ARTLP The Aristotle (MM)

The Aristotle Corporation (NASDAQ: ARTL; ARTLP) announced today the following:

Results for Quarter and Calendar Year ended December 31, 2008

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, net sales were $212.8 million compared to $211.6 million for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007, and earnings from operations were $34.6 million compared to $35.0 million. For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, net sales were $40.6 million versus $43.6 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, and earnings from operations were $4.3 million versus $5.7 million.

For the calendar year ended December 31, 2008, there were net earnings applicable to common stockholders of $15 thousand, or $.00 per diluted common share, compared to net earnings of $14.9 million, or $.84 per diluted common share, for the calendar year ended December 31, 2007. For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, there was a net loss applicable to common stockholders of $12.0 million, or ($.67) per diluted common share, versus net earnings of $3.1 million, or $.17 per diluted common share, for the quarter ended December 31, 2007. The net results applicable to common stockholders for the quarter and calendar year ended December 31, 2008 reflect the unfavorable impact of a $12.4 million after-tax loss related to certain externally managed investments.

Steven B. Lapin, Aristotle�s President and Chief Operating Officer, stated, �In the face of severely deteriorating general economic conditions during the latter part of 2008, the Company nevertheless successfully produced substantial revenues and earnings from operations during the fourth quarter and full calendar year. The K-12 school markets, as well as the commercial markets served by the Company, are dependent on the vitality of state and local economies. Management is cautiously hopeful that the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 will help combat recessionary trends and unlock meaningful educational spending for the new budget year that begins in July 2009.�

Dean Johnson, Aristotle�s Chief Financial Officer, stated, �While management is disappointed by the investment related losses which impacted the results for the 2008 fourth quarter and calendar year, the Company�s financial condition is strong. With a net worth of $110.9 million, borrowing capacity of $40 million, and substantial Company liquidity, the loss of asset value will not interfere with on-going business activities, including unsurpassed service to customers.�

About Aristotle

The Aristotle Corporation, founded in 1986, and headquartered in Stamford, CT, is a leading manufacturer and global distributor of educational, health, medical technology and agricultural products. A selection of over 80,000 items is offered, primarily through more than 49 separate catalogs carrying the brand of Nasco (founded in 1941), as well as those bearing the brands of Life/Form�, Whirl-Pak�, Simulaids, Triarco, Spectrum Educational Supplies, Hubbard Scientific, Scott Resources, Haan Crafts, To-Sew, CPR Prompt�, Ginsberg Scientific and Summit Learning. Products include educational materials and supplies for substantially all K-12 curricula, molded plastics, biological materials, medical simulators, health care products and items for the agricultural, senior care and food industries. Aristotle has approximately 850 full-time employees at its operations in Fort Atkinson, WI, Modesto, CA, Fort Collins, CO, Plymouth, MN, Saugerties, NY, Chippewa Falls, WI, Otterbein, IN and Newmarket, Ontario, Canada.

There are approximately 18.0 million shares outstanding of Aristotle common stock (NASDAQ: ARTL) and approximately 1.1 million shares outstanding of Series I preferred stock (NASDAQ: ARTLP); there are also approximately 11.0 million privately-held shares outstanding of Series J preferred stock. Aristotle has about 3,600 stockholders of record.

Further information about Aristotle can be obtained on its website, at aristotlecorp.net.

Safe Harbor under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

To the extent that any of the statements contained in this release are forward-looking, such statements are based on current expectations that involve a number of uncertainties and risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements. Aristotle cautions investors that there can be no assurance that actual results or business conditions will not differ materially from those projected or suggested in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the ability of Aristotle to obtain financing and additional capital to fund its business strategy on acceptable terms, if at all; (ii) the ability of Aristotle on a timely basis to find, prudently negotiate and consummate additional acquisitions; (iii) the ability of Aristotle to manage any to-be acquired businesses; (iv) there is not an active trading market for the Company�s securities and the stock prices thereof are highly volatile, due in part to the relatively small percentage of the Company�s securities which is not held by the Company�s majority stockholder and members of the Company�s Board of Directors and management; (v) the ability of Aristotle to retain and utilize its deferred tax positions; and (vi) other factors identified in Item 1A, Risk Factors, contained in the Company�s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. As a result, Aristotle�s future development efforts involve a high degree of risk. For further information, please see Aristotle�s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Forms 10-K 10-K/A, 10-Q and 8-K.

THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

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Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 2008 � 2007 2008 � 2007 � Net sales $ 40,615 43,600 212,817 211,550 Cost of sales 24,692 � 26,681 � 129,808 � 129,590 � Gross profit 15,923 16,919 83,009 81,960 � Selling and administrative expense 11,632 � 11,252 � 48,427 � 46,929 � Earnings from operations 4,291 5,667 34,582 35,031 � Other (expense) income: Interest expense (245 ) (321 ) (1,078 ) (1,403 ) Other, net (19,967 ) 287 � (19,805 ) 1,503 � (20,212 ) (34 ) (20,883 ) 100 � Earnings (loss) before income taxes (15,921 ) 5,633 13,699 35,131 � Income tax expense (benefit): Current (3,685 ) (1,155 ) 6,883 7,441 Deferred (2,386 ) 1,534 � (1,822 ) 4,157 � � (6,071 ) 379 � 5,061 � 11,598 � Net earnings (loss) (9,850 ) 5,254 8,638 23,533 � Preferred dividends 2,156 � 2,156 � 8,623 � 8,626 �

Net earnings (loss) applicable to common stockholders

$ (12,006 ) 3,098 � 15 � 14,907 � � Earnings (loss) per common share: Basic $ (.67 ) .17 .00 .84 Diluted $ (.67 ) .17 .00 .84 � Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 17,962,875 17,945,991 17,962,376 17,651,361 Diluted 17,962,875 17,966,233 17,968,981 17,669,161

THE ARISTOTLE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands)

(unaudited)

� � Assets December 31, 2008 December 31, 2007 � Current assets: � Cash and cash equivalents

$

15,290 5,604 Marketable securities

�

4,437 3,335 Investments 2,876 18,150 Accounts receivable, net 14,048 15,631 Inventories, net 44,653 42,297 Prepaid expenses and other 8,542 9,071 Income taxes receivable 5,396 540 Deferred income taxes 4,644 2,484 Total current assets 99,886 97,112 � Property, plant and equipment, net 27,808 27,476 � Goodwill 13,712 14,476 Deferred income taxes 6,668 5,646 Investments 4,318 4,279 Other assets 884 446 Total assets $ 153,276 149,435 � Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity � Current liabilities: Current installments of long-term debt $ 294 305 Trade accounts payable 9,576 10,500 Accrued expenses 11,641 6,765 Accrued dividends payable 2,156 2,156 Total current liabilities 23,667 19,726 � Long-term debt, less current installments 10,364 8,655 Long-term pension obligations 5,891 2,944 Other long-term accruals 2,467 2,429 Total liabilities � 42,389 � 33,754 � Stockholders' equity: Preferred stock, Series I 6,489 6,489 Preferred stock, Series J 65,760 65,760 Common stock 180 179 Additional paid-in capital 7,690 7,580 Retained earnings 34.979 34,964 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (4,211) 709 Total stockholders' equity 110,887 115,681 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 153,276 149,435