EX-99.1 3 w91391exv99w1.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 exv99w1
 

EXHIBIT 99.1

VARSITY GROUP INC. REPORTS RECORD THIRD QUARTER
AND PROJECTS RECORD FISCAL YEAR

Washington, D.C., November 4, 2003 – Varsity Group Inc. (OTCBB: VSTY.OB) today reported record financial results for the third quarter of 2003 highlighted by a net profit of $3.8 million, a 78% increase from the net profit of $2.1 million recorded for the third quarter of 2002. Revenue increased 49% to $21.5 million from $14.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2003 and September 30, 2002, respectively.

Basic net profit per share was $0.23 and diluted net profit per share was $0.22 in the third quarter of 2003 (on 16.5 and 17.5 million shares, respectively) compared to a basic and diluted net profit of $0.13 per share (on 16.1 and 17.0 million shares, respectively) in the third quarter of 2002.

“This quarter’s record results demonstrate the strength of the eduPartners business model and our ability to rapidly and profitably expand our business,” said Eric Kuhn, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Varsity Group Inc. “Through eduPartners, we successfully served over 200 educational institutions this back-to-school season, providing them with the best service in the textbook industry. Based upon our success expanding our network of schools and the strength of our financial performance this quarter, we will deliver record earnings for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2003.”

“We look toward the future with tremendous optimism about the market opportunity and our ability to continue to scale our business, accelerate the growth of our eduPartners franchise and create shareholder value. We will continue to explore opportunities to leverage the portfolio of assets we have developed including a rapidly growing base of school and individual customers, considerable cash reserves and a strong balance sheet.”

Separately, the Company announced that on November 4, 2003, the Company purchased 175,000 previously issued and outstanding shares of Varsity Group Inc. Common Stock from two officers of the Company.

ABOUT VARSITY GROUP INC.
Varsity Group Inc. is a leading provider of online bookstore solutions for educational institutions. Founded in 1997 as VarsityBooks.com, the company pioneered selling new college textbooks over the Internet. Building on its textbook expertise, Varsity Group offers educational institutions the opportunity to outsource textbook procurement operations by utilizing eduPartners, its e-commerce solution for schools.

“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding Varsity Group’s business that are not historical facts are “Forward-looking statements” that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002.

###

Contact:
Jack Benson
Chief Financial Officer
jack.benson@varsity-group.com
202-667-3400

 


 

VARSITY GROUP INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)

                                     
        Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
        September 30,   September 30,
       
 
        2002   2003   2002   2003
       
 
 
 
Net sales:
                               
 
Product
  $ 13,291     $ 19,628     $ 14,312     $ 21,149  
 
Shipping
    1,091       1,837       1,207       2,055  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total net sales
    14,382       21,465       15,519       23,204  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Cost of books
    9,037       13,274       9,726       14,337  
 
Cost of shipping
    812       1,147       901       1,279  
 
Marketing and sales
    1,534       2,488       2,113       3,251  
 
Product development
    70       61       148       180  
 
General and administrative
    750       687       1,418       1,397  
 
Tax related benefit
                      (515 )
 
Non-cash compensation
    100       48       313       179  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    12,303       17,705       14,619       20,108  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Profit from operations
    2,079       3,760       900       3,096  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Other income, net:
                               
 
Interest income
    71       52       239       184  
 
Other income
    (2 )     1       253       1  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Other income, net
    69       53       492       185  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income
  $ 2,148     $ 3,813     $ 1,392     $ 3,281  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Net income per share:
                               
 
Basic
  $ 0.13     $ 0.23     $ 0.09     $ 0.20  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted
  $ 0.13     $ 0.22     $ 0.09     $ 0.19  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Weighted average shares:
                               
 
Basic
    16,116,916       16,515,833       16,069,410       16,411,702  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Diluted
    16,971,310       17,467,293       16,354,208       17,418,442  
 
   
     
     
     
 

 


 

VARSITY GROUP INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except share and per share data)

 

ASSETS

                       
                  September 30, 2003
          December 31, 2002    
              (unaudited)
Current assets:
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,950     $ 19,064  
 
Short-term investments
    1,500        
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of doubtful accounts of $13 at December 31, 2002 and at September 30, 2003
    263       3,267  
 
Other current assets
    297       818  
 
   
     
 
     
Total current assets
    19,010       23,149  
 
Fixed assets, net
    41       126  
 
Other assets
    23       23  
 
   
     
 
     
Total assets
  $ 19,074     $ 23,298  
 
   
     
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
 
Accounts payable
  $ 203     $ 576  
 
Other accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    573       1,080  
 
Taxes payable
    1,286       925  
 
   
     
 
     
Total current liabilities
    2,062       2,581  
Long-term liabilities
           
 
   
     
 
     
Total liabilities
    2,062       2,581  
 
   
     
 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
 
Preferred stock: $.0001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized; 0 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003
           
 
Common stock: $.0001 par value, 60,000,000 shares authorized, 17,098,666 and 17,474,471 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003, respectively
    2       2  
 
Additional paid-in capital
    87,638       87,883  
 
Deferred compensation
    (254 )     (75 )
 
Accumulated deficit
    (69,800 )     (66,519 )
 
Treasury Stock, $.0001 par value, 957,063 shares at December 31, 2002 and September 30, 2003
    (574 )     (574 )
 
   
     
 
     
Total stockholders’ equity
    17,012       20,717  
 
   
     
 
     
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 19,074     $ 23,298