-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, SxAgcIL343IQT6zi0vlt5o51+UuuNAwx5f2VezF8CAvEDUaMpPSh7LxxlX1WPbXX lHj3M/XYe+dSEHDcNZcoMA== 0001193125-08-088020.txt : 20080423 0001193125-08-088020.hdr.sgml : 20080423 20080423164240 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001193125-08-088020 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 6 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20071231 FILED AS OF DATE: 20080423 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20080423 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: VARSITY GROUP INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001069502 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-CATALOG & MAIL-ORDER HOUSES [5961] IRS NUMBER: 541876848 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-28977 FILM NUMBER: 08772187 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1300 19TH STREET, N.W. STREET 2: SUITE 800 CITY: WASHINGTON STATE: DC ZIP: 20036 BUSINESS PHONE: 202-667-3400 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 1300 19TH STREET, N.W. STREET 2: SUITE 800 CITY: WASHINGTON STATE: DC ZIP: 20036 FORMER COMPANY: FORMER CONFORMED NAME: VARSITYBOOKS COM INC DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19990921 10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K FORM 10-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

 

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

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

OR

 

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

For the transition period from              to             .

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 000-28977

VARSITY GROUP INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

DELAWARE   54-1876848
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

2677 Prosperity Avenue Ste 250

Fairfax, VA 22031

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (202) 667-3400

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:

Common Stock, $.0001 par value

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT:

None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    ¨

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

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

The aggregate market value of common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $9,639,063 based on the last reported sale price of $0.88 on June 30, 2007. For purposes of the determination of affiliate status, we have assumed that all executive officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are affiliates. This determination is not necessarily controlling for other purposes.

As of March 31, 2008, there were 18,960,655 shares of common stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Form 10-K”) contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, which statements can be identified by the use of forward looking terminology, such as “may”, “will”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, or “continue” or the negative thereof or other variations thereon or comparable terminology. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including those set forth elsewhere in this Form 10-K. Please see Item 1A “Risk Factors” for cautionary statements identifying important factors with respect to such forward-looking statements, including risks and uncertainties, that could cause actual results to differ materially from results referred to in forward-looking statements.

PART I

 

ITEM 1: BUSINESS

GENERAL

We provide textbooks and school supplies to private K-12 schools, colleges, and distance and continuing education markets. Our textbook program, eduPartners, was the first online bookstore solution focused on meeting the needs of private middle and high schools nationwide.

We create a customized virtual bookstore for each partner school which is hosted on our website, www.varsitybooks.com. This site contains the required and optional educational materials and supplies selected by the school organized by grade, academic discipline and course name. Students and parents from each of our partner schools access their customized bookstore to place their orders via a direct link from their school’s homepage or by searching for their school bookstore by region and state on our homepage. Once an order has been submitted, it is picked, packed and shipped from one of three distribution centers nationwide.

Member schools leverage our textbook solution to lower their operating overhead by outsourcing their bookstore operation while delivering a more efficient and flexible bookstore solution to their community. In addition, our partner schools have access to our unique program administration website that provides them with sales and inventory reports, among other valuable features. Student and parent customers value the convenience of our online shopping experience and take comfort in the knowledge that our posted booklists have been reviewed for content and accuracy and approved by their school. As a further convenience to parents, students and school officials, to the extent any of our partner schools adopt textbooks to be used in the next school term, we will typically offer parents and students several options to sell back their textbooks to us at the end of the school year, helping to lower their total cost of textbook ownership. These used textbooks are offered for sale the following school year providing our student and parent customers lower cost pricing alternatives.

In May 2005, as part of our strategy to expand the number of services and products we offer our customers, we acquired Campus Outfitters. We sold the Campus Outfitters business to SchoolOne.com, LLC in February 2008.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2006, we moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside our core book and uniform offerings. Significant costs were incurred in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended.

During our third quarter of fiscal 2007, we served fewer schools with our textbook solution than the prior year and total dollar revenue and unit sales for the majority of retained schools declined from the prior year. Also, lower priced used books increased as a percentage of units sold. These factors caused a 16.1% decrease in textbook revenue from the prior year. The decline in retained school revenue was caused primarily by consumers attending schools served by us acquiring an increased percentage of books from sources other than us. While we are the endorsed provider of textbooks to the schools we serve, we are not the exclusive source of textbooks for our customers. We believe the causes of the decline in both the number of schools served and revenue per school relate to a decline in the customer service experience in 2006 which impacted school retention and consumer loyalty in 2007, above-market retail pricing in 2007 and backorder levels in 2007. We replaced our outsource customer service provider for 2007 and experienced improved performance over 2006 and improved school survey responses, which we believe will result in improved school retention rates for 2008. We also intend to more aggressively price our book product in 2008 to discourage online price shopping. Ordering levels will be adjusted in 2008 to minimize out-of-stock situations. As expected, uniform revenue from our Campus Outfitters business declined in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from the prior year mainly due to a decline in the number of schools served. The Campus Outfitters business was sold in February 2008.

Substantially all of our computer and communications hardware and software systems are located at a single facility that is owned, maintained and serviced by a third party. Any damage, failure or delay that causes interruptions in our systems operations could materially harm our business.

 

2


Varsity Group Inc. was founded in 1997. We are a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 2677 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax, VA 22031, and our telephone number is (202) 667-3400.

We provide website access to our periodic and current SEC filings and press releases, free of charge, on our website located at http://www.varsitygroup.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the materials are filed with the SEC or otherwise made public.

FOLLETT ACQUISITION

During the summer and early fall of 2007 we continued to seek a possible viable strategic partner while also focusing on the back to school book and uniform selling season. Revenue and other key operating metrics for the 2007 back to school season ultimately did not meet our expectations. For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our revenues from book and uniform sales fell 17.1% compared to 2006.

On February 22, 2008 our Board approved the acquisition of Varsity by Follett Corporation for $0.20 per Share in cash subject to a number of conditions, including completion of the sale or liquidation of Campus Outfitters prior to the closing of a transaction with Follett. On February 27, 2008, our Board approved a definitive agreement to sell Campus Outfitters to SchoolOne.com, LLC. The sale of Campus Outfitters to SchoolOne.com was not conditioned upon the completion of the Follett acquisition, but would remove the financial position of Campus Outfitters from being a closing condition to the Follett transaction. Our Board approved the sale to SchoolOne and that transaction was announced and closed on February 27, 2008.

Follett commenced a tender offer for all shares of Varsity Group on March 7, 2008 and our Board recommended that shareholders accept the offer and tender their shares. On April 14, 2008, Follett accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, representing approximately 85% of our outstanding shares. On April 15, 2008, after giving effect to the exercise of the top-up option, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement with Follett, VGI Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett.

MARKET OVERVIEW

Textbook Market

The retail textbook market is presently dominated by on-campus bookstores at all educational levels, with most educational institutions either operating their own physical bookstore or contracting these services to a third party. However, both selling and purchasing new textbooks through traditional retail outlets can be expensive and inconvenient. Each year students and parents often face the prospects of long lines, inconvenient bookstore hours of operation and out-of-stock inventory problems causing delays and necessitating multiple trips to the bookstore.

Educational institutions also face many challenges associated with operating an efficient and profitable retail bookstore on campus. These challenges are exacerbated at smaller schools where operating economies of scale are not present and profitability and high customer service levels are more difficult to achieve or sustain. This is particularly true at the private middle and high school market, where there is typically only one major textbook buying season (Fall back-to-school) and supplemental clothing, school supplies and electronic product sales are limited or non-existent as a means to increase store profitability and smooth operational peaks.

Online commerce provides the opportunity to offer the college and private middle and high school student markets a more convenient and efficient alternative to the traditional brick-and-mortar bookstore model. Each year, the number of schools purchasing their books online continues to grow, some augmenting their current bookstore operations rather than replacing them.

Private Elementary and Secondary Education

The private school market represents approximately 25% of all elementary and secondary schools and 10% of all elementary and secondary students, according to the National Center of Education Statistics (NCES). There are approximately 6.5 million students enrolled in approximately 30,000 private elementary and secondary schools nationwide. Approximately 5.1 million students are in elementary level schools and approximately 1.4 million students are in secondary level schools. Almost half of all private school students attend schools that are located in urban areas. According to the Council on American Private Education, private secondary school enrollment is expected to increase as much as 6% between 2001 and 2013.

Based upon market research conducted by us, we believe there are approximately 5,000 private middle and high schools nationwide that present an immediate fit with the strengths and benefits of our eduPartners model. Factors we considered in our research include school policy requiring students to purchase their own textbooks, school enrollment and the extent of state subsidy of textbooks for private school students. We believe approximately 950 schools in this segment had adopted an online

 

3


textbook solution similar to our eduPartners model by the start of the 2007 back-to-school selling season. Of the estimated 950 schools served by an online textbook solution during the 2007 back-to-school selling season, approximately 335, or 35%, of those were served by our eduPartners program.

Higher Education

The college student market is large and growing. The National Association of College Stores reports that there are approximately 16.7 million undergraduate and graduate students at more than 4,250 colleges and universities in the United States. According to the NCES, college enrollment will increase to approximately 17 million students by 2008.

While the primary source of school growth within eduPartners has been the private middle and high school market to date, many higher education institutions share the same operational and financial challenges which make eduPartners such a compelling outsource solution to the elementary and secondary education market. In particular, smaller institutions struggle to deliver the budget, available retail space and operating economies of scale necessary to support a profitable bookstore operation. Forty nine percent of higher education institutions have enrollments below 1,000 students, and just 12% have enrollments higher than 10,000 students, according to the National Association of College Stores.

Although the college market is large and diverse, students still have common needs. For instance, students typically must buy expensive school-related goods and services such as textbooks and school supplies. In fact, textbooks are most students’ single largest school related expenditure after tuition, room and board. The College Board reports that the average per student expense for books and supplies during 2004-2005 was $843 to $870. Overall textbook and course material sales were approximately $11.2 billion during 2004-2005, up from $10.8 billion in the academic year 2003-2004, based on statistics published by the National Association of College Stores.

THE VARSITY TEXTBOOK SOLUTION

We provide students, parents and schools with a reliable and convenient alternative to the traditional campus bookstore model. We are able to reduce the overhead associated with textbook sales because we typically do not maintain individual stores and are able to consolidate our ordering, inventory, warehousing and fulfillment needs through our relationship with Baker & Taylor.

Through our textbook program, we provide an opportunity for educational institutions to maximize their resources and offer increased convenience to their students by outsourcing textbook sales to us. We believe that for many schools the expense and inconvenience of maintaining a physical retail bookstore on campus exceeds the school’s financial return. Our program has been designed to meet the needs of these schools by offering a number of program features, including:

 

   

Dedicated Account Managers to serve schools;

 

   

Customized online bookstores featuring detailed course and book information;

 

   

Communications and training materials for each school community;

 

   

Innovative website program management tools providing school administrators access to sales and inventory reports;

 

   

Convenience and simplicity of a user-friendly online shopping experience;

 

   

Flexibility to purchase books for the upcoming semester/year from anywhere, anytime;

 

   

Toll-free ordering options and superior customer service;

 

   

Online adoption tools for textbook adoption programs;

 

   

Used textbook buyback programs, – both online and on-campus; and

 

   

Textbook teacher editions.

Through these relationships, we are endorsed as the exclusive textbook retailer at our eduPartners schools and gain direct access to their students.

Our exclusive relationships generally are for a period of one to two years and typically automatically renew on a year-to-year basis. These agreements typically automatically renew for one year if neither party serves notice of intent to terminate 90 days prior to the date of expiration. We expect our revenue retention rate for fiscal 2008 to be approximately 85% of total fiscal 2007 revenues.

With our textbook program, we create a personalized virtual bookstore for each school on our website. Students are able to search by region and state on our homepage to locate the link to their co-branded bookstore. Parents and students can be linked directly to their school bookstore page from their school’s homepage. Once they reach the entry page to their customized online bookstore, the student or parent can navigate the site by clicking on the appropriate grade, discipline and class to select required and optional books. The school benefits by eliminating the operational and financial burdens associated with the physical operation of a highly seasonal retail bookstore on campus. In addition, schools have access to our unique program administration website that provides them with sales and inventory reports, among other valuable features.

 

4


User Experience

Our eCommerce website, www.varsitybooks.com, offers several benefits to customers including convenience, ease of use and depth of product selection. When logging on to our website, visitors are presented with several shopping options, including:

 

   

Searching by School. Students at our partner schools can use our customized map to locate their school. Once they find their school they can link through a list of subjects to a list of classes and to the specific booklists for the courses they are taking. Our customers have the option of placing all the textbooks for a particular class in their shopping cart with a single click or selecting only those titles that interest them.

 

   

Searching for Books. If we have not posted a specific school’s booklist, our customers can search for the books they need by author, title, keyword, publisher or ISBN. Our website offers additional book verification for many selections, including pictures of jacket art, editor’s name, volume number and other identifying characteristics.

Ordering and Delivery

When our customers are ready to place an order, they can proceed through our shopping cart function directly to our checkout page. Orders can be placed online through our website or via our toll-free telephone number where customer service agents are available to take orders from customers that do not have access to the Internet or are uncomfortable placing an order online. We presently accept major credit cards, money orders and personal checks as payment for our products. For our partner schools, we also offer school and student credit accounts.

Once a customer places an order, he or she receives an e-mail that includes a unique order number and confirms that the order has been received and processed. If a book is not in stock at the time an order is processed, that title is automatically placed on backorder and shipped to the customer as soon as it returns to stock. Customers are not charged for any book until it has been shipped. After an order is shipped, the customer receives a second e-mail that includes a parcel tracking number, a description of titles shipped and placed on backorder, the amount charged to their credit card for this shipment and a link to a page on our website where they can follow their order through the delivery process. We use a variety of shipping services to offer our customers a selection of delivery options to ensure their orders are received in timely manner.

Customer Service

We offer extended customer service hours and increase our staffing levels during the busy back-to-school season, providing our customers convenient toll-free access to our customer service representatives and fast response to their queries. The customer service page of our website offers answers to frequently asked questions. Customers can also submit questions via e-mail. Also, our teams of dedicated school account managers provide a single point of contact for each school, expediting planning and problem resolution for school management.

Fulfillment

B&T has provided our order fulfillment and drop shipment services since our inception. We have a series of agreements relating to the operating and financial terms of our relationship, which are scheduled to expire in June 2008.

Under these agreements, we agree to provide B&T with our written demand forecasts for each upcoming year and we agree to use B&T as our principal supplier of textbooks and exclusive provider of drop-ship and fulfillment services. We pay fees and expenses related to the services B&T provides and we purchase products from B&T at a discount to the suggested price. In return, B&T agrees not to provide drop-ship services to any person or entity that has as its principal business activity the goal of establishing exclusive relationships with educational institutions for the purpose of selling textbooks via the Internet, unless the retailer was an existing customer of B&T on or prior to June 10, 1998, the date we initially contracted with B&T. Our agreements with B&T provide us access to, and use of, an electronic set of data elements from B&T’s title file database that contains bibliographic records. In addition, under these agreements, B&T provides us with promotional, customer service, and database management services.

Technology

We use an array of site management, search, customer interaction, transaction-processing and fulfillment services and systems using a combination of proprietary technologies and commercially available, licensed technologies.

On July 10, 2006, we entered into a Services and Management Agreement with SchoolOne.com LLC in which SchoolOne develops our new technology and provides services and support for our processes and systems.

 

5


We currently use a Microsoft Windows operating system platform on multiple servers that house our web and back office applications. These servers handle applications including accepting and validating customer orders, handling multiple shipment methods and accepting, authorizing and charging customer credit cards. In addition, our system maintains ongoing automated e-mail and EDI communications with customers and vendors throughout the ordering and fulfillment process. These systems entirely automate many routine communications, facilitate management of customer inquiries and allow customers to, on a self-service basis, check order and tracking information. We manage user requests and other traffic-using load balancing devices in front of our outwardly facing hardware.

Substantially all of our computer and communications hardware and software systems associated with the operation of our website are located in Cleveland, Ohio, which hosts our server environment and acts as our Internet service provider. A disruption in this Internet service could cause a disruption in our ability to service our clients.

We use the Microsoft suite of tools for our development environment, including Microsoft Visual Studio, Microsoft BizTalk and .Net editions with SQL Server for relational database management. Additionally, we have separate database servers that capture and retain transaction “logs” of all activity that occurs on the site. These log databases can, among other things, trace a transaction from its inception to its completion. Our databases generate and deliver reports and interfaces for our marketing, operations and financial systems.

We employ SSL data encryption technology to protect credit card data while it is passed from the customer through the site during a purchase transaction. This is designed to prevent outside parties from intercepting the customer’s credit card data during transaction processing.

Textbook Competition

Online commerce, in general, and online textbook sales, more specifically, are highly competitive markets. The number of e-commerce websites competing for customers’ attention has increased rapidly in the past two fiscal years, and the market for online textbook sales is relatively new, competitive and evolving. We currently or potentially compete, directly and indirectly, for retail customers with the following categories of companies:

 

   

traditional new and used textbook retailers, such as campus bookstores;

 

   

traditional used textbook retailers, some of which have begun online selling;

 

   

textbook retailers and distributors such as the Follett Corporation, MBS Textbook Exchange, Nebraska Book Company, eCampus and Adams Book Company; and

 

   

Internet-based booksellers such as Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com and BarnesandNoble.com.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

We regard our trademarks, service marks, trade dress, copyrights, trade secrets, proprietary technology and similar intellectual property as important to our success. We rely on trademark and copyright law, trade secret protection and confidentiality and license agreements with our employees, customers, independent contractors, sponsors and others to protect our proprietary rights.

We may be required to obtain licenses from others to refine, develop, market and deliver new products and services. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain any such license on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or that rights granted pursuant to any licenses will be valid and enforceable.

Domain names are the user’s Internet “address.” Domain names have been the subject of significant trademark litigation in the United States. Domain names derive value from the individual’s ability to remember such names, therefore there can be no assurance that our domain name will not lose its value if, for example, users begin to rely on mechanisms other than domain names to access online resources.

GOVERNMENT REGULATION

Internet Regulation

There are an increasing number of laws and regulations pertaining to the Internet. Laws or regulations may be adopted relating to issues such as to liability for information retrieved from or transmitted over the Internet, online content regulation, user privacy, taxation and quality of products and services. Moreover, it may take years to determine whether and how existing laws such as those governing intellectual property ownership and infringement, privacy, libel, copyright, trade mark, trade secret, obscenity, personal privacy, taxation and the regulation of the sale of other specified goods and services apply to the Internet. The requirement that we comply with any new legislation or regulation, or any unanticipated application or interpretation of existing

 

6


laws, may decrease the growth in the use of the Internet, which could in turn decrease the demand for our Internet-based services, increase our cost of doing business or otherwise materially harm our business.

Privacy Concerns

Federal, state and foreign governments have enacted or may enact laws or consider regulations regarding the collection and use of personal identifying information obtained from individuals when accessing websites, with particular emphasis on access by minors. Such regulations may include requirements that companies establish procedures to:

 

   

give adequate notice to consumers regarding information collection and disclosure practices;

 

   

provide consumers with the ability to have personal identifying information deleted from a company’s data;

 

   

provide consumers with access to their personal information and with the ability to rectify inaccurate information;

 

   

clearly identify affiliations or a lack thereof with third parties that may collect information or sponsor activities on a company’s website; and

 

   

obtain express parental consent prior to collecting and using personal identifying information obtained from children.

Such regulation may also include enforcement and redress provisions. While we have implemented programs designed to enhance the protection of the privacy of our users, including children, there can be no assurance that such programs will conform to applicable laws or regulations. Moreover, even in the absence of such regulations, the Federal Trade Commission has begun investigations into the privacy practices of companies that collect information on the Internet. One such investigation has resulted in a consent decree pursuant to which an Internet company agreed to establish programs to implement the privacy safeguards described above.

It is also possible that “cookies” may become subject to laws limiting or prohibiting their use. The term “cookies” refers to information keyed to a specific server, file pathway or directory location that is stored on a user’s hard drive, possibly without the user’s knowledge, and which is used to, among other things, track demographic information and to target advertising. Some of the currently available Internet browsers allow users to modify their browser settings to remove cookies or prevent cookies from being stored on their hard drives.

We currently obtain and retain personal information about our website users with their consent. We have a stringent privacy policy covering this information. However, if third persons were able to penetrate our network security and gain access to, or otherwise misappropriate, our users’ personal information, we could be subject to liability. Such liability could include claims for misuses of personal information, such as for unauthorized marketing purposes or unauthorized use of credit cards. These claims could result in litigation, our involvement in which, regardless of the outcome, could require us to expend significant financial resources.

Internet Taxation

A number of legislative proposals have been made at the federal, state and local levels, and by foreign governments, that would impose additional taxes on the sale of goods and services over the Internet and some states have taken measures to tax Internet-related activities. Although Congress has placed a moratorium on state and local taxes on Internet access or on discriminatory taxes on e-commerce, existing state or local laws have been expressly excepted from this moratorium. Further, once this moratorium is lifted, some type of federal or state taxes may be imposed upon Internet commerce. Such legislation or other attempts at regulating commerce over the Internet may substantially impair the growth or increase the cost of commerce on the Internet and, as a result, adversely affect our opportunity to derive financial benefit from such activities.

Jurisdiction

Due to the global reach of the Internet, it is possible that, although our transmissions over the Internet originate primarily in the State of Ohio, the governments of other states and foreign countries might attempt to regulate Internet activity and our transmissions or take action against us for violations of their laws.

EMPLOYEES

As of March 31, 2008, we had 41 full time and 8 year round part-time employees. In addition, we hire seasonal temporary employees, generally at the beginning of the Fall school semester to support our customer service efforts, and contract service providers, generally during our inventory buyback program, as necessary. None of our employees are represented by a labor union or are the subject of a collective bargaining agreement. We believe that relations with our employees are good.

 

7


ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the other information in this Form 10-K, the following factors should be considered in evaluating our business and our Company. The risks and uncertainties described in this section are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not presently know or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business, operating performance and financial condition.

RISKS RELATED TO OUR FINANCIAL CONDITION

OUR INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM HAS EXPRESSED SUBSTANTIAL DOUBT ABOUT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE AS A GOING CONCERN.

In our audit report on our financial statements for our fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, our auditors included a going-concern qualification indicating that our significant operating losses and non compliance with covenants cause substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern. By issuing an opinion stating that there is substantial doubt about our ability to continue as a going concern, our auditors have indicated that they are uncertain as to whether we have the capability to continue our operations without additional funding.

WE HAVE LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND OPERATE IN A HIGHLY SEASONAL BUSINESS WHICH MAY IMPACT OUR ABILITY TO FUND OUR OPERATIONS. WE MAY REQUIRE ADDITIONAL FUNDING, WHICH MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE ON FAVORABLE TERMS OR AT ALL.

On February 22, 2008, in connection with the tender offer, we entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement (the “New Loan Agreement”) with VGI Financial Corp., an affiliate of Follett Corporation (“VGI Finance”), and certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, which amends and restates the Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“BOA”), entered into by us on March 8, 2007 (the “Prior Loan Agreement”). VGI Finance has purchased and assumed from BOA the obligations under the Prior Loan Agreement. The New Loan Agreement is secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets, including approximately $2.0 million of cash. There is approximately $4.5 million of advances outstanding under the line of credit as of March 19, 2008. VGI Finance has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to forebear from enforcing an event of default that is presently outstanding under the Prior Loan Agreement until April 30, 2008.

We presently do not have access to sufficient liquidity to fund our operations on a stand-alone basis and have drawn on the credit line of the New Loan Agreement to finance our operating expenses. We expect to continue to experience significant seasonality in our business related to the academic calendar and the corresponding demand for textbooks and educational materials. Our revenues are concentrated in the traditional Fall back-to-school season of July, August and September, our third calendar quarter. Our future capital requirements will depend on the amount of cash generated by our operations. Our projections of cash flows from operations and, consequently, future cash needs are subject to substantial uncertainty.

If we violate financial covenants in the New Loan Agreement or are not able to negotiate forbearance with VGI Finance regarding defaults, VGI Finance may declare an event of default and require repayment of our indebtedness. We may not be able to restructure or refinance our indebtedness or seek new financing. The amount of funding that we seek and the timing of such fundraising efforts will depend on the extent to which we are able to increase revenues and/or the extent to which we can restructure or modify our debt. We cannot guarantee that adequate funds will be available when needed, and if we do not receive sufficient capital, we may become insolvent or enter into bankruptcy and our stockholders may lose their entire investment in us.

WE HAVE A HISTORY OF LOSSES, MAY CONTINUE TO INCUR LOSSES IN THE FUTURE AND MAY NOT ACHIEVE OR MAINTAIN PROFITABILITY.

We have incurred substantial losses in the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007. Beginning in the second quarter of 2006, we moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside our core book and uniform offerings. Significant costs were incurred in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended. Poorer than expected results from our 2007 back to school season also adversely affected our financial position. We continue to be, and in future periods may remain, unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our expenses. We believe that we will continue to experience challenges in generating a profit and may continue to operate with net losses for the foreseeable future.

 

8


RISKS RELATED TO OUR BUSINESS

WE HAVE A LIMITED OPERATING HISTORY UPON WHICH TO EVALUATE AN INVESTMENT IN OUR COMPANY.

We were founded in December 1997 and began selling textbooks on our website in August 1998. As a relatively new company, we face significant risks and uncertainties relating to our ability to successfully implement our strategy. If we are unable to grow as planned, our chances of achieving profitability and the anticipated or forecasted results of operations could be reduced. You must consider the risks and uncertainties that a company with a limited operating history like ours faces. If we are unsuccessful in addressing these risks and uncertainties or are unable to execute our strategy, our business could be harmed which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on the market price of our stock.

WE MUST CONTINUE TO CONVERT SCHOOLS TO OUR TEXTBOOK PROGRAM AND RETAIN THEM IN THE PROGRAM.

To be successful, we must attract and retain a significant number of schools to our Varsity Books school program. Ultimately, we must attract the students and parents from each Varsity Books school to our website at a reasonable cost. Any significant shortfall in the expected number of purchases occurring through our website may negatively affect our financial results. Conversion of schools from traditional on campus bookstore operations to our online textbook outsource solutions may not occur as rapidly as we expect. Therefore, we may not achieve the customer traffic we believe is necessary to sustain the growth and profitability of our enterprise. Specific factors that could prevent widespread customer acceptance of our business and our ability to increase retail revenues include:

 

   

lack of awareness of our Varsity Books school program;

 

   

pricing that does not meet consumer expectations;

 

   

consumer concerns about the security of online transactions;

 

   

shipping charges, which do not apply to shopping at traditional retail stores and are not always charged by some of our online competitors;

 

   

the delivery time associated with online orders, as compared to the immediate receipt of products at traditional retail stores;

 

   

product damage from shipping or shipments of the wrong products, which may result in a failure to establish trust in purchasing our products online;

 

   

delays in responses to consumer inquiries or in deliveries to consumers; and

 

   

difficulty in returning or exchanging orders.

Based on these or other factors, we may not be able to retain existing Varsity Books member schools or sign-up new Varsity Books member schools.

WE PRIMARILY RELY ON ONE SUPPLIER TO MEET OUR TEXTBOOK FULFILLMENT NEEDS.

We depend on Baker & Taylor (“B&T”) as our primary supplier of the textbooks that we offer. Our relationship with B&T is critical to our success. Our current contract with B&T expires on June 30, 2008. If we are unable to renew this contract when it expires, or are unable to otherwise rely on B&T for inventory maintenance and shipping services and we are unable to open our own distribution center or establish a comparable vendor relationship before the B&T relationship discontinues, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be significantly harmed.

B&T warehouses most of our textbook inventory and we rely on them to maintain adequate inventory levels and rapidly fill our customers’ orders. Prices we pay for promotional, customer service and database management services and credits that we receive from B&T are currently based on volume and average cost requirements. Failure to meet these benchmarks would

 

9


increase our costs. If they do not maintain sufficient inventory, or if they are unable to deliver the specific books our customers order or deliver these books in a timely fashion, we would not be able to meet our obligations to our customers, our revenues would decrease and we would likely experience a reduction in the value of our brand. If our relationship with B&T is disrupted or does not continue for any reason and we are unable to establish a comparable vendor relationship or open our own warehouse before the B&T relationship discontinues, we would not be able to fulfill our customers’ textbook orders. We cannot be certain that we would be able to establish new vendor relationships to ensure acquisition and distribution of textbooks in a timely and efficient manner or on acceptable commercial terms. In such event, we may determine that we need to maintain inventory, establish warehouse facilities and provide distribution services, which would require us to change our business model.

In addition, we estimate that a single publisher represented approximately 17% of our textbook revenues in 2007. If B&T’s relationship with this publisher is disrupted or discontinued, our business may be harmed.

We benefit from the shipping discounts offered to B&T by UPS and we rely on UPS and other third party common carriers for all shipments to and from B&T. If B&T’s relationship with UPS is discontinued or disrupted for any reason, we cannot be certain we would be able to affordably obtain comparable delivery services and might not be able to deliver textbooks to our customers in a timely manner. In addition, because we rely on third party common carriers to ship products to and from the B&T warehouses that our fulfillment is currently conducted from, we are subject to the risks, including employee strikes and inclement weather, that may prevent such third parties from meeting our fulfillment and delivery needs. Failure to deliver products to our customers in a timely and accurate manner may harm our reputation, our brand, our business, our financial condition and results of operations.

WE FACE SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION IN THE ONLINE TEXTBOOK MARKETS AND THAT COMPETITION MAY INCREASE SUBSTANTIALLY BECAUSE OF THE LOW BARRIERS TO MARKET ENTRY.

The e-commerce and online textbook markets are new, rapidly evolving and intensely competitive. We expect competition to intensify in the future. Barriers to entry in the e-commerce industry are minimal, and current and new competitors can launch new websites quickly and at a relatively low cost. In addition, new and expanded Internet technologies, including search and web services, may further increase competition in the online textbook and e-commerce industries. We currently compete with a variety of other companies in the sale of textbooks, and if we are able to add other online product or service offerings we will have additional competition in those markets. Our current and potential competition in the textbook market includes the following categories of companies:

 

   

traditional new and used textbook retailers, such as campus bookstores;

 

   

traditional used textbook retailers, some of which have begun online selling;

 

   

textbook retailers and distributors such as the Follett Corporation, MBS Textbook Exchange, Nebraska Book Company, eCampus and Adams Book Company; and

 

   

Internet-based booksellers such as Amazon.com, Wal-Mart.com and BarnesandNoble.com

We are not able to reliably estimate the number of our direct competitors. To date, our most active competitor targeting the private middle and high school textbook market with an online bookstore program is MBS Textbook Exchange. Many of our current and potential competitors have longer general retail operating histories, larger customer bases, greater brand recognition and significantly greater financial, marketing, technological, operational and other resources than we do. Some of our competitors may be able to secure textbooks from vendors on more favorable terms, devote greater resources to marketing and promotional campaigns, adopt more aggressive pricing, shipping policies or inventory availability policies and devote substantially more resources to website and systems development than we can. As competition increases, we may experience reduced operating margins from pricing pressure or higher customer acquisition and retention costs, loss of market share and a diminished brand franchise.

To remain competitive, we may from time to time make pricing, service or marketing decisions or acquisitions that could negatively affect our financial condition and results of operations. It is possible that our supply channel (distributors and, indirectly, publishers) may enter the market and match our pricing through direct retail centers. Either or both of our supply channel or traditional operators of school bookstores may enter the online commerce market as our competitors.

 

10


As Internet use becomes increasingly prevalent, it is possible that the full text of books we offer for sale will be available for viewing on the web or on other electronic devices such as virtual textbooks. If virtual textbooks become a reality and students rely on them in lieu of purchasing hard copies of textbooks, our business may decline.

IF WE FAIL TO FIELD AND RETAIN A QUALIFIED WORKFORCE, OUR OPERATING PERFORMANCE AND FINANCIAL CONDITION COULD BE MATERIALLY ADVERSELY AFFECTED. THE LOSS OF ANY OF OUR KEY MANAGEMENT COULD NEGATIVELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

We believe that our success depends on our ability to motivate and retain highly skilled personnel. Competition for skilled personnel can be intense, and there can be no assurance that we will be successful in attracting, motivating and retaining the personnel required to improve our financial performance and grow. In addition, the cost of hiring and retaining skilled employees is high. Failure to attract and retain highly skilled personnel could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our future success depends to a significant extent on the continued service of our executive officers and several key operating managers and employees, many of whom have been employed by us for extended periods and have intimate knowledge of our systems, processes and procedures. The loss or departure of any of our executive officers or key employees could harm our ability to implement our business plan. We do not maintain key person insurance on any member of our management team.

Our cost reduction initiative which began in the fourth quarter of 2006 may yield unintended consequences, such as attrition beyond our planned reduction in workforce, reduced employee morale and decreased productivity. In addition, the trading levels of our stock have decreased the value of our stock options granted to employees under our stock option plans. As a result of these factors, our remaining personnel may seek alternate employment, such as with larger, more established companies or companies that they perceive as having less volatile stock prices or better prospects. Continuity of personnel is a very important factor in sales and implementation of our software and our product development efforts. Attrition or a material decrease in employee morale or productivity could have a material adverse effect on our operating performance and financial condition.

YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON OUR QUARTERLY OPERATING RESULTS AS AN INDICATION OF OUR FUTURE RESULTS BECAUSE THEY ARE SUBJECT TO SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly in the future due to a variety of factors that could affect our revenues or our expenses in any particular quarter. We expect to continue to experience significant seasonality in our business related to the academic calendar and the corresponding demand for textbooks and educational materials. Due to the concentration of private middle and high schools in our Varsity Books school program, our revenues are concentrated in the traditional Fall back-to-school season of July, August and September, our third calendar quarter. During the third quarter of 2007, 2006, and 2005, our revenues were approximately 88%, 88%, and 86% of total annual revenues, respectively. We expect this trend to continue. Fluctuations in our quarterly operating results could cause our stock price to decline. You should not rely on sequential quarter-to-quarter comparisons of our results of operations as an indication of future performance. Factors that may affect our quarterly results include:

 

   

seasonal trends in the textbook industry and in the buying habits of students;

 

   

concentration of private middle and high schools in our Varsity Books school program;

 

   

our ability to manage or influence inventory and fulfillment operations;

 

   

the level of merchandise returns we experience;

 

   

our ability to attract new customers, retain existing customers, maintain customer satisfaction and respond to our competitors;

 

   

introduction of enhancements or a change in pricing policies, by us or our competitors, or a change in pricing policy by our fulfillment sources in the text book industry;

 

   

changes in the amount and timing of expenditures related to marketing, information technology and other operating expenses to support future growth;

 

11


   

technical difficulties or system downtime affecting the Internet generally or the operation of our website specifically;

 

   

potential acquisitions or strategic alliances either by us or our competitors; and

 

   

general economic conditions, economic conditions specific to the Internet, eCommerce or the textbook industries

As a result of the seasonal fluctuations and because the online sale of textbooks and online selling in general is relatively new and it is difficult to predict consumer demand, it is possible that in some future periods our results of operations may be below the expectations of public market analysts and investors. In that event, it is likely that the price of our stock would decline.

WE FACE SIGNIFICANT INVENTORY RISK WITH OUR TEXTBOOKS.

Our textbook inventory balance as of December 31, 2007 consisted mainly of:

 

   

New textbooks inventory primarily held at B&T, our fulfillment partner, acquired by B&T or by us in support of our Varsity Books program for which there generally are not standard return privileges with the publisher; and

 

   

Used textbooks held at B&T or other locations.

Under our agreement with B&T in which B&T provides our order fulfillment and drop shipment services, B&T assumes ownership of all new textbooks until shipment and does not assume ownership of the used products it processes for us.

Approximately 90% of new textbook unsold inventory at B&T is returned for credit with our publishers, which substantially reduces our risk of inventory obsolescence, however, we take title to the remaining unsold inventory and write down this balance for estimated excess and obsolete or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions on a quarterly basis.

Should textbook return privileges extended to B&T or us by publishers materially change, we may face increased inventory risk and higher working capital requirements which could adversely affect our operating results.

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO ADAPT AS INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES AND CUSTOMER DEMANDS CONTINUE TO EVOLVE, OUR SERVICES AND PRODUCTS COULD BECOME LESS DESIRABLE.

The satisfactory performance, reliability and availability of our website, transaction-processing systems and network infrastructure are critical to our reputation and our ability to attract and retain customers and maintain adequate customer service levels. An unanticipated dramatic increase in the volume of traffic on our website or the number of orders placed by our customers may force us to expand and upgrade our technology, transaction-processing systems and network infrastructure. There can be no assurance that we will be able to accurately project the rate or timing of increases, if any, in the use of our website or timely expand and upgrade our systems and infrastructure to accommodate such increases. To be successful, we must adapt to our rapidly changing market by continually enhancing the technologies used in our Internet products and services and introducing new technology to address the changing needs of our business and customers. If we are unable, for technical, legal, financial or other reasons, to adapt in a timely manner in response to changing market conditions or business and customer requirements, our business could be harmed.

Our success, in particular our ability to successfully receive and fulfill orders and provide high-quality customer service, largely depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications hardware systems. We may not immediately discover errors in any new system we adopt until the volume of orders placed by our customers significantly increases from the levels we experienced in our last fall back to school season. As a result, the upgraded website may not achieve the expected benefits. Unanticipated problems with our website may result in customer dissatisfaction, a loss of, or delays in, the market acceptance of our website, and lost revenue and collection difficulties during the period required to correct these errors. Failure to correct these problems may harm our reputation, our brand and our business.

WE DEPEND ON A THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR OUR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE. IF OUR THIRD-PARTY SERVICE PROVIDER EXPERIENCES ANY SYSTEM FAILURE OR INADEQUACY, OUR OPERATIONS COULD BE JEOPARDIZED.

 

12


Our operations are dependent on our ability to maintain our computer and communications software and equipment in effective working order and to protect our systems against damage from fire, natural disaster, power loss, communications failure or similar events. In addition, the growth of our customer base may strain or exceed the capacity of our computer and communications systems and lead to degradations in performance or systems failure. Our success, in particular our ability to successfully receive and fulfill orders and provide high-quality customer service, largely depends on the efficient and uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications hardware systems. We use an internally developed system for our website, search engine and substantially all aspects of transaction processing, including order management, cash and credit card processing, purchasing, inventory management and shipping.

Substantially all of our computer and communications hardware and software systems associated with the operation of our website are located at a single facility in Cleveland, Ohio, which hosts our server environment and acts as our Internet service provider. A disruption in this Internet service could cause a disruption in our ability to service our clients.

Despite our implementation of network security measures, our servers are vulnerable to computer viruses, physical or electronic break-ins, fire, flood, power loss, telecommunications failure, break-ins, earthquake and similar disruptions, which could lead to interruptions, delays, loss of data or the inability to accept and fulfill customer orders. Any damage, failure or delay that causes interruptions in our system operations could have a material adverse effect on our business.

In addition to our offsite software and hardware related to our website, at our headquarters we maintain a local area network, or LAN, which we use for our financial reporting systems, customer service operations, monitoring of our customer orders, e-mails and other internal processes. Any loss of service or other failure of this LAN, regardless of the availability of our website, would significantly impair our ability to service our customers and monitor and fulfill customer orders, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

The failure of either our website or our LAN or any other systems interruptions that results in unavailability of our website or reduced order fulfillment performance, especially during the peak Fall sales period of July/August/September, could result in negative publicity or could reduce the volume of goods sold and attractiveness of our website and would seriously impair our ability to service our customers’ orders, all of which could negatively affect our revenues. Because our servers are located at a third-party’s facility and because some of the reasons for a systems interruption may be outside of our control, we also may not be able to exercise sufficient control to remedy the problem quickly or at all. Regardless of whether we or a third-party controls or creates system failure, the occurrence of system failure could adversely affect our reputation, seriously harm our business and cause us to lose a significant and disproportionate amount of revenues.

CONCERNS ABOUT SECURITY ON THE INTERNET MAY REDUCE THE USE OF OUR WEBSITE AND IMPEDE OUR GROWTH.

A significant barrier to confidential communications over the Internet has been the need for security. We rely on SSL encryption technology designed to prevent the misappropriation of customer credit card data during the transaction process. Under current credit card practices, a merchant is liable for fraudulent credit card transactions where, as is the case with the transactions we process, that merchant does not obtain a cardholder’s signature. A failure to adequately control fraudulent credit card transactions could reduce our collections and harm our business. Internet usage could decline if any well-publicized compromise of security occurred. Our site could be particularly affected by any such breach because our online commerce model requires the entry of confidential customer ordering, purchasing and delivery data over the Internet, and we maintain a database of this historical customer information. Until more comprehensive security technologies are developed, the security and privacy concerns of existing and potential customers may inhibit the growth of the Internet as a medium for commerce. We cannot be certain that advances in computer capabilities, new discoveries in the field of cryptography or other developments will not result in the compromise or breach of the algorithms we use to protect content and transactions on our website or proprietary information in our databases. Anyone who is able to circumvent our security measures could misappropriate proprietary, confidential customer or company information or cause interruptions in our operations. We may incur significant costs to protect against the threat of such security breaches or to alleviate problems caused by these breaches.

WE MAY BECOME SUBJECT TO BURDENSOME GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS AND LEGAL UNCERTAINTIES AFFECTING THE INTERNET THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS.

To date, governmental regulations have not materially restricted use of the Internet in our markets. However, the legal and regulatory environment that pertains to the Internet is uncertain and may change. Uncertainty and new regulations could increase our costs of doing business and prevent us from delivering our products and services over the Internet. The growth of the Internet may also be significantly slowed. This could delay growth in demand for our online services and limit the growth of our

 

13


revenues. In addition to new laws and regulations being adopted, existing laws may be applied to the Internet. New and existing laws may cover issues, which include:

 

   

sales and other taxes;

 

   

user privacy;

 

   

pricing controls;

 

   

characteristics and quality of products and services;

 

   

consumer protection;

 

   

libel and defamation;

 

   

copyright, trademark and patent infringement; and

 

   

other claims based on the nature and content of Internet materials.

DECREASED EFFECTIVENESS OF SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN EMPLOYEES.

We have historically used stock options and other forms of stock-based compensation as key components of our employee compensation program in order to align employees’ interests with the interests of our stockholders, encourage employee retention and provide competitive compensation and benefit packages. In accordance with SFAS 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” we began recording charges to earnings for stock-based payments on January 1, 2006. As a result, we have incurred increased compensation costs associated with our stock-based compensation programs. Moreover, difficulties relating to obtaining stockholder approval of equity compensation plans could make it harder or more expensive for us to grant stock-based payments to employees in the future. As a result, we may find it difficult to attract, retain and motivate employees, and any such difficulty could materially adversely affect our business.

AS INTERNET TECHNOLOGY AND REGULATION ADVANCES, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROTECT OUR DOMAIN NAMES.

We currently hold various Internet domain names relating to our brands, including the “VarsityBooks.com”, “VarsityGroup.com” and “Varsity-Group.com” domain names. Governmental agencies and their designees generally regulate the acquisition and maintenance of domain names. The regulation of domain names in the generic category of domain names (i.e., .com, .net and .org) is now controlled by a non-profit corporation, which may create additional top-level domains. Requirements for holding domain names have also been affected. As a result, there can be no assurance that we will be able to acquire or maintain relevant domain names. Furthermore, the relationship between regulations governing domain names and laws protecting trademarks and similar proprietary rights is unclear. Therefore, we may be unable to prevent third parties from acquiring domain names that are similar to, infringe upon or otherwise decrease the value of our trademarks and other proprietary rights. Any such inability could harm our business.

SOME STATES MAY IMPOSE A NEW SALES TAX ON OUR BUSINESS.

A 1992 Supreme Court decision held that the Commerce Clause of the United States Constitution limits a state’s ability to impose a sales or use tax collection responsibility on an out-of-state vendor unless such vendor maintains a physical presence, i.e., substantial nexus, in the taxing state. Based on this Supreme Court decision, we have determined that we do not have a substantial nexus in some jurisdictions where our products are received by customers, and, therefore, do not collect or remit sales or use tax in such jurisdictions. Because the scope of the 1992 Supreme Court decision is unclear, states may challenge our determination of substantial nexus. If successful, such challenges could result in significant liabilities for sales and use taxes with a material and adverse effect on our business. We currently collect and remit sales or use tax on all shipments to approximately eighteen states. The 1992 Supreme Court decision also established that Congress has the power to enact legislation that would

 

14


permit states to require collection of sales and use taxes by mail-order companies. Congress has from time to time considered proposals for such legislation. We anticipate that any legislative change, if adopted, would be applied on a prospective basis. While there is no case law on the issue, we believe that this analysis could also apply to our online business. Recently, several states and local jurisdictions have expressed an interest in taxing e-commerce companies.

IF OUR STOCK PRICE IS VOLATILE, WE MAY BECOME SUBJECT TO SECURITIES LITIGATION WHICH IS EXPENSIVE AND COULD RESULT IN A DIVERSION OF RESOURCES.

Securities class action litigation has often been brought against companies that experience volatility in the market price of their securities. Litigation brought against us could result in substantial costs to us in defending against the lawsuit and a diversion of management’s attention that could cause our business to be harmed.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

15


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our headquarters is located at 2677 Prosperity Ave. Ste 250. Fairfax, VA 22031. We currently lease approximately 44,929 square feet pursuant to four leases that are scheduled to expire between June 2010 and October 2011.

 

Location

        

Use

   Square Feet

2677 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax, VA

     Office Space –Headquarters    11,041

1300 19th Street, Suite 800, Washington, D.C.

   (1 )   Subleased Space – Former Headquarters    16,000

Akron, OH

   (2 )   Office Space (unoccupied)    8,628

Fort Lauderdale, FL

   (2 )   Warehouse / Retail store (unoccupied)    9,260

 

(1) In September 2007, we entered into a sublease agreement for our former headquarters facility at 1300 19th Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. The sublease began September 15, 2007 and extends through June 30, 2010.

 

(2) Beginning in the second quarter of 2006, we moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside our core book and uniform offerings. Significant costs were incurred in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended. As a result, these locations are currently unoccupied and we are actively looking to sublease these spaces.

 

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are a party to various legal proceedings and claims incidental to our business. Management does not believe that the resolution of any such matters that are pending as of the date of this report will have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of our company.

 

ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

None.

 

16


PART II

 

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Our common stock was traded on the NASDAQ National Market under the symbol VSTY from February 15, 2000 until March 20, 2001. Beginning on March 21, 2001 our common stock traded on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol VSTY.OB until September 29, 2004 when our stock was relisted on the NASDAQ National Market trading under the symbol VSTY. On October 3, 2007, our stock was transferred to the NASDAQ Capital Market where it continues to trade as of the date of this report. On November 27, 2007, we received a letter from the NASDAQ Capital Market indicating that for the last 30 consecutive business days, the bid price of our common stock had closed below the minimum $1.00 per share requirement for continued listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market pursuant to Marketplace Rule 4310(c)(4). On March 7, 2008, VGI Acquisition Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser”), a wholly owned subsidiary of VGI Holdings Corp., a Delaware corporation (“Parent”), which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Follett Corporation, an Illinois corporation (“Follett”), filed a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO to purchase all of the outstanding shares of our common stock, at a price of $0.20 per Share. On April 14, 2008, Follett accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, representing approximately 85% of our outstanding shares. On April 15, 2008, after giving effect to the exercise of the top-up option, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement with Follett, Purchaser merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett. Prior to February 15, 2000, our common stock was not publicly traded.

For the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2007, the high and low closing prices per share of our common stock were as follows:

 

          High    Low

Fiscal Year 2006

     

First Quarter

   (Period from January 1, 2006 to March 31, 2006)    $ 4.37    $ 3.58

Second Quarter

   (Period from April 1, 2006 to June 30, 2006)    $ 5.48    $ 3.74

Third Quarter

   (Period from July 1, 2006 to September 30, 2006)    $ 4.05    $ 2.91

Fourth Quarter

   (Period from October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006)    $ 4.15    $ 1.36

Fiscal Year 2007

     

First Quarter

   (Period from January 1, 2007 to March 31, 2007)    $ 2.28    $ 1.47

Second Quarter

   (Period from April 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007)    $ 1.60    $ 0.81

Third Quarter

   (Period from July 1, 2007 to September 30, 2007)    $ 1.34    $ 0.90

Fourth Quarter

   (Period from October 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007)    $ 1.10    $ 0.19

As of March 11, 2008, there were 173 stockholders of record, excluding the number of beneficial owners whose shares were held in street name. On March 11, 2008, the closing price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Capital Market was $0.20 per share.

We have never declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock. Any decision regarding the declaration of future cash dividends will be made by our Board of Directors in their discretion.

There were no share repurchases of our commons stock during fiscal 2007.

The information required by this item regarding equity compensation plans is incorporated herein by reference from the information contained in Item 12 of this Form 10-K.

The following graph compares our cumulative total stockholder return on the common stock (no dividends have been paid thereon) with the cumulative total return of the Nasdaq Stock Market (US) index and a self determined peer group comprised of issuers in the same industry from January 1, 2001 through December 31, 2007. The comparison assumes as investment of $100 on January 1, 2002 in our common stock and each of the foregoing indices.

 

17


[GRAPHIC]

 

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected financial data presented below as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004 and 2003 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. This data should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, our Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto, and other financial information appearing elsewhere in this Form 10-K.

 

     Years Ended December 31,  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  
     2007     2006     2005    2004     2003  

Statement of Operations Data

           

Net Sales

           

Textbooks

   $ 35,470     $ 41,903     $ 40,663    $ 34,437     $ 22,979  

Uniforms

     5,663       7,855       5,768      —         —    

Solutions

     —         308       —        —         —    

Shipping

     3,275       3,840       3,638      3,245       2,262  
                                       

Total net sales

     44,408       53,906       50,069      37,682       25,241  
                                       

Operating Expenses

           

Cost of textbooks

     25,152       28,846       28,187      23,349       15,814  

Cost of uniforms

     4,287       4,433       2,645      —         —    

Cost of solutions

     —         186       —        —         —    

Cost of shipping

     3,587       3,996       2,868      2,529       1,459  

Sales and marketing

     12,310       14,662       9,275      5,803       3,912  

Tax related benefit

     —         —         —        —         (515 )

General and administrative

     8,779       11,398       4,855      3,240       2,224  

Amortization of acquired intangibles

     3       220       91      —         —    

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles

     —         3,257       —        —         —    

Non-cash compensation

     —         —         —        —         216  
                                       

Total operating expenses

     54,118       66,998       47,921      34,921       23,110  
                                       

(Loss) income from operations

     (9,710 )     (13,092 )     2,148      2,761       2,131  
                                       

Other (expense) income

     (102 )     (55 )     16      (4 )     (4 )

Interest income, net

     (96 )     299       451      316       245  
                                       

(Loss) income before taxes

     (9,908 )     (12,848 )     2,615      3,073       2,372  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (21 )     (15,530 )     9,514      3,808       2,000  
                                       

Net (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,378 )   $ 12,129    $ 6,881     $ 4,372  
                                       

Net (loss) income per share:

           

Basic

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.72    $ 0.41     $ 0.27  
                                       

Diluted

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.64    $ 0.39     $ 0.25  
                                       

Weighted average shares:

           

Basic

     18,753       17,809       16,947      16,715       16,440  
                                       

Diluted

     18,753       17,809       18,831      17,726       17,323  
                                       

 

18


     As of December 31,
     (in thousands)
     2007    2006    2005    2004    2003

BALANCE SHEET DATA

              

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

   $ 2,020    $ 6,883    $ 12,475    $ 18,858    $ 19,904

Working capital

     2,201      6,476      14,588      14,244      19,111

Total assets

     12,924      23,648      44,804      30,712      23,206

Line of credit / margin loan

     2,002      4,205      —        —        —  

Total stockholders’ equity

     4,851      14,192      41,051      27,988      21,401

 

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Forward Looking Statements

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially. These statements relate to future events or our future financial performance and are based on information available to us as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “except,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “potential” or “continue,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. These statements are only predictions. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including but not limited to, those discussed in “Risk Factors” included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports and filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The following discussion provides additional information to the accompanying consolidated financial statements and notes to help provide an understanding of our financial condition, changes in financial condition and results of operations. This discussion is organized as follows:

 

   

Overview. This section provides a general description of our business, economic and industry-wide factors relevant to us and material opportunities, challenges and risks in our business.

 

   

Critical Accounting Policies. This section discusses those accounting policies that contain uncertainties and require significant judgment in their application.

 

   

Results of Operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for all three years presented in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

 

   

Liquidity and Capital Resources. This section provides an analysis of our sources and uses of cash, capital expenditures and the amount of financial capacity available to fund our future commitments.

 

19


GENERAL

We provide textbooks and school supplies to private K-12 schools, colleges, and distance and continuing education markets. Our textbook program, eduPartners, was the first online bookstore solution focused on meeting the needs of private middle and high schools nationwide.

We create a customized virtual bookstore for each partner school which is hosted on our website, www.varsitybooks.com. This site contains the required and optional educational materials and supplies selected by the school organized by grade, academic discipline and course name. Students and parents from each of our partner schools access their customized bookstore to place their orders via a direct link from their school’s homepage or by searching for their school bookstore by region and state on our homepage. Once an order has been submitted, it is picked, packed and shipped from one of three distribution centers nationwide.

Member schools leverage our textbook solution to lower their operating overhead by outsourcing their bookstore operation while delivering a more efficient and flexible bookstore solution to their community. In addition, our partner schools have access to our unique program administration website that provides them with sales and inventory reports, among other valuable features. Student and parent customers value the convenience of our online shopping experience and take comfort in the knowledge that our posted booklists have been reviewed for content and accuracy and approved by their school. As a further convenience to parents, students and school officials, to the extent any of our partner schools adopt textbooks to be used in the next school term, we will typically offer parents and students several options to sell back their textbooks to us at the end of the school year, helping to lower their total cost of textbook ownership. These used textbooks are offered for sale the following school year providing our student and parent customers lower cost pricing alternatives.

In May 2005 we acquired Campus Outfitters. We sold the Campus Outfitters business to SchoolOne.com, LLC in February 2008.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2006, we moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside our core book and uniform offerings. Significant costs were incurred in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended.

During our third quarter of fiscal 2007, we served fewer schools with our textbook solution than the prior year and total dollar revenue and unit sales for the majority of retained schools declined from the prior year. Also, lower priced used books increased as a percentage of units sold. These factors caused a 16.1% decrease in textbook revenue from the prior year. The decline in retained school revenue was caused primarily by consumers attending schools served by us acquiring an increased percentage of books from sources other than us. While we are the endorsed provider of textbooks to the schools we serve, we are not the exclusive source of textbooks for our customers. We believe the causes of the decline in both the number of schools served and revenue per school relate to a decline in the customer service experience in 2006 which impacted school retention and consumer loyalty in 2007, above-market retail pricing in 2007 and backorder levels in 2007. We replaced our outsource customer service provider for 2007 and experienced improved performance over 2006 and improved school survey responses, which we believe will result in improved school retention rates for 2008. We also intend to more aggressively price our book product in 2008 to discourage online price shopping. As expected, uniform revenue from our Campus Outfitters business declined in the third quarter of fiscal 2007 from the prior year mainly due to a decline in the number of schools served. The Campus Outfitters business was sold in February 2008.

Substantially all of our computer and communications hardware and software systems are located at a single facility that is owned, maintained and serviced by a third party. Any damage, failure or delay that causes interruptions in our systems operations could materially harm our business.

Varsity Group Inc. was founded in 1997. We are a Delaware corporation with our principal executive offices located at 2677 Prosperity Ave., Suite 250, Fairfax, VA 22031, and our telephone number is (202) 667-3400.

We provide website access to our periodic and current SEC filings and press releases, free of charge, on our website located at http://www.varsitygroup.com as soon as reasonably practicable after the materials are filed with the SEC or otherwise made public.

Follett Acquisition

During the summer and early fall of 2007 we continued to seek a possible viable strategic partner while also focusing on the back to school book and uniform selling season. Revenue and other key operating metrics for the 2007 back to school season ultimately did not meet our expectations. For the quarter ended September 30, 2007, our revenues from book and uniform sales fell 17.1% compared to 2006.

On February 22, 2008 our Board approved the acquisition of Varsity by Follett Corporation for $0.20 per Share in cash subject to a number of conditions, including completion of the sale or liquidation of the Campus Outfitters prior to the closing of a transaction with Follett. On February 27, 2008, our Board approved a definitive agreement to sell Campus Outfitters to SchoolOne.com, LLC.

 

20


Follett commenced a tender offer for all shares of Varsity Group on March 7, 2008 and our Board recommended that shareholders accept the offer and tender their shares. On April 14, 2008, Follett accepted for payment all shares validly tendered and not withdrawn, representing approximately 85% of our outstanding shares. On April 15, 2008, after giving effect to the exercise of the top-up option, pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement with Follett, Purchaser merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett.

Seasonality

We experience significant seasonality in our results of operations. Consistent with our focus on the expansion of eduPartners program and the current concentration of private middle and high school institutions, since the year ended December 31, 2000, our peak selling period is the July/August/September back-to-school season. During fiscal 2007 and 2006, approximately 88% and 88% of our revenues, respectively, were recognized in this period. We expect this trend to continue during fiscal 2008. While many private middle and high school institutions have an active book-buying season in December/January, the volume of purchases are typically significantly lower than the initial back-to-school season. Part of our strategy is to extend our textbook program more deeply into the college and distance learning markets. This could result in more balanced revenues throughout the year. However, based upon our current program, product and school mix, we will continue to experience significant fluctuations in quarterly operating results.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. For a comprehensive discussion of our accounting policies, see Note 2 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We do not have any ownership interest in any special purpose or similar entities and do not have any significant related party transactions.

Pursuant to guidance published by the SEC regarding disclosure about critical accounting policies, we have identified the following accounting policies as critical to the understanding of our financial statements.

Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue from textbook and uniform sales, net of any discounts and coupons, when our customers receive the products. We take title to new textbooks sold online via our eduPartners program upon transfer to the shipper and assume the risks and rewards of ownership including the risk of loss for collection. We take title to our uniform and textbook inventory held at our retail locations at the time of purchase from the supplier, publisher or buyback customer and we place them in inventory as available for sale at that time. We do not function as an agent or broker for our supplier (see Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements). Outbound shipping charges are included in net sales. We provide allowances for sales returns, promotional discounts and coupons based on historical experience in the period of the sale.

Deferred Income Taxes

We account for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (“SFAS 109”), “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 109, including current and historical results of operations, the annual limitation on utilization of net operating loss carryforwards pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. We performed our regular assessment of realization of our net deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2006. SFAS109 requires that all available evidence, both positive and negative, be considered in determining whether a valuation allowance is needed relating to net deferred tax assets. Cumulative losses in recent years represent significant negative evidence under SFAS No.109. After considering our pretax losses for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 and the expectation of a pre-tax loss for the full year of 2006, we concluded, based on the criteria outlined in SFAS No. 109, that the significance of the negative evidence of cumulative losses from the most recent years could not be overcome as there was insufficient objective evidence at this time that the deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income or available tax planning strategies. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash charge in the third quarter of 2006 of $18.0 million to increase the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. With this increase, we have a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. This non-cash charge has been recorded in the 2006 provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. We expect to continue to record a full valuation allowance on future tax benefits until other positive evidence is sufficient to justify realization. Any increase or decrease in the valuation allowance would result in additional or lower income tax expense in such period and could have a significant impact on that period’s earnings.

 

21


In June 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. We adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 and the adoption did not result in the recording of any adjustments related to tax positions previously taken and did not have an effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

On January 1, 2006, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123(R)”), which requires the measurement and recognition of non-cash compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors based on estimated fair values. SFAS No. 123R supersedes our previous accounting under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), for periods beginning in fiscal 2006. In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB 107, relating to SFAS No. 123R. We have applied the provisions of SAB 107 in our adoption of SFAS No. 123R. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company previously accounted for its stock-based compensation plans under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB 25 and related interpretations, and provided the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure.” Under the fair value recognition provisions of this statement, stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date based on the fair value of the award and is recognized as expense on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is the vesting period. We adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective application transition method and recognized approximately $462,000 and $725,000 in expense related to the adoption of the new accounting standard in the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

Valuation of Inventories

Inventories, consisting of textbooks and uniforms available for sale, are valued at the lower of cost or market value, net of an obsolescence allowance and are accounted for principally using the FIFO method. Our inventory balance as of December 31, 2007 consists mainly of new book inventory primarily held at B&T, our fulfillment partner, acquired by B&T or by the Company in support of our eduPartners program for which they generally do not have standard return privileges with the publisher or new textbooks that we are able to procure from publishers at better terms than those available to B&T. New textbooks also include inventory held at Campus Outfitters retail locations and new textbooks held at other locations. Our book inventory also consists of used textbooks that we purchased during fiscal 2007. Historically, approximately 90% of the unsold new textbook inventory held by B&T in support of our eduPartners program has been returned for full credit with publishers, which substantially reduces our risk of inventory obsolescence. We take title to the remaining unsold inventory and write down this balance, as well as any remaining used book inventory, for estimated excess and obsolete or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value, based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions on a quarterly basis.

Our inventory at December 31, 2007 also consists of uniforms or apparel located in our College Park warehouse or at our retail locations. In fiscal 2007, our uniform business experienced a significant decline in revenue and schools served as compared to its fiscal 2006 season. As a result, an inventory turnover analysis was performed. Accordingly, we wrote down its uniform inventory by approximately $1.3 million to better align inventory values at December 31, 2007 with prospective future sales to active schools served. This write down is included in the cost of uniforms in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Business Acquisition and Valuation and Impairment Review of Long-Lived Assets

We accounted for our purchases of Campus Outfitters in May 2005 and IQ Digital in May 2006 in accordance Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141 “Business Combinations” (“SFAS 141”) and accounted for the related acquired intangible assets in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”). In accordance with SFAS 141, we allocated the cost of our acquisitions to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed, with the remaining amount being classified as goodwill. Management’s estimates of the fair value of the identifiable intangible assets acquired was based on discounted cash flow techniques that included significant estimates about future performance.

As required by SFAS 142, we test goodwill for impairment annually and any time a triggering indicator exists. During our third and fourth quarters of 2006, the uniform business of Campus Outfitters experienced unexpected operational difficulties, which negatively affected its financial performance and the overall performance of Varsity Group, contributing to a significant decrease

 

22


in Varsity Group market capitalization during the fourth quarter of 2006. Accordingly, we performed a goodwill impairment test for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test and we believed that the carrying value of our uniform segment goodwill exceeded its fair value and therefore, recorded a goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. This conclusion was based on our judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the uniform reporting unit that has reported goodwill. The determination of the value of such intangible assets and the annual impairment tests required by SFAS 142 requires that we make estimates of future revenues, customer retention rates, estimated useful lives and other assumptions that affect our consolidated financial statements. This impairment expense is included in the impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles line item in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we decided to terminate or suspend new service offerings launched earlier in the fiscal year, which included closing our IQ-Digital office. Accordingly, we recognized impairment charges in our Solutions business unit of approximately $0.7 million against goodwill and approximately $0.1 million against other intangible assets. This impairment expense is included in the impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles line item in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

During our fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, we performed a goodwill impairment test for our textbook reporting unit by applying a fair value-based test and management concluded that goodwill was not impaired and therefore, no impairment loss was recorded. This conclusion is based on management’s judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the reporting unit that has reported goodwill. However, changes in strategy or adverse changes in market conditions could impact this judgment and require an impairment loss to be recognized for the amount that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value. The determination of the value of such intangible assets and the annual impairment tests required by SFAS 142 requires management to make estimates of future revenues, customer retention rates, estimated useful lives and other assumptions that affect our consolidated financial statements.

We assess the impairment of long-lived assets, including software developed for internal use and acquired finite life intangible assets, in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 (“SFAS 144”) “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets,” whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully recoverable. When we determine that the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable, we generally measure any impairment as the amount by which the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeded its fair value. Fair value is based on a projected discounted cash flow method using a discount rate determined by management to be commensurate with the risk inherent in our current business model. To the extent the unamortized capitalized costs exceed the net fair value, the excess amount is written off. In accordance with SFAS 144, we recorded a write-off of approximately $342,000 during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 related to the discontinued use of our Lydia Learn software. Also, during our third and fourth quarters of 2006, the uniform business of Campus Outfitters experienced unexpected operational difficulties, which negatively affected its financial performance and the overall performance of Varsity Group, triggering, in connection with a FAS 142 review of goodwill, a uniform segment goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. Accordingly, in accordance with SFAS 144, we performed additional impairment testing for finite life intangible assets acquired as part of our acquisition of Campus Outfitters for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test. These finite life intangible assets include customer-related assets, non-compete agreements and trademarks. We believed that the carrying value of our uniform segment finite life intangible assets exceeded their fair value and therefore, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.6 million. This conclusion was based on our judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the uniform reporting unit. This impairment expense is included in the impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles line item in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

Evaluating long-lived assets for impairment involves judgments as to when an asset may potentially be impaired. We consider there to be a risk of impairment if there is a significant decrease in the market value of an asset or if there is a significant change in the extent or intended use of an asset.

 

23


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Fiscal Years Ended December 31,  
     2007     2006     2005  

Net sales:

      

Textbooks

   79.8 %   77.7 %   81.2 %

Uniforms

   12.8 %   14.6 %   11.5 %

Solutions

   —       0.6 %   —    

Shipping

   7.4 %   7.1 %   7.3 %
                  

Total net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %
                  

Operating Expenses:

      

Cost of textbooks

   56.6 %   53.5 %   56.3 %

Cost of uniforms

   9.7 %   8.2 %   5.3 %

Cost of shipping

   8.1 %   7.4 %   5.7 %

Cost of solutions

   —       0.3 %   —    

Sales and marketing

   27.7 %   27.2 %   18.5 %

General and administrative

   19.8 %   21.1 %   9.7 %

Amortization of acquired intangibles

   —       0.4 %   0.2 %

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles

   —       6.0 %   —    
                  

Total operating expenses

   121.9 %   124.3 %   95.7 %
                  

(Loss) income from operations

   (21.9 )%   (24.3 )%   4.3 %

Other income, net

   (0.4 )%   0.5 %   0.9 %
                  

(Loss) income before income taxes

   (22.3 )%   (23.8 )%   5.2 %

Income tax (expense) benefit

   (0.1 )%   (28.8 )%   19.0 %
                  

Net income

   (22.4 )%   (52.6 )%   24.2 %
                  

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

Net Sales

Net sales decreased 17.6%, or $9.5 million, to $44.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Uniform revenue represented approximately $2.2 million of this decrease, textbook revenue represented approximately $6.4 million of this decrease, and shipping and solutions revenue represented approximately $0.9 million of this decrease. The decrease during fiscal 2007 was primarily the result of a decrease in both number of schools served and sales per school for the textbook business and decrease in the number of schools served by the uniform business.

Net sales consist of sales of textbooks and uniforms and charges to customers for outbound shipping and are net of allowances for returns, promotional discounts and coupons. Revenues from sales are recognized at the time products are received by the customer. Over time, expansion of used book revenue as a percentage of total revenues may serve to lower textbook revenue growth since used books are typically priced at a 25% discount to comparable new textbooks. However, the related decrease in revenue growth is typically offset by higher gross margins associated with the sale of used books.

Operating Expenses

Cost of Textbooks

Cost of textbooks consists of the cost of textbooks and related education material sold to customers. Cost of textbooks decreased 12.8%, or approximately $3.7 million, to approximately $25.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. This decrease was attributable to our decreased sales volume. Expressed as a percentage of related revenue, cost of textbooks was 70.9% for the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to 68.8% for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

24


Cost of Uniforms

Cost of uniforms consists of the cost of uniforms and apparel sold to customers. Cost of uniforms decreased 3.3%, or approximately $0.1 million, to approximately $4.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. Expressed as a percentage of related revenue, cost of uniforms was 75.7% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to 56.4% for the year ended December 31, 2006. In fiscal 2007, our uniform business experienced a significant decline in revenue and schools served as compared to its fiscal 2006 season. As a result, an inventory turnover analysis was performed. Accordingly, we wrote down our uniform inventory by approximately $1.3 million to better align inventory values at December 31, 2007 with prospective future sales to active schools served. This write down was recorded in the cost of uniforms in our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Cost of Shipping

Cost of shipping consists of outbound shipping to our customers. Cost of shipping decreased 10.2%, or approximately $0.4 million, to approximately $3.6 million, for the year ended December 31, 2007. This decrease was attributable to our decreased sales volume. Expressed as a percentage of related revenue, cost of shipping was 109.5% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to 104.1% for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Certain aspects of our agreements with B&T provide for the assignment of separate values to the separate services provided by them: supply of books, shipping and other services, including website content and customer database management. Such assignment is based on the relative fair value of each element as determined by B&T. Consequently, we have included in “cost of textbooks” in our statement of operations the cost of purchased books from B&T, we have included in “cost of shipping” the cost of shipping charges from B&T and we have included in sales and marketing the cost of other services including website content and customer database management charged from B&T.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of promotional expenditures, credit card processing fees, travel expense, expenses associated with contracting with our eduPartners schools, expenses associated with our Campus Outfitters retail locations and road shows, seasonal overhead associated with performing inventory purchases at eduPartner schools, and payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales and marketing, account management, eduPartners operations and Campus Outfitters operations. Sales and marketing expense decreased 16.4%, or approximately $2.4 million, to approximately $12.3 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

The following table sets forth sales and marketing expense for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2007     2006  

Variable sales and marketing expense

   $ 5,019     $ 5,832  

Percentage of total revenue

     11.3 %     10.8 %

Other sales and marketing expense

   $ 7,291     $ 8,830  

Percentage of total revenue

     16.4 %     16.4 %
                

Sales and marketing expense, as reported

   $ 12,310     $ 14,662  

Percentage of total revenue

     27.7 %     27.2 %

Variable sales and marketing expense consists of credit card expenses, certain expenses associated with contracting with our eduPartners and Campus Outfitters schools, and sales expenses associated with our agreement with B&T. During fiscal 2007, variable sales and marketing expense decreased 13.9%, or approximately $0.8 million, to approximately $5.0 million from the comparable year period. This decrease was attributable to the decreased sales volume discussed earlier. We expect that variable sales and marketing expense will continue to increase at levels consistent with growth in the number of schools we service.

Other sales and marketing expense consists primarily of payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales and marketing, account management, eduPartners operations and Campus Outfitters operations, travel expense, expenses associated with our Campus Outfitters retail locations and road shows and seasonal overhead associated with performing inventory purchases at eduPartner schools. During fiscal 2007, fixed sales and marketing expense decreased 17.4%, or approximately $1.5 million, to approximately $7.3 million from the comparable year period. The decrease fiscal 2007 was largely attributable to the termination or suspension of all non-textbook / uniforms / school supply service offerings in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

 

25


General and Administrative

General and administrative expense consists of payroll and related expenses for executive, administrative, and our development and systems personnel, facilities expenses, costs associated with our agreement with SchoolOne which is developing our new technology and providing services and support for our processes and systems, costs associated with the upgrade and maintenance of our website, outside consultant and professional services expenses, travel, and other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expense, reported net of $0.8 million and $1.7 million of costs capitalized for software developed for internal use for fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively, decreased 23.0%, or approximately $2.6 million, to approximately $8.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the prior year period. These decreases were primarily attributable to the termination or suspension of all non-textbook / uniforms / school supply service offerings in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Included in fiscal 2007 were approximately $0.8 million of lease termination costs and/or costs associated with ceasing to use certain facilities.

We are capitalizing development costs in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position No. 98-1 (“SOP 98-1”), “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.”

Amortization of Acquired Intangibles.

Our acquisitions of Campus Outfitters in May 2005 and IQ Digital in May 2006 were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. As a result, we recorded intangible assets at their applicable fair values of the net tangible assets acquired. Intangible assets are amortized over periods ranging from one to ten years. Amortization of acquired intangibles was approximately $0.2 million during fiscal 2006. During our fourth quarter 2006, we recorded impairment charges against all of our acquired intangibles except for the IQ Digital trademark. As a result, future amortization for acquired intangibles is immaterial.

Impairment of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles.

We recorded approximately $3.3 million of impairment charges against goodwill and other intangible assets during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Our acquisitions of Campus Outfitters in May 2005, and IQ Digital in May 2006 were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. As a result, we recorded goodwill that represent the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. As required by SFAS 142, in lieu of amortizing goodwill, we test for goodwill for impairment annually and any time a triggering indicator exists. During our third and fourth quarters of 2006, the uniform business of Campus Outfitters experienced unexpected operational difficulties, which negatively affected its financial performance and the overall performance of Varsity Group, contributing to a significant decrease in Varsity Group market capitalization during the fourth quarter of 2006. Accordingly, we performed a goodwill impairment test for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test and management believed that the carrying value of the uniform segment goodwill exceeded its fair value and therefore, recorded a goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. Also, in accordance with SFAS 144, we performed additional impairment testing for finite life intangible assets acquired as part of our acquisition of Campus Outfitters for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test. We believed that the carrying value of our uniform segment finite life intangible assets exceeded their fair value and therefore, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.6 million.

Also during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we terminated or suspended all non-textbook, uniform and school supply business lines. As a result, we closed our IQ Digital office in Akron, Ohio and accordingly, recorded an impairment charges against goodwill for approximately $0.7 million and against other intangibles for approximately $0.1 million. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

Other (Expense) Income, net

Other (expense) income, net consists primarily of interest income on our cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments, net of interest expense related to our outstanding line of credit and margin loan. Other expense was $(0.2) million for the year ended December 31, 2007, compared to other income of $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. The decrease was due to lower average invested cash and increasing borrowings under the revolving line of credit fiscal 2007 as compared to the prior year period and a recognized loss of approximately $41,000 during fiscal 2007 due to the sale of a long-term security before its maturity date.

Income Taxes

In the third quarter of 2006, we determined that deferred tax assets would not be realized and we ceased recording income tax benefits. For fiscal 2007, no income tax benefits were recorded. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 was approximately $15.5 million. We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS 109. Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the

 

26


need for a valuation allowance, management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 109, including current and historical results of operations, the annual limitation on utilization of net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 382, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. We performed our regular assessment of realization of our net deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2006. Cumulative losses in recent years represent significant negative evidence under SFAS No.109. SFAS109 requires that all available evidence, both positive and negative, be considered in determining whether a valuation allowance is needed relating to net deferred tax assets. After our assessment as of September 30, 2006, we concluded, based on the criteria outlined in SFAS No. 109, that the significance of the negative evidence of cumulative losses from the most recent years could not be overcome as there was insufficient objective evidence at this time that the deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income or available tax planning strategies. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash charge in the third quarter of 2006 of $18.0 million to increase the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. With this increase, we have a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. This non-cash charge has been recorded in the provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. We expect to continue to record a full valuation allowance on future tax benefits until other positive evidence is sufficient to justify realization. Any increase or decrease in the valuation allowance would result in additional or lower income tax expense in such period and could have a significant impact on that period’s earnings. Please see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

In July 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting for interim periods and disclosures for uncertain tax positions. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. Our adoption of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, did not result in the recording of any previously unrecognized tax positions and did not have an effect on our financial position or results of operations.

We file a U.S. federal income tax return and returns in various state jurisdictions. We are subject to U.S. federal tax and state tax examinations for the tax years 2003 to 2006. We are subject to certain state tax examinations for the tax years 2002 to 2006 for those states with longer statutes of limitation than the Federal three-year statute. We do not believe there will be any material changes in our unrecognized tax positions over the next 12 months.

Our policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on any unrecognized tax positions as a component of income tax expense. As of the date of adoption of FIN 48, we did not have any accrued interest or penalties associated with any unrecognized tax positions, and there was no related interest or penalties recognized during fiscal 2007.

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 COMPARED TO YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2005

Net Sales

Net sales increased 7.7%, or $3.8 million, to $53.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. Uniform revenue introduced with our acquisition of Campus Outfitters in May 2005 represented approximately $2.1 million of this increase, textbook revenue represented approximately $1.2 million of this increase and shipping and solutions revenue represented approximately $0.5 million of this increase. An increase in online textbook revenue was largely offset by the non-renewal of an on-campus bookstore management agreement that represented approximately $1.7 million of revenue during fiscal 2005 and generated no revenue during fiscal 2006. The remaining increase was due to the growth of textbook and related revenues attributable to the increase in the number of schools we serviced during 2006 compared to the prior year period.

Net sales consist of sales of textbooks and uniforms and charges to customers for outbound shipping and are net of allowances for returns, promotional discounts and coupons. Revenues from sales are recognized at the time products are received by the customer.

Operating Expenses

Cost of Textbooks

Cost of textbooks consists of the cost of textbooks and related education material sold to customers. Cost of textbooks increased 2.3%, or approximately $0.7 million, to approximately $28.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was attributable to our increased sales volume. Expressed as a percentage of related revenue, cost of textbooks was 68.8% for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to 69.3% for the year ended December 31, 2005. This decrease in fiscal 2006 was largely attributable to a 20% increase in units of used books sold during 2006 as compared to the prior year period.

Cost of Uniforms

Cost of uniforms consists of the cost of uniforms and apparel sold to customers. Cost of uniforms increased 67.6%, or approximately $1.8 million, to approximately $4.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2006. Expressed as a percentage of

 

27


related revenue, cost of uniforms was 56.4% for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to 45.9% for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in costs as a percentage of related revenue in fiscal 2006 were largely attributable to year over year price increases in product, which were not passed on to our customers and integration issues related to the acquisition of Campus Outfitters. Before our acquisition of Campus Outfitters in May 2005, Campus Outfitters had been privately owned and operated and possessed minimal inventory and purchasing management, data and controls. In order to integrate the Campus Outfitters acquisition, we began upgrading virtually all aspects of its transaction processing systems, including order management, cash and credit card processing, purchasing, inventory management and shipping. While many of the systems were upgraded in time, we did experience delays in the release of our new order management and inventory management software systems, which contributed to operational difficulties that was a considerable factor contributing to the cause of the increase in cost of uniforms.

Cost of Shipping

Cost of shipping consists of outbound shipping to our customers. Cost of shipping increased 39.3%, or approximately $1.1 million, to approximately $4.0 million, for the year ended December 31, 2006. This increase was attributable to our increased sales volume. Expressed as a percentage of related revenue, cost of shipping was 104.1% for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to 78.8% for the year ended December 31, 2005. This increase was largely the result of Campus Outfitter integration issues mentioned above. Uniforms and textbooks that are not in stock at Campus Outfitter on campus road shows or in retail stores for our customers are generally shipped directly to customers free of shipping charges. Also contributing to the increase are higher shipping costs related to an increase in multiple shipments from different warehouses in order to optimize reduction in delivery time and price increases we did not pass on to our customers.

Sales and Marketing

Sales and marketing expense consists primarily of promotional expenditures, credit card processing fees, travel expense, expenses associated with contracting with our eduPartners schools, expenses associated with our Campus Outfitters retail locations and road shows, seasonal overhead associated with performing inventory purchases at eduPartner schools, and payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales and marketing, account management, eduPartners operations and Campus Outfitters operations. Sales and marketing expense increased 58.0%, or approximately $5.4 million, to approximately $14.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.

The following table sets forth sales and marketing expense for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):

 

     Years ended December 31,  
     2006     2005  

Variable sales and marketing expense

   $ 5,832     $ 4,591  

Percentage of total revenue

     10.8 %     9.1 %

Other sales and marketing expense

   $ 8,830     $ 4,684  

Percentage of total revenue

     16.4 %     9.4 %
                

Sales and marketing expense, as reported

   $ 14,662     $ 9,275  

Percentage of total revenue

     27.2 %     18.5 %

Variable sales and marketing expense consists of credit card expenses, certain expenses associated with contracting with our eduPartners and Campus Outfitters schools, and sales expenses associated with our agreement with B&T. During fiscal 2006, variable sales and marketing expense increased 27.0%, or approximately $1.2 million, to approximately $5.8 million from the comparable year period. This increase was attributable to an increase in expenses associated with contracting with our eduPartners and Campus Outfitters schools due to a more competitive market and our revenue growth.

Other sales and marketing expense consists primarily of payroll and related expenses for personnel engaged in sales and marketing, account management, eduPartners operations and Campus Outfitters operations, travel expense, expenses associated with our Campus Outfitters retail locations and road shows and seasonal overhead associated with performing inventory purchases at eduPartner schools. During fiscal 2006, fixed sales and marketing expense increased 88.5%, or approximately $4.1 million, to approximately $8.8 million from the comparable year period. The acquisition of Campus Outfitters, which was purchased in May 2005, contributed to approximately $2.5 million of this increase and the acquisition of IQ Digital in May 2006 contributed approximately $0.6 million of this increase for the year ended December 31, 2006, respectively. Also included in this increase was a non-cash charge of $70,000 for the year ended December 31, 2006, for share-based compensation expense as a result of the adoption of SFAS 123(R), effective January 1, 2006.

 

28


In conjunction with our prior plans to accelerate the growth of our business and support the introduction of new businesses during fiscal 2006, we experienced significant increases in sales and marketing headcount and overhead in fiscal 2006.

General and Administrative

General and administrative expense consists of payroll and related expenses for executive, administrative, and our development and systems personnel, facilities expenses, costs associated with the upgrade and maintenance of our website, outside consultant and professional services expenses, travel, and other general corporate expenses. General and administrative expense, reported net of $1.7 million and $0.7 million of costs capitalized for software developed for internal use for fiscal 2006 and 2005, respectively, increased 134.7%, or approximately $6.5 million, to approximately $11.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the prior year period. The net increase was primarily attributable to:

 

   

Approximately $0.8 million of additional costs in Campus Outfitters for the year ended December 31, 2006 and approximately $0.6 million of additional costs in IQ Digital for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to the same periods in 2005 which only had seven months associated with our acquisition of Campus Outfitters in late May 2005 and no months associated with our acquisition of IQ Digital in May 2006;

 

   

Approximately $0.6 million in increased amortization associated with the costs we have capitalized in prior periods for software developed for internal use and for impairment charges related to the termination of our LydiaLearn technology;

 

   

non-cash charges of approximately $0.7 million for share-based compensation expense as a result of the adoption of SFAS 123(R), effective January 1, 2006; and

 

   

significant increases in general and administrative headcount and overhead associated with our prior plans to accelerate the growth of our textbook and uniform business and support new business lines.

Amortization of Acquired Intangibles.

Our acquisitions of Campus Outfitters in May 2005 and IQ Digital in May 2006 were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. As a result, we recorded intangible assets at their applicable fair values of the net tangible assets acquired. Intangible assets are amortized over periods ranging from one to ten years. Amortization of acquired intangibles was approximately $0.2 million during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $0.1 during the prior fiscal year.

Impairment of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles.

We recorded approximately $3.3 million of impairment charges against goodwill and other intangible assets during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006. Our acquisitions of Campus Outfitters in May 2005, and IQ Digital in May 2006 were accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. As a result, we recorded goodwill that represent the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets acquired. As required by SFAS 142, in lieu of amortizing goodwill, we test for goodwill for impairment annually and any time a triggering indicator exists. During our third and fourth quarters of 2006, the uniform business of Campus Outfitters experienced unexpected operational difficulties, which negatively affected its financial performance and the overall performance of Varsity Group, contributing to a significant decrease in Varsity Group market capitalization during the fourth quarter of 2006. Accordingly, we performed a goodwill impairment test for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test and management believed that the carrying value of the uniform segment goodwill exceeded its fair value and therefore, recorded a goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. Also, in accordance with SFAS 144, we performed additional impairment testing for finite life intangible assets acquired as part of our acquisition of Campus Outfitters for our uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test. We believed that the carrying value of our uniform segment finite life intangible assets exceeded their fair value and therefore, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.6 million.

Also during our fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we terminated or suspended all non-textbook, uniform and school supply business lines. As a result, we closed our IQ Digital office in Akron, Ohio and accordingly, recorded an impairment charges against goodwill for approximately $0.7 million and against other intangibles for approximately $0.1 million. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

Other Income (Expense), net

Other income (expense), net consists primarily of interest income on our cash and cash equivalents and investments. Other income was $0.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, compared to $0.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The decrease in fiscal 2006 as compared to the prior year period was due to lower average cash invested in short-term and long-term investments.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2006 was approximately $15.5 million, compared to an income tax benefit of approximately $9.5 million for the prior year period. We account for income taxes in accordance with SFAS 109. Under SFAS

 

29


No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 109, including current and historical results of operations, the annual limitation on utilization of net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 382, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. We performed our regular assessment of realization of our net deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2006. SFAS109 requires that all available evidence, both positive and negative, be considered in determining whether a valuation allowance is needed relating to net deferred tax assets. Cumulative losses in recent years represent significant negative evidence under SFAS No.109. After our assessment as of September 30, 2006, we concluded, based on the criteria outlined in SFAS No. 109, that the significance of the negative evidence of cumulative losses from the most recent years could not be overcome as there was insufficient objective evidence at this time that the deferred tax assets would be realized through future taxable income or available tax planning strategies. Accordingly, we recorded a non-cash charge in the third quarter of 2006 of $18.0 million to increase the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. With this increase, we have a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets. This non-cash charge has been recorded in the provision for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations. We expect to continue to record a full valuation allowance on future tax benefits until other positive evidence is sufficient to justify realization. Any increase or decrease in the valuation allowance would result in additional or lower income tax expense in such period and could have a significant impact on that period’s earnings. Please see Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

As of December 31, 2007, we had $2.0 million of restricted cash and net working capital of approximately $2.2 million compared to approximately $2.9 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and net working capital of approximately $6.5 million at December 31, 2006. As of December 31, 2007, we had no long-term investments compared to approximately $3.9 million as of December 31, 2006. As of December 31, 2007, we had borrowings under our line of credit agreement with Bank of America of approximately $2.0 million compared to $4.2 million borrowings as of December 31, 2006. The decrease in cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments fiscal 2007 was primarily attributable to cash payments for our school partner incentive accruals, used textbooks we acquired during our fiscal 2007 buyback campaign and cash used to fund operating losses. This decrease was partially offset by the collection of certain receivables due from B&T.

As of December 31, 2007, our principal commitments consisted of borrowings under our line of credit agreement with Bank of America, obligations outstanding under operating leases, our service agreement with SchoolOne, and accounts payable. Beginning in the second quarter of 2006, we moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside our core book and uniform offerings. Significant costs and cash expenditures were incurred in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended. Significant cost reductions have been implemented, and our current strategy includes only the book and school supplies businesses. As a result, we experienced a reduction in cash used in fiscal 2007 as compared to fiscal 2006.

Net cash used in operating activities was $(2.0) million, $(6.5) million and $(2.5) million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The change in operating cash flows of $4.5 million during the year ended December 31, 2007 from the prior year period was primarily due to an increase in payments made against accounts payable and accrued expenses, and a smaller decrease in other current assets related to year-end rebates received from B&T compared to the prior year period. This was offset by a decrease in cash expended for inventory and a decreased net loss for the year ended December 31, 2007. The change in operating cash flows of $(4.0) million during the year ended December 31, 2006 from the prior year period was primarily due to our net loss and inventory purchases partially offset by a decrease in other current assets related to payments made by B&T for deposits we had with them as of December 31, 2005 and the non cash tax charge associated with the valuation allowance taken against deferred tax assets in our third quarter of fiscal 2006.

Investing activities consist of acquisitions of businesses, capitalization of software developed for internal use, purchases of property, plant and equipment, purchases of software, purchases and sales of short-term and long-term investments and restricted cash, and proceeds from sales of property plant and equipment. Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities was $3.6 million, $(0.8) million, and $0.1 million during the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Total purchases of property, equipment and software, including capitalization of software, was approximately $0.9 million during the year ended December 31, 2007, a decrease of approximately $1.9 million over the comparable period in 2006 primarily due to the purchase of the LydiaLearn assets and infrastructure growth as we made significant investments in our people, processes and systems to accelerate the growth of our business in fiscal 2006. During the year ended December 31, 2007 we had sales of short-term and long-term investments of approximately $6.4 million, which we used to payoff our margin loan outstanding as of December 31, 2006, and to purchase a restricted cash investment with BOA to use as collateral against our line of credit, compared to net sales of short-term and long-term investments of $3.4 million during the comparable reporting period in 2006.

 

30


Also during the year ended December 31, 2007, we received cash proceeds of approximately $0.1 million resulting from sales of fixed assets no longer in service due to the closure of our IQ Digital Studios office in Akron, Ohio.

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities was $(2.0) million, $4.9 million and, $0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Net cash used in financing activities in 2007 consisted of $2.0 million in borrowings under line of credit and $0.1 million cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants, offset by $4.2 million of payments made on the margin loan. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2006 consisted of $4.2 million of margin loan borrowings against our short and long-term investments and $0.7 million cash proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants. Net cash provided by financing activities in 2005 consisted of $0.3 million proceeds from the exercise of stock options and warrants.

Commitments

The following table provides an overview or our aggregate contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007, and the effect these obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows for fiscal 2008 and in future periods are as follows (in thousands):

 

Contractual Obligations

   2008     2009     2010     2011    2012    Thereafter    Total  

Capital lease obligations

   $ 10     $ 8     $ 8     $ 8    $ —      $ —      $ 34  

Line of Credit

     2,002       —         —         —        —        —        2,002  

SchoolOne

     1,170       —         —         —        —        —        1,170  

Operating lease obligations (1)

     1,246       1,188       906       504      —        —        3,844  
                                                     

Sub lease income

     (585 )     (621 )     (319 )     —        —        —        (1,525 )
                                                     

Total

   $ 3,843     $ 575     $ 595     $ 512    $ —      $ —      $ 5,525  
                                                     

 

(1) Includes two months of commitments for the nine Campus Outfitter leases which were under lease as of December 31, 2007. The Company sold Campus Outfitters on February 27, 2008, including all of its real estate obligations. See Note 19 “Subsequent Events” to the consolidated financial statements.

As of the date of this filing, we lease approximately 44,929 square feet of office and warehouse space pursuant to four leases that are scheduled to expire between June 2010 and October 2011.

Our business is highly seasonal, with the vast bulk of our revenues and cash flow being earned during the back to school season in the third quarter of each year, we need to obtain capital from either the credit agreement, spending reductions or additional external financings. Without this, our cash, cash equivalents and investments would not be sufficient to fund our operating needs until the 2008 back to school season. Accordingly, on February 22, 2008 we entered into a both an Agreement and Plan of Merger and an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with affiliates of Follett Corporation, an unrelated privately held corporation. Under these agreements, we are receiving interim financing and, if interim funding were to cease, our cash and cash equivalents would not be sufficient to fund our operating needs until the 2008 back to school season, which raises substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty. See Note 19 “Subsequent Events” to the consolidated financial statements.

RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies whenever other statements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have, if any, on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments

 

31


and certain other items at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses related to these financial instruments reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. We are currently evaluating the impact this statement will have, if any, on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We are exposed to market risk for the effect of interest rate changes and changes in the market values of our investments.

Interest Rate Risk. Our cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and long-term investments are subject to interest rate risk. We manage this risk by maintaining a diversified investment portfolio of instruments with high credit quality and varying maturity dates. These instruments are designated as available-for-sale and, accordingly, are presented at fair value on our balance sheets and include, but are not limited to, commercial paper, money-market instruments, bank time deposits and variable rate and fixed rate obligations of corporations and national, state and local governments and agencies. These instruments are denominated in U.S. dollars. The fair market value of cash equivalents, restricted cash, short-term investments and long-term investments held was $2.0 million and $6.4 million at December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. We also hold cash balances in accounts with commercial banks in the United States. These cash balances represent operating balances only and are invested in short-term deposits of the local bank.

The weighted average yield on interest-bearing investments held as of December 31, 2007 was approximately 4.1% per annum. Based on our investment holdings at December 31, 2007, a 100 basis point decline in the average yield would have reduced our annual interest income by $20,000.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Our financial statements required by Regulation S-X are included herein beginning on page F-1.

 

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

On June 21, 2007, Varsity Group Inc., (the “Company”) dismissed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the “former auditor”), as its independent registered public accounting firm. Effective June 21, 2007, the Company engaged McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as its new independent registered public accounting firm. The Company’s board of directors has approved the dismissal of the former auditor, and the appointment of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as its new independent registered public accounting firm.

The reports of the former auditor on the Company’s financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 contained neither an adverse opinion, or a disclaimer of opinion, and were not qualified or modified as to uncertainty, audit scope or accounting principle.

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and through June 21, 2007, there were no disagreements with the former auditor on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the former auditors satisfaction, would have caused them to make reference thereto in their reports on the Company’s consolidated financial statements for such years.

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and through June 21, 2007, there were no reportable events, as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K, except where noted below:

As of December 31, 2005, March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006, September 30, 2006, December 31, 2006 and March 31, 2007, the Company did not maintain effective controls over the accuracy of the calculation of earnings per share. Effective controls were not in place over the calculation of diluted shares outstanding for purposes of calculating diluted earnings per share. This control deficiency resulted in a computational error of the number of shares to be assumed as repurchased in the application of the treasury stock method that was not prevented or detected. Additionally, this control deficiency could result in a misstatement of earnings per share that would have resulted in a material misstatement to annual or interim financial statements that would not have been prevented or detected. Accordingly, management has determined that this control deficiency constitutes a material weakness. The Company has previously disclosed this control deficiency with the SEC.

The Company has authorized the former auditors to respond fully to the inquiries of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP relating to the material weakness.

The Company provided the former auditor with a copy of this Current Report on form 8-K and requested that they furnish us with a letter addressed to the SEC stating whether or not they agree with the above statements. A copy of this letter is filed as an exhibit to this Form 8-K.

During the years ended December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and through June 21, 2007, the Company did not consult McGladrey & Pullen, LLP regarding either:

1) the application of accounting principles to any specified transaction, either completed or proposed, or the type of audit opinion that might be rendered on the Company’s financial statements, and neither a written report was provided to the Company nor oral advice was provided that McGladrey & Pullen, LLP concluded was an important factor considered by the Company in reaching a decision as to the accounting, auditing or financial reporting issue; or

2) any matter that was either the subject of disagreement, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(iv) of Regulation S-K and the related instructions to Item 304 of Regulation S-K, or a reportable event, as that term is defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K.

 

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Disclosure controls and procedures are controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in company reports filed or submitted under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, our Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

The Company’s principal executive officers, our Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer evaluated, together with other members of senior management, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) as of December 31, 2007; and, based on this review, the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2007, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective, including the correction of the material weakness that management identified in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 (see below), to ensure that information required to be disclosed by it in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (i) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Managements Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

In our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, management identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting. Specifically, we did not maintain effective controls over the accuracy of the calculation of diluted shares outstanding used in our earnings per share calculation. The source of the error was an error in the functioning of a spreadsheet used to make the underlying computations. Accordingly, management concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of December 31, 2006 and 2005. Since that time we have taken appropriate steps to remediate the identified material weakness by acquiring a third-party software product in our first quarter of fiscal 2006 to

 

32


automate this process, with the new product to be run in parallel with the existing system. While the remediation measures immediately improved the design effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, we were not able to test the remediation of this material weakness until the Company’s quarter ended September 30, 2007 since it was the first quarter that the Company reported net income since the material weakness was first reported and thereby, the calculation of diluted shares outstanding was required. Accordingly, management concluded that the controls implemented to remediate this material weakness were effective as of September 30, 2007.

The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer and effected by the Board of Directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of the Company’s financial reporting and the preparation of the Company’s financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the Company’s assets; provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that the receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with the authorization of the Board of Directors and management; and provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the Company’s most recently completed fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

Our evaluation of internal control over financial reporting includes using the COSO framework, an integrated framework for the evaluation of internal controls issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, to identify the risks and control objectives related to the evaluation of our control environment.

Based on our evaluation under the framework described above, our management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2007.

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation requirements by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to temporary rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, Annex I, filed in connection with the tender offer for our shares by VGI Acquisition Corp. On April 15, 2008, VGI Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett Corporation.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, Annex I, filed in connection with the tender offer for our shares by VGI Acquisition Corp. On April 15, 2008, VGI Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett Corporation.

 

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, Annex I, filed in connection with the tender offer for our shares by VGI Acquisition Corp. On April 15, 2008, VGI Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett Corporation.

 

33


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by reference to our Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, Annex I, filed in connection with the tender offer for our shares by VGI Acquisition Corp. On April 15, 2008, VGI Acquisition Corp. merged with and into Varsity Group, with Varsity Group continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett Corporation.

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

Audit Fees

McGladrey & Pullen billed the Company an aggregate of $190,000 in fees for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year 2007 and the reviews of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the second and third quarters of fiscal 2007. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP billed the Company an aggregate of $55,000 and $272,650 in fees for professional services rendered in connection with a review of the financial statements included in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and the audit of the Company’s financial statements for fiscal year and the reviews of the financial statements included in each of the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q during fiscal 2006, respectively. There were no Audit-Related Fees, Tax Fees or Other Fees billed in fiscal 2007 or fiscal 2006. All such fees relate to services, which were pre-approved by our Audit Committee.

Audit Committee Pre-approval Policy

The Audit Committee has adopted a policy relating to the approval of all audit and non-audit services that are to be performed by our independent registered public accounting firm. This policy generally provides that we will not engage our independent registered public accounting firm to render audit or non-audit services unless the service is specifically approved in advance by the Audit Committee or the engagement is entered into pursuant to pre-approval procedures established by the Audit Committee.

PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.

 

(A)    1.

   Consolidated Financial Statements. The following consolidated financial statements of registrant and its subsidiaries and report of independent auditors are included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K:
   (a) Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
   (b) Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
   (c) Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006
   (d) Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
   (e) Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
   (f) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

2.      

   All schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission either have been included in the Consolidated Financial Statements or are not required under the related instructions, or are inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.

3.      

   Exhibits. The Exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index immediately preceding such Exhibits are filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and such Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.

 

EXHIBIT

 

DESCRIPTION

2.1(4)   Purchase agreement between Varsity Group Inc. and Campus Outfitters, LLC.
2.2(9)   Purchase agreement between Varsity Group Inc. and IQ Digital Studios.

 

34


   2.3(12)   Agreement and Plan of Merger among Varsity Group Inc., VGI Holdings Corp and VGI Acquisition Corp, dated February 22, 2008.
2.4        Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated February 27, 2008, by and among Schoolone.com LLC, Varsity Group Inc. and Campus Outfitters Group LLC.
3.1(1)   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended.
3.2(1)   Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company.
3.3(6)   Second Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company.
4.1(1)   Specimen Certificate of the Company’s common stock.
  4.2(12)   Warrant, dated February 22, 2008 issued by Varsity Group Inc. in favor of VGI Financial Corp.
10.1(1)   Form of Indemnification Agreement entered into between the Company and its directors and executive officers.
10.2*      Second Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option Plan.
10.3(1)   Amended and Restated Operating Agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of October 1, 1999.
10.4(1)   Amended and Restated Database License Agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of October 1, 1999.
10.5(1)   Amended and Restated Drop Ship Agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of October 1, 1999
10.6(1)   Promotional and Customer Service Agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of October 1, 1999.
   10.7(1)*   Agreement for Eric J. Kuhn.
      10.7b (5)*   Amended agreement dated February 15, 2006 between Varsity Group Inc. and Eric J. Kuhn.
        10.7c (11)*   Second Amended agreement dated July 26, 2007 between Varsity Group Inc. and Eric J. Kuhn.
   10.8(1)*   Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
   10.9(8)*   Letter agreement and amended agreement dated November 16, 2006 between Varsity Group Inc. and James M. Craig
       10.9b(11)*   Second amended agreement dated July 26, 2007 between Varsity Group Inc. and James M. Craig
        10.9c (12)*   Employment agreement dated February 22, 2008 between Varsity Group Inc. and James M. Craig
       10.10(12)*   Employment agreement dated February 22, 2008 between Varsity Group Inc. and John P. Griffin
     10.11(2)*   Amendment to the Company’s Second Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option Plan approved by stockholders at the 2003 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
     10.12(5)*   Share Purchase Agreement dated November 12, 2004 between Varsity Group and Eric J. Kuhn, President and Chief Executive Officer.
   10.13(4)   2004 / 2005 Fulfillment letter agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of February 17, 2004.
    10.14(4)   Amended and Restated 2004 / 2005 fulfillment letter agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of July 15, 2005.
    10.15(4)   2007/2008 Fulfillment letter agreement by and between Baker & Taylor, Inc. and Varsity Group Inc. dated as of July 15, 2005.
      10.16(10)   Services and Management agreement between Varsity Group Inc. and SchoolOne.com LLC
      10.17(14)   Line of Credit Agreement between Varsity Group Inc. and Bank of America, N.A. dated March 8, 2007
       10.18(12)   Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement between Varsity Group Inc. and VGI Financial Corp.
   21.1(1)   List of Subsidiaries of the Company.
23.1     Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
24.1     Power of Attorney (included on Signature Page to this report).
31.1     Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Item 601 (b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2     Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Item 601 (b)(31) of Regulation S-K, as adopted pursuant to 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1     Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2     Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
      99.1(13)   Varsity Group Inc.’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 filed with the SEC on March 7, 2008

 

35


(1) Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-89049).

(2)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.

(3)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.

(4)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.

(5)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 14, 2006.

(6)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 27, 2007.

(7)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 6, 2006.

(8)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 16, 2006.

(9)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 1, 2006.

(10)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 14, 2006 and amended on Form 8-K December 20, 2006.

(11)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 25, 2007.

(12)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 29, 2008.

(13)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the Form 14D-9 dated March 7, 2008.

(14)

   Incorporated herein by reference to the exhibits to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 8, 2007.

*

   Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

(B) EXHIBITS.

The Company hereby files as part of this Form 10-K the exhibits listed on the Exhibit Index referenced in Item 15(A)(3) above. Exhibits can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C., 20549. In addition we are required to file electronic versions of these documents with the SEC through the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (EDGAR) system. The SEC maintains a website at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.

 

36


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Fairfax, Virginia, on the 23rd day of April 2008.

 

Varsity Group Inc.
By:   /s/ James Craig
  James Craig
  Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and President

POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES

We, the undersigned officers and directors of Varsity Group Inc., hereby severally constitute and appoint Eric J. Kuhn, our true and lawful attorney, with full power to him, to sign for us in our names in the capacities indicated below, amendments to this report, and generally to do all things in our names and on our behalf in such capacities to enable Varsity Group Inc. to comply with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and all requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

37


Signature

  

Title

 

Date

/s/ James Craig

James Craig

   Chief Executive Officer and President
(Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer)
  April 23, 2007

/s/ John P. Griffin

John Griffin

   Chief Accounting Officer
(Chief Accounting Officer)
  April 23, 2007

/s/ Jay Amond

Jay Amond

   Director   April 23, 2007

 

38


Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders

Varsity Group Inc.

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Varsity Group Inc. as of December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Varsity Group Inc. as of December 31, 2007, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for year then ended in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

The accompanying financial statements have been prepared assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern. As discussed in Note 1 to the financial statements, the Company has suffered recurring losses from operations and is not in compliance with covenants under its credit facility. These conditions raise substantial doubt about the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern. Management’s plans in regard to these matters are also described in Note 1. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

We were not engaged to examine management’s assertion about the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 included in the accompanying Item 9A, “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion thereon.

/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP

Vienna, Virginia

April 23, 2008

 

F-1


To the Board of Directors and

Stockholders of Varsity Group Inc.:

In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Varsity Group Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2006 , and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2006 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for stock-based compensation in 2006.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

McLean, Virginia

April 10, 2007

 

F-2


VARSITY GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Net Sales

      

Textbooks

   $ 35,470     $ 41,903     $ 40,663  

Uniforms

     5,663       7,855       5,768  

Solutions

     —         308       —    

Shipping

     3,275       3,840       3,638  
                        

Total net sales

     44,408       53,906       50,069  
                        

Operating Expenses

      

Cost of textbooks

     25,152       28,846       28,187  

Cost of uniforms

     4,287       4,433       2,645  

Cost of solutions

     —         186       —    

Cost of shipping

     3,587       3,996       2,868  

Sales and marketing

     12,310       14,662       9,275  

General and administrative

     8,779       11,398       4,855  

Amortization of acquired intangibles

     3       220       91  

Impairment of goodwill and acquired intangibles

     —         3,257       —    
                        

Total operating expenses

     54,118       66,998       47,921  
                        

(Loss) income from operations

     (9,710 )     (13,092 )     2,148  
                        

Other income, net

      

Interest income

     97       377       480  

Interest expense

     (193 )     (78 )     (29 )

Other (expense) income

     (102 )     (55 )     16  
                        

Other income, net

     (198 )     244       467  
                        

(Loss) income before income taxes

     (9,908 )     (12,848 )     2,615  

Income tax (expense) benefit

     (21 )     (15,530 )     9,514  
                        

Net (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,378 )   $ 12,129  
                        

Net (loss) income per share

      

Basic

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.72  
                        

Diluted

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.64  
                        

Weighted average shares

      

Basic

     18,753       17,809       16,947  
                        

Diluted

     18,753       17,809       18,831  
                        

Comprehensive (loss) income:

      

Net (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,378 )   $ 12,129  

Other comprehensive loss:

      

Change in unrealized gain (loss) on investments

     —         105       (100 )
                        

Total comprehensive (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,273 )   $ 12,029  
                        

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-3


VARSITY GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006

(in thousands, except par values)

 

     December 31,  
     2007     2006  
ASSETS     

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 436  

Restricted cash

     2,020       —    

Short-term investments

     —         2,498  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $116 at December 31, 2007 and $203 at December 31, 2006, respectively

     662       1,673  

Inventory

     5,903       8,636  

Other

     716       2,532  
                

Total current assets

     9,301       15,775  

Property and equipment, net of depreciation

     622       1,156  

Software developed for internal use, net of amortization

     2,281       2,090  

Intangible assets, net of amortization

     4       8  

Goodwill

     511       511  

Long-term investments

     —         3,949  

Other assets

     205       159  
                

Total assets

   $ 12,924     $ 23,648  
                
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY     

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 2,980     $ 2,384  

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     2,103       2,654  

Margin loan

     —         4,205  

Line of credit

     2,002       —    

Taxes payable

     15       56  
                

Total current liabilities

     7,100       9,299  

Long-term liabilities:

    

Other non-current liabilities

     973       157  
                

Total liabilities

     8,073       9,456  
                

Commitments and contingencies (See Note 11)

    

Stockholders’ equity:

    

Preferred stock: $.0001 par value, 20,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively

     —         —    

Common stock, $.0001 par value, 60,000 shares authorized, 20,176 and 19,575 shares issued and 18,961 and 18,360 shares outstanding at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively

     2       2  

Additional paid-in capital

     91,307       90,721  

Accumulated unrealized loss on investments

     —         (2 )

Accumulated deficit

     (84,725 )     (74,796 )

Treasury stock, $.0001 par value, 1,215 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively

     (1,733 )     (1,733 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     4,851       14,192  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 12,924     $ 23,648  
                

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


VARSITY GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(in thousands, except share data)

 

     Common Stock    Add’l
Paid-In
Capital
   Accum
Deficit
    Accumulated
Comprehensive
Loss
    Treasury
Stock
       

Description

   Shares    Amt             Totals  

Balance at December 31, 2004

   16,754,343    $ 2    $ 88,273    $ (58,547 )   $ (7 )   $ (1,733 )     27,988  

Issuance of common stock – options exercised

   249,359         339            339  

Shares issued – acquisition

   123,967         695            695  

Warrants exercised

   10,145                  —    

Unrealized loss on investments

                (100 )       (100 )

Net income

              12,129           12,129  
                                                   

Balance at December 31, 2005

   17,137,814      2      89,307      (46,418 )     (107 )     (1,733 )     41,051  

Issuance of common stock – options exercised

   1,066,306         719            719  

Warrants exercised

   25,000         27            27  

Restricted Stock

   130,759         350            350  

Non-cash compensation

           318            318  

Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments

                105         105  

Net loss

              (28,378 )         (28,378 )
                                                   

Balance at December 31, 2006

   18,359,879      2      90,721      (74,796 )     (2 )     (1,733 )   $ 14,192  

Issuance of common stock – options exercised

   98,000         124            124  

Shares issued – contingent payment

   502,776                  —    

Non-cash compensation

           462            462  

Change in unrealized gain/loss on investments

                2         2  

Net loss

              (9,929 )         (9,929 )
                                                   

Balance at December 31, 2007

   18,960,655    $ 2    $ 91,307    $ (84,725 )   $ 0     $ (1,733 )   $ 4,851  
                                                   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


VARSITY GROUP INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005

(in thousands)

 

     2007     2006     2005  

Operating activities:

      

Net (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,378 )   $ 12,129  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash (used in) operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     1,163       1,831       545  

Provision for bad debt

     (132 )     195       109  

Lease termination costs

     764       —         —    

Goodwill and intangible impairment

     —         3,257       —    

Deferred income tax

     —         15,524       (9,623 )

Non-cash stock compensation

     462       725       —    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

      

Accounts receivable

     1,144       367       (1,045 )

Inventory

     2,733       (4,160 )     629  

Other current and non-current assets

     1,814       2,671       (4,001 )

Accounts payable

     596       529       (746 )

Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     (584 )     1,259       (410 )

Taxes payable

     (41 )     (280 )     (123 )
                        

Net cash (used in) operating activities

     (2,010 )     (6,460 )     (2,536 )
                        

Investing activities:

      

Payments for acquisition of businesses

     —         (1,308 )     (3,065 )

Purchases of property, equipment and software developed for internal use

     (910 )     (2,787 )     (1,011 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     92       —         —    

Payments for intangible asset

     —         (25 )     —    

Sales of short-term investments

     2,498       850       9,150  

Purchases of short-term investments

     —         —         (5,500 )

Sales of long-term investments

     3,907       2,500       7,000  

Purchases of long-term investments

     —         —         (6,500 )

Increase in restricted cash

     (2,020 )     —         —    
                        

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

     3,567       (770 )     74  
                        

Financing activities:

      

Borrowings (payments) under margin loan

     (4,205 )     4,205       —    

Borrowings under line of credit

     2,002       —         —    

Bank overdraft

     146       —         —    

Payments for capital lease obligations

     (60 )     (18 )     (9 )

Proceeds from exercise of stock options and warrants

     124       746       339  
                        

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     (1,993 )     4,933       330  
                        

Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (436 )     (2,297 )     (2,132 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     436       2,733       4,865  
                        

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ —       $ 436     $ 2,733  
                        

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

      

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 37     $ 166     $ 124  

Cash paid for interest

   $ 193     $ 75     $ 29  

Acquisition of IQ Digital (May 2006) and Campus Outfitters (May 2005)

      

Fair value of inventory acquired

   $ —       $ —       $ (2,642 )

Fair value fixed assets and other assets acquired

     —         (444 )     (199 )

Identified intangible assets

     —         (136 )     (809 )

Goodwill

     —         (712 )     (2,427 )

Fair value of liabilities assumed

     —         34       2,317  

Issuance of stock for acquisition

     —         —         695  
                        

Cash expended for acquisitions

     —         (1,258 )     (3,065 )
                        

Cash paid against acquisition accruals and adjustments to goodwill

     —         (50 )     —    
                        

Total cash expended for acquisitions

   $ —       $ (1,308 )   $ (3,065 )
                        

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


VARSITY GROUP INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

Varsity Group Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated on December 16, 1997 and launched its website, www.varsitybooks.com, in August 1998, at which time the Company began generating revenues. Varsity Group is an outsourcing solutions provider for the education community. Varsity Group offers schools a comprehensive eCommerce solution for their textbook procurement operations and until the sale of its Campus Outfitters subsidiary on February 27, 2008, was a provider of uniform apparel needs for schools and businesses with physical retail locations in Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and Texas.

GOING CONCERN

As of December 31, 2007, we had approximately $2.0 million of restricted cash, pledged as collateral against $2.0 of borrowings under our line of credit agreement with Bank of America. As of December 31, 2007 we were not in compliance with the minimum tangible net worth covenant under the credit agreement and had not received a waiver. Given the covenant non-compliance, we were in default under the credit agreement and it was highly uncertain as to our ability to obtain funds under the agreement beyond the outstanding loan balance as of December 31, 2007 As our business is presently highly seasonal, with the vast bulk of our revenues and cash flow being earned during the back to school season in the third quarter of each year, we need to obtain capital from either the credit agreement, spending reductions or additional external financings. Without this, our cash, cash equivalents and investments would not be sufficient to fund our operating needs until the 2008 back to school season.

On February 22, 2008 we entered into a both an Agreement and Plan of Merger and an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with affiliates of Follett Corporation, an unrelated privately held corporation. Under these agreements, we are receiving interim financing and, if interim funding were to cease, our cash and cash equivalents would not be sufficient to fund our operating needs until the 2008 back to school season, which raises substantial doubt as to our ability to continue as a going concern. The consolidated financial statements do not include any adjustments that might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.

2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

USE OF ESTIMATES

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

FAIR VALUE INFORMATION

The carrying amounts of current assets, long term investments and current liabilities approximate fair value.

CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS

Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and short-term investments are comprised of amounts in operating accounts, restricted cash held as collateral against the Company’s borrowing base (See “Financing Arrangements” below), money market investments and other short-term, highly liquid investments. Each is recorded at cost, which approximates market value. The Company’s policy is to record investment securities with original remaining maturities of three months or less as cash equivalents. Investment securities with original or remaining maturities of more than three months but less than one year are considered short-term investments. The Company designates its short-term investments as available for sale with unrealized gains or losses reported as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. The fair value of the Company’s investments was determined based on quoted market prices at the reporting date for those instruments. The balance at December 31, 2007 was comprised of $2.0 million in restricted cash. The balance at December 31, 2006 was comprised of $0.4 million in operating accounts, and $2.5 million in short-term investments.

 

F-7


LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

Long-term investments are designated as available-for-sale and, accordingly, are presented at fair value with unrealized gains and losses reported as a component of stockholders’ equity on the Company’s balance sheets. There were no long-term investments at December 31, 2007 compared to a balance at December 31, 2006 of $3.9 million.

MARGIN LOANS ON SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS

The Company had the ability to borrow on margin against up to 70% of its outstanding short and long-term investments. On December 31, 2006, margin loans against outstanding short and long-term investments were approximately $4.2 million with an annual interest rate computed daily of approximately 5.5%. These short and long-term investments were liquidated and the margin loans repaid during the first fiscal quarter of 2007.

FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS

On March 8, 2007, the Company entered into a Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“BOA”) in which BOA will lend up to a maximum amount of $5 million to assist in funding the Company’s seasonal cash requirements. Under the facility, the Company may use up to $1 million of the $5 million borrowing ceiling to issue letters of credit.

Interest on outstanding balances is calculated and paid monthly in arrears based on the 30 day LIBOR rate then in effect plus 2.25%. The interest rate at December 31, 2007 was 6.71%. A daily commitment fee of 0.25% per annum is paid monthly in arrears on the unused portion of the facility.

Borrowing ceiling levels are established monthly by establishing a Borrowing Base calculated as the sum of the following percentages of asset groupings: 100% of eligible restricted cash investments; 80% of eligible commercial accounts receivable; 50% of the eligible value of new book inventory; 25% of the eligible value of used book inventory and 50% of the eligible value of apparel inventory. The Borrowing Base on December 31, 2007 exceeded the borrowing ceiling therefore the borrowing ceiling on December 31, 2007 was limited to the maximum $5.0 million. As of December 31, 2007, the amount of borrowings under the facility was approximately $2.0 million, with $3.0 million remaining available to borrow.

A $2.0 million restricted cash investment is required to be maintained at all times with BOA as the investment collateral portion of the borrowing base. The facility is secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. The agreement terminates on April 30, 2008.

The agreement is subject to various restrictive covenants, which include restrictions on the use of loan proceeds, the sale or transfer of assets, incurring additional indebtedness, acquisitions of assets and other business, investments of assets, loans made by the Company, repurchases of Company securities and change of control. The agreement is subject to the Company’s compliance with a minimum tangible net worth covenant. At December 31, 2007, the Company was not in compliance with the minimum tangible net worth covenant. The Company requested a waiver of non-compliance with this covenant from BOA. BOA did not grant the waiver, accordingly, the Company proceeded with alternative financing (see Note 19).

CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

Accounts receivable consists primarily of amounts due from certain of the Company’s schools. The Company monitors its accounts receivable balances to assess any collectability issues. The Company recorded an allowance for potentially uncollectible receivables of $116,000 and $203,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The allowance for potentially uncollectible receivables is included as a reduction of accounts receivable in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. Bad debt expense for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $132,000, $195,000 and $109,000, respectively.

LIQUIDITY

The Company’s business is presently highly seasonal, with the vast bulk of its revenues from the sale of books and apparel being earned during the back to school season in the third quarter of each year. In addition, beginning in the second quarter of 2006, the Company moved aggressively to launch service offerings outside its core book and uniform offerings. The Company experienced significant cash expenditures in this effort. In November 2006, due to the financial impact of cost increases and cash expenditures together with limited new revenue generation from non-book/uniform service offerings, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended. Significant cost reductions were implemented, and the Company’s 2007 strategy included only the book, uniform and school supplies businesses. The Company’s net cash position at December 31, 2006 was approximately $9.8 million lower compared to the prior period. In March 2007, the Company entered into a

 

F-8


Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“BOA”) in March 2007 to assist in funding the Company’s seasonal cash requirements.

EAs of December 31, 2007 our cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash were not sufficient to fund our operating needs until the 2008 back to school season. Accordingly, the Company proceeded with alternative financing (see Note 19).

RELIANCE ON SUPPLIERS

The Company primarily relies on a single supplier as its primary provider of textbooks, fulfillment and shipping services. While the Company believes it could obtain these services from other qualified suppliers on similar terms and conditions, a disruption in the supply of these services by the current supplier could materially harm the business. See Note 3.

Substantially all of the Company’s computer and communications hardware and software systems are located at a single facility that is owned, maintained and serviced by a third party. Any damage, failure or delay that causes interruptions in the Company’s systems operations could materially harm the Company’s business.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term, whichever is shorter. Furniture and fixtures, machinery, and computer equipment are depreciated over useful lives generally ranging from three to ten years. Software is depreciated over useful lives of 18 months. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the lease term or the useful life of the improvements. Repairs and maintenance costs are expensed as incurred.

SOFTWARE DEVELOPED FOR INTERNAL USE

The Company capitalizes certain costs to develop or obtain internal use software in accordance with American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) Statement of Position No. 98-1 (“SOP 98-1”), “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use.” These capitalized costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of three to five years after completion or acquisition of the software.

LONG-LIVED ASSETS

The Company’s policy is to review its long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable in accordance with SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.” The Company recognizes an impairment loss when the sum of expected undiscounted net future cash flows is less than the carrying amount of the assets. The amount of the impairment is measured as the difference between the asset’s estimated fair value and its book value. Fair market value is determined primarily using the projected future cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risk involved.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company decided to terminate or suspend new service offerings launched earlier in the fiscal year. As a result, it was determined that the carrying value of some of its fixed assets held in its Varsity Solutions business unit were not recoverable. Accordingly, the Company recognized an impairment of approximately $0.3 million of its software developed for internal use, and approximately $0.1 million of its fixed assets. This impairment expense is included in the Company’s General and Administrative expense line item in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

The Company recognizes revenue primarily from textbook and uniform sales, net of any discounts and coupons, when its customers receive the products. The Company takes title to new textbooks sold online via its eduPartners program upon transfer to the shipper and assumes the risks and rewards of ownership including the risk of loss for collection. The Company takes title to its uniform and textbook inventory held at its retail locations at the time of purchase from the supplier, publisher or buyback customer and places them in inventory as available for sale at that time. The Company does not function as an agent or broker for its supplier (see Note 3). Outbound shipping charges are included in net sales. The Company provides allowances for sales returns, promotional discounts and coupons based on historical experience in the period of the sale. Through May 2005, the Company’s revenues consisted primarily of sales of textbooks. After its acquisition of Campus Outfitters in May 2005, the Company’s revenues have consisted principally of sales of textbooks and uniforms.

SALES AND MARKETING

Within our textbook solution, we create a customized virtual bookstore for each partner program school which is accessed by parents and students of the school for the purchase of textbooks. Revenue sharing payments to the

 

F-9


Company’s partnership program schools are accrued as the related revenue is earned. Such amounts are included as a component of sales and marketing expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company recognized an expense of approximately $1.9 million, $1.7 million, and $1.2 million for payments earned by its partnership program schools for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Liabilities to such schools were approximately $1.5 million and $1.6 million as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Company’s agreement with Baker & Taylor, a leading distributor of books and our outsource order fulfillment provider, provides for assignment of separate values to the separate services provided by B&T: supply of books, shipping and other services, including website content and customer database management. Such assignment is based on the relative fair value of each element as determined by B&T. The Company has included in “cost of textbooks” in its statement of operations the cost of purchased books from B&T, the cost of shipping charges from B&T in “cost of shipping”, and the cost of other services including website content and customer database management charged by B&T in the “sales and marketing” section of its statement of operations. Expenses associated with these agreements recorded in the “sales and marketing” section of its statement of operations totaled $1.9 million, $2.2 million and $2.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

Intangible assets include goodwill, customer related assets, non-compete agreements and trademarks. Goodwill, which is equal to the excess of cost over the fair value of acquired assets, has been recorded in conjunction with the acquisitions of Campus Outfitters in May 2005 and iQ Digital Studios (“iQ Digital”) in May 2006. During 2006, customer related assets were amortized on a straight-line basis between one and 4.5 years. Non-compete agreements and trademarks were amortized on a straight-line basis between one and four years. Goodwill and intangible assets are accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“SFAS 142”). Under SFAS 142, goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have an indefinite life are not amortized and are subject to impairment tests, at least annually. The Company does not amortize goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets.

The Company tests goodwill and indefinite lived intangible assets for impairment using a fair value approach at the reporting unit level. A reporting unit is an operating segment or one level below an operating segment for which discrete financial information is available and reviewed regularly by management. See Note 10.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Our stock-based compensation programs consist of stock options and restricted stock granted to employees and directors.

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123 (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS 123R”) using the modified-prospective approach, which requires the measurement and recognition of non-cash compensation expense for all share-based payment awards made to employees and directors based on estimated fair values. SFAS No. 123R supersedes the Company’s previous accounting under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB 25”), for periods beginning in fiscal 2006. In March 2005, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 107, or SAB 107, relating to SFAS No. 123R. The Company has applied the provisions of SAB 107 in its adoption of SFAS No. 123R. Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company previously accounted for its stock-based compensation plans under the recognition and measurement provisions of APB 25 and related interpretations, and provided the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123 (“SFAS 123”), “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” as amended by SFAS No. 148 (“SFAS 148”) “Accounting for Stock Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure.” See Note 13.

Had the Company accounted for its stock-based compensation plan in fiscal 2005 using the fair value based method of accounting in accordance with the provisions as required SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS 148, the Company’s net income and income per basic and diluted share amounts would have been as follows, in thousands:

 

     Fiscal Year
ended
December 31,
 
     2005  

Net income as reported

   $ 12,129  

Less: SFAS No. 123 stock-based compensation expense, net tax

     (5,696 )

Add: APB No. 25 stock-based compensation expense

     —    
        

Pro forma net income

   $ 6,433  
        

Net income per share as reported

  

Basic

   $  0.72  

Diluted

   $ 0.64  

Pro forma net income per share

  

Basic

   $ 0.38  

Diluted

   $ 0.34  

 

F-10


INCOME TAXES

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (“SFAS 109,”) “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, our management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 109, including current and historical results of operations, the annual limitation on utilization of net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 382, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. Effective January 1, 2007 the Company adopted the provisions of Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”). See Note 15.

SEGMENT REPORTING

In fiscal 2007, the Company’s operations were aggregated into two business segments across domestic markets: textbook trade and uniform trade. International sales are not material. Substantially all of the Company’s operating results and all of its identifiable assets are in the United States.

RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies whenever other statements require or permit assets or liabilities to be measured at fair value. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this statement will have, if any, on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS 159”). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses related to these financial instruments reported in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact this statement will have, if any, on its condensed consolidated financial statements.

3. TRANSACTIONS WITH BAKER & TAYLOR

Baker & Taylor (“B&T”) has provided the Company’s order fulfillment and drop shipment services since its inception. The Company has a series of agreements relating to the operating and financial terms of its relationship, which were renewed in July 2005 and are now scheduled to expire in June 2008.

Under these agreements, the Company agrees to provide B&T with written demand forecasts for each upcoming semester and to use B&T as its principal supplier of textbooks and drop-ship and fulfillment services for textbooks and educational materials. The Company pays fees and expenses related to the services B&T provides and purchases products from B&T at a discount to the suggested price. In return, B&T agrees not to provide drop-ship services to any person or entity that has as its principal business activity the goal of establishing exclusive relationships with educational institutions for the purpose of selling textbooks via the Internet, unless the retailer was an existing customer of B&T on or prior to June 10, 1998, the date the Company initially contracted with B&T. The Company’s agreements with Baker & Taylor provide it access to, and use of, an electronic set of data elements from B&T’s title file database that contains bibliographic records. In addition, under these agreements, B&T provides the Company with promotional, customer service, and database management services.

As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, B&T owed the Company approximately $0.3 million, net, and $1.4 million, net, respectively, related to Company owned textbooks that were returned to publishers for credit during the fourth quarter in each of those fiscal years and other rebates or credits. Balances owed to the Company are included in other current assets in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006.

 

F-11


4. ACQUISITIONS, PURCHASE OF ASSETS AND DISPOSITION OF ASSETS

On May 1, 2006, the Company acquired substantially all the assets of IQ Digital Studios (“IQ Digital”) from White Hat Ventures, LLC for approximately $1.3 million cash plus the assumption of certain liabilities. IQ Digital was based in Akron, Ohio and was an advertising agency focused on educational branding, communications and marketing. The purchase price allocation was as follows: $712,000 to goodwill, $444,000 to fixed assets and other assets, $136,000 to other acquired intangibles and $34,000 to assumed liabilities. The goodwill and most of the acquired intangible assets associated with the purchase were fully impaired during the Company’s fourth quarter of fiscal 2006.

On March 29, 2006, the Company purchased the assets of Lydia Learn (www.lydialearn.com) from White Hat On Campus, LLC, for cash of approximately $0.4 million. Approximately $350,000 was allocated to acquired software and $25,000 was allocated to a non-compete agreement, and the remaining balance of the purchase price was allocated to various fixed or current assets. In late November 2006, efforts to launch service offerings outside the book and uniform areas were terminated or suspended and accordingly, the Lydia Learn asset was fully impaired.

On May 26, 2005, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of privately held Campus Outfitters, LLC, for cash of approximately $3.1 million and 123,967 shares of common stock valued at approximately $0.7 million, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $3.8 million, plus the assumption of certain liabilities. On June 1, 2007, the Company was required to make an additional contingent payment, in shares of the Company’s stock, of 502,776 shares since the recipients of the original 123,967 shares of common stock did not sell, pledge, or in any way transfer the common stock before the two year anniversary of the acquisition close date and the value of the Company’s common stock was not equal to or greater than the per share purchase price on the two year anniversary date. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company determined that the uniform goodwill resulting from the Campus acquisition was impaired and accordingly, the Company recorded a goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. Also during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 the Company determined that the finite life intangible assets resulting from the Campus acquisition were impaired and accordingly, the company recorded an impairment charge against finite life intangible assets of approximately $0.6 million. On February 27, 2008, the Company sold Campus Outfitters to SchoolOne.com LLC (see Note 19).

The results of operations for Campus Outfitters have been included in the Company’s operations since the acquisition date. Unaudited pro forma results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2005 are included below. Such pro forma information assumes that the acquisition had occurred as of the beginning of each period presented. This summary is not necessarily indicative of what the Company’s results of operations would have been had the Company and Campus Outfitters been a consolidated entity during such periods, this information is unaudited and does not purport to represent results of operations for any future periods (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     December 31,
     2005

Net revenue

   $ 51,355

Net income

     11,733

Diluted net income per share

     0.62
      

5. OTHER CURRENT ASSETS

The following is a summary of other current assets as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

     December 31,    December 31,
     2007    2006

Other Current Assets

     

Amounts due from B&T, net

   $ 336    $ 1,357

Returns in transit

     155      605

Other

     225      570
             
   $ 716    $ 2,532
             

 

   

Amounts due from B&T, net, result from Company owned textbooks that B&T has returned to publishers for credit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006, respectively net of amounts payable that the Company owes to B&T as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively; and

 

   

Returns-in-transit consists of new textbooks that the Company returned to publishers for credit during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006, respectively that had not yet been processed by the publishers as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

 

F-12


6. CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND INVESTMENTS

The following is a summary of our cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

     Cost    Realized
Loss
    Unrealized
Loss
    Market

December 31, 2007

         

Restricted Cash

   $ 2,020    —       —       $ 2,020
                         
     Cost    Realized
Loss
    Unrealized
Loss
    Market

December 31, 2006

         

Cash

   $ 436    —       —       $ 436

Short-term investments

     2,500    —       (2 )     2,498
                         

Total cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments

     2,936    —       (2 )     2,934

Long-term investments

     4,000    (51 )   —         3,949
                         

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

   $ 6,936    (51 )   (2 )   $ 6,883
                         

7. INVENTORIES

Inventories, consisting of products available for sale, are valued at the lower of cost or market value net of an allowance for obsolescence and are accounted for principally using the FIFO method. The Company’s inventory balance as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 consists of (in thousands):

 

     December 31,
2007
   December 31,
2006

New textbooks, net

   $ 2,461    $ 3,739

Used textbooks, net

     1,379      1,724

Uniforms and apparel, net

     2,063      3,173
             
   $ 5,903    $ 8,636
             

The components of inventory are as follows:

 

   

New textbooks consist of new book inventory primarily held at Baker & Taylor (“B&T”), our fulfillment partner, acquired by B&T or by the Company in support of our eduPartners program for which they generally do not have standard return privileges with the publisher. New textbooks also include inventory held at Campus Outfitters retail locations and new textbooks held at other locations;

 

   

Used textbooks consist of used textbooks held at B&T, Campus Outfitters retail locations, or other locations; and

 

   

Uniforms and apparel consists of school uniform related inventory held at our Campus Outfitters warehouses or retail locations. In fiscal 2007, the Company’s uniform business experienced a significant decline in revenue and schools served as compared to its fiscal 2006 season. As a result, an inventory turnover analysis was performed. Accordingly, the Company wrote down its uniform inventory by approximately $1.3 million to better align inventory values at December 31, 2007 with prospective future sales to active schools served. This write down in included in the cost of uniforms in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive loss.

Under the Company’s agreement with B&T in which B&T provides most of the Company’s order fulfillment and drop shipment services, B&T generally only assumes ownership of new textbooks that they purchase and are able to return to publishers for credit, which historically has approximated 90% of all new textbook inventories. B&T does not assume ownership of the used textbooks it processes for the Company or for new textbooks that the Company purchases and per the agreement with B&T, the Company purchases from B&T at cost new textbooks that B&T procured in support of our eduPartners program and cannot return for publisher credit at the conclusion of each selling season. This inventory has typically been held by B&T for fulfillment in subsequent periods. On a quarterly basis, the Company assesses for write down its inventory for estimated excess and obsolete or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions.

 

F-13


8. PROPERTY & EQUIPMENT

Property and equipment consist of the following at December 31, (in thousands):

 

     December 31,  
     2007     2006  

Computer equipment

   $ 1,769     $ 1,753  

Software

     260       252  

Machinery and other

     189       224  

Leasehold improvements

     166       161  

Furniture and fixtures

     204       245  
                
     2,588       2,635  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (1,966 )     (1,479 )
                

Fixed assets, net

   $ 622     $ 1,156  
                

Depreciation expense was approximately $0.5 million, $0.8 million and $0.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Included in the $0.8 million 2006 depreciation expense was write downs of approximately $0.1 million related to the closure of the Company’s IQ Digital office.

9. SOFTWARE DEVELOPED FOR INTERNAL USE

The Company capitalized software developed for internal use costs of $0.8 million and $1.7 million for fiscal 2007 and 2006, respectively. The Company recorded related amortization of $0.6 million, $0.8 million and $0.2 million for fiscal 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, in accordance with SOP 98-1. Costs associated with software developed for internal use are capitalized as they are incurred and are amortized on a straight-line basis over a period of three to five years after completion or acquisition of the software. Included in the $0.8 million 2006 amortization expense was the write-off of the remaining value of the Lydia Learn assets of approximately $0.3 million.

10. INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL

As required by SFAS 142, the Company tests goodwill for impairment annually and any time a triggering indicator exists. During the Company’s third and fourth quarters of 2006, the uniform business of Campus Outfitters experienced unexpected operational difficulties which negatively affected its financial performance and the overall performance of Varsity Group. Accordingly, the Company performed a goodwill impairment test for its uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test and the Company believed that the carrying value of the uniform segment goodwill exceeded the fair value of its goodwill and therefore, recorded a goodwill impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million. The fair value of the uniform segment was determined using a discounted cash flow analysis. This conclusion was based on management’s judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the uniform reporting unit that have reported goodwill. As a result of this goodwill impairment charge, in accordance with SFAS 144, the Company performed additional impairment testing for finite life intangible assets acquired as part of its acquisition of Campus Outfitters for its uniform reporting unit as of December 31, 2006 by applying a fair value-based test. The Company believed that the carrying value of its uniform segment finite life intangible assets exceeded their fair value and therefore, recorded an impairment charge of approximately $0.6 million. This conclusion was based on management’s judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the uniform reporting unit. The determination of the value of such intangible assets and the annual impairment tests required by SFAS 142 and SFAS 144 requires management to make estimates of future revenues, customer retention rates, estimated useful lives and other assumptions that affect the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The goodwill and finite life intangible assets impairment expense is included in the Company’s Impairment of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles line item in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company decided to terminate or suspend new service offerings launched earlier in the fiscal year, which included closing its IQ-Digital office. Accordingly, the Company recognized impairment charges of approximately $0.7 million against goodwill and approximately $0.1 million against other intangible assets. This impairment expense is included in the Company’s Impairment of Goodwill and Acquired Intangibles line item in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company performed its goodwill impairment test for its textbook reporting unit by applying a fair value-based test and management concluded that goodwill was not impaired and therefore, no impairment loss was recorded. This conclusion is based on management’s judgment, taking into consideration expectations regarding future profitability and the status of the reporting unit that has reported goodwill. However, changes in strategy or adverse changes in market conditions could impact this judgment and require an impairment loss to be recognized for the amount that the carrying value of goodwill exceeds its fair value. The determination of the value of such intangible assets and the annual impairment tests required by SFAS 142 requires management to make estimates of future revenues, customer retention rates, estimated useful lives and other assumptions that affect our consolidated financial statements.

 

F-14


There were no changes in the amount of carrying value of goodwill in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.

The changes in the amount of carrying value of goodwill in the year ended December 31, 2006 were as follows (amounts in thousands):

 

     Net Assets  
Balance as of December 31, 2005    $2,427  

IQ-Digital acquisition

   712  

Reduction in goodwill related to changes in estimated liabilities assumed in Campus Outfitters acquisition

   (23 )

Uniform goodwill impairment

   (1,893 )

IQ Digital goodwill impairment

   (712 )
      
Balance as of December 31, 2006    $511  

Amortization expense related to the Company’s acquired intangible assets was approximately $3,000 in 2007 compared to $0.9 million in 2006, including approximately $0.7 million of impairment write-offs in fiscal 2006.

Intangible assets resulting from (i) the purchase price allocation of the May 2005 Campus Outfitters acquisition; (ii) the non-compete agreement associated with the purchase of the LydiaLearn assets in March 2006; and (iii) the purchase price allocation of the May 2006 IQ-Digital acquisition, were as follows (in thousands):

 

     Life    Gross Assets    Accumulated
Amortization
   FY06
Impairments
   Net Assets as
of Dec. 31,
2007
December 31, 2007               

Customer related assets

              

Campus Outfitters

   10 yrs    $ 491    $ 78    $ 413    $ —  

IQ Digital

   1yrs      76      44      32      —  

Non-compete agreements

              

Campus Outfitters

   3 yrs      178      94      84      —  

IQ Digital

   2 yrs      50      15      35      —  

Lydia Learn

   4 yrs      25      4      21      —  

Trademark

              

Campus Outfitters

   3 yrs      140      74      66      —  

IQ Digital

   3 yrs      10      6      —        4
                              

Total

      $ 970    $ 315    $ 651    $ 4
                              

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

LEASES AND OTHER CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The Company’s headquarters is located at 2677 Prosperity Avenue Ste 250 Fairfax, VA 22031. The Company currently occupies approximately 44,929 square feet of office and warehouse space pursuant to four leases that are scheduled to expire between June 2010 and October 2011.

The Company entered into a Services and Management Agreement with SchoolOne.com LLC (“SchoolOne”) in which SchoolOne will develop the Company’s new technology and provide services and support for the Company’s processes and systems.

 

F-15


Rent expense under operating leases was approximately $2.3 million, $1.3 million and $0.7 million for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Included in the fiscal 2007 rent expense of $2.3 million was approximately $0.8 million of lease termination costs and/or costs associated with ceasing to use certain facilities. The remaining payments associated with the Company’s commitments are as follows:

 

Contractual Obligations

   2008     2009     2010     2011    2012    Thereafter    Total  

Capital lease obligations

   $ 10     $ 8     $ 8     $ 8    $ —      $ —      $ 34  

Line of Credit

     2,002       —         —         —        —        —        2,002  

SchoolOne

     1,170       —         —         —        —        —        1,170  

Operating lease obligations (1)

     1,246       1,188       906       504      —        —        3,844  
                                                     

Sub lease income

     (585 )     (621 )     (319 )     —        —        —        (1,525 )
                                                     

Total

   $ 3,843     $ 575     $ 595     $ 512    $ —      $ —      $ 5,525  
                                                     

 

(1) Includes two months of commitments for the nine Campus Outfitter leases which were under lease as of December 31, 2007. The Company sold Campus Outfitters on February 27, 2008, including all of its real estate obligations (see Note 19).

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is party to various legal proceedings and claims incidental to our business. Management does not believe that the resolution of any such matters that are pending as of the date of this report will have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of our Company.

12. STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

AUTHORIZED CAPITAL

At December 31, 2007, the Company was authorized to issue 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $.0001 par value per share, and 60,000,000 shares of common stock, $.0001 par value per share.

WARRANTS

During fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1999, in connection with the issuance of convertible promissory notes, the Company issued warrants to purchase 160,707 shares of the Company’s common stock. No warrants associated with these grants were exercised prior to fiscal 2003. During fiscal 2003, warrants to purchase 82,547 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised. During fiscal 2005, warrants to purchase 10,145 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised.

During fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1999, the Company issued warrants to B&T, its supplier of textbooks, to purchase up to 219,643 shares of common stock at exercise prices of $2.33, $0.20 and $0.22 per share. No warrants associated with these grants were exercised prior to fiscal 2003. During fiscal 2003, warrants to purchase 52,251 shares of the Company’s common stock were exercised and 104,892 warrants were either cancelled or expired without being exercised. The 62,500 warrants that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2003 were exercised in February 2004.

During fiscal 2000, in connection with a line of credit agreement that has since expired, the Company issued warrants to purchase 37,500 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $10.00 per share. The 37,500 warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2004 expired in fiscal 2005.

During fiscal 2000, the Company issued warrants to a third party to purchase up to 50,000 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $1.06 per share in return for certain advisory and consulting services. The 25,000 warrants outstanding as of December 31, 2005, were exercised in the Company’s second quarter of fiscal 2006.

As of December 31, 2007, there were no outstanding warrants of the Company’s common stock.

TREASURY SHARES

In November 2004, the Company repurchased 83,334 shares of the Company’s common stock from an officer of the Company for approximately $0.5 million. The purchase price of the shares was $6.00 per share, representing a five percent discount from the 30-day trailing average prior to the repurchase date. In October 2003, the Company repurchased 175,000 shares of the Company’s common stock from two officers of the Company for approximately $0.7 million. The purchase price of the shares was $3.765 per share, representing a five percent discount from the 30-day trailing average prior to the repurchase date. These transactions had no effect on the Company’s results of operations. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s cumulative repurchases totaled 1,215,397 shares for approximately $1.7 million in cash.

 

F-16


13. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

On October 2, 1998, the Company adopted the 1998 Stock Plan (the “Plan”), which was amended and restated in fiscal year 2000 and further amended in 2003, and under which incentive stock options, non-qualified stock options, restricted stock or stock rights, or any combination thereof may be granted to the Company’s employees and directors. As of March 31, 2008, there were 8.6 million shares authorized under the Plan, subject to increase annually on the date of our annual meeting of stockholders by (i) three percent of the Company’s outstanding common stock on such date, (ii) 750,000 shares, or (iii) such lesser amount as the Company’s Board may determine. The Company had reserved an additional 1,340,000 shares of its common stock for future option grants. The Board of Directors, or a Committee appointed by the Board, administered the Plan and determined the individuals to whom options will be granted, the number of options granted, the exercise price and vesting schedule. Options were exercisable at prices established at the date of grant and have a term of ten years and vesting periods between one and 60 months. Vested options held at the date of termination may be exercised within three months. Shares issued under the plan upon option exercise or granting of restricted stock were generally issued from authorized but previously unissued shares. The Board of Directors has terminated the Plan effective April 15, 2008, pursuant to the completion of the acquisition by Follett Corporation.

Adoption of SFAS No. 123R

On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123R, which establishes accounting for stock-based awards made to employees and directors. Accordingly, stock-based compensation expense is measured at grant date, based on the fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the remaining requisite service period. The Company previously applied APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related interpretations and provided the required pro forma disclosures of SFAS 123. The adoption of SFAS 123R resulted in stock-based compensation expense of approximately $462,000 and $725,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. This stock-based compensation expense negatively impacted basic and diluted loss per share by approximately $0.02 and $0.04 per share for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

On December 19, 2005, the Board of Directors, upon recommendation of the Compensation and Stock Option Committee, approved the immediate vesting of all unvested stock options with an exercise price greater than $4.10 per share held by certain current employees, including executive officers and members of the board of directors. The Board made the decision to immediately vest these options in part due to the issuance of SFAS 123(R). By vesting all previously unvested options, the stock-based compensation expense under SFAS 123 will only be reflected in the Company’s footnote disclosures.

The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the year ended December 31, 2007 was $0.76, compared to $1.89 and $2.37 for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. There were 1,234,500 options granted during the year ended December 31, 2007. The fair value of each option is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The application of this valuation model involves assumptions that are highly subjective, judgmental and sensitive in the determination of compensation expense. The following weighted-average assumptions were used for grants during the year ended December 31:

 

     Fiscal Years Ended
December 31,
     2007     2006     2005

Expected volatility

   63.0 %   54.3 %   50.0%

Risk-free rate

   4.85 %   4.88 %   3.63%

Expected term

   6.3 years     6.1 years     2 – 6 years

Dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %   0.0%

The Company’s computation of expected volatility for grants during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 is based on the historical volatility of the Company’s stock over a period generally commensurate with the expected term of the share option. The Company used the simplified method under SAB 107 to calculate the expected term for grants during the years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. The risk-free interest rate for periods corresponding to the expected term of the option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The Company currently recognizes stock-based compensation expense for the fair values of these awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of each of these awards.

 

F-17


A summary of activity of all options is as follows (in thousands, except per share data and contractual term):

 

     Number
of Stock
Options
    Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Weighted
Average
Contractual
Term
   Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value

Outstanding, December 31, 2006

   3,513     4.73    7.00    $ 392

Granted

   1,235     1.20      

Exercised

   (98 )   1.27      

Forfeited

   (1,303 )   6.85      
              

Outstanding, December 31, 2007

   3,347     2.70    7.63    $ —  
                  

Exercisable, December 31, 2007

   2,007     3.46    6.46    $ —  
                  

The following table summarizes all stock options outstanding as of December 31, 2007:

 

Options Outstanding

   Options Exercisable

Range of
Exercise Prices

   Number of
Stock
Options
   Weighted
Average
Contractual
Term
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
   Number
Exercisable
   Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$0.34 - $1.79

   1,963,719    8.2    $ 1.25    771,910    $ 1.27

$2.15 - $4.60

   704,124    7.0    $ 3.79    556,067    $ 3.65

$5.00 - $10.00

   678,917    6.7    $ 5.77    678,917    $ 5.77

The aggregate intrinsic value in the above table reflects the total pre-tax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading day of the period and the exercise price of the options, multiplied by the number of in-the-money stock options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on December 31, 2007. The intrinsic value of the Company’s stock options changes based on the closing price of the Company’s stock. The closing price per share of the Company’s common stock on December 31, 2007 was $0.21. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the year ended December 31, 2007 was approximately $0.1 million. The intrinsic value is calculated as the difference between the market value as of the date of exercise and the exercise price of the shares.

As of December 31, 2007, unrecognized stock-based compensation expense related to stock options of approximately $1.1 million is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.5 years.

Because of the Company’s net operating losses, the Company did not realize any tax benefits from the tax deductions from share-based payment arrangements during the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006.

Restricted Stock

As of December 31, 2005, there were no shares of restricted stock outstanding. The Company issued 300,000 shares of restricted stock awards to its former CEO during the three months ended March 31, 2006 that had a weighted average grant date fair value of $4.19 per share, amounting to total compensation expense over the life of the award of approximately $1.3 million. These awards vest over a four-year period and are amortized on a straight-line basis to compensation expense over the life of the vesting period. On November 16, 2006, the CEO resigned from the Company and in accordance with terms of a termination agreement, the original restricted stock awards were modified. Prior to the CEO’s resignation, 42,000 restricted stock awards vested for a total compensation expense of approximately $0.2 million. Per the termination agreement, 88,757 restricted shares vested immediately for an additional compensation expense of approximately $0.2 million and the remaining 169,242 shares were forfeited. As of December 31, 2007, there were no shares of restricted stock outstanding.

14. EARNINGS PER SHARE

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 128, “Earnings per Share” (“SFAS 128”) promulgates accounting standards for the computation and manner of presentation of the Company’s earnings per share data. Under SFAS 128, the Company is required to present basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income applicable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects dilution that would occur if securities or other contracts

 

F-18


to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock or resulted in the issuance of common stock that shared in the earnings of the Company. The 2007, 2006, and 2005, diluted earnings per share amounts exclude the effects of 3,347,000, 3,513,000, and 1,844,000 stock options outstanding, respectively, as their inclusion would be antidilutive.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted (loss) income per share (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended
     2007     2006     2005

Numerator:

      

Net (loss) income

   $ (9,929 )   $ (28,378 )   $ 12,129
                      

Denominator:

      

Denominator for basic income per share

      

Weighted average shares outstanding

     18,753       17,809       16,947

Employee stock options and warrants

     —         —         1,884
                      

Denominator for diluted income per share

      

Adjusted weighted average shares, assuming exercise of common equivalent shares

     18,753       17,809       18,831
                      

Basic net (loss) income per share

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.72

Diluted net (loss) income per share

   $ (0.53 )   $ (1.59 )   $ 0.64

15. INCOME TAXES

The income tax (benefit) expense for 2007, 2006 and 2005 consists of the following:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     2007    2006     2005  

Current

       

Federal

   $ 0    $ 30     $ 70  

State

     21      (24 )     38  
                       
   $ 21    $ 6     $ 108  

Deferred

       

Federal

   $ 0    $ 13,556     $ (7,890 )

State

     0      1,968       (1,732 )
                       
   $ 0    $ 15,524     $ (9,622 )

Total

       

Federal

   $ 0    $ 13,586     $ (7,820 )

State

     21      1,944       (1,694 )
                       
   $ 21    $ 15,530     $ (9,514 )
                       

The income tax expense (benefit) recognized differs from the expense at the maximum statutory Federal tax rate as follows:

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     2007     2006     2005  

Federal tax at 34%

   $ (3,373 )   $ (4,368 )   $ 889  

State taxes, net of federal benefit

     (492 )     (636 )     130  

Permanent differences

     127       147       21  

Change in applicable state rate

     —         —         (598 )

Other

     21       4       44  

Change in the valuation allowance

     3,738       20,383       (10,000 )
                        

Tax benefit

   $ 21     $ 15,530     $ (9,514 )
                        

 

F-19


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. Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows at December 31 (in thousands):

 

     For the Fiscal Year Ended  
     2007     2006  

Current deferred tax assets:

    

Inventory

   $ 1,375     $ 942  

Allowance for accounts receivables

     53       105  

Prepaid expenses

     (16 )     (36 )

Accrued expenses

     554       95  

Intangible amortization – current

     91       —    

Charitable contribution carryforward

     3       —    

Non-cash compensation

     131       43  
                

Total current deferred tax assets

     2,191       1,149  

Valuation allowance

     (2,191 )     (1,149 )
                

Net current deferred tax asset

   $ —       $ —    
                

Long-term deferred tax asset

    

Net operating loss /other carryforwards

   $ 28,117     $ 25,353  

AMT credit carryforward

     61       61  

Intangible amortization

     (676 )     1,374  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,345       (640 )
                

Total long-term deferred tax assets

     28,847       26,148  

Valuation allowance

     (28,847 )     (26,148 )
                

Net long-term deferred tax asset

     —         —    
                

Total deferred tax asset

   $ —       $ —    
                

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $75.9 million and $68.9 million, respectively, related to federal and state jurisdictions. We excluded $3.9 million of the $75.9 million U.S. net operating loss carryforwards from the calculation of the deferred tax asset above because it represents excess stock option deductions that did not reduce taxes payable. These unrealized excess stock option deductions, if realized in the future, will result in an increase to paid-in capital. These net operating loss carryforwards will begin to expire at various times beginning in 2019. For federal and state tax purposes, a portion of the Company’s net operating loss may be subject to significant limitations on annual utilization by virtue of changes in ownership, as defined by federal and state tax laws.

At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company had Alternative Minimum Tax (“AMT”) credit carryforwards of approximately $0.1 million and $0.1 million, respectively. These credits do not expire and will be available to reduce future Federal income tax liabilities.

The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 (“SFAS 109,”) “Accounting for Income Taxes.” Under SFAS No. 109, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws that will be in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. In determining the need for a valuation allowance, our management reviews both positive and negative evidence pursuant to the requirements of SFAS No. 109, including current and historical results of operations, the annual limitation on utilization of net operating loss carry forwards pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 382, future income projections and the overall prospects of our business. Based upon management’s assessment of all available evidence at the time, we concluded in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2003 and again in our second and third quarters of 2004 and 2005 that it was more likely than not that a portion of the recorded deferred tax benefits would be realized. Based upon management’s assessment of

 

F-20


all current available evidence, including the current year operating loss, we have concluded that none of the deferred tax benefits should be recognized as of December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006. Consequently in 2006, we have reversed any tax benefit recorded in 2003 through 2005. We will continue to monitor all available evidence and reassess the potential realization of our deferred tax assets. Approximately $1.5 million of the valuation allowance relates to net operating losses resulting from stock option windfall benefits, e.g. disqualifying dispositions. Reductions in the valuation allowance for those assets will result in an increase to additional paid-in capital after the valuation allowance related to all other deferred tax assets amounts have been reduced.

Paragraph 81 of FASB Statement 123R provides that for purposes of calculating the pool of excess tax benefits (“APIC pool”), the Company should include the net excess tax benefits that would have qualified had the Company adopted FASB 123R from inception. The FASB issued FSP 123(R)-3, which provides an alternative transition method to calculate the beginning pool of excess tax benefits. The Company has elected to adopt the alternative transition method (“short cut method”) in calculating their historical APIC pool of windfall tax benefits in regards to its stock based compensation.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Financial Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN 48”) which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in a company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes.” FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The Company adopted FIN 48 as of January 1, 2007 and the adoption did not result in the recording of any adjustments related to tax positions previously taken and did not have an effect on its financial position or results of operations.

16. BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Prior to its acquisition of Campus Outfitters in May 2005, the Company was primarily an Internet retailer of textbooks and educational materials targeting private middle and high schools, small colleges and distance and continuing education markets. The Company’s chief operating decision maker reviewed financial information presented on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, the Company considered itself to be in a single industry segment. In May 2005, the Company added a second product line with its acquisition of Campus Outfitters, a provider of uniform apparel needs to schools and businesses. Accordingly, the Company’s operations during fiscal 2007 were aggregated into two reportable business segments: textbooks and uniforms.

The business segments reported below are the segments of the Company for which discrete financial information was available and for which the Company’s chief operating decision maker evaluated gross margins in fiscal 2007 and fiscal 2006. (Amounts in thousands):

 

     Textbooks    Uniforms     Corporate / Other    Total  
     2007     2006    2007     2006     2007    2006    2007     2006  

Sales

   $ 35,471     $ 41,903    $ 5,662     $ 7,855     $ —      $ 308    $ 41,133     $ 50,066  

Product gross margin

   $ 10,318     $ 13,057    $ 1,376     $ 3,422     $ —      $ 122    $ 11,694     $ 16,601  

Shipping revenue

   $ 3,235     $ 3,778    $ 40     $ 62     $ —      $ —      $ 3,275     $ 3,840  

Shipping gross margin

   $ (146 )   $ 136    $ (166 )   $ (291 )   $ —      $ —      $ (312 )   $ (155 )

Total sales

   $ 38,705     $ 45,681    $ 5,702     $ 7,917     $ —      $ 308    $ 44,408     $ 53,906  

Blended gross margin

   $ 10,172     $ 13,193    $ 1,210     $ 3,131     $ —      $ 122    $ 11,382     $ 16,446  

Goodwill

   $ 511     $ 511    $ —       $ —       $ —      $ —      $ 511     $ 511  

Total assets

   $ 6,827     $ 11,468    $ 3,819     $ 4,815     $ 2,278    $ 7,365    $ 12,924     $ 23,648  

 

F-21


17. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION

Connected with the acquisition of Campus Outfitters, the Company assumed the lease to the Campus Outfitters 16,800 square foot corporate headquarters building in College Park, MD which was owned by 5112 Berwyn LLC, a Maryland limited liability company whose controlling shareholders are Adam Hanin, the founder of Campus Outfitters and Executive Vice President of Sales of the Company until June 15, 2006. Under terms of the lease, the Company is obligated to pay 5112 Berwyn LLC $18,000 a month through May 2015. In July 2006, 5112 Berwyn LLC sold the Campus Outfitters headquarters building to an unrelated party. The Company’s total related party payments in fiscal 2006 until the time of sale was $126,000. During fiscal 2005, total related party payments were $126,000.

18. SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (Unaudited)

The Company experiences significant seasonality in its results of operations. Consistent with the Company’s focus on the expansion of its eduPartners program and its current concentration of private middle and high school institutions, since the year ended December 31, 2000, the Company’s peak selling period for textbooks has been the July/August/September back-to-school season. Consistent with its current concentration of private elementary, middle and high schools, Campus Outfitters peak selling season has been the July/August/September back-to-school season. During both fiscal 2007 and 2006, approximately 88% of the Company’s revenues, respectively, were recognized in this period.

In addition, during the third quarter of fiscal 2005 the Company released $10.0 million of its deferred tax asset valuation allowance when it deemed it was more likely than not that a portion of the recorded deferred tax benefits would be realized. During the third quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company recorded a non-cash charge of $18.0 million to increase the valuation allowance against net deferred tax assets. With this increase, the Company has a full valuation allowance against its net deferred tax assets. The effect of these two transactions increased net income by $10.0 million during the third quarter of fiscal 2005 and decreased net income by $18.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2006 (see Note 15.) During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company recorded approximately $3.2 million of impairment charges to goodwill and other acquired intangibles (see Note 10), and an impairment charges to other long-lived assets of approximately $0.5 million related to the closure of its IQ-Digital office and termination of its LydiaLearn technology.

The following table presents summarized quarterly financial data (in thousands, except per share data):

 

     First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
 

Fiscal 2007

        

Net Sales

   $ 1,915     $ 1,454     $ 39,058     $ 1,982  

(Loss) income from operations

     (2,716 )     (3,317 )     3,306       (6,982 )

Income tax expense

     (2 )     (13 )     (1 )     (4 )

Net (loss) income

     (2,761 )     (3,372 )     3,220       (7,016 )

Diluted (loss) earnings per share

   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.18 )   $ 0.17     $ (0.37 )

Fiscal 2006

        

Net Sales

   $ 2,221     $ 1,951     $ 47,165     $ 2,569  

(Loss) income from operations

     (2,152 )     (4,074 )     2,389       (9,255 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     873       1,584       (18,031 )     44  

Net loss

     (1,160 )     (2,391 )     (15,602 )     (9,225 )

Diluted loss earnings per share

   $ (0.07 )   $ (0.14 )   $ (0.86 )   $ (0.50 )

19. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

Follett Acquisition

On February 22, 2008, VGI Holdings Corp. (“Parent”), VGI Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Purchaser”), and Varsity Group Inc. (the “Company”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Purchaser offered to purchase all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Shares”), at a price of $0.20 per Share, net to sellers in cash, without interest and subject to any required withholding taxes, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement, Purchaser’s offer to purchase, dated March 7, 2008 (as amended or supplemented from time to time), and the related letter of transmittal (as amended or supplemented from time to time), which are filed as exhibits to the Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 7, 2008.

 

F-22


Upon the expiration of the offering period of the Offer at 7:00 p.m., New York City time, on Friday, April 11, 2008, Purchaser accepted for payment approximately 16,118,974 Shares (including 5,596 Shares tendered by notice of guaranteed delivery), representing approximately 85% of the outstanding Shares. On April 15, 2008, after going effective to the exercise of the top-up options pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, Purchaser merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation and a wholly-owned indirect subsidiary of Follett.

Nasdaq Delisting

As a result of the Merger, the Company no longer fulfills the numerical listing requirements of the Nasdaq National Market (“Nasdaq”). Accordingly, following completion of the Merger, the Company notified Nasdaq and requested that the Shares be suspended from trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market as of April 16, 2008. As a result, the Shares are no longer traded on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Top-Up Option Shares

In order to complete the Merger, on Monday, April 14, 2008, Purchaser exercised its option to purchase the Top-Up Option Shares (as defined in the Merger Agreement) and accordingly, the Company issued 9,512,116 Shares to the Purchaser pursuant to Section 1.4 of the Merger Agreement, at a price per Share of $0.20, which resulted in an aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.9 million (the “Purchase Price”). The Purchaser paid the Purchase Price for these Shares by delivery of a promissory note.

Loan Agreement and Warrant

On February 22, 2008, in connection with the Offer and the Merger, the Company entered into an Amended and Restated Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement (the “New Loan Agreement”) with VGI Financial Corp., an affiliate of Parent (“VGI Finance”), and certain wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company (together with the Company, the Borrowers), which amends and restates the Revolving Line of Credit Loan Agreement and Security Agreement with Bank of America, N.A. (“BOA”), entered into by the Company on March 8, 2007 (the “Prior Loan Agreement”). VGI Finance has purchased and assumed from BOA the obligations under the Prior Loan Agreement. The New Loan Agreement is secured by a lien on substantially all of the Company’s assets, including approximately $2.0 million of cash. As of February 22, 2008, there were approximately $1.8 million of advances outstanding under the line of credit at an interest rate of prime plus 3%. VGI Finance has agreed, subject to certain conditions, to forebear from enforcing an event of default that is presently outstanding under the Prior Loan Agreement until April 30, 2008. The New Loan Agreement provides the Company with additional liquidity to fund its operating expenses if certain conditions are satisfied. The Company presently does not have access to sufficient liquidity to fund its operations on a stand-alone basis.

In connection with the New Loan Agreement, the Company has issued a warrant to VGI Finance for the purchase of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock equal to (a) the advances under the New Loan Agreement divided by (b) the exercise price of $0.20 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustment. The per share exercise price of the warrant was reduced by 20% as of April 7, 2008 and will be reduced an additional 20% in the event that advances under the New Loan Agreement remain outstanding as of May 7, 2008. As of the March 19, 2008, advances under the New Loan Agreement are approximately $4.5 million for warrants exercisable for 22,737,477 shares of the Company’s common stock. The term of the warrant is three years.

Asset Disposition

Disposition of Campus Outfitters

On February 27, 2008, the Company sold its subsidiary, Campus Outfitters Group, LLC, a retailer of private elementary, middle and high school uniforms, to SchoolOne.com, LLC, which provides IT services solutions to K-12 schools. As a result of the New Loan Agreement with VGI Finance, the Company was unable to obtain financing for the Campus Outfitters subsidiary. As a result, the Company chose an available sale transaction for Campus Outfitters with SchoolOne over a liquidation of the Campus Outfitters subsidiary. In selling Campus Outfitters, SchoolOne paid Varsity $0.7 million in the form of a release of debt obligations owed by Varsity to SchoolOne and also assumed approximately $0.6 million in current liabilities and approximately $2.0 million in real estate lease obligations related to the business. The Company expects to incur a loss on the sale of Campus Outfitters in the range of approximately $1.5 million to $2.0 million during the first fiscal quarter of 2008.

 

F-23

EX-2.4 2 dex24.htm EXHIBIT 2.4 EXHIBIT 2.4

Exhibit 2.4

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

BY AND AMONG

SCHOOLONE.COM, LLC

VARSITY GROUP INC.,

AND

CAMPUS OUTFITTERS GROUP, LLC,

Dated as of February 27, 2008

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

              Page

1.

  DEFINITIONS    1
 

1.1

   Definitions    1
 

1.2

   Interpretation    6

2.

  PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING    7
 

2.1

   Purchase and Sale of Campus Outfitters Membership Interests    7
 

2.2

   Purchase Price    7
 

2.3

   Closing Date    7
 

2.4

   Deliveries    7

3.

  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CAMPUS OUTFITTERS    8
 

3.1

   Organization and Validity Organization and Qualification; Power    8
 

3.2

   Governmental Consents    9
 

3.3

   Financial Statements; Liabilities    9
 

3.4

   Change in Condition Since December 31, 2007    9
 

3.5

   Litigation    11
 

3.6

   Licenses; Compliance With Legal Requirements and Regulations    11
 

3.7

   Title to and Condition of Assets; Sufficiency of Assets    11
 

3.8

   Taxes    12
 

3.9

   Certain Contracts    12
 

3.10

   Intellectual Property    18
 

3.11

   Environmental Matters    18
 

3.12

   Employees    14
 

3.13

   Warranties    14
 

3.14

   Personal and Real Property    14
 

3.15

   Employee Benefits    15
 

3.16

   Brokers    16
 

3.17

   Inventory    16
 

3.18

   Accounts Receivable    16
 

3.19

   Insurance    16
 

3.20

   Assets and Properties    16
 

3.21

   No Other Representations or Warranties    17

 

i


4.

  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO PURCHASER    17
 

4.1

   Corporate Matters    17
 

4.2

   Litigation    18
 

4.3

   Brokers    18

5.

  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]    18

6.

  CERTAIN COVENANTS    18
 

6.1

   Liability for Transfer Taxes    18
 

6.2

   Consents    18
 

6.3

   Campus Outfitters Books and Records    19
 

6.4

   Employees    19
 

6.5

   Text Book Business    19
 

6.6

   Payment of Purchaser’s Receivables    20
 

6.7

   Payment of Campus Outfitters’ Payables    20

7.

  MUTUAL COVENANTS    20
 

7.1

   Further Assurances    20
 

7.2

   Access to Information and Personnel    21
 

7.3

   Taxes    21
 

7.4

   Non-disparagement    22
 

7.5

   Publicity    22

8.

  [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]    22

9.

  NO SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES    23
 

9.1

   Survival    23
 

9.2

   Indemnification    23

10.

  GENERAL PROVISIONS    24
 

10.1

   Governing Law; Jurisdiction    24
 

10.2

   Notices    24
 

10.3

   Exhibits    25
 

10.4

   Entire Agreement, Binding Effect    25
 

10.5

   Headings    25
 

10.6

   Expenses    26
 

10.7

   Amendment    26
 

10.8

   Waiver    26

 

ii


 

10.9

   Time of the Essence    26
 

10.10

   Assignment    26
 

10.11

   No Third Party Beneficiary    26
 

10.12

   Severability    26
 

10.13

   Counterparts; Signatures    26
 

10.14

   Schedules    26

 

iii


MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT

THIS MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is dated as of February 27, 2008, by and among Schoolone.com, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company doing business as Fit Technology (“Purchaser”),Varsity Group Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Varsity”), and Campus Outfitters Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Campus Outfitters”).

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Varsity owns beneficially and of record all of the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests; and

WHEREAS, Varsity desires to sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser desires to purchase from Varsity, the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual promises herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:

 

  1. DEFINITIONS.

1.1 Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

Acquired Business shall mean the business of marketing, distributing, servicing and selling school uniforms and related apparel products, as conducted by Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, except as otherwise provided in Section 6.5 of this Agreement.

Action shall mean any claim, action, cause of action, litigation or suit (in contract, tort or otherwise), inquiry, proceeding, notice of noncompliance, demand letter, audit or investigation by or before any Governmental Authority, arbitrator or similar Person.

Affiliate shall mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person.

Agreement shall mean this Membership Interest Purchase Agreement.

Benefit Arrangement shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15(a) of this Agreement.

Books and Records shall mean books, records, documents, lists, manuals, plans, files, data and other materials directly and exclusively relating to the Acquired Business,

 

1


including, without limitation, advertising materials, drawings, catalogues, price lists, correspondence, mailing lists, lists of customers, distribution lists, price lists, photographs, production data, sales and promotional materials and records, purchasing materials, records and databases, personnel records, quality control records and procedures, blueprints, research and development files, media materials and plates and copies of accounting records.

Business Day means any day, other than (i) a Saturday or Sunday, or (ii) any other day on which commercial banking institutions are permitted or required to be closed in the State of New York.

Campus Outfitters shall have the meaning specified in the Preamble to this Agreement.

Campus Outfitters Membership Interests shall mean all of the Equity Securities in Campus Outfitters.

Closing shall mean the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

Closing Date shall mean the date specified in Section 2.3 of this Agreement.

Code shall mean the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Consent shall mean any material consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any Person, including but not limited to any Governmental Authority.

Contract shall mean, with respect to any Person, any and all contracts or agreements, whether oral or written, including, but not limited to, customer contracts, development or developer agreements, work-for-hire agreements, franchise agreements, covenants not to compete, commitments, alliance agreements, purchase and sales orders, arrangements, employment agreements, subcontracting agreements, consulting agreements, leases, licenses, indentures, notes, bonds, deeds (or other evidence of indebtedness) and other agreements or contracts to which or by which such Person is legally bound.

Debt shall mean all obligations of a Person (i) for borrowed money including capitalized leases, (ii) evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures, letters of credit or similar instruments, (iii) under conditional sale, title retention or similar agreements or arrangements with respect to the deferred purchase price of property, or (iv) in the nature of guarantees of obligations of the type described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above of any other Person.

Disclosure Schedule shall mean, collectively the Schedules attached hereto prepared and delivered by Varsity and/or Campus Outfitters.

Employee Plan shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a) of this Agreement.

 

2


Employees shall mean the employees of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries.

Environmental Laws shall mean all federal, state, local or foreign laws, regulations, ordinances or codes, without limitation, relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, Legal Requirements relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of Materials of Environmental Concern, or to the generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of Environmental Concern.

Equity Securities of any Person shall mean (i) shares of capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities of or interests in such Person, (ii) subscriptions, calls, warrants, options or commitments of any kind or character relating to, or entitling any Person to purchase or otherwise acquire, any such shares of capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities of or interests in such Person, (iii) securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, partnership or limited liability company interests or other equity securities of or interests in such Person, and (iv) stock options, equity equivalents, interests in the ownership or earnings of, or stock appreciation, phantom stock or other similar rights of, or with respect to, such Person.

ERISA shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations issued thereunder.

ERISA Affiliate shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15(a) of this Agreement.

GAAP shall mean United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from time to time.

Governing Documents shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.1(a) of this Agreement.

Governmental Authority shall mean any United States federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, agency or commission or any United States court, tribunal or judicial body.

Intellectual Property shall mean any and all of the following property of the Acquired Business (i) inventions (whether or not patented or patentable), (ii) patents and patent applications (including all provisional applications, reissues, reexaminations, divisionals, continuations and continuations in part, (iii) copyrighted works and other works of authorship, (iv) trademarks and service marks, trade names and all applications for registrations of any of the foregoing, (v) trade secrets (including, without limitation, business plans, financial information, technical information, analyses, data and other information which derives economic value from being generally known), (vi) software applications and code (other than third party shrinkwrap licenses), (vii) customer lists, (viii) Internet websites and all underlying applications and code, and (ix) Internet domain names.

 

3


Intellectual Property Rights shall mean all right, title and interest in and to the Intellectual Property including, without limitation, the following: (i) copyrights; (ii) pending and issued patents and patent applications (including all provisionals, reissues, reexaminations, divisionals, continuations and continuations in-part); (iii) trademark rights (including pending applications); (iv) copyrights; (v) trade secret rights, and (vi) all other proprietary rights of any kind or nature.

Inventory shall mean all inventories of uniforms or related property for sale by Campus Outfitters.

IRS shall mean the United States Internal Revenue Service.

Knowledge of Purchaser (and terms of similar import) shall mean the actual knowledge of Micki Tubbs.

Knowledge of Varsity (and terms of similar import) shall mean the actual knowledge of Jim Craig, John Griffin or Charlotte McFarland.

Leases shall mean the Personal Property Leases and the Real Property Leases.

Legal Requirement shall mean any federal, state, foreign or local statute, ordinance, code, rule or regulation, guidance, or any Governmental Order, or any license, franchise, consent, approval, permit or similar right granted under any of the foregoing.

Lien means any claim, lien, pledge, option, right of first refusal, easement, security interest, deed of trust, mortgage, right-of-way, encroachment, building or use, restrictive covenant or other encumbrance (including an option to purchase, right of first refusal or first offer), whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation of law, and includes, without limitation, any agreement to give any of the foregoing in the future, and any contingent or conditional sale agreement or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof.

Material Adverse Change or “Material Adverse Effect” or similar phrase shall mean, with respect to any Person, any event or circumstance that has or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, assets, liabilities, or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed, either alone or in combination, to constitute, and no change, event, circumstance, development, occurrence or effect arising from or attributable or relating to any of the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the execution, delivery, public announcement or pendency of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated herein or any actions taken in compliance herewith, including the impact thereof on the relationships of Campus Outfitters with customers, suppliers, distributors, consultants, employees or independent contractors; (ii) any change in GAAP or applicable Laws (or interpretation hereof) after the date of this Agreement; (iii) any acts of God, calamities, acts of war or terrorism, or national or international political or social conditions; or (iv) any matter identified in the Disclosure Schedule.

Materials of Environmental Concern shall mean any substance or material that is on the Closing Date prohibited as hazardous by any Governmental Authority under any

 

4


Environmental Law including, without limitation, chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum, petroleum derivatives or other hydrocarbons, petroleum products, asbestos, PCBs, VOCs, SVOCs, dangerous substances, designated substances, controlled products or subject waste, all as defined in or pursuant to any Environmental Law.

Ordinary Course of Business shall mean the ordinary course of the business, consistent with past practices of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries over the last 12 months.

Pension Plan shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15(a) of this Agreement.

Permitted Liens means (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s and similar Liens with respect to any amounts not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have been established in accordance with GAAP, (ii) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (iii) Liens securing rental payments under capital lease agreements, (iv) Liens securing lease payments under leases or licenses for Leased Real Property, (v) Liens arising in favor of the United States government as a result of progress payment clauses contained in any Contract, and (vi) in the case of Real Property, (A) any matters, restrictions, covenants, conditions, limitations, rights, rights of way, encumbrances, encroachments, agreements and other matters of fact or record, (B) such state of fact or exceptions that an accurate survey or inspection of the Real Property would show, (C) present or future laws applicable to the Real Property, including the use or improvement thereof, and (D) matters affecting Real Property created by or with the written consent of Purchaser.

Person shall mean a natural person, corporation, trust, partnership, limited liability company, governmental entity, agency or branch or department thereof, or any other legal entity.

Personal Property Leases shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14(a).

Plans shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15(a).

Post-Closing Tax Period means any taxable year or period that begins after the Closing Date and, with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period beginning after the Closing Date.

Pre-Closing Tax Period means any taxable year or period that ends on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any Straddle Period, the portion of such Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date.

Property Taxes shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(c) of this Agreement.

Purchaser shall have the meaning set forth in the Preamble to this Agreement.

Purchase Price shall have the meaning specified in Section 2.2 of this Agreement.

 

5


Real Property Leases shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.14(c).

Representative means any officer, director, member, shareholder, partner, principal, attorney, agent, employee, banker, accountant, consultant or other representative.

Straddle Period means any taxable year or tax period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.

Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person (the “Owner”), any other Person of which securities or other interests having the power to elect a majority of the governing body, or otherwise having the power to direct the business and policies of that other Person are held by Owner or one or more of its Subsidiaries; when used without reference to a particular Person, “Subsidiary” means a Subsidiary of Campus Outfitters.

Taxes shall mean with respect to any Person, all taxes of any kind, levies or other like assessments, customs, duties, imposts or charges, including without limitation, income, gross receipts, ad valorem, value-added, excise, real or personal property, asset, sales, use, license, payroll, transaction, capital, net worth, franchise (if not based on income), estimated taxes, withholding, employment, social security, workers’ compensation, utility, severance, production, unemployment compensation, occupation, premium, windfall profits, transfer and gains taxes or other governmental taxes imposed or payable to the United States, or any state, county or local government or subdivision or agency thereof, and in each instance such term shall include any interest, penalties or additions to tax attributable to any such Tax, whether disputed or not, for which such Person may be liable (including any such Tax related to any other Person for which such Person is liable pursuant to Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6 or any analogous state or local Tax provision, or as a successor, transferee, by contract or otherwise).

Tax Returns shall mean all returns, declarations, reports, claims for refund and information returns and statements of any Person required to be filed or sent by or with respect to, or in respect of, any Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto and any amendment thereof.

Transfer Taxes shall have the meaning specified in Section 6.1 of this Agreement.

Welfare Plan shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.15(a) of this Agreement.

1.2 Interpretation. In this Agreement, unless the contrary intention appears:

(a) a reference to a Section, Schedule or Exhibit is a reference to a Section of, or Schedule or Exhibit to, this Agreement and references to this Agreement include any recital in, or Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement;

(b) any agreement referred to herein shall mean such agreement as amended, supplemented and modified as of the Closing Date to the extent permitted by the applicable provisions thereof, and shall include all exhibits, schedules, and other documents or agreements attached thereto;

 

6


(c) the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

(d) whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they are deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation;”

(e) any reference herein to “dollars,” “$” or similar terms shall be to United States dollars; and

(f) each of Purchaser and Varsity and their respective counsel have reviewed and revised (or requested revisions of) this Agreement and have participated in the preparation of this Agreement, and therefore any usual rules of construction requiring that ambiguities are to be resolved against a particular party shall not be applicable in the construction and interpretation of this Agreement and any schedules and exhibits hereto.

 

  2. PURCHASE AND SALE; CLOSING.

2.1 Purchase and Sale of Campus Outfitters Membership Interests. Subject to and upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, Varsity hereby sells, transfers, assigns, conveys and delivers to Purchaser the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests free and clear of all Liens (other than any restrictions to transfer under any applicable Federal or state securities Legal Requirements).

2.2 Purchase Price. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the aggregate amount of the purchase price to be paid to Varsity at Closing (the “Purchase Price”) for the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests shall be equal to $700,000 payable by Purchaser in the form of a written acknowledgement by Purchaser that it has irrevocably released Varsity from its obligation to make accounts payable remittances to Purchaser in the amount of the Purchase Price (i.e., $700,000).

2.3 Closing Date. The Closing of the transactions provided for herein shall take place at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 555 11th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC, at 10:00 a.m. (local time) on the date hereof (the “Closing Date”).

2.4 Deliveries. At the Closing:

(a) Deliveries by Varsity. Varsity shall deliver to Purchaser (i) evidence of the transfer of Campus Outfitters Membership Interests (which interests are uncertificated) in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser, (ii) a Bill of Sale and Assignment and Assumption Agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A effecting the transfer or assignment of all of the assets used exclusively in the Acquired Business from Varsity to Campus Outfitters and (iii) duly signed resignations, effective as of the Closing, of the individuals listed on Schedule 2.4 from their officer and director positions with Campus Outfitters and/or the Subsidiaries.

(b) Deliveries by Purchaser. Purchaser shall deliver a written acknowledgment in accordance with Section 2.1 as to the payment of the Purchase Price in form and substance satisfactory to Varsity.

 

7


(c) Other Deliveries. The Closing certificates and other documents and agreements required to be delivered pursuant to this Agreement with respect to the Closing will be exchanged, including but not limited to evidence of release of the Lien in favor of Follett Corporation.

 

  3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CAMPUS OUTFITTERS.

Varsity represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows, except as otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Schedule:

3.1 Organization and Validity Organization and Qualification; Power.

(a) Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiary (i) are limited liability companies duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of Delaware and the state of Maryland, respectively; and (ii) are duly qualified and in good standing in all jurisdictions in which they are doing business as required by the laws of that particular jurisdiction and have all necessary limited liability company power and authority to engage in the business in which they are presently engaged and to own, lease and operate their assets and to carry on their business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, or to have such power or authority, could not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Varsity has delivered or made available to Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the articles of organization and operating agreement (collectively, the “Governing Documents”) of Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries, and none of these Governing Documents have been modified, amended or rescinded and all are in full force and effect as of the date hereof.

(b) Authorization; Validity. Each of Varsity, Campus Outfitters and Campus Outfitters’ Subsidiaries has all requisite corporate or limited liability company power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by Varsity and Campus Outfitters pursuant hereto and to carry out its or their obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by Varsity and Campus Outfitters of this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed by Varsity and Campus Outfitters pursuant hereto and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by Varsity as the sole member of Campus Outfitters. This Agreement and the related agreements, documents and instruments referred to herein to which Varsity or Campus Outfitters is a party have been duly executed and delivered by such parties and constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of such parties, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms.

(c) No Conflict; Compliance; Binding Effect. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(c), the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the related agreements, documents and instruments referred to herein, the sale and transfer of the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not, and will not, in any material respect, conflict with, contravene, result in a violation or breach of or default under (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both), give rise to a right or claim of termination, amendment, modification, vesting, acceleration or cancellation of

 

8


any right or obligation or loss of any material benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the assets of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries or the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests under (i) any Legal Requirement, order, writ, injunction, judgment, arbitration award or decree or other restriction to which Varsity, Campus Outfitters or any Subsidiary are subject or bound, (ii) Governing Documents of Campus Outfitters or its Subsidiaries or (iii) any Contract to which Varsity or Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.

(d) Ownership of Membership Interests. Varsity holds 100% of the limited liability company membership interests of Campus Outfitters, free and clear of any Liens (other than any restrictions to transfer under any applicable Federal or state securities Legal Requirements). There are no Equity Securities of Campus Outfitters other than the limited liability company membership interests of Campus Outfitters issued to Varsity.

(e) Capitalization. All Equity Securities of the Subsidiaries are owned of record and beneficially by Campus Outfitters. No Subsidiary has any Equity Securities other than its limited liability company interests issued to Campus Outfitters. The Campus Outfitters Membership Interests and the outstanding Equity Securities of the Subsidiaries (i) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and (ii) were issued in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements. Schedule 3.1(e) identifies all Subsidiaries of Campus Outfitters.

3.2 Governmental Consents. No material Consent of any Governmental Authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any documents or agreements contemplated hereby by Varsity or the consummation by Varsity or Campus Outfitters of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.3 Financial Statements; Liabilities.

(a) Attached hereto as Schedule 3.3(a) is the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and a statement of the accounts receivables and accounts payables as of the Closing Date, which balance sheet and statement fairly reflect in all material respects the assets, liabilities and accounts receivables and accounts payables, as applicable, of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries, consistent with the books and records of Varsity as used to prepare its financial statements and other information filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

(b) Campus Outfitters Liabilities. To the Knowledge of Varsity, neither Campus Outfitters nor its Subsidiaries has any liabilities, other than the (i) liabilities reflected or reserved against on the balance sheet referred to in Section 3.3(a) or specifically referred to in the notes thereto, (ii) liabilities incurred since December 31, 2007 in the ordinary course of business, (iii) liabilities under the Contracts, and (iv) liabilities or matters referenced in the Disclosure Schedules.

3.4 Change in Condition Since December 31, 2007. Except for matters set forth in Schedule 3.4, since December 31, 2007, neither Campus Outfitters nor any of its Subsidiaries has:

(a) Entered into any Contract other than this Agreement relating to (A) the sale of any Equity Securities of Campus Outfitters, (B) the purchase of assets constituting a business, or (C) any merger, consolidation, reorganization or other business combination;

 

9


(b) Settled or agreed to settle any material Action;

(c) Incurred any Debt greater than $100,000 in the aggregate (including any capital lease) other than liability for payment of goods and services incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(d) Outside the Ordinary Course of Business: (i) increased (or committed to increase) the compensation payable to or the benefits afforded any employee, or (ii) increased (or committed to increase) the rate of benefits payable under, amended the terms of, or entered into any new, bonus, incentive, pension, insurance, severance, deferred compensation, retirement profit sharing or other employee benefit plan or compensation or commission arrangement covering any director, independent contractor, or employee of Campus Outfitters or its Subsidiaries, other than as required by any applicable Legal Requirement or Company Plan;

(e) Entered into any new or amended any (or committed to entering into or amending any) employment, severance, retention, or change in control protection agreement for any employee, director or independent contractor of Campus Outfitters or its Subsidiaries (other than customary offer letters for employment at will that do not provide severance benefits, change in control or severance agreement, consultation agreement or other compensation agreement or independent contractor agreements (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business that are terminable within ninety (90) days without liability to Campus Outfitters);

(f) Made any loan to, or entered into any other transaction with any of its directors or officers or entered into any collective bargaining agreement;

(g) Added to or modified in any material respect any of the Company Plans other than (i) contributions made in accordance with the normal practices of Campus Outfitters, or (ii) the extension of coverage to other personnel who became eligible after December 31, 2007;

(h) Sold, assigned or transferred any assets having a value in excess of $100,000 other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;

(i) Cancelled, entered into, terminated or materially amended any material Contract to which Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries is a party outside the Ordinary Course of Business;

(j) Made a capital expenditure or incurred a liability therefor, involving payments in excess of $25,000;

(k) Failed to operate its business in the Ordinary Course of Business in any material respect;

 

10


(l) Changed accounting methods or practices, other than such changes required by law or GAAP;

(m) Experienced damage, destruction or loss with respect to any property or assets of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries having a value in excess of $100,000 (net of insurance proceeds expected) in the aggregate;

(n) Executed, terminated or materially amended any lease for real or personal property involving annual payments in excess of $50,000;

(o) Entered into any agreement, whether or not in writing, to do any of the foregoing; or

(p) Had a Material Adverse Change.

3.5 Litigation. (a) There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Varsity, threatened against Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries or relating to the Acquired Business; and (b) there is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Varsity, threatened which questions the legality, validity or propriety of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

3.6 Licenses; Compliance With Legal Requirements and Regulations.

(a) Governmental Licenses; Notices. Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries has all Consents of any Governmental Authority necessary to conduct its business as conducted on the date hereof, and such Consents are in full force and effect, except where the failure of Campus Outfitters to have obtained such Consents or the failure of such Consents to be in full force and effect would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all such Consents of any Governmental Authority and has received no written notice regarding any violation, termination or suspension of any such Consents.

(b) Compliance With Legal Requirements and Regulations. Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements relating to the operation of the Acquired Business, except where the failure of Campus Outfitters or its Subsidiaries to be in compliance would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No event has occurred and no circumstance exists that (with or without the passage of time or the giving of notice) may result in a violation of, conflict with or failure of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries to comply with any Legal Requirements, except where the violation, conflict or failure of Campus Outfitters or its Subsidiaries would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

3.7 Title to and Condition of Assets; Sufficiency of Assets.

 

11


(a) Title to and Sufficiency of Assets. Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries owns or has a valid leasehold interest or other right to use all property (real or personal, tangible or intangible) necessary to operate its business in the same manner as currently conducted, in all material respects, it being understood that Campus Outfitters does not own the registered trademark “Campus Outfitters.”

(b) Condition of Assets. The material machinery, equipment and other tangible property necessary to operate the business of Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries as currently conducted are, taken as a whole, in good working condition in all material respects (normal wear and tear excluded).

3.8 Taxes.

(a) Each of Varsity, Campus Outfitters and the Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Authority all Tax Returns required to be filed by it as of the date of this Agreement for all periods ended on or prior to the Closing Date insofar as such Tax Returns relate to the Acquired Business, and (ii) has timely paid all Taxes showing as due and payable thereon. All such Tax Returns filed by Campus Outfitters and the Subsidiaries are correct and complete in all material respects.

(b) Neither Varsity, Campus Outfitters nor any of the Subsidiaries has received any written notice from a taxing authority in a jurisdiction where it does not file Tax Returns that it is subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

(c) There are no liens for Taxes (other than (i) for current Taxes not yet due and payable or (ii) which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings) on any assets of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests.

(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8(d), there is no claim, action, audit or other proceeding now pending or, to the Knowledge of Varsity, threatened relating to Taxes with respect to the Acquired Business, and no extension or waiver of a statute of limitations relating to Taxes with respect to the Acquired Business is in effect.

3.9 Certain Contracts. Set forth on Schedule 3.9 is a true and complete list of all of the following Contracts of Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries:

(a) All collective bargaining agreements and all written employment, severance, independent contractor, and consulting agreements, other than (i) customary offer letters for employment at will that do not provide severance benefits beyond customary policies in the Ordinary Course of Business of Campus Outfitters, and (ii) consulting agreements and agreements with independent contractors that are terminable within ninety (90) days without liability to Campus Outfitters;

(b) All Contracts of Campus Outfitters and/or its Subsidiaries to sell or otherwise dispose of any assets having a fair market value in excess of $50,000 except in the Ordinary Course of Business;

 

12


(c) All Contracts between Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries and any of their respective Affiliates;

(d) All Contracts (including partnership and joint venture agreements) under which (i) Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries has any liability or obligation for Debt or constituting or giving rise to a guarantee of any liability or obligation of any Person (other than Campus Outfitters), or (ii) any Person has any liability or obligation constituting or giving rise to a guarantee of any liability or obligation of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries;

(e) All joint ventures, limited liability company or partnership agreements, or other agreements (however named) involving a sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries with any other Person, except for uniform supply arrangements with schools involving a revenue sharing arrangement in the Ordinary Course of Business (the “School Contracts”); and

(f) Any agreement relating to the sale or disposition of material assets by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries.

Varsity has made available to the Purchaser true and correct copies of the School Contracts and has delivered or made available to Purchaser true and correct copies of the Contracts required to be disclosed on Schedule 3.9. No material breach or material default in performance by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries under any of the Contracts listed on Schedule 3.9 has occurred and is continuing. To the Knowledge of Varsity, no material breach or material default by any other Person under any of the Contracts listed on Schedule 3.9 has occurred and is continuing.

3.10 Intellectual Property.

(a) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10(a), all Intellectual Property owned by Campus Outfitters is either owned by Campus Outfitters free and clear of all Liens or validly licensed for use by Campus Outfitters, and all Intellectual Property used in connection with the conduct of the Acquired Business as presently conducted is either owned by Campus Outfitters free and clear of all Liens or validly licensed for use by Campus Outfitters.

(b) Schedule 3.10(b) sets forth a complete and correct list of all Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Rights owned or licensed by Campus Outfitters that are material to the Acquired Business.

3.11 Environmental Matters.

(a) Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws for the operation of the Acquired Business, as now conducted.

(b) There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Varsity, threatened against Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of (i) noncompliance

 

13


by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries with any Environmental Laws, (ii) the Release or threatened Release into the environment of any Hazardous Substance by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) the handling, storage, use, transportation or disposal of any Hazardous Substance by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries.

3.12 Employees.

(a) Set forth on Schedule 3.12(a) is a list of each employee of Campus Outfitters and/or its Subsidiaries as of the date of this Agreement, along with the present salary of such person, accrued vacation and sick days, and service credited for purposes of vesting and eligibility to participate in any Benefit Arrangement.

(b) Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries has paid or properly accrued all wages and compensation due to any of its employees, consultants or independent contractors, including any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, other direct compensation, vacation and sick days.

(c) Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Legal Requirements respecting labor, employment, fair employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, worker’s compensation, and wages and hours.

(d) Neither Campus Outfitters nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject to any collective bargaining agreement or labor union.

3.13 Warranties. Neither Campus Outfitters nor any of its Subsidiaries has received notice that any product sold or delivered by Campus Outfitters has not been in material conformity with all applicable commitments and all express warranties.

3.14 Personal and Real Property.

(a) Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries, has valid title to all of its personal property, and such personal property is not subject to any Lien, except (i) as set forth on Schedule 3.14(a) or (ii) a Permitted Lien. All leases and licensing agreements for personal property (“Personal Property Leases”) leased or licensed by Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries and requiring payments in excess of $25,000 per year, are valid and in full force and effect and are listed on Schedule 3.14(a). Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries has performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under such Personal Property Leases.

(b) Neither Campus Outfitters nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property in fee.

(c) Schedule 3.14(c) sets forth a list of all real property leased by or on behalf of Campus Outfitters or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Real Property Leases”). Campus Outfitters, Varsity and each Subsidiary of Campus Outfitters has performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under each Real Property Leases to which it is a party.

 

14


(d) Varsity has delivered or made available to Purchaser true and correct copies of the Personal Property Leases and Real Property Leases.

3.15 Employee Benefits.

(a) Each “employee pension benefit plan” (“Pension Plan”) and any “employee welfare benefit plan” (“Welfare Plan”) as such terms are defined in Section 3(2) and Section 3(1), respectively, of ERISA, which is subject to ERISA and maintained or contributed to at any time during the six (6) year period preceding the Closing Date by Campus Outfitters or any ERISA Affiliate is disclosed on Schedule 3.15(a) (collectively the “Plans”). Each severance, stock option, payroll practice, vacation pay, holiday pay, sick pay, bonus, profit sharing, equity appreciation, deferred compensation, incentive, fringe benefit or other similar plan, practice or arrangement providing benefits to Employees or former Employees is set forth on Schedule 3.15(a) (each a “Benefit Arrangement”). Each Benefit Arrangement and each Plan are collectively and individually referred to herein as an “Employee Plan”. Varsity has made available to Purchaser or provided Purchaser with true, accurate and complete copies of each of the following: (a) if the plan has been reduced to writing, the plan document together with all amendments thereto, (b) if the plan has not been reduced to writing, a written summary of all material plan terms, (c) if applicable, copies of any trust agreements or insurance contracts forming a part of such plan, (d) copies of any summary plan descriptions and employee handbooks, (e) any current determination or opinion letter from the IRS and (f) in the case of any plan for which Forms 5500 are required to be filed, a copy of the three most recently filed Forms 5500 with schedules attached and summary annual report.

(b) Each Employee Plan has in all material respects been maintained in compliance with its terms and all material provisions of ERISA, the Code, and other Legal Requirements applicable thereto, and nothing has occurred with respect to any Plan that has subjected or could subject Campus Outfitters or Purchaser (directly or indirectly) to a penalty under Section 502 of ERISA or to an excise tax under the Code, or that has subjected or could subject a participant in, or beneficiary of, a Plan to a tax under Code Section 4975 or 409A. Each Plan that is a qualified defined contribution plan is intended to be an “ERISA Section 404(c) Plan,” and has been operated in all material respects consistent with such provisions within the meaning of the applicable Department of Labor regulations.

(c) All required contributions to, and premium payments on account of, each Plan have been made on a timely basis or to the extent not yet due, appropriately accrued on the financial statements of Campus Outfitters in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Each Welfare Plan is provided through an insurance contract and no such Welfare Plan is self funded or funded through a VEBA or other funding arrangement other than insurance.

(d) Each Pension Plan which is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified and to the Knowledge of Varsity, there are no facts which would indicate that the qualified status of each such Pension Plan or the tax exempt status of each trust created thereunder has been adversely affected. No Employee Plan is currently subject, or within the six (6) year period preceding the Closing was subject, to an audit or other investigation by the

 

15


IRS, the Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other Governmental Authority or subject to any law suits, complaints, claims or legal proceedings of any kind. Neither Campus Outfitters nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or ever maintained, contributed to or has or had any liability with respect to a Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or the funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA. Neither Campus Outfitters nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever contributed to, been obligated to contribute to, or has any liability with respect to, any multiemployer plan as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

(e) Except as required under Section 601 et seq. of ERISA, applicable state law, or under Section 4980B of the Code to avoid excise tax, no Employee Plan provides benefits or coverage in the nature of health or life following retirement or other termination of employment.

(f) Each Employee Plan that is a nonqualified deferred compensation plan within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code has been operated in good faith compliance with the requirements of Section 409A (including applicable governmental guidance) since January 1, 2006. None of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall result in any requirement to withhold any amount as an addition to tax under Section 409A under the rules of the Code as they exist on the date hereof and on the Closing Date.

(g) For purposes of this Section 3.15, “ERISA Affiliate” means any Person who together with Campus Outfitters is required to be treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m), (n) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA.

(h) All representations in this Section 3.15 relate to Campus Outfitters and all of its ERISA Affiliates.

3.16 Brokers. No broker, finder, investment bank or similar agent is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon agreements or arrangements made by or on behalf of Varsity or any of their Affiliates.

3.17 Inventory. All of the inventories of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries are valued on its financial statements at the lower of cost or market.

3.18 Accounts Receivable. The amounts receivable of Campus Outfitters and each of its Subsidiaries are reflected properly on the financial statements Varsity furnished to Purchaser, and represent valid transactions consummated by Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries in the Ordinary Course of Business.

3.19 Insurance. Schedule 3.19 sets forth a complete list of each insurance policy that covers Campus Outfitters, its Subsidiaries or their respective properties and lists any pending claims. All such policies are currently in full force and effect and all premiums due with respect to such policies have been paid.

3.20 Assets. All tangible assets located at the properties set forth on Schedule 3.14(c), owned by Varsity or any of its Subsidiaries, represent all of the assets owned by Varsity

 

16


or any of its Subsidiaries used exclusively in the Acquired Business and will be transferred to Purchaser pursuant to the Bill of Sale and Assignment and Assumption Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A. With the exception of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries, no other Subsidiary of Varsity owns any assets located at any of properties set forth on Schedule 3.14(c).

3.21 No Other Representations or Warranties. Except for the representations and warranties contained in this Article III (as modified by the Disclosure Schedule), neither Varsity, Campus Outfitters or any other Person makes any other express or implied representations or warranty with respect to Campus Outfitters or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and Varsity disclaims any other representations or warranties, whether made by Varsity, Campus Outfitters or any of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents or representatives. Except for the representations and warranties contained in Article III hereof (as modified by the Disclosure Schedule), Varsity and Campus Outfitters each hereby disclaims all liability and responsibility for any representations, warranty, statement, or information made, communicated, or furnished (orally or in writing) to Purchaser or its Affiliates or representatives (including any opinion, information, projection, or advice that may have been or may be provided to Purchaser by any director, officer, employee, agent, consultant, or representative of Varsity, Campus Outfitters or any of their respective Affiliates). Campus Outfitters makes no representations or warranties to Purchaser regarding any projections or forecast regarding future results or activities or the probable success or profitability.

 

  4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES WITH RESPECT TO PURCHASER.

Purchaser represents and warrants as of the date hereof, as follows:

4.1 Corporate Matters.

(a) Organization and Qualification; Power. Purchaser is a limited liability company duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the state of Ohio; (ii) is duly qualified and in good standing in all jurisdictions in which it is doing business as required by the laws of that particular jurisdiction; and (iii) has all necessary corporate power and authority to engage in the business in which it is presently engaged and to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted.

(b) Authorization; Validity. Purchaser has all requisite limited liability power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed and delivered by Purchaser pursuant hereto and to carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and the other agreements, documents and instruments to be executed by Purchaser pursuant hereto and the consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by the Managers of Purchaser. This Agreement and the related agreements, documents and instruments referred to herein to which Purchaser is a party have been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser and constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of Purchaser, enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with their respective terms.

 

17


(c) No Conflict; Compliance; Binding Effect. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the related agreements, documents and instruments referred to herein, the purchase of the Campus Outfitters Membership Interests and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not, and will not, in any material respect, conflict with, contravene, result in a violation or breach of or default under (with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both), give rise to a right or claim of termination, amendment, modification, vesting, acceleration or cancellation of any right or obligation or loss of any material benefit under (i) any Legal Requirement, order, writ, injunction, judgment, arbitration award or decree or other restriction of any kind or character to which Purchaser is subject or bound, or (ii) the Purchaser’s Articles of Organization, Operating Agreement or other governing documents.

4.2 Litigation. There is no Action pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened (i) against Purchaser which has had a material adverse effect on the ability of Purchaser to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or (ii) which seeks rescission of or seeks to enjoin the consummation of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

4.3 Brokers. No broker, finder, investment bank or similar agent is entitled to any brokerage or finder’s fee in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon agreements or arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.

 

  5. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

  6. CERTAIN COVENANTS.

6.1 Liability for Transfer Taxes. All United States sales (including, without limitation, bulk transfers and sales), use, value added, documentary, stamp, gross receipts, registration, transfer, conveyance, excise, recording, license and other similar Taxes and fees, if any (“Transfer Taxes”), arising out of or in connection with or attributable to the transactions effected by either of Campus Outfitters or Varsity pursuant to this Agreement shall be borne 50% by Varsity and 50% by Purchaser, provided that Varsity shall only be responsible for the payment of its portion of the Transfer Taxes up to an aggregate amount of $25,000. Purchaser shall prepare or shall cause to be prepared and timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed in respect of Transfer Taxes, provided, Purchaser shall provide a copy of any such Tax Returns to Varsity for review not later than ten (10) days prior to the due date thereof.

6.2 Consents. Purchaser acknowledges that to the extent Consents are required to assign any Contract to Campus Outfitters or are required to be obtained in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (including the Consents set forth on Schedules 3.1(c) and 3.2), such Consents have not been obtained prior the Closing Date. After the Closing Date, Purchaser, Campus Outfitters and Varsity shall cooperate and use commercially reasonable efforts to assist Campus Outfitters in giving such notices and obtaining such Consents. Without limiting the foregoing, in respect of the Real Property Leases, it is further agreed that (a) Campus Outfitters agrees to be the assignee of each such lease and Purchaser and Campus Outfitters shall each use their reasonable best efforts (including, if

 

18


necessary, Purchaser or Campus Outfitters paying at least two months rent as a security deposit with respect to each Real Property Lease) to obtain for Varsity a full and complete release and novation in favor of Varsity and (b) in the absence of a full and complete release and novation, from and after the Closing, Purchaser and Campus Outfitters shall fully perform all obligations under each Real Property Lease in accordance with its respective terms and Purchaser and Campus Outfitters shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend each Seller Indemnitee against, and shall hold them harmless from, any Losses resulting from, arising out of or incurred by any Seller Indemnitee in connection with, or otherwise with respect to the failure to obtain any such Consent or any breach of any covenant or agreement of Purchaser and Campus Outfitters contained in this Section 6.2.

6.3 Campus Outfitters Books and Records. As soon as reasonably practical after the Closing Date, Campus Outfitters shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser all of the Books and Records relating to the Acquired Business; provided, however, that Varsity may retain Books and Records related primarily to assets other than assets related to the Acquired Business; provided, Varsity shall cooperate and use its best efforts to comply with any of Purchaser’s reasonable requests for access to Books and Records not related primarily to the Acquired Business.

6.4 Employees. Purchaser acknowledges that none of the Benefit Arrangements or Employee Plans will be available to the Employees after the Closing other than benefits under the existing health plan which will terminate on February 29, 2008. For the avoidance of doubt, the Employees’ participation in the Varsity 401(K) plan will terminate upon Closing. Purchaser covenants to provide the Employees with benefits similar to those currently provided to its employees at or promptly following the Closing.

6.5 Text Book Business. Notwithstanding the definition of “Acquired Business” provided for in this Agreement, it is acknowledged and agreed that, during the three years after the Closing Date (the “Restricted Period”), Purchaser will not, and will cause its Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, in any manner, anywhere in the Applicable Area, engage directly or indirectly in the business of marketing, distributing, servicing or selling textbooks online (i.e., over the Internet or any similar or successor electronic commerce system) (collectively, the “Textbook Business”) or any business that competes with the Textbook Business, or own any interest in, manage, control, participate in, or consult with or render services for any Person that is engaged in the Textbook Business or in any activity that competes directly or indirectly with the Textbook Business; provided, however, that no owner of less than 5% of the outstanding equity interests of any publicly traded entity shall be deemed to engage solely by reason thereof in its business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Section 6.5 will not prevent Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, either within or outside the Applicable Area, from (a) selling textbooks to the accounts identified on Schedule 6.5 as an element of its sale of apparel to those schools, provided that such sale of textbooks occurs only within the physical stores of Campus Outfitters (and not over the Internet or any similar or successor electronic commerce system) and (b) providing a link on its website to Varsity’s website. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision of this Section 6.5 is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to reduce the scope, duration, or area of the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or

 

19


provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closer to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified after the expiration of the time within which the judgment may be appealed. In the event of litigation involving this Section 6.5, the non-prevailing party shall reimburse the prevailing party for all costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, incurred in connection with any such litigation, including any appeal therefrom. The existence of any claim or cause of action by Purchaser against Varsity or any of its Affiliates, whether predicated on this Agreement or otherwise, will not constitute a defense to the enforcement by Varsity of the provisions of this Section 6.5, which Section will be enforceable notwithstanding the existence of any breach by Varsity or its Affiliates.

Applicable Area” means (a) anywhere in the world, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (b) North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (c) any country in which Varsity or any of its Subsidiaries engaged in the Textbook Business prior to the Closing Date, but if such area is determined by judicial action to be too broad, then it means (d) any state in the U.S. in which Varsity or any of its Subsidiaries engaged in the Textbook Business prior to the Closing Date.

6.6 Payment of Purchaser’s Receivables. Varsity, for itself and its successors and assigns, hereby covenants to pay (or cause to be paid) to Purchaser all outstanding accounts payable owed by Varsity, Campus Outfitters and/or any of the Subsidiaries to Purchaser as of the Closing (but excluding the payable to be canceled under Section 2.2). Such amounts will be paid as follows: (a) all such payables related to Purchaser’s invoices issued in January and February of 2008 (currently estimated to be $241,252) will be paid within ten (10) days following the Closing Date, and (b) the balance of such payables (currently estimated to be $481,780) will be paid in five (5) equal installments of $40,148, commencing on April 1, 2008 and continuing on the first day of each month thereafter for the next four (4) months, with the remaining balance (currently estimated to be $281,040) payable on September 1, 2008. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Varsity may suspend any payments under clause (b) of this Section 6.6 if and for so long as Purchaser is in breach of its obligations under Section 6.2(b).

6.7 Payment of Campus Outfitters’ Payables and Payroll. Within five Business Days after the Closing Date, Varsity, for itself and its successors and assigns, hereby covenants to pay (or cause to be paid) $94,661 to Royal Park and $14,400 to Rifle/Kaynee in partial satisfaction of certain payables owed such vendors. Purchaser acknowledges that such amounts do not represent the total amounts owed to such vendors and any remaining balances with such vendors will be paid by Campus Outfitters or Purchaser. In addition, Varsity will fund payroll through February 29, 2008 provided that it receives a credit from Purchaser for the two days after Closing in the amount of $6,600. Varsity will also pay the commissions on all textbook sales of Campus Outfitters made in the physical stores of Campus Outfitters prior to the date hereof.

 

  7. MUTUAL COVENANTS.

7.1 Further Assurances. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein, each of the parties hereto agrees, (i) to use all commercially reasonable efforts

 

20


to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) to execute any documents, instruments or conveyances which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to carry out any of the transactions contemplated herein.

7.2 Access to Information and Personnel.

(a) Varsity will grant to Purchaser access to any relevant records related to operation of the Acquired Business that are reasonably required by Purchaser and not transferred hereunder. Any such access shall be during normal business hours where such data and records are regularly maintained. To the extent any information provided to Purchaser hereunder does not relate to the Acquired Business, Purchaser shall keep such information confidential.

(b) Purchaser will grant to Varsity reasonable access to any relevant records related to operation of or certain employees of the Acquired Business that is reasonably required by Varsity. Any such access shall be during normal business hours where such data and records are regularly maintained. To the extent any information provided to Varsity hereunder does not relate to the Acquired Business, Varsity shall keep such information confidential.

(c) After the Closing Date, Varsity will cooperate with Purchaser, and Purchaser will cooperate with Varsity, in the preparation of all Tax Returns and will provide (or cause to be provided) any records and other information the other so reasonably requests, and will provide reasonable access to, and the cooperation of its employees and auditors. Varsity will cooperate in all reasonable respects with Purchaser and Purchaser will cooperate in all reasonably respects with Varsity in connection with any Tax investigation, audit or other proceeding.

7.3 Taxes.

(a) For any taxable period relating to Campus Outfitters that ends on or before the Closing Date, Varsity shall timely prepare and file with the appropriate Governmental Authority all required Tax Returns (and shall promptly provide Purchaser with copies of all such Tax Returns insofar as such Tax Returns relate to the Acquired Business) and shall pay all Taxes due with respect to such Tax Returns.

(b) Liability for Taxes.

(i) Varsity shall be liable for and pay, and shall indemnify Purchaser against, (A) all Taxes (other than Property Taxes) (i) imposed on Varsity that could give rise to an Encumbrance on the Acquired Business, (ii) imposed on Campus Outfitters that are allocable to a Pre-Closing Tax Period and (iii) resulting from the transactions hereunder or those that are the responsibility of Varsity pursuant to any provision in this Agreement and (B) all Property Taxes that relate to a Pre-Closing Tax Period.

(ii) Purchaser shall be liable for and pay, and shall indemnify Varsity and its Affiliates against, (A) all Property Taxes that relate to any Post-Closing Tax

 

21


Period and (B) all Taxes of Campus Outfitters and its Subsidiaries with respect to the Acquired Business for any Post-Closing Tax Period (to the extent such Taxes are imposed on any of the Seller Indemnified Parties).

(c) In the case of any Straddle Period, real, personal and other similar intangible property Taxes relating to the Acquired Business or the assets of Campus Outfitters (“Property Taxes”) for the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be equal to the amount of such Property Taxes for the entire Straddle Period multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days during the Straddle Period that are in the Pre-Closing Tax Period and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Straddle Period.

(d) Purchaser and Varsity agree to (i) furnish or cause to be furnished to each other, upon request, as promptly as practicable, such information and assistance relating to the Acquired Business (including access to Books and Records) as is reasonably necessary for the filing of all Tax Returns, the making of any election relating to Taxes, the preparation for any audit by any Taxing Authority, and the prosecution or defense of any claim, suit or proceeding relating to any Tax and (ii) cooperate fully in preparing for any audits of, or disputes with Governmental Authorities regarding, any Tax relating to the Acquired Business; (iii) provide timely notice to the other in writing of any pending or threatened Tax audits or assessments relating to the Acquired Business for taxable periods for which the other may have a liability; and (iv) furnish the other with copies of all correspondence received from any Governmental Authority in connection with any Tax audit or information request with respect to any such taxable period. Purchaser shall retain all Books and Records with respect to Taxes pertaining to the Acquired Business for a period of at least six (6) years following the Closing Date. Each party shall provide the other with at least ten (10) days prior written notice before destroying or transferring custody of any such Books and Records, during which period the party receiving such notice can elect to take possession, at its own expense, of such Books and Records.

(e) Varsity and Purchaser agree that the Purchase Price shall be allocated to the assets of Campus Outfitters and the Subsidiaries in accordance with the asset valuation principles set forth on Exhibit B hereto. Varsity and Purchaser will prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax Returns and information reports in a manner consistent with such allocation and valuation.

7.4 Non-disparagement. Any party hereto will not, at any time on or after the Closing Date, make any negative or disparaging statements or communications regarding the other party, or any of its equity holders, directors, officers, employees, agents or Affiliates.

7.5 Publicity. The initial press release regarding the transaction contemplated hereby shall be a joint press release, and thereafter neither party hereto shall issue any press release or make any other public disclosure (including disclosure to public officials) with respect to this Agreement or the transaction contemplated hereby, except as required by any Legal Requirement, without the prior written consent of other party (and then only after giving the other party notice of, and an opportunity to review and comment on, such disclosure).

 

  8. [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]

 

22


  9. NO SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATION AND WARRANTIES.

9.1 Survival. Except as provided in the following sentence, the representations and warranties of Varsity, Campus Outfitters and Purchaser contained in this Agreement shall not survive the Closing and no actual or purported breach of any representation or warranty contained herein shall constitute a basis of any remedy of any Party hereto from and after the occurrence of the Closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all covenants of each Party hereto, and the representations and warranties of Varsity in Sections 3.1(b), 3.1(d), 3.3(b) and the representations and warranties of Purchaser in Section 4.1(b) shall survive the Closing until sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations (after giving effect to any waivers and extensions thereof). If any party hereto delivers a notice for a claim for indemnification to the other party hereto, within the period of time a representation, warranty or covenant survives the Closing, the representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that is the subject of such indemnification claim (whether or not formal legal action shall have been commenced based upon such claim) shall survive with respect to such claim until such claim is finally resolved.

9.2 Indemnification.

(a) Varsity shall indemnify and defend Purchaser and its Affiliates and their respective members, managers, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns (the “Purchaser Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold them harmless from, any and all losses, damages, claims (including third-party claims), charges, interest, penalties, Taxes, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) (collectively, the “Losses”) resulting from, arising out of, or incurred by any Purchaser Indemnitee in connection with, or otherwise with respect to: (a) the failure of any representation or warranty by Varsity in Section 3.1(d) to be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date, (b) the failure of any representation or warranty by Varsity in Sections 3.1(b) or 3.3(b) to be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date, and (c) any breach of any covenant or agreement of Varsity contained herein or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The aggregate indemnifiable Losses recoverable by Purchaser under clause (a), (b) and (c) above shall in no event exceed $700,000. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the aggregate indemnifiable Losses recoverable by Purchaser under clause (b) and (c) above shall in no event exceed $100,000.

(b) Purchaser and Campus Outfitters shall, jointly and severally, indemnify and defend Varsity and its Affiliates and their respective members, managers, officers, employees, agents, successors and assigns (the “Seller Indemnitees”) against, and shall hold them harmless from, the Losses resulting from, arising out of, or incurred by any Seller Indemnitee in connection with, or otherwise with respect to: (a) the failure of any representation or warranty by Purchaser in Section 4.1(b) to be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date, and (b) any breach of any covenant or agreement of Purchaser or Campus Outfitters contained herein or any certificate or other document furnished or to be furnished to Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c) THE PARTIES HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REMEDIES PROVIDED IN SECTIONS 6.5, THE REMEDIES OF THE

 

23


PARTIES SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED FOR BY THIS ARTICLE 9 SHALL BE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDIES OF THE PARTIES FOR ALL MATTERS COVERED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT WITH RESPECT TO ANY BREACH OF SECTIONS 6.2, 6.5, 7.4 or 7.5, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE FOR SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOST PROFITS, DIMINUTION IN VALUE, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES, WHETHER BASED IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY OR OTHERWISE; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THIS SECTION 9.2 SHALL NOT LIMIT A PARTY’S RIGHT TO RECOVERY UNDER THIS ARTICLE 9 FOR ANY SUCH DAMAGES TO THE EXTENT SUCH PARTY IS REQUIRED TO PAY SUCH DAMAGES TO A THIRD PARTY IN CONNECTION WITH A MATTER FOR WHICH SUCH PARTY IS OTHERWISE ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION UNDER THIS ARTICLE 9. ANY LIABILITY UNDER THE SECOND SENTENCE OF THIS SECTION 9.2 SHALL BE DETERMINED WITHOUT DUPLICATION OF RECOVERY BY REASON OF THE STATE OF FACTS GIVING RISE TO SUCH LIABILITY BEING ACTIONABLE UNDER SEPARATE DAMAGES THEORIES.

(d) To the extent that any party hereto shall be entitled under the terms and conditions of “occurrence” based insurance policies in effect on the date hereof to coverage for losses suffered by the other party arising out of any occurrences covered by such policies occurring before the Closing, the party shall use its best efforts to recover such losses on behalf of the other party and shall deliver the proceeds recovered to the other party.

 

  10. GENERAL PROVISIONS.

10.1 Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New York or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of New York. In respect of any actions for injunctive or other equitable relief hereunder, any suit, action or claim may be brought against any party hereto in the federal courts located in the borough of Manhattan, New York, and each of the parties hereto hereby consents to the jurisdiction of such courts in any such action, suit or claims and hereby waives any objection to venue laid therein. Process in any such action, suit or claim may be served on any party anywhere in the world.

10.2 Notices. Any notices or other communications required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be considered delivered in all respects when it has been delivered by hand, overnight courier or international courier, by acknowledged facsimile transmission followed by the original mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or five (5) days after it is mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, first class postage prepaid, addressed as follows:

Varsity or Campus Outfitters:

c/o Varsity Group, Inc.

2677 Prosperity Avenue, Suite 250

Fairfax, Virginia 22031

Attention: Chief Executive Officer

Fax: (202) 466-2753

 

24


Copy to:

Latham & Watkins LLP

140 Scott Drive

Menlo Park, California 94025

Attention: Anthony J. Richmond

Fax: (650) 463-2600

Purchaser:

1375 Euclid Ave.

Suite 500

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

Attention: Micki Tubbs

Fax: (216) 583-0773

Copy to:

Ulmer & Berne LLP

1660 W. 2nd Street

Suite 1100

Cleveland, Ohio 44113

Attention: Michael D. Stovsky

(Fax: (216) 583-7137

or such other addresses as shall be similarly furnished in writing by either party.

10.3 Exhibits. All exhibits and schedules hereto are by reference incorporated herein and made a part hereof.

10.4 Entire Agreement, Binding Effect. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto) contains the entire agreement between the parties hereto with respect to the transactions contemplated herein, and there are no agreements or understandings between the parties other than those set forth herein or executed simultaneously or in connection herewith. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

10.5 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not constitute a part hereof.

 

25


10.6 Expenses. All transaction expenses shall be borne by the party incurring such expense.

10.7 Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded or cancelled, and any of the terms, covenants, representations, warranties or conditions hereof may be waived, only by a written instrument executed on behalf of all of the parties hereto or, in the case of a waiver, by the party waiving compliance.

10.8 Waiver. The failure of any party at any time or times to require performance of any provision of this Agreement shall in no manner affect the right to enforce that provision or any other provision hereof at any time thereafter, except as specifically limited herein. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach, or a subsequent waiver of the same term or condition, or the waver of any other term or condition.

10.9 Time of the Essence. Time is deemed to be of the essence with respect to all of the terms, covenants, representations and warranties of this Agreement.

10.10 Assignment. This Agreement may not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise by Varsity without the prior written consent of Purchaser, except to Follett Corporation and its Affiliates. This Agreement may not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise by Purchaser without the prior written consent of Varsity.

10.11 No Third Party Beneficiary. Except as provided in Sections 6.2 and 6.5 and in Section 9 as to indemnified parties, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement

10.12 Severability. If any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced by any Legal Requirement or public policy, all other terms and provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

10.13 Counterparts; Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Each of the parties to this Agreement agrees that a signature affixed to a counterpart of this Agreement and delivered by facsimile by any Person is intended to be its, his or her signature and shall be valid, binding and enforceable against such Person.

10.14 Schedules. Varsity has, or has caused Campus Outfitters to, set forth information in certain of the Schedules to this Agreement that corresponds to the Section of the Agreement to which they relate. A matter set forth in one Schedule need not be set forth in any

 

26


other Schedule so long as its relevance to the latter Schedule or Section of the Agreement is readily apparent on the face of the information disclosed in any of the Schedules.

[Signature Page Follows]

 

27


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has executed this Membership Interest Purchase Agreement all as of the day and year first above written.

 

SCHOOLONE.COM, LLC
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

CAMPUS OUTFITTERS GROUP, LLC
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

VARSITY GROUP, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

28


Schedule 2.4 Resignations

James Craig

 

29


Schedule 3.1(a) Organization and Validity Organization and Qualification; Power

Campus Textbooks LLC is not in good standing in the state of Maryland for failure to file its Personal Property Return.

 

30


Schedule 3.1(c) No Conflict; Compliance; Binding Effect

Campus Textbooks LLC is not in good standing in the state of Maryland for failure to file its Personal Property Return.

 

31


Schedule 3.1(e) Subsidiaries

 

Name

  Jurisdiction

Campus Textbooks LLC

  Maryland

 

32


Schedule 3.3(a) Financial Statements

Campus Oufitters LLC

Consolidated Balance Sheet

As of 12/31/07

 

($ in Thousands)

   As of
12/31/07
 

Current Assets

  

Cash & cash equivalents

   13  

Restricted Cash

   —    

Short-term investments

   —    

Accounts receivable, net of doubtful

   323  

Inventory

   3,483  

Deferred taxes

   —    

Deferred charge

   —    

Other Current Assets

   49  
      

Total Current Assets

   3,868  
      

Property, plant and equipment, net

   231  

Development

   —    

Software for internal use, net

   444  

Intangible assets, net

   —    

Goodwill

   —    

Deferred taxes

   —    

Long term investments

   —    

Other assets

   83  
      

Total Assets

   4,626  
      

Current Liabilities

  

Accounts payable

   (294 )

Deferred revenue

   (5 )

Other accrued expense & current liabilities

   (231 )

Lease Liability

   (1 )

BOA Loan / Margin Loan

   —    

Notes Payable, Current

   —    

Taxes payable

   (2 )

Accrued employee comp. & benefits

   (20 )
      

Total Current Liabilities

   (553 )

Long-Term Liabilities

  

Lease Liability

   —    

Other

   (22 )
      

Total Liabilities

   (575 )
      

Stockholders Equity

  

Stockholders Equity

   (0 )

Treasury Stock

   —    

Add’l paid in capital

   (695 )

Deferred compensation

   —    

Unrealized gains / losses

   —    

Accumulated deficit

   (3,356 )
      

Total Stockholders Equity

   (4,051 )
      

Total Liab & Equity

   (4,626 )
      

NOTE: approximately $46K of accrued Revenue Share for books sold in Campus Outfitter Stores (as of 12/31/07) are retained by Varsity and are excluded from the 12/31/07 Campus Outfitters Balance Sheet

 

33


Working Capital Adjustment (numbers in Thousands)

 

a)    Accounts Receivable    245.0     Per Griffin 2/25/08 aging
b)    Reserve for Doubtful accounts    (26.5 )   Half of $53K allowance
           
c)    Subtotal    218.5    
d)    A/R collected on 2/25/08    (29.0 )  
           
e)    Net Accounts Receivable    189.5    
           
f)    Accounts payable    (315.0 )  
           
g)    Difference    (125.5 )  
h)    Add half of RevShare owed    23.0     S1 will assume 1/2 of accrued RevShare
           
i)    Total Amount of Adjustment    (102.5 )   Varsity will payoff this amount of A/P
j)    Pay Royal Park    94.7    
k)    Pay Rifle/Kaynee    14.4     Total owed is $17.2
l)    S1 assumes 2 days of payroll    (6.6 )  
m)    Total (Should = $0)    (0.0 )  
           

 

34


Schedule 3.4 – Change in Condition

None

 

35


Schedule 3.8- Taxes

Campus Outfitters is subject to an audit for failure to pay New York State taxes.

 

36


Schedule 3.9 Contracts

Campus Outfitters School Customer List

 

School Name

Academia Avance

Andrew Jackson Middle School

Aldersgate Christian Academy

Aquinas Central Catholic School

Archbishop Carroll High School

Arapaho Classical School

Assumption Elementary School

Atholton Sda School

Bethany School

Beltsville SDA School

Bishop McNamara High School

Bishop Lynch High School

Bishop Ludden High School

Bridges Academy

Bullis School

Calvary Christian Academy

Cardinal Ritter High School

Cathedral High School

Carroll High School

Cambridge School of Dallas, TX

Cardinal Gibbons School

Cathedral High School - Book Store

Christ the King Elementary School

Charles A Tinley Accelerated School

Challenge Foundation Academy

Charles Herbert Flowers High School

Christian Center School

Cono Christian School, IA

Cornerstone Christian Academy

Cornerstone Schools of Washington, D.C.

Crossroads Academy

DC Prep

Dematha Catholic High School

Detroit Country Day School

Dupont Park Adventist School

Eagle Heights

Eden Grove Academy

Emery L. Fears Boys Academy

Excellence Christian School

 

37


The Fourth Presbyterian School

Franklin Academy

Free Gospel Christian Academy

Frankin Road Christian School

GE Peters SDA Elementary School

Gerstell Academy

Gerstell Middle School

Good Shepherd Lutheran

Grace Christian School, MD

Grace Episcopal Day School

Grosse Pointe Academy

Guerin High School

Gwynn Park High School

Holy Family Catholic School

Huda School

Holy Redeemer Catholic - DC

Holy Redeemer Elementary School

Holy Redeemer Elementary School - Kensington

Howard Road Academy

Holton-Arms School

Holy Family School

Holy Angels, In

Idea Public Charter School

Immaculate Heart of Mary School

Immaculata Academy

INDIANAPOLIS CHILDRENS CHOIR

International School of Indiana, IN

Jefferson Junior High School

Jewel Christian Academy

John Nevins Andrews School

John Paul II High School

Julia Brown Montessori School

Lanham Christian School

Lake Arbor Elementary School

Langdon Elementary

Laurel High School

Lee Christian School

Little Flower School, OH

The Linsly School

Liberty Bible Academy

Lighthouse Christian Academy

LITTLE FLOWER, MD

Luke C. Moore Academy Senior High School

Manor Montessori School

McLean School

Mitchellville Children’s House

Mount Notre Dame High School

Monticello Preparatory School

 

38


McKinley Technology High School

Mizzentop Day School

Mount Saint Mary Academy

Nativity Catholic Academy

Naylor Road School

Nannie Helen Burroughs School

Nativity Catholic School

National Christian Academy

New Bern Ave Day Care Center

NOTRE DAME ACADEMY, BUFFALO

Newport School

Niagara Catholic High School

Northwestern High School

Oakcrest School

Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Our Lady of Visitation

Our Lady Queen of Martyrs

Our Lady of Victory

Our Lady Star of the Sea

Saint Vincent Pallotti High School

Paul Public Charter School

Parkdale High School

Park Tudor School

Parkdale High School - Staff

PARISH EPISCOPAL SCHOOL, TX

Primary Montessori Day School

Prout School, The

Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart

Providence Country Day School

Randolph-Macon Academy

Raleigh Boys Choir

Ranney School

Reid Temple Christian Academy

Riverdale Baptist

Sacred Heart Academy - Winchester

Sacred Heart Elementary School

Sacred Heart Villa School

Sacred Heart Academy - Hamden

Seed Learning Academy

Shepherd of the Hills

Sligo Adventist School

Spencerville Adventist Academy

Springside School

Saints Peter and Paul Elementary School

Saint Ambrose Elementary School

 

39


St. Ambrose Catholic School

Saint Bernard’s School, MD

St. Francis Xavier School

Saint Francis Episcopal Day School, MD

Saint Hugh’s School

Saint Jerome

St. John the Baptist School

Saint Mary of the Mills

St. Mary’s Catholic School, Rockville

Saint Mary’s Catholic School Landover Hills

Saint Thomas More Academy, NC

St. Joseph the Worker School

Saint Mark Catholic School

Saint Peter’s School

Saint Jane De Chantal School

St. Columban School

St. Ignatius

St. John Central High School

St. John Central Grade School

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga School

St. Gregory the Great

Saint Teresa of Avila School, OH

Saint Ursula Villa School

Saint Patrick School

Saint Joseph Elementary School

Saint Gertrude

Saint Simon the Apostle

Saint Vivian Elementary School

Saint Jude Elementary School

Saint Peter’s Roman Catholic School

St. Stephen School

Stella Niagara Education Park

St. Gabriel Consolidated School

St. John the Baptist, OH

Saint Susanna Elementary School

Saint Matthew School

Saint Clement Elementary School

Saint Mary’s School Clinton

St. Dominic, OH

Saint Ann-Groesbeck

Saint Gabriel School

St. Joseph School

Saint Jude

Saint Mark the Evangelist

Saint Mary Catholic School - Royal Oak

St. Margaret, NY

Saint Antoninus Elementary

Saint Richard’s School

 

40


Saint Fabian Elementary School

Saint Joan of Arc School

Saint Regis School

Saint Genevieve Elementary School

Saint Sebastian Catholic School

St. Andrew and St. Rita Catholic School

St. Theresa’s School

The Summit Country Day School

Surrattsville High School

Takoma Academy

Temple Christian School - Madison Heights

Thurgood Marshall Academy

21st Century Charter School

Upper Room Christian School

Ursuline Academy

Vienna Adventist Academy

The Vanguard School

Washington McLaughlin School

Washington Middle School for Girls

West Minister Charter

Woods Academy

Word of Life Christian Academy

Woodstream Christian Academy

Woodrow Wilson High School, TX

Charles Carroll Middle School

Concordia Christian Academy

Cordozo H.S.

Escu (Division Of Detroit Jesuit)

Immaculate Heart Of Mary

L.G. Pinkston High School

Mercy High School

Oak Hill Academy

Prince of Peace, Carrollton

Progressive Christian Academy

Redeemer Lutheran

Richardson Adventist School

Seton High School

Shabach Christian Academy

St Bartholomew

St Catharine Of Siena

St Nicholas Academy

St Thomas

St. Mary of the Assumption

 

41


Schedule 3.10(a) Intellectual Property Liens or Invalid Licenses

None

 

42


Schedule 3.10(b) Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Rights

Services and Management Agreement, dated July 1, 2006, between the Company and SchoolOne, as amended on December 2006 and July 2007.

Software License Agreement, dated March 13, 2005, between the Company and Purple Cactus, LLC for Oasis Point of Sale System employed by Campus Outfitters.

The Company, through SchoolOne, licenses off-the-shelve software in the ordinary course of business.

 

Purple Cactus Capitalized Software
12/31/2007

Project

   NBV 2007

Purple Cactus - Q106

   $ 102,450.00

Purple Cactus - Q206

   $ 76,144.15

Purple Cactus - Q306

   $ 69,339.18

Purple Cactus - Q406

   $ 38,611.48

Purple Cactus - Q107

   $ 103,227.40

Purple Cactus - Q207

   $ 27,328.50

Purple Cactus - Q307

   $ 26,744.40

Total Asset

   $ 443,845.12

 

43


Schedule 3.12(a) Employees

Campus Outfitters Group LLC

2008 Employee Census

Salaried Employees

 

Last Name

  

First Name

   Date of
Hire
   Level    State   

Title

   Salary

CAMPUS OUTFITTERS

              
Cevallos    Damian E.    3/28/2005    Director    MD    General Manager of Campus Outfitters    $ 110,000.00
Cox    Jill    6/5/2006    Manager    IN    Store Manager, Indianapolis, IN    $ 40,000.00
DeLeeuw    Frank    6/5/2006    Manager    MI    Store Manager, Southfield, MI    $ 53,250.00
Griggs    Anthony    5/26/2005    Manager    MD    Embroidery Supervisor    $ 33,750.00
Holt    Mark    5/26/2005    Director    MD    Director of Warehouse Operations    $ 80,000.00
Jackson    Christian    1/22/2007    Specialist    MD    Warehouse Supervisor    $ 45,000.00
Janelle    Megan    5/22/2006       MD    Account Management Assistant    $ 38,000.00
Jones    Anthony    9/5/2006    Manager    MD    Senior Accountant    $ 78,500.00
McFarland    Charlotte    5/26/2005    Director    IN    Regional Store Director    $ 70,000.00
Moore    James R.    9/16/2006    Specialist    MI    Assistant Store Manager, Southfield, MI    $ 35,000.00
Moore    Jennifer    7/23/2007    Manager    NY    Store Manager, Buffalo    $ 30,000.00
Northcutt    Melissa    5/26/2005    Manager    TX    Store Manager, Richardson, TX    $ 45,900.00
Sorrell    Vincent    5/26/2005    Manager    MD    Warehouse Manager    $ 73,000.00
Sullivan    Kathlynne    5/18/2006    Manager    MD    Store Manager, Rockville, Fairfax, College Park    $ 55,000.00
Washington    Juanita    11/6/2006    Manager    MD    Customer Service Supervisor    $ 35,000.00
West    Christina    5/26/2005    Manager    OH    Store Manager, Cincinnati, OH    $ 40,800.00
Williams    Joe    5/26/2005    Manager    MD    Floor Supervisor    $ 44,900.00
Williams    Shye    2/13/2006    Specialist    MD    Staff Accountant    $ 36,750.00

 

44


Campus Outfitters Group LLC

2008 Employee Census

Permanent Full-Time & Part-Time Hourly Employees

 

Last Name

   First Name    Status    Hourly
Rate
  

Level

   State   

Title

   TOTALS
Bado    Jacqueline    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Baker    Lindsey    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Sales Associate   
Davis    Michael    PT    9    Support/Administrative    MD    Rockville Bookstore Associate   
Diaz    Oscar    PT    9    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Diaz    Zuri    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Sales Associate   
Dwyer    Jonathan    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    Accounting Intern   
Gill    Crystal    PT    11    Support/Administrative    MD    Customer Service Associate   
Glick    Marni    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Jalloh    Al    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Jones    Raymond    PT    12    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Senior Sales Associate   
Norris    Terrell    PT    11    Support/Administrative    MD    Bookstore Associate   
O'Brien    Michael    PT    10    Specialist    MD    Graphic Artist   
Shoe    Barbara    FT    13    Specialist    MD    Rockville Bookstore Associate   
Smith    Sean    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Suggs    Jasmine    PT    9    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Suggs    Melanie    PT    9    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Bookstore Associate   
Valdellon    Rebecca    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Sales Associate   
                     9
Baltz    Chris    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
Cooper    Marcus    PT    10    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
Dang    Hong Thu    FT    13    Support/Administrative    MD    Embroidery Operator   
Hall    Arthur    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
Kegley    David    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
On-Quan    Tran    FT    13    Support/Administrative    MD    Embroidery Operator   
Peterson    Morgan    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    MD    Embroidery Operator   
Sherren    Geoff    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
Stokes    William    PT    12    Support/Administrative    MD    CP Warehouse Associate   
                     1
Mayfield    Jennifer    PT    12    Support/Administrative    MI    Southfield Bookstore Associate   
                     9
Anyzeski    Darlene    PT    11    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Basso    Carol    PT    10    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Chermack    Janet    PT    10    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Darwin    John    PT    10    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Darwin    Nicole    PT    10    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Davies    Sarah    PT    9    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Henslee    Michael    PT    9    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Martin    Joye    PT    10    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
Sears    Ann    PT    12    Support/Administrative    TX    Richardson Bookstore Associate   
                     3
Kovacs    Christina    PT    13.5    Support/Administrative    NC    Store Manager, Raleigh, NC   
Kovacs    Steven    PT    9    Support/Administrative    NC    Raleigh Bookstore Associate   
Nguyen    Chau    PT    9    Support/Administrative    NC    Raleigh Bookstore Associate   
                     2
Dymond    Julia    PT    9    Support/Administrative    NY    Buffalo Bookstore Associate   
Gallo    Lisa    PT    9    Support/Administrative    NY    Buffalo Bookstore Associate   
                     3
Littrell    Betty Ann    PT    10    Support/Administrative    IN    Indianapolis Bookstore Associate   
Mayfield    Cheryl    PT    10    Support/Administrative    IN    Indianapolis Bookstore Associate   
Worland    Janet    PT    14.5    Support/Administrative    IN    Indianapolis Bookstore Associate   
                     5
Daniels-Purtee    Dina    PT    10    Support/Administrative    OH    Cincinnati Bookstore Associate   
Jones    Jennifer    PT    13    Support/Administrative    OH    Assistant Store Manager, Cincinnati, OH   
Miracle    Robert    PT    10    Support/Administrative    OH    Cincinnati Sales Associate   
Munson    Robin    PT    10    Support/Administrative    OH    Cincinnati Bookstore Associate   
Speed    Sandra    PT    13    Support/Administrative    OH    Cincinnati Bookstore Associate   
                  GRAND TOTAL:    50
                  Total Full Time    3
                  Total Part-Time    47

 

45


Schedule 3.14(a) Title to Personal Property

List Liens on Personal Property

Lien in favor of VGI Financial Corp. which will be released at Closing.

List Personal Property Leases

None

 

46


Schedule 3.14 (c) Real Property Leases

 

Lessor

  

Lessee

  

Property

5112 Berwyn LLC    Campus Outfitters Group LLC    5112 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD
S&K Joint Venture    Varsity Group Inc.    5127 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD
S&K Joint Venture    Varsity Group Inc.    5107A Berwyn Road, College Park, MD
S&K Joint Venture    Varsity Group Inc.    5107D Berwyn Road, College Park, MD
Rockville Pike JV L.P.    Varsity Group Inc.    815-B Rockville Pike, Rockville MD
North Market Associates    Varsity Group Inc.    1617 North Market Drive, Raleigh, NC
Arhaus Plaza LLC    Varsity Group Inc.    35 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, OH
Castleton Place, LP    Campus Outfitters Group LLC    5854 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN
Evans Sheridan Plaza    Varsity Group Inc.    432 Evans, Williamsville, NY
Country Corner Shopping Center LLC    Varsity Group Inc.    30860 Southfield Rd., Southfield, MI
Koll Bren Fund V, L.P.    Varsity Group Inc.    300 North Coit Rd., Richardson, TX

 

Location

  

Use

   Square Feet
5112 Berwyn Rd College Park, MD    Office Space / Retail store    16,850
5127 Berwyn Rd, College Park, MD    Main Warehouse    10,000
5107A Berwyn Rd. College Park, MD    Warehouse    2,425
5107D Berwyn Rd. College Park, MD    Warehouse    1,975
815-B Rockville Pike, Rockville MD    Retail Store    1,175
1617 North Market Drive, Raleigh, NC    Retail Store    1,175
35 Tri County Parkway, Cincinnati, OH    Retail Store    5,700
5854 East 82nd St., Indianapolis, IN    Retail Store    6,825
432 Evans, Williamsville, NY    Retail Store    3,000
30860 Southfield Rd.,Southfield, MI    Retail Store    5,000
300 North Coit Rd., Richardson, TX    Retail Store    2,825

 

47


Schedule 3.15(a) Plans and Benefit Arrangements

Benefit Plans:

 

   

401(k) Plan; American United Life Insurance Co. – Administrator

 

   

IRS determination letter dated 4/17/2002 provided to Parent

 

   

Varsity Group Inc. Second Amended and Restated 1998 Stock Option Plan

 

   

CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield (Medical); Principal Group Dental PPO, LTD and Group Life Insurance

 

   

Employee Stock Purchase Plan (currently dormant)

 

   

Paid Time Off (vacation, designated holidays)

 

   

Educational Assistance

 

48


Schedule 3.19 Insurance

Varsity Group, Inc.

Schedule of Insurance as of 12/11/07

 

Effective Dates

  

Carrier

  

Coverage Description

   Limits   

Deductible

12/01/06-03/01/08

   Federal Ins Co    Property      
      Debris Removal plus 25%    $ 100,000    $5,000 ea Occurrence
      of Direct Damage of Schedule       $3,500 Laptop
      Earthquake    $ 1,000,000    24 Hr Business Income
      Equipment Breakdown      Included    & Expense Waiting Period
      Premises      
      Flood Excluding College    $ 1,000,000   
      Park & Indianapolis      
      Newly Acquired or Construc    $ 1,000,000   
      Bldg for 180 Days      
      Newly Acquired EDP Equipm    $ 250,000   
      for 180 Days      
      Newly Acquired Personal Pr    $ 500,000   
      for 180 Days      

12/01/06-03/01/08

   Federal Ins Co    General Liability      
      Each Occurrence    $ 1,000,000    $1,000
      General Aggregate    $ 2,000,000   
      Products /Completed Opera    $ 2,000,000   
      Personal Advertising Injury    $ 1,000,000   
      Damage to Rented premises    $ 1,000,000   
      Medical Payments    $ 10,000   
      Employee Benefits Liability      
      Per Claim Limit    $ 1,000,000    $1,000
      Aggregate Limit    $ 1,000,000   
      Employers Liability      
      Stop GAP Ohio      
      Aggregate Limit    $ 500,000   
      Ea Accident Limit    $ 500,000   
      Ea Employee Limit for Disea    $ 500,000   

12/01/06-03/01/08

   Federal Ins Co    Business Auto      
      Liability    $ 1,000,000   
      per Accident Combined Single      
      Limit BI and PD Hired Non-      
      Medical payments Symbol3    $ 5,000   
      owned (Symbol 1)      
      Uninsured/Underinsured    $ 1,000,000   
      Motorist (symbol 2)      
      Physical Damage      
      Comp ACV (Symbol7)       $1,000
      Collision ACV ( Symbol 7)       $1,000
      Hired Vehicle Physical Damage      
      ACV Limit per Vehicle      
      Comprehensive       $500
      Collision       $500
      Towing    $ 50   

 

49


Varsity Group, Inc.

Schedule of Insurance as of 12/11/07 CONTINUED

 

Effective Dates

  

Carrier

  

Coverage Description

   Limits   

Deductible

12/01/06-3/1/08

   Federal Ins Co    Workers Comp      
      Part I Liability      Statutory   
      Part II Employers Liability      
      Bodily Injury Each Accident    $ 500,000   
      Bodily Injury by Disease    $ 500,000   
      policy Limit      
      Bodily Injury by Disease    $ 500,000   
      ea employee      

12/01/06-03/01/08

   Federal Ins Co    Umbrella      
      Excess Liability per Occurre    $ 5,000,000   
      General Aggregate    $ 5,000,000   
      Products Completed Operat    $ 5,000,000   
      Advertising Injury & persona    $ 5,000,000   
      Injury Aggregate Limit      
      Self Insured Retention       None

03/01/07-03/01/08

   National Union    Employment Practices      
      Each Occurrence    $ 1,000,000    $25,000
      General Aggregate    $ 1,000,000   

03/01/07-03/01/08

   Illinois National    Directors & Officers(1)      
      Policy Aggregate including D    $ 7,500,000   
      Securities Claims       $250,000
      All other Claims       $100,000

10/30/07 - 10/30/08

   Illinois National    NetAdvantage Security      
      Each Occurrence    $ 1,000,000    $25,000

8/13/2006 - 3/1/2008

   Federal Ins. Co.    Crime      
      Employee Theft    $ 500,000    $1,000
      Premises    $ 500,000    $1,000
      Transit    $ 500,000    $1,000
      Depositor's Forgery    $ 500,000    $1,000
      Computer      
      Theft and      
      Funds      
      Transfer      
      Fraud    $ 500,000    $1,000
      Employee Benefits Plans In       No Deductible

 

50


Schedule 6.5 Textbook Accounts

 

Campus Outfitter
Textbook Customers
MD:   
   Archbishop Carroll
TX:   
   Jesuit College Preparatory School
   John Paul II High School
NC:   
   St. David
IN:   
   Cathedral High School
   Park Tudor School
   Guerin

 

51

EX-31.1 3 dex311.htm EXHIBIT 31.1 EXHIBIT 31.1

Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, James M. Craig, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Varsity Group Inc.;

 

  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)) 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) 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 evaluations; and

 

  c) 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;

 

  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: April 23, 2007     By   /s/ James M. Craig
       

James M. Craig

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

EX-31.2 4 dex312.htm EXHIBIT 31.2 EXHIBIT 31.2

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, James M. Craig, certify that:

 

  1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Varsity Group Inc.;

 

  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)) 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) 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 evaluations; and

 

  c) 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;

 

  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: April 23, 2007     By   /s/ James M. Craig
       

James M. Craig

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.1 5 dex321.htm EXHIBIT 32.1 EXHIBIT 32.1

EXHIBIT 32.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Varsity Group Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31 2007(the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: April 23, 2007     /s/ James M. Craig
   

James M. Craig

Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

EX-32.2 6 dex322.htm EXHIBIT 32.2 EXHIBIT 32.2

EXHIBIT 32.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer

Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Varsity Group Inc. (the “Company”) hereby certifies, to such officer’s knowledge, that the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and that the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Dated: April 23, 2007     /s/ James M. Craig
   

James M. Craig

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----