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Table of Contents
     Thirteen weeks ended     Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
    Dollar     Percent  

Total Company revenue

   $ 56,354    $ 51,207     $ 5,147     10.1 %
                             

Comparable Schools

   $ 49,462    $ 50,009     $ (547 )   (1.1 )%
                             
     2008    Percent of
Revenue
    2007     Percent of
Revenue
 

Core Schools

   $ 49,462      87.8 %   $ 46,406     90.6 %

New Schools

     670      1.2 %     1,001     2.0 %

Acquired Schools

     6,185      11.0 %     3,767     7.4 %

Closed schools and other

     37      < 0.1 %     33     < 0.1 %
                             
   $ 56,354      100.0 %   $ 51,207     100.0 %
                             

Revenue for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $11,891,000, or 12.4%, to $107,730,000 from $95,839,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. The revenue increase for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, as compared to the same period in the prior year, is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Twenty-six weeks ended     Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
    Dollar     Percent  

Total Company revenue

   $ 107,730    $ 95,839     $ 11,891     12.4 %
                             

Comparable Schools

   $ 92,269    $ 92,329     $ (60 )   (0.1 )%
                             
     2008    Percent of
Revenue
    2007     Percent of
Revenue
 

Core Schools

   $ 92,269      85.6 %   $ 86,127     89.9 %

New Schools

     2,547      2.4 %     3,021     3.2 %

Acquired Schools

     12,833      11.9 %     6,563     6.8 %

Closed schools and other

     81      0.1 %     128     0.1 %
                             
   $ 107,730      100.0 %   $ 95,839     100.0 %
                             

Revenue trends

Comparable Schools’ net revenue decreased $547,000, or 1.1%, for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. Comparable Schools’ net revenue decreased $60,000, or 0.1%, for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. As a percentage, revenue growth fell below that of tuition rate increases, due in large part to current economic activity affecting employment rates which has contributed towards an overall reduction in enrollment in certain geographic areas in which the Company operates. Comparable revenue decreases were due primarily to average tuition rate increases of between 3.0% and 3.3% offset by a decrease in average enrollments.

Personnel costs

Personnel costs primarily include wages, payroll taxes, employee benefits and vacation costs. This category of costs is partially variable and primarily affected by incentive compensation, health care benefit and participant rate increases, staffing ratio requirements and changes in enrollment. The category tends to be variable on a step function basis when staffing ratios indicate additional teachers are required without full enrollment in a class. In the case of New Schools, personnel costs tend to be higher as a percentage of revenue as a base level of personnel and associated costs are established in the early years of a school’s life and which are expected to leverage as enrollments increase.

 

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Table of Contents
(dollars in thousands)    Thirteen weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 27,220    $ 24,778    $ 2,442     9.9 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 23,672    $ 24,139    $ (467 )   (1.9 )%
                            
     Twenty-six weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 52,429    $ 46,635    $ 5,794     12.4 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 44,305    $ 44,590    $ (285 )   (0.6 )%
                            

Personnel costs for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $2,442,000, or 9.9%, to $27,220,000 from $24,778,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. The 9.9% increase was primarily driven by wages and benefits of $3,183,000 from schools opened or acquired subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008 and an increase in wage rates and benefit costs offset by more efficient utilization of payroll hours and personnel netting to a decrease of $467,000 for comparable schools which correlated with overall decreased revenues for comparable schools. Wage and benefit costs decreased $274,000 for schools closed subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

Personnel costs decreased to 48.3% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to 48.4% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

Personnel costs for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $5,794,000, or 12.4%, to $52,429,000 from $46,635,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. The 12.4% increase was primarily driven by wages and benefits of $6,590,000 from schools opened subsequent to Fiscal 2007 and an increase in wage rates and benefit costs offset more efficient utilization of payroll hours and personnel netting to a decrease of $285,000 for comparable schools which correlated with overall decreased revenues for comparable schools. Wage and benefit costs decreased $511,000 for schools closed subsequent to Fiscal 2007.

Personnel costs for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007 was 48.7% of revenue.

School operating costs

School operating costs primarily include food, utilities, transportation, maintenance, janitorial, supplies, school level marketing spending and ancillary programs. This category is partially variable with increases primarily driven by additional enrollment. In the case of New Schools, school operating costs tend to be higher as a percent of revenue as a base level of costs are incurred in the early period of a school’s life and are expected to be leveraged as enrollments increase.

 

(dollars in thousands)    Thirteen weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 6,921    $ 6,435    $ 486     7.6 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 6,067    $ 6,258    $ (191 )   (3.1 )%
                            
     Twenty-six weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 14,887    $ 13,195    $ 1,692     12.8 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 12,621    $ 12,652    $ (31 )   (0.2 )%
                            

School operating costs for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $486,000, or 7.6%, to $6,921,000 from $6,435,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. The increase was primarily driven by school operating costs of $741,000 from schools opened or acquired subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008 offset by a decrease in operating costs of

 

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Table of Contents

$191,000 for comparable schools which correlated with overall decreased revenues for comparable schools and more efficient operations and school management. Operating costs decreased $52,000 for schools closed subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

School operating costs decreased to 12.3% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to 12.6% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

School operating costs for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $1,692,000, or 12.8%, to $14,887,000 from $13,195,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. The increase was primarily driven by school operating costs of $1,865,000 from schools opened or acquired subsequent to the Fiscal 2007 offset by a decrease in operating costs of $31,000 for comparable schools which correlated with overall decreased revenues for comparable schools and more efficient operations and school management. Operating costs decreased $130,000 for schools closed subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

School operating costs was 13.8% of revenue for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007.

Rent and other

Rent and other costs primarily include property rent and property taxes, the portion of claims retained by the Company for workers’ compensation and property damage, depreciation and amortization, regional and school marketing, vehicle and equipment rent, and pre-opening costs. This category of costs is relatively fixed in nature with increases related to contractual obligations, changes in marketing initiatives and the addition of new or acquired schools. In the case of New Schools, the Company expects these costs to be leveraged significantly as enrollments ramp up.

 

(dollars in thousands)    Thirteen weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 13,708    $ 12,129    $ 1,579     13.0 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 11,500    $ 11,848    $ (348 )   (2.9 )%
                            
     Twenty-six weeks ended    Increase/(decrease)  
     December 27,
2008
   December 29,
2007
   Dollar     Percent  

Total

   $ 27,268    $ 24,030    $ 3,238     13.5 %
                            

Comparable Schools

   $ 22,263    $ 22,708    $ (445 )   (2.0 )%
                            

Rent and other costs for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $1,579,000, or 13.0%, to $13,708,000 from $12,129,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. The increase was primarily driven by rent and other costs of $2,009,000 from schools opened or acquired subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008 offset by a decrease in rent and other costs of $348,000 for comparable schools, primarily the result of $283,000 of reduced workers’ compensation claims retained by the Company. Rent and other costs decreased $82,000 for schools closed subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

Rent and other costs increased to 24.3% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to 23.7% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

Rent and other costs for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $3,238,000, or 13.5%, to $27,268,000 from $24,030,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. The increase was primarily driven by rent and other costs of $3,767,000 from schools opened or acquired subsequent to the Fiscal 2007 offset by a decrease in operating costs of $445,000 for comparable schools, primarily the result of $262,000 of reduced workers’ compensation claims retained by the Company. Operating costs decreased $84,000 for schools closed subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008.

Rent and other costs increased to 25.3% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to 25.1% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Gross profit

As a result of the factors described above, gross profit for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $640,000, or 8.1%, to $8,505,000 from $7,865,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. Gross profit was 15.1% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 and 15.4% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

As a result of the factors described above, gross profit for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 increased $1,167,000, or 9.7%, to $13,146,000 from $11,979,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. Gross profit was 12.2% of revenue for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and 12.5% of revenue for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

The change in gross profit for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to the same periods in the prior year is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Thirteen
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
    Increase/(decrease)  
              
               Dollars    Percent  

Revenues

   $ 56,354    100.0 %   $ 51,207    100.0 %   $ 5,147    10.1 %
                                       

Personnel costs

     27,220    48.3       24,778    48.4       2,442    9.9  

School operating costs

     6,921    12.3       6,435    12.6       486    7.6  

Rent and other

     13,708    24.3       12,129    23.7       1,579    13.0  
                                       

Cost of services

     47,849    84.9       43,342    84.6       4,507    10.4  
                                       

Gross profit

   $ 8,505    15.1 %   $ 7,865    15.4 %   $ 640    8.1 %
                                       
     Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
    Increase/(decrease)  
            
            
               Dollars    Percent  

Revenues

   $ 107,730    100.0 %   $ 95,839    100.0 %   $ 11,891    12.4 %
                                       

Personnel costs

     52,429    48.7       46,635    48.7       5,794    12.4  

School operating costs

     14,887    13.8       13,195    13.8       1,692    12.8  

Rent and other

     27,268    25.3       24,030    25.1       3,238    13.5  
                                       

Cost of services

     94,584    87.8       83,860    87.5       10,724    12.8  
                                       

Gross profit

   $ 13,146    12.2 %   $ 11,979    12.5 %   $ 1,167    9.7 %
                                       

The change in gross profit for Comparable Schools for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to the same periods ended December 29, 2007 is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Thirteen
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
    Increase/(decrease)  
              
               Dollars     Percent  

Revenues

   $ 49,462    100.0 %   $ 50,009    100.0 %   $ (547 )   (1.1 )%
                                        

Personnel costs

     23,672    47.9       24,139    48.3       (467 )   (1.9 )

School operating costs

     6,067    12.3       6,258    12.5       (191 )   (3.1 )

Rent and other

     11,500    23.3       11,848    23.7       (348 )   (2.9 )
                                        

Cost of services

     41,239    83.4       42,245    84.5       (1,006 )   (2.4 )
                                        

Gross profit

   $ 8,223    16.6 %   $ 7,764    15.5 %   $ 459     5.9 %
                                        
     Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 27,
2008
   Percent of
Revenues
    Twenty-six
weeks ended
December 29,
2007
   Percent of
Revenues
    Increase/(decrease)  
            
            
               Dollars     Percent  

Revenues

   $ 92,269    100.0 %   $ 92,329    100.0 %   $ (60 )   (0.1 )%
                                        

Personnel costs

     44,305    48.0       44,590    48.3       (285 )   (0.6 )

School operating costs

     12,621    13.7       12,652    13.7       (31 )   (0.2 )

Rent and other

     22,263    24.1       22,708    24.6       (445 )   (2.0 )
                                        

Cost of services

     79,189    85.8       79,950    86.6       (761 )   (1.0 )
                                        

Gross profit

   $ 13,080    14.2 %   $ 12,379    13.4 %   $ 701     5.7 %
                                        

 

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Table of Contents

The table below shows comparative information as a percent of revenue for Core Schools, New Schools and Acquired Schools (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen weeks ended
December 27, 2008
    Percent of
Revenue
    Thirteen weeks ended
December 29, 2007
    Percent of
Revenue
 

Core Schools

        

Number of schools

     155     —         143     —    

Revenue

   $ 49,462     100.0 %   $ 46,406     100.0 %

Personnel Cost

     23,672     47.9       22,367     48.2  

School Operating Cost

     6,067     12.3       5,900     12.7  

Rent and Other

     11,500     23.3       10,665     23.0  
                            

Gross Profit

   $ 8,223     16.6 %   $ 7,474     16.1 %
                            

New Schools

        

Number of schools

     4     —         6     —    

Revenue

   $ 670     100.0 %   $ 1,001     100.0 %

Personnel Costs

     404     60.3       578     57.7  

School Operating Costs

     113     16.9       152     15.2  

Rent and Other

     458     68.4       482     48.2  
                            

Gross Loss

   $ (305 )   (45.5 )%   $ (211 )   (21.1 )%
                            

Acquired Schools

        

Number of schools

     19     —         11     —    

Revenue

   $ 6,185     100.0 %   $ 3,767     100.0 %

Personnel Costs

     3,143     50.8       1,833     48.7  

School Operating Costs

     722     11.7       378     10.0  

Rent and Other

     1,733     28.0       983     26.1  
                            

Gross Profit

   $ 587     9.5 %   $ 573     15.2 %
                            
     Twenty-six weeks ended
December 27, 2008
    Percent of
Revenue
    Twenty-six weeks ended
December 29, 2007
    Percent of
Revenue
 
        

Core Schools

        

Number of schools

     149     —         142     —    

Revenue

   $ 92,269     100.0 %   $ 86,127     100.0 %

Personnel Cost

     44,305     48.0       41,645     48.4  

School Operating Cost

     12,621     13.7       12,075     14.0  

Rent and Other

     22,263     24.1       20,919     24.3  
                            

Gross Profit

   $ 13,080     14.2 %   $ 11,488     13.3 %
                            

New Schools

        

Number of schools

     7     —         7     —    

Revenue

   $ 2,547     100.0 %   $ 3,021     100.0 %

Personnel Costs

     1,431     56.2       1,716     56.8  

School Operating Costs

     423     16.6       375     12.4  

Rent and Other

     1,412     55.4       1,251     41.4  
                            

Gross Loss

   $ (719 )   (28.2 )%   $ (321 )   (10.6 )%
                            

Acquired Schools

        

Number of schools

     22     —         11     —    

Revenue

   $ 12,833     100.0 %   $ 6,563     100.0 %

Personnel Costs

     6,679     52.0       3,274     49.9  

School Operating Costs

     1,798     14.0       725     11.0  

Rent and Other

     3,478     27.1       1,860     28.3  
                            

Gross Profit

   $ 878     6.8 %   $ 704     10.7 %
                            

Gross Profit from Comparable and Core Schools provided gross margin leverage in the period through management’s successful efforts at cost control programs and operational efficiencies in the Fiscal 2009 period as compared to the Fiscal 2008 period.

 

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Gross loss as a percent of revenue from New Schools increased during the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 to (45.5)% and (28.2)% as compared to (21.1)% and (10.6)% the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007, respectively. New Schools for the Fiscal 2009 period include four schools as compared to seven schools for the Fiscal 2008 period. One of the new schools included in the Fiscal 2008 period was a “land banked” school where the Company held the rights to the land for a period of time prior to development so that the market would be more fully developed (hence able to ramp up quickly due to a more mature market). Another of the schools included in the Fiscal 2008 period was an already operating corporate contract school taken over by the Company from a previous operator with no rent costs and which was immediately accretive. The remaining schools included in both fiscal periods were opened in newer “path-of-progress” markets which management expects to continue to develop.

Gross profit from Acquired Schools for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 was negatively impacted primarily by the results of Camelback Desert Schools (CDS) with gross losses of $196,000 and $507,000, respectively. These losses had a (50) basis point and a (59) basis point impact on gross profit percentages for continuing operations for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, respectively. These losses had a (441) basis point and a (486) basis point impact on gross profit percentages for acquired schools for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, respectively. As previously described by the Company, CDS was acquired for the strong demographic characteristics of the Phoenix, Arizona market. The Company believes that under its management these schools may perform more in line with current, well-operated schools’ financial performance as best practices are adopted at these schools and the requisite time passes for local market acceptance. The Company has an early lease termination option to protect itself without continuing liability in the case it is not able to obtain the desired financial performance after a certain period of time.

General and administrative expenses

For the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008, general and administrative expenses increased $246,000, or 5.5% to $4,709,000, from $4,463,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. General and administrative expenses decreased to 8.4% of revenue for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 from 8.7% for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007.

The overall increase in general and administrative expenses included increases in consulting and professional fees of $170,000 related to the ongoing evaluation of whether a sale of the Company is in the best interest of its shareholders at this time, increased amortization expense from acquisitions of $161,000, increased stock compensation expense of $128,000 and costs of $117,000 for potential new schools that were cancelled based on the economics and the current economy. These increases were offset by a decrease of approximately $149,000 due to lower performance-based incentive compensation (based on targets as determined by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008) and the effects of an adjustment of $266,000 that corrected the Company’s accounting for its deferred compensation plan.

For the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, general and administrative expenses increased $728,000, or 8.2%, to $9,651,000 from $8,923,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. General and administrative expenses decreased to 9.0% of revenue for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 from 9.3% for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

The overall increase in general and administrative expenses included consulting and professional fees of $270,000 related to the ongoing evaluation of whether a sale of the Company is in the best interest of its shareholders at this time, increased amortization expense from acquisitions of $326,000, increased stock compensation expense of $228,000, increased audit and consulting fees of approximately $182,000 related to increased work in regard to implementation of Sarbanes Oxley testing and reporting requirements, increased wage and benefit costs of $154,000 due to the addition of management personnel to direct expanded regions that were acquired subsequent to the first quarter of Fiscal 2008, costs of $117,000 for potential new schools that were cancelled based on the economics and the current economy, and increased depreciation expense of $115,000 as a result of investments in information technology and curriculum. These increases were offset by a decrease of approximately $439,000 due to lower performance-based incentive compensation (based on targets as determined by the Compensation Committee and approved by the Board of Directors during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2008) and the effects of an adjustment of $266,000 that corrected the Company’s accounting for its deferred compensation plan.

 

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Operating income

As a result of the factors mentioned above, our operating income increased $394,000 to $3,796,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 from $3,402,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. Operating income increased $439,000 to $3,495,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 from $3,056,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

Interest expense

Interest expense increased $163,000 to $268,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 from $105,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. Interest expense increased $383,000 to $535,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 from $152,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007. The increase was primarily due to an overall increase in debt outstanding for the period due to the funding of acquisitions and other operating and capital expenditures. During the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, the Company had average borrowings of $15,256,000 from its credit facility whereas average debt outstanding during the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007 was $1,469,000.

Other Income

Other income from operations for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 decreased $279,000 to $19,000 from $298,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. Other income from operations for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 decreased $267,000 to $48,000 from $315,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

During the second quarter of Fiscal 2008 the Company received a payment of approximately $300,000 for the settlement and release of a contract for which the Company no longer has performance obligations.

Income tax expense from continuing operations

Income tax expense for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 was $1,366,000 as compared to $1,402,000 for the thirteen week period ended December 29, 2007. Income tax expense for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 was $1,158,000 as compared to $1,255,000 for the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2007. The Company’s effective tax rate was 38.5% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and 39.0% for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

Discontinued operations

At the beginning of Fiscal 2008, discontinued operations consisted of eight schools which the Company did not operate during Fiscal 2008. In addition to the eight schools not operated by the Company during Fiscal 2008, as part of an acquisition during the first quarter of Fiscal 2008, one additional school was added to discontinued operations. The added school was operated by the Company during part of the first quarter of Fiscal 2008 and closed during that same period; subsequently, the Company terminated its lease with the landlord of this property and was fully released from all future obligations. The operating results for discontinued operations in the unaudited statements of income for all periods presented, net of tax is as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     Thirteen weeks ended     Twenty-six weeks ended  
     December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
    December 27,
2008
    December 29,
2007
 

Revenues

   $ —       $ 2     $ —       $ 44  

Cost of services

     (7 )     (13 )     (21 )     (48 )

Rent and other

     (93 )     (99 )     (114 )     (206 )
                                

Loss from discontinued operations before income tax benefit

     (100 )     (110 )     (145 )     (210 )

Income tax benefit

     38       43       56       82  
                                

Loss from discontinued operations

   $ (62 )   $ (67 )   $ (89 )   $ (128 )
                                

Net income

As a result of the above factors, the Company’s net income was $2,119,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 27, 2008 as compared to $2,126,000 for the thirteen weeks ended December 29, 2007. For the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, the Company’s net income was $1,761,000 as compared to net income of $1,836,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 29, 2007.

 

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity despite the current disruptions in the capital and credit markets and a recent worsening of the national and world-wide financial crisis. The Company has continued to closely monitor these developments in terms of their impact upon the financial institutions associated with its credit facility and the economic viability of its consumer base. Generally, the Company does not extend credit to consumers on a long-term basis as services are paid in advance and customer receivables are collected on a weekly or monthly basis. The Company does currently have a long-term note receivable from a municipality that it continues to monitor in regard to collectability, there have been no indications to date that this note will not be fully realized. The Company does have a number of sub-lessors and has made guarantees to landlords for a number of properties where their original lease obligations have been assigned to a third party. The Company continues to monitor the payment patterns and condition of these third-party obligors and believe they continue to honor their contractual commitments (see “Long-Term Obligations and Commitments” below).

Cash Flow

The Company’s principal sources of liquidity are cash flow from operations and amounts available under the 2008 Credit Agreement (described below). Principal uses of liquidity are debt service, acquisitions, capital expenditures related to the renovation and maintenance of existing schools, new school development, furniture, fixtures, technology and curriculum.

Total cash and cash equivalents decreased $760,000 to $304,000 at December 27, 2008 from $1,064,000 at June 28, 2008. Cash used by operations increased cash flow by $1,925,000. Cash used in investing activities totaled $5,830,000 and included $2,049,000 primarily related to the purchase of the Southern Highlands and Ivy Kids schools and an additional $3,781,000 used for capital expenditures. Cash from financing activities was $3,145,000 consisting primarily of net borrowings from the 2008 Credit Agreement to fund acquisitions.

Revolving Credit Agreement

At the beginning of Fiscal 2008, the Company had a credit agreement with Harris Trust (now BMO Capital Markets) in the amount of $50,000,000, which provided for a $50,000,000 Revolving Credit Commitment and up to $3,500,000 in letters of credit as a sub-limit of the Revolving Credit Commitment (“Prior Credit Agreement”). The Prior Credit Agreement was scheduled to terminate on October 29, 2011. During Fiscal 2008, on June 6, 2008, the Company amended the loan facility under its Prior Credit Agreement (the “2008 Credit Agreement”) with BMO Capital Markets. The 2008 Credit Agreement provides for a $75,000,000 Revolving Credit Commitment with a $25,000,000 accordion feature permitting the Company to increase the size of the facility under its current terms and conditions by obtaining additional credit availability from either participating or new banks. Under terms of the 2008 Credit Agreement, proceeds may be used to fund permitted acquisitions, capital expenditures and ongoing business operations. The borrowing rates on the 2008 Credit Agreement are provided by leverage based matrix associated with Libor or bank base rate indexed borrowings. The 2008 Credit Agreement has a five-year term that ends on June 5, 2013. As of December 27, 2008 and February 2, 2009, outstanding borrowings equaled $15,325,000 and $16,425,000 and outstanding letters of credit equaled $2,265,000 on both dates, respectively.

The 2008 Credit Agreement contains customary covenants and provisions that restrict the Company’s ability to change its business, declare dividends, grant liens, incur additional indebtedness, make capital expenditures and use proceeds from disposition of assets or equity related transactions. In addition, the 2008 Credit Agreement provides that the Company must meet or exceed amounts for defined EBITDA and fixed charges and must not exceed leverage ratios. The Company’s loan covenants under its 2008 Credit Agreement limit the amount of senior debt borrowings.

Long-Term Obligations and Commitments

The Company has certain contractual obligations and commercial commitments. Contractual obligations are those that will require cash payments in accordance with the terms of a contract, such as a loan agreement or lease agreement. Commercial commitments represent potential obligations for performance in the event of demands by third parties, such as letters of credit. At December 27, 2008, letter of credit commitments totaled $2,265,000.

Future contractual obligations, by year and in the aggregate, for all real properties, vehicle and other leases that the Company and its subsidiaries have entered into, consisted of the following at December 27, 2008 (dollars in thousands):

 

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          Twenty-Six Weeks
Ended
June 27, 2009
   For Fiscal Year
     Total       2010    2011    2012    2013    Thereafter

Long term debt obligations including contractual interest

   $ 17,890    $ 290    $ 581    $ 581    $ 581    $ 15,857    $ —  

Letters of credit

     2,265      2,265      —        —        —        —        —  

Operating leases

     308,274      19,752      38,771      35,814      32,052      27,801      154,084
                                                

Total

   $ 328,429    $ 22,307    $ 39,352    $ 36,395    $ 32,633    $ 43,658    $ 154,084
                                                

The Company’s most significant contractual obligations are real estate leases for its schools. Additionally, the Company has closed locations for which it continues to have cash obligations under lease agreements with third-party landlords. The Company attempts to mitigate these cash payment obligations by subleasing the locations to third parties. The Company has cash-flow risk for the future real estate leases for closed schools for which it does not have third-party sublease coverage or where third-party sublease coverage on any specific sublease may not equal the total cash obligation under the lease agreement for that property.

Most of the above real estate leases contain annual rent increase provisions based on changes in consumer price indexes or other formulas, which are not reflected in the above schedule. Net operating lease commitments are the un-escalated net cash amounts due from the Company to third party landlords not covered by underlying sub-leases from a third party sub-tenant or assignee. The amount is the net of closed location real estate leases less closed location cash sublease amounts due to the Company. The Company’s liability with respect to closed location real estate leases could change if a sublessee defaults under their sublease with the Company or if the Company is successful in subleasing additional closed schools, extending existing sublease agreements or mitigating the commitment in some other form. Some of the closed location real estate lease obligations extend beyond the term of the current subleases on those properties. The leases on the closed schools expire through 2017.

In addition to the lease obligations noted above, the Company also has made guarantees for ten leases that were assigned to a third party on or before Fiscal 2000 and four properties during Fiscal 2007 (the “2007 properties”). In accordance with FASB Interpretation No. 45 “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others,” the Company has assessed its exposure regarding the assignment of the 2007 properties and has determined that the fair value of this exposure is diminimus and therefore has not recorded a liability for this contingency. The maximum potential undiscounted amount of future payments the Company could be required to pay under these guarantees at December 27, 2008 is $659,000.

Capital Expenditures

During the twenty-six week period ended December 27, 2008, the Company opened two new preschools and acquired two preschools and one elementary school. During the twenty-six week period ended December 29, 2007, the Company opened four new preschools and acquired six preschools, one of which was closed during the same period. Company funded capital expenditures for new school development includes school equipment, furniture, fixtures and curricula purchased by the Company for the operations of the school. Renovations and equipment purchases are capital expenditures incurred for existing schools in order to maintain the operations and, where necessary, upgrade the school facility and in some cases to extend the service life of the school. Capital expenditure funds are provided by cash flow from operations or our Revolving Credit Agreement. The Company’s current senior bank credit facility has annual limitations on the amount of capital expenditures. For Fiscal 2009, this limitation is $13,000,000.

Capital expenditures were as follows (dollars in thousands):

 

     For the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
     December 27, 2008    December 29, 2007

New school development

   $ 689    $ 980

Renovations and equipment purchases

     2,682      3,833

Corporate and information systems

     410      552
             

Total capital expenditures

   $ 3,781    $ 5,365
             

Insurance

Companies involved in the education and care of children may not be able to obtain insurance for the totality of risks inherent in their operations. In particular, general liability coverage can have insurance sub-limits per claim for child abuse. The Company believes it has adequate insurance coverage at this time. There can be no assurance that in future years the Company will not become subject to lower limits or substantial increases in insurance premiums.

 

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Critical Accounting Policies

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires that management make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Predicting future events is inherently an imprecise activity and as such requires the use of judgment. Actual results may vary from estimates in amounts that may be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2008.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market risk represents the risk of loss that may impact the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. The Company is exposed to market risk in the form of interest rates.

Market Conditions

In light of recent macro-economic condition changes to areas in which the Company operates and a recent worsening of the national and world-wide financial crisis, the Company has reviewed paragraph 28 of SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” in regard to interim testing of goodwill impairments. At this time, the Company does not believe an interim test of its goodwill is appropriate, as despite some revenue loss in particular areas, margins and cash flows have not been significantly impacted. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2009 the Company’s Board of Directors received an unsolicited expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company at $17 per share in cash, this bid provides a significant premium to the Company’s current market price, the Company continues to evaluate this offer and has engaged J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. as a financial advisor in evaluating this offer and evaluating other strategic alternatives to enhance shareholder value. There have been no significant changes to the Company’s financial position since this expression of interest.

Interest Rates

The Company’s exposure to market risk for changes in interest rates relates primarily to debt obligations. The Company has cash flow exposure as a result of the 2008 Credit Agreement. The 2008 Credit Agreement and the Prior Credit Agreement were subject to variable prime base rate pricing. Accordingly, a 1.0% change in the LIBOR rate and the prime rate would have resulted in interest expense changing by approximately $26,000 and $1,000 for the twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008 and December 29, 2007, respectively.

Interest Rate Swap Agreement

The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for trading purposes. The Company uses derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The instruments involve, to varying degrees, market risk, as the instruments are subject to rate and price fluctuations and elements of credit risk in the event the counterparty should default. At December 27, 2008 and June 28, 2008, the Company had two interest rate swap contracts outstanding, each had a notional amount of $5,000,000. Under the interest rate swap contracts, the Company agreed to pay fixed rates of 3.68% and 2.74% and the counterparty agreed to make payments based on the designated LIBOR rate. The market value of the interest rate swap agreements was a long-term net liability balance of $303,000 at December 27, 2008 and a long-term net asset balance of $13,000 at June 28, 2008. Unrealized losses of $184,000 and $196,000 are included as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended December 27, 2008, respectively.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 27, 2008. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q has been appropriately recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are also designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 

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Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Part II

Other Information

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

In addition to risk factors identified in Part I, Item 1A. of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for Fiscal 2008, the following additional risk has been identified:

The unsolicited proposal by Knowledge Learning Corporation to acquire the outstanding shares of the Company has created uncertainty that could adversely affect the ability of the Company to execute its strategic plan since, among other things, the Company does not know how potential sellers of schools will react and that management has been required to devote some of its attention to evaluating the proposal.

On September 23, 2008, the Company announced that it had received an unsolicited expression of interest from Knowledge Learning Corporation to pursue an acquisition of the Company for $17.00 per share in cash. As the Company’s Board of Directors evaluates the proposal and the continued execution of the Company’s strategic plan, management’s time and resources are diverted, at least in part, from the Company’s strategic growth goals. Potential sellers of schools may be reluctant to pursue a sale to the Company while there is uncertainty as to whether the Company will accept or reject Knowledge Learning Corporation’s offer.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders

The Company held its Annual Meeting of Stockholders on November 6, 2008. Of the combined total of 10,440,010 votes eligible to be cast at the meeting, holders entitled to cast a combined total of 8,073,278 votes at such meeting were present, in person, or by proxy, for purposes of a quorum. At the meeting, stockholders elected to the Board of Directors Theresa Kreig Crane, Ed.D., Steven B. Fink and David Beale as Class III Directors, each with terms expiring at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Votes cast for and votes withheld in the election were as follows:

 

Director

 

Votes For

 

Votes Abstained

   

Theresa Kreig Crane, Ed.D.

  7,456,423   616,855  

Steven B. Fink

  7,458,198   615,080  

David Beale

  7,456,423   616,855  

There were no broker non-votes.

Term Expiring at the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

Richard J. Pinola

Peter H. Havens

Ralph Smith

David L. Warnock

Additional Directors, whose terms of office as Directors continued after the meeting, are as follows:

Term Expiring at the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

George H. Bernstein

Michael J. Rosenthal

The stockholders also ratified the appointment of Grant Thornton, LLP as independent auditors for the 2009 fiscal year. Voting for adoption of this resolution were 8,065,123 votes, voting against the resolution were 4,326 votes, abstaining were 3,829 votes and there were not broker non-votes.

 

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Item 6. Exhibits
10.1    Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Equity Compensation Plan (Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2008) (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 24, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).
10.2    Nobel Learning Communities, Inc. 409A Policy Regarding Executive Severance Agreements. (Filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, December 17, 2008 and incorporated herein by reference).
31.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
31.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant required by Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
32.1    Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of the Registrant pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)
32.2    Certification of the Chief Financial Officer of the Registrant pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350. (This exhibit shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section. Further, this exhibit shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.)

 

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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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

    NOBEL LEARNING COMMUNITIES, INC.
Dated: February 4, 2009       By:   /s/ Thomas Frank
      Thomas Frank
      Chief Financial Officer
      (duly authorized officer and principal financial officer)

 

33