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VALUE LINE INC - Quarter Report: 2013 July (Form 10-Q)

 


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended July 31, 2013
or
 
o 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:   0-11306

(VALUE LINE LOGO)
  VALUE LINE, INC.  
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
  New York     13-3139843  
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
  485 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York     10017-2630  
  (Address of principal executive offices)     (Zip Code)  
 
  (212) 907-1500  
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
 
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 o
 
        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files)”.
Yes x  No o
 
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 Exchange Act.
 
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer   x Smaller reporting company o
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
  Class     Outstanding at August 31, 2013  
 
   Common stock, $0.10 par value      9,850,705 Shares  
 
 
 

 

 
(VALUE LINE LOGO)
VALUE LINE INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
         
 
  
 
  
Page No.
 
  
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
  
 
     
Item 1.
  
Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
  
 
     
 
  
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013
  
3
     
 
  
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012
  
4
     
 
  
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012
  
5
     
 
  
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012
  
6
     
   
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2013
 
7
         
   
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2012
 
8
   
 
 
 
 
  
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
  
9
     
Item 2.
  
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
  
19
     
Item 3.
  
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
  
29
 
 
 
Item 4.
  
Controls and Procedures
  
30
     
 
  
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
  
 
     
Item 1.
  
Legal Proceedings
  
30
     
Item 1A.
  
Risk Factors
  
30
     
Item 2.
 
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
31
Item 5.
 
Other Information
 
31
Item 6.
  
Exhibits
  
31
     
 
  
Signatures
  
32
 
 
 

 

 
Part I - Financial Information
  Item 1. Financial Statements
 
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 
   
July 31,
   
April 30,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
   
(unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents (including short term
investments of $3,758 and $6,312, respectively)
  $ 4,021     $ 6,840  
Securities available-for-sale
    7,903       6,682  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful
accounts of $30 and $17, respectively
    1,175       1,278  
Receivables from affiliates
    2       -  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    1,666       1,646  
Deferred income taxes
    238       227  
Total current assets
    15,005       16,673  
                 
Long term assets:
               
Investment in EAM Trust
    57,660       57,511  
Property and equipment, net
    3,999       3,930  
Capitalized software and other intangible assets, net
    6,411       6,227  
Total long term assets
    68,070       67,668  
                 
Total assets
  $ 83,075     $ 84,341  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 1,946     $ 2,460  
Accrued salaries
    1,154       1,200  
Dividends payable
    1,478       1,481  
Accrued taxes on income
    270       180  
Unearned revenue
    21,176       22,073  
Total current liabilities
    26,024       27,394  
                 
Long term liabilities:
               
Unearned revenue
    2,251       2,636  
Deferred income taxes
    22,077       21,326  
Total long term liabilities
    24,328       23,962  
Total liabilities
    50,352       51,356  
                 
Shareholders’ Equity:
               
Common stock, $0.10 par value; authorized 30,000,000
shares; issued 10,000,000 shares
    1,000       1,000  
Additional paid-in capital
    991       991  
Retained earnings
    32,282       32,315  
Treasury stock, at cost (149,295 and 123,572 shares, respectively)
    (1,798 )     (1,572 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    248       251  
Total shareholders’ equity
    32,723       32,985  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 83,075     $ 84,341  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
3
 

 


Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share & per share amounts)
(unaudited)
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
July 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Revenues:
           
Investment periodicals and related publications
  $ 8,196     $ 8,028  
Copyright data fees
    756       910  
Total revenues
    8,952       8,938  
                 
Expenses:
               
Advertising and promotion
    1,043       812  
Salaries and employee benefits
    3,900       3,779  
Production and distribution
    1,542       1,362  
Office and administration
    1,998       1,633  
Total expenses
    8,483       7,586  
Income from operations
    469       1,352  
                 
Revenues and profits interests in EAM Trust
    1,769       1,473  
Income from securities transactions, net
    38       26  
Income before income taxes
    2,276       2,851  
Income tax provision
    831       1,075  
Net income
  $ 1,445     $ 1,776  
                 
Earnings per share, basic & fully diluted
  $ 0.15     $ 0.18  
                 
Weighted average number of common shares
    9,863,388       9,896,381  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
4
 

 


Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
             
   
For the Three Months Ended
 
   
July 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
             
             
Net income
  $ 1,445     $ 1,776  
                 
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
               
Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes
    (3 )     27  
Other comprehensive income (loss)
    (3 )     27  
Comprehensive income
  $ 1,442     $ 1,803  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
5
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
 
   
For the Three Months Ended
 
    July 31,  
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 1,445     $ 1,776  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used in operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    466       363  
Non-voting revenues interest in EAM Trust
    (1,598 )     (1,394 )
Non-voting profits interest in EAM Trust
    (171 )     (79 )
Deferred income taxes
    587       554  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Unearned revenue
    (1,282 )     (1,403 )
Reserve for settlement
    (38 )     (9 )
Operating lease exit obligation
    (36 )     (109 )
Accounts payable & accrued expenses
    (440 )     (408 )
Accrued salaries
    (46 )     (84 )
Accrued taxes on income
    242       (96 )
Prepaid and refundable income taxes
    -       616  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    (20 )     112  
Accounts receivable
    103       (351 )
Receivable from affiliates
    (2 )     (40 )
Total adjustments
    (2,235 )     (2,328 )
Net cash used in operating activities
    (790 )     (552 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases of securities classified as available-for-sale
    (1,223 )     (303 )
Distributions received from EAM Trust
    1,620       498  
Acquisition of property and equipment
    (133 )     (15 )
Expenditures for capitalized software
    (586 )     (405 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (322 )     (225 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Purchase of treasury stock at cost
    (226 )     -  
Dividends paid
    (1,481 )     (1,484 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,707 )     (1,484 )
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
    (2,819 )     (2,261 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    6,840       12,042  
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 4,021     $ 9,781  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
6
 

 


Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Three Months Ended July 31, 2013
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
                                                 
   
 
Common stock
   
Additional
paid-in-
capital
 
 
Treasury stock
   
Retained
earnings
   
Accumulated other
comprehensive
income/(loss)
     
   
Shares
   
Amount
       
Shares
   
Amount
           
Total
 
Balance at April 30, 2013
    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (123,572 )   $ (1,572 )   $ 32,315     $ 251     $ 32,985  
                                                                 
Net income
                                            1,445               1,445  
Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes
                                                    (3 )     (3 )
Purchase of treasury stock
                            (25,723 )     (226 )                     (226 )
Dividends declared
                                            (1,478 )             (1,478 )
Balance at July 31, 2013
    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (149,295 )   $ (1,798 )   $ 32,282     $ 248     $ 32,723  
 
Dividends declared per share were $0.15 for the three months ending July 31, 2013.
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
7
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity
For the Three Months Ended July 31, 2012
(in thousands, except share amounts)
(unaudited)
                                                                 
   
Common stock
   
Additional
paid-in-
capital
   
 
Treasury stock
   
Retained
earnings
   
Accumulated other
comprehensive
income/(loss)
     
   
Shares
   
Amount
       
Shares
   
Amount
           
Total
 
Balance at April 30, 2012
    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (103,619 )   $ (1,390 )   $ 31,628     $ 85     $ 32,314  
                                                                 
Net income
                                            1,776               1,776  
Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes
                                                    27       27  
Dividends declared
                                            (1,485 )             (1,485 )
Balance at July 31, 2012
    10,000,000     $ 1,000     $ 991       (103,619 )   $ (1,390 )   $ 31,919     $ 112     $ 32,632  
                                                                 
Dividends declared per share were $0.15 for the three months ending July 31, 2012.
                               
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.
 
8
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

Note 1 - Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Value Line, Inc. (Value Line or “VLI”, and collectively with its subsidiaries, the “Company”) is incorporated in the State of New York.  The name “Value Line” as used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, is a registered trademark of the Company.  The Company’s primary business is producing investment periodicals and related publications and making available copyright data including certain Value Line trademarks and Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to third parties under written agreements for use in third party managed and marketed investment products.
 
The Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, which have been derived from the unaudited interim Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements and the audited Consolidated Financial Statements, respectively,  were prepared following the interim reporting requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  In the opinion of management, the accompanying Unaudited Interim Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals except as noted below) considered necessary for a fair presentation.  This report should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on July 26, 2013 (the “Form 10-K”).   Results of operations covered by this report may not be indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.
 
Use of Estimates:

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures. Accordingly, actual results may differ from those estimates.
 
Principles of Consolidation:

The Company follows the guidance in the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) Topic 810 “Consolidation” to determine if it should consolidate its investment in a variable interest entity (“VIE”). A VIE is a legal entity in which either (i) equity investors do not have sufficient equity investment at risk to enable the entity to finance its activities independently or (ii) the equity holders at risk lack the obligation to absorb losses, the right to receive residual returns or the right to make decisions about the entity’s activities that most significantly affect the entity’s economic performance.  A holder of a variable interest in a VIE is required to consolidate the entity if it is determined that it has a controlling financial interest in the VIE and is therefore the primary beneficiary.  The determination of a controlling financial interest in a VIE is based on a qualitative assessment to identify the variable interest holder, if any, that has (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance, and (ii) either the obligation to absorb losses of the entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the VIE.  The accounting guidance requires the Company to perform an ongoing assessment of whether the Company is the primary beneficiary of a VIE and the Company has determined it is not the primary beneficiary of a VIE (see Note 3).

In accordance with FASB’s Topic 810, the assets, liabilities, and results of operations of subsidiaries in which the Company has a controlling interest have been consolidated.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.  On December 23, 2010, the Company completed the  deconsolidation of the investment management related affiliates (the “Restructuring Transaction”) in accordance with FASB’s Topic 810.  As part of the Restructuring Transaction, the Company received a significant non-voting revenues interest (excluding distribution revenues) and a non-voting profits interest in the new entity, EULAV Asset Management, a Delaware statutory trust (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”).  The Company relied on the guidance in FASB’s ASC Topics 323 and 810 in its determination not to consolidate its investment in EAM and to account for such investment under the equity method of accounting. The Company reports the amount it receives for its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests as a separate line item below operating income in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

Revenue Recognition:

Depending upon the product, subscription fulfillment for Value Line periodicals and related publications is available in print or digitally, via internet access.  The length of a subscription varies by product and offer received by the subscriber.  Generally, subscriptions are offered as annual subscriptions.  Subscription revenues, net of discounts, are recognized ratably on a straight line basis when the product is served to the client over the life of the subscription.  Accordingly, the amount of subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of the balance sheets are shown as unearned revenue within current and long term liabilities.

Copyright data revenues are derived from providing certain Value Line trademarks and the Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to third parties under written agreements for use in selecting securities for third party marketed products, including unit investment trusts, annuities and exchange traded funds (“ETFs”).  The Company earns asset-based copyright data fees as specified in the individual agreements.  Revenue is recognized monthly over the term of the agreement and, because it is asset-based, will fluctuate as the market value of the underlying portfolio increases or decreases in value.
 
9
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:

The Company accounts for its investment in its unconsolidated entity, EAM, using the equity method of accounting in accordance with FASB’s ASC 323.  The equity method is an appropriate means of recognizing increases or decreases measured by GAAP in the economic resources underlying the investments.  Under the equity method, an investor recognizes its share of the earnings or losses of an investee in the periods for which they are reported by the investee in its financial statements rather than in the period in which an investee declares a dividend or distribution. An investor adjusts the carrying amount of an investment for its share of the earnings or losses recognized by the investee.

The Company’s “interests” in EAM, the investment adviser to and the sole member of the distributor of the Value Line Funds, consist of a “non-voting revenues interest” and a “non-voting profits interest” in EAM as defined in the EAM Trust Agreement.  The non-voting revenues interest entitles the Company to receive a range of 41% to 55%, based on the amount of EAM’s adjusted gross revenues, excluding ES’s distribution revenues (“Revenues Interest”).  The non-voting profits interest entitles the Company to receive 50% of EAM’s profits, subject to certain limited adjustments as defined in the EAM Trust Agreement (“Profits Interest”).  The Revenues Interest and at least 90% of the Profits Interest are to be distributed each quarter to all interest holders of EAM, including Value Line.  Subsequent to the Restructuring Date, the Company’s Revenues Interest in EAM excludes participation in the service and distribution fees of EAM’s subsidiary ES.  The Company reflects its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM as non-operating income under the equity method of accounting subsequent to the Restructuring Transaction.  Although the Company does not have control over the operating and financial policies of EAM, pursuant to the EAM Trust Agreement, the Company has a contractual right to receive its share of EAM’s revenues and profits.

Valuation of Securities:

The Company’s securities classified as cash equivalents and available-for-sale consist of shares of money market funds that invest primarily in short-term U.S. Government securities, investments in ETFs, shares of equity securities in various publicly traded companies and bank certificates of deposits and are valued in accordance with the requirements of the Fair Value Measurements Topic of the FASB’s ASC 820.  The securities classified as available-for-sale reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets are valued at market and unrealized gains and losses, net of applicable taxes, are reported as a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Realized gains and losses on sales of the securities classified as available-for-sale are recorded in earnings as of the trade date and are determined on the identified cost method.

The Company classifies its securities available-for-sale as current assets to properly reflect its liquidity and to recognize the fact that it has liquid assets available-for-sale should the need arise.

Market valuations of securities listed on a securities exchange and ETF shares are based on the closing sales prices on the last business day of each month. The market value of fixed maturity U.S. Government debt securities is determined utilizing publicly quoted market prices.  Cash equivalents consist of investments in money market funds that invest primarily in U.S. Government securities valued in accordance with rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act.

The Fair Value Measurements Topic of FASB’s ASC defines fair value as the price that the Company would receive upon selling an investment in a timely transaction to an independent buyer in the principal or most advantageous market for the investment. The  Fair Value Measurements Topic established a three-tier hierarchy to maximize the use of observable market data and minimize the use of unobservable inputs and to establish classification of fair value measurements for disclosure purposes. Inputs refer broadly to the information that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, including assumptions about risk. Examples of risks include those inherent in a particular valuation technique used to measure fair value such as the risk inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique. Inputs are classified as observable or unobservable. Observable inputs are inputs that reflect the assumptions market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the reporting entity. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions about the factors market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability developed based on the best information available in the circumstances.
 
10
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

The three-tier hierarchy of inputs is summarized in the three broad levels listed below.
Level 1 – quoted prices in active markets for identical investments
Level 2 – other significant observable inputs (including quoted prices for similar investments, interest rates, prepayment speeds, credit risk, etc.)
Level 3 – significant unobservable inputs (including the Company’s own assumptions in determining the fair value of investments)

The following summarizes the levels of fair value measurements of the Company’s investments:
                         
    As of July 31, 2013  
($ in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 3,758     $ -     $ -     $ 3,758  
Securities available-for-sale
    7,903       -       -       7,903  
    $ 11,661     $ -     $ -     $ 11,661  
                                 
    As of April 30, 2013  
($ in thousands)
 
Level 1
   
Level 2
   
Level 3
   
Total
 
Cash equivalents
  $ 6,312     $ -     $ -     $ 6,312  
Securities available-for-sale
    6,682       -       -       6,682  
    $ 12,994     $ -     $ -     $ 12,994  

The Company had no other financial instruments such as futures, forwards and swap contracts. For the periods ended July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, there were no Level 2 nor Level 3 investments. The Company does not have any liabilities subject to fair value measurement.

Advertising expenses:

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Income Taxes:

The Company computes its income tax provision in accordance with the Income Tax Topic of the FASB’s ASC.  Deferred tax liabilities and assets are recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been reflected in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements. Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the differences between the book values and the tax bases of particular assets and liabilities, using tax rates currently in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse.

The Income Tax Topic of the FASB’s ASC establishes for all entities, a minimum threshold for financial statement recognition of the benefit of positions taken in filing tax returns (including whether an entity is taxable in a particular jurisdiction), and requires certain expanded tax disclosures.  As of July 31, 2013, management has reviewed the tax positions for the years still subject to tax audit under the statute of limitations, evaluated the implications, and determined that there is no material impact to the Company’s financial statements.

Earnings per share:

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and common stock equivalents outstanding during each period. Any shares that are reacquired during the period are weighted for the portion of the period that they are outstanding.  The Company does not have any potentially dilutive common shares from outstanding stock options, warrants, restricted stock, or restricted stock units.

Cash and Cash Equivalents:

For purposes of the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows, the Company considers all cash held at banks and short term liquid investments with an original maturity of less than three months to be cash and cash equivalents. As of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, cash equivalents included $3,758,000 and $6,312,000, respectively, for amounts invested in savings accounts at large commercial banks, held as bank certificates of deposits, and investments in money market mutual funds that invest in short term U.S. government securities.

Note 2 - Investments:

Securities Available-for-Sale:
Investments held by the Company and its subsidiaries are classified as securities available-for-sale in accordance with FASB’s ASC 320, Investments - Debt and Equity Securities.  All of the Company’s securities classified as available-for-sale were readily marketable and had a maturity of twelve months or less and are classified as current assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.
 
11
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

Equity Securities:

Equity securities classified as available-for-sale, consist of investments in common stocks, ETFs that attempt to replicate the performance of certain equity indexes, ETFs that attempt to replicate the inverse of the price performance of certain equity indexes and ETFs that hold preferred shares primarily of financial institutions.  As of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, the Company held equity securities consisting primarily of ETFs and select common stock holdings of blue chip companies with a concentration on large capitalization companies with high relative dividend yields, all classified as securities available-for-sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.  Additionally, as of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, the Company held non-leveraged ETFs, classified as securities available-for-sale, whose performance inversely corresponds to the market value changes of investments in other ETF securities held in the equity portfolio for dividend yield.

As of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consist of investments in the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY), SPDR S&P Dividend (SDY), First Trust Value Line Dividend Index (FVD), PowerShares Financial Preferred (PGF), certain common shares of equity securities and inverse equity index ETFs,  was $7,518,000 and $6,295,000, respectively, and the fair value was $7,903,000 and $6,682,000, respectively.

There were no sales or proceeds from sales of equity securities during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012.  The decreases in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $4,000, net of deferred  taxes of $1,000, were included in Shareholders’ Equity at July 31, 2013.  The increases in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available-for-sale of $42,000, net of deferred  taxes of $15,000, were included in Shareholders’ Equity at July 31, 2012.

The changes in the value of equity securities investments are recorded in Other Comprehensive Income in the Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.  Realized gains and losses are recorded as of the trade date in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income when securities are sold, mature or are redeemed.  As of July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, accumulated other comprehensive income was $385,000 and $387,000, which is net of deferred taxes of $137,000 and $136,000, respectively.

The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at July 31, 2013 were as follows:
                         
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Gross Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Common stocks
  $ 103     $ 34     $ (17 )   $ 120  
ETFs - equities
    3,878       889       (6 )     4,761  
Inverse ETFs - equities
    3,537       -       (515 )     3,022  
    $ 7,518     $ 923     $ (538 )   $ 7,903  
                                 
The carrying value and fair value of securities available-for-sale at April 30, 2013 were as follows:
         
                                 
($ in thousands)
 
Cost
   
Gross Unrealized
Gains
   
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
   
Fair Value
 
Common stocks
  $ 103     $ 27     $ (16 )   $ 114  
ETFs - equities
    3,878       740       -       4,618  
Inverse ETFs - equities
    2,314       -       (364 )     1,950  
    $ 6,295     $ 767     $ (380 )   $ 6,682  

Government Debt Securities (Fixed Income Securities):

Fixed income securities consist of government debt securities issued by the United States federal government.  There were no fixed income securities as of July 31, 2013 or April 30, 2013.

Income from securities transactions was comprised of the following:
             
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Dividend income
  $ 37     $ 26  
Other
    1       -  
Total income from securities transactions, net
  $ 38     $ 26  
 
Investment in Unconsolidated Entities:
Equity Method Investment:

As of July, 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, the Company’s investment in EAM Trust, on the Consolidated Balance Sheets was $57,660,000 and $57,511,000, respectively.
 
12
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

The value of VLI’s investment in EAM at July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013 reflects the fair value of contributed capital of $55,805,000 at inception, plus $5,820,000 of cash and liquid securities in excess of working capital requirements contributed to EAM’s capital account by VLI, plus VLI’s share of non-voting revenues and non-voting profits from EAM less distributions, made quarterly to VLI by EAM, during the period subsequent to its initial investment through the dates of the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

It is anticipated that EAM will have sufficient liquidity and earn enough profit to conduct its current and future operations so the management of EAM will not need additional funding. Although the distributor had historically received, from the Value Line Funds under the compensation plans it had in place with the Funds, amounts in excess of its actual expenditures, in more recent years the distributor has been spending amounts on promotion of the Value Line Funds in excess of the compensation received from the Funds.  Over time, EAM anticipates that its total future expenditures on such promotion will equal or exceed its total future revenues under the Funds’ distribution plans.  However, if that should not occur, EAM has no obligation to reimburse the Value Line Funds.

The Company monitors its investment in EAM Trust for impairment to determine whether an event or change in circumstances has occurred that may have a significant adverse effect on the fair value of the investment.  Impairment indicators include, but are not limited to the following: (a) a significant deterioration in the earnings performance, asset quality, or business prospects of the investee, (b) a significant adverse change in the regulatory, economic, or technological environment of the investee, (c) a significant adverse change in the general market condition of the industry in which the investee operates, or (d) factors that raise significant concerns about the investee’s ability to continue as a going concern such as negative cash flows, working capital deficiencies, or noncompliance with statutory capital and regulatory requirements.  EAM did not record any impairment losses for its assets during the fiscal years 2014 or 2013.

The components of EAM’s investment management operations, provided to the Company by EAM, were as follows:
       
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands) (unaudited)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds, net of waivers shown below
  $ 3,485     $ 3,080  
12b-1 fees and other fees, net of waivers shown below
  $ 1,119     $ 891  
Other income
  $ 2     $ -  
Investment management fee waivers (1)
  $ 24     $ 181  
12b-1 fee waivers (1)
  $ 523     $ 543  
Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest
  $ 1,598     $ 1,394  
EAM’s net income (2)
  $ 343     $ 158  

(1) During fiscal 2013, investment management fee waivers primarily related to the U.S. Government Money Market Fund (“USGMMF”) which was merged into a third party fund, the Daily Income Fund, managed by Reich & Tang, effective October 19, 2012.  During fiscal 2014 and 2013, the 12b-1 fee waivers related to eight and nine of the Value Line Mutual Funds, respectively.

(2) Represents EAM’s net income, after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.
             
   
July 31,
   
April 30,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2013
 
   
(unaudited)
       
EAM’s total assets
  $ 59,261     $ 59,349  
EAM’s total liabilities (1)
    (2,660 )     (2,814 )
EAM’s total equity
  $ 56,601     $ 56,535  

(1) At July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, EAM’s total liabilities included a payable to VLI for its accrued non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests of $1,752,000 and $1,621,000, respectively.
 
13
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

Note 3 - Variable Interest Entity

The Company retained a  non-voting revenues interest and a 50% non-voting profits interest in EAM, which was formed, as a result of the Restructuring Transaction on December 23, 2010, to carry on the asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses formerly conducted by the Company.  EAM is considered to be a VIE.  The Company makes its determination for consolidation of EAM as a VIE based on a qualitative assessment of the purpose and design of EAM, the terms and characteristics of the variable interests in EAM, and the risks EAM is designed to originate and pass through to holders of variable interests.  Other than EAM, the Company does not have an interest in any other VIEs.

The Company has determined that it does not have a controlling financial interest in EAM because it does not have the power to direct the activities of EAM that most significantly impact its economic performance.  Value Line does not hold any voting stock of EAM and it does not have any involvement in the day-to-day activities or operations of EAM.  Although the EAM Trust Agreement provides Value Line with certain consent rights and contains certain restrictive covenants related to the activities of EAM, these are considered to be protective rights and therefore Value Line does not maintain control over EAM.

In addition, although EAM is expected to be profitable, there is a risk that it could operate at a loss.   While all of the profit interest shareholders in EAM are subject to variability based on EAM’s operations risk, Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest in EAM is a preferred interest in the revenues of EAM, rather than a profits interest in EAM, and Value Line accordingly believes it is subject to proportionately less risk than other holders of the profits interests.

The Company has not provided any explicit or implicit financial or other support to EAM other than what was contractually agreed to in the EAM Trust Agreement.  Value Line has no obligation to fund EAM in the future and, as a result, has no exposure to loss beyond its initial investment and any undistributed revenues and profits interests retained in EAM.  The following table presents the total assets of EAM, the maximum exposure to loss due to involvement with EAM, as well as the value of the assets and liabilities the Company has recorded on its Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets for its interest in EAM.

         
Value Line
 
($ in thousands)
 
VIE Assets
   
Investment in
EAM Trust (1)
   
Liabilities
   
Maximum
Exposure to
Loss
 
As of July 31, 2013 (unaudited)
  $ 59,261     $ 57,660     $ -     $ 57,660  
As of April 30, 2013
  $ 59,349     $ 57,511     $ -     $ 57,511  

(1)  Reported within Long Term Assets on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.

Note 4 - Supplementary Cash Flow Information:

The Company did not make any income tax payments during the three months ended July 31, 2013 or July 31, 2012.

Note 5 - Employees’ Profit Sharing and Savings Plan:

Substantially all employees of the Company and its subsidiaries are members of the Value Line, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plan (the “Plan”).  In general, this is a qualified, contributory plan which provides for a discretionary annual Company contribution which is determined by a formula based on the salaries of eligible employees and the amount of consolidated net operating income as defined in the Plan. For the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the estimated profit sharing plan contribution, which is included as an expense in salaries and employee benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income, was $83,000 and $115,000, respectively.

Note 6 - Comprehensive Income:

The FASB’s ASC Comprehensive Income topic requires the reporting of comprehensive income in addition to net income from operations.  Comprehensive income is a more inclusive financial reporting methodology that includes disclosure of certain financial information that otherwise would not be recognized in the calculation of net income.

In May 2012, the Company adopted the provisions of Accounting Standards Update 2011-05 to reflect comprehensive income in two statements which include the components of net income and total net income in the first statement, immediately followed by a financial statement that presents the components of other comprehensive income, a total for other comprehensive income and a total for comprehensive income.

As of July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the Company held equity securities consisting primarily of ETFs and select common stock holdings of blue chip companies with a concentration on large capitalization companies with high relative dividend yields that are classified as securities available-for-sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.  Additionally, as of July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the Company held non-leveraged ETFs, classified as securities available-for-sale, whose performance inversely corresponds to the market value changes of investments in other ETF securities held in the equity portfolio for dividend yield.  The change in valuation of these securities, net of deferred income taxes, has been recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income in the Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.
 
14
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated  Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2013 are as follows:
                   
($ in thousands)
 
Amount Before
Tax
   
Tax Benefit
   
Amount Net of
Tax
 
Change in unrealized gains on securities
  $ (4 )   $ 1     $ (3 )
                         
    $ (4 )   $ 1     $ (3 )
 
The components of comprehensive income included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income and Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended July 31, 2012 are as follows:
                         
($ in thousands)
 
Amount Before
Tax
   
Tax Expense
   
Amount Net of
Tax
 
Change in unrealized gains on securities
  $ 42     $ (15 )   $ 27  
                         
    $ 42     $ (15 )   $ 27  

Note 7 - Related Party Transactions:

Investment Management (overview):

On December 23, 2010, the Company deconsolidated its asset management and mutual fund distribution businesses and its interest in these businesses was restructured as a non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM.  Accordingly, the Company no longer reports this operation as a separate business segment, although it still maintains a significant interest in the cash flows generated by this business and will receive non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests going forward, as discussed below.  Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at July 31, 2013, were $2.2 billion,10.5% above total assets of $2.0 billion in the Value Line Funds managed by EAM at July 31, 2012.  The increase is a result of net appreciation in equity assets under management partially offset by redemptions within the funds.

The non-voting revenues and 90% of the Company’s non-voting profits interests due from EAM to the Company are payable each fiscal quarter under the provisions of the EAM Trust Agreement.  The distributable amounts earned through the balance sheet date, which is included in the Investment in EAM Trust on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, and not yet paid, were $1,752,000 and $1,621,000 at July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, respectively.

EAM Trust - VLI’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests:

The Company holds non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM which entitle the Company to receive from EAM an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM’s investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund and separate accounts business.  EAM currently has no separately managed account clients.  The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interests in EAM as follows:
             
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Non-voting revenues interest in EAM
  $ 1,598     $ 1,394  
Non-voting profits interest in EAM
    171       79  
    $ 1,769     $ 1,473  

Transactions with Parent:

During the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, the Company was reimbursed $51,000 and $0,  respectively, for payments it made on behalf of and for services the Company provided to the Parent.  Receivables from affiliates  or receivables from the Parent on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets were $2,000 and $0 at July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013, respectively.

The Company is a party to a tax-sharing arrangement with the Parent which allocates the tax liabilities of the two Companies between them.  The Company made no Federal tax payments to the Parent during the three months ended July 31, 2013 or July 31, 2012.   There were no prepaid federal income tax due from the Parent at July 31, 2013 and April 30, 2013.

From time to time, the Parent has purchased additional shares of common stock of the Company in the market when and as the Parent has determined it to be appropriate.  The Parent may make additional purchases of common stock of the Company from time to time in the future. As of July 31, 2013, the Parent owned 87.65% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the Company.
 
15
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

Note 8 - Federal, State and Local Income Taxes:

In accordance with the requirements of the Income Tax Topic of the FASB’s ASC, the Company’s provision for income taxes includes the following:
             
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
 
Current tax expense:
           
    Federal
  $ 216     $ 448  
    State and local
    28       73  
      244       521  
Deferred tax expense:
               
    Federal
    506       467  
    State and local
    81       87  
      587       554  
Income tax provision:
  $ 831     $ 1,075  

Deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities.  The tax effect of temporary differences giving rise to the Company’s deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability are as follows:
             
   
July 31,
   
April 30,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2013
 
Federal tax benefit (liability):
           
    Unrealized gains on securities available-for-sale
  $ (137 )   $ (136 )
    Operating lease exit obligation
    -       13  
    Deferred professional fees
    49       49  
    Deferred charges
    292       265  
Total federal tax benefit
    204       191  
                 
State and local tax benefits:
               
    Other
    34       36  
Total state and local tax benefits
    34       36  
Deferred tax asset, short term
  $ 238     $ 227  
                 
   
July 31,
   
April 30,
 
($ in thousands)
  2013     2013  
Federal tax liability (benefit):
               
   Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM
  $ 17,679     $ 17,679  
   Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation
    (619 )     (619 )
   Depreciation and amortization
    2,166       1,642  
   Other
    410       262  
Total federal tax liability
    19,636       18,964  
                 
State and local tax liabilities (benefits):
               
   Deferred gain on deconsolidation of EAM
    2,253       2,243  
   Deferred non-cash post-employment compensation
    (79 )     (79 )
   Depreciation and amortization
    276       208  
   Deferred professional fees
    (9 )     (10 )
Total state and local tax liabilities
    2,441       2,362  
Deferred tax liability, long term
  $ 22,077     $ 21,326  

At the end of each interim reporting period, the Company estimates the effective income tax rate to apply for the full year. The Company uses the effective income tax rate determined to provide for income taxes on a year-to-date basis and reflects the tax effect of any tax law changes and certain other discrete events in the period in which they occur.

The overall effective income tax rate, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012 was 36.51% and 37.71%, respectively. The Company’s annual effective tax rate may change due to a number of factors including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-tax income, the Company’s geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, new tax laws, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings by and settlements with tax authorities.  The fluctuation in the effective income tax rate during fiscal 2014 is primarily attributable to a lower percentage of income subject to state and local taxes and an increase in the dividends received deduction.
 
16
 

 


Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)

The provision for income taxes differs from the amount of income tax determined by applying the applicable U.S. statutory income tax rate to pretax income as a result of the following:
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
U.S. statutory federal rate
    35.00 %     35.00 %
Increase (decrease) in tax rate from:
               
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
    2.24 %     2.93 %
Effect of dividends received deductions
    -0.37 %     -0.22 %
Other, net
    -0.36 %     0.00 %
Effective income tax rate
    36.51 %     37.71 %
 
The Company believes that, as of July 31, 2013, there were no material uncertain tax positions that would require disclosure under GAAP.
 
The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of the Parent.  The Company has a tax sharing agreement which requires it to make tax payments to the Parent equal to the Company’s liability/(benefit) as if it filed a separate return.
 
The Company’s federal income tax returns (included in the Parent’s consolidated returns) and state and city tax returns for fiscal years 2010, 2011, and 2012 are subject to examination by the tax authorities, generally for three years after they were filed with the tax authorities.  In February 2012, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has concluded its examination of the Company’s federal income tax returns through the fiscal year 2010, which resulted in no changes that had any adverse effect on the Company’s financial statements.  The Company’s tax returns for the fiscal years ended April 30, 2010 and 2011 are being examined by the City of New York.  The Company does not expect the audit examination to have a material effect on its financial statements.
 
Note 9 - Property and Equipment:
 
Property and equipment are carried at cost.  Depreciation and amortization are provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, or in the case of leasehold improvements, over the remaining terms of the leases.  For income tax purposes, depreciation of furniture and equipment is computed using accelerated methods and buildings and leasehold improvements are depreciated over prescribed extended tax lives. Property and equipment, net, on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets was comprised of the following:
 
   
July 31,
   
April 30,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2013
 
Land
  $ 726     $ 726  
Building and leasehold improvements
    7,498       7,391  
Furniture and equipment
    11,206       11,180  
      19,430       19,297  
Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (15,431 )     (15,367 )
Total property and equipment, net
  $ 3,999     $ 3,930  
 
Note 10 - Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed for Internal Use:
 
The Company has adopted the provisions of the Statement of Position 98-1 (SOP 98-1), “Accounting for the Costs of Computer Software Developed for Internal Use”.  SOP 98-1 requires companies to capitalize as long-lived assets many of the costs associated with developing or obtaining software for internal use and amortize those costs over the software’s estimated useful life in a systematic and rational manner.
 
The Company capitalized  $586,000 and $405,000 related to the development of software for internal use for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively, of which $574,000 and $354,000 related to development costs for  the digital production software  project and $12,000 and $51,000 related to a new fulfillment system, respectively.  Such costs are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the asset which is approximately from 3 to 5 years.  Total amortization expenses for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012 were $402,000 and $295,000, respectively.
 
Note 11 - Treasury Stock and Repurchase Program:
 
On September 19, 2012, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program, authorizing the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock up to an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000.  The repurchases will be made from time to time on the open market at prevailing market prices, in negotiated transactions off the market, in block purchases or otherwise. The new repurchase program may be suspended or discontinued at any time at the Company’s discretion and has no set expiration date.
 
17
 

 

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
July 31, 2013
(Unaudited)
 
Treasury stock, at cost, consists of the following:
 
(in thousands except for shares and cost
per share)
 
Shares
   
Total Average
Cost Assigned
   
Average Cost per Share
   
Aggregate Purchase Price
Remaining Under the Program
 
Balance as of April 30, 2013 (1)(2)(3)
    123,572     $ 1,572     $ 12.72     $ 2,818  
Purchases effected in open market during the quarter ended:
                               
July 31, 2013
    25,723       226     $ 8.82     $ 2,592  
                                 
Balance as of July 31, 2013
    149,295     $ 1,798     $ 12.04          
 
(1) Includes 18,400 shares with a total average cost of $354,000 that were acquired prior to the repurchase program authorized in January 2011.
 
(2) Includes 85,219 shares with a total average cost of $1,036,000 that were acquired during the former repurchase program, which was authorized in January 2011 and expired in January 2012.
 
(3) Includes 19,953 shares with a total average cost of $182,000 that were acquired during the new repurchase program authorized in September 2012.
 
Note 12 - Lease Commitments:
 
On June 4, 1993, the Company entered into a 15 year lease agreement to provide primary office space.  The lease included free rental periods as well as scheduled base rent escalations over the term of the lease.  In April 2007, the Company extended the term for 5 additional years at a market rental rate to May 2013. The total amount of the base rent payments is being charged to expense on the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The Company recorded a deferred charge on its Consolidated Balance Sheets to reflect the excess of annual rental expense over cash payments since inception of the lease.
 
On February 7, 2013, the Company and Citibank, N.A. (the “Sublandlord”) entered into a sublease agreement, pursuant to which Value Line will lease approximately 44,493 square feet of office space located on the ninth floor at 485 Lexington Ave., New York, NY (“Building” or “Premises”) beginning on or about July 1, 2013 and ending on February 27, 2017 (“Sublease”).  On August 16, 2013, the Company moved to the Building which became its new corporate office facility.  Base rent under the Sublease is $1,468,269 per annum, subject to customary concessions in the Company’s favor and pass-through of certain increases in operating costs and real estate taxes.  The Company provided a security deposit in cash in the amount of $489,423, which is to be partially returned over the course of the sublease term.  The Company is required to pay for certain operating expenses associated with the Premises as well as utilities supplied to the Premises.  The Sublease terms will provide for a significant decrease in the Company’s annual rental expenses.
 
Value Line reached an agreement with its current landlord to extend the term of the expiring lease for its previous corporate office facility, which was due to expire on May 31, 2013, for a period of three and a half months beginning June 1, 2013 and expiring September 15, 2013 (“Lease Modification”) at a rental which approximates the Company’s monthly rent payments under the expiring lease obligation.
 
Rental expenses for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012 were $932,000 and $627,000, respectively.
 
As of July 31, 2012 future minimum payments, exclusive of potential increases in real estate taxes and operating cost escalations, under operating leases for office space, with remaining terms of one year or more, were as follows:
                   
Twelve Months ended July 31,
 
Previous Lease
   
New Sublease
   
Total
 
     
($ in thousands)
   
                   
2013
  $ 3,074     $ -     $ 3,074  
2014
    463               463  
    $ 3,537     $ -     $ 3,537  
 
As of July 31, 2013 future minimum payments, exclusive of potential increases in real estate taxes and operating cost escalations, under operating leases for office space, with remaining terms of one year or more, are as follows:
                   
Twelve Months ended July 31,
 
Previous Lease
   
New Sublease
   
Total
 
     
($ in thousands)
   
2014
  $ 463     $ 857     $ 1,320  
2015
    -       1,468       1,468  
2016
    -       1,468       1,468  
2017
    -       857       857  
    $ 463     $ 4,650     $ 5,113  
 
18
 

 

 
Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
 
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
 
This report contains statements that are predictive in nature, depend upon or refer to future events or conditions (including certain projections and business trends) accompanied by such phrases as “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “will”, “intend” and other similar or negative expressions, that are “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended.  Actual results for Value Line, Inc. (“Value Line” or “the Company”) may differ materially from those projected as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following:
 
●  
dependence on key personnel;
●  
maintaining revenue from subscriptions for the Company’s digital and print published products;
●  
protection of intellectual property rights;
●  
changes in market and economic conditions, including global financial issues;
●  
dependence on non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EULAV Asset Management, a Delaware statutory trust (“EAM” or “EAM Trust”), which serves as the investment advisor to the Value Line Funds and engages in related distribution, marketing and administrative services;
●  
fluctuations in EAM’s assets under management due to broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, redemptions by investors and other factors, and the effect these changes may have on the valuation of EAM’s intangible assets;
●  
competition in the fields of publishing, copyright data and investment management;
●  
the impact of government regulation on the Company’s and EAM’s businesses;
●  
availability of free or low cost investment data through discount brokers or generally over the internet;
●  
terrorist attacks, cyber security attacks and natural disasters;
●  
other risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the risks described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2013 and in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2013; and other risks and uncertainties arising from time to time.
 
These factors are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors which may involve external factors over which we may have no control or changes in our plans, strategies, objectives, expectations or intentions, which may happen at any time at our discretion, could also have material adverse effects on future results. Except as otherwise required to be disclosed in periodic reports required to be filed by public companies with the SEC pursuant to the SEC’s rules, we have no duty to update these statements, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, current plans, anticipated actions, and future financial conditions and results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking information contained herein.
 
In this report, “Value Line,” “we,” “us,” “our” refers to Value Line, Inc. and the “Company” refers to Value Line and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.
 
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Executive Summary of the Business
 
The Company’s primary business is producing investment periodicals and related publications and making available copyright data, including certain Proprietary Ranking System and other proprietary information, to third parties under written agreements for use in third-party managed and marketed investment products.  Value Line markets under well-known brands including Value Line®, the Value Line logo®, The Value Line Investment Survey®, and The Most Trusted Name in Investment Research™.  The name “Value Line” is used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, and is a registered trademark of the Company. EULAV Asset Management Trust (“EAM”) provides the investment management services to the Value Line® Mutual Funds (“Value Line Funds”).  Value Line retains a substantial non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interest in EAM.
 
The Company’s target audiences within the investment periodicals and related publications field are individual investors, colleges, libraries, and investment management professionals. Individuals come to Value Line for complete research in one package.  Institutional subscribers consist of corporations, financial professionals, colleges, and municipal libraries.  Libraries and universities, offer the Company’s detailed research to their patrons and students.  Investment management professionals use the research and historical information in their day-to-day businesses.  The Company has a dedicated department that solicits institutional subscriptions.  Fees for institutional subscriptions vary by the university or college enrollment, number of users, and the number of products purchased.
 
Payments received for new and renewal subscriptions and the value of receivables for amounts billed to retail and institutional customers are recorded as unearned revenue until the order is fulfilled.  As the subscriptions are fulfilled, the Company recognizes revenue in equal installments over the life of the particular subscription. Accordingly, the subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of a particular balance sheet are shown on that balance sheet as unearned revenue within current and long term liabilities.
 
Asset Management and Mutual Fund Distribution Businesses
 
The business of EAM is managed by its trustees each owning 20% of the voting profits interest of EAM and by its officers subject to the direction of the trustees.  The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM entitle it to receive a range of 41% to 55% of EAM’s revenues (excluding distribution revenues) from EAM’s mutual fund and separate account business and 50% of the residual profits of EAM (subject to temporary increase in certain limited circumstances).  The Voting Profits Interest Holders will receive the other 50% of residual profits of EAM.
 
Pursuant to the EAM Agreement, the Company granted EAM the right to use the Value Line name for all existing Value Line Funds and agreed to supply the Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information to EAM without charge or expense.
 
Business Environment
 
During the three months ended July 31, 2013, the NASDAQ and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were up 8.9% and 4.5%, respectively, as compared to the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks which increased 13.3%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s increase of 5.8% during the comparable period.
 
The U.S. economy meandered through a somewhat uneven, but ultimately stronger, first half of calendar 2013. On the one hand, growth was constrained by fiscal austerity (the implementation of the so-called sequestrations), higher social security payroll withholdings, and the impact of widespread recessions in Europe. On the other hand, growth was supported by improving levels of consumer spending, gains in residential and nonresidential building, and rising levels of exports. This combination produced growth of 1.1% and 2.5%, respectively, in the first and second quarters of this year. The economic bulls were clearly relieved by this showing, as many had feared that June-period growth would have backtracked some, under pressure from the aforementioned sequestrations. 
 
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Now, as we look forward to the concluding six months, we sense that these sequestrations are likely to prove even less injurious than was the case in the first six months; that job growth should continue to quicken, if unevenly; that the housing recovery is likely to remain in place, notwithstanding the recent notable climb in mortgage rates; and that economic growth should return to Europe, albeit gingerly and not all that convincingly. 
 
That said, the Federal Reserve, an enthusiastic supporter of the economic upturn via bond purchases each month, may well opt to slow down that process by later this year. In anticipation of such an adjustment, interest   rates - in particular mortgage rates - are already climbing, as are Treasury yields on notes and bonds. Thus, the uneven quality of the business expansion is likely to continue. All told, this confluence of factors is likely to produce growth that is incrementally better than in the opening six months, on average, with GDP climbing by 2.0% - 2.5% during the current half. A further modest ramp up, to perhaps 2.5%, or better, is now possible in calendar 2014.   
 
The highly accommodative monetary policies in place up to this point in the business up cycle have helped to keep intact the long and venerable bull market in equities. However, in the past number of weeks, the fear of an upcoming tapering in the aforementioned bond buying has led to a less bullish approach to stocks. In fact, the market has undergone a moderate degree of profit taking. To this point, we are not in correction territory, which is a pullback of 10%, or more, but we could be heading in that direction should the Federal Reserve prove aggressive in its tapering. Overall, we remain cautious in our approach to the equities market, sensing that stocks are now reasonably valued following the recent pullback, but not yet undervalued.         
 
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012
 
The following table illustrates the Company’s key components of revenues and expenses.
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands, except earnings per share)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Income from operations
  $ 469     $ 1,352       -65.3 %
Revenues and profits interests from EAM Trust
  $ 1,769     $ 1,473       20.1 %
Income from operations plus non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM Trust
  $ 2,238     $ 2,825       -20.8 %
Operating expenses
  $ 8,483     $ 7,586       11.8 %
Income from securities transactions, net
  $ 38     $ 26       46.2 %
Income before income taxes
  $ 2,276     $ 2,851       -20.2 %
Net income
  $ 1,445     $ 1,776       -18.6 %
Earnings per share
  $ 0.15     $ 0.18       -16.7 %
 
During the three months ended July 31, 2013, the Company’s net income of $1,445,000, or $0.15 per share was $331,000 or $0.03, respectively, below net income of $1,776,000, or $0.18 per share, for the three months ended July 31, 2012.  Income from operations was $469,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and compared to income from operations of $1,352,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2012.  Income before income taxes, which is inclusive of the non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests from EAM, was $1,769,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to $1,473,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2012.
 
Total operating revenues
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Investment periodicals and related publications:
                 
        Print
  $ 4,673     $ 4,900       -4.6 %
        Digital
    3,523       3,128       12.6 %
Total investment periodicals and related publications
    8,196       8,028       2.1 %
    Copyright data fees
    756       910       -16.9 %
Total publishing revenues
  $ 8,952     $ 8,938       0.2 %
 
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Total publishing revenues from investment periodicals and related publications including copyright data fees were $8,952,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013, which is comparable to the total publishing revenues of $8,938,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2012.
 
Within investment periodicals and related publications, subscription sales orders are derived from print and digital products.  The following chart illustrates the fiscal year-to-fiscal year changes in the gross sales orders associated with print and digital subscriptions.
 
Sources of Subscription Sales Orders
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
   
2013
 
2012
   
Print
 
Digital
 
Print
 
Digital
New Sales Orders
    23.9 %     27.6 %     16.3 %     20.4 %
Conversion and Renewal Sales Orders
    76.1 %     72.4 %     83.7 %     79.6 %
Total Sales Orders
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
 
   
As of July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
                         
Unearned subscription revenue (current and long term liabilities)
  $ 23,427     $ 24,592       -4.7 %
 
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues
 
Investment periodicals and related publications revenues increased $168,000, or 2.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to the prior fiscal year.  The Company continued its efforts to attract new subscribers through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail and the internet for retail users, and by the efforts of our sales personnel in the institutional market.  Total product line circulation at July 31, 2013 was 5.0% above total product line circulation at July 31, 2012, reversing a long term trend.  The Company has been successful in growing revenues from print and digitally-delivered investment periodicals within Institutional Sales.  We have also benefited from “converting” some customers from retail to professional price services.   However, Institutional Sales orders of $1,995,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2013, were $323,000 below comparable sales orders of $2,318,000, for the three months ended July 31, 2012.
 
           Print publication revenues decreased $227,000 or 4.6% for the three months ended July 31, 2013 from fiscal 2013.  Earned revenues from institutional print publications increased $126,000 or 35.6% for the three months ended July 31, 2013 as compared to the prior fiscal year.  Print publications revenues from retail subscribers decreased $353,000 or 7.8% for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to the prior fiscal year.  Total print circulation at July 31, 2013 was 4.5% below total print circulation at July 31, 2012.  Continuing factors that have contributed to the decline in the retail print investment periodicals and related publications revenues include competition in the form of free or low cost investment research on the Internet and research provided by brokerage firms at no direct cost to their clients.
 
Digital publications revenues increased $395,000 or 12.6% for the three months ended July 31, 2013 as compared to the prior fiscal year.  Earned revenues from institutional digital publications increased $214,000 or 10.3% for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to the prior fiscal year. Digital publications revenues from retail subscribers increased $181,000 or 17.1% for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to the prior fiscal year.  Total digital product circulation at July 31, 2013 was 31.8% above total digital product circulation at July 31, 2012.
 
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The Company has relied more on its Institutional Sales marketing efforts, and the increase in institutional combined print and digital revenues is a direct result of a focused effort to sell to colleges, libraries and corporate/investment adviser accounts.
 
The majority of the Company’s subscribers have traditionally been individual investors who generally receive printed publications via U.S. Mail on a weekly basis. Consistent with the experience of other print publishers in many fields, the Company has found that its roster of customers has been declining as individuals migrate to various digital services.  Individual investors interested in digitally-delivered investment information have access to free equity research from many sources.  For example, most retail broker-dealers with computerized trading services offer their customers free or low cost research services that compete with the Company’s services.  A modest number of customers who do not qualify for retail prices have chosen to cancel their subscriptions, while the rest have converted to institutional services, at higher prices.
 
The Company believes that the volatility of the equity market and uncertain economic conditions have to some extent eroded retail investor interest in equities.
 
The Company has established the goal of developing competitive digital products and marketing them effectively through traditional as well as internet and mobile channels. Towards that end, the Company has been modernizing legacy information technology systems.
 
The planned launch of our new product offerings is still expected to begin in fiscal 2014.  A preview of the new equities digital product was launched during August 2013.  A major data technology focus is the creation of a centralized and active database for all of Value Line’s finalized, post-calculated data.  In order to serve up our data for a variety of uses (new products, different Institutional Sales channels, etc.) it became apparent that all data fields must be fully defined, and a new storage/retrieval mechanism developed which was built upon current “relational” protocols.
 
Copyright data fees
 
The Value Line Proprietary Ranking System information (the “Ranking System”), a component of the Company’s flagship product, The Value Line Investment Survey, is also utilized in the Company’s copyright data business. The Ranking System is also required to be made available to EAM for specific uses without charge.  The Ranking System is designed to be predictive over a six to twelve month period.  For the three month period ended July 31, 2013, the combined Ranking System “Rank 1 & 2” stocks increased 13.3%, outperforming the S&P 500 Index’s increase of 5.8%, during the comparable period.
 
During the three months ended July 31, 2013, copyright data fees decreased $154,000 or 16.9%, as compared to the prior fiscal year.  As of July 31, 2013, total third party sponsored assets were attributable to four contracts for copyright data representing $2.8 billion in various products, as compared to four contracts for copyright data representing $3.3 billion in assets at July 31, 2012.  The decrease in assets managed by third party sponsors resulted from a shift in assets in one of the underlying portfolios to a new subadvisor which was beyond Value Line’s control.
 
The Company believes the growth of this part of the business is dependent upon the desire of third parties to use the Value Line trademarks and proprietary research for their products. This market has become significantly more competitive as a result of product diversification and increased use of indices by portfolio managers.  Management is focusing on potential channels for the copyright data products, while maintaining good cooperation with current third party sponsors.
 
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Investment management fees and services – (unconsolidated)
 
The Company no longer reports this operation as a separate business segment, although it still maintains a significant interest in the cash flows generated by this business and will receive ongoing payments in respect of its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests, as discussed below.  Total assets in the Value Line Funds managed and/or distributed by EAM at July 31, 2013, were $2.2 billion, which is $212 million or 10.5% above total assets of $2.0 billion in the Value Line Funds managed by EAM at July 31, 2012.
 
Value Line Mutual Funds
 
Total Net Assets
 
   
As of July 31,
 
($ in millions)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Variable annuity assets (GIAC)
  $ 481     $ 455       5.7 %
All other open end equity fund assets
    1,522       1,294       17.6 %
     Total equity funds
    2,003       1,749       14.5 %
Fixed income funds
    172       205       -16.1 %
U.S. Government Money Market Fund (“USGMMF”)
    -       67       -100.0 %
     Total EAM managed net assets
    2,175       2,021       7.6 %
Daily Income Fund managed by Reich & Tang Asset Management LLC (“Reich & Tang”)
    58       -       n/a  
     Total net assets
  $ 2,233     $ 2,021       10.5 %
 
Shares of the variable annuity funds, Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (“SAM”) and Value Line Centurion Fund (“Centurion”) are available to the public only through the purchase of certain variable annuity and variable life insurance contracts issued by The Guardian Insurance & Annuity Company, Inc. (“GIAC”).
 
EAM Trust - Results of operations before distribution to interest holders
 
The overall results of EAM’s investment management operations during the three months ended July 31, 2013, before interest holder distributions, include total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $3,485,000, 12b-1 fees and other fees of $1,119,000 and other income of $2,000.  For the same period, total investment management fee waivers for the Value Line Core Bond Fund were $24,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers for eight Value Line Funds were $523,000.  During the three months ended July 31, 2013, EAM’s net income was $343,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $1,598,000, but before distributions to voting profits interest holders and to the Company in respect of its 50% non-voting profits interest.
 
The overall results of EAM’s investment management operations during the three months ended July 31, 2012, before interest holder distributions, include total investment management fees earned from the Value Line Funds of $3,080,000 and 12b-1 fees of $891,000. For the three months ended July 31, 2012, total investment management fee waivers were $181,000 and 12b-1 fee waivers were $543,000.  During the three months ended July 31, 2012, EAM’s net income was $158,000 after giving effect to Value Line’s non-voting revenues interest of $1,394,000, but before distributions to voting interest holders and to the Company in respect of its non-voting profits interest.
 
As of July 31, 2013, eight of the Value Line Funds have all or a portion of the 12b-1 fees being waived, and one fund has partial investment management fee waivers in place.  Although, under the terms of the EAM Declaration of Trust, the Company no longer receives or shares in the revenues from 12b-1 distribution fees, the Company could benefit from the fee waivers to the extent that the resulting reduction of expense ratios and enhancement of the performance of the Value Line Funds attracts new assets.
 
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The Value Line equity fund assets and fixed income fund assets represent 92.1% and 7.9%, respectively, of total fund assets under management (“AUM”) as of July 31, 2013.  At July 31, 2013, equity AUM increased by 14.5% and fixed income AUM decreased by 16.1% as compared to the prior fiscal year.
 
 As of July 31, 2013, four of the six Value Line equity mutual funds, excluding SAM and Centurion, had an overall four or five star rating by Morningstar, Inc. The largest distribution channel for the Value Line Funds remains the fund supermarket platforms such as Guardian, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Fidelity, Pershing and E-Trade. In August 2012, the Value Line Asset Allocation Fund was added to Schwab’s prestigious OneSource Select List.
 
Many of Value Line Funds continued to outperform their peers. Three of the eight equity funds are in the top quartile of their respective peer groups for one year and six of the eight are in the top quartile for the three year period according to Lipper.  At this time last year, four were in the top quartile for one year and six were in the top quartile for three years.
 
As of August 1, 2013, EULAV Securities will begin to receive additional 12b-1 revenues from select Value Line Funds.  Waivers were removed or reduced on two funds, in an effort to continue to expand the marketing programs.  As a result, EAM committed to sponsor events in the latter portion of 2013 with its biggest platform, Schwab, in an effort to broaden and further strengthen the relationship and will be expanding the wholesaling and electronic efforts starting in the third quarter.
 
EAM Trust - The Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests
 
The Company recorded income from its non-voting revenues interest and its non-voting profits interests in EAM as follows:
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Non-voting revenues interest
  $ 1,598     $ 1,394       14.6 %
Non-voting profits interest
    171       79       116.5 %
    $ 1,769     $ 1,473       20.1 %
 
The Company holds non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM which entitle the Company to receive from EAM an amount ranging from 41% to 55% of EAM’s investment management fee revenues from its mutual fund and separate accounts business.  EAM currently has no separately managed account clients.
 
Value Line operating expenses
 
   
Three Months Ended July 31,
 
($ in thousands)
 
2013
   
2012
   
Change
 
Advertising and promotion
  $ 1,043     $ 812       28.4 %
Salaries and employee benefits
    3,900       3,779       3.2 %
Production and distribution
    1,542       1,362       13.2 %
Office and administration
    1,998       1,633       22.4 %
    Total expenses
  $ 8,483     $ 7,586       11.8 %
 
Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and benefits, production and distribution, office and administration.   Operating expenses of $8,483,000 for the three months ended July 31, 2013, increased $897,000, or 11.8%, as compared to the three months ended July 31, 2012.
 
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Advertising and promotion
 
Advertising and promotion expenses during the three months ended July 31, 2013, increased $231,000 or 28.4%, as compared to the prior year period, mainly related to a $178,000 increase in direct mail costs due to the timing of direct mail campaigns with no direct mail campaign issued during June 2012. The remaining increases for the three months ended July 31, 2013, were related to increases in sales commissions, inbound telemarketing costs, and renewal solicitation costs.
 
Salaries and employee benefits
 
Salaries and employee benefits increased $121,000 or 3.2% during the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to fiscal 2013.  Increased expenses in salaries and employee benefits were related to the timing of personnel replacements in Marketing and commissionable sales personnel in Institutional Sales and were offset by the additional capitalization of $91,000 for digital project development costs, and decreases in employee recruitment and training costs, and profit sharing expense for the three months ended July 31, 2013, as compared to the prior year.
 
Production and distribution
 
Production and distribution expenses during the three months ended July 31, 2013, increased $180,000 or 13.2%, as compared to fiscal 2013.  During the three months ended July 31, 2013, an increase of $106,000, resulted from additional amortization of internally developed software costs for the upgrade of our fulfillment system, single sign on, website development and new, service oriented production architecture, increases in systems support of $44,000 related to the offsite relocation of the Company’s production computer systems, the cost of service mailers, and postage expenses as a result of a 2.5% increase in postal rates in January 2013.  These increases in expenses were partially offset by a decrease in paper costs that resulted from favorable rates from a new vendor.
 
Office and administration
 
Office and administration expenses during the three months ended July 31, 2013, increased $365,000 or 22.4%, as compared to fiscal 2013.  The increase was primarily due to a $304,000 increase in rental expenses resulting from overlapping rent on both the new and previously occupied office facilities and an increase in rent due to the lease amendment on the previously occupied office facility, in addition to increase of $44,000 in marketing consulting fees.
 
Income from Securities Transactions, net
 
The Company’s income from securities transactions, net, which included primarily dividend income, was $38,000 and $26,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively.  There were no sales, or gains or losses from sales of equity securities during the three months ended July 31, 2013 or July 31, 2012.
 
Effective income tax rate
 
The overall effective income tax rate, as a percentage of pre-tax ordinary income for the three months ended July 31, 2013 and 2012 was 36.51% and 37.71%, respectively. The Company’s annual effective tax rate may change due to a number of factors including but not limited to an increase or decrease in the ratio of items that do not have tax consequences to pre-tax income, the Company’s geographic profit mix between tax jurisdictions, new tax laws, new interpretations of existing tax laws and rulings by and settlements with tax authorities.  The fluctuation in the effective income tax rate during fiscal 2014 is attributable to a lower percentage of income subject to state and local taxes and an increase in the dividends received deduction.
 
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
The Company had negative working capital, defined as current assets less current liabilities, of $11,019,000 as of July 31, 2013 and negative working capital of $8,824,000 as of July 31, 2012.  These amounts include short term unearned revenue of $21,176,000 and $20,536,000 reflected in total current liabilities at July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively.  Cash and short term securities were $11,924,000 as of July 31, 2013 and $14,007,000 as of July 31, 2012.
 
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents include $3,758,000 and $8,702,000 at July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively, invested primarily in Money Market Funds at brokers’ accounts, which operate under Rule 2a-7 of the 1940 Act and invest primarily in short term U.S. government securities.
 
Cash from operating activities
 
The Company’s cash outflows from operating activities were $790,000 and $552,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively.  The change in cash flows from fiscal 2013 to fiscal 2014 was primarily due to the decline in earnings, an increase in prepaid expenses and the decrease in the cash inflows from the receipt of prepaid and refundable income taxes partially offset by timing of receipt of accounts receivable.  The higher cash outflows during the first three months of fiscal 2014 were also the result of payments made to the Company’s Profit Sharing and Savings Plan in the amounts of $371,000 and $294,000, in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.
 
Cash from investing activities
 
The Company’s cash outflows from investing activities were $322,000 and $225,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively.  Cash outflows for the three months ended July 31, 2013, were higher primarily due to the Company’s decision to invest in inverse ETF equity securities during fiscal 2014 and an increase in expenditures for capitalized software related to upgrading product capabilities.  The increase in cash outflows from investing activities in fiscal 2014 was partially offset by the timing of the receipt of non-voting revenues interest and non-voting profits interest distributions from EAM Trust.  The Company expects that investing activities should provide cash from continued receipts from its non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests distributions in EAM.
 
Cash from financing activities
 
The Company’s cash outflows from financing activities were $1,707,000 and $1,484,000 during the three months ended July 31, 2013 and July 31, 2012, respectively.  During fiscal 2014, cash outflows for financing activities consisted of dividend payments to all Value Line shareholders of $0.15 per share and $226,000 for the repurchase of the Company’s common stock under the September 19, 2012 board approved common stock repurchase program.  During fiscal 2013, cash outflows for financing activities consisted of dividend payments to shareholders of $0.15 per share.  The Company expects financing activities to continue to include use of cash for dividend payments for the foreseeable future.  
 
Management believes that the Company’s cash and other liquid asset resources used in its business together with the future cash flows from operations and from the Company’s non-voting revenues and non-voting profits interests in EAM will be sufficient to finance current and forecasted liquidity needs for the next twelve months and does not anticipate making any borrowings during the next twelve months.   As of July 31, 2013, retained earnings were $32,282,000 and liquid assets were $11,924,000.
 
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Seasonality
 
Our operations are minimally seasonal in nature.  Our publishing revenues are comprised of subscriptions which are generally annual subscriptions.  Our cash flows from operating activities are somewhat seasonal in nature, primarily due to the timing of customer payments made for subscription renewals, which generally occur more frequently in our fiscal  third quarter.
 
Off-balance sheet arrangements
 
We are not a party to any off-balance sheet arrangements, other than operating leases entered into in the ordinary course of business.
 
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2011, the FASB issued ASU No. 2011-11, Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities (“ASU 2011-11”), to improve reporting and transparency of offsetting (netting) assets and liabilities and the related affects on the financial statements. ASU 2011-11 is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those years beginning after January 1, 2013.  The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2011-11 effective May 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 
In July 2012, the FASB issued ASU No. 2012-02, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Testing Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets for Impairment (“ASU 2012-02”), to simplify how entities test indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment which improves consistency in impairment testing requirements among long-lived asset categories. ASU 2012-02 permits an assessment of qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying value. For assets in which this assessment concludes it is more likely than not that the fair value is more than its carrying value, these amended standards eliminate the requirement to perform quantitative impairment testing as outlined in the previously issued standards. ASU 2012-02 is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2012-02 effective May 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 
In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-02, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reporting of Amounts Reclassified out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“ASU 2013-02”), which requires an entity to report the effect of significant reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income on the respective line items in net income, if the amount being reclassified is required to be reclassified in its entirety to net income. For other amounts that are not required to be reclassified in their entirety to net income in the same reporting period, an entity is required to cross-reference other disclosures required that provide additional detail about those amounts. The amendments in ASU 2013-02 supersede the presentation requirements for reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income in ASU 2011-05 and ASU 2011-12. ASU 2013-02 is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012, early adoption is permitted.  The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2013-02 effective May 1, 2013, and it did not have a material impact on our Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 
Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies
 
The Company prepares its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements in accordance with accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States (U.S. “GAAP”). The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent, and the Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. The Company believes the following critical accounting policies reflect the significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of its Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements.
 
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Item 3.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Market Risk Disclosures

 The Company’s Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets include a substantial amount of assets whose fair values are subject to market risks.  The Company’s market risks are primarily associated with interest rates and equity price risk.  The following sections address the significant market risks associated with the Company’s investment activities.

Interest Rate Risk

 At July 31, 2013, the Company did not have investments in securities with fixed maturities and therefore did not have any interest rate risk.
 
Equity Price Risk

           The carrying values of investments subject to equity price risks are based on quoted market prices as of the balance sheet dates.  Market prices are subject to fluctuation and, consequently, the amount realized in the subsequent sale of an investment may significantly differ from the reported market value.  Fluctuation in the market price of a security may result from perceived changes in the underlying economic characteristics of the issuer, the relative price of alternative investments and general market conditions.  Furthermore, amounts realized in the sale of a particular security may be affected by the relative quantity of the security being sold.

            The Company’s equity investment strategy has been to acquire equity securities across a diverse industry group.  The portfolio consists primarily of ETFs and select common stock holdings of blue chip companies with a concentration on large capitalization companies with high relative dividend yields. In order to maintain liquidity in these securities, the Company’s policy has been to invest in and hold in its portfolio, no more than 5% of the approximate average daily trading volume in any one issue.  Additionally, the Company may purchase and hold non-leveraged ETFs whose performance inversely corresponds to the market value changes of investments in other ETF securities held in the equity portfolio for dividend yield.

 As of July  31, 2013 and April 30, 2013 the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available-for-sale, which consist of investments in the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index (DVY), SPDR S&P Dividend (SDY), First Trust Value Line Dividend Index (FVD), PowerShares Financial Preferred (PGF), certain common shares of equity securities and inverse equity index ETFs, was $7,518,000 and $6,295,000 and the market value was $7,903,000 and $6,682,000, respectively.

($ in thousands)
 
 
Equity Securities
   
Fair Value
 
Hypothetical
Price Change
 
Estimated Fair
Value after
Hypothetical
Change in Prices
   
Hypothetical
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease) in
Shareholders’ Equity
 
As of July 31, 2013
Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield
  $ 4,881  
30% increase
  $ 6,345       2.91 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 3,416       -2.91 %
As of July 31, 2013
Inverse ETF Holdings
  $ 3,022  
30% increase
  $ 2,115       -1.80 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 3,929       1.80 %
As of July 31, 2013
Total
  $ 7,903  
30% increase
  $ 8,460       1.11 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 7,345       -1.11 %

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($ in thousands)
 
 
Equity Securities
   
Fair Value
 
Hypothetical
Price Change
 
Estimated Fair
Value after
Hypothetical
Change in Prices
   
Hypothetical
Percentage
Increase
(Decrease) in
Shareholders’ Equity
 
As of April 30, 2013
Equity Securities and ETFs held for dividend yield
  $ 4,732  
30% increase
  $ 6,152       2.80 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 3,312       -2.80 %
As of April 30, 2013
Inverse ETF Holdings
  $ 1,950  
30% increase
  $ 1,365       -1.15 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 2,535       1.15 %
As of April 30, 2013
Total
  $ 6,682  
30% increase
  $ 7,517       1.64 %
           
30% decrease
  $ 5,847       -1.64 %
 
Item 4.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
 
 
(a)
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
     
   
The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer, the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this report.
     
 
(b)
The registrant’s Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have determined that there have been no changes in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Part II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.   Legal Proceedings

None.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A – Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 30, 2013 filed with the SEC on July 26, 2013.

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Item 2.   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

(c)        Purchases of Equity Securities by the Company

The following table provides information with respect to all repurchases of common stock made by or on behalf of the Company during the fiscal quarter ended July 31, 2013.   All purchases listed below were made in the open market at prevailing market prices.

   
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
 
(in thousands except for 
shares and cost per share)
 
(a) Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased
   
(b) Average Price Paid
per Share (or Unit)
   
(c) Total Number
of Shares (or
Units) Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
   
(d) Maximum Number (or
Approximate Dollar
Value) of Shares (or
Units) that May Yet Be
Purchased Under the
Plans or Programs
 
May 1 - 31, 2013
    4,913     $ 9.25       4,913     $ 2,773,000  
June 1 - 30, 2013
    12,520     $ 8.68       12,520     $ 2,664,000  
July 1 - 31, 2013
    8,290     $ 8.77       8,290     $ 2,592,000  
          Total
    25,723     $ 8.82       25,723     $ 2,592,000  

All shares represent shares repurchased pursuant to authorization of the Board of Directors.  On September 19,  2012, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock, at such times and prices as management determined to be advisable, up to an aggregate purchase price of $3,000,000.

Item 5.    Other Information
 
None.

Item 6.    Exhibits
 
31.1
Certificate of Principal Executive Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
31.2
Certificate of Principal Financial Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
32.1
Joint Principal Executive Officer/Principal Financial Officer Certificate Required Under Section 906 of the   Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
   
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
   
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
   
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
   
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
   
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
   
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
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VALUE LINE, INC.
 
Signatures
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
   Value Line, Inc.  
 
(Registrant)
 
         
    By:    /s/Howard A. Brecher  
         
      Howard A. Brecher  
      Chief Executive Officer  
      (Principal Executive Officer)  
         
    By: /s/Stephen R. Anastasio  
         
      Stephen R. Anastasio  
      Vice President & Treasurer  
      (Principal Financial Officer)  
         
Date:  September 13, 2013
       
                                                                                                                   
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