Unassociated Document
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 January 31, 2009
or

¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from _____________________________________ to __________________________________

Commission File Number:   0-11306

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.)
     
220 East 42nd Street, New York, New York
 
10017-5891
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(212) 907-1500
 (Registrant's 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 ¨

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 ¨
Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer x
Smaller reporting company ¨
   
(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 ¨  No x
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

Class
  
Outstanding at January 31, 2009
        
Common stock, $.10 par value
  
9,981,600 Shares
 

 
 
VALUE LINE INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
Page No.
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements:
 
     
 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2009 and April 30, 2008
3
     
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008
4
     
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008
5
     
 
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2009
6
     
 
Consolidated Condensed Statement of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the nine months ended January 31, 2008
7
     
 
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
8
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
14
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
20
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
21
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
   
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
22
     
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
22
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
22
     
 
Signatures
23
 
EX-31.1 (Certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
 
EX-31.2 (Certifications required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
 
EX-32.1 (Certifications required under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
 


 
Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
Value Line, Inc.
 
Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets
(in thousands, except share amounts)

   
Jan. 31,
   
Apr. 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(unaudited)
       
Assets
           
Current Assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents (including short term investments of $47,755 and $8,159, respectively)
  $ 48,699     $ 8,955  
Trading securities
    17,369       19,857  
Securities available for sale
    41,714       97,043  
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $47, and $107, respectively
    2,609       2,733  
Receivable from affiliates
    1,679       2,445  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    962       1,048  
Deferred income taxes
    655       155  
                 
Total current assets
    113,687       132,236  
                 
Long term assets
               
Property and equipment, net
    4,501       4,709  
Capitalized software and other intangible assets, net
    862       1,008  
                 
Total long term assets
    5,363       5,717  
                 
Total assets
  $ 119,050     $ 137,953  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Current Liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
  $ 4,003     $ 5,135  
Accrued salaries
    1,532       1,471  
Dividends payable
    3,993       2,995  
Accrued taxes payable
    484       129  
Unearned revenue
    23,816       26,610  
Deferred income taxes
    0       7,839  
                 
Total current liabilities
    33,828       44,179  
                 
Long term liabilities
               
Unearned revenue
    5,360       5,920  
                 
Total long term liabilities
    5,360       5,920  
                 
Shareholders' Equity:
               
Common stock, $.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
    78,312       70,954  
Treasury stock, at cost (18,400 shares on 1/31/09 and 4/30/08)
    (354 )     (354 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    (87 )     15,263  
                 
Total shareholders' equity
    79,862       87,854  
                 
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 119,050     $ 137,953  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 
3

 

Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements

Value Line, Inc.
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share & per share amounts)
(unaudited)

   
Three months ended
   
Nine months ended
 
   
Jan. 31,
   
Jan. 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
                         
Revenues:
                       
Investment periodicals and related publications
  $ 10,048     $ 10,601     $ 30,341     $ 32,424  
Licensing fees
    683       2,072       3,603       5,517  
Investment management fees & services
    5,125       8,407       20,452       25,050  
                                 
Total revenues
    15,856       21,080       54,396       62,991  
                                 
Expenses:
                               
Advertising and promotion
    2,435       3,253       9,004       10,327  
Salaries and employee benefits
    4,499       4,535       14,165       13,668  
Production and distribution
    1,445       1,424       4,434       4,698  
Office and administration
    2,857       2,531       8,442       6,580  
                                 
Total expenses
    11,236       11,743       36,045       35,273  
                                 
Income from operations
    4,620       9,337       18,351       27,718  
Income from securities transactions, net
    927       4,097       11,643       5,683  
                                 
Income before income taxes
    5,547       13,434       29,994       33,401  
Provision for income taxes
    1,815       4,963       10,658       12,628  
                                 
Net income
  $ 3,732     $ 8,471     $ 19,336     $ 20,773  
                                 
Earnings per share, basic & fully diluted
  $ 0.38     $ 0.85     $ 1.94     $ 2.08  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares
    9,981,600       9,981,600       9,981,600       9,981,600  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 
4

 

Part I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements
       Value Line, Inc.
 
Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)
(unaudited)

   
For the nine months
 
   
ended
 
   
Jan. 31,
   
Jan. 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net income
  $ 19,336     $ 20,773  
                 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    882       1,230  
Gains on sales of trading securities and securities classified as available for sale
    (9,162 )     (2,800 )
Unrealized gains on trading securities
    (81 )     (277 )
Deferred income taxes
    28       (147 )
                 
Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
Proceeds from sales of trading securities
    9,026       -  
Purchases of trading securities
    (6,583 )     (3,926 )
(Decrease) in unearned revenue
    (3,354 )     (1,845 )
Increase/(decrease) in deferred charges
    110       (174 )
(Decrease) in accounts payable and accrued expenses
    (1,242 )     (952 )
Increase/(decrease) in accrued salaries
    61       (234 )
Increase in accrued taxes payable
    355       634  
Decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
    58       275  
Decrease in prepaid and refundable income taxes
    -       510  
Decrease in accounts receivable
    124       54  
Decrease in receivable from affiliates
    766       483  
                 
Total adjustments
    (9,012 )     (7,169 )
                 
Net cash provided by operations
    10,324       13,604  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Purchases and sales of securities classified as available for sale:
               
Proceeds from sales of fixed income securities
    28,603       5,137  
Proceeds from sales of equity securities
    37,755       2,793  
Purchase of fixed income securities
    (25,421 )     (10,603 )
Purchases of equity securities
    (9 )     (4,228 )
Acquisition of property and equipment
    (152 )     (251 )
Expenditures for capitalized software
    (376 )     (40 )
                 
Net cash provided by/(used in) investing activities
    40,400       (7,192 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Dividends paid
    (10,980 )     (8,984 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (10,980 )     (8,984 )
                 
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    39,744       (2,572 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    8,955       20,605  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 48,699     $ 18,033  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 
5

 

Part I - Financial Information
 
Item 1. Financial Statements

VALUE LINE, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2009
 
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 
(unaudited)

   
Common stock
                           
Accumulated
       
   
Number
         
Additional
                     
Other
       
   
of
         
paid-in
   
Treasury
   
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
       
   
shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
Stock
   
income
   
earnings
   
income
   
Total
 
                                                 
Balance at April 30, 2008
    9,981,600     $ 1,000     $ 991     $ (354 )         $ 70,954     $ 15,263     $ 87,854  
                                                               
Comprehensive income
                                                             
Net income
                                  $ 19,336       19,336               19,336  
Other comprehensive income,  net of tax:
                                                               
Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes
                                    (15,350 )             (15,350 )     (15,350 )
Comprehensive income
                                  $ 3,986                          
                                                                 
Dividends declared
                                            (11,978 )             (11,978 )
                                                                 
Balance at January 31, 2009
    9,981,600     $ 1,000     $ 991     $ (354 )           $ 78,312     $ (87 )   $ 79,862  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 
6

 

Part I - Financial Information
 
Item 1. Financial Statements

VALUE LINE, INC.
 
CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 31, 2008
 
(in thousands, except share amounts)
 
(unaudited)

   
Common stock
                           
Accumulated
       
   
Number
         
Additional
                     
Other
       
   
of
         
paid-in
   
Treasury
   
Comprehensive
   
Retained
   
Comprehensive
       
   
shares
   
Amount
   
capital
   
Stock
   
income
   
earnings
   
income
   
Total
 
                                                 
Balance at April 30, 2007
    9,981,600     $ 1,000     $ 991     $ (354 )         $ 57,383     $ 16,552     $ 75,572  
                                                               
Comprehensive income
                                                             
Net income
                                  $ 20,773       20,773               20,773  
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
                                                               
Change in unrealized gains on securities, net of taxes
                                    (1,892 )             (1,892 )     (1,892 )
Comprehensive income
                                  $ 18,881                          
                                                                 
Dividends declared
                                            (8,984 )             (8,984 )
                                                                 
Balance at January 31, 2008
    9,981,600     $ 1,000     $ 991     $ (354 )           $ 69,172     $ 14,660     $ 85,469  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated condensed financial statements.

 
7

 
Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

Note 1-Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

The interim consolidated condensed financial statements of Value Line, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the “Company”), are unaudited.  In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited 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 financial statements and footnotes contained in the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, dated July 17, 2008  for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008. Results of operations covered by this report may not be indicative of the results of operations for the entire year.

Value Line, Inc. ("VLI") is incorporated in the State of New York.  The Company's primary businesses are producing investment related periodical publications and data, licensing 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, providing investment management services to the Value Line Funds, institutions and individual accounts and providing distribution, marketing, and administrative services to the Value Line Funds.  The name "Value Line" as used to describe the Company, its products, and its subsidiaries, is a registered trademark of the Company.

Principles of consolidation:
 
The consolidated condensed financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all of its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Revenue Recognition:

Depending upon the product, subscription fulfillment is available in print, via internet access, and CD-ROM. The length of a subscription varies by product and offer received by the subscriber. Generally, subscriptions are available as trial subscriptions, annual subscriptions and/or multi-year subscriptions. Subscription revenues are recognized on a straight line basis over the life of the subscription. Accordingly, the amount of subscription fees to be earned by fulfilling subscriptions after the date of the balance sheet is shown as unearned revenue within current and long-term liabilities.

Licensing revenues are derived from licensing certain Value Line trademarks and 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.  Value Line earns an asset based licensing fee as specified in the individual licensing agreements.  Revenue is recognized monthly over the term of the agreement and will fluctuate as the market value of the underlying portfolio increases or decreases in value.

Investment management fees consist of management fees from the Value Line Mutual Funds ("Value Line Funds"), and from asset management clients.  Investment management fees for the mutual funds are earned on a monthly basis as services are performed and the fee is calculated based on average daily net assets of the mutual funds in accordance with each fund's advisory agreement.  Investment management fees for the asset management accounts are earned on a monthly basis as services are performed and the fee is calculated on assets in accordance with each of the management agreements (see note 6).
Service and distribution fees are received from the Value Line Funds in accordance with service and distribution plans under rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.  The plans are compensation plans, which means that the distributor’s fees under the plans are payable without regard to actual expenses incurred by the distributor, and therefore the distributor may earn a profit under the plan.  Expenses incurred by Value Line Securities, Inc. ("VLS"), the distributor of the Value Line Funds, include payments to securities dealers, banks, financial institutions and other organizations (including an allocation of VLI expenses), that provide distribution, marketing, and administrative services with respect to the distribution of the mutual funds’ shares.  Service and distribution fees are received on a monthly basis and calculated on the average daily net assets of the respective mutual fund in accordance with each fund prospectus (see note 6).

Valuation of Securities:

The Company's securities classified as available for sale consist of shares of the Value Line Funds and/or government debt securities accounted for in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities".  The securities available for sale and trading securities reflected in the consolidated condensed financial statements at fair value are valued at market  and unrealized gains and losses on securities available for sale, net of applicable taxes, are reported as a separate component of Shareholders' Equity.  Realized gains and losses on sales of the securities available for sale are recorded in earnings on trade date and are determined on the identified cost method.
The Company classifies its securities available for sale as current assets. It does so to properly reflect its liquidity and to recognize the fact that it has assets available for sale to fully satisfy its current liabilities should the need arise.
Market valuation of securities listed on a securities exchange is based on the closing sales prices on the last business day of each month. Valuation of open-end mutual fund shares is based upon the publicly quoted net asset value of the shares. The market value of the Company's fixed maturity government debt obligations are determined utilizing publicly quoted market prices or other observable inputs.
Effective for fiscal 2009, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“FAS 157"). In accordance with FAS 157, fair value is defined 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. FAS 157 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.
 
8

 

Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements
 
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 valuation techniques used by the Company to measure fair value during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 consisted exclusively of quoted prices and when quoted market prices in active markets are not available, the Company uses a number of methodologies to establish fair value estimates, including discounted cash flow models, prices from recently executed transactions of similar securities or broker/dealer quotes, utilizing market observable information to the extent possible. In conjunction with modeling activities, the Company may use external data as inputs.
 
The following is a summary of the inputs used as of January 31, 2009 in valuing the Company’s investments carried at fair value:

               
(In Thousands)
       
Valuation Inputs
 
Total
Investments
   
Cash Equivalents
   
Investments in
Trading Securities
   
Investments in
Securities
Available for Sale
 
Level 1 - Quoted Prices
  $ 47,755     $ 47,755       -       -  
Level 2 - Other Significant Observable Inputs
  $ 59,083       -     $ 17,369       41,714  
Level 3 - Significant Unobservable Inputs
    -       -       -       -  
Total     
  $ 106,838     $ 47,755     $ 17,369     $ 41,714  

The Company had no other financial instruments including futures, forwards and swap contracts. For the period ended January 31, 2009, there were no Level 3 investments. The Company does not have any liabilities subject to FAS 157.

Advertising expenses:
 
The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred.

Income Taxes:
The Company computes its income tax provision in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes". 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.
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Interpretation No. 48, "Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109" (the "Interpretation" or "FIN 48").  The Interpretation 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.  The Interpretation is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, and is to be applied to all open tax years as of the date of effectiveness. Management has reviewed the tax positions for the years still subject to tax audit under the statute of limitations, evaluated the implications of FIN 48, and determined that there is no 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 year.

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 January 31, 2009 and April 30, 2008, cash equivalents included $47,755,000 and $8,159,000, respectively, invested in the Value Line Cash Fund.

Use of Estimates:
 
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures.  Accordingly, actual results could differ from those estimates.

 
9

 

Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

Note 2-Investments:

Securities held by the Company are classified as Trading Securities and Available-for-Sale Securities. All securities held in VLS, as a broker/dealer, are classified as trading securities.  Securities held by the Company and its other subsidiaries, are classified as available-for-sale securities.
 
Trading Securities:

Trading securities held by the Company at January 31, 2009 had an aggregate cost of $17,472,000 and a market value of $17,369,000.  Trading securities held by the Company at April 30, 2008 had an aggregate cost of $20,042,000 and a market value of $19,857,000.  The proceeds from sales of trading securities during the first nine months of fiscal 2009 were $9,026,000 and related realized trading losses net of realized trading gains amounted to $126,000. There were no sales and no realized trading gains or losses during the first nine months of fiscal year 2008.  The decrease in unrealized losses of $81,000 and the increase in unrealized gains of $277,000 for the periods ended January 31, 2009 and  2008, respectively, were included in the Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income.

Securities Available-for-Sale:
Equity Securities:

As of April 30, 2008, the aggregate cost of the equity securities classified as available for sale, which consist of investments in the Value Line Funds, was $28,149,000 and the market value was $51,870,000. The Company sold its portfolio of equity securities subsequent to April 30, 2008 and did not hold any equity securities as of January 31, 2009. The total gains for equity securities with net gains included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on  the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet were $23,972,000, net of deferred taxes of $8,438,000, as of April 30, 2008. The total losses for equity securities with net losses included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on  the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet were $251,000, net of deferred tax benefit of $89,000, as of April 30, 2008.
The proceeds from sales of equity securities classified as available for sale during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, were $37,755,000 and $2,793,000 and the related capital gains net of capital losses were $9,600,000 and $2,793,000, respectively, which were reclassified to net income from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The decreases in gross unrealized gains on equity securities classified as available for sale due to changes in market conditions of $14,121,000 and $3,405,000, net of deferred  taxes of $4,971,000 and $1,199,000, were included in Shareholders' Equity during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Government Debt Securities:

Government debt securities consist of federal, state, and local government securities within the United States. The aggregate cost and fair value at January 31, 2009 for government debt securities classified as available for sale were as follows:

         
(In Thousands)
       
   
Historical
         
Gross Unrealized
 
Maturity    
 
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Holding Losses
 
Due in less than 2 years
  $ 32,664     $ 32,258     $ (406 )
Due in 2 - 5 years
    9,184       9,456       272  
                         
Total investment in government debt securities
  $ 41,848     $ 41,714     $ (134 )

The aggregate cost and fair value at April 30, 2008 for government debt securities classified as available for sale were as follows:

         
(In Thousands)
       
   
Historical
         
Gross Unrealized
 
Maturity    
 
Cost
   
Fair Value
   
Holding Losses
 
Due in less than 2 years
  $ 24,261     $ 23,921     $ (340 )
Due in 2 - 5 years
    21,079       21,252       173  
                         
Total investment in government debt securities
  $ 45,340     $ 45,173     $ (167 )

The unrealized  losses of $134,000 and $167,000 in government debt securities net of deferred income tax benefits of $47,000  and $59,000, respectively, were included in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2009 and April 30, 2008, respectively. The increase in gross unrealized losses on government debt securities classified as available for sale due to changes in market conditions of $279,000, net of deferred  taxes of $98,000, was included in Shareholders' Equity during the nine months ended January 31, 2009.
The average yield on the Government debt securities at January 31, 2009 and April 30, 2008 was 2.23% and 2.91%, respectively.
Proceeds from sales of government debt securities classified as available for sale during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008 were $28,603,000 and $5,137,000, respectively. The company recognized total capital losses net of capital gains of $312,000 and a capital gain of $7,000 on the sales of government debt securities during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which were reclassified to net income from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.
For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, income from securities transactions also included $215,000 and $834,000 of dividend income and $2,208,000 and $1,770,000 of interest income.  There was no interest expense during the nine months of fiscal 2009 or 2008.

 
10

 

Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

Note 3-Supplementary Cash Flow Information:

Cash payments for income taxes were $10,305,000 and $12,239,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 4-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 as defined in the Plan.  The estimated profit sharing  plan contribution,  which is included as an expense in salaries and employee benefits in the Consolidated Condensed Statement of Income, was $586,000 and $690,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Note 5-Comprehensive Income:

Financial Accounting Standards No. 130,  "Reporting Comprehensive Income", 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.
At January 31, 2009 and January 31, 2008, the Company held U.S. Government debt securities that are classified as Available for Sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets.  At April 30, 2008 and January 31, 2008, the Company held equity securities  that were classified as Available for Sale on the Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets. 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.

The components of comprehensive income that are included in the Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity are as follows:

         
(in thousands)
       
   
Before
   
Tax
   
Net of
 
   
Tax
   
(Expense)
   
Tax
 
   
Amount
   
or Benefit
   
Amount
 
Nine months ended January 31, 2009
                 
Unrealized Gains on Securities:
                 
Decrease in Unrealized Holding Gains arising during the period
  $ (14,400 )   $ 5,068     $ (9,332 )
Add:  Reclassification adjustments for losses realized in net income
    364       (128 )     236  
Less: Reclassification adjustments for gains realized in net income
    (9,652 )     3,398       (6,254 )
                         
Change in Other Comprehensive Income
  $ (23,688 )   $ 8,338     $ (15,350 )
                         
Nine months ended January 31, 2008
                       
Unrealized Gains on Securities:
                       
Change in Unrealized Holding Gains arising during the period
  $ (119 )   $ 41     $ (78 )
Less: Reclassification adjustments for gains realized in net income
    (2,800 )     986       (1,814 )
                         
Change in Other Comprehensive Income
  $ (2,919 )   $ 1,027     $ (1,892 )

Note 6-Related Party Transactions:

The Company's subsidiary, EULAV Asset Management LLC ("EULAV") acts as investment adviser and manager for fourteen open-end investment companies, the Value Line Funds.  EULAV earns investment management fees based upon the average daily net asset values of the respective Value Line Funds.  As discussed in note 1, service and distribution fees are received by VLS from the Value Line Funds in accordance with service and distribution plans under rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act of 1940.  The plans are compensation plans, which means that the distributor’s fees under the plans are payable without regard to actual expenses incurred by the distributor, and therefore the distributor may earn a profit under the plan.  Expenses incurred by VLS include payments to securities dealers, banks, financial institutions and other organizations which provide distribution, marketing, and administrative services (including payments by VLS to VLI for allocated compensation and administration expenses) with respect to the distribution of the mutual funds’ shares.  Service and distribution fees are received on a monthly basis and calculated on the average daily net assets of the respective mutual fund in accordance with each fund's prospectus.
On June 30, 2008, Company reorganized its investment management division into EULAV Asset Management, LLC (“EULAV”), a newly formed, wholly-owned subsidiary. As part of the reorganization, each advisory agreement was transferred from Value Line, Inc. to EULAV and EULAV replaced Value Line, Inc. as the Fund’s investment adviser. The portfolio managers, who are now employees of EULAV, have not changed as a result of the reorganization.
For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, investment management fees and 12b-1 service and distribution fees amounted to $19,763,000 and $24,139,000, respectively, which included fee waivers for certain of the Value Line Funds.  These amounts included service and distribution fees of $4,447,000 and $5,397,000 earned by VLS in fiscal years 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The related receivables from the funds for investment management fees and service and distribution fees included in Receivables from affiliates were $1,647,000 and $2,557,000 at January 31, 2009 and April 30, 2008, respectively.
For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, total management fee waivers were $142,000 and $174,000 respectively, and service and distribution fee waivers were $2,280,000 and $2,943,000, respectively.  The Company and its subsidiaries have no right to recoup the previously waived amounts of management fees and 12b-1 fees.

 
11

 

Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

As of January 31, 2009, the Company had $47,755,000 invested in the Value Line Cash Fund ("Cash Fund"), which represents approximately 2% of total assets of the Value Line Funds and 24% of the Cash Fund.  Purchases and redemptions routinely occur in the Value Line Cash Fund as part of business operations.
For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company was reimbursed $893,000 and $739,000, respectively, for payments it made on behalf of and services it provided to Arnold Bernhard & Co., Inc. (the "Parent"). At January 31, 2009, Receivables from affiliates included a Receivable from the Parent of $31,000. At April 30, 2008, Receivables from affiliates were reduced by a Payable to the Parent in the amount of $130,000.  These transactions are in accordance with the tax sharing arrangement described in Note 7.
From time to time, the Parent has purchased additional shares of the Company in the market when and as the Parent has determined it to be appropriate.  As stated several times in the past, the public is reminded that the Parent may make additional purchases from time to time in the future. The Parent owns approximately 86.5% of the issued and outstanding common stock of the Company. For the nine months ended January 31, 2009, the Parent made no purchases of the Company's shares.

Note 7-Federal, State and Local Income Taxes:

The Company computes its income tax provision in accordance with the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes".
The provision for income taxes includes the following:

   
Nine months ended January 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands)
 
Current:
           
Federal
  $ 9,281     $ 10,142  
State and local
    1,430       2,633  
      10,711       12,775  
Deferred:
               
Federal
    (19 )     (78 )
State and local
    (34 )     (69 )
      (53 )     (147 )
Provision for income taxes
  $ 10,658     $ 12,628  

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 (liability)/assets are primarily a result of unrealized gains on the Company's available for sale securities portfolios.
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:

   
Nine months ended January 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(in thousands)
 
             
Tax expense at the U.S. statutory rate
  $ 10,498     $ 11,690  
Increase (decrease) in tax expense from:
               
State and local income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit
    908       1,667  
Effect of tax exempt income and dividend exclusion
    (618 )     (616 )
Other, net
    (130 )     (113 )
Provision for income taxes
  $ 10,658     $ 12,628  

The Company is included in the consolidated federal income tax return of the Parent.  The Company has a tax sharing arrangement which requires it to make tax payments to the Parent equal to the Company's liability as if it filed a separate return.

Note 8-Business Segments:

The Company operates two reportable business segments: (1) Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing and (2) Investment Management.  The Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing segment produces investment related periodical publications (retail and institutional) in both print and electronic form, and receives licensing fees for Value Line proprietary ranking system information and Value Line trademarks.  The Investment Management segment provides advisory services to the Value Line Funds, as well as to institutional and individual accounts.  The segments are differentiated by the products and services they offer.  The accounting policies of the segments are the same as those described in the summary of significant accounting policies.  The Company allocates all revenues and expenses, except for depreciation and income from securities transactions related to corporate assets, between the two reportable segments.

 
12

 

Value Line, Inc.
Notes to Consolidated Condensed Financial Statements

Disclosure of Reportable Segment Profit and Segment Assets (in thousands)

   
Nine months ended January 31, 2009
 
   
Investment
             
   
Periodicals,
   
 
   
 
 
   
Publishing &
   
Investment
       
   
Licensing
   
Management
   
Total
 
Revenues from external customers
  $ 33,944     $ 20,452     $ 54,396  
Intersegment revenues
    133       -       133  
Income from securities transactions
    (10 )     707       697  
Depreciation and amortization
    840       30       870  
Segment profit from operations
    11,890       6,473       18,363  
Segment assets
    11,011       23,622       34,633  
Expenditures for segment assets
    528       -       528  

   
Nine months ended January 31, 2008
 
   
Investment
              
   
Periodicals,
   
 
   
 
 
   
Publishing &
   
Investment
       
   
Licensing
   
Management
   
Total
 
Revenues from external customers
  $ 37,941     $ 25,050     $ 62,991  
Intersegment revenues
    74       -       74  
Income from securities transactions
    205       4,088       4,293  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,170       48       1,218  
Segment profit from operations
    15,622       12,108       27,730  
Segment assets
    16,439       81,652       98,091  
Expenditures for segment assets
    291       -       291  

Reconciliation of Reportable Segment Revenues, Operating Profit and Assets

   
(in thousands)
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
Revenues
           
Total revenues for reportable segments
  $ 54,529     $ 63,065  
Elimination of intersegment revenues
    (133 )     (74 )
Total consolidated revenues
  $ 54,396     $ 62,991  
                 
Segment profit
               
Total profit for reportable segments
    19,060       32,023  
Add:  Income from securities transactions related to corporate assets
    10,946       1,390  
Less: Depreciation related to corporate assets
    (12 )     (12 )
Income before income taxes
  $ 29,994     $ 33,401  
                 
Assets
               
Total assets for reportable segments
    34,633       98,091  
Corporate assets
    84,417       36,926  
Consolidated total assets
  $ 119,050     $ 135,017  

Note 9-Contingencies:
 
By letter dated June 15, 2005, the staff of the Northeast Regional Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") informed the Company that it was conducting an informal inquiry primarily regarding the execution of portfolio transactions by VLS for the Value Line Funds. The Company thereafter supplied numerous documents to the SEC in response to its requests and various employees and former employees of the Company provided testimony to the SEC.  On May 8, 2008, the SEC issued a formal order of private investigation regarding whether the VLS brokerage charges and related expense reimbursements during periods prior to 2005 were excessive and whether adequate disclosure was made to the SEC and the boards of directors and shareholders of the Value Line Funds. Thereafter, certain senior officers of the Company asserted their constitutional privilege not to provide testimony. Management believes that the SEC has completed the fact finding phase of its investigation and the Company has been in discussions with the staff of the SEC in an effort to settle the foregoing investigation. There can be no assurance that the Company and the SEC will be able to reach a mutually agreeable settlement. Although management of the Company cannot determine the effect that the investigation will have on the Company’s financial statements, in light of settlement discussions to date, it believes that any settlement is likely to be material.
 
On September 3, 2008, the Company was served with a derivative shareholder's suit filed in New York County Supreme Court naming all of the Company's Directors and alleging breach of fiduciary duty and related allegations, all arising from the above SEC matter. The complaint seeks return of remuneration by the Directors and other remedies. Plaintiff's counsel has agreed from time to time, most recently until April 1, 2009, to extend the defendants' time to answer, move, or otherwise respond to the complaint.  Based on an evaluation of the case at this early stage, including communications with the Company's insurance carrier, it does not appear that the case will have a material impact on the Company's financial statements and the Company  has not recognized an accrual for this contingency.

 
13

 
Item 2.
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

       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.  Actual results 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 products;
 
·
protection of intellectual property rights;
 
·
changes in market and economic conditions;
 
·
fluctuations in the Company’s assets under management due to broadly based changes in the values of equity and debt securities, redemptions by investors and other factors;
 
·
dependence on Value Line Funds for investment management and related fees;
 
·
competition in the fields of publishing, licensing and investment management;
 
·
the impact of government regulation on the Company’s business and the uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings;
 
·
terrorist attacks; and
 
·
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, 2008, and other risks and uncertainties from time to time.

       Any forward-looking statements are made only as of the date hereof, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Results of Operations
 
The severe downturn and volatility within the financial markets and the economy continued throughout the Company’s third quarter that ended January 31, 2009 and has negatively impacted the Company’s assets under management and the assets attributable to third party licensing partners.  The severe asset decline has led to lower asset based management and licensing fees collected by the Company for the quarter and into the fourth quarter.  This trend can be seen across the asset management industry.  According to the Investment Company Institute (“ICI”), the combined assets of the mutual funds in the United States (excluding money market funds) declined by $3.1 trillion or 36% for the nine months ended January 31, 2009.  Although we have not suffered a fundamental change in our business model, the collateral damage from the global economic decline significantly reduced our assets under management and related advisory and licensing revenues.  In response we have been diligent about our expense control and have taken initiatives to reduce costs.  The Company continues to be debt free with substantial liquidity sufficient to endure the current economic crisis and anticipated liquidity needs.

             For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 the Company’s net income of $19,336,000 or $1.94 per share was $1,437,000 or 7% below net income of $20,773,000 or $2.08 per share for the nine months ended January 31, 2008. Net income for the three months ended January 31, 2009 of $3,732,000 or $0.38 per share was $4,739,000 or 56% below net income of $8,471,000 or $0.85 per share for the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. Operating income of $18,351,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 was $9,367,000 or 34% below operating income of $27,718,000 last fiscal year. Operating income of $4,620,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2009 was $4,717,000 or 50% below operating income of $9,337,000 for the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. The Company’s income from securities transactions of $11,643,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 was 105% above last year’s income of $5,683,000 due to the sale of the equity portfolio in the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.  The Company redeployed the proceeds from the equity portfolio into short term fixed income investments or cash equivalents.  For the three months ended January 31, 2009, income from securities transactions of $927,000 was down $3,170,000 or 77% from the same three months of the previous year.  The third quarter of previous fiscal year third quarter included capital gains of $3,077,000.  Shareholders’ equity of $79,862,000 at January 31, 2009 was 7% lower than shareholders’ equity of $85,469,000 at January 31, 2008.
 
14

 
 
Operating revenues, which consist of investment periodicals and related publications revenues, licensing fees, and investment management fees and services all declined for the three and nine months ended January 31, 2009:

   
Three Months Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
   
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Investment periodicals and related publications
  $ 10,048     $ 10,601       -5.2 %   $ 30,341     $ 32,424       -6.4 %
Licensing fees
  $ 683     $ 2,072       -67.0 %   $ 3,603     $ 5,517       -34.7 %
Investment management fees and services
  $ 5,125     $ 8,407       -39.0 %   $ 20,452     $ 25,050       -18.4 %
     Total Operating Revenues
  $ 15,856     $ 21,080       -24.8 %   $ 54,396     $ 62,991       -13.6 %

Investment periodicals and related publications revenues

      Investment periodicals and related publications revenues were down $2,083,000 or 6% for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 as compared to the first nine months of the prior fiscal year.  While the Company continues to attract new subscribers through various marketing channels, primarily direct mail and the Internet, total product line circulation continues to decline.  Factors that have contributed to the decline in the 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 cost to their clients. The recession and turmoil in the markets have also contributed to the decline in subscriptions as individuals reduced many forms of discretionary spending, or have shifted investments to fixed income, for which the Company does not provide research.

       Within investment periodicals and related publications are subscription revenues derived from print and electronic products.  The following chart illustrates the year-to-year change in the revenues associated with print and electronic subscriptions.

Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Print publication revenues
  $ 20,659     $ 23,393       -11.7 %
Electronic publication revenues
  $ 9,682     $ 9,031       7.2 %
Total Investment periodicals and related publications revenues
  $ 30,341     $ 32,424       -6.4 %
                         
Unearned Revenues (Short and Long Term)
  $ 29,176     $ 32,655       -10.7 %

For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 print publication revenues decreased $2,734,000 or 12% below last fiscal year for the reasons described above.  Electronic publications revenues grew by $651,000 or 7% for the nine months ended January 31, 2009.  The electronic revenues are broken down into institutional accounts and retail subscribers.  For the nine months ended January 31, 2009, institutional revenues increased $1,102,000 or 26%, while revenues from retail subscribers were down $451,000 or 9% as compared to the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  The decrease in electronic retail publications revenues is primarily attributable to the decrease in circulation within the Company’s software products.  Circulation of The Value Line Investment Analyzer decreased 24%, which resulted in a $338,000 decline in revenues from this product. The Company has successfully expanded its institutional sales marketing efforts and the increase in institutional revenues is a direct result of a focused effort to boost sales to colleges, libraries and money managers.
 
15

 
 
Licensing revenues

           Licensing fee revenues have decreased $1,914,000 or 35% for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  As of January 31, 2009, total third party sponsored assets attributable to the licensing business represent $2.1 billion in various products.  The broad and deep declines throughout the equity markets have significantly impacted assets of the third party sponsors attributable to the licensing business and resulted in lower asset based fees paid to the Company.  While the third party sponsors continue to raise assets the broad market decline has eroded those assets as well as previous appreciation in existing assets. The Company is in discussion with new sponsors to increase products offered, but no new agreements have been signed in fiscal 2009.  The Company believes the growth of the business is dependent upon the desire of third party marketers to use the Value Line trademarks and proprietary research for their products, signing new licensing agreements, and the marketplace’s acceptance of new products. As stated in the past, Value Line believes it was an early entrant into this new market eight years ago.  Today this market has significantly broadened as a result of product diversification and growth of the use of indexes by portfolio managers, and the Company and its third party sponsors face more competition in the marketplace.

Investment management fees and distribution services revenues

The financial markets have experienced unprecedented volatility and declines over the past year some of which have not been seen in decades.  Equity indexes such as the DJIA, NASDAQ, and S&P 500 are down 37%, 38%, and 40% respectively for the year ended January 31, 2009.  Such market pressures have resulted in a contraction in total assets within the Value Line Funds of 36% as compared to a year ago.  The following tables illustrate the total fund assets as of January 31, 2009 as compared to January 31, 2008.

At January 31,
 
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Equity funds
  $ 1,894,890     $ 3,221,732       -41.2 %
Fixed income funds
  $ 240,995     $ 271,562       -11.3 %
Money market fund
  $ 196,465     $ 167,625       17.2 %
                         
     Total net assets
  $ 2,332,350     $ 3,660,919       -36.3 %

As a result of the decline in assets under management, investment management fees and distribution services revenues for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 were $4,598,000 or 18% below the prior fiscal year.  Management fees for the first nine months of fiscal year 2009 were down $3,427,000 or 18% as compared to the first nine months of fiscal year 2008. There was a net decrease of $950,000 or 18% in distribution services revenues.  During the period, contractual fee waivers exist for certain of the Value Line Funds. For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, 12b-1 fee waivers were $2,280,000 and $2,943,000, respectively.  For the nine months ended January 31, 2009 and 2008, management fee waivers were $142,000 and $174,000, respectively.  The Company and its subsidiaries have no right to recoup the previously waived management fees and 12b-1 fees.  Separately managed accounts revenues decreased $222,000 or 24% for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 as compared to the nine months ended January 31, 2008  primarily due to market decline in the portfolios.
 
16

 
 
     Of the 14 funds managed by the Company, shares of Value Line Strategic Asset Management Trust (“SAM”) and Value Line Centurion Fund 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”). The table below shows the assets in the equity funds broken down into the two channels the equity funds are available.

At January 31,
 
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Equity fund assets sold through GIAC
  $ 455,140     $ 812,361       -44.0 %
All other equity fund assets
  $ 1,439,750     $ 2,409,371       -40.2 %
   Total equity fund net assets
  $ 1,894,890     $ 3,221,732       -41.2 %

       As of January 31, 2009, 67% of the equity funds, excluding SAM and Centurion, had four star ratings by Morningstar, Inc.  The largest distribution channel for the Value Line Funds remains the fund supermarket platforms such as Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.  The Company believes the platforms will continue to grow as a percentage of assets under management as more shareholders come into the Value Line Funds through intermediaries rather than by opening direct accounts.

       The Value Line fixed income fund assets (excluding the Value Line Cash Fund), represent 10% of total fund assets at January 31, 2009 and are down 11% from the previous year.  Cash Fund assets represent 8% of the total fund assets at January 31, 2009 and have increased 17% from the previous year.  The increase in the Value Line Cash Fund is primarily due to purchases by Value Line, Inc. during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 when the Company sold its equity investments.
 
Since the close of the third quarter and as of this filing, the market has continued its decline, further impacting overall assets under management.  Overall assets under management declined approximately 8% or $180 million from February 2, 2009 to March 12, 2009, with decreases in the equity funds partially offset by an increase in assets within the fixed income funds.  Even though assets declined, the equity funds outperformed the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 for the post-quarter period.
 
Expenses within the Company are categorized into advertising and promotion, salaries and employee benefits, production and distribution, and office and administration. Operating expenses of $36,045,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 were $772,000 or 2% above operating expenses of $35,273,000 last fiscal year.  Operating expenses of $11,236,000 for the three months ended January 31, 2009 were $507,000 or 4% below operating expenses of $11,743,000 for the third quarter of the prior fiscal year.

Advertising and promotion
   
Three Months Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
    
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
   
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Advertising and promotion
  $ 2,435     $ 3,253       -25.1 %   $ 9,004     $ 10,327       -12.8 %

       Advertising and promotion expenses for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 decreased $1,323,000 as compared to the first nine months ended January 31, 2008. Within the investment management segment, supermarket platform expenses associated with the distribution of the mutual funds decreased $559,000 or 13% below the prior year due to the decline in assets under management.  In the last quarter, the Company reduced its print advertising promoting the mutual funds due to the volatility in the marketplace.  For the nine months ended January 31, 2009, print advertising increased $126,000 from the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  Within the publishing segment, costs associated with direct mail decreased $837,000 or 31% below last fiscal year, due to an ongoing targeted reduction in the overall number of pieces mailed year to year.
 
17

 
 
Salaries and employee benefits
   
Three Months Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
    
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
   
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Salaries and employee benefits
  $ 4,499     $ 4,535       -0.8 %   $ 14,165     $ 13,668       3.6 %

 Over the past several years, the Company has increased productivity by combining the roles and responsibilities of various personnel and by selective outsourcing.  Some duplication of effort has been eliminated and certain tasks, such as some data entry, have been outsourced to third party vendors that the Company believes can provide better controls and results at a favorable cost. Even so, salaries and employee benefits are higher by $497,000 from the previous year due to cost of living increases to staff and additional targeted hiring.

Production and distribution
   
Three Months Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
   2009      2008    
FY 09 vs. 08
     2009      2008    
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Production and distribution
  $ 1,445     $ 1,424       1.5 %   $ 4,434     $ 4,698       -5.6 %
 
       Production and distribution expenses for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 were $264,000 below expenses for the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  Amortized software costs decreased $300,000 below last fiscal year due to a reduction in prior year expenditures for capitalized costs.  In addition, the decline in expenses was due to volume reductions in paper, printing and mailing that resulted primarily from a decrease in circulation of the print products.  Partially offsetting the savings during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 was an approximate 8% increase in the cost of paper during fiscal year 2008 and an 8% increase in postage rates.  The Company continues to look at purchasing alternatives, delivery methods for the products, and additional ways to reduce the costs of production and distribution costs.

Office and administration
    
Three Months Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months Ended January 31,
 
    
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
   2009      2008    
FY 09 vs. 08
     2009      2008    
FY 09 vs. 08
 
Office and administration
  $ 2,857     $ 2,531       12.9 %   $ 8,442     $ 6,580       28.3 %
 
       Office and administration expenses for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 were $1,862,000 above expenses for the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  Professional fees significantly increased as compared to fiscal year 2008 primarily as a result of the SEC investigation.  Professional fees fluctuate year to year based on the level of operations, litigation or regulatory activity requiring the use of outside professionals.
 
Segment Operating Profit
 
   
Investment Periodicals,
Publishing & Licensing
   
Investment Management
 
   
Nine Months
Ended January 31,
   
Nine Months
Ended January 31,
 
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
   
 
   
 
   
Percentage
Change
 
(in thousands)
 
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
   
2009
   
2008
   
FY 09 vs. 08
 
                                     
Segment Revenues from extrenal customers
 
$
33,944
   
$
37,941
     
-11
%
 
$
20,452
   
$
25,050
     
-18
%
                                                 
Segment Profit from Operations
 
$
11,890
   
$
15,622
     
-24
%
 
$
6,473
   
$
12,108
     
-47
%
                                                 
Segment Profit margin from operations
   
35
%
   
41
%
   
-15
%
   
32
%
   
48
%
   
-33
%

 
The Company operates in two business segments, Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing and Investment Management.

Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing

Segment revenues, operating profit and operating profit margins from the Company’s Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing segment declined from the previous fiscal year primarily due to the deterioration in circulation of the total product line. As previously mentioned, competition in the form of free or low cost investment research on the Internet and research provided by brokerage firms at no cost to their clients contributed to the decline in revenue. The recession and turmoil in the markets have also contributed to the decline in subscriptions as individuals reduced many forms of discretionary spending, or have shifted investments to fixed income, for which the Company does not provide research. Investment Periodicals, Publishing & Licensing segment profit margin from operations decreased as a direct result of the decline in revenue.
 
Investment Management
 
Segment revenues, operating profit and operating profit margins from the Company’s Investment Management business segment declined from the previous fiscal year primarily due to the decline in investment management fees from the Company’s family of mutual funds that was a direct result of the deterioration in the underlying assets under management. The decline in assets under management was primarily the result of the impact by the recession and declining equity markets.
 
 
18

 

Income from securities transactions, net
 
      During the nine months ended January 31, 2009 the Company’s income from securities transactions, net, of $11,643,000 was $5,960,000 higher than income from securities transactions, net, of $5,683,000 during the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  Income from securities transactions, net, includes dividend and interest income of $2,423,000 at January 31, 2009 that was $181,000 below income of $2,604,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  Capital gains, net of capital losses during the nine months ended January 31, 2009 were $9,243,000, which included a realized capital gain of $9,600,000 from the sale of equity securities within the Company’s portfolio. Capital gains, net of capital losses during the first nine months of fiscal 2008 were $3,077,000, of which $2,793,000 represented distributions from the Value Line Mutual Funds.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

       The Company had working capital of $79,859,000 as of January 31, 2009 and $86,365,000 as of January 31, 2008.  Cash and short-term securities were $107,782,000 as of January 31, 2009 and $121,688,000 as of January 31, 2008.

Cash from operating activities
 
       The Company’s cash flow from operations of $10,324,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 was 24% below cash flow from operations of $13,604,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  The primary change was the timing of purchases and maturity of fixed income securities within the Company’s trading portfolio, a decline in the Company’s unearned revenue and the timing of payments to vendors.

Cash from investing activities

       The Company’s cash inflow from investing activities was $40,400,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2009 compared to cash outflow from investing activities of $7,192,000 for the nine months ended January 31, 2008.  The significant increase in cash inflows is a result of proceeds from the sales in the equity portfolio and the maturity of fixed income securities during the nine months of the fiscal year 2009.

Cash from financing activities

       The Company’s net cash outflow from financing activities of $10,980,000 represents a quarterly dividend of $.30 per share paid in May 2008 for the dividend declared during the last quarter of fiscal 2008 and $.40 per share dividend paid for the first and second quarters of fiscal 2009. At the July 2008 board meeting, the board approved a quarterly dividend of $.40 per share, an increase of $.10 per share or 33%. Therefore, fiscal 2009 net cash outflow from financing activities representing dividends paid was 22% higher than cash outflow from financing activities of $8,984,000 in the prior fiscal year.

       Management believes that the Company’s cash and other liquid asset resources used in its business together with the future cash flows from operations will be sufficient to finance current and forecasted operations.  Management does not anticipate any borrowing in fiscal 2009.

Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies

       The Company’s Critical Accounting Estimates and Policies have not changed from those reported in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008.

 
19

 

Item 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Market Risk Disclosures

       The Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet includes a substantial amount of assets whose fair values are subject to market risks.  The Company’s significant market risks are primarily associated with interest rates and the credit worthiness of the issuer.  The following sections address the significant market risks associated with the Company’s business activities.

Interest Rate Risk

       The Company’s strategy has been to acquire debt securities with low credit risk.  Despite this strategy management recognizes and accepts the possibility that losses may occur.  To limit the price fluctuation in these securities from interest rate changes, the Company’s management invests primarily, if not exclusively in short-term obligations maturing in less than 5 years.

       The fair values of the Company’s fixed maturity investments will fluctuate in response to changes in market interest rates.  Increases and decreases in prevailing interest rates generally translate into decreases and increases in fair values of those instruments.  Additionally, fair values of interest rate sensitive instruments may be affected by prepayment options, relative values of alternative investments, and other general market conditions.

       The following table summarizes the estimated effects of hypothetical increases and decreases in interest rates on assets that are subject to interest rate risk.  It is assumed that the changes occur immediately and uniformly to each category of instrument containing interest rate risks.  The hypothetical changes in market interest rates do not reflect what could be deemed best or worst case scenarios.  Variations in market interest rates could produce significant changes in the timing of repayments due to prepayment options available.  For these reasons, actual results might differ from those reflected in the table.  Dollars are in thousands.

   
Estimated Fair Value after
 
    
Hypothetical Change in Interest Rates
 
    
(bp = basis points)
 
          
6 mos.
   
6 mos.
   
1 yr.
   
1 yr.
 
   
Fair
   
50bp
   
50bp
   
100bp
   
100bp
 
Fixed Income Securities
 
Value
   
increase
   
decrease
   
increase
   
decrease
 
                               
As of January 31, 2009
                             
Investments in securities with fixed maturities
  $ 59,083     $ 58,756     $ 59,214     $ 58,027     $ 58,584  
                                         
As of April 30, 2008
                                       
Investments in securities with fixed maturities
  $ 65,030     $ 63,947     $ 64,753     $ 63,146     $ 64,250  

In addition to interest rate risk, the Company also limits its risk of default by only investing in U.S. Government or U.S. Government backed securities.  Management regularly monitors the maturity structure of the Company’s investments in debt securities in order to maintain an acceptable price risk associated with changes in interest rates.

Credit Worthiness of Issuer

The Company’s investments consist primarily of U.S. Treasury Notes and prerefunded municipal securities backed by U.S. Treasury Notes.  Total investment and trading portfolios consist of 78% prerefunded municipal bonds and 22% U.S. Treasury Notes.

 
20

 
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 Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

The Company’s management has evaluated, with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief 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 Chief Executive Officer and Chief 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.

21


Part II - Other Information

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

Refer to Note 9 (Contingencies) of the consolidated condensed financial statements for discussion of legal proceedings.

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, 2008.

Item 6.  Exhibits

31.1 Certificate of Chief Executive Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2 Certificate of Chief Financial Officer Required Under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1 Joint Chief Executive Officer/Chief Financial Officer Certificate Required Under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 
22

 

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)
       
Date:  March 13, 2009
 
By:
s/Jean Bernhard Buttner
     
Jean Bernhard Buttner
     
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
       
Date:  March 13, 2009
 
By:
s/Mitchell E. Appel
     
Mitchell E. Appel
     
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)

 
23