Educational Development Corp 10-K for FY2025
Educational Development Corp (EDUC)
About this 10-K
Educational Development Corp filed this 10-K on May 19, 2025, covering the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 (FY2025).
Headline figures
Fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, as reported in this filing, compared with the same period a year earlier where the filing states it.
- Revenue
- $34.19M
- down 33.0% from $51.03M a year earlier
- Net loss
- $5.26M
- compared with net income of $546.4K a year earlier
- Diluted EPS
- -$0.63
- compared with $0.07 a year earlier
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
(Mark One)
For
the fiscal year ended
OR
For the transition period from to .
Commission
file number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
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Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code (
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
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Yes
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| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ | |
| Smaller reporting company | ||
| Emerging growth company |
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.
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☐ No
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, 2024 on the NASDAQ Stock Market, LLC was $
As
of May 12, 2025 there were
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Portions of the Proxy Statement for fiscal year 2025 relating to our Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on July 2, 2025, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Report on Form 10-K.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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,
| ● | our success in recruiting and retaining new brand partners, |
| ● | our ability to locate and procure desired books, |
| ● | product and supplier concentrations, |
| ● | our relationship with our primary supplier and the related distribution requirements and contractual limitations, |
| ● | adverse publicity associated with our Company or the industry, |
| ● | our ability to ship timely, |
| ● | changes to our primary sales channels, including social media and party plan platforms, |
| ● | changing consumer preferences and demands, |
| ● | cybersecurity threats and incidents, |
| ● | changes in macroeconomic conditions in international trade including recently announced and potential future tariffs, |
| ● | legal matters, |
| ● | reliance on information technology infrastructure, |
| ● | restrictions imposed in the agreements governing our indebtedness, |
| ● | our ability to obtain adequate financing for working capital and capital expenditures, |
| ● | economic and competitive conditions, regulatory changes and other uncertainties, as well as |
| ● | 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.”
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(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 described below, which we refer to as “divisions” or “sales channels:”
| ● | 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 schools and public libraries and through other events. This division had approximately 7,800 active Brand Partners as of February 28, 2025. |
| ● | Publishing Division (“EDC Publishing” or “Publishing”) – This is our trade division which markets our Kane Miller, SmartLab Toys, and Learning Wrap-Ups products 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 distribution agreement with Usborne Publishing, the Company does not have 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 2025 | FY 2024 | |||||||
| PaperPie | 87 | % | 89 | % | ||||
| Publishing | 13 | % | 11 | % | ||||
| Total net revenues | 100 | % | 100 | % | ||||
Additional financial information relating to the Company’s reportable segments is included in Note 16, “Business Segments”, of the Notes to Financial Statements in Item 15, “Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules,” which is included herein.
(c) Narrative Description of Business
Products
EDC’s current catalog contains approximately 2,000 titles, with new additions added periodically 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. Additionally, there is a seasonal increase in spring associated with Easter holiday season.
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Competition
While we have the exclusive rights to sell Kane Miller books, Learning Wrap-Ups, and 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, whom continuously receive opportunities to work for other direct selling companies, as well as other non-traditional employment opportunities, especially in the gig marketplace that provides multiple opportunities for 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.
Employees
As of February 28, 2025, 83 full-time employees worked at our Tulsa, OK, San Diego, CA, and Ogden, UT facilities. Of these employees, approximately 49% 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, Quarterly Reports and Definitive Proxy Statements. 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 can also 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.
| ● | Risk assessments that are designed to help identify material cybersecurity risks to our critical systems and information. |
| ● | A security team principally responsible for managing (1) our cybersecurity risk assessment processes, (2) our security controls, and (3) our response to cybersecurity incidents. |
| ● | The use of external service providers, where appropriate, to assess, test or otherwise assist with aspects of our security controls. |
| ● | Cybersecurity awareness training of our employees, including our incident response personnel. |
| ● | A cybersecurity incident response plan that includes procedures for responding to cybersecurity incidents. |
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Cybersecurity Governance
Our
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 supervises 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 2025 or 2024.
Our management team is informed about and monitors the prevention, detection, mitigation, and remediation of key cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means. This 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 is located on a 50-acre complex at 5402 South 122nd East Ave, Tulsa, Oklahoma. The Company headquarters includes multiple buildings that combine to total approximately 402,000 square feet of office and warehouse space; of which 109,700 is utilized by us and 292,300 is occupied by two third-party tenants. Substantially all customer orders are fulfilled from our 85,000 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 and Joplin, Missouri as needed for overflow inventory, an office space in San Diego, California that is used by our Kane Miller employees, office space in Ogden, Utah, and office space in Seattle, Washington. 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
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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 12, 2025, was 446.
For information regarding our compensation plans see Note 13 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 2, 2025, 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, 2024 | - | $ | - | - | 376,393 | |||||||||||
| January 1 - 31, 2025 | - | - | - | 376,393 | ||||||||||||
| February 1 - 28, 2025 | 400 | 1.65 | - | 375,993 | ||||||||||||
| Total | 400 | $ | 1.65 | - | ||||||||||||
| (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 2024 and fiscal 2025, 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 our remaining Usborne inventory over a period of twelve months following the termination date.
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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 compensation for our office, warehouse, and sales support staff as well as the cost of operating and maintaining our corporate offices, warehouses and distribution facility.
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 2025 | FY 2024 | |||||||
| New Brand Partners Added During Fiscal Year | 7,800 | 10,800 | ||||||
| Active Brand Partners at End of Fiscal Year | 7,800 | 15,000 | ||||||
Our PaperPie division’s multi-level marketing organizational structure currently has eight levels of sales representatives, collectively known as Brand Partners:
| ● | Brand Partners |
| ● | Team Leaders |
| ● | Advanced Leaders |
| ● | Senior Leaders |
| ● | Executive Leaders |
| ● | Senior Executive Leaders |
| ● | Directors |
| ● | 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, as well as 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.”
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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 awarded at each promotion level above Brand Partner with increasing award amounts 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 2025, 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.
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 to recruit new Brand Partners.
PaperPie net revenues also include sales to schools and libraries through PaperPie Learning. PaperPie Learning is 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 within 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 do this by selling a variety box of greeting-type cards and donating 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, as well as 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 2025 | FY 2024 | |||||||
| National chain bookstores | 11 | % | 2 | % | ||||
| All other | 89 | % | 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 bookstore and gift shop 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. Our annual catalogs are mailed out to approximately 4,000 customers and potential customers on a yearly basis. See Publishing Operating Results for discussion of our updated distribution agreement with Usborne.
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Result of Operations
The following table shows our statements of operations data:
| Twelve Months Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Product revenues, net of discounts and allowances | $ | 32,547,700 | $ | 48,654,200 | ||||
| Transportation revenue | 1,643,300 | 2,376,100 | ||||||
| Net revenues | $ | 34,191,000 | 51,030,300 | |||||
| Cost of goods sold | 13,163,300 | 18,045,400 | ||||||
| Gross margin | 21,027,700 | 32,984,900 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating and selling | 5,751,600 | 8,789,200 | ||||||
| Sales commissions | 10,096,600 | 16,105,600 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 11,955,100 | 13,991,000 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 27,803,300 | 38,885,800 | ||||||
| Interest expense | 2,188,400 | 2,758,900 | ||||||
| Other income | (2,109,000 | ) | (9,394,300 | ) | ||||
| Earnings (loss) before income taxes | (6,855,000 | ) | 734,500 | |||||
| Income tax expense (benefit) | (1,591,400 | ) | 188,100 | |||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | (5,263,600 | ) | $ | 546,400 | |||
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 $9.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, compared to $11.3 million for the same period a year ago. Operating expenses decreased $1.4 million primarily as a result of a reduction in labor expenses of $0.9 million, with our warehouse payroll having the largest reduction, plus a $0.7 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 excess warehouse and machinery and equipment, and a $0.4 million decrease in freight-handling costs associated with a decrease in product revenues prior to discounts and allowances, offset by a $0.4 million increase in building rent due to sale and leaseback of our excess warehouse facility and additional warehouse space in Tulsa and Missouri used to house excess inventory, $0.1 million increase in personal property taxes, and $0.1 million increase in reserve for bad debt due to an increase in long-term and consignment inventory reserves.
Interest expense decreased $0.6 million, to $2.2 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, compared to $2.8 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, with a $0.3 million decrease due primarily to the paydown of the line of credit required by the bank, and a $0.3 million decrease from the reduction of principle on the two term loans.
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Other income decreased $7.3 million, to $2.1 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, compared to $9.4 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, due to a $3.8 million decrease of other income related to the Employee Retention Credit received in fiscal 2024, a $4.0 million decrease due to the gain from the sale of the excess warehouse facility recognized in fiscal 2024, and a $0.3 million decrease from the loss associated with the abandonment of the Host Portal IT project, offset by $0.7 million increase in rental income due to the new tenant lease in our headquarters facility that started in the second quarter of fiscal 2025, and a $0.1 million increase related to royalties received from a promotion with Chick-fil-A which used a version of our books to distribute with their kids meals.
Income taxes decreased $1.8 million, to a tax benefit of $1.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, from a tax expense of $0.2 million for the same period a year ago. This decrease was primarily related to the decrease in taxable income for the current fiscal year compared to the prior fiscal year. The effective tax rate decreased by 2.4%, to 23.2% for fiscal year ending February 28, 2025, as compared to 25.6% for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024, primarily due to sales mix fluctuations between states and credits eligible for research and development expenses. Our tax rates are higher than the federal statutory rate of 21% due to the inclusion of state income and franchise taxes.
PaperPie Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the PaperPie segment for the twelve months ended February 28 (29):
| Twelve Months Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net revenues | 29,850,300 | 45,625,200 | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 11,406,000 | 15,745,500 | ||||||
| Gross margin | 18,444,300 | 29,879,700 | ||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating and selling | 4,575,400 | 7,151,300 | ||||||
| Sales commissions | 9,998,800 | 15,925,100 | ||||||
| General and administrative | 1,919,300 | 2,674,100 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 16,493,500 | 25,750,500 | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,950,800 | $ | 4,129,200 | ||||
| Average number of active Brand Partners | 12,300 | 18,300 | ||||||
PaperPie net revenues decreased $15.7 million, or 34.4%, to $29.9 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, when compared with net revenues of $45.6 million reported for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. The average number of active Brand Partners in fiscal year 2025 was 12,300, a decrease of 6,000, or 32.8%, from 18,300 in fiscal year 2024. The Company reports the average number of active Brand Partners as a key indicator for this division. The Company saw new Brand Partner recruiting negatively impacted due to several factors including economic factors that include inflation, resulting in high fuel costs and food price increases that continue to impact the disposable income of our customers. Additionally, the Company executed a new distribution agreement with Usborne Publishing Limited in fiscal 2023. This agreement required the rebranding of the direct sales division from Usborne Books & More (“UBAM”) to PaperPie. This rebranding was completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023. The reduced sales and uncertainty resulting from the new Usborne distribution agreement increased Brand Partner turnover and negatively impacted new Brand Partner recruits. We expect this impact on sales to continue as inflationary pressures persist.
PaperPie gross margin decreased $11.5 million, or 38.5%, to $18.4 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, from $29.9 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues decreased 3.7% to 61.8% for fiscal year 2025 when compared to 65.5% for fiscal year 2024. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net revenues is primarily attributed to increased discounts and promotions offered in fiscal 2025 to spur sales and turn excess inventory into cash, which was used to pay down payables and bank debts.
Total PaperPie operating expenses decreased $9.3 million, or 36.0%, to $16.5 million during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, when compared with $25.8 million reported for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. Operating and selling expenses decreased $2.6 million, to $4.6 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, from $7.2 million reported in the same period a year ago. These decreased expenses were due to a $1.7 million decrease in shipping costs associated with the decrease in volume of orders shipped, and a decrease of $0.8 million in accruals for Brand Partner incentive trip expenses, as well as a $0.1 million decrease in various other expenses. Sales commissions decreased $5.9 million, to $10.0 million during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, when compared to $15.9 million reported in the same period a year ago primarily due to the decrease in net revenues. General and administrative expenses decreased $0.8 million, to $1.9 million during the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, when compared with $2.7 million reported for the fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. This decrease was due to a $0.4 million decrease in credit card transaction fees and $0.2 million decrease in payroll expenses, both associated with decreased sales volumes, as well as $0.2 million decrease in various other expenses.
11
Operating income of our PaperPie division decreased $2.1 million, or 51.2%, to $2.0 million for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, as compared to $4.1 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. Operating income for the PaperPie division as a percentage of net revenues for the year ended February 28, 2025 was 6.5%, compared to 9.1% for the year ended February 29, 2024, a decrease of 2.6%. Operating income as a percentage of net revenues changed from the prior year primarily due to the decrease in net revenues due primarily from the reduced number of active brand partners and higher discounts offered to spur sales.
Publishing Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the Publishing segment for the twelve months ended February 28 (29):
| Twelve Months Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net revenues | 4,340,700 | 5,405,100 | ||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 1,757,300 | 2,299,800 | ||||||
| Gross margin | 2,583,400 | 3,105,300 | ||||||
| Total operating expenses | 1,428,000 | 1,882,000 | ||||||
| Operating income | $ | 1,155,400 | $ | 1,223,300 | ||||
Our Publishing division’s net revenues decreased $1.1 million, or 20.4%, to $4.3 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 from $5.4 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. The Publishing divisions net revenues decreased as the new distribution agreement with Usborne does not allow the retail division to sell these products. Retail sales of Usborne products discontinued in the first quarter of fiscal 2024.
Gross margin decreased $0.5 million, or 16.1%, to $2.6 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, from $3.1 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. Gross margin as a percentage of net revenues increased 2.0%, to 59.5% for fiscal year 2025, compared to 57.5% reported in the same period a year ago mainly due to product mix change. During fiscal 2025, sales of SmartLab Toys increased, which has a lower cost of goods sold than the Usborne product line that was discontinued in fiscal 2024.
Operating expenses decreased $0.5 million, or 26.3%, to $1.4 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, from $1.9 million reported for fiscal year ended February 29, 2024. The decrease in operating expenses resulted from the decrease in sales commissions of $0.1 million for EDC Publishing due to lower net revenues and the restructuring of our in-house sales department, a decrease in freight expense of $0.1 million associated with lower sales, and a decrease of $0.3 million in payroll expenses.
Operating income for the segment remained consistent at $1.2 million for fiscal year ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024.
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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 excess inventory to generate cash flow. 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 revolving line of credit and portions of the term debts with our bank. Available cash has historically been used to pay down the 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 2025, our revolving bank credit facility loan balance was $4.2 million with $0.6 million of borrowing availability.
During fiscal year 2025, we experienced positive cash flows from operations of $3,211,700. These cash flows resulted from:
| ● | net loss of $5,263,600 |
Adjusted for:
| ● | depreciation and amortization expense of $1,724,900 |
| ● | share-based compensation expense, net of $403,300 |
| ● | net loss on sale of assets of $321,400 |
| ● | provision for inventory allowance of $144,000 |
| ● | provision for credit losses of $48,000 |
Offset by:
| ● | deferred income taxes of $1,129,600 |
Positively impacted by:
| ● | decrease in inventories, net of $10,754,100 |
| ● | increase in deferred revenues of $91,700 |
Negatively impacted by:
| ● | decrease in accounts payable of $2,062,800 |
| ● | decrease in accrued salaries and commissions, and other liabilities of $918,400 |
| ● | decrease in income taxes payable of $312,500 |
| ● | increase in accounts receivable of $237,100 |
| ● | increase in prepaid expenses and other assets of $168,300 |
Cash used in investing activities was $429,600 for capital expenditures, consisting of $396,200 in new software development costs to add new features to our proprietary systems that PaperPie Brand Partners use to monitor their business and place customer orders and $43,200 in building improvements, offset by $9,800 from the sale of machinery and equipment.
Cash used in financing activities was $3,083,000, which was comprised of net payments on the line of credit of $1,300,000 and payments on term debt of $1,800,000, offset by $17,000 from other financing activities.
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The Company continues to expect the cash generated from 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 operations will be used to pay down existing debts with our bank and to purchase replacement inventory and new inventory in order to improve our product offerings.
On August 9, 2022, the Company executed a 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 agreements 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 encouraged the Company to use its best efforts to cancel existing purchase orders. The Third Amendment also increased the borrowing rate on the Revolving Loan to 30-Day Term SOFR Rate + 4.50%. 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.
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On June 13, 2024, the Company executed the Fifth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective May 31, 2024, adjusts the maximum availability of the Revolving Loan commitment to $7,000,000 through the maturity date of October 4, 2024. The Amendment also requires an additional decrease in the Revolving Loan to $4,500,000.
On October 7, 2024, the Company executed the Sixth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective October 3, 2024, extended the maturity date to January 4, 2025 and includes required step downs on the Revolving Loan to $5,500,000 by November 30, 2024.
On January 13, 2025, the Company executed the Seventh Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective January 4, 2025, adjusted the maximum availability of the Revolving Loan commitment to $4,750,000 through the maturity date of April 4, 2025.
On April 16, 2025, the Company executed the Eighth Amendment to the Existing Credit Agreement with the Lender. The Amendment, effective April 4, 2025, increases the Revolving Loan interest rate on the effective date to SOFR + 6.00%, extends the maturity date of the Revolving Loan to July 11, 2025, and includes a required step down on the Revolving Loan to $4,500,000 million by May 31, 2025. The Amendment also redefined the maturity dates of the two term loans to September 19, 2025 (see Note 20 of the notes to the financial statements).
Available credit under the current $4,750,000 revolving line of credit with the Company’s Lender was approximately $551,900 at February 28, 2025.
Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:
| (i) | Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with original 5-year maturity date of August 9, 2027, revised to September 19, 2025. See Note 12 and Note 20 of the financial statements for additional information. |
| (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) | $4.8 Million Revolving Loan with maturity date of July 11, 2025. The Revolving Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to Term SOFR Rate + 5.50% (effective rate was 9.85% at February 28, 2025), revised to SOFR + 6% effective April 4, 2025. |
| (v) | Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 28, 2025) |
15
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 and term loans and uncertainty of the bank’s ongoing support beyond July 11, 2025, along with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To address these concerns, the Company has taken steps in its plans to reduce debt by selling owned real estate. The proceeds from the sale are expected to pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. Following the loan payoff, management plans to fund ongoing operations with limited borrowings through local banks or other financing sources. In addition, management’s plans include reducing inventory, which will generate free cash flows, 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 28, 2025, 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 along with increased sales during the Easter holiday season. Historically, we have experienced an increase in inventory during the Summer in anticipation for the Fall increase in sales. We do not expect inventory to increase in fiscal year 2026 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, provision for credit losses, 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.
16
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 employee 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 2025 and 2024, the Company recognized $0.4 million and $0.2 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 an 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 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024.
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 for the fiscal years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, 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 non-current classification. Management continually estimates and calculates the amount of non-current 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, as well as reduced sales volumes. 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 $16.3 million and $12.3 million at February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, respectively. Noncurrent inventory valuation allowances were $0.7 million at February 28, 2025 and $0.6 million at February 29, 2024.
17
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 17.3% of our active Brand Partners maintained consignment inventory at the end of fiscal year 2025. 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 $1.3 million and $1.4 million at February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, 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 $1.2 million at February 28, 2025, and $1.0 million at February 29, 2024.
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 28, 2025. This evaluation was conducted under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (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 the 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.
18
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
The Company’s 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 they are 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 28, 2025.
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 the 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.
19
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 2, 2025.
(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 2, 2025.
(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 2, 2025.
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 2, 2025.
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 2, 2025.
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
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 2, 2025.
20
PART IV
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) The following documents are filed as part of this report:
1. Financial Statements
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. |
21
22
| * | Paper Filed |
| ** | Filed Herewith |
| *** | Management Contract or compensatory plan or arrangement |
Item 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable
23
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 19, 2025 | By | /s/ Craig M. White |
| Craig M. White | |||
| President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board | |||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| Date: | May 19, 2025 | 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 19, 2025 | /s/ Craig M. White |
| Craig M. White, Director | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| May 19, 2025 | /s/ Dr. Kara Gae Neal | |
| Dr. Kara Gae Neal, | ||
| Director | ||
| May 19, 2025 | /s/ Bradley V. Stoots | |
| Bradley V. Stoots, | ||
| Director | ||
| May 19, 2025 | /s/ Dr. Amy N. Emmerson | |
| Dr. Amy N. Emmerson, | ||
| Director | ||
| May 19, 2025 | /s/ Dan E. O’Keefe | |
| Dan E. O’Keefe | ||
| Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary | ||
| (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | ||
24
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 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, 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 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024, 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 standards of the PCAOB. 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 audits 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 12 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 12 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 12 months.
Our audit procedures performed to address this critical audit matter included, among others:
| ● | Reviewing and evaluating management’s plans for dealing with the adverse effects of the conditions and events. |
| ● | Evaluating the reasonableness of management’s significant assumptions and judgments used in the preparation of the forecast. |
| ● | Comparing the forecast to historical results, recent trends used in other audit areas and actual results subsequent to year end. |
| ● | Evaluating the adequacy of the disclosure included in the notes to the financial statements. |
/s/
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2005.
May 19, 2025
25
EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF FEBRUARY 28 (29),
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| CURRENT ASSETS: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable, less allowance for credit losses of $ | ||||||||
| Inventories - net | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ||||||||
| Assets held for sale | ||||||||
| Total current assets | ||||||||
| INVENTORIES - net | ||||||||
| PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - net | ||||||||
| DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET | ||||||||
| OPERATING LEASE RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS | ||||||||
| OTHER ASSETS | ||||||||
| TOTAL ASSETS | $ | $ | ||||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | ||||||||
| CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | $ | ||||||
| Line of credit | ||||||||
| Deferred revenues | ||||||||
| Operating lease liabilities, current | ||||||||
| Current maturities of long-term debt | ||||||||
| Accrued salaries and commissions | ||||||||
| Income taxes payable | ||||||||
| Other current liabilities | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | ||||||||
| LONG-TERM DEBT - net | ||||||||
| OPERATING LEASE LIABILITIES, noncurrent | ||||||||
| OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | ||||||||
| SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY: | ||||||||
| Common stock, $ | ||||||||
| Capital in excess of par value | ||||||||
| Retained earnings | ||||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Less treasury stock, at cost | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total shareholders’ equity | ||||||||
| TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY | $ | $ | ||||||
See notes to financial statements.
26
EDUCATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28 (29),
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| PRODUCT REVENUES, net of discounts and allowances | $ | $ | ||||||
| Transportation revenue | ||||||||
| NET REVENUES | ||||||||
| COST OF GOODS SOLD | ||||||||
| Gross margin | ||||||||
| OPERATING EXPENSES: | ||||||||
| Operating and selling | ||||||||
| Sales commissions | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| INTEREST EXPENSE | ||||||||
| OTHER INCOME | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES | ( | ) | ||||||
| INCOME TAX EXPENSE (BENEFIT) | ( | ) | ||||||
| NET EARNINGS (LOSS) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE: | ||||||||
| Basic | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON AND EQUIVALENT SHARES OUTSTANDING: | ||||||||
| Basic | ||||||||
| Diluted | ||||||||
| Dividends per share | $ | $ | ||||||
See notes to financial statements.
27
| EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION |
| STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) |
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28 (29), |
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Other comprehensive income (loss): | ||||||||
| Unrealized gain (loss) on interest rate exchange agreement | ( | ) | ||||||
| Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
See notes to financial statements.
28
| EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION |
| STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
| AS OF FEBRUARY 28 (29), |
| Common Stock (par value $0.20 per share) |
Accumulated | Treasury Stock | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number of Shares Issued |
Amount | Capital in Excess of Par Value |
Retained Earnings |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |
Number of Shares |
Amount | Shareholders’ Equity |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE - February 28, 2023 | $ | $ | $ | $ | - | $ | ( |
) | $ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Forfeiture of restricted shares | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Issuance of restricted share awards for vesting | - | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of interest rate exchange agreement | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense – net | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE - February 29, 2024 | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Purchases of treasury stock | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sales of treasury stock | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Change in fair value of interest rate exchange agreement | - | - | - | - | ( |
) | - | - | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense – net | - | - | - | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Net loss | - | - | - | ( |
) | - | - | - | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| BALANCE - February 28, 2025 | $ | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ||||||||||||||||||||||
See notes to financial statements.
29
| EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION |
| STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS |
| FOR THE YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28 (29), |
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | ||||||||
| Deferred income taxes | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Provision for credit losses | ||||||||
| Provision for inventory valuation allowance | ||||||||
| Share-based compensation expense - net | ||||||||
| Loss on abandonment of asset | ||||||||
| Net loss (gain) on sale of assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Changes in assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Inventories | ||||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accounts payable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Accrued salaries and commissions, and other liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Deferred revenues | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Income taxes payable/receivable | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total adjustments | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | ||||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
| Purchases of property, plant and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sale of assets | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities | ( | ) | ||||||
| CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
| Payments on term debt | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Cash paid to acquire treasury stock | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Sales of treasury stock | ||||||||
| Net payments under line of credit | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH | ( | ) | ||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - BEGINNING OF PERIOD | ||||||||
| CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH - END OF PERIOD | $ | $ | ||||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOWS INFORMATION: | ||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | $ | ||||||
| Cash paid for income taxes - net of refunds | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NONCASH FINANCING ACTIVITIES: | ||||||||
| Fair value of the interest rate exchange agreement | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
See notes to financial statements.
30
| EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION |
| NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS |
| YEARS ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2025 AND FEBRUARY 29, 2024 |
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND 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 2024 statement of operations and notes to the financial statements to combine gross sales and discounts and allowances now presented as product revenues, net of discount and allowances 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 raises 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 and term loans and uncertainty of the bank’s ongoing support beyond July 11, 2025, along with recurring operating losses and other items, raise substantial doubt over the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. To address these concerns, the Company has taken steps in its plans to pay off its bank debts by selling owned real estate. Upon closing, the proceeds from the real estate sale are expected to pay off the Term Loans and Revolving Loan. Following the loan payoff, management plans to fund ongoing operations with limited borrowings through local banks or other financing sources. The Company began listing the owned real estate in fiscal 2024 but due to the size of the real estate transaction, the sale process has continued beyond several of the short-term amendment expirations. The bank has continued to extend the maturity dates on the revolving and term loans providing evidence of their support of the sale process and management’s plans to use the proceeds to pay off all bank debts. In addition, management’s plans include reducing inventory which will generate free cashflows and building the number of active PaperPie Brand Partners back to historical 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.
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 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 $
31
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. The carrying amount also includes rent receivables in connection with our lessor arrangements, which include three rental agreements for warehouse and office space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and qualify as operating leases under ASC 842 (See Note 11 of the financial statements for additional information).
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 either cost or net realizable value. Cost is determined using the average costing method. We present a portion of our inventory as a non-current asset. Occasionally we purchase product 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 non-current 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 either 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 $
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—
| Building | ||
| Building improvements | ||
| Machinery and equipment | ||
| Furniture and fixtures | ||
| Capitalized software | ||
| Molds and tooling |
32
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 the 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 2025 or 2024.
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 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.
We recognize lease liabilities, reported on the balance sheets, for each lease based on the present value of the remaining minimum fixed rental payments (which include 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, on the balance sheet for each lease, which is valued at the lease liability and adjusted for prepaid or accrued rent balances existing at the time of the 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. 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.
Revenues associated with the lessor leases are 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. Sublease rental income is recognized on a straight-line basis over the duration of each lease term.
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.
33
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 to retail outlets through our Publishing division. Refer to Note 16 – 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 sheet. 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.
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 product revenues, net of 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 an industry practice
to accept non-damaged returns from retail customers. Management has estimated sales returns of approximately $
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 $
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 $
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.
34
The Company formally documents all the 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.
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 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Earnings (loss) per share: | ||||||||
| Net earnings (loss) applicable to common shareholders | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Shares: | ||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding-basic | ||||||||
| Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable under granted unvested restricted stock awards | ||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted | ||||||||
| Diluted earnings (loss) per share: | ||||||||
| Basic | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| Diluted | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
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 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Weighted average shares: | ||||||||
| Issued unvested restricted stock and assumed shares issuable under granted unvested restricted stock awards | ||||||||
35
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:
New Accounting Standards or Updates Adopted
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 ASU requires public entities to adopt this new guidance on a retrospective basis. The Company adopted ASU 2023-07 for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2025, and applied it retrospectively to all prior periods presented. See Note 16 “Business Segments” for further information.
New Accounting Standards or Updates Not Yet Adopted
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.
In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income—Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, which requires disclosure about the types of costs and expenses included in certain expense captions presented on the income statement. The new disclosure requirements are effective for the Company’s annual periods beginning March 1, 2027, and interim periods beginning March 1, 2028, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied either prospectively or retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the ASU to determine its impact on the Company’s financial statements and disclosures.
2. CASH
The table below reconciles cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash as reported in the balance sheet to the total of the same amounts shown in the statements of cash flows:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | $ | ||||||
| Restricted cash | ||||||||
| Total cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash shown in the statements of cash flows | $ | $ | ||||||
The Company has contracted with Nexio and PayPal, Inc., third-party merchant service processors, to capture Visa, Discover, Mastercard and PayPal payments from customers. Approximately 90% of all payments received by the Company are channeled through these processors. These processors hold cash payments received from customers in reserve for a specified number of days to offset any potential chargebacks. The Company also has a short-term certificate of deposit with the Company’s bank as collateral for business credit card use. The Company has classified the cash held in reserves by Nexio and PayPal and the restricted certificate of deposit as restricted cash.
36
3. ASSETS HELD FOR SALE
During the third quarter of
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
As presented in the marketing
materials associated with the listed Hilti Complex, EDC expects to assign the existing tenant leases to the buyer along with executing
a new lease for the Company’s occupied space; but retain ownership of the excess land, consisting of approximately
During the second quarter
of fiscal year 2025, the Company entered into a triple-net lease agreement for approximately
The assets held for sale consist
of property and equipment. The Company records assets held for sale at the lower of their carrying value or fair value less costs to sell.
The total carrying value of assets held for sale was $
4. INVENTORIES
Inventories consist of the following:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Current: | ||||||||
| Product inventory | $ | $ | ||||||
| Inventory valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Inventories net - current | $ | $ | ||||||
| Noncurrent: | ||||||||
| Product inventory | $ | $ | ||||||
| Inventory valuation allowance | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Inventories net - noncurrent | $ | $ | ||||||
Inventory in transit totaled
$
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.
37
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, 2025, the Company did not meet the minimum purchase requirements and did not supply the letter of credit required under the Agreement,
which offers Usborne the right to exercise their option to terminate the Agreement. Usborne has not notified the Company of termination
of the Agreement. In addition, Usborne has refused to pay the $
The following table summarizes Usborne product revenues, net of discounts, by division and inventory purchases by product type:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Product revenues, net of discounts of Usborne products by division: | ||||||||
| PaperPie division | $ | $ | ||||||
| % of total PaperPie Product revenues, net of discounts | % | % | ||||||
| Publishing division | ||||||||
| % of total Publishing Product revenues, net of discounts | % | % | ||||||
| Total Product revenues, net of discounts of Usborne products | $ | $ | ||||||
| Purchases received by product type: | ||||||||
| Usborne | $ | $ | ||||||
| % of total purchases received | % | % | ||||||
| All other product types | ||||||||
| % of total purchases received | % | % | ||||||
| Total purchases received | $ | $ | ||||||
Total Usborne inventory owned
by the Company and included in our balance sheets was $
6. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment consist of the following:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Machinery and equipment | ||||||||
| Furniture and fixtures | ||||||||
| Capitalized software | ||||||||
| Molds and tooling | ||||||||
| Capitalized software - in progress | ||||||||
| Total property, plant and equipment | ||||||||
| Less accumulated depreciation | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Property, plant and equipment-net | $ | $ | ||||||
During the fourth quarter
of fiscal 2025 the Company decided to abandon a third-party host platform project that was customized for PaperPie brand partners. The
cost associated with the development of this project was removed from capitalized software-in progress and the related loss on abandonment
of $
38
7. OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES
Other current liabilities consist of the following:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Accrued royalties | $ | $ | ||||||
| Accrued PaperPie incentives | ||||||||
| Accrued property tax | ||||||||
| Sales tax payable | ||||||||
| Short-term note payable | ||||||||
| Allowance for expected inventory returns | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| Total other current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
8. OTHER INCOME
A summary of other income is shown below:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Federal tax credits realized | $ | - | $ | |||||
| Gain from sale of assets | - | |||||||
| Rental income | ||||||||
| Other income (loss) | ( | ) | ||||||
| Total other income | $ | $ | ||||||
39
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 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Deferred tax assets: | ||||||||
| Allowance for credit losses | $ | $ | ||||||
| Inventory overhead capitalization | ||||||||
| Inventory valuation allowance | ||||||||
| Inventory valuation allowance – noncurrent | ||||||||
| Allowance for sales returns | ||||||||
| Research and development capitalization | ||||||||
| Net operating loss carryforward (1) | ||||||||
| Disallowed interest | ||||||||
| Accruals | ||||||||
| Total deferred tax assets | ||||||||
| Deferred tax liabilities: | ||||||||
| Property, plant, and equipment | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total deferred tax liabilities | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Net deferred income tax assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| (1) |
40
The components of income tax expense (benefit) are as follows:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Current: | ||||||||
| Federal (1) | $ | $ | ||||||
| State (1) | ||||||||
| Deferred: | ||||||||
| Federal | ( | ) | ||||||
| State | ( | ) | ||||||
| ( | ) | |||||||
| Total income tax expense (benefit) | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
| (1) |
The following reconciles our expected income tax rate to the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| U.S. federal statutory income tax rate | % | % | ||||||
| U.S. state and local income taxes–net of federal benefit | % | % | ||||||
| Other | ( | )% | % | |||||
| Total income tax expense | % | % | ||||||
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. The Company qualifies for certain research and development tax credits which lowers the overall expected income taxes to be paid.
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 at the annual meeting of the EDC 401(k) Plan’s Trustees and Company’s management.
Matching contributions made to the Plan by the Company totaled $
11. LEASES
We have both lessee and lessor arrangements. Our lessee arrangements include six rental agreements where we have the exclusive use of dedicated office space in San Diego, California, Ogden, Utah, Seattle, Washington, a warehouse space in Joplin, Missouri and two leases for office and warehouse space locally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, all of which qualify as operating leases under ASC 842. Our lessor arrangements include three rental agreements for warehouse and office space in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and qualify as operating leases under ASC 842.
41
Operating Leases – Lessee
The Company’s lease assets and liabilities recognized within its balance sheets were as follows:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Operating lease assets: | ||||||||
| Right-of-use assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Operating lease liabilities: | ||||||||
| Current lease liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
| Long-term lease liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
The weighted-average remaining lease term and weighted-average discount rate used to calculate the present value of lease liabilities are as follows:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Weighted-average remaining lease term (months) | ||||||||
| Weighted-average discount rate | % | % | ||||||
The components of lease cost are as follows:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Fixed lease costs | $ | $ | ||||||
Future minimum rental payments under operating leases with initial terms greater than one year as of February 28, 2025, are as follows:
| Years ending February 28 | ||||
| 2026 | ||||
| 2027 | ||||
| Total future minimum rental payments | ||||
| Less: imputed interest | ( | ) | ||
| Total operating lease liabilities | $ | |||
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Operating cash flows – operating leases | $ | $ | ||||||
The Company assesses its leases to determine whether it is reasonably certain that these renewal options will be exercised. In general, most of the office space outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma is associated with remote employees. Their continued employment determines the need for this space. Much of the warehouse space outside of the Hilti Complex is used to store non-current inventory. As the Company sells down excess inventory, less outside space will be needed and any renewals will be for less space. Accordingly, the renewal options are not included in the calculation of its right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, as the Company does not believe that it is reasonably certain that these renewal options will be exercised.
42
Operating Leases – Lessor
In connection with the 2015
purchase of the Hilti Complex, we entered into a
On May 26, 2024, the Company
entered into a triple-net lease agreement for approximately
The Company also subleases some office and warehouse space in one of it’s leased facilities.
Future minimum payments receivable under operating leases with terms greater than one year are estimated as follows:
| Years ending February 28 (29), | ||||
| 2026 | $ | |||
| 2027 | ||||
| 2028 | ||||
| 2029 | ||||
| 2030 | ||||
| Thereafter | ||||
| Total | $ | |||
The cost of the leased space
was approximately $
12. DEBT
Debt consists of the following:
| February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Line of credit | $ | $ | ||||||
| Floating rate term loan | $ | $ | ||||||
| Fixed rate term loan | ||||||||
| Total term debt | ||||||||
| Less current portion | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Less debt issue cost | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Long-term debt, net | $ | $ | ||||||
On August 9, 2022, the Company
executed a 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 $
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.
43
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
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 $
On August 9, 2023, the Company
executed the Third Amendment along with a Revised Credit Agreement (“Credit 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 $
On November 30, 2023, the
Company executed the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. This amendment, effective December 1, 2023, increased the
Revolving Loan commitment to $
On June 13, 2024, the Company
executed the Fifth Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. The amendment, effective May 31, 2024, adjusts the maximum availability
of the Revolving Loan commitment to $
On October 7, 2024, the Company
executed the Sixth Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. The amendment, effective October 3, 2024, extended the maturity
date to
On January 13, 2025, the Company
executed the Seventh Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. The amendment, effective January 4, 2025, decreased the maximum
availability of the Revolving Loan commitment to $
On April 16, 2025, subsequent
to year end, the Company executed the Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. The amendment, effective April 4, 2025,
increased the Revolving Loan interest rate on the effective date to SOFR +
44
Available credit under the
current $
Features of the Revised Loan Agreement include:
| (i) | Two Term Loans on 20-year amortization with 5-year maturity date of | |
| (ii) | $ | |
| (iii) | $ | |
| (iv) | $ | |
| (v) | Revolving Loan allows for Letters of Credit upon bank approval (none were outstanding at February 28, 2025) |
13. 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”).
In July 2021, our shareholders
approved the Company’s 2022 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2022 LTI Plan”).
45
During fiscal year 2021, the
Company granted
A summary of compensation expense recognized in connection with restricted share awards as follows:
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Share-based compensation expense - net of forfeitures | $ | $ | ||||||
The following table summarizes stock award activity during fiscal year 2025 under the 2019 LTI Plan:
| Shares | Weighted Average Fair Value (per share) | |||||||
| Outstanding at February 29, 2024 | $ | |||||||
| Granted | ||||||||
| Vested | ( | ) | ||||||
| Forfeited | ||||||||
| Outstanding at February 28, 2025 | $ | |||||||
14. STOCK REPURCHASE PLAN
In April 2008, the Board of
Directors authorized us to repurchase up to an additional
During fiscal year 2024, there
was a repurchase of treasury stock for
46
15. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
The following is a summary of the quarterly results of operations for the years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024:
| Net Revenues |
Gross Margin |
Net Earnings (Loss) |
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share |
||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First quarter | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Second quarter | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Third quarter | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Fourth quarter | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Total year | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||
| 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First quarter | $ | $ | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | $ | ( |
) | |||||||||
| Second quarter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Third quarter | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth quarter | ( |
) | ( |
) | ( |
) | ||||||||||||||
| Total year | $ | $ | $ | $ | $ | |||||||||||||||
16. BUSINESS SEGMENTS
We have
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. Direct expenses are composed of payroll, commissions, general and administrative, and operating and selling expenses. Corporate expenses, depreciation, interest expense, other income, 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. Separate financial information is regularly evaluated by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in deciding how to allocate resources. For the Company, the Chief Executive Officer is the CODM.
Information by industry segment for the years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024 is set forth below:
NET REVENUES
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Publishing | $ | $ | ||||||
| PaperPie | ||||||||
| Total | $ | $ | ||||||
47
EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Publishing | $ | $ | ||||||
| PaperPie | ||||||||
| Other | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total | $ | ( | ) | $ | ||||
Publishing Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the Publishing segment for the twelve months ended February 28 (29):
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net revenues | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | ||||||||
| Gross margin | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating and selling | ||||||||
| Sales commissions | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating income | $ | $ | ||||||
PaperPie Operating Results
The following table summarizes the operating results of the PaperPie segment for the twelve months ended February 28 (29):
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Net revenues | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | ||||||||
| Gross margin | ||||||||
| Operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating and selling | ||||||||
| Sales commissions | ||||||||
| General and administrative | ||||||||
| Total operating expenses | ||||||||
| Operating income | $ | $ | ||||||
| Average number of active Brand Partners | ||||||||
48
Information for the Other segment above for the years ended February 28, 2025 and February 29, 2024 is set forth below:
OTHER NON-SEGMENT EARNINGS (LOSS) BEFORE INCOME TAXES
| Year Ended February 28 (29), | ||||||||
| 2025 | 2024 | |||||||
| Operating and selling: | ||||||||
| Freight | $ | $ | ||||||
| Computer support | ||||||||
| Operating and selling total | ||||||||
| General and administrative: | ||||||||
| Payroll | ||||||||
| Depreciation | ||||||||
| Building and warehouse rents | ||||||||
| Outside services | ||||||||
| Property taxes | ||||||||
| Dues and subscriptions | ||||||||
| Property insurance | ||||||||
| Professional service fees | ||||||||
| Other | ||||||||
| General and administrative total | ||||||||
| Interest expense | ||||||||
| Other income | ( | ) | ( | ) | ||||
| Total other non-segment loss before income taxes | $ | $ | ||||||
17. 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 $
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 the current earnings.
The fair value of the interest rate swap is included in the following caption on the balance sheets as follows:
| February 28, 2025 | February 29, 2024 | |||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other assets | $ | $ | ||||||
| Other current liabilities | $ | $ | ||||||
49
18. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following methods and assumptions are used in estimating the fair-value disclosures for financial instruments:
| - | The carrying amounts reported on 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 for the Hilti complex was approximately $ | |
| - | The estimated fair value of our term notes payable is estimated by management to approximate $ | |
| - | The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap of $( |
19. DEFERRED REVENUES
The Company’s PaperPie
division receives payments on orders in advance of shipment. Any payments received prior to the end of the period that were not shipped
as of February 28, 2025 or February 29, 2024 are recorded as deferred revenues on the balance sheets. We received approximately $
20. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On March 21, 2025, the Company executed a new brokerage agreement with Keen-Summit Capital Partners, LLC (“Keen-Summit”) to assist with the marketing and sale of the Hilti Complex. The Agreement offers Keen-Summit the opportunity to list and provide sale opportunities of the Hilti Complex for a term of nine months, along with providing other services customary with brokerage agreements. The Agreement includes the engagement of McGraw Davisson Stewart, LLC to provide local services as a licensed broker in the state of Oklahoma.
On April 16, 2025, the Company
executed the Eighth Amendment to the Credit Agreement with the Lender. The amendment, effective April 4, 2025, increased the Revolving
Loan interest rate on the effective date to SOFR +
On May 14, 2025, the Company executed a Purchase and Sale Agreement (“Agreement”) with TG OTC, LLC (“Buyer”) for the Company’s headquarters and distribution warehouse located at 5400-5402 South 122nd East Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74146 (the “Hilti Complex”).
50
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 19, 2025, 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 28, 2025.
/s/ HOGANTAYLOR LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 19, 2025
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 19, 2025 | |
| /s/ Craig M. White | |
| President, Chief Executive Officer, and | |
| Chairman of the Board | |
| (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 19, 2025 | |
| /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 28, 2025, 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 19, 2025 | By | /s/ Craig M. White |
| Craig M. White | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer, and | ||
| Chairman of the Board | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: May 19, 2025 | 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.