Item 2. |
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS. |
Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995
This report contains statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions (including certain projections and business trends) accompanied by such phrases as “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar or negative expressions, that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results for Value Line, Inc. (“Value Line” or “the Company”) may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following:
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dependence on key personnel;
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maintaining revenue from subscriptions for the Company’s published products;
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protection of intellectual property rights;
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changes in market and economic conditions, including global financial issues;
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dependence on non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EULAV Asset Management Trust, a Delaware business trust (“EAM”), which provides investment management and distribution, marketing and administrative services to the Value Line branded mutual funds;
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fluctuations in EAM’s assets under management due to broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, redemptions by investors and other factors;
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competition in the fields of publishing, copyright data and investment management;
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the impact of government regulation on the Company’s and EAM’s business and the uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings;
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availability of free or low cost investment data through discount brokers or generally over the internet;
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the risk that, while the Company believes that the restructuring transaction that closed on December 23, 2010, achieved compliance with the requirements of the order issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on November 4, 2009, the Company might be required to take additional steps which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations or the Company’s financial condition;
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terrorist attacks and natural disasters;
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other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2011 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 31, 2011; and
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other risks and uncertainties arising from time to time.
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Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
In this report, “Value Line,” “we,” “us,” “our” refers to Value Line, Inc. and the “Company” refers to Value Line and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.
Executive Summary of the Business
Value Line is a New York-based corporation. The Company’s primary business is producing investment-related periodical publications and making available copyright data including certain Value Line trademarks and The Value Line Timeliness Ranking System™ (“the Ranking System”) Value Line’s proprietary Ranking System information to third parties under written agreements for use in third- party managed and marketed investment products. Value Line markets under well-known brands including The Value Line Investment Survey, The Value Line Research Center, and The Most Trusted Name in Investment Research. The name “Value Line” as used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, is a registered trademark of the Company. Prior to December 23, 2010, the date of the completion of the Restructuring Transaction (see “Restructuring of Asset Management and Mutual Fund Distribution Businesses” below), the Company provided investment management services to the Value Line Mutual Funds (“Value Line Funds”), institutions and individual accounts and provided distribution, marketing, and administrative services to the Value Line Funds.
The Company’s target audiences within the investment-related periodical publications field are individual investors, colleges, libraries, and investment management professionals. Individuals come to Value Line for complete research in one package. Institutional subscribers, such as libraries and universities, offer the Company’s detailed research to their patrons and students. Investment management professionals use the research and historical information in their day-to-day businesses.
Depending upon the product, the Company offers three months or less, annual and/or multi-year subscriptions. Generally, all subscriptions are paid for in advance of fulfillment. Renewal orders for the retail market are solicited primarily through a series of efforts that include letters, emails, and telemarketing. New orders are generated primarily from targeted direct mail campaigns for specific products. Other sales channels used by the Company include advertising in media publications, on the Internet, cross selling via telesales efforts, and Internet promotions through third parties.
Institutional subscribers consist of corporations, financial professionals, colleges, and municipal libraries. The Company has a dedicated department that solicits institutional subscriptions. Fees for institutional subscriptions vary by the university or college enrollment, number of users, and the number of products purchased.
Cash received and the value of receivables for amounts billed to retail and institutional customers is recorded as unearned revenue until the order is fulfilled. As the subscriptions are fulfilled, the Company recognizes revenue in equal installments over the life of the particular subscription. Accordingly, the amount of subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of the balance sheet are shown as unearned revenue within current and long-term liabilities.
Prior to December 23, 2010, the Company’s businesses consolidated into two business segments. The investment-related periodical publications (retail and institutional) and fees from copyright data including proprietary Ranking System information and other proprietary information consolidate into one segment called Publishing and the investment management services to the Value Line Funds and other managed accounts were consolidated into a second business segment called Investment Management. As of October 31, 2011, the Publishing segment constitutes the Company’s only reportable business segment.
Restructuring of Asset Management and Mutual Fund Distribution Businesses
As more fully discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011 as filed with the SEC on July 29, 2011, the Company completed the restructuring of its asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses (the “Restructuring Transaction”) on December 23, 2010. As part of the Restructuring Transaction: (1) EULAV Securities, Inc. (“ESI”), a New York corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that acted as the distributor of the fourteen Value Line Funds was restructured into EULAV Securities LLC (“ES”), a Delaware limited liability company; (2) the Company transferred 100% of its interest in ES to EULAV Asset Management LLC (“EAM LLC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company that acted as the investment adviser to the Value Line Funds and certain separate accounts; (3) EAM LLC was converted into EAM; and (4) EAM admitted five individuals (the “Voting Profits Interest Holders”), as the initial holders of voting profits interests in EAM, with each of such individuals owning 20% of the voting profits interests of EAM, and (5) pursuant to the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company received an interest in certain revenues of EAM and a portion of the residual profits of EAM but has no voting authority with respect to the election or removal of the trustees of EAM. The Voting Profits Interest Holders, who were selected by the independent directors of the Company, paid no consideration in exchange for their interests in EAM.
The business of EAM is managed by the five individual trustees and a Delaware resident trustee (collectively, the “Trustees”) and by its officers subject to the direction of the Trustees. The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM entitle the Company to receive a range of 41% to 55% of EAM’s revenues (excluding distribution revenues) from EAM’s mutual fund and separate account business and 50% of the residual profits of EAM (subject to temporary increase in certain limited circumstances). The Voting Profits Interest Holders will receive the other 50% of residual profits of EAM.
Pursuant to the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company granted EAM the right to use the Value Line name for all existing Value Line Funds and agreed to supply the Ranking System information to EAM without charge or expense.
Mitchell Appel, formerly the Chief Financial Officer of the Company and a director of the Company, as well as president of ESI and EAM LLC and each of the Value Line Funds, is one of the Voting Profits Interest Holders of EAM and, effective December 23, 2010, was appointed by the Trustees of EAM as the first Chief Executive Officer of EAM.
Business Environment
During the six months ended October 31, 2011, the global financial markets had negative performance. For the six months ended October 31, 2011, the NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 7% each. The NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 39.1% and 38.6% respectively from the end of September 2008 to March 9, 2009. From March 9, 2009 to October 31, 2011, those indices showed increases of 112% and 83%, respectively. In all, the NASDAQ is 29% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average is 10% above their respective September 2008 levels. Nevertheless, the severe downturn experienced in the September 2008 to March 2009 period and the volatility in the financial markets since then have resulted in many individual investors withdrawing money from equity investments, including equity mutual funds. This risk-averse temperament of investors continues to restrain both the Company’s revenues from its research periodicals and publications and the Company’s cash flows derived from its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM. In response, the Company continues to be diligent in operational and marketing execution, and in expense management.
Results of Operations for the Three and Six Months Ended October 31, 2011 and 2010.
The following table illustrates the key earnings figures for the three and six months ended October 31, 2011 and 2010.
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Three Months Ended October 31,
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Six Months Ended October 31,
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($ in thousands, except earnings per share)
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|
2011
|
|
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2010
|
|
|
Change
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2011
|
|
|
2010
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Change
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Earnings per share
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$ |
0.19 |
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$ |
0.11 |
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72.7 |
% |
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$ |
0.40 |
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$ |
0.34 |
|
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|
17.6 |
% |
Net income
|
|
$ |
1,915 |
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$ |
1,087 |
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76.2 |
% |
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$ |
3,991 |
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$ |
3,404 |
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|
17.2 |
% |
Income from operations
|
|
$ |
1,518 |
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$ |
1,790 |
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-15.2 |
% |
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$ |
3,156 |
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$ |
5,336 |
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-40.9 |
% |
Revenues and profits interests from EAM Trust
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$ |
1,343 |
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|
$ |
- |
|
|
|
N/A |
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$ |
2,915 |
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$ |
- |
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|
|
N/A |
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Income from operations and revenues and profits interests from EAM Trust
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|
$ |
2,861 |
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|
$ |
1,790 |
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59.8 |
% |
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$ |
6,071 |
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$ |
5,336 |
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13.8 |
% |
Operating expenses
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$ |
7,622 |
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$ |
11,708 |
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-34.9 |
% |
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$ |
15,354 |
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$ |
21,771 |
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-29.5 |
% |
Income from securities transactions, net
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$ |
20 |
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$ |
51 |
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-60.8 |
% |
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$ |
31 |
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$ |
88 |
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-64.8 |
% |
Income before income taxes
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$ |
2,881 |
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$ |
1,841 |
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|
56.5 |
% |
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$ |
6,102 |
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$ |
5,424 |
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|
|
12.5 |
% |
During the six months ended October 31, 2011, the Company’s net income of $3,991,000, or $0.40 per share, was $587,000 or 17% above net income of $3,404,000, or $0.34 per share, for the six months ended October 31, 2010. Net income of $1,915,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was $828,000 or 76% above net income of $1,087,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2011. Income from operations of $3,156,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2011 was $2,180,000 or 41% below income from operations of $5,336,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2010. Income from operations of $1,518,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2012 was $272,000 or 15% below income from operations of $1,790,000 for the second quarter of fiscal 2011.
Income from operations for the six months ended October 31, 2011, does not include the non-voting revenues and profits interests from EAM of $2,915,000, while operating income for the six months ended October 31, 2010 includes $8,281,000 of advisory management fees and service distribution fees from the former Value Line subsidiaries, EULAV Asset Management LLC and EULAV Securities, Inc., that performed the operations of the investment management business prior to deconsolidation of these subsidiaries on December 23, 2010. Income before income taxes, which is inclusive of the non-voting revenues and profits interests from EAM through October 31, 2011, was $6,102,000 as compared to $5,424,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2010, an increase of $678,000 or 13%.
Revenues
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Three Months Ended October 31,
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Six Months Ended October 31,
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($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
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2010
|
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Change
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2011
|
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2010
|
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Change
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|
Investment periodicals and related publications
|
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$ |
8,327 |
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$ |
8,567 |
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|
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-2.8 |
% |
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$ |
16,725 |
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$ |
17,184 |
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-2.7 |
% |
Copyright data fees
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|
813 |
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|
865 |
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-6.0 |
% |
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1,785 |
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|
1,642 |
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8.7 |
% |
Publishing revenues
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9,140 |
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9,432 |
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-3.1 |
% |
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18,510 |
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|
18,826 |
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|
-1.7 |
% |
Investment management
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|
- |
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4,066 |
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-100.0 |
% |
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|
- |
|
|
|
8,281 |
|
|
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-100.0 |
% |
Total revenues
|
|
$ |
9,140 |
|
|
$ |
13,498 |
|
|
|
-32.3 |
% |
|
$ |
18,510 |
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|
$ |
27,107 |
|
|
|
-31.7 |
% |
Operating revenues from investment periodicals and related publications including copyright data fees were $18,510,000, which is 2% below the operating revenues from the previous fiscal year. Investment management activity for the six months ended October 31, 2011, are included as non-operating revenues and profits as a result of the EAM Restructuring Transaction completed on December 23, 2010.
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues were down $240,000, or 3%, for the three months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to the prior fiscal year period.
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues were down $459,000, or 3%, for the six months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to the prior fiscal year period. While the Company continued its efforts to attract new subscribers through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail and the internet for retail users, and by the efforts of our sales personnel in the institutional market, total product line circulation at October 31, 2011 was approximately 3% lower than the past fiscal year. Factors that have contributed to the decline in the investment periodicals and related publications revenues include competition in the form of free or low cost investment research on the Internet and research provided by brokerage firms at no direct cost to their clients. Although renewal rates for the flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, are 78%, up from 75% for the prior fiscal year, the Company is not adding enough new subscribers to offset the subscribers that choose not to renew the Value Line products. The Company has been successful in growing revenues from electronic investment periodicals within institutional sales, with earned revenues increasing $169,000 or 4% for the six months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to the six months ended October 31, 2010. This increase continues a positive growth trend for Institutional Sales, but is not sufficient to wholly offset the lost revenues from retail subscribers.
Within investment periodicals and related publications are subscription revenues derived from print and electronic products. The following chart illustrates the year-to-year change in the revenues associated with print and electronic subscriptions.
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|
Three Months Ended October 31,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended October 31,
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Print publications revenues
|
|
$ |
5,079 |
|
|
$ |
5,377 |
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|
|
-5.5 |
% |
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$ |
10,273 |
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|
$ |
10,879 |
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|
-5.6 |
% |
Electronic publications revenues
|
|
|
3,248 |
|
|
|
3,190 |
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|
|
1.8 |
% |
|
|
6,452 |
|
|
|
6,305 |
|
|
|
2.3 |
% |
Total investment periodicals and related publications revenues
|
|
$ |
8,327 |
|
|
$ |
8,567 |
|
|
|
-2.8 |
% |
|
$ |
16,725 |
|
|
$ |
17,184 |
|
|
|
-2.7 |
% |
Sources of Subscription Revenues
|
|
Three Months Ended October 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
Print
|
|
|
Electronic
|
|
|
Print
|
|
|
Electronic
|
|
New Subscribers
|
|
|
11.2 |
% |
|
|
26.3 |
% |
|
|
10.9 |
% |
|
|
28.7 |
% |
Renewals
|
|
|
88.8 |
% |
|
|
73.7 |
% |
|
|
89.1 |
% |
|
|
71.3 |
% |
Total Subscribers
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
Six Months Ended October 31,
|
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
|
Print
|
|
|
Electronic
|
|
|
Print
|
|
|
Electronic
|
|
New Subscribers
|
|
|
11.4 |
% |
|
|
27.2 |
% |
|
|
11.0 |
% |
|
|
30.6 |
% |
Renewals
|
|
|
88.6 |
% |
|
|
72.8 |
% |
|
|
89.0 |
% |
|
|
69.4 |
% |
Total Subscribers
|
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
100.0 |
% |
|
|
As of October 31,
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|
($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
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|
Unearned revenues (current and long term liabilities)
|
|
$ |
24,195 |
|
|
$ |
24,882 |
|
|
|
-2.8 |
% |
Print publication revenues decreased $298,000 or 6% for the three months ended October 31, 2011 and $606,000, or 6%, for the six months ended October 31, 2011 from fiscal 2011 for the reasons described earlier. Print circulation, which has always dominated the Company’s subscription base, has fallen 4% as of October 31, 2011 as compared to print circulation at October 31, 2010.
Electronic publications revenues increased $58,000 or 2% for the three months ended October 31, 2011 and $147,000, or 2%, for the six months ended October 31, 2011 from fiscal 2011. The electronic publication revenues are broken down into institutional accounts and retail subscribers. For the three and six months ended October 31, 2011, earned revenues from institutional electronic publications increased $62,000 or 3% and $169,000, or 4%, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended October 31, 2010. For the three and six months ended October 31, 2011, electronic publications revenues from retail subscribers decreased less than 1% as compared to the prior fiscal year. Gross institutional sales of $4,433,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2011, were $162,000 or 4% below gross sales of $4,594,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2010. The Company has relied more on its institutional sales marketing efforts, and the increase in institutional revenues is a direct result of a focused effort to sell to colleges, libraries and corporate accounts. The decrease in electronic retail publications revenues is primarily attributable to the decrease in circulation within the Company’s software products, which have not had a major update recently.
The majority of the Company’s subscribers have traditionally been individual investors who generally receive printed publications via U.S. Mail on a weekly basis. Consistent with the experience of other print publishers in many fields, the Company found that its universe of customers has been declining as individuals migrate to online delivered services.
Investors interested in online investment information have access to free equity research from many sources. For example, most retail broker-dealers with online trading capabilities offer their customers free or low cost research services that directly compete with the Company’s services. Revenues from retail online services have also declined because many competing online products offer more dynamic features.
The Company believes that the volatility of the equity market and the severe recession, which most economists say ended during the second quarter of calendar 2009, have to some extent eroded retail investor interest in equities. The Company also believes that the negative trend in overall subscription revenue is likely to continue, albeit at a slower rate than the decline experienced in recent years, until new products have been developed and marketed.
The Company has established the goal of developing competitive electronic products and marketing them effectively through traditional and electronic channels. Towards that end, the Company has been modernizing legacy information technology systems. The Company is not able to predict when these efforts will result in the launch of new services or whether they will be successful in reversing the trend of declining retail publishing revenues.
Copyright data fees
The Value Line Timeliness Ranking SystemTM (“the Ranking System”), a component in the Company’s flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, is also utilized in the Company’s copyright data business. The Ranking System is designed to be predictive over a six to twelve-month period. During the trailing twelve month period ended October 31, 2011, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stock gain of 8.4%, allowing for weekly changes in Ranks, compared favorably to the S&P 500 Index’s gain of 5.8%. During the six months and three months ended October 31, 2011, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stock decline of -11.4% and -6.3% was worse than the S&P 500 Index’s decrease of -7.9% and -2.6%, respectively. The Ranking System is also required to be made available to EAM for specific uses.
During the three and six months ended October 31, 2011, copyright data fees decreased $52,000 or 6% and increased $143,000, or 9%, respectively, as compared to the prior fiscal year. As of October 31, 2011, total third party sponsored assets were attributable to four contracts for copyright data representing $3 billion in various products, as compared to four contracts and $2.8 billion in assets at October 31, 2010, representing a 6% increase in assets. The Company believes the growth of this part of the business is dependent upon the desire of third parties to use the Value Line trademarks and proprietary research for their products. This market has become significantly more competitive as a result of product diversification and increased use of indices by portfolio managers. One account was added and one lost during the first six months of fiscal 2011, and there was no net change in the number of revenue-producing accounts during the six months ended October 31, 2011.
Investment management fees and services
As of the Restructuring Date, December 23, 2010, the Company deconsolidated its asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses and its interest in these businesses was restructured as a non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM. Accordingly, the Company no longer reports this operation as a separate business segment, although it still maintains a significant interest in the cash flows generated by this business and will receive non-voting revenues and profits interests going forward, as discussed below. Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed by EAM at October 31, 2011 were $2 billion, 5% or $97 million below total assets of $2.1 billion in the Value Line Funds managed by EAM LLC, the predecessor of EAM, at October 31, 2010. Overall assets in the Value Line Funds at October 31, 2011 decreased $213 million, or 9% since April 30, 2011 as a result of market depreciation and net redemptions of $49,336,000, $4,760,000, $21,796,000 and $38,408,000 within the equity, fixed income, money market and variable annuity funds, respectively, for the six months ended October 31, 2011.
Value Line Mutual Funds
Total Net Assets
|
|
At October 31,
|
|
($ in millions)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Equity funds
|
|
$ |
1,748 |
|
|
$ |
1,795 |
|
|
|
-2.6 |
% |
Fixed income funds
|
|
|
210 |
|
|
|
223 |
|
|
|
-5.8 |
% |
U.S. Government Money Market Fund
|
|
|
74 |
|
|
|
110 |
|
|
|
-32.7 |
% |
Total net assets
|
|
$ |
2,032 |
|
|
$ |
2,128 |
|
|
|
-4.5 |
% |
Of the fourteen funds, shares of Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (“SAM”) and Value Line Centurion Fund (“Centurion”) are available to the public only through the purchase of certain variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (“GIAC”). The next table provides a breakdown of the major distribution channels for the Value Line Funds.
|
|
At October 31,
|
|
($ in millions)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Variable annuity assets (GIAC)
|
|
$ |
463 |
|
|
$ |
476 |
|
|
|
-2.7 |
% |
All other open end equity fund assets
|
|
|
1,285 |
|
|
|
1,319 |
|
|
|
-2.6 |
% |
Total equity fund net assets
|
|
$ |
1,748 |
|
|
$ |
1,795 |
|
|
|
-2.6 |
% |
During the six months ended October 31, 2010, investment management fees and distribution service fees (which were discontinued as of December 23, 2010) amounted to $8,281,000 including 12b-1 fees of $1,784,000, after giving effect to account fee waivers for certain of the Value Line Funds. For the same period total investment management fee waivers were $378,000 and total 12b-1 fee waivers were $1,233,000. With limited exceptions, the Company, EAM LLC and ESI had no right to recoup the previously waived amounts of investment management fees and 12b-1 fees. Any such recoupment of waived investment management fees is subject to the provisions of the applicable prospectus. During the six months ended October 31, 2010, separately managed accounts revenues were $96,000. Separately managed accounts had $26 million in assets as of October 31, 2010. Of the $26 million, $23 million was affiliated with Arnold Bernhard and Co., Inc. (“AB&Co.”). During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the affiliated entities cancelled their separately managed account agreements with EAM LLC.
EAM - Results of operations before distribution to interest holders
The overall results of EAM’s investment management operations during the six months ended October 31, 2011, before interest holder distributions, include total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $6,258,000, 12b-1 fees of $1,750,000 and other income of $9,000. For the same period, total investment management fee waivers were $457,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers were $1,166,000. During the six months ended October 31, 2011, EAM’s net income was $188,000 including an estimate of $10,000 for the month of October 2011 and after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $2,821,000, but before distributions to voting interest holders and to the Company in respect of its non-voting profits interest.
As of October 31, 2011 twelve of the fourteen Value Line Funds have all or a portion of the 12b-1 fees being waived and five of the fourteen funds have partial investment management fee waivers in place. Although, under the terms of the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company no longer receives or shares in the revenues from 12b-1 distribution fees, the Company could benefit from the fee waivers to the extent that the resulting reduction of expense ratios and enhancement of the performance of the Value Line Funds attracts new assets.
As of October 31, 2011, three of the six Value Line equity mutual funds, excluding SAM and Centurion, had an overall four or five star rating by Morningstar, Inc. The largest distribution channel for the Value Line Funds remains the fund supermarket platforms such as Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., TD Ameritrade and Fidelity.
The Value Line fixed income Fund assets (excluding the Value Line U.S. Government Money Market Fund (“USGMMF”)), represent approximately 10% of total mutual fund assets under management (“AUM”) at October 31, 2011, a decrease from 11% of total mutual fund assets at October 31, 2010. The USGMMF assets represent 4% of the total Fund AUM at October 31, 2011, a decrease from 5% of the total Fund AUM at October 31, 2010. Fixed income assets decreased by 6% and there was a decrease of 33% in USGMMF AUM. The main reason for the decline in USGMMF AUM was due to redemptions by the Company, and the Value Line Profit Sharing Plan liquidating its account of approximately $12 million during May 2011. Management fees from the USGMMF were zero with EAM having waived all fees for the Fund since the end of November 2009, and because of the historically low interest rate environment and new regulations restricting investments, substantially subsidizing the USGMMF expenses.
At the September 22, 2011 Value Line Mutual Fund Board meeting, the Fund Board approved the merger of the Value Line Convertible Fund into the Value Line Income and Growth Fund. EAM has filed the preliminary proposal for the merger with the SEC. After the SEC’s review, the approved proxy was mailed to the VL Convertible Fund shareholders with EAM’s recommendation to approve the merger. EAM’s management estimates that the required votes and approval of the merger will be completed in late December 2011. The VL Convertible Fund has $21.9 million in assets under management as of October 31, 2011 with a management fee of 62.5 bps and a 12b-1 fee of 10 bps, both net of fee waivers, while the Income and Growth fund has a 65 bps management fee and a 20 bps 12b-1 fee, net of fee waivers. Provided 96% of the AUM in the Convertible Fund merge into the Income and Growth Fund, Value Line, Inc.’s revenue share from EAM should not change. However, EAM’s expenses will decline for Administration and Accounting fees for operation of the Convertible Fund. Value Line, Inc will share in 50% of the increase in profits that result from the elimination of these costs.
EAM - The Company’s non-voting revenues and profits interests
Following the Restructuring Transaction, the Company no longer engages, through subsidiaries, in the investment management or mutual fund distribution businesses. The Company does hold non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM which entitle the Company to receive from EAM an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM’s investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund and separate accounts business. EAM currently has no separately managed account clients. During the three and six months ended October 31, 2011, the Company recorded revenues of $1,343,000 and $2,915,000, respectively, consisting of $1,331,000 and $2,821,000, respectively, from its non-voting revenue interest in EAM and $12,000 and $94,000, respectively, from its non-voting profits interests in EAM without incurring any directly related expenses.
Expenses
|
|
Three Months Ended October 31,
|
|
|
Six Months Ended October 31,
|
|
($ in thousands)
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
Change
|
|
Advertising and promotion
|
|
$ |
988 |
|
|
$ |
2,359 |
|
|
|
-58.1 |
% |
|
$ |
2,109 |
|
|
$ |
4,077 |
|
|
|
-48.3 |
% |
Salaries and employee benefits
|
|
|
3,710 |
|
|
|
4,388 |
|
|
|
-15.5 |
% |
|
|
7,350 |
|
|
|
8,265 |
|
|
|
-11.1 |
% |
Production and distribution
|
|
|
1,158 |
|
|
|
1,142 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
% |
|
|
2,387 |
|
|
|
2,280 |
|
|
|
4.7 |
% |
Office and administration
|
|
|
1,766 |
|
|
|
2,699 |
|
|
|
-34.6 |
% |
|
|
3,508 |
|
|
|
4,687 |
|
|
|
-25.2 |
% |
Expenses related to restructuring
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
1,120 |
|
|
|
1.4 |
% |
|
|
- |
|
|
|
2,462 |
|
|
|
4.7 |
% |
|
|
$ |
7,622 |
|
|
$ |
11,708 |
|
|
|
-34.9 |
% |
|
$ |
15,354 |
|
|
$ |
21,771 |
|
|
|
-29.5 |
% |
Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and benefits, production and distribution, office and administration and provision for settlement. Operating expenses for the three and six months ended October 31, 2011, decreased $4,086,000 or 35% and $6,417,000, or 30%, respectively, as compared to the three and six months ended October 31, 2010.
Advertising and promotion
Advertising and promotion expenses during the three months ended October 31, 2011, decreased $1,371,000 or 58%, as compared to the prior year period, of which $962,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business on December 23, 2010. Within the publishing segment, costs decreased $410,000 or 29% for the three months ended October 31, 2011, mainly due to reduced media advertising and promotional costs along with a reduction in renewal solicitation costs.
Advertising and promotion expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2011, decreased $1,968,000, or 48%, as compared to the six months ended October 31, 2010, of which $1,963,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business. The Company discontinued advertising expenses (primarily promotional payments to independent broker-dealers) associated with the distribution of the Value Line Funds. Within the publishing segment, costs for the six months ended October 31, 2011, direct mail costs increased $144,000 or 15% above the prior fiscal year. The prior year direct mail costs were reduced by a $124,000 reversal of a reserve established for the disputed invoices billed six years ago. The Company refused to pay this invoice due to the negligence of Double Click in merge/purge against the Company’s active file for a direct mail campaign. Media advertising and promotional costs during the six months ended October 31, 2011 include $335,000 relating to the digital product and software promotion project, which was partially offset by a $155,000 decrease in public relations costs and commissions.
Salaries and employee benefits
Salaries and employee benefits decreased by $ 678,000 or 16% during the three months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to the prior year period, of which $831,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business. Salaries and employee benefits in the publishing segment increased as there is no investment management segment to allocate costs to as in the previous year.
Salaries and employee benefits decreased by $915,000 or 11% during the six months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to the prior year period, of which $1,692,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business, of which $1,204,000 related to direct overhead costs and $488,000 related to shared costs incurred in order to provide the proprietary Ranking System information and overhead salaries to the investment management business. Pursuant to the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company agreed to supply the proprietary Ranking System information to EAM without charge or expense and these costs remain within the publishing segment in the current year. Salaries and employee benefits in the publishing segment increased as there is no investment management segment to allocate costs to as in the previous year in addition to increased employee costs associated with an increased headcount in IT, fulfillment and institutional sales and increased accrued profit sharing expense.
Production and distribution
Production and distribution expenses during the three months ended October 31, 2011, increased $16,000 or 1%, as compared to the prior fiscal year periods.
Production and distribution expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2011, were $107,000, or 5%, above the prior fiscal year primarily due to an increase in third party distribution costs. During the six months ended October 31, 2011, an increase of $133,000 due to conversion costs related to a new fulfillment system was offset by a $105,000 decrease in the monthly costs of data feed expenses.
Office and administration
Office and administration expenses during the three months ended October 31, 2011, decreased $933,000 or 35%, as compared to the three months ended October 31, 2010, of which $1,067,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business. Publishing costs increased $134,000 or 8% as a result of the deconsolidation of the investment management segment.
Office and administration expenses during the six months ended October 31, 2011, were $1,179,000, or 25%, below expenses for the six months ended October 31, 2010, of which $1,770,000 related to the deconsolidation of the investment management business, of which $1,176,000 related to direct overhead costs and $594,000 related to shared costs incurred in order to provide the proprietary Ranking System information and overhead costs to the investment management business, which is provided at no cost to EAM in the current year, per the EAM Trust Agreement. During the six months ended October 31, 2011, in addition to the fact there is no investment management segment to allocate costs to, legal fees other than those classified as restructuring during the prior year decreased $50,000 from the comparable period of the prior fiscal year. Professional fees fluctuate year to year based on the level of operations, litigation or regulatory activity requiring the use of outside professionals. During the period from December 23, 2010 until May 28, 2011, EAM and ES occupied a portion of the premises that the Company leases from a third party. The Company received $44,000 for the month of May, 2011 for rent and a payment for certain accounting and other administrative support services provided to EAM and ES on a transitional basis during such period.
Expenses related to restructuring
Professional fees of $1,120,000 during the second quarter and $2,462,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2010 were associated with the restructuring of the Company’s assets management business segment. The Company’s policy was to expense those costs as incurred.
Provision for Settlement
On November 4, 2009, the Company, its former Chief Executive Officer and another former officer of the Company concluded a Settlement with the SEC as a result of an investigation regarding the execution of portfolio transactions on behalf of the Value Line Funds (see Part II, Item 1, “Legal Proceedings”). During fiscal 2011, the SEC appointed A.B. Data, Ltd as the Administrator of the Fair Fund. In connection with its ongoing administration of the Fair Fund, A.B. Data, Ltd estimated that the remaining costs of administration would be $1,464,000 as of April 30, 2011 which the Company reflected as a liability in its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. Subsequent to the Settlement and pursuant to Section 308(a) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the Company’s disgorgement, interest and penalty payments to the SEC in the aggregate amount of $43,706,000 were to be placed into a Fair Fund created by the SEC. The Fair Fund will be used to reimburse shareholders who owned shares in the affected Value Line Funds in the period covered by the Settlement and to complete prescribed claims procedures. The Company is required to bear all the costs associated with the Fair Fund distribution, including retaining a third party consultant appointed by the SEC to administer the Fair Fund administration and distribution. During fiscal 2012, the Company paid $984,000 of Fair Fund administration expenses resulting in a remaining accrual for expected future expenses of $480,000 which the Company has reflected as a liability on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet at October 31, 2011. The Company does not believe there will be any additional fees beyond the $480,000 reflected on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.
Income from Securities Transactions, net
During the six months ended October 31, 2011, the Company’s income from securities transactions, net, of $31,000 was $57,000 or 65% below income from securities transactions, net, of $88,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2010. Income from securities transactions, net, includes dividend and interest income of $41,000 and $92,000 earned during the six months ended October 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Capital losses during the six months ended October 31, 2011, were $5,000 primarily from the sale of fixed income obligations. There were no capital gains or losses, during the six months ended October 31, 2010.
Effective income tax rate
The overall effective income tax rate, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the three months ended October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010 was 33.53% and 40.96%, respectively. The overall effective income tax rate, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the six months ended October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010 was 34.60% and 37.24%, respectively. The decrease in the blended effective tax rate is a result of lower state and city taxes resulting from the EAM revenues and profits interests, credit for overpaid alternative minimum taxes, and effect of the federal domestic production activities deduction.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company had negative working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $9,067,000 as of October 31, 2011 and positive working capital of $1,978,000 as of October 31, 2010. These amounts include short-term unearned revenue of $20,003,000 and $20,827,000 reflected in total current liabilities at October 31, 2011 and October 31, 2010, respectively. The decrease in working capital for fiscal 2012 resulted primarily from the payment in November 2010 of a special $2.00 per share dividend, aggregating approximately $20 million, in lieu of the Company’s regularly scheduled $0.20 per share dividend. Also in fiscal 2011, in connection with the Restructuring Transaction completed on December 23, 2010, the Company transferred cash and marketable securities of $7,000,000 to EAM, and paid $764,000 of restructuring related expenses.
Cash from operating activities
The Company had cash outflows from operating activities of $1,314,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2011, as compared to cash inflows from operations of $4,458,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2010. The change in cash flows from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2012 was primarily due to the restructuring of the investment management business that resulted in the cessation of this operating activity and the inclusion of the Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM Trust as investing activities in fiscal 2012. Fiscal 2011 included cash inflows from the receipt of $1,598,000 in federal income tax refunds while fiscal 2012 include payments of $367,000 of federal, state and local incomes taxes. Fiscal 2012 also includes payments of $984,000 and $243,000 for obligations related to the SEC settlement and EAM operating lease exit costs, respectively. Additionally, during fiscal 2012, the Company paid accrued liabilities of $487,000 for the prior year capitalized costs related to the Company’s digital strategy.
Cash from investing activities
The Company’s cash inflow from investing activities was $9,308,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2011, compared to cash outflows from investing activities of $10,185,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2010. Cash inflows for the six months ended October 31, 2011, were higher due to the Company’s decision not to invest cash in short-term, low yielding fixed income securities in fiscal 2012, the receipt of $2,913,000 of non-voting revenues interest and non-voting profits interest distributions from EAM Trust, offset by the Company’s investment of $2,165,000 in capitalized software costs for upgrading its product capabilities. Cash outflows in fiscal 2011 resulted from redeployment of cash into fixed income government debt securities during the first six months of fiscal year 2011. The Company expects that investing activities will continue to provide cash from maturities of securities held-for-sale and continued receipts for the non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests distributions from EAM Trust.
Cash from financing activities
The Company’s cash outflow from financing activities was $4,934,000 during the six months ended October 31, 2011, compared to cash outflows from financing activities of $1,996,000 for the six months ended October 31, 2010. During fiscal 2012, cash outflows for financing activities consisted of $946,000 for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock under the board approved repurchase program. Dividend payments of $0.20 per share aggregated $3,988,000 during fiscal 2012 as compared to $1,996,000 in fiscal 2011. The Company expects financing activities to continue to use cash for the foreseeable future due to continued stock repurchases and dividend payments.
Management believes that the Company’s cash and other liquid asset resources used in its business together with the future cash flows from operations and from the Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM will be sufficient to finance current and forecasted liquidity needs for the next twelve months. Management does not anticipate making any borrowings in fiscal 2012. As of October 31, 2011, retained earnings and liquid assets were approximately $32 million and $17 million, respectively.
Seasonality
Our operations are minimally seasonal in nature. Our publishing revenues are comprised of subscriptions which are generally annual subscriptions and/or multi-year subscriptions. Our cash flows from operating activities are somewhat seasonal in nature, primarily due to the timing of customer payments made under subscription renewals, which generally occur more frequently in our fiscal third quarter.
Off-balance sheet arrangements
We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business.
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
The Company’s Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies have not changed from those reported in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2011.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2011-05, Presentation of Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2011-05”), which represents an update to ASC 220, Comprehensive Income. ASU 2011-05 provides new disclosure guidance for comprehensive income, requiring presentation of each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income and a total amount for comprehensive income. An entity will have the option to present these items in one continuous statement or two separate but consecutive statements. An entity will no longer be permitted to present components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders’ equity. This update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011 and for interim periods within those years. The Company plans to adopt this guidance effective May 1, 2012, and it is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
Item 3. |
QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK. |
Market Risk Disclosures
The Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet includes a substantial amount of assets whose fair values are subject to market risks. The Company’s significant market risks are primarily associated with interest rates and equity price risk. The following sections address the significant market risks associated with the Company’s business activities.
Interest Rate Risk
The Company’s strategy has been to acquire debt securities with low credit risk. Despite this objective, management recognizes and accepts the possibility that losses may occur. To limit the price fluctuation in these securities from interest rate changes, the Company’s management invests primarily in short-term obligations maturing in six months to one year.
The fair values of the Company’s fixed maturity investments will fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates. Increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates generally translate into decreases and increases in fair values of those instruments. Additionally, fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by prepayment options, relative values of alternative investments, and other general market conditions.
The following table summarizes the estimated effects of hypothetical increases and decreases in interest rates on assets that are subject to interest rate risk. It is assumed that the changes occur immediately and uniformly to each category of instrument containing interest rate risks. The hypothetical changes in market interest rates do not reflect what could be deemed best or worst case scenarios. Variations in market interest rates could produce significant changes in the timing of repayments due to prepayment options available. For these reasons, actual results might differ from those reflected in the table.
($ in thousands)
|
|
Estimated Fair Value after
Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates
|
|
Fixed Income Securities
|
|
Value
|
|
|
6 Months
50bp
increase
|
|
|
6 Months
50bp
decrease
|
|
|
1 Year
100bp
increase
|
|
|
1 Year
100bp
decrease
|
|
Investments in securities with fixed maturities as of October 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
2,201 |
|
|
$ |
2,201 |
|
|
$ |
2,201 |
|
|
$ |
2,201 |
|
|
$ |
2,201 |
|
Investments in securities with fixed maturities as of April 30, 2011
|
|
$ |
11,208.0 |
|
|
$ |
11,199.6 |
|
|
$ |
11,199.7 |
|
|
$ |
11,199.5 |
|
|
$ |
11,199.7 |
|
(bp = basis points)
Management regularly monitors the maturity structure of the Company’s investments in debt securities in order to maintain an acceptable price risk associated with changes in interest rates.
Equity Price Risk
The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risks are based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet dates. Market prices are subject to fluctuation and, consequently, the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value. Fluctuation in the market price of a security may result from perceived changes in the underlying economic characteristics of the issuer, the relative price of alternative investments and general market conditions. Furthermore, amounts realized in the sale of a particular security may be affected by the relative quantity of the security being sold.
The Company’s equity investment strategy has been to acquire equity securities across a diverse industry group. The portfolio consists primarily of Exchange Traded Funds (“ETFs”) with a concentration on large capitalization companies with high relative dividend yields. In order to maintain liquidity in these securities, the Company’s policy has been to invest in and hold in its portfolio, no more than 5% of the approximate average daily trading volume in any one issue.
As of October 31, 2011, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consist of ETF investments in the First Trust Value Line Dividend (ticker symbol FVD), S&P Dividend (ticker symbol SDY) and Powershares Financial Preferred stock (ticker symbol PGF) and other equity securities was $1,764,000 and the market value was $1,832,000. The Company did not hold any equity securities as of October 31, 2010.
($ in thousands)
Equity Securities
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Hypothetical
Price Change
|
|
|
Estimated
Fair Value after
Hypothetical
Change in Prices
|
|
|
Hypothetical
Percentage
Increase (Decrease) in
Shareholders’ Equity
|
|
As of October 31, 2011
|
|
$ |
1,832 |
|
|
30% increase
|
|
|
$ |
2,382 |
|
|
|
1.11 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30% decrease |
|
|
$ |
1,282 |
|
|
|
(1.11 |
)% |
As of April 30, 2011
|
|
$ |
1,466 |
|
|
30% increase
|
|
|
$ |
1,906 |
|
|
|
0.86 |
% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
30% decrease
|
|
|
$ |
1,026 |
|
|
|
(0.86 |
)% |
Credit Worthiness of Issuer
The Company’s fixed income investments consist primarily of U.S. Treasury Bills and FDIC insured commercial paper.
Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
|
(a)
|
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
|
The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
|
(b)
|
The registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have determined that there have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
|
Part II – OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Refer to Note 11 - Legal Proceedings and Restructuring of the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements for discussion of legal proceedings and restructuring, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A – Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2011 filed with the SEC on July 29, 2011.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
( c ) Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company
The following table provides information with respect to all repurchases of common stock made by or on behalf of the Company during the fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2011. All purchases listed below were made in the open market at prevailing market prices.
|
|
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
|
|
|
|
(a) Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
|
|
|
(b) Average Price
Paid per Share (or
Unit)
|
|
|
(c) Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
|
|
|
(d) Maximum Number
(or Approximate
Dollar Value) of
Shares (or Units) that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
|
|
August 1- 31, 2011
|
|
|
22,300 |
|
|
$ |
10.95 |
|
|
|
22,300 |
|
|
$ |
2,707,664 |
|
September 1- 30, 2011
|
|
|
26,000 |
|
|
$ |
11.86 |
|
|
|
26,000 |
|
|
$ |
2,399,308 |
|
October 1- 31, 2011
|
|
|
18,500 |
|
|
$ |
12.68 |
|
|
|
18,500 |
|
|
$ |
2,164,693 |
|
Total
|
|
|
66,800 |
|
|
$ |
11.78 |
|
|
|
66,800 |
|
|
$ |
2,164,693 |
|
|
|
All shares represent shares repurchased pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors. In January 2011, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock, at such times and prices as management determined to be advisable, up to an aggregate purchase price of $3,200,000. The repurchase authorization extends through January 15, 2012 unless extended by the Board of Directors.
|
Item 5. Other Information
None.
Item 6. Exhibits
10.6
|
Stipulation of Settlement
|
31.1
|
Certificate of Chief Executive Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
31.2
|
Certificate of Principal Financial Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
32.1
|
Joint Chief Executive Officer/ Principal Financial Officer Certificate Required Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
|
101.INS
101.SCH
101.CAL
101.DEF
101.LAB
101.PRE
|
|
XBRL Instance Document
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
|
VALUE LINE, INC.
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.
Value Line, Inc.
(Registrant)
Date: December 9, 2011
|
By:
|
/s/Howard A. Brecher |
|
|
|
Howard A. Brecher |
|
|
|
Chief Executive Officer |
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(Principal Executive Officer) |
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Date: December 9, 2011
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By:
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/s/Stephen R. Anastasio |
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Stephen R. Anastasio |
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Vice President and Treasurer |
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(Principal Financial Officer)
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