WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis., July 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Renaissance Learning, Inc. (Nasdaq: RLRN), a leading provider of technology-based school improvement and student assessment programs for K12 schools, today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Revenues for the second quarter of 2011 were $35.7 million, an increase of 15.0% from second quarter 2010 revenues of $31.0 million. Net income was $5.3 million, or $0.18 per share, 23.4 % higher than second quarter 2010 net income of $4.3 million, or $0.15 per share.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20001108/RENAISSANCELOGO)

Revenues for the six-month period ended June 30, 2011 were $69.2 million, up 9.4% from revenues of $63.3 million for the first half of 2010. Net income was $10.8 million for the first six months of 2011, up 7.1% from the prior year's net income of $10.1 million. Earnings per share for the six months ending June 30, 2011 were $0.37 compared to $0.34 for the same period in 2010. Net income in 2010 included a tax benefit resulting from a tax audit settlement of $1.1 million, or $0.04 per share. Excluding the tax benefit in last year's results, year over year net income per share for the six month period increased by $0.07.

"We are pleased to have achieved continued growth and solid financial results for the second quarter, especially considering the challenging funding environment," commented Glenn R. James, Chief Executive Officer. "Orders for the quarter were 18% higher than the prior year, offsetting a similar percentage decline in the first quarter and reflecting the continued seasonal shift of orders to Q2 and Q3.

"The strong order performance was highlighted by a solid start to the launch of the STAR Enterprise product line," continued James. "Orders also were boosted by a large NEO order and by a number of customers renewing their subscriptions early.

"Despite the strength of our second quarter orders, we remain cautious in the near term as states are continuing to cut or delay education funding, and the third quarter is our largest order period," added James. "However, in spite of the school budget challenges, we believe we are well positioned strategically and financially to achieve solid growth over the longer term."

Renaissance Learning added approximately 600 new customer schools during the quarter, and total schools worldwide that are actively using the Company's products number approximately 70,000. Of these, approximately 36,000 are actively using at least one product running on the Renaissance Place platform.

The Company expanded the presentation of revenue on its financial statements to make it clearer what portion of both the product and service revenue is generated from subscriptions and other time-based items. Prior period results have been expanded to conform to the new presentation.

The Company will hold a conference call at 5:00 p.m. EDT today to discuss its financial results, quarterly highlights, and business outlook. The teleconference may be accessed in listen-only mode by dialing 877-869-3847 at 5:00 p.m. EDT. Please call a few minutes before the scheduled start time to ensure a proper connection.

A digital recording of the conference call will be made available on July 21, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. through July 28, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. The replay dial-in is 877-660-6853. The conference account number to access the replay is 350 and replay ID number is 375568.

Renaissance Learning, Inc.

Renaissance Learning, Inc. is a leading provider of technology-based school improvement and student assessment programs for K12 schools. Adopted by approximately 70,000 schools, Renaissance Learning's tools provide daily formative assessment and periodic progress-monitoring technology to enhance core curriculum, support differentiated instruction, and personalize practice in reading, writing and math. Renaissance Learning products and school improvement programs help educators make the practice component of their existing curriculum more effective by providing tools to personalize practice and easily manage the daily activities for students of all levels. As a result, teachers using Renaissance Learning products and programs accelerate learning, get more satisfaction from teaching, and help students achieve higher test scores on state and national tests. Renaissance Learning has seven U.S. locations and subsidiaries in Canada and the United Kingdom.

This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding management's expectations regarding future growth and the impact of funding issues on Company results. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and current assumptions which management believes are reasonable. However, these statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results encompassed within the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include the failure of orders to achieve expected growth targets, a decline in quiz sales that exceeds forecasts, risks associated with the implementation of the Company's growth initiatives, dependence on educational institutions and government funding, and other risks affecting the Company's business as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's 2010 Annual Report on Form 10-K and later filed quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. The Company expressly disclaims a duty to provide updates to forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or other occurrences.

                                  (tables to follow)

                            RENAISSANCE LEARNING(TM), INC.
                           CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
                (dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)
                                      (unaudited)

                                  Three Months                 Six Months
                                 Ended June 30,              Ended June 30,
                                2011           2010       2011           2010

    Product revenue:
        Subscription         $14,828        $12,094    $29,345        $23,528
        Non-subscription      10,147          9,420     18,190         19,825
            Total product
             revenue          24,975         21,514     47,535         43,353

    Service revenue:
        Subscription           6,911          5,698     13,647         11,248
        Non-subscription       3,830          3,835      8,065          8,669
            Total service
             revenue          10,741          9,533     21,712         19,917

    Total revenue             35,716         31,047     69,247         63,270

    Cost of sales:
        Products               4,858          3,700      8,173          7,197
        Services               3,131          2,948      6,570          6,440

    Total cost of
     sales                     7,989          6,648     14,743         13,637

    Gross profit              27,727         24,399     54,504         49,633

    Operating
     expenses:
        Product
         development           4,257          4,197      8,476          8,296
        Selling and
         marketing            10,975         10,158     21,204         20,504
        General and
         administrative        4,029          3,112      7,555          6,513

    Total operating
     expenses                 19,261         17,467     37,235         35,313

    Operating income           8,466          6,932     17,269         14,320

    Other income, net             30             22         17            261

    Income before
     income taxes              8,496          6,954     17,286         14,581

    Income taxes               3,186          2,650      6,482          4,494

    Net income                $5,310         $4,304    $10,804        $10,087

    Income per share:
      Basic and Diluted        $0.18          $0.15      $0.37          $0.34

    Weighted average
     shares
     outstanding:
      Basic               29,326,158     29,309,059 29,309,400     29,299,214
      Diluted             29,326,353     29,309,732 29,309,600     29,299,854



                      RENAISSANCE LEARNING(TM), INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                       (dollar amounts in thousands)
                                (unaudited)
                                                      June         December
                                                       30,            31,
                                                        2011            2010


    ASSETS:
    Current assets:
    Cash and cash equivalents                         $6,702          $9,845
    Investment securities                              2,607           6,630
    Accounts receivable, net                          17,942           7,873
    Inventories                                        3,434           5,042
    Prepaid expenses                                   1,560           1,668
    Income taxes receivable                                -             327
    Deferred tax asset                                 4,073           2,615
    Other current assets                                 630             711
      Total current assets                            36,948          34,711

    Investment securities                              2,731           3,661
    Property, plant and equipment, net                 6,382           6,720
    Goodwill                                           2,868           2,854
    Other non-current assets                           8,120           5,843

      Total assets                                   $57,049         $53,789

    LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Current liabilities:
    Accounts payable                                  $3,108          $2,874
    Deferred revenue                                  54,323          64,791
    Payroll and employee benefits                      7,258           5,609
    Income taxes payable                                 432               -
    Other current liabilities                          3,195           2,340
      Total current liabilities                       68,316          75,614

    Deferred revenue                                   9,963           7,051
    Deferred compensation and other employee
     benefits                                          2,731           2,538
    Income taxes payable                               3,427           3,426
    Other non-current liabilities                        772             213
      Total liabilities                               85,209          88,842

      Total shareholders' equity                     (28,160)        (35,053)

      Total liabilities and shareholders' equity     $57,049         $53,789

SOURCE Renaissance Learning, Inc.