UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q 

(Mark One)

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

For the quarterly period ended May 31, 2021

OR

☐ TRANSITION REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ___________ to ____________.

Commission file number: 000-04957

EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (918) 622-4522

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: 

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”, “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

As of July 6, 2021, there were 8,650,230 shares of Educational Development Corporation Common Stock, $0.20 par value outstanding.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CAUTIONARY REMARKS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The information discussed in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements.” These forward-looking statements are identified by their use of terms and phrases such as “may,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “plan,” “believe,” “intend,” “achievable,” “anticipate,” “continue,” “potential,” “should,” “could,” and similar terms and phrases. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve certain assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and we can give no assurance that such expectations or assumptions will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are described under “Item 7 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2021 and in this quarterly report. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Other than as required under the securities laws, we do not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events or circumstances, changes in expectations or otherwise.

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See notes to condensed financial statements (unaudited).

See notes to condensed financial statements (unaudited).

See notes to condensed financial statements (unaudited).

See notes to condensed financial statements (unaudited).

NOTES TO CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

Item 2.          MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Factors Affecting Forward-Looking Statements

The following discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our future plans, estimates, beliefs and expected performance. The forward-looking statements are dependent upon events, risks and uncertainties that may be outside our control. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, our success in recruiting and retaining new consultants, our ability to locate and procure desired books, our ability to ship the volume of orders that are received without creating backlogs, our ability to obtain adequate financing for working capital and capital expenditures, economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as those factors discussed below and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2021 and this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, all of which are difficult to predict. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may or may not occur. See “Cautionary Remarks Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in the front of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Overview

We are the exclusive United States trade co-publisher of Usborne children’s books and the owner of Kane Miller. We operate two separate segments, UBAM and Publishing, to sell our Usborne and Kane Miller children’s books. These two segments each have their own customer base. The UBAM segment markets its products through a network of independent sales consultants using a combination of home shows, internet party plan events and book fairs. The Publishing segment markets its products on a wholesale basis to various retail accounts. All other supporting administrative activities are recognized as other expenses outside of our two segments. Other expenses consist primarily of the compensation of our office, warehouse and sales support staff as well as the cost of operating and maintaining our corporate office and distribution facility.

The following table shows our condensed statements of earnings data:

See the detailed discussion of revenues, gross margin and general and administrative expenses by reportable segment below. The following is a discussion of significant changes in the non-segment related general and administrative expenses, other income and expenses and income taxes during the respective periods.

Non-Segment Operating Results for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2021

Total operating expenses not associated with a reporting segment increased $0.7 million, or 18.4%, to $4.5 million for the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $3.8 million for the same quarterly period a year ago. Operating expenses increased primarily as a result of a $0.5 million increase in labor in our warehouse associated with increased gross sales, a $0.1 million increase in rent for additional warehouse space associated with our increased inventory and a $0.1 million increase in other expenses.

Interest expense remained consistent at $0.2 million for the three months ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $0.2 million for the same quarterly period a year ago.

Income taxes increased $0.5 million, or 71.4%, to $1.2 million for the three months ended May 31, 2021, from $0.7 million for the same quarterly period a year ago. Our effective tax rate decreased 0.8%, to 26.2% for the quarter ended May 31, 2021, from 27.0% for the quarter ended May 31, 2020 due to sales mix fluctuations between states. Our tax rates are higher than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to the inclusion of state income and franchise taxes.

UBAM Operating Results for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2021

The following table summarizes the operating results of the UBAM segment:

UBAM net revenues increased $0.7 million, or 1.9%, to $37.6 million during the three months ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $36.9 million during the same period a year ago. The average number of active consultants in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 was 55,100, an increase of 22,000 or 66.5%, from 33,100 average active consultants selling in the first quarter of fiscal 2021. The Company reports the average number of active consultants each quarter as a key indicator for this division. UBAM's increase in active consultants resulted from several factors, including: an increase in families looking for non-traditional income streams to supplement or replace income lost from the COVID-19 pandemic; a change in new consultant kits which offered lower introductory prices; the restructure of our UBAM consultant success program, which was introduced during the first quarter of fiscal 2021; and technology improvements that have enhanced the customer experience and streamlined the proprietary systems that our consultants use to run their business. Our increase in active consultants and our ability to receive orders online and deliver directly to our customers’ homes resulted in our increased revenues during the quarter.

Gross margin increased $1.2 million, or 4.6%, to $27.4 million during the three months ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $26.2 million during the same period a year ago, primarily associated with the growth in net revenues. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues increased 1.7%, to 72.8% for the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, when compared to 71.1% the same period a year ago. The increase in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues resulted from increased volume rebates from our largest supplier and increased freight revenues due to rate change made in our fiscal 2021 fourth quarter that applies to a majority of shipments to our customers.

UBAM operating expenses consists of operating and selling expenses, sales commissions and general and administrative expenses. Operating and selling expenses primarily consists of freight expenses and materials and supplies. Sales commissions include amounts paid to consultants for new sales and promotions. These operating expenses are directly tied to the sales volumes of the UBAM segment. General and administrative expenses include payroll, outside services, inventory reserves and other expenses directly associated with the UBAM segment. Total operating expenses decreased $0.9 million, or 4.4%, to $19.5 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $20.4 million reported in the same quarter a year ago. Operating and selling expenses decreased $0.1 million, to $5.3 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $5.4 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to a decrease in postage and freight expenses. Sales commissions decreased $0.7 million, to $12.9 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $13.6 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, due primarily to the change in order type mix. School and Library orders were stronger in the first quarter of fiscal 2022 as schools were primarily closed during the first quarter of last year. School and Library orders have larger discounts and pay less commissions than web sale orders. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.1 million, to $1.3 million during the three months ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $1.4 million during the same period a year ago.

Operating income of the UBAM segment increased $2.1 million, or 36.2%, to $7.9 million during the three months ended May 31, 2021, when compared to $5.8 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to the change in gross margin and order type mix. Operating income of the UBAM division as a percentage of net revenues for the three months ended May 31, 2021 increased to 20.9%, compared to 15.8% for the three months ended May 31, 2020.

Publishing Operating Results for the Three Months Ended May 31, 2021

The following table summarizes the operating results of the Publishing segment:

Our Publishing division’s net revenues increased $1.8 million, or 128.6%, to $3.2 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, from $1.4 million reported in the same period a year ago. Many Publishing customers began to re-open in the latter half of fiscal year 2021 after closing in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gross margin increased $0.7 million, or 100.0%, to $1.4 million during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, from $0.7 million reported in the same quarter a year ago, primarily due to the increase in net revenues. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased 4.0%, to 44.2% during the three-month period ended May 31, 2021, from 48.2% reported in the same quarter a year ago. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues fluctuates primarily from the different discount levels offered to customers as well as changes in the mix of products sold between Kane Miller and Usborne.

Total operating expenses of the Publishing segment increased $0.2 million to $0.5 million, from $0.3 million, during the three-month periods ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, primarily as a result of increased freight expenses due to increased sales.

Operating income of the Publishing segment increased to $0.9 million from $0.3 million for the three-month periods ended May 31, 2021 and 2020, primarily driven by the increase in gross margin.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

EDC has a history of profitability and positive cash flow. We typically fund our operations from the cash we generate. We also use available cash to pay down outstanding bank loan balances, for capital expenditures, to pay dividends, and to acquire treasury stock. We have utilized a bank credit facility and other term loan borrowings to meet our short-term cash needs, as well as fund capital expenditures, when necessary. 

During the first three months of fiscal 2022, we generated negative cash flows from our operations of $4,876,400. These cash flows resulted from:

●net earnings of $3,438,100

Adjusted for: 

●depreciation expense of $432,000

●share-based compensation expense of $261,600

●deferred income taxes of $237,500

●provision for inventory valuation allowance of $60,000

●provision for doubtful accounts of $37,600 

Positively impacted by:

●increase in income tax payable of $967,700

Negatively impacted by:

●increase in inventories, net of $4,928,000

●decrease in accrued salaries and commissions, and other liabilities of $3,617,900

●increase in accounts receivable of $665,100

●decrease in accounts payable of $577,400

●decrease in deferred revenues of $287,100

●increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $235,400

Cash used in investing activities was $1,617,200 for capital expenditures, which were comprised of $1,417,200 in equipment purchased to increase our daily shipping capacity, $144,400 in software upgrades to our proprietary systems that our UBAM consultants use to monitor their business and place customer orders and $55,600 in building and building improvements.

Cash provided by financing activities was $6,438,000, which was comprised of proceeds from term debt of $3,896,200, net borrowings under the line of credit of $3,487,200 and net cash received in treasury stock transactions of $32,000, offset by payments of $835,100 for dividends and payments on term debt of $142,300.

During fiscal year 2022, we continue to expect the cash generated from our operations and cash available through our line of credit with our Bank will provide us the liquidity we need to support ongoing operations. Cash generated from operations will be used to increase inventory by expanding our product offerings, to liquidate existing debt, and any excess cash is expected to be distributed to our shareholders.

On February 15, 2021, the Company executed the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement with MidFirst Bank which replaced the prior loan agreement and includes multiple loans. Term Loan #1 Tranche A (“Term Loan #1”), originally totaling $13.4 million, was part of the prior loan agreement. Term Loan #1 had a fixed interest rate of 4.23%, with principal and interest payable monthly and a stated maturity date of December 1, 2025. Term Loan #1 is secured by the primary office, warehouse and land. Term Loan #1 was amended on April 1, 2021 by executing the First Amendment to the Loan Agreement which reduced the fixed interest rate to 3.12% and removed the prepayment premium from the Loan Agreement. The outstanding borrowings on Term Loan #1 were $10.8 million and $11.0 million as of May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

In addition, the Amended and Restated Loan Agreement provides a $6.0 million Advancing Term Loan to be used to finance planned equipment purchases. The Advancing Term Loan requires interest-only payments through July 15, 2021, at which time it will convert to a 60-month amortizing term loan maturing July 15, 2026. The Advancing Term Loan accrues interest at the Bank-adjusted LIBOR Index plus a tiered pricing rate based on the Company’s Adjusted Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio, with a minimum rate of 2.75% and matures on July 15, 2026. Our borrowings outstanding under the Advancing Term Loan at May 31, 2021 were $3.9 million.

The Amended and Restated Loan Agreement also provides a $15.0 million revolving loan (“line of credit”) through August 15, 2022 with interest payable monthly at the Bank-adjusted LIBOR Index plus a tiered pricing rate based on the Company’s Adjusted Funded Debt to EBITDA Ratio, with a minimum rate of 2.75%. Our borrowings outstanding on our line of credit at May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021 were $8.7 million and $5.2 million. Available credit under the revolving line of credit was approximately $6.3 million and $9.6 million at May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021, respectively.

The Amended and Restated Loan Agreement also contains a provision for our use of the Bank’s letters of credit. The Bank agrees to issue or obtain issuance of commercial or stand-by letters of credit provided that the sum of the line of credit plus the letters of credit issued would not exceed the borrowing base in effect at the time. As of May 31, 2021, we had no letters of credit outstanding. The agreement contains provisions that require us to maintain specified financial ratios, place limitations on additional debt with other banks, limit the amounts of dividends declared and limits the number of shares that can be repurchased using funding from the line of credit.

The following table reflects aggregate future maturities of long-term debt during the next five fiscal years and thereafter as follows:

Critical Accounting Policies

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States(“GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to our valuation of inventory, allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable, allowance for sales returns, long-lived assets and deferred income taxes. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources.

Actual results may materially differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. Historically, however, actual results have not differed materially from those determined using required estimates. Our significant accounting policies are described in the notes accompanying the financial statements included elsewhere in this report. However, we consider the following accounting policies to be more significantly dependent on the use of estimates and assumptions.

Revenue Recognition

Sales associated with product orders are recognized and recorded when products are shipped. Products are shipped FOB shipping point. UBAM’s sales are generally paid at the time the product is ordered. Sales which have been paid for but not shipped are classified as deferred revenue on the balance sheet. Sales associated with consignment inventory are recognized when reported and payment associated with the sale has been remitted. Transportation revenue represents the amount billed to the customer for shipping the product and is recorded when the product is shipped.

Estimated allowances for sales returns are recorded as sales are recognized. Management uses a moving average calculation to estimate the allowance for sales returns. We are not responsible for product damaged in transit. Damaged returns are primarily received from the retail stores of our Publishing division. Those damages occur in the stores, not in shipping to the stores, and we typically do not offer credit for damaged returns. It is industry practice to accept non-damaged returns from retail customers. Management has estimated and included a reserve for sales returns of $0.2 million as of May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021. 

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

We maintain an allowance for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments and a reserve for vendor share markdowns (collectively “allowance for doubtful accounts”). An estimate of uncollectible amounts is made by management based upon historical bad debts, current customer receivable balances, age of customer receivable balances, customers’ financial conditions and current economic trends. Management has estimated and included an allowance for doubtful accounts of $0.4 million at May 31, 2021, and $0.3 million at February 28, 2021. Included within this allowance is $0.1 million of reserve for vendor discounts to sell remaining inventory as of May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021. 

Inventory

Our inventory contains over 2,000 titles, each with different sell through rates depending upon the nature and popularity of the title. We maintain very few titles that are topical in nature. As such, the majority of the titles we sell remain current in content for several years. Most of our products are printed in China, Europe, Singapore, India, Malaysia and Dubai resulting in a four- to six-month lead-time to have a title printed and delivered to us.

Certain inventory is maintained in a noncurrent classification. Management continually estimates and calculates the amount of noncurrent inventory. Noncurrent inventory arises due to occasional purchases of titles in quantities in excess of what will be sold within the normal operating cycle, due to minimum order requirements of our suppliers. Noncurrent inventory was estimated by management using the current year turnover ratio by title. Inventory in excess of 2½ years of anticipated sales is classified as noncurrent inventory. These inventory quantities have exposure of becoming out of date, and therefore have higher obsolescence reserves. Noncurrent inventory balances prior to valuation allowances were $1.0 million and $0.9 million at May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021, respectively. Noncurrent inventory valuation allowances were $0.2 million at May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021.

Our principal supplier, based in England, generally requires a minimum re-order of 6,500 or more of a title in order to get a solo print run. Smaller orders would require a shared print run with the supplier’s other customers, which can result in lengthy delays to receive the ordered title. Anticipating customer preferences and purchasing habits requires historical analysis of similar titles in the same series. We then place the initial order or re-order based upon this analysis. These factors and historical analysis have led our management to determine that 2½ years represents a reasonable estimate of the normal operating cycle for our products.

Consultants that meet certain eligibility requirements may request and receive inventory on consignment. We believe allowing our consultants to have consignment inventory greatly increases their ability to be successful in making effective presentations at home shows, book fairs and other events; in summary, having consignment inventory leads to additional sales opportunities. Approximately 4.2% of our active consultants maintained consignment inventory at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2022. Consignment inventory is stated at cost, less an estimated reserve for consignment inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned to the Company. The total cost of inventory on consignment with consultants was $1.1 million for both May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021.

Inventories are presented net of a valuation allowance, which includes reserves for inventory obsolescence and reserves for consigned inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned to the Company. Management estimates the inventory obsolescence allowance for both current and noncurrent inventory, which is based on management’s identification of slow-moving inventory. Management has estimated a valuation allowance for both current and noncurrent inventory, including the reserve for consigned inventory, of $0.7 million for both May 31, 2021 and February 28, 2021.

Share-Based Compensation

We account for share-based compensation whereby share-based payment transactions with employees, such as stock options and restricted stock, are measured at estimated fair value at the date of grant. For awards subject to service conditions, compensation expense is recognized over the vesting period on a straight-line basis. Awards subject to performance conditions are attributed separately for each vesting tranche of the award and are recognized ratably from the service inception date to the vesting date for each tranche. Forfeitures are recognized when they occur. Any cash dividends declared after the restricted stock award is issued, but before the vesting period is completed, will be reinvested in Company shares at the opening trading price on the dividend payment date. Shares purchased with cash dividends will also retain the same restrictions until the completion of the original vesting period associated with the awarded shares.

The restricted share awards granted under the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2019 LTI Plan”) contain both service and performance conditions. The Company recognizes share-based compensation expense only for the portion of the restricted share awards that are considered probable of vesting. Shares are considered granted, and the service inception date begins, when a mutual understanding of the key terms and conditions between the Company and the employees have been established. The fair value of these awards is determined based on the closing price of the shares on the grant date. The probability of restricted share awards granted with future performance conditions is evaluated at each reporting period and compensation expense is adjusted based on the probability assessment.

During the first three months of fiscal year 2022, the Company recognized $0.3 million of compensation expense associated with the shares granted.

Item 3.          QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Not applicable.

Item 4.          CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We performed an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report. This evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) and our Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer).

Based on that evaluation, these officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were designed and were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to them, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported in accordance with the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms. It should be noted that the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain assumptions about the likelihood of future events.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the first quarter of the fiscal year covered by this report on Form 10-Q, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.          LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Not applicable.

Item 1A.       RISK FACTORS

Not required by smaller reporting company.

Item 2.          UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Item 3.          DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Not applicable.

Item 4.          MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

None.

Item 5.          OTHER INFORMATION

None.

Item 6.          EXHIBITS

*Paper Filed

**Filed Herewith

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.