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Learning Tree Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2008 Results

Learning Tree International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LTRE, “Learning Tree”) announced today its revenues and results of operations for its fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2008, which ended October 3, 2008. Revenues for the quarter ended October 3, 2008 were $44.2 million, the same as in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Learning Tree reported income from operations for the quarter of $3.2 million compared with income from operations of $2.3 million for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 was $2.8 million, compared with net income of $7.8 million for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008 were $0.17, compared with earnings per share of $0.48 for the same quarter of the prior fiscal year. Net income and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007 had been significantly augmented by one-time adjustments to the income tax provision (unrelated to current operations) that resulted in a tax benefit of $4.3 million for that quarter compared to a tax expense of $1.2 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2008.

Additionally, during its fourth fiscal quarter of 2008, Learning Tree incurred $0.4 million of costs associated with the potential sale of the company. On October 14, 2008, Learning Tree announced that, in light of current conditions in the financial markets, the special committee of the independent directors of Learning Tree had determined to discontinue the process to solicit offers to purchase the company.

Revenues for fiscal 2008 were $181.3 million compared with $167.2 million for fiscal 2007. Income from operations for fiscal 2008 was $17.7 million compared to income from operations of $14.5 million for the prior fiscal year. Net income for fiscal 2008 was $13.8 million compared to net income of $17.0 million for fiscal 2007. Diluted earnings per share for fiscal 2008 were $0.83, compared to earnings per share of $1.03 for the prior fiscal year. The accompanying Table 1 presents Learning Tree’s results of operations for the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2008.

Net income and earnings per share for fiscal year 2007 had been significantly augmented by the fourth quarter tax benefit of $4.3 million. Additionally, during fiscal 2008, Learning Tree incurred a total of $1.0 million of costs associated with the potential sale of the company.

“We are proud of our performance in fiscal 2008,” commented Learning Tree President and CEO Nicholas R. Schacht. “We increased our revenues and continued to improve our profitability. Additionally, we achieved the highest marks for instructor and course quality that we have ever received from our course participants over our 34-year history. We are working to mitigate the impact of the challenging economic climate through our strong balance sheet, additional revenues from our recent growth initiatives and cost savings from ongoing adjustments to our operating model.”

Learning Tree International is a leading worldwide provider of vendor-independent education and training to managers and IT professionals in business and government organizations. Learning Tree develops, markets and delivers a broad, proprietary library of instructor-led courses focused on Web development, operating systems, programming languages, databases, computer networks, computer and network security, object-oriented technology, project management, leadership, communications, business analysis, and strategic business skills. Learning Tree also tests and certifies IT and business professionals, and Learning Tree courses are recommended for college credit by the American Council on Education. In addition, Learning Tree is on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy National Registry of CPE sponsors and is a Registered Education Provider of the Project Management Institute (PMI). For more information about Learning Tree products and services, call 1-800-THE-TREE (1-800-843-8733), or visit the Learning Tree Web site at www.learningtree.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the matters addressed in this press release are forward-looking statements. Please do not put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, since they are based on key assumptions about future risks and uncertainties. Although Learning Tree believes that its assumptions are reasonable, inevitably some will prove to be incorrect. As a result, Learning Tree’s actual future results can be expected to differ from those in this release, and those differences may be material. Learning Tree is not undertaking any obligation to update forward-looking statements. In order to help the reader assess the major risks in Learning Tree’s business, Learning Tree has identified many, but not all, of these risks in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in Learning Tree’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Item 1A”). Please read that exhibit carefully. Some of the factors discussed in Item 1A that could affect Learning Tree include: risks associated with the timely development, introduction, and customer acceptance of Learning Tree’s courses; competition; international operations, including currency fluctuations; changing economic and market conditions; technology development and new technology introduction; efficient delivery and scheduling of Learning Tree’s courses; adverse weather conditions, strikes, acts of war or terrorism and other external events; and attracting and retaining qualified personnel.

Webcast

An investor conference call to discuss third quarter results is scheduled at 4:30 pm EST December 8, 2008. Interested parties are invited to listen to the conference call by accessing the webcast live on Learning Tree’s website www.learningtree.com/investor. The webcast will also be available at www.learningtree.com/investor for replay.

 

TABLE 1

 
LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(all amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
  Three Months Ended   Twelve Months Ended
October 3,   September 28, October 3,   September 28,
2008 2007 2008 2007
Revenues $ 44,224 $ 44,186 $ 181,278 $ 167,193
Cost of revenues 19,168 19,051   76,807 72,936
Gross profit 25,056 25,135   104,471 94,257
 
Operating expenses:
Course development 2,390 2,488 9,656 8,613
Sales and marketing 11,307 12,371 43,596 41,094
General and administrative 8,203 7,949   33,532 30,041
Total operating expenses 21,900 22,808   86,784 79,748
 
Income from operations 3,156 2,327 17,687 14,509
 
Other income, net 837 1,173   4,001 4,236
 
Income before income taxes 3,993 3,500 21,688 18,745
Provision for (benefit from) income tax 1,240 (4,334 ) 7,888 1,755
 
Net income $ 2,753 $ 7,834   $ 13,800 $ 16,990
 
Earnings per share--diluted $ 0.17 $ 0.48   $ 0.83 $ 1.03
 
LEARNING TREE INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(all amounts in thousands)
 
 
  October 3,   September 28,
2008 2007
 
Cash and cash equivalents $ 51,853 $ 49,732
Available for sale securities 18,909 38,775
Trade accounts receivable, net 19,685 19,398
Prepaid expenses and other 10,847 12,956
Total current assets 101,294 120,861
Available for sale securities 23,440 -

Equipment, property and leasehold improvements and other assets

47,690 43,115
Total assets $ 172,424 $ 163,976
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 22,353 $ 26,708
Deferred revenues 47,712 50,216
Total current liabilities 70,065 76,924
Other 15,961 9,844
Total liabilities 86,026 86,768
 
Stockholders' equity 86,398 77,208
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 172,424 $ 163,976
 

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