Our Mission
The future of our world
depends on the education
of our children. We deliver
educational excellence one
book at a time. We provide
economic opportunity while
fostering strong family
values. We touch the lives of
children for a lifetime.
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Net revenues
$51,030,300
$87,829,000
$142,228,800
$204,635,100
$113,011,900
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
$734,500
($3,426,900)
$11,235,900
$17,230,800
$7,751,900
Net earnings (loss)
$546,400
($2,504,900)
$8,306,800
$12,624,000
$5,645,100
Basic earnings (loss) per share
$0.07
($0.31)
$1.03
$1.51
$0.68
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
$0.07
($0.31)
$0.98
$1.50
$0.68
Total assets
$90,105,000
$99,936,800
$109,933,700
$88,850,500
$64,702,800
6KDUHKROGHUV·HTXLW\
$45,231,800
$46,765,500
$40,259,800
$29,392,800
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5.5)
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2.5)
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Market price range:
High Close
$3.69
$8.40
$19.12
$19.17
$9.15
Low Close
$0.81
$2.08
$7.06
$3.43
$5.16
0DUNHWSULFHDW\HDUHQG
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
Net Revenues by Division
Common Stock
Financial Information
EDC Publishing
PaperPie
Dear Shareholders,
As we reflect on the past year, I am honored to present our Company's annual report,
encapsulating both the challenges we've encountered and the triumphs we've achieved.
It has been a year marked by resilience, adaptation, and an ardent commitment to our
core values.
Undoubtedly, one of the defining factors of this year has been the short-term necessity
to prioritize cash flow over our longstanding history of profitability. This compelled us to
make tactical decisions, including the sale of one of our properties and the ongoing process
of selling and leasing back our main headquarters. While these decisions were carefully
evaluated, they were determined crucial in ensuring the financial stability necessary to
weather the challenges imposed by the current economic climate as we work to restore our
longstanding profitability and ultimately our dividend.
Despite these challenges, I am proud to report that our team continues to rise to the occasion with resolute determination.
Our successful implementation of our new PaperPie e-commerce platform stands as a testament to our ability to adapt
and thrive in an ever-evolving marketplace. This milestone positions us for sustained growth in the digital landscape. We
continue to develop complementary applications specifically designed for our PaperPie business model; which we expect
will bolster our Brand Partner counts and increase revenues.
Furthermore, I am delighted to share that our efforts in rebranding our PaperPie division have yielded continued success,
paving the way for enhanced market visibility and customer engagement. The introduction of new SmartLab Toys products
within our existing product lines has been met with resounding positivity, indicating promising avenues for expansion and
diversification of our offerings.
Amidst our business endeavors, we remain deeply committed to our broader societal impact. Our recent venture into
charitable giving focuses on a "Buy 1, Give 1" model, underscoring our dedication to fostering positive change in children’s
literacy beyond the realm of commercial commerce. The inclusion of a corporate campaign like this enables us to create a
lasting legacy that highlights the importance of what we do while transcending profit margins and shareholder returns.
Looking ahead, we stand poised at the precipice of new opportunities and challenges. Our determined resolve, coupled with
our relentless pursuit of excellence, positions us favorably for the journey ahead. As we navigate the uncertainties of the
future, I am confident in our collective ability to emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before.
In closing, I extend my sincerest gratitude to our shareholders, employees, customers, and partners for their unwavering
support and dedication. Together, we will continue to write the next chapter of our company's storied legacy with
optimism, integrity, and a dedicated commitment to excellence.
s
r
Letter From The President
Cordially yours,
Craig White
President and Chief Executive Officer
Cordially yours,
CraigWhite
Number of books donated through our
Buy 1, Give 1 campaign
15,315
6,785,446
Total number of books shipped
(introduced in November 2023)
pounds of
cardboard
recycled
130,000
ard
Number of pieces of
paper unused from our
paperless initiative in our
warehouse operations.
ofpiecesof
Numbero
780,000
Number of summer bags filled for
a state-funded student program:
11,000
(a total of 66,000 EDC products used for this project)
er
-f
66,
Numbe
a state-
(a total of 6
tching orders
ber of grant mat
Total numb
ra
a
ta
o
o
To
rd
b
g
g
e
e
g
g
donated from special programs:
FREE BOOKS
904,452
FY2024 Key Performance Indicators:
News from Our Sales Divisions
EDC Publishing (Retail) Division
This past year has been a period of foundational work for future growth in our retail sales division, EDC Publishing. The
introduction of our SmartLab Toys line has successfully captured the interest of our retail partners, providing them with
innovative, STEAM-focused products that are both educational and engaging. This new product line complements our
existing offerings from Kane Miller and Learning Wrap-ups, enhancing our ability to meet the diverse needs of stores looking to
enrich their shelves with captivating and educational materials.
As we continue to navigate a challenging economic landscape, our focus remains on providing exceptional value through our
carefully curated product selections. Our sales representatives are dedicated to fostering strong relationships with retailers,
ensuring that they have access to products that not only sell well but also contribute positively to the learning and development
of young minds. Looking ahead, we aim to expand our reach and deepen our impact in the retail sector, driven by a passion for
bringing educational and enjoyable experiences to children everywhere.
Heather Cobb
Chief Sales &Marketing Officer
• New Brand Partners: 10,800 -34.55%
• Brand Partners with Leader level status
at end of year: 1,508
• Active Brand Partners at end of year: 15,000
PaperPie: 89%
Retail: 11%
Percent of Revenues
by Division:
F
PaperPie (Direct Sales) Division
(formerly Usborne Books & More)
Despite facing a downturn in Brand Partner numbers this year, the culture within PaperPie has never been more vibrant and purpose-
driven. We are now a full year into our rebranding as PaperPie, and our community of StoryMakers has embraced our new narrative
with enthusiasm and authenticity. Our brand pillars—community, connection, enthusiasm, influence, exceptional, possibility,
kindness, and joy—remain at the core of everything we do, from customer promotions to Brand Partner incentives, infusing our
activities with deep, meaningful intent.
This year, we proudly launched our Buy1, Give1 campaign, a testament to our commitment to literacy, learning, and community
engagement. By partnering with national charities each quarter, we're able to donate products to these organizations based on
customer purchases from select categories. The response to this campaign has been overwhelmingly positive, allowing both our
customers and Brand Partners to play a significant role in supporting communities in need. As we look ahead, we are committed to
continuing to offer quality, affordable products while empowering our StoryMakers with a business opportunity that allows them to
generate income and give back to their local communities, aligning their personal stories with our broader mission.
'DQ2·.HHIH
Chief Financial Officer
'
2·.
I
The standout efficiency gains in Warehouse Operations for this year came from our two-level pick, pack, and ship lines 7 and 8 housed in
a 30,000-square-foot-mezzanine structure. These lines were originally installed in May of 2021, and with continued optimization, we are
generating increased savings. Much of these savings come from centralizing all picking and packing operations, along with personnel, into
this one location. This allows us to streamline productivity by reducing steps and enhancing communication flow.
Consolidating work areas into this 30,000-square-foot mezzanine operation not only saves space but also preserves costly equipment.
Additionally, we have been able to sell surplus equipment associated with our other lines that are no longer necessary due to the efficiencies
we’ve created. Our efforts to optimize space extended beyond production lines. Through effective storage planning, our off-site flex space was
downsized from 75,000 to 40,000 square feet, reducing our rented space and transportation costs.
Given the volatile nature of the supply chain in recent years, minimizing shipping costs remains a top priority. One step in controlling our
increasing parcel delivery costs was the introduction of Mail Innovations. This new shipping method not only generated significant savings but
also allowed us to continue to track individual shipments from our facility to our customers' doors.
We continue to look for ways to increase efficiencies in our operations every day. This has been and continues to be the focus of our
operations team.
Operations
Stock Prices & Dividends Paid
Cash Dividend Paid
Fiscal Year
Stock Prices
High
Low
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
$
3.69
$
8.40
$ 19.12
$ 19.17
$
9.15
$
0.81
$
2.08
$
7.06
$
3.43
$
5.16
-
$
0.10
$
0.40
$
0.27
$
0.20
John Lietsch
Chief Information Officer
In the past 12 months, we have begun realizing the value of our investment in improving the alignment between our business goals and IT’s ability to support the organization in meeting or
exceeding those goals. Our business strategies are much better aligned to IT’s capacity and budget which has resulted in greater operational efficiencies and in the timely delivery of planned
improvements to our digital strategy.
In January, we launched a completely new, Microsoft-based e-commerce platform that
considerably improved our desktop and mobile experiences. Our new platform also upgraded and
modernized our technical architecture resulting in greater control over our online performance,
improved scalability to successfully support our future growth, and in increased flexibility to
remain up to date with validated trends in e-commerce website design. Additionally, our new
e-commerce engine will be easier to maintain and grow because it is based on a platform and
language that have a readily available pool of local and global resources. And finally, our new
platform has improved our overall user experience for both our Brand Partners and Customers.
As a result, we expect continued improvements in our e-commerce KPIs, like conversion and
abandon rates, across all devices.
This year we will continue to improve our new e-commerce platform focusing primarily on user
experience, promotions, and discounting capabilities, and the introduction of new marketing
programs aimed at improving customer loyalty and increasing our sales footprint. All efforts
are part of our ongoing dedication to the prioritized execution of strategic initiatives aimed at
improving the top and bottom-line performance of our organization. In support of that effort, we
have no plans to increase IT spending this year and will continue to use a hybrid approach to our
technology spending. This means we will continue to leverage third-party relationships, explore
and use open-source solutions, and rely on in-house development. We expect IT investment
to remain below peer group averages which will allow us to allocate and focus the necessary
resources to the implementation and management of our business growth strategies.
IT
J h
Li t
h
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
(Mark One)
ցANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024
OR
տTRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO 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)
Delaware
73-0750007
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
5402 South 122nd East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma
74146
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (918) 622-4522
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.20 par value
EDUC
NASDAQ
(Title of class)
(Trading symbol)
(Name of each exchange on which
registered)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
Yes տ No ց
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.
Yes տ No ց
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports),
and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes ց No տ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant
to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant
was required to submit such files).
Yes ց No տ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting
company or an emerging growth company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company”
and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer տ
Accelerated filer տ
Non-accelerated filer ց
Smaller reporting company ց
Emerging growth company տ
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for
complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.
տ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed a report on and attestation to its management’s assessment of the effectiveness
of its internal control over financial reporting under Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act (15 U.S.C. 7262(b)) by the registered
public accounting firm that prepared or issued its audit report.
տ
If securities are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act, indicate by check mark whether the financial statements of the
registrant included in the filing reflect the correction of an error to previously issued financial statements.
տ
Indicate by check mark whether any of those error corrections are restatements that required a recovery analysis of incentive-based
FRPSHQVDWLRQUHFHLYHGE\DQ\RIWKHUHJLVWUDQW¶VH[HFXWLYHR൶FHUVGXULQJWKHUHOHYDQWUHFRYHU\SHULRGSXUVXDQWWR'-1(b).
տ
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes տ No ց
The aggregate market value of the outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at the price at which the
common stock was last sold on August 31, 2023 on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC was $9,519,000.
As of May 13, 2024 there were 8,575,088 shares of common stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement for fiscal year 2024 relating to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024 are
incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report on Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
4
PART I
Item 1.
Business
4
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
6
Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments
6
Item 1C.
Cybersecurity
6
Item 2.
Properties
7
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings
7
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
7
PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
8
Item 6.
[Reserved]
8
Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
8
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
19
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
19
Item 9.
Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
19
Item 9A.
Controls and Procedures
19
Item 9B.
Other Information
20
Item 9C.
Disclosure Regarding Foreign Jurisdictions that Prevent Inspections
20
PART III
Item 10.
Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
21
Item 11.
Executive Compensation
21
Item 12.
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters
21
Item 13.
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
21
Item 14.
Principal Accounting Fees and Services
21
PART IV
Item 15.
Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
22
Item 16.
Form 10-K Summary
24
PART I
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
CAUTIONARY REMARKS REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The information discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K 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. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include,
but are not limited to,
Ɣ
our success in recruiting and retaining new Brand Partners (formerly consultants),
Ɣ
our ability to locate and procure desired books,
Ɣ
product and supplier concentrations,
Ɣ
our relationship with our primary supplier and the related distribution requirements and contractual limitations,
Ɣ
adverse publicity associated with our Company or the industry,
Ɣ
our ability to ship timely,
Ɣ
changes to our primary sales channels, including social media and party plan platforms,
Ɣ
changing consumer preferences and demands,
Ɣ
legal matters,
Ɣ
reliance on information technology infrastructure,
Ɣ
restrictions imposed by covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness,
Ɣ
our ability to obtain adequate financing for working capital and capital expenditures,
Ɣ
economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes, and other uncertainties,
Ɣ
outstanding impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as
Ɣ
those factors discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, all of which are difficult to
predict.
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed may not occur. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K and speak only as of the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. 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. As used in this Annual Report on Form 10-
K, the terms “the Company,” “EDC,” “we,” “our” or “us” mean Educational Development Corporation, a Delaware corporation, unless
the context indicates otherwise.
Item 1. BUSINESS
(a) General Description of Business
We are the owner and exclusive publisher of Kane Miller children’s books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational
manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level
Marketing (“MLM”) distributor of Usborne Publishing Limited (“Usborne”) children’s books. We are a corporation incorporated under
the laws of the State of Delaware on August 23, 1965. Our fiscal year ends on February 28 (29).
Our Company vision statement reflects “We believe that education is the catalyst for wonderment, kindness, and connection.
Our vision is to empower the world by sparking a child’s natural curiosity and lifelong love of learning through products and experiences
that meet at the intersection of education and play.”
Our Company mission statement reflects “We are creating the story of tomorrow through people, products, and purpose.”
4
(b) Financial Information about Our Segments
We sell children’s books, educational toys and games and other related products (collectively referred to as “products” or
“books”) through two business segments, which we refer to as “divisions” or “sales channels”:
Ɣ Direct Sales Division (“PaperPie”) – This division sells our books and products through independent sales representatives (“Brand
Partners”) direct to the customer. Our Brand Partners sell our products in various ways, including hosting home parties, through
social media collaboration platforms on the internet, hosting book fairs with school and public libraries and through other events.
This division had approximately 15,000 active Brand Partners as of February 29, 2024.
Ɣ Publishing Division (“EDC Publishing” or “Publishing”) – This is our trade division which markets through commissioned trade
representatives who call on retail book, toy and specialty stores along with other retail outlets. This division also has in-house
representatives marketing by telephone and email to other customers and potential customers. This division markets to
approximately 4,000 retail outlets. In addition to exhibiting at national trade and regional bookselling shows, our products are
featured in agency showrooms in AmericasMart Atlanta, Dallas Market Center, and Minneapolis Mart. In accordance with our
new distribution agreement, the Company no longer has the rights to distribute Usborne’s products to retail customers. The
distribution of Usborne’s products to retail customers was discontinued in early fiscal 2024, when Usborne moved to a new retail
distribution vendor. .
Percent of Net Revenues by Division
FY 2024
FY 2023
PaperPie
89 %
85 %
Publishing
11 %
15 %
Total net revenues
100 %
100 %
(c) Narrative Description of Business
Products
EDC’s current catalog contains approximately 2,000 titles, with new additions added throughout the year across all lines of our
products. Additionally, a similar number of titles that do not have sufficient sales are identified as “out of print” and these titles are no
longer re-printed or included in future catalogs. The Company sells the remaining quantities of these out-of-print titles through their
normal sales channels at normal pricing and has not historically participated in the publishing industry’s “remainder” market. Many of
our products are interactive in nature, including our touchy-feely board books, activity books and flashcards, adventure and search
books, art books, sticker books, foreign language books, learning manipulatives and toys. We also have a broad line of ‘internet-linked’
books which allow readers to expand their educational experience by referring them to relevant non-Company websites. Our books also
include science and math titles, as well as chapter books and novels. Many of our Kane Miller books were originally published in other
countries, in their native languages, and we translate them to common American English and have exclusive rights to publish the titles
in the United States. Certain Kane Miller agreements include North American rights, and these titles are also sold into Canada. Our
SmartLab Toys and Learning Wrap-Ups imprints are owned product lines that are sold domestically and internationally, including the
sale of foreign distribution rights to specific customers.
Seasonality
Sales for both divisions are greatest during the fall due to the holiday season.
Competition
While we have the exclusive rights to sell Kane Miller books, Learning Wrap-Ups, SmartLab Toys and are the exclusive United
States Multi-Level Marketing (“MLM”) distributor of Usborne books, we face competition from other publishers selling on the internet
and directly to our customer base. Our PaperPie division competes in recruiting and retaining Brand Partners, which continuously receive
opportunities to work for other direct selling companies, as well as new non-traditional employment opportunities, especially in the gig
marketplace that provide part-time supplemental income. We also compete with other publishers in the school and library book fair
market, of which Scholastic Corporation is the largest.
Our Publishing division faces competition from U.S. and international publishing companies that sell online and through the
same retail bookstores, toy stores, and gift and novelty stores that also offer a variety of non-book products.
5
Employees
As of February 23, 2024, 101 full-time employees worked at our Tulsa, OK, San Diego, CA, and Layton, UT facilities. Of
these employees, approximately 50% work in our distribution warehouse in Tulsa, OK.
Company Reports
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15 of the Exchange Act, as soon as reasonably practicable after filing electronically or otherwise
furnishing it to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), we make available, free of charge, on our website (www.edcpub.com)
copies of our Annual Reports and Quarterly Reports. Our website also includes an internet link to the federal SEC website that contains
additional public reports, including Current Reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports filed or furnished to the SEC and reports
of holdings of our securities filed by our officers and directors under Section 16 of the Exchange Act. These reports will be provided
electronically, free of charge, upon request.
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.
Item 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None
Item 1C. CYBERSECURITY
The Company has developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the
confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical systems and information. We designed and assessed our cybersecurity risk based
on the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). This does not imply that we meet any particular technical standards,
specifications, or requirements, only that we use these frameworks as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks
relevant to our business.
Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program and shares
common methodologies, reporting channels, and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to
other legal, compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes:
Ɣ
Risk assessments are designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems and
information.
Ɣ
A security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our
security controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents.
Ɣ
The use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our
security controls.
Ɣ
Cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, including our incident response personnel.
Ɣ
A cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents.
We have not identified risks from known cybersecurity threats, including as a result of any prior cybersecurity incidents, that
have materially affected the Company, including our operations, business strategy, results of operations, or financial condition. We face
risks from cybersecurity threats that, if realized, are reasonably likely to materially affect us, including our operations, business strategy,
results of operations, or financial condition.
Cybersecurity Governance
Our Board considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated oversight of cybersecurity and
other information technology risks to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, whom oversee management’s
implementation of our cybersecurity risk management program and incident response plans.
Our management team and incident response team have overall responsibility for assessing and managing our material risks
from cybersecurity threats. The team has primary responsibility for our overall cybersecurity risk management program and supervise
both our internal cybersecurity personnel and our retained external cybersecurity consultants that conduct vulnerability scans on a
quarterly basis per PCI DSS standards. While cyber-attacks are common threats to all businesses, the Company did not experience a
material cyber security incident in either fiscal year 2024 or 2023.
6
Our management team is informed about and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of key
cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means, which may include briefings from internal security personnel, threat
intelligence and other information obtained from governmental, public, or private sources, including external consultants engaged by
us, and alerts and reports produced by security tools deployed in the information technology environment.
Item 2. PROPERTIES
Our headquarters office and distribution warehouse are located on a 50-acre complex at 5402 South 122nd East Ave, Tulsa,
Oklahoma. The Company headquarters includes multiple buildings that combine to approximately 400,000 square feet of office and
warehouse space, of which 218,700 is utilized by us and 181,300 is occupied by a third-party tenant. Substantially all customer orders
are fulfilled from our 170,000 square foot warehouse, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, using multiple flow-rack systems, referred to as “lines,” to
expedite order completion, packaging, and shipment.
During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company listed for sale/leaseback our headquarters office and warehouse property.
The listing of the property for sale resulted in a reclassification of the owned property as “Assets held for sale” in the Company’s
financial statements.
In addition to this owned property, we also lease additional warehouse space in Tulsa, Oklahoma as needed for overflow
inventory, a small office in San Diego, California that is used by our Kane Miller employees, and a warehouse and office space in
Layton, Utah. We believe that our operating facilities meet both present and future capacity needs.
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
We are not a party to any material pending legal proceedings.
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
None
7
PART II
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
The common stock of EDC is traded on NASDAQ (symbol “EDUC”). The number of shareholders of record of EDC's common
stock as of May 13, 2024, was 446.
For information regarding our compensation plans see Note 14 of the notes to the financial statements and our definitive Proxy
Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024, as outlined in Part III, Item
12 in this Annual Report.
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Period
Total # of
Shares
Purchased
Average Price
Paid per Share
Total # of
Shares
Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced
Plan (1)
Maximum # of
Shares that may
be Repurchased
under the Plan
(1)
December 1 - 31, 2023
- $
-
-
376,393
January 1 - 31, 2024
-
-
-
376,393
February 1 - 29, 2024
-
-
-
376,393
Total
- $
-
-
(1)
On February 4, 2019, the Board of Directors approved a new stock repurchase plan, replacing the former 2008 stock repurchase
plan. The maximum number of shares which may be purchased under the new plan is 800,000. This plan has no expiration date.
Item 6. [RESERVED]
Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains a discussion of our
business, including a general overview of our segments, our results of operations, our liquidity and capital resources, and our
quantitative and qualitative disclosures about market risk.
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 of our control.
Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these forward-looking statements. See “Cautionary Remarks
Regarding Forward Looking Statements” in the front of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Management Summary
We are the owner and exclusive publisher of Kane Miller children’s books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational
manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level
Marketing (“MLM”) distributor of Usborne Publishing Limited (“Usborne”) children’s books. Significant portions of our product
offering, and inventory are concentrated with Usborne. Our distribution agreement with Usborne includes annual minimum purchase
volumes along with specific payment terms, which, if not met or if payments are not received in a timely manner, offer Usborne the
right to terminate the agreement. During fiscal 2023 and fiscal 2024, the Company did not meet the minimum purchase volumes and
certain payments were not received timely. No notification of non-compliance or termination has been received from Usborne. Should
termination of the agreement occur, the Company will be allowed, at a minimum, to sell through their remaining Usborne inventory
over the twelve months following the termination date.
We sell our products through two separate divisions, PaperPie and Publishing. These two divisions each have their own
customer base. The PaperPie division markets our complete line of products through a network of independent Brand Partners using a
combination of home shows, internet party events and book fairs. The Publishing division markets Kane Miller, Learning Wrap-Ups
and SmartLab Toys on a wholesale basis to various retail accounts. All other supporting administrative activities are recognized as other
expenses outside of our two divisions. Other expenses consist primarily of the compensation for our office, warehouse, and sales support
staff as well as the cost of operating and maintaining our corporate offices and distribution facility.
8
PaperPie Division
Our PaperPie division uses a multi-level direct selling organizational structure to market our products using independent sales
representatives (“Brand Partners”) located throughout the United States. The customer base of PaperPie consists of individual
purchasers, as well as schools and public libraries. Revenues are primarily generated through book showings in individual homes, on
social media collaboration platforms, through book fairs with school and public libraries and other in-person events.
An important factor in the growth of the PaperPie division is the addition of new Brand Partners and the retention of existing
Brand Partners. Active Brand Partners (defined as those with sales during the past six months) are primarily responsible for recruiting
new Brand Partners. PaperPie entices new recruits by providing joining incentives to new Brand Partners including discounted products
and cash bonus awards based on exceeding certain sales criteria. In addition, our PaperPie division provides our Brand Partners with an
extensive operational handbook, valuable training, and an individual website they can customize and use to generate sales. The Company
also provides a “back-office” operations platform that allows Brand Partners to track their individual and team business results.
Brand Partners
FY 2024
FY 2023
New Brand Partners Added During Fiscal Year
10,800
16,500
Active Brand Partners at End of Fiscal Year
15,000
24,600
Our PaperPie division’s multi-level marketing organizational structure presently has eight levels of sales representatives,
collectively known as Brand Partners:
Ɣ Brand Partners
Ɣ Team Leaders
Ɣ Advanced Leaders
Ɣ Senior Leaders
Ɣ Executive Leaders
Ɣ Senior Executive Leaders
Ɣ Directors
Ɣ Senior Directors
Upon signing up, sales representatives begin as “Brand Partners”. Brand Partners receive “weekly commissions” from each
sale they make; the commission rate they receive on each sale is determined by the “order type” assigned to the sale. In addition, Brand
Partners receive a monthly sales bonus once their total sales reach an established monthly goal and other awards (called “Level Perks”)
for meeting other individual sales and recruiting goals for the month. Brand Partners who recruit a specified number of other Brand
Partners into their downline become “Team Leaders”. These downline recruits are known as their "Central Group". Upon reaching this
Team Leader level, Brand Partners become eligible to receive “monthly override payments” which are calculated on sales made by their
Central Group and downlines up to two levels below their Central Group. Team Leaders that recruit and promote other Team Leaders,
and meet other established criteria, are eligible to become “Advanced Leaders”.
Once Advanced Leaders promote a second level Brand Partner, add additional recruits, and meet other established criteria, they
become “Senior Leaders”, “Executive Leaders”, “Senior Executive Leaders”, “Directors” or “Senior Directors”. One-time cash bonus
payments are made to Advanced Leaders and higher at each promotion level. Executive Leaders and higher receive an additional
monthly override payment based upon the sales of their executive group. Directors and higher receive an additional bonus payment if
they promote a Team Leader from their Central Group. The maximum override payment a leader can receive is calculated on the sales
of their Central Group and three levels below.
During fiscal year 2024, internet sales continued to be the largest sales channel within our PaperPie division. The use of social
media and party plan platforms, such as those available on Facebook, continue to be popular sales tools. These platforms allow Brand
Partners to “present” and customers to “attend” online purchasing events from any geographical location.
9
Customers’ internet orders are primarily received via the Brand Partner’s customized website, which is hosted by the Company.
Brand Partners contact hosts or hostesses (collectively “hostess”) who then provide a list of contacts to invite to an online party. During
the online party, the Brand Partner answers attendees’ questions and provides product recommendations. These attendees then select
desired products and place orders via the Brand Partner’s customized website. Internet orders are processed through a standard online
“shopping cart checkout” and the Brand Partner receives sales credit and commission on the transaction. All internet orders are shipped
directly to the end customer. The hostess earns discounted products based on the total sales from the attendees at the online party. Brand
Partners use the list of contacts provided by the hostess as additional contacts for future hostess and recruiting opportunities.
In-person parties also occur when Brand Partners contact hostesses to hold book shows in their homes. The Brand Partner
assists the hostess in setting up the details for the show, makes a presentation at the show and takes orders for the products. The hostess
earns discounted products based on the total sales at the party, including internet orders for those customers who can only attend via
online access. These orders are typically shipped to the hostess who then distributes the products to the end customer. Customer specials
are also available when customers, or their party, order above a specified amount. As with online parties, home shows often provide an
excellent opportunity for recruiting new Brand Partners.
PaperPie net revenues also include sales to schools and libraries through PaperPie Learning, a separate program for eligible
Brand Partners which requires certain qualifications and the completion of additional training requirements. The PaperPie Learning
program includes book fairs which are held with an organization as the sponsor. The Brand Partner provides promotional materials to
introduce our products to parents, who then turn in their orders at a designated time. The book fair program generates discounted products
for the sponsoring organization.
PaperPie also generates revenues through various fundraiser programs directed toward schools and community organizations.
Reach for the Stars is a pledge-based reading incentive program that provides cash and products to the sponsoring organization and
products for the participating children. An additional fundraising program, Cards for a Cause, offers Brand Partners the opportunity to
help members of the community by sharing proceeds from the sale of specific items. Organizations sell a variety box of greeting-type
cards and donate a portion of the proceeds to help support their related causes.
Publishing Division
Our Publishing division operates in a market that is highly fragmented, with many types of retail companies engaged in selling
children’s books and toys. The Publishing division’s customer base includes national book chains, regional and local bookstores, toy
and gift stores, school supply stores and museums. To reach these markets, the Publishing division utilizes a combination of
commissioned sales representatives and an in-house sales group located at our headquarters.
The table below shows the percentage of net revenues from our Publishing division based on market type.
Publishing Division Net Revenues by Market Type
FY 2024
FY 2023
National chain bookstores
2 %
2 %
All other
98 %
98 %
Total net revenues
100 %
100 %
Publishing uses a variety of methods to attract potential new customers and maintain current customers. Our employees attend
many of the national trade shows held by the book and toy selling industry each year, allowing us to contact potential buyers who may
be unfamiliar with our products. Our marketing strategy targets toy and specialty stores, in addition to bookstores and museum gift
shops, through print media advertising in trade publications. In some instances, our products are featured in promotions and catalogs by
participation in co-ops with national chain retailers.
Publishing’s sales representatives actively target the smaller independent book and gift store customers. This market has seen
continued growth due to a resurgence in the opening of local bookstores, toy stores, and specialty stores across the U.S., coupled with
the efforts of both our in-house and outside sales representatives to increase sales to local and independent businesses. The Company
shifted its focus toward independent stores as national chain stores saw a change in buying programs and purchasing slowed with
COVID-19. Our annual catalogs are mailed to approximately 4,000 customers and potential customers. See Publishing Operating Results
for discussion of our updated distribution agreement with Usborne.
10
Result of Operations
The following table shows our statements of operations data:
Twelve Months Ended
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Net revenues
$
51,030,300 $
87,829,000
Cost of goods sold
18,045,400
31,759,200
Gross margin
32,984,900
56,069,800
Operating expenses
Operating and selling
8,789,200
15,780,600
Sales commissions
16,105,600
25,676,100
General and administrative
13,991,000
17,195,100
Total operating expenses
38,885,800
58,651,800
Other (income) expense
Interest expense
2,758,900
2,172,300
Other income
(9,394,300 )
(1,327,400 )
Earnings (loss) before income taxes
734,500
(3,426,900 )
Income taxes
188,100
(922,000 )
Net earnings (loss)
$
546,400 $
(2,504,900 )
See the detailed discussion of net revenues, gross margin and operating expenses by reportable segment below.
Non-Segment Operating Results
Total operating expenses not associated with a reporting segment were 11.3 million for the fiscal year ended February 29,
2024, compared to $14.9 million for the same period a year ago. Operating expenses decreased $3.6 million primarily as a result of a
reduction in labor expenses of $2.6 million, with our warehouse payroll having the largest reduction, and a $0.7 million decrease in
freight-handling costs, both associated with a decrease in gross sales, plus a $0.3 million decrease in depreciation expense due to the
sale of the Company’s old headquarters and classification as assets held for sale of our current headquarters and warehouse , $0.2 million
decrease in legal costs primarily related to the negotiation of our new Usborne distribution agreement which was executed in fiscal 2023,
offset by a $0.2 million increase in personal property taxes due to the Company no longer qualifying for an exemption on long term
inventory.
Interest expense increased $0.6 million, to $2.8 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, compared to $2.2 million
reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, due primarily to increases in Secured Overnight Financing Rates (“SOFR”) interest
rates, partially offset by reduced borrowings in fiscal 2024.
Other income increased $8.1 million, to $9.4 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, compared to $1.3 million reported
for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, due to $3.8 million of other income related to the Employee Retention Credit, $4.0 million gain
from the sale of the old headquarters building, $0.1 million gain from the sale of equipment, $0.1 million decrease in startup costs
recognized from the acquisition of SmartLab Toys in 2023, and $0.1 million in other various changes.
Income taxes increased $1.1 million, to a tax expense of $0.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from a tax benefit
of $0.9 million for the same period a year ago. This increase was primarily related to an increase in taxable income for the current fiscal
year compared to the prior fiscal year. The effective tax rate decreased by 1.3%, to 25.6% for fiscal year ending February 29, 2024, as
compared to 26.9% for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023, primarily 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.
11
PaperPie Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the PaperPie segment for the twelve months ended February 29 (28):
Twelve Months Ended
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Gross sales
$
64,252,000 $
94,795,700
Less discounts and allowances
(20,981,500 )
(27,271,100 )
Transportation revenue
2,354,700
7,022,100
Net revenues
45,625,200
74,546,700
Cost of goods sold
15,745,500
24,639,000
Gross margin
29,879,700
49,907,700
Operating expenses
Operating and selling
7,151,300
12,501,100
Sales commissions
15,925,100
25,095,100
General and administrative
2,674,100
3,140,900
Total operating expenses
25,750,500
40,737,100
Operating income
$
4,129,200 $
9,170,600
Average number of active Brand Partners
18,300
28,000
PaperPie net revenues decreased $28.9 million, or 38.8%, to $45.6 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, when
compared with net revenues of $74.5 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. The average number of active Brand
Partners in fiscal year 2024 was 18,300, a decrease of 9,700, or 34.6%, from 28,000 in fiscal year 2023. The Company reports the
average number of active Brand Partners as a key indicator for this division. We also saw new Brand Partner recruiting negatively
impacted by the recent change in our distribution agreement with Usborne Publishing Limited. The new agreement created a level of
uncertainty with our Brand Partners until we were able to effectively communicate the continuation of our relationship within the Direct
Sales division. Further, sales were impacted beginning in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023 and continuing through the first two quarters
of fiscal 2024, associated with the rebranding of the direct sales division from Usborne Books & More (“UBAM”) to PaperPie. During
this period, our Brand Partners were challenged with updating their individual marketing materials, training videos and personal business
websites to the new brand. These efforts resulted in less sales and less new recruiting success. In addition, sales during fiscal 2024
continued to be negatively impacted by economic factors that include recent record inflation, resulting in high fuel costs and food price
increases that continue to impact the disposable income of our customers. The reduced sales resulted in increased Brand Partner turnover
and lower levels of new Brand Partner recruits. We expect this impact on sales to continue as inflationary pressures persist.
PaperPie gross margin decreased $20.0 million, or 40.1%, to $29.9 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $49.9
million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased 1.4% to 65.5% for
fiscal year 2024 when compared to 66.9% for fiscal year 2023. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues is primarily
attributed to reduced freight revenues resulting from a discounted freight promotion that began in the third quarter of fiscal 2024 that
continued through the fiscal fourth quarter impacting gross margins by $1.0 million, offset by increased margins on product mix of $0.4
million.
Total PaperPie operating expenses decreased $14.9 million, or 36.6%, to $25.8 million during the fiscal year ended February
29, 2024, when compared with $40.7 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Operating and selling expenses decreased
$5.3 million, to $7.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $12.5 million reported in the same period a year ago. These
decreases were due to a $5.2 million decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in volume of orders shipped from lower
sales, and a decrease of $0.2 million in accruals for Brand Partner incentive trip expenses, offset by a $0.1 million increase in accruals
for Brand Partner meetings and convention expenses. Sales commissions decreased $9.2 million, to $15.9 million during the fiscal year
ended February 29, 2024, when compared to $25.1 million reported in the same period a year ago primarily due to the decrease in net
revenues. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.4 million, to $2.7 million during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024,
when compared with $3.1 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. This decrease was due to $0.6 million of decreased
credit card transaction fees associated with decreased sales volumes, a $0.2 million decrease in payroll and various other expenses, offset
by $0.4 million increase in amortization and depreciation expenses related to the SmartLab Toys acquisition.
12
Operating income of our PaperPie division decreased $5.1 million, or 55.4%, to $4.1 million for fiscal year ended February 29,
2024, as compared to $9.2 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Operating income for the PaperPie division as a
percentage of net revenues for the year ended February 29, 2024, was 9.1%, compared to 12.3% for the year ended February 28, 2023,
a change of 3.2%. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues changed from the prior year primarily due to the decrease in net
revenues caused by higher discounts and lower transportation revenue, plus the increase in cost of goods sold resulting from higher
inbound freight costs, and the increase in accrued expenses for the Company’s Brand Partners related to the annual incentive trip and
convention.
Publishing Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the Publishing segment for the twelve months ended February 29 (28):
Twelve Months Ended
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Gross sales
$
11,331,600 $
27,896,200
Less discounts and allowances
(5,947,900 )
(14,624,400 )
Transportation revenue
21,400
10,500
Net revenues
5,405,100
13,282,300
Cost of goods sold
2,299,800
7,120,200
Gross margin
3,105,300
6,162,100
Total operating expenses
1,882,000
2,975,300
Operating income
$
1,223,300 $
3,186,800
Our Publishing division’s net revenues decreased $7.9 million, or to $5.4 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 from
$13.3 million reported for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. During fiscal year 2023, we entered into a new distribution agreement
with Usborne. Under the contracted terms in our new distribution agreement, the Company no longer has the rights to distribute
Usborne’s products to retail customers. The Company discontinued sales to retail customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 when
Usborne introduced their new distribution vendor. Usborne’s products sold within the Publishing division decreased to 24.2%, or $2.7
million of net sales during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024 from 83.4%, or $11.1 million, of net sales during the fiscal year
ended February 28, 2023.
Gross margin decreased $3.1 million, to $3.1 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $6.2 million reported for
fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues increased 11.1%, to 57.5% for fiscal year 2024,
compared to 46.4% reported the same period a year ago due to a change in customer order mix and the addition of SmartLab Toys.
Operating expenses decreased $1.1 million, to $1.9 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, from $3.0 million reported
for fiscal year ended February 28, 2023. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from the decrease in sales commissions of $0.4
million, a decrease in freight expense of $0.9 million, both due to decreased sales, offset by a $0.2 million increase in Learning Wrap
Ups compensation expense resulting from earnout payments to sellers that reached their initial sales hurdle outlined in the purchase
agreements of Learning Wrap-Ups in December 2021.
13
Operating income for the segment decreased $2.0 million, or 62.5%, to $1.2 million for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024,
from $3.2 million reported during the same period last year. The decrease in operating income resulted primarily from lower sales
volumes compared to the previous fiscal year partially offset by the decrease in sales commissions and freight expenses.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
EDC has a history of profitability and positive cash flow. We typically fund our operations from the cash we generate. During
periods of operating losses, EDC will reduce purchases and sell through inventory to generate cash flow. During fiscal 2024, the
Company generated cash flows from reducing inventory that offset operating losses along with the receipt of $3.8 million in Employee
Retention Credit and $4.9 million in proceeds from the sale of our old headquarters building. The Company expects to reduce current
excess inventory levels and use the cash proceeds to offset any future operating losses, and to pay down the line of credit and portions
of the term debt. Available cash has historically been used to pay down outstanding bank loan balances, for capital expenditures, to pay
dividends and to acquire treasury stock. We utilize a bank credit facility and other term loan borrowings to meet our short-term cash
needs, as well as fund capital expenditures, when necessary. As of the end of fiscal year 2024, our revolving bank credit facility loan
balance was $5.5 million with $2.5 million in available capacity.
During fiscal year 2024, we experienced positive cash flows from operations of $8,750,600. These cash flows resulted from:
ƔQHWHDUQLQJVRI
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ƔGHSUHFLDWLRQDQGDPRUWL]DWLRQH[SHQVHRI
ƔVKDUH-based compensation expense, net of $212,000
ƔSURYLVLRQIRUFUHGLWORVVHVRI
ƔSURYLVLRQIRULQYHQWRU\YDOXDWLRQDOORZDQFHRI
Offset by:
ƔQHWJDLQRQVDOHRIDVVHWVRI
ƔGHIHUUHGLQFRPHWD[HVRI
Positively impacted by:
ƔGHFUHDVHLQLQYHQWRULHVQHWRI
ƔGHFUHDVHLQDFFRXQWVUHFHLYDEOHRI
ƔLQFUHDVHLQLQFRPHWD[HVSD\DEOHRI
ƔGHFUHDVHLQSUHSDLGH[SHQVHVDQGRWKHUDVVHWVRI
ƔLQFUHDVHLQDFFRXQWVSD\DEOHRI
Negatively impacted by:
ƔGHFUHDVHLQDFFUXHGVDODULHVFRPPLVVLRQVDQGRWKHUOLDELOLWLHVRI
ƔGHFUHDVHLQGHIHUUHGUHYHQXHVRI
Cash provided by investing activities was $4,037,100 consisting of proceeds from the sale of assets of $4,858,900 offset by
capital expenditures of $821,800 in software upgrades to our proprietary systems that our PaperPie Brand Partners use to monitor their
business and place customer orders.
Cash used in financing activities was $12,199,400 which was comprised of net payments on the line of credit of $5,136,400,
payments on term debt of $6,499,100 and cash paid in treasury stock transactions of $563,900.
14
We continue to expect that cash generated from the sale of our owned real estate, along with cash generated from our operations,
specifically from the reduction of excess inventory, and cash available through our line of credit with our Lender will provide us with
the liquidity we need to support ongoing operations. Cash generated from the building sales and operations will be used to pay down
existing debt and any excess may be used to purchase inventory to continue to expand our product offerings.
On August 9, 2022, the Company repaid in full all outstanding indebtedness and terminated all commitments and obligations
under its Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated February 15, 2021 (as amended), between the Company and MidFirst Bank and
executed a new Credit Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with BOKF, NA (“Bank of Oklahoma” or the “Lender”). The Loan Agreement
established a fixed rate term loan in the principal amount of $15,000,000 (the “Fixed Rate Term Loan”), a floating rate term loan in the
principal amount of $21,000,000 (the “Floating Rate Term Loan”; together with the Fixed Rate Term Loan, collectively, the “Term
Loans”), and a revolving promissory note in the principal amount up to $15,000,000 (the “Revolving Loan” or “Line of Credit”).
On December 22, 2022, the Company executed the First Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment
clarified the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to exclude dividends paid prior to November 30, 2022, and placed restrictions
on acquisitions and cash dividends.
On May 10, 2023, the Company executed the Second Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment
waived the fixed charge ratio default which occurred on February 28, 2023 and amended the financial covenant to not require the fixed
charge ratio to be measured at May 31, 2023. The Second Amendment also added a cumulative maximum level of fiscal year to date
inventory purchases through the expiration of the Revolving Loan Agreement, increased the borrowing rate on the Company’s Revolving
Loan to Term SOFR Rate plus 3.5%, required certain swap agreement be executed within 30 days of the amendment, reduced the
revolving commitment from $15,000,000 to $14,000,000, effective May 10, 2023, and further reduced the revolving commitment to
$13,500,000, effective July 15, 2023, among other items.
On June 6, 2023, pursuant to its interest rate risk and risk management strategy, the Company entered into a swap transaction
(the “Swap Transaction”) with the Lender, which converts a portion of the original $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan from a floating
interest rate to a fixed interest rate for the next two years. The Swap Transaction has a notional amount of $18,000,000 through fiscal
quarter ending May 31, 2024, and then resets to $13,000,000 through May 30, 2025, while continuing to mirror the amortizing balance
of the Floating Rate Term Loan. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company, in effect, has exchanged the floating interest rate of
30-Day Term SOFR Rate at the trade date of June 5, 2023, to a fixed rate of 4.73%. The Swap Transaction commenced on June 7, 2023,
with a termination date of May 30, 2025.
On August 9, 2023, the Company executed the Third Amendment along with a Revised Credit Agreement (“Revised Loan
Agreement”) with the Lender. This amendment extended the Revolving Loan maturity date to January 31, 2024 and introduced a
stepdown to the Revolving Commitment from $13,500,000, through August 30, 2023; to $10,500,000 through October 30, 2023; to
$9,000,000 through November 29, 2023; to $5,000,000 through December 30, 2023; to $4,500,000 through January 30, 2024; and to
$4,000,000 on January 31, 2024. The amendment restricted the Company from entering into any new purchase orders and use its best
efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. It also required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55th Place,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sale with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender on or before August 18, 2023, among
other items. Contingent upon the occurrence of an Event of Default in the agreement, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti
Complex with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender.
15
Prior to the Third Amendment, executed on August 9, 2023, the Loan Agreement contained provisions that required the
Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio. The Company was in violation of the minimum fixed charge ratio covenant as of
February 28, 2023, for which the Company obtained a written waiver of compliance from the Lender and was not required to measure
the fixed charge ratio as of May 31, 2023. Concurrent with the execution of the Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement, the Loan
Agreement was modified to incorporate the changes outlined in the Third Amendment and the fixed charge ratio covenant was removed,
as well as the Lender’s right to accelerate the maturities of the Fixed Rate Term Loan and Floating Rate Term Loan due to the fixed
charge ratio covenant. Should the Company fail to meet any of the remaining terms outlined in the Revised Credit Agreement or fail to
meet the stepdown requirements of the Revolving Loan, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti Complex, with a licensed
commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender. Proceeds from the sale of the property would be used to pay off all the
borrowings with the Lender. A third-party appraisal was completed on the Hilti Complex, consisting of the 400,000 square feet building
complex on approximately 50 acres, along with approximately 15 acres of adjacent unused land, in July of 2023 with a market value of
$41,970,000.
On November 30, 2023, the Company executed the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (“Amendment”) with the
Lender. The Amendment, effective December 1, 2023, increases the Revolving Loan commitment to $8,000,000 and extends the
maturity date to May 31, 2024. The Amendment also requires the Company to list the Hilti Complex for sale, allows the Company to
execute additional purchase orders, subject to the lender’s approval and conditions, not to exceed $2,100,000 between December 1,
2023 and March 31, 2024, among other items.
Available credit under the current $8,000,000 revolving line of credit with the Company’s Lender was approximately
$2,501,900 at February 29, 2024.
Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:
(i)
Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with 5-year maturity date of August 9, 2027
(ii)
$15 Million Fixed Rate Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to 4.26%
(iii)
$21 Million Floating Rate Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 1.75%
(iv)
Stepdown Revolving Loan with maturity date of May 31, 2024. The Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per annum
equal to Term SOFR Rate + 4.50% (effective rate was 9.82% at February 29, 2024)
(v)
Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit up to $7,500,000 upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 29,
2024)
The following table reflects aggregate current maturities of term debt, excluding the Revolving Loan, during the next fiscal
year as follows:
Years ending February 28 (29),
2025
$
1,800,000
2026
1,800,000
2027
1,800,000
2028
23,200,900
Total
$
28,600,900
16
Risks and Uncertainties
In accordance with ASC 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and events,
considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year
after the date the financial statements are issued.
The short-term duration of the Revolving Loan and uncertainty of the bank’s ongoing support beyond May 31, 2024, along
with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Management has plans to sell the Hilti Complex and pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. The proceeds from the sale are
expected to generate sufficient cashflow to allow the Company to continue operations with limited borrowings. The Company expects
these borrowings to be available through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management’s plans include reducing
inventory which will generate free cashflows and building the active PaperPie Brand Partners to pre-pandemic levels. Although there is
no guarantee these plans will be successful, management believes these plans, if achieved, will alleviate the substantial doubt about
continuing as a going concern and generate sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations as they become due over the next twelve months.
Contractual Obligations
We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
As of February 29, 2024, we had no off-balance sheet arrangements that have, or are reasonably likely to have, a current or
future material effect on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources.
Seasonality
The Company experiences increased sales in the Fall season. Historically, we have experienced an increase in inventory during
the Summer in anticipation for the Fall increase in sales. In addition, new titles are typically released twice a year, in the Spring and
Fall, which increases our inventory in the months preceding these scheduled releases. We do not expect inventory to increase in fiscal
year 2025 as we continue to sell down excess inventory.
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. 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 significantly more dependent on the use of estimates and assumptions.
17
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 under the 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2019 LTI Plan”) and 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan
(“2022 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 has 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 fiscal years 2024 and 2023, the Company recognized $0.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, of compensation
expense associated with the shares granted.
Revenue Recognition
Sales associated with product orders are recognized and recorded when products are shipped. Products are shipped FOB-
Shipping Point. PaperPie’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 a product damaged in transit. Damaged returns are primarily received
from the retail customers of our Publishing division. This damage occurs 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 for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023.
Allowance for Credit Losses
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, when applicable (collectively “credit losses”). 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 credit losses of $0.1 million
and $0.2 million for the fiscal years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.
Inventory
Our inventory contains approximately 2,000 titles, each with different rates of sale depending upon the nature and popularity
of the title. Almost all of our product line is saleable as the products are not topical in nature and remain current in content today as well
as in the future. Most of our products are printed in China, Europe, Singapore, India, Malaysia, and Dubai typically resulting in a four
to eight-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 the minimum order requirements of our suppliers. Noncurrent inventory is estimated by management
using an anticipated turnover ratio by title, based primarily on historical trends. Inventory in excess of 2½ years of anticipated sales is
classified as noncurrent inventory. These inventory quantities have additional exposure for storage damages, aging of topical related
content and associated issues, and therefore have higher obsolescence reserves. Noncurrent inventory balances prior to valuation
allowances were $12.3 million and $5.1 million at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively. Noncurrent inventory
valuation allowances were $0.6 million at February 29, 2024 and $0.4 million at February 28, 2023.
18
Brand Partners that meet certain eligibility requirements may request and receive inventory on consignment. We believe
allowing our Brand Partners 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 11.6% of our active Brand Partners maintained consignment inventory at the end of fiscal year 2024.
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 Brand Partners was $1.4 million and $1.5 million at February 29, 2024
and February 28, 2023, respectively.
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 $1.0 million at February 29, 2024, and $0.9 February 28, 2023.
New Accounting Pronouncements
See the New Accounting Pronouncements section of Note 1 to our financial statements, included in Part IV, Item 15 of this
report, for further details of recent accounting pronouncements.
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
We are a smaller reporting company and are not required to provide this information.
Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information required by Item 8 begins at page 28.
Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
An evaluation was performed of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant
to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(a) as of February 29, 2024. 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 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 fiscal year covered by this report on Form 10-K, 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.
19
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such
term is defined in Rules 13(a) through 15(f) of the Exchange Act. Under the supervision and with the participation of our management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting based on the framework set forth in the 2013 Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have
inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to
financial statement preparation and presentation. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk,
that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may deteriorate. Based on our evaluation under the 2013 COSO Framework and applicable SEC rules, our management concluded that
our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 29, 2024.
This annual report does not include an attestation report of our registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over
financial reporting. Management's report was not subject to attestation by our registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the
SEC that permit us to provide only management's report in this annual report.
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None
Item 9C. DISCLOSURE REGARDING FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS THAT PREVENT INSPECTIONS
None
20
PART III
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(a) Identification of Directors
The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption
"Election of Directors" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held
on July 10, 2024.
(b) Identification of Executive Officers
The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption
"Executive Officers of the Registrant" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.
(c) Compliance with Section 16 (a) of the Exchange Act
The information required by this Item 10 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption
"Section 16 (a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The information required by this Item 11 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption
"Executive Compensation" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be
held on July 10, 2024.
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED
STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
The information required by this Item 12 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the captions
"Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and "Compensation Plans" in our definitive Proxy Statement to
be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
None
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
The information required by this Item 14 is furnished by incorporation by reference to the information under the caption
"Independent Registered Public Accountants" in our definitive Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders to be held on July 10, 2024.
21
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (PCAOB ID 483)
26
Balance Sheets as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023
28
Statements of Operations for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023
29
Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023
30
Statements of Shareholders' Equity for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023
31
Statements of Cash Flows for the Years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023
32
Notes to Financial Statements
33-48
Schedules have been omitted as such information is either not required or is included in the financial statements.
2. Exhibits
*3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated April 26, 1968, and Certificate of Amendment thereto dated June 21, 1968 are
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 to Registration Statement on Form 10-K (File No. 0-04957).
*3.2 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated August 27, 1977 is incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 20.1 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1981 (File No. 0-04957).
*3.3 By-Laws, as amended, are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 20.2. to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28,
1981 (File No. 0-04957).
*3.4 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated November 17, 1986 is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 3.3 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1987 (File No. 0-04957).
3.5 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated March 22, 1996 is incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 3.4 to Form 10-K for fiscal year ended February 28, 1997 (File No. 0-04957).
3.6 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated July 15, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference to
Exhibit 10.30 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2003 (File No. 0-04957).
3.7 Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation dated August 15, 2018 is incorporated herein by reference
to Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K dated August 21, 2018 (File No. 0-04957).
*4.1 Specimens of Common Stock Certificates are incorporated herein by reference to Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2 to Registration
Statement on Form 10-K (File No. 0-04957) filed June 29, 1970.
*10.1 Usborne Agreement-Contractual agreement by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited dated November
25, 1988 is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 1989 (File No. 0-04957).
*10.2 Party Plan-Contractual agreement by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited dated March 14, 1989 is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 1989 (File No. 0-04957).
22
*10.3 Amendment dated January 1, 1992 to Usborne Agreement - Contractual agreement by and between the Company and
Usborne Publishing Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Form 10-K dated February 29, 1992
(File No. 0-04957).
10.4 Educational Development Corporation 2002 Incentive Stock Option Plan is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit A to
definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A dated May 23, 2002 (File No. 0-04957).
10.5 Amendment dated November 12, 2002 to Usborne Agreement – Contractual agreement by and between us and Usborne
Publishing Limited is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2003 (File No. 0-
04957).
10.6 Employment Agreement between Randall W. White and the Company dated February 28, 2004 incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2005 (File No. 0-04957).
10.7 Purchase and Sale Agreement dated December 1, 2015 by and between the Company and Hilti, Inc., Tulsa, OK incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2019 (File No. 0-04957).
10.8 Lease Agreement dated December 1, 2015 by and between the Company and Hilti, Inc., Tulsa, OK incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.9 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2019 (File No. 0-04957).
10.9
Usborne Distribution Agreement dated May 16, 2022 by and between the Company and Usborne Publishing Limited,
London, England is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to form 10-Q dated May 31, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).
10.10
Credit Agreement dated August 9, 2022 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.01 to form 8-K dated August 11, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).
10.11
First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 22, 2022 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa,
OK. Is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Form 10-Q dated November 30, 2022 (File No. 0-04957).
10.12
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated May 10, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Form 10-K dated February 28, 2023 (File No. 0-04957).
10.13
Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated August 9, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa, OK is
incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to Form 8-K dated August 17, 2023 (File No. 0-04957).
10.14
Fourth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated December 1, 2023 by and between the Company and BOKF, NA, Tulsa,
OK is incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.01 to Form 8-K dated December 28, 2023 (File No. 0-04957)..
**23.1 Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
**31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer of Educational Development Corporation pursuant to Section 302 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
**31.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) of
Educational Development Corporation pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
**32.1 Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
**97.1 Incorporated Clawback Policy to Form 10-K dated February 29,2024.
23
101.INS Inline XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
101.CAL Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
101.DEF Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
101.LAB Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
101.PRE Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
*Paper Filed
**Filed Herewith
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable
24
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Date:
May 21, 2024
By /s/ Craig M. White
Craig M. White
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date:
May 21, 2024
By /s/ Dan E. O’Keefe
Dan E. O’Keefe
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate
Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following
persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
Date:
May 21, 2024
/s/ Craig M. White
Craig M. White, Director
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
May 21, 2024
/s/ Randall W. White
Randall W. White, Director
Chairman of the Board
May 21, 2024
/s/ Dr. Kara Gae Neal
Dr. Kara Gae Neal, Director
May 21, 2024
/s/ Bradley V. Stoots
Bradley V. Stoots, Director
May 21, 2024
/s/ Dan E. O’Keefe
Dan E. O’Keefe
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate
Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
25
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of Educational Development Corporation
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Educational Development Corporation (the Company) as of February 29, 2024
and February 28, 2023, the related statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), shareholders' equity and cash flows for the
years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements (collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial
statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023,
and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years then ended, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the
Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S.
federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the auditing standards of the PCAOB and in accordance with auditing standards generally
accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to
have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audit, we are required to
obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness
of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error
or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that
our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that was
communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that: (1) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material
to the financial statements and (2) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of the
critical audit matter does not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating
the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it
relates.
Liquidity and Management's Plans
Certain adverse conditions and events raised substantial doubt over the Company's ability to meet its obligations over the next twelve
months. Management has evaluated these conditions and concluded that its plans have alleviated the substantial doubt about the
Company's ability to continue for at least the next twelve months.
To assess their ability to meet obligations as they come due, the Company has forecasted future financial results which require significant
judgment and estimation. Additionally, there is significant judgment and increased levels of audit effort involved in determining that it
is probable that management's plans will be effectively implemented and alleviate substantial doubt about the Company's ability to
continue beyond the next twelve months.
26
Our audit procedures performed to address this critical audit matter included, among others:
Ɣ
Reviewing and evaluating management's plans for dealing with the adverse effects of the conditions and events.
Ɣ
Evaluating the reasonableness of management's significant assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of the
forecast.
Ɣ
Comparing the forecast to historical results, recent trends used in other audit areas and actual results subsequent to year
end.
Ɣ
Evaluating the adequacy of the disclosure included in the notes to the financial statements.
/s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP
We have served as the Company's auditor since 2005.
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 21, 2024
27
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF FEBRUARY 29 (28),
2024
2023
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
844,500 $
689,100
Restricted cash
432,900
-
Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of
$129,000 (2024) and $211,700 (2023)
1,936,900
2,906,700
Inventories - net
43,913,200
59,086,500
Prepaid expenses and other assets
630,800
869,300
Assets held for sale
18,281,100
-
Total current assets
66,039,400
63,551,600
INVENTORIES - net
11,677,000
4,719,600
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - net
8,939,600
29,656,400
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET
1,406,500
796,800
OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS
1,614,900
823,600
OTHER ASSETS
427,600
388,800
TOTAL ASSETS
$
90,105,000 $
99,936,800
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable
$
3,910,200 $
3,863,900
Line of credit
5,498,100
10,634,500
Deferred revenues
583,500
602,700
Operating lease liabilities, current
726,900
347,800
Current maturities of long-term debt
1,800,000
34,894,900
Accrued salaries and commissions
384,400
828,200
Income taxes payable
773,400
-
Other current liabilities
3,338,100
2,946,200
Total current liabilities
17,014,600
54,118,200
LONG-TERM DEBT - net
26,640,700
-
OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES, non-current
888,000
475,800
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
111,000
111,000
Total liabilities
44,654,300
54,705,000
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES – See Note 13
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock, $0.20 par value; Authorized 16,000,000 shares;
Issued 12,702,080 shares;
Outstanding 8,575,088 (2024) and 8,713,289 (2023) shares
2,540,400
2,540,400
Capital in excess of par value
13,405,400
13,193,400
Retained earnings
42,566,600
42,020,200
Accumulated other comprehensive income
24,400
-
58,536,800
57,754,000
Less treasury stock, at cost
(13,086,100 )
(12,522,200 )
Total shareholders' equity
45,450,700
45,231,800
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
$
90,105,000 $
99,936,800
See notes to financial statements.
28
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),
2024
2023
GROSS SALES
$
75,583,600 $
122,691,900
Less discounts and allowances
(26,929,400 )
(41,895,500 )
Transportation revenue
2,376,100
7,032,600
NET REVENUES
51,030,300
87,829,000
COST OF GOODS SOLD
18,045,400
31,759,200
Gross margin
32,984,900
56,069,800
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Operating and selling
8,789,200
15,780,600
Sales commissions
16,105,600
25,676,100
General and administrative
13,991,000
17,195,100
Total operating expenses
38,885,800
58,651,800
INTEREST EXPENSE
2,758,900
2,172,300
OTHER INCOME
(9,394,300 )
(1,327,400 )
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
734,500
(3,426,900 )
INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT)
188,100
(922,000 )
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)
$
546,400 $
(2,504,900 )
BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE:
Basic
$
0.07 $
(0.31 )
Diluted
$
0.07 $
(0.31 )
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON
AND EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic
8,269,971
8,157,704
Diluted
8,285,230
8,157,704
Dividends per share
$
- $
-
See notes to financial statements.
29
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Net earnings (loss)
$
546,400 $
(2,504,900 )
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on interest rate exchange agreement
24,400
-
Comprehensive income (loss)
$
570,800 $
(2,504,900 )
See notes to financial statements.
30
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
AS OF FEBRUARY 29 (28),
Common Stock
(par value $0.20 per
share)
Treasury Stock
Number of
Shares
Issued
Amount
Capital in
Excess of
Par Value
Retained
Earnings
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income
Number
of
Shares Amount
Shareholders'
Equity
BALANCE – February 28,
2022
12,702,080 $ 2,540,400 $ 12,246,600 $ 44,525,100 $
- 3,994,833 $ (12,546,600 ) $ 46,765,500
Sales of treasury stock
-
-
39,000
-
-
(7,771 )
24,400
63,400
Forfeiture of restricted
shares
-
-
-
-
-
29,729
-
-
Issuance of restricted share
awards for vesting
-
-
-
-
- (28,000 )
-
-
Share-based compensation
expense – net
-
-
907,800
-
-
-
-
907,800
Net loss
-
-
- (2,504,900 )
-
-
-
(2,504,900 )
BALANCE - February 28,
2023
12,702,080 $ 2,540,400 $ 13,193,400 $ 42,020,200 $
- 3,988,791 $ (12,522,200 ) $ 45,231,800
Purchases of treasury stock
-
-
-
-
- 138,201
(563,900 )
(563,900 )
Forfeiture of restricted
shares
-
-
-
-
-
35,285
-
-
Issuance of restricted share
awards for vesting
-
-
-
-
- (35,285 )
-
-
Change in fair value of
interest rate exchange
agreement
-
-
-
-
24,400
-
-
24,400
Share-based compensation
expense – net
-
-
212,000
-
-
-
-
212,000
Net earnings
-
-
-
546,400
-
-
-
546,400
BALANCE - February 29,
2024
12,702,080 $ 2,540,400 $ 13,405,400 $ 42,566,600 $
24,400 4,126,992 $ (13,086,100 ) $ 45,450,700
See notes to financial statements.
31
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29 (28),
2024
2023
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net earnings (loss)
$
546,400 $
(2,504,900 )
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
2,487,200
2,478,700
Deferred income taxes
(609,700 )
(678,100 )
Provision for credit losses
33,300
-
Provision for inventory valuation allowance
85,900
715,900
Share-based compensation expense - net
212,000
907,800
Net gain on sale of assets
(4,016,700 )
-
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
936,500
732,100
Inventories - net
8,130,000
9,086,900
Prepaid expenses and other assets
197,100
(233,200 )
Accounts payable
46,300
(8,547,900 )
Accrued salaries and commissions, and other liabilities
(51,900 )
(1,578,000 )
Deferred revenues
(19,200 )
(78,900 )
Income taxes payable/receivable
773,400
(241,900 )
Total adjustments
8,204,200
2,563,400
Net cash provided by operating activities
8,750,600
58,500
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(821,800 )
(1,578,800 )
Proceeds from sale of assets
4,858,900
-
Purchases of other assets
-
(177,000 )
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
4,037,100
(1,755,800 )
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Payments on term debt
(6,499,100 )
(25,900,100 )
Payments on debt issuance costs
-
(178,400 )
Proceeds from term debt
-
36,000,000
Sales of treasury stock
-
63,400
Cash paid to acquire treasury stock
(563,900 )
-
Net payments under line of credit
(5,136,400 )
(7,089,000 )
Dividends paid
-
(870,700 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(12,199,400 )
2,025,200
NET INCREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH
588,300
327,900
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - BEGINNING OF PERIOD
689,100
361,200
CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - END OF PERIOD
$
1,277,400 $
689,100
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION:
Cash paid for interest
$
2,805,800 $
1,986,000
Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds)
$
24,400 $
(3,900 )
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Fair value of the interest rate exchange agreement
$
24,400 $
-
See notes to financial statements.
32
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 29, 2024 AND FEBRUARY 28, 2023
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Nature of Business—Educational Development Corporation (“we,” “our,” “us,” or “the Company”) distributes books and
educational products and publications through our PaperPie and EDC Publishing (“Publishing”) divisions to individual consumers,
book, toy and gift stores, libraries and home educators located throughout the United States (“U.S.”). We are the owner and exclusive
publisher of Kane Miller children’s books; Learning Wrap-Ups, maker of educational manipulatives; and SmartLab Toys, maker of
STEAM-based toys and games. We are also the exclusive United States Multi-Level Marketing (“MLM”) distributor of Usborne
Publishing Limited (“Usborne”) children’s books.
Estimates—Our financial statements were prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, which requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts and disclosures in the
financial statements. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
Reclassifications—Certain reclassifications have been made to the fiscal 2023 balance sheet to conform with the current year
financial statement presentation. These reclassifications had no effect on net earnings.
Liquidity— In accordance with ASC 205-40, Going Concern, the Company has evaluated whether there are conditions and
events, considered in the aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern within one
year after the date that the financial statements are issued.
Determining the extent to which conditions or events raise substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern
and the extent to which mitigating plans sufficiently alleviate any such substantial doubt requires significant judgment and estimation
by us. Our significant estimates related to this analysis may include identifying business factors such as completing the planned sale of
owned real estate, changes in our Brand Partners, sales growth and profitability used in the forecasted financial results and liquidity.
Further, we make assumptions about the probability that management's plans will be effectively implemented and alleviate substantial
doubt and our ability to continue as a going concern. We believe that the estimated values used in our going concern analysis are based
on reasonable assumptions. However, such assumptions are inherently uncertain and actual results could differ materially from those
estimates.
The short-term duration of the Revolving Loan and uncertainty of the bank’s ongoing support beyond May 31, 2024, along
with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company's ability to continue as a going concern.
Management has plans to sell the Hilti Complex and pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. The proceeds from the sale are
expected to generate sufficient cashflow to allow the Company to continue operations with limited borrowings. The Company expects
these borrowings to be available through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management’s plans include reducing
inventory, which will generate free cashflows, and building the active PaperPie Brand Partners to pre-pandemic levels. Although there
is no guarantee these plans will be successful, management believes these plans are probable of being achieved to alleviate the substantial
doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern and generate sufficient liquidity to meet our obligations as they become due over
the next twelve months.
Sales Concentration—Significant portions of our sales are generated in our Direct Sales division, PaperPie. Of these sales, a
substantial portion are facilitated through the use of social media collaboration platforms that allow our Brand Partners (formerly,
consultants) to interact in real-time, or near real-time, with customers. Brand Partners use these platforms to invite potential customers
to “online parties,” provide product recommendations, answer questions, and provide links to other supporting online materials. When
a customer is ready to purchase products from the online party, they are redirected from the social media platform to the Brand Partner’s
company hosted e-commerce site where the order can be placed.
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash—Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are maintained at financial
institutions and, at times, balances may exceed federally insured limits of $250,000. We have never experienced any losses related to
these balances. The majority of payments due from banks for third party credit card transactions process within five to twenty business
days. These amounts due are classified as restricted cash. Cash and cash equivalents include demand and time deposits, money market
funds and other marketable securities with maturities of three months or less when acquired.
33
Accounts Receivable—Accounts receivable are uncollateralized customer obligations due under normal trade terms, generally
requiring payment within thirty days from the invoice date. Extended payment terms are offered at certain times of the year for orders
that meet minimum quantities or amounts. Payments of accounts receivable are allocated to the specific invoices identified on the
customers’ remittance advice. Accounts receivables are carried at original invoice amount less an estimated reserve made for returns
and discounts based on quarterly review of historical rates of returns and expected discounts to be taken. The carrying amount of accounts
receivable is reduced, if needed, by a valuation allowance that reflects management’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be
collected.
Management periodically reviews accounts receivable balances and based on an assessment of historical bad debts, current
customer receivable balances, age of customer receivable balances, customers’ financial conditions and current economic trends,
estimates the portion of the balance that will not be collected. Management provides for probable uncollectible amounts through a charge
to earnings and a credit to a valuation account based on its assessment of the current status of the individual accounts. Balances which
remain outstanding after management has made reasonable collection efforts are written off through a charge to the valuation allowance
and a credit to accounts receivable. Recoveries of accounts receivable previously written off are recorded as income when received.
Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average costing
method. We present a portion of our inventory as a noncurrent asset. Occasionally we purchase products inventory in quantities in excess
of what will be sold within the normal operating cycle due to the minimum order requirements of our primary supplier or changes in
sales levels. We estimate noncurrent inventory using an anticipated turnover ratio by title, based primarily on historical trends. These
excess quantities of 2½ years of anticipated sales are classified as noncurrent inventory.
The Company assumes title and responsibility for inventory purchased according to the contract language with our suppliers
and the individual shipment terms for the order. The Company maintains insurance for the value of the inventory once the title has been
passed until it is received at our warehouse (“inventory in transit”).
Brand Partners that meet certain eligibility requirements may request and receive inventory on consignment. Consignment
inventory is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, 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, excluding the estimated reserve, with Brand Partners
was $1,388,700 and $1,531,600 at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively. The Company has reserved for consignment
inventory not expected to be sold or returned of $379,600 and $488,500 as of February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively.
Inventories are presented net of a valuation allowance, which includes reserves for inventory obsolescence and Brand Partner
consignment inventory that is not expected to be sold or returned. Management estimates the allowance for both current and noncurrent
inventory. The allowance is based on management’s identification of slow-moving inventory and estimated consignment inventory that
will not be sold or returned.
Property, Plant and Equipment—Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost and depreciated on a straight-line basis over
their estimated useful life, as follows:
Building
30 years
Building improvements
5 – 15 years
Machinery and equipment
3 – 15 years
Furniture and fixtures
3 years
Capitalized software
4 – 10 years
Molds and tooling
3 – 5 years
Capitalized projects that are not placed in service are recorded as in progress and are not depreciated until the related assets are
placed in service, including capitalized software. The development of customer and Brand Partner software applications are critical to
our ongoing business operations and included in capitalized software. External and internal costs associated with the development of
new software applications incurred during the application development stage are capitalized. Training and maintenance costs are
expensed as incurred, while upgrades and enhancements are capitalized if it is probable that such expenditures will result in additional
functionality.
34
Assets Held for Sale— The Company classifies long-lived assets, or disposal groups to be sold, as held for sale in the period
in which all of the following criteria are met per ASC 360: (1) management, having the authority to approve the action, commits to a
plan to sell the asset or disposal group; (2) the asset or disposal group is available for immediate sale in its present condition subject
only to terms that are usual and customary for sales of such assets or disposal groups; (3) an active program to locate a buyer and other
actions required to complete the plan to sell the asset or disposal group have been initiated; (4) the sale of the asset or disposal group is
probable, and transfer of the asset or disposal group is expected to qualify for recognition as a completed sale within one year, except if
events or circumstances beyond our control extend the period of time required to sell the asset or disposal group beyond one year; (5)
the asset or disposal group is being actively marketed for sale at a price that is reasonable in relation to its current fair value; and (6)
actions required to complete the plan indicate that it is unlikely that significant changes to the plan will be made or that the plan will be
withdrawn.
We initially measure a long-lived asset or disposal group that is classified as held for sale at the lower of its carrying value or
fair value less any costs to sell. Any loss resulting from this measurement is recognized in the period in which the held-for-sale criteria
are met. Conversely, gains are not recognized on the sale of a long-lived asset or disposal group until the date of sale. We assess the fair
value of a long-lived asset or disposal group less any costs to sell each reporting period it remains classified as held for sale and report
any subsequent changes as an adjustment to the carrying value of the asset or disposal group, as long as the new carrying value does not
exceed the carrying value of the asset at the time it was initially classified as held for sale.
Upon determining that a long-lived asset or disposal group meets the criteria to be classified as held for sale, the Company
ceases depreciation of the asset and reports long-lived assets and/or the assets and liabilities of the disposal group, if material, in the line
items assets held for sale and liabilities held for sale, respectively, in our balance sheet. Refer to Note 3.
Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—We review the value of long-lived assets for possible impairment whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable based on estimated future cash flows.
Such indicators include, among others, the nature of the asset, the projected future economic benefit of the asset, historical and future
cash flows and profitability measurements. If the carrying value of an asset exceeds the future undiscounted cash flows expected from
the asset, we recognize an impairment charge for the excess of the carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value. Determination
as to whether and how much an asset is impaired involves management estimates and can be impacted by other uncertainties. No
impairment was noted during fiscal years 2024 or 2023.
Leases—We have both lessee and lessor arrangements. Our leases are evaluated at inception or at any subsequent modification.
Depending on the terms, leases are classified as either operating or finance leases if we are the lessee, or as operating, sales-type or
direct financing leases if we are the lessor, as appropriate under ASC 842 - Leases. In accordance with ASC 842, we have made an
accounting policy election to not apply the standard to lessee arrangements with a term of one year or less and no purchase option that
is reasonably certain of exercise. We will continue to account for these short-term arrangements by recognizing payments and expenses
as incurred, without recording a lease liability and right-of-use asset. We have also made an accounting policy election for both our
lessee and lessor arrangements to combine lease and non-lease components. This election is applied to all of our lease arrangements as
our non-lease components are not material and do not result in significant timing differences in the recognition of rental expenses or
income.
Income Taxes—We account for income taxes under ASC 740 - Income Taxes, which requires an asset and liability approach.
Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and the tax
basis of assets and liabilities using the current tax laws and rates. A valuation allowance is established, when necessary, to reduce net
deferred tax assets to the amounts that are “more likely than not” to be realized.
Revenue Recognition—Revenue is derived from the sales of children’s books and related products which are generally capable
of being distinct and accounted for as a single performance obligation to deliver tangible goods. Substantially all of our products are
sold to end consumers through our PaperPie division and retail outlets through our Publishing division. Refer to Note 17 – Business
Segments for revenue by segment. Revenues of both divisions are recognized when the product is shipped, FOB-Shipping Point, which
is the point in time the customer obtains control of the products and risk of loss and rewards of ownership have been transferred. Sales
taxes that are collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities are accounted for as a pass-through liability, and
therefore are excluded from net sales.
The majority of PaperPie’s sales contracts have a single performance obligation and are short-term in nature. PaperPie’s sales
are generally collected at the time the product is ordered. Sales which have been paid for but not shipped are classified as deferred
revenue on the balance sheets. Sales associated with consignment inventory are recognized when reported by the consignee and payment
associated with the sale has been collected. Transportation revenue represents the amount billed to the customer for shipping the product
and is recorded when the product is shipped.
35
Certain PaperPie sales contracts associated with the hostess award programs include sales incentives, such as discounted
products. These incentives provide a separate performance obligation in the contract and material rights to the customer. The transaction
price is allocated to the material right based on its relative standalone selling price and is recognized in revenue as the performance
obligations are satisfied, which occurs at shipping point or at the expiration of the material right. As the products included as sales
incentives are shipped with the associated products ordered, there is no deferral required. Revenues allocated to the material right are
recognized in gross sales, discounts and allowances and cost of goods sold in our statements of operations.
The majority of Publishing’s sales contracts have a single performance obligation and are short-term in nature. Publishing’s
sales may be collected at the time the product is shipped or the customers may be given payment terms based primarily on their credit
worthiness and payment history.
Estimated allowances for sales returns, which reduce net revenues and cost of goods sold, are recorded as sales are recognized.
Management uses a moving average calculation to estimate the allowance for sales returns. We are not responsible for a product damaged
in transit and most damaged returns are primarily from retail stores. These returns result from damage that occurs in the stores, not in
shipping to the stores. It is industry practice to accept non-damaged returns from retail customers. Management has estimated sales
returns of approximately $201,500 for both February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, which is included in other current liabilities on
the Company’s balance sheets. In addition, management has recorded an asset for the expected value of non-damaged inventories to be
returned. The estimated value of returned products of $100,800 is included in other current assets on the Company’s balance sheets for
both February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023.
The Company generally expenses sales commissions in the same period that the revenue is recognized. These costs are recorded
within operating expenses. The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for contracts with an
unexpected length of one year or less.
Advertising Costs—Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expenses, included in general and administrative
expenses in the statements of operations, were $373,400 and $428,600 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023,
respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs—We classify shipping and handling costs as operating and selling expenses in the statements
of operations. Shipping and handling costs include postage, freight, handling costs, as well as shipping materials and supplies. These
costs were $6,744,400 and $13,588,400 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.
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.
Interest Rate Exchange Agreement—The interest rate exchange agreement (“swap agreement”) is recognized on the balance
sheet at its fair value. On the date the swap agreement is entered into, the Company designates the swap agreement as a hedge of a
forecasted transaction or of the variability of cash flows to be received or paid related to a recognized asset or liability (cash-flow hedge)
if the applicable criteria are met. Changes in the fair value of the swap agreement are recorded in other comprehensive income until
earnings are affected by the variability of cash flows.
The Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items as well as its risk-
management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedged transactions. This process includes linking all cash-flow hedges to
specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or forecasted transactions. The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge's
inception and on an ongoing basis, whether they are highly effective in offsetting changes in cash flows of hedged items. When it is
determined that the swap agreement is not highly effective or that it has ceased to be highly effective, the Company discontinues hedge
accounting prospectively as discussed below.
The Company discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when (a) it is determined that the swap agreement is no longer
effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of a hedged item (including forecasted transactions); (b) the swap agreement expires or
is sold, terminated or exercised; (c) the swap agreement is de-designated as a hedge instrument because it is unlikely that a forecasted
transaction will occur; or (d) management determines that designation as a hedge instrument is no longer appropriate.
36
When hedge accounting is discontinued because it is probable that a forecasted transaction will not occur, the swap agreement
will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, and gains and losses that were accumulated in other comprehensive
income or loss will be recognized immediately in earnings. In all other situations in which hedge accounting is discontinued, the swap
agreement will be carried at its fair value on the balance sheet with subsequent changes in its fair value recognized in the current period’s
earnings.
Earnings per Share—Basic earnings (loss) per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net earnings (loss) by the weighted
average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is based on the combined weighted average number of
common shares outstanding and dilutive potential common shares issuable which include, where appropriate, the assumed exercise of
options and the assumed vesting of granted restricted share awards. In computing Diluted EPS, we have utilized the treasury stock
method.
The computation of weighted average common and common equivalent shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS
is shown below:
Year Ended February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Earnings (loss) per share:
Net earnings (loss) applicable to common shareholders
$
546,400 $
(2,504,900 )
Shares:
Weighted average shares outstanding-basic
8,269,971
8,157,704
Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable
under granted unvested restricted stock awards
15,259
-
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted
8,285,230
8,157,704
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
Basic
$
0.07 $
(0.31 )
Diluted
$
0.07 $
(0.31 )
As shown in the table below, the following shares have not been included in the calculation of diluted earnings (loss) per share
as they would be anti-dilutive to the calculation above.
Year Ended February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Weighted average shares:
Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable
under granted unvested restricted stock awards
-
222,395
New Accounting Pronouncements— The Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) periodically issues new
accounting standards in a continuing effort to improve standards of financial accounting and reporting. We have reviewed the recently
issued pronouncements and concluded the following new accounting standard updates (“ASU”) apply to us:
In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment
Disclosures, which provides updates to qualitative and quantitative reportable segment disclosure requirements, including enhanced
disclosures about significant segment expenses and increased interim disclosure requirements, among others. The amendments in ASU
2023-07 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after
December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted, and the amendments should be applied retrospectively. This ASU will be effective for
our Form 10-K for fiscal 2025 and our Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating the impact this ASU
may have on our financial statement disclosures.
In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures,
which provides qualitative and quantitative updates to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid disclosures, among others, in order
to enhance the transparency of income tax disclosures, including consistent categories and greater disaggregation of information in the
rate reconciliation and disaggregation by jurisdiction of income taxes paid. The amendments in ASU 2023-09 are effective for fiscal
years beginning after December 15, 2024, with early adoption permitted. The amendments should be applied prospectively; however,
retrospective application is also permitted. This ASU will be effective for our Form 10-K for fiscal 2026. We are currently evaluating
the impact this ASU may have on our financial statement disclosures.
37
2. CASH
The below table reconciles cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as reported in the balance sheets to the total of the same
amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:
February 29,
2024
February 28,
2023
Cash and cash equivalents
$
844,500 $
689,100
Restricted cash
432,900
-
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown in the
statements of cash flows
$
1,277,400 $
689,100
The Company has historically contracted with Braintree Payment Services and PayPal, Inc. (together “PayPal”) and most
recently Nexio, third-party merchant service processors, to capture PayPal, Visa, Discover and Mastercard payments from customers.
Approximately 90% of all payments received by the Company have been channeled through these processors. During the second quarter
of fiscal 2024, PayPal, under the terms of our agreements, began to hold cash payments received from customers in reserve to offset any
potential chargebacks. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company switched most merchant services for Visa, Discover and
Mastercard from Braintree to Nexio, which required a shorter hold period. This switch allowed a portion of the reserves to be released
prior to November 30, 2023. The Company has classified the remaining cash held in reserves by PayPal and Nexio as restricted cash.
3. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
During fiscal 2024, the Company executed the Third Amendment to the existing Credit Agreement with BOKF, NA. This
amendment required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55th Place, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146 for sale by
August 18, 2023. The Company ceased recording depreciation on the assets upon meeting the held for sale criteria at the end of its
second quarter of fiscal 2024. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company entered into a sale agreement and closed on the sale
of this property for $5,100,000. The gain from the sale of the property, of approximately $4,016,700, is reflected in other income in the
statements of operations. Subsequent to the closing of the sale, the Company executed a lease agreement on the property with the third-
party buyer for 36 months. See Note 11 for further details.
Also, during fiscal 2024, the Company listed its real estate property located at 5402 S. 122nd E. Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146
for sale. This property, consisting of approximately 402,000 square feet of office and warehouse space on 35-acres (the “Hilti Complex”),
along with 17-acres of adjacent undeveloped land, was appraised in July, 2023 with a market value of $41,970,000. The Company
ceased recording depreciation on the assets upon meeting the held for sale criteria at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2024.
The Company records assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. As of February 29,
2024, the total carrying value of assets held for sale was $18,281,100 and is separately recorded on the balance sheets.
4. INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Current:
Product inventory
$
44,303,000 $
59,577,400
Inventory valuation allowance
(389,800 )
(490,900 )
Inventories net - current
$
43,913,200 $
59,086,500
Noncurrent:
Product inventory
$
12,269,200 $
5,135,200
Inventory valuation allowance
(592,200 )
(415,600 )
Inventories net - noncurrent
$
11,677,000 $
4,719,600
Inventory in transit totaled $264,000 and $850,100 at February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.
Product inventory quantities in excess of what we expect will be sold within the normal operating cycle, based on 2 ½ years
of anticipated sales, are included in noncurrent inventory.
38
5. BUSINESS CONCENTRATION
Significant portions of our inventory purchases are concentrated with an England-based publishing company, Usborne
Publishing Limited (“Usborne”). During fiscal 2023, we entered into a new distribution agreement (“Agreement”) with Usborne. The
Agreement includes annual minimum purchase volumes along with specific payment terms and letter of credit requirements, which if
not met offer Usborne the right to terminate the Agreement on less than 30 days’ written notice. Should termination of the Agreement
occur, the Company will be allowed to sell its remaining Usborne inventory for an agreed upon period, but not less than twelve months
following the termination date. As of February 28, 2024, the Company did not meet the minimum purchase requirements and did not
supply the letter of credit required under the Agreement, which allows Usborne the right to exercise their option to terminate the
Agreement. Usborne has not notified the Company of termination of the Agreement. Usborne has refused to pay the $1.0 million volume
rebate owed to the Company from purchases made during fiscal 2022. The Company is disputing the cancellation of the rebate but has
not recognized any rebate in fiscal 2023 or fiscal 2024 due to its uncertainty. Additionally, under the terms in the Agreement, the
Company no longer has the rights to distribute Usborne’s products to retail customers. The Company discontinued selling Usborne
products to retail customers in the first quarter of fiscal 2024. Gross sales attributed to Usborne’s products sold within the Publishing
division accounted for 24.2%, or $2,740,000, during the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, and 83.1%, or $23,220,600, during the
fiscal year ended February 28, 2023.
Purchases received from Usborne were approximately $2,052,300 and $11,448,500 for the years ended February 29, 2024 and
February 28, 2023, respectively. Total inventory purchases for those same periods were approximately $9,241,100 and $20,377,600,
respectively. Included in our balance sheets, outstanding accounts payable due to Usborne as of February 29, 2024 and February 28,
2023 were $1,006,000 and $117,600, respectively. Total Usborne inventory owned by the Company and included in our balance sheets
were $29,010,200 and $35,363,500 as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.
6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Land
$
- $
4,107,200
Building
-
20,424,900
Building improvements
-
2,274,200
Machinery and equipment
14,156,400
14,234,900
Furniture and fixtures
124,000
121,700
Capitalized software
2,964,200
1,236,300
Molds and tooling
733,200
704,000
Capitalized software - in progress
313,500
1,265,000
Total property, plant and equipment
18,291,300
44,368,200
Less accumulated depreciation
(9,351,700 )
(14,711,800 )
Property, plant and equipment-net
$
8,939,600 $
29,656,400
During fiscal year 2023, the Company purchased the SmartLab Toys product line. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2024, the
Company implemented its new proprietary e-commerce platform resulting in the reclassification of the development costs in progress
to capitalized software.
7. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Accrued royalties
$
324,700 $
504,400
Accrued PaperPie incentives
1,393,000
1,189,900
Accrued freight
90,800
120,300
Sales tax payable
265,500
394,800
Allowance for expected inventory returns
201,500
201,500
Other
1,062,600
535,300
Total other current liabilities
$
3,338,100 $
2,946,200
39
8. OTHER INCOME
A summary of other income is show below:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Federal tax credits realized
$
3,808,700 $
-
Gain from sale of assets
4,016,700
-
Rental income
1,544,000
1,565,000
Other income (loss)
24,900
(237,600 )
Total other income
$
9,394,300 $
1,327,400
9. INCOME TAXES
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities
for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes. The tax effects of significant items comprising our net
deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Deferred tax assets:
Allowance for credit losses
$
34,800 $
57,200
Inventory overhead capitalization
112,800
170,100
Inventory valuation allowance
102,500
132,500
Inventory valuation allowance – noncurrent
159,900
112,200
Allowance for sales returns
27,200
27,200
Research and development capitalization
418,900
291,600
Net operating loss carryforward (1)
572,600
830,900
Disallowed interest
1,236,600
Accruals
343,800
1,069,100
Total deferred tax assets
3,009,100
2,690,800
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant, and equipment
(1,602,600 )
(1,894,000 )
Total deferred tax liabilities
(1,602,600 )
(1,894,000 )
Net deferred income tax assets
$
1,406,500 $
796,800
(1) The Company’s net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforward was generated from losses incurred in
fiscal 2023. The Company’s NOL can be carried forward indefinitely, but are limited to a 80%
maximum offset of taxable income. Authoritative guidance requires a valuation allowance to be
established when determining whether deferred tax assets are more likely-than-not to be realized.
Based on the Company’s evaluation, we determined the net deferred tax assets meet the
requirements to be realized, and as such, no valuation allowance has been established.
40
The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Current:
Federal (1)
$
- $
-
State (1)
-
-
-
-
Deferred:
Federal
154,200
(719,700 )
State
33,900
(202,300 )
188,100
(922,000 )
Total income tax expense (benefit)
$
188,100 $
(922,000 )
(1) The Company incurred losses in fiscal 2023, resulting in a net operating loss carryforward and
reclassification from current to deferred.
The following reconciles our expected income tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
U.S. federal statutory income tax rate
21.0 %
21.0 %
U.S. state and local income taxes–net of federal benefit
3.7 %
5.7 %
Other
0.9 %
0.2 %
Total income tax expense
25.6 %
26.9 %
We file our tax returns in the U.S. and certain state jurisdictions in which we have nexus. We are no longer subject to income
tax examinations by tax authorities for the fiscal years before 2020.
Based upon a review of our income tax filing positions, we believe that our positions would be sustained upon an audit and do
not anticipate any adjustments that would result in a material change to our financial position. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain
income tax positions have been recorded. We classify interest and penalties associated with income taxes as a component of income tax
expense on the statements of operations.
10. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN
The Company has created the Educational Development Corporation Employee 401(k) Plan (“EDC 401(k) Plan”) as a benefit
plan for employees offering retirement investment options as well as profit sharing with its employees, in the form of matching
contributions. The EDC 401(k) Plan includes, as an investment option, the ability to purchase shares of the Company’s stock which the
Plan Administrator acquires directly from NASDAQ. This plan incorporates the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue
Code that allow favorable tax treatments on investments. The EDC 401(k) Plan is available to all employees that meet specific age and
length of service requirements. The Company’s matching contributions are discretionary and approved annually at a meeting of the
EDC 401(k) Plan’s Trustees and Company’s management. Matching contributions made to the Plan by the Company totaled $151,700
and $160,800 during the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively.
11. LEASES
We have both lessee and lessor arrangements. Our lessee arrangements include four rental agreements where we have the
exclusive use of dedicated office space in San Diego, California, warehouse and office space in Layton, Utah, and two leases for
warehouse space locally in Tulsa, OK, all of which qualify as an operating lease. Our lessor arrangements include one rental agreement
for warehouse and office space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and qualifies as an operating lease under ASC 842.
41
Operating Leases – Lessee
We recognize a lease liability, reported in other liabilities on the balance sheets, for each lease based on the present value of
remaining minimum fixed rental payments (which includes payments under any renewal option that we are reasonably certain to
exercise), using a discount rate that approximates the rate of interest we would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a
similar term. Expected payments in the next twelve months are classified as current lease liabilities. Payments in excess of twelve months
are classified as long-term lease liabilities. We also recognize a right-of-use asset, reported in other assets on the balance sheets, for each
lease, valued at the lease liability and adjusted for prepaid or accrued rent balances existing at the time of initial recognition. The lease
liability and right-of-use assets are reduced over the term of the lease as payments are made and the assets are used.
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Operating lease assets:
Right-of-use assets
$
1,614,900 $
823,600
Operating lease liabilities:
Current lease liabilities
$
726,900 $
347,800
Long-term lease liabilities
$
888,000 $
475,800
Weighted-average remaining lease term (months)
25.8
36.3
Weighted-average discount rate
4.34 %
4.01 %
Minimum fixed rental payments are recognized on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease as costs and expensed in our
statements of operations. Variable and short-term rental payments are recognized as costs and expenses as they are incurred.
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Fixed lease costs
$
563,900 $
154,400
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases with initial terms greater than one year as of February 29, 2024, are
as follows:
Years ending February 29 (28),
2025
$
735,800
2026
600,200
2027
397,300
Total future minimum rental payments
1,733,300
Less: imputed interest
(118,400 )
Total operating lease liabilities
$
1,614,900
The following table provides further information about our operating leases reported in our financial statements:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Operating cash flows – operating leases
$
563,900 $
154,400
Operating Leases – Lessor
In connection with the 2015 purchase of our 400,000 square-foot facility on 50 acres (the “Hilti Complex”), we entered into a
15-year lease with the seller, a non-related third party, who leases 181,300 square feet, or 45.3% of the facility. The lessee pays $123,900
per month, through the lease anniversary date of December 2024 with a 2.0% annual increase adjustment on each anniversary date
thereafter. The lease terms allow for one five-year extension, which is not a bargain renewal option, at the expiration of the 15-year
term. Revenues associated with the lease are being recorded on a straight-line basis over the initial lease term and are reported in other
income in the statements of operations. We recognize variable rental payments as revenue in the period in which the changes in facts
and circumstances, on which the variable lease payments are based, occur.
42
Future minimum payments receivable under operating leases with terms greater than one year are estimated as follows:
Years ending February 29 (28),
2025
$
1,547,100
2026
1,524,300
2027
1,554,800
2028
1,585,900
2029
1,617,600
Thereafter
3,332,900
Total
$
11,162,600
The cost of the leased space was approximately $10,159,500 as of February 29, 2024, and $10,637,900 as of February 28,
2023, respectively. The accumulated depreciation associated with the leased assets was $2,776,400 and $2,853,200 as of February 29,
2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively. During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company announced its plans to sell the Hilti
Complex and reclassified the land and buildings from property, plant and equipment to assets held for sale. The leased space was
included in this reclassification.
12. DEBT
Debt consists of the following:
February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Line of credit
$
5,498,100 $
10,634,500
Floating rate term loan
$
17,300,000 $
20,475,000
Fixed rate term loan
11,300,900
14,625,000
Total term debt
28,600,900
35,100,000
Less current portion
(1,800,000 )
(34,894,900 )
Less debt issue cost
(160,200 )
(205,100 )
Long-term debt, net
$
26,640,700 $
-
On August 9, 2022, the Company repaid in full all outstanding indebtedness and terminated all commitments and obligations
under its Amended and Restated Loan Agreement dated February 15, 2021 (as amended), between the Company and MidFirst Bank and
executed a new Credit Agreement (“Loan Agreement”) with BOKF, NA (“Bank of Oklahoma” or the “Lender”). The Loan Agreement
established a fixed rate term loan in the principal amount of $15,000,000 (the “Fixed Rate Term Loan”), a floating rate term loan in the
principal amount of $21,000,000 (the “Floating Rate Term Loan”; together with the Fixed Rate Term Loan, collectively, the “Term
Loans”), and a revolving promissory note in the principal amount up to $15,000,000 (the “Revolving Loan” or “Line of Credit”).
On December 22, 2022, the Company executed the First Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment
clarified the definition of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio to exclude dividends paid prior to November 30, 2022, and placed restrictions
on acquisitions and cash dividends.
On May 10, 2023, the Company executed the Second Amendment to our Loan Agreement with the Lender. This amendment
waived the fixed charge ratio default which occurred on February 28, 2023 and amended the financial covenant to not require the fixed
charge ratio to be measured at May 31, 2023. The Second Amendment also added a cumulative maximum level of fiscal year to date
inventory purchases through the expiration of the Revolving Loan Agreement, increased the borrowing rate on the Company’s Revolving
Loan to Term SOFR Rate plus 3.5%, required certain swap agreement be executed within 30 days of the amendment, reduced the
revolving commitment from $15,000,000 to $14,000,000, effective May 10, 2023, and further reduced the revolving commitment to
$13,500,000, effective July 15, 2023, among other items.
43
On June 6, 2023, pursuant to its interest rate risk and risk management strategy, the Company entered into a swap transaction
(the “Swap Transaction”) with the Lender, which converts a portion of the original $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan from a floating
interest rate to a fixed interest rate for the next two years. The Swap Transaction has a notional amount of $18,000,000 through fiscal
quarter ending May 31, 2024, and then resets to $13,000,000 through May 30, 2025, while continuing to mirror the amortizing balance
of the Floating Rate Term Loan. Under the terms of this agreement, the Company, in effect, has exchanged the floating interest rate of
30-Day Term SOFR Rate at the trade date of June 5, 2023, to a fixed rate of 4.73%. The Swap Transaction commenced on June 7, 2023,
with a termination date of May 30, 2025.
On August 9, 2023, the Company executed the Third Amendment along with a Revised Credit Agreement (“Revised Loan
Agreement”) with the Lender. This amendment extended the Revolving Loan maturity date to January 31, 2024 and introduced a
stepdown to the Revolving Commitment from $13,500,000, through August 30, 2023; to $10,500,000 through October 30, 2023; to
$9,000,000 through November 29, 2023; to $5,000,000 through December 30, 2023; to $4,500,000 through January 30, 2024; and to
$4,000,000 on January 31, 2024. The amendment restricted the Company from entering into any new purchase orders and uses its best
efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. It also required the Company to list its real estate property located at 10302 East 55th Place,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, for sale with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender on or before August 18, 2023, among
other items. Contingent upon the occurrence of an Event of Default in the agreement, the Company shall within 15 days list the Hilti
Complex with a licensed commercial real estate broker satisfactory to the Lender. The Third Amendment also increased the borrowing
rate on the Revolving Loan to 30-Day Term SOFR Rate + 4.50%, or 9.82% at February 29, 2024. The Revised Loan Agreement was
updated for the changes in the Third Amendment as well as removed the fixed charge ratio and the ability for borrowings to be
accelerated before the January 31, 2024 Revolving Loan maturity date.
Prior to the Third Amendment, executed on August 9, 2023, the Loan Agreement contained provisions that required the
Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge ratio. The Company was in violation of the minimum fixed charge ratio covenant as of
February 28, 2023, for which the Company obtained a written waiver of compliance from the Lender and was not required to measure
the fixed charge ratio as of May 31, 2023. Concurrent with the execution of the Third Amendment to the Loan Agreement, the Loan
Agreement was modified to incorporate the changes outlined in the Third Amendment and the fixed charge ratio covenant was removed,
as well as the Lender’s right to accelerate the maturities of the Fixed Rate Term Loan and Floating Rate Term Loan due to the fixed
charge ratio covenant.
On November 30, 2023, the Company executed the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (“Amendment”) with the
Lender. The Amendment, effective December 1, 2023, increased the Revolving Loan commitment to $8,000,000 and extended the
maturity date to May 31, 2024. The Amendment also required the Company to list the Hilti Complex for sale, allowed the Company to
execute additional purchase orders, subject to the lender’s approval and conditions, not to exceed $2,100,000 between December 1,
2023 and March 31, 2024, among other items. Proceeds from the sale of the property are to be used to pay down the borrowings with
the Lender. A third-party appraisal was completed on the Hilti Complex, consisting of the 400,000 square feet building complex on
approximately 50 acres, along with approximately 15 acres of adjacent unused land, in July of 2023 with a market value of $41,970,000.
Available credit under the current $8,000,000 revolving line of credit with the Company’s Lender was approximately
$2,501,900 at February 29, 2024.
Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:
(i)
Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with 5-year maturity date of August 9, 2027
(ii)
$15 Million Fixed Rate Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate per annum equal to 4.26%
(iii)
$21 Million Floating Rate Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 1.75%
(iv)
$8 Million Revolving Loan with maturity date of May 31, 2024. The Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per annum
equal to Term SOFR Rate + 4.50% (effective rate was 9.82% at February 29, 2024)
(v)
Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit up to $7,500,000 upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 29,
2024)
44
The following table reflects aggregate current maturities of term debt, excluding the Revolving Loan, during the next fiscal
year as follows:
Years ending February 28 (29),
2025
$
1,800,000
2026
1,800,000
2027
1,800,000
2028
23,200,900
Total
$
28,600,900
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
As of February 29, 2024, the Company had outstanding purchase commitments for inventory totaling $1,424,800 with Kane
Miller and SmartLab Toys suppliers, which will be received and payments due during fiscal year 2025.
14. 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. The probability of restricted share awards granted with future performance conditions is
evaluated at each reporting period and share awards are updated and compensation expense is adjusted based on updated information.
In July 2018, our shareholders approved the Company’s 2019 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2019 LTI Plan”). The 2019 LTI
Plan established up to 600,000 shares of restricted stock available to be granted to certain members of management based on exceeding
specified net revenues and pre-tax performance metrics during fiscal years 2019, 2020 or 2021. The Company exceeded all defined
metrics during these fiscal years and 600,000 shares were granted to members of management according to the Plan. The granted shares
under the 2019 LTI Plan “cliff vest” after five years from the fiscal year that the defined metrics were exceeded.
In July 2021, our shareholders approved the Company’s 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2022 LTI Plan”). The 2022 LTI
Plan establishes up to 300,000 shares of restricted stock available to be granted to certain members of management based on exceeding
specified net revenues and pre-tax performance metrics during fiscal years 2022 and 2023. The number of restricted shares to be
distributed depends on attaining the performance metrics defined by the 2022 LTI Plan and may result in the distribution of a number
of shares that is less than, but not greater than, the number of restricted shares outlined in the terms of the 2022 LTI Plan. Restricted
shares granted under the 2022 LTI Plan “cliff vest” after five years from the fiscal year that the defined metrics were exceeded.
During fiscal year 2019, the Company granted 308,000 restricted shares under the 2019 LTI Plan with an average grant-date
fair value of $9.94 per share. In fiscal year 2021, 5,000 restricted shares were forfeited and later regranted to other participants. During
fiscal year 2023, 10,000 restricted shares were forfeited, along with 969 additional shares purchased with dividends received from the
original issue date. The 10,000 forfeited shares were re-granted to participants during the fiscal 2023 third quarter with an average grant-
date fair value of $2.08. The 969 shares purchased with dividends were not reissued. The 303,000 outstanding shares were vested on
February 28, 2023.
During fiscal year 2021, the Company granted 297,000 restricted shares under the 2019 LTI Plan with an average grant-date
fair value of $6.30 per share. During fiscal year 2023, 18,000 restricted shares were forfeited, along with 760 additional shares purchased
with dividends received from the original issue date. The 18,000 forfeited shares were re-granted to participants during fiscal 2023 with
an average grant-date fair value of $2.08. The 760 shares purchased with dividends were not reissued. During fiscal year 2024, 35,285
restricted shares were forfeited and regranted to participants with an average grant-date fair value of $1.84. The remaining compensation
expense of these awards, totaling approximately $403,600 as of February 29, 2024, will be recognized ratably over the remaining vesting
period of 12 months.
45
As of February 29, 2024, no shares were granted under the 2022 LTI Plan.
A summary of compensation expense recognized in connection with restricted share awards as follows:
Year Ended February 29 (28),
2024
2023
Share-based compensation expense - net of forfeitures
$
212,000 $
907,800
The following table summarizes stock award activity during fiscal year 2024 under the 2019 LTI Plan:
Shares
Weighted
Average Fair
Value (per
share)
Outstanding at February 28, 2023
297,000 $
6.04
Granted
35,285
1.84
Vested
-
-
Forfeited
(35,285 )
6.20
Outstanding at February 29, 2024
297,000 $
5.53
15. STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN
In April 2008, the Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to an additional 1,000,000 shares of our common stock
under the plan initiated in 1998 (“amended 2008 plan”). On February 4, 2019, the Board of Directors replaced the amended 2008 plan
with a new plan which authorized us to repurchase up to 800,000 shares of outstanding common stock in the open market or in privately
negotiated transactions, and to utilize any derivative or similar instrument to effect share repurchase transactions (including without
limitation, accelerated share repurchase contracts, equity forward transactions, equity swap transactions, floor transactions or other
similar transactions or any combination of the foregoing transactions). This plan has no expiration date.
During fiscal year 2024, there was a repurchase of treasury stock for 138,201 shares for an average purchase price of $4.08 per
share, which amounted to $563,900. After the repurchase, the maximum number of shares that may be repurchased in the future is
376,393.
16. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
The following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023:
Net
Revenues
Gross
Margin
Net
Earnings
(Loss)
Basic
Earnings
(Loss)
Per Share
Diluted
Earnings
(Loss)
Per Share
2024
First quarter
$ 14,524,000 $ 9,373,600 $
(872,800 ) $
(0.11 ) $
(0.11 )
Second quarter
10,593,100
6,908,800
1,061,700
0.13
0.13
Third quarter
16,944,800 11,142,400
1,972,100
0.24
0.24
Fourth quarter
8,968,400
5,560,100 (1,614,600 )
(0.19 )
(0.19 )
Total year
$ 51,030,300 $ 32,984,900 $
546,400 $
0.07 $
0.07
2023
First quarter
$ 23,160,900 $ 15,309,400 $
215,800 $
0.03 $
0.03
Second quarter
19,418,300 12,478,600
(801,900 )
(0.10 )
(0.10 )
Third quarter
30,269,400 19,228,000
900
0.00
0.00
Fourth quarter
14,980,400
9,053,800 (1,919,700 )
(0.24 )
(0.24 )
Total year
$ 87,829,000 $ 56,069,800 $ (2,504,900 ) $
(0.31 ) $
(0.31 )
46
17. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
We have two reportable segments: PaperPie and Publishing. These reportable segments are business units that offer different
methods of distribution to different types of customers. They are managed separately based on the fundamental differences in their
operations. Our PaperPie segment markets its products through a network of independent Brand Partners using a combination of internet
sales, direct sales, home shows and book fairs. Our Publishing segment markets its products to retail accounts, which include book,
school supply, toy and gift stores, museums, trade and specialty wholesalers, through commissioned sales representatives and our
internal tele-sales group. See Note 5 for the impact of our updated Usborne distribution agreement on the Publishing segment.
The accounting policies for the segments are the same as those for the rest of the Company. We evaluate segment performance
based on earnings before income taxes of the segments, which is defined as segment net revenues reduced by cost of sales and direct
expenses. Corporate expenses, depreciation, interest expense and income taxes are not allocated to the segments but are listed in the
“Other” row below. Corporate expenses include the executive department, accounting department, information services department,
general office management, warehouse operations and building facilities management. Our assets and liabilities are not allocated on a
segment basis.
Information by industry segment for the years ended February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 is set forth below:
NET REVENUES
2024
2023
Publishing
$
5,405,100 $
13,282,300
PaperPie
45,625,200
74,546,700
Total
$
51,030,300 $
87,829,000
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
2024
2023
Publishing
$
1,223,300 $
3,186,800
PaperPie
4,129,200
9,170,600
Other
(4,618,000 )
(15,784,300 )
Total
$
734,500 $
(3,426,900 )
18. INTEREST RATE EXCHANGE AGREEMENT
The Company maintains an interest-rate risk-management strategy that uses interest-rate swap instruments to minimize
significant, unanticipated earnings fluctuations caused by interest-rate volatility. The Company's specific goal is to lower the cost of its
borrowed funds, when possible.
On June 5, 2023, the Company entered into a receive-variable (based on 30-Day SOFR)/pay-fixed interest-rate swap agreement
related to $18,000,000 of our $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan. This swap is utilized to manage interest-rate exposure over the
period of the interest-rate swap and is designated as a highly effective cash-flow hedge. The differential to be paid or received on the
swap agreement is accrued as interest rates change and is recognized in interest expense over the life of the agreement. The swap
agreement offsets a corresponding portion of the amortizing $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan, expires on May 30, 2025, and has
effectively fixed the interest rate on the offsetting, outstanding balance of the $21,000,000 Floating Rate Term Loan at 6.48%. The
notional amount of the swap and the offsetting, outstanding portion of the term loan were $17,300,000 on February 29, 2024. The
interest-rate swap contains no credit-risk–related contingent features and is cross-collateralized by all assets of the Company.
The effective portion of the unrealized gain or loss on this interest-rate swap is reported as a component of other comprehensive
income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Gains
and losses on the interest rate swap representing amounts excluded from the assessment of hedge effectiveness are recognized in current
earnings.
47
The fair value of the interest rate swap is included in the following caption on the balance sheets as follows:
February 29,
2024
February 28,
2023
Prepaid expenses and other assets
$
24,400 $
-
19. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following methods and assumptions are used in estimating the fair-value disclosures for financial instruments:
- The carrying amounts reported in the balance sheets for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable and accounts
payable approximate fair value due to the short-term maturity of these instruments.
- The estimated fair value of our assets held for sale was $40,019,200 as of February 29, 2024. The Company did not have any assets
held for sale as of February 28, 2023. Management's estimates are based on the appraised market value and listing price of the Hilti
Complex and land, less the estimated costs to sell.
- The estimated fair value of our term notes payable is estimated by management to approximate $28,152,800 and $34,253,500 as of
February 29, 2024, and February 28, 2023, respectively. Management's estimates are based on the obligations' characteristics,
including floating interest rate, maturity, and collateral.
- The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap of $24,400 is based on Level 2 inputs, including the present value of estimated
future cash flows based on market expectations of the yield curve on variable interest rates.
20. DEFERRED REVENUES
The Company’s PaperPie division receives payments on orders in advance of shipment. Any payments received prior to our
fiscal year end that were not shipped as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023 are recorded as deferred revenues on the balance
sheets. We received approximately $583,500 and $602,700 as of February 29, 2024 and February 28, 2023, respectively, in payments
for sales orders which were, or will be, shipped out subsequent to the fiscal year end.
21. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
The Company pays personal property taxes to Tulsa County (“County”) for equipment as well as inventory on hand at
December 31st that is expected to be sold within the state of Oklahoma. In March 2024, the Company filed their 2024 Personal Property
Tax Rendition that continued to exclude inventory that is sold outside of Oklahoma as well as inventory that is not sold within the
exemption period allowed by the County. The Company’s estimated personal property taxes for fiscal 2024 were approximately
$270,000. On April 24, 2024 the Company received a notice of disapproval of its rendition and a tax assessment against all of its owned
inventory on hand at December 31,2023, thereby increasing the expected personal property tax to approximately $729,000. The
Company plans to appeal the assessment and is requesting a reduction of the property tax assessment on inventory sold outside of
Oklahoma. Once the appeal is submitted, the County assessor will issue a written decision within seven (7) calendar days of the hearing.
If the decision is still denied, then the Company will appeal to the Tulsa County Board of Equalization (“Board”) within fifteen (15)
calendar days of the date the decision is mailed. Should the Board rule in favor of the County, the Company will then file a lawsuit with
the Court of Tax Review. Should the Court of Tax Review rule against the Board’s decision, the Company expects to further escalate
the appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court. The Company is continuing to accrue personal property taxes in calendar 2024 based on
the original rendition.
48
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Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statements (No. 33-60188, 333-100659 and 333-231817) on Form S-
8 of Educational Development Corporation of our reports dated May 21, 2024, relating to the financial statements of Educational
Development Corporation, appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Educational Development Corporation for the year ended
February 29, 2024.
/s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 21, 2024
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Craig M. White, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Educational Development Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 21, 2024
/s/ Craig M. White
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Dan E. O’Keefe, certify that:
1.
I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Educational Development Corporation;
2.
Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading
with respect to the period covered by this report;
3.
Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all
material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods
presented in this report;
4.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures
(as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in
Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:
a.
Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed
under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated
subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is
being prepared;
b.
Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be
designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
c.
Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our
conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by
this report based on such evaluation; and
d.
Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the
registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has
materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting;
and
5.
The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over
financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons
performing the equivalent functions):
a.
All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial
reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report
financial information; and
b.
Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
registrant's internal control over financial reporting.
Date: May 21, 2024
/s/ Dan E. O’Keefe
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Exhibit 32.1
Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
In connection with the Annual Report of Educational Development Corporation (the “Company”) on Form 10-K for the year
ending February 29, 2024, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), the undersigned
certify pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
(1) The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
(2) The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of
operations of the Company.
Date: May 21, 2024
By /s/ Craig M. White
Craig M. White
President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: May 21, 2024
By /s/ Dan E. O’Keefe
Dan E. O’Keefe
Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to, and will be retained by, the Company and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.
Exhibit 97.1
EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
CLAWBACK POLICY
Purpose
Educational Development Corporation (the “Company”) believes that it is in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders to create and maintain a culture that emphasizes integrity and accountability and that reinforces the Company’s pay-for-
performance compensation philosophy. The Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) has therefore adopted this policy, which
provides for the recoupment of certain executive compensation in the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting
restatement of its financial statements due to material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the federal
securities laws (this “Policy”). This Policy is designed to comply with Section 10D of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the “Exchange Act”), the rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the listing standards
of the NASDAQ. (i.e., the national securities exchange on which the Company’s securities are listed as of the adoption of this Policy).
Administration
This Policy shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board (the “Compensation Committee”). Any
determinations made by the Compensation Committee will be final and binding on all affected parties.
Covered Executives
This Policy applies to the Company’s current and former executive officers (as determined by the Compensation Committee
in accordance with Section 10D of the Exchange Act, the rules promulgated thereunder, and the listing standards of the NASDAQ) and
such other senior executives or employees who may from time to time be deemed subject to this Policy by the Compensation Committee
(collectively, the “Covered Executives”).
Incentive-Based Compensation
For purposes of this Policy, “Incentive-Based Compensation” means any compensation that is granted, earned, or vested based
wholly or in part on the attainment of a financial reporting measure (including (i) non-equity incentive plan awards that are earned solely
or in part by achieving a financial reporting measure performance goal, (ii) bonuses paid from a bonus pool where the size of the pool
is determined solely or in part by attaining a financial reporting measure performance goal, (iii) other cash awards based on achieving a
financial reporting measure performance goal, (iv) restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock options, stock appreciation rights, and
performance share units that are granted or vest solely or in part based on attaining a financial reporting measure performance goal, and
(v) proceeds from the sale of shares acquired through an incentive plan that were granted or vested solely or in part based on achieving
a financial reporting measure performance goal).
Compensation that would not be considered Incentive-Based Compensation includes (i) salaries, (ii) bonuses paid solely based
on satisfaction of subjective standards, such as demonstrating leadership, and/or completion of a specified employment period, (iii) non-
equity incentive plan awards earned solely based on satisfaction of strategic or operational measures, (iv) wholly time-based equity
awards, and (v) discretionary bonuses or other compensation that is not paid from a bonus pool that is determined by achieving a
financial reporting measure performance goal.
A financial reporting measure used for Incentive-Based Compensation purposes is (i) any measure that is determined and
presented in accordance with the accounting principles used in preparing financial statements, or any measure derived wholly or in part
from such measure whether or not the measure used is contained in the financial statements or otherwise disclosed, or (ii) stock price or
total shareholder return. Financial reporting measures include revenues, net income, operating income, EBITDA, financial performance
of a business unit or segment, financial ratios, liquidity measures (e.g., working capital, operating cash flow), return measures (e.g.,
return on invested capital), and earnings measures (e.g., earnings per share).
Recoupment
In the event that the Company is required to prepare an accounting restatement of its financial statements due to the Company’s
material noncompliance with any financial reporting requirement under the securities laws, including any required accounting
restatement (i) to correct an error in previously issued financial statements that is material to the previously issued financial statements,
or (ii) that would result in a material misstatement if the error were corrected in the current period or left uncorrected in the current
period (each an “Accounting Restatement”), the Compensation Committee shall reasonably promptly require reimbursement or
forfeiture of the Overpayment (as defined below) received by any Covered Executive (x) after beginning service as a Covered Executive,
(y) who served as a Covered Executive at any time during the performance period for the applicable Incentive-Based Compensation,
and (z) during the three completed fiscal years immediately preceding the date on which the Company is required to prepare an
Accounting Restatement.1
The Compensation Committee will not be required to recover any Overpayment to the extent that the Compensation Committee
determines such recovery would be impracticable because:
Ɣ The direct expense paid to a third party to assist in enforcing this Policy would exceed the amount to be recovered; or
Ɣ Recovery would likely cause an otherwise tax-qualified retirement plan, under which benefits are broadly available to
employees of the Company, to fail to meet the requirements of 26 U.S.C. 401(a)(13) or 26 U.S.C. 411(a) and regulations
thereunder.
Overpayment Subject to Recovery
The amount to be recovered will be the amount of Incentive-Based Compensation received that exceeds the amount of
Incentive-Based Compensation that otherwise would have been received had it been determined based on the restated amounts, and
must be computed without regard to any taxes paid (the “Overpayment”). Incentive-Based Compensation is deemed “received” in the
Company’s fiscal period during which the financial reporting measure specified in the Incentive-Based Compensation award is attained,
even if the vesting, payment or grant of the Incentive-Based Compensation occurs after the end of that period.
For Incentive-Based Compensation based on stock price or total shareholder return, where the amount of erroneously awarded
compensation is not subject to mathematical recalculation directly from the information in the Accounting Restatement, the amount of
the Overpayment shall be based on a reasonable estimate of the effect of the Accounting Restatement on the stock price or total
shareholder return upon which the Incentive-Based Compensation was received, and the Company must maintain documentation of the
determination of that reasonable estimate and provide such documentation to the NYSE.
Method of Recoupment
The Compensation Committee shall determine the method or methods for recouping any Overpayment, which may include:
Ɣ requiring reimbursement of cash Incentive-Based Compensation previously paid;
Ɣ seeking recovery of any gain realized on the vesting, exercise, settlement, sale, transfer, or other disposition of any equity-
based awards granted as Incentive-Based Compensation;
Ɣ offsetting any or all of the Overpayment from any compensation otherwise owed by the Company to the Covered Executive;
Ɣ cancelling outstanding vested or unvested equity awards; or
Ɣ taking any other remedial or recovery action permitted by law.
1 The date on which the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement is the earlier of (i) the date the Board, a committee of the Board, or the officers of
the Company authorized to take such action if Board action is not required, concludes or reasonably should have concluded that the Company’s previously issued
financial statements contain a material error, or (ii) the date a court, regulator or other legally authorized body directs the Company to prepare an Accounting
Restatement.
Limitation on Recovery; No Additional Payments
The right to recovery will be limited to Overpayments received during the three completed fiscal years prior to the date on
which the Company is required to prepare an Accounting Restatement.
In the event that an Accounting Restatement would result in a Covered Executive’s Incentive-Based Compensation being larger
than what the Covered Executive actually received, the Company will not be required to award the Covered Executive any additional
payment.
No Indemnification
The Company shall not indemnify any Covered Executives against the loss of any incorrectly awarded Incentive-Based
Compensation.
Interpretation
The Compensation Committee is authorized to interpret and construe this Policy and to make all determinations necessary,
appropriate, or advisable for the administration of this Policy. It is intended that this Policy be interpreted in a manner that is consistent
with the requirements of Section 10D of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules or standards adopted by the SEC or the NASDAQ.
Effective Date
This Policy is effective as of the date it is adopted by the Board and will apply to Incentive-Based Compensation received (as
determined pursuant to this Policy) on or after December 1, 2023.
Amendment; Termination
The Board may amend this Policy from time to time in its discretion. The Board may terminate this Policy at any time.
Other Recoupment Rights
The Board intends that this Policy will be applied to the fullest extent of the law. Any right of recoupment under this Policy is
in addition to, and not in lieu of, any other remedies or rights of recoupment that may be available to the Company pursuant to the terms
of any employment agreement, equity award agreement, cash-based bonus plan or program, or similar agreement, and any other legal
remedies available to the Company.
Successors
This Policy shall be binding and enforceable against all Covered Executives and their beneficiaries, heirs, executors,
administrators and other legal representatives.
Date of Adoption: December 1, 2023
Notice of Annual Meeting
July 10, 2024, 10:00 a.m. (CST)
Educational Development Corporation
Executive Conference Room
5402 S. 122nd East Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146
Form 10-K
Educational Development Corporation’s
Form 10-K filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission is available upon
request. Write to:
Craig M. White, President
Educational Development Corporation
5402 S. 122nd East Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146
Transfer Agent
Equiniti Trust Company, LLC (“EQ”)
48 Wall Street, Floor 23
New York, NY 10005
Auditors
HoganTaylor LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Corporate Offices
Educational Development Corporation
5402 S. 122nd East Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146-2230
Phone 918.622.4522
Fax 918.665.7919
www.edcpub.com
Corporate Data
Officers
Randall W. White
Executive Chairman
Educational Development Corporation
Dr. Kara Gae Neal
Former Director, School of
Urban Education
The University of Tulsa
Bradley V. Stoots
Retired-Office Managing Partner
Grant Thornton, LLP
Craig M. White
President and Chief Executive Officer
Educational Development Corporation
Craig M. White
President and Chief Executive Officer
Dan E. O’Keefe
Chief Financial Officer
Heather N. Cobb
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer
Listed on
Directors
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