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* INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. *
* THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT *
* CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY *
* NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH *
* SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO *
* REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH *
* STATE. *
* *
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 23, 1994
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED JUNE 21, 1994
[Scotts logo] $100,000,000
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
THE O.M. SCOTT & SONS COMPANY
% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE , 2004
------------------------
The Notes are joint and several obligations of The Scotts Company
("Scotts") and The O.M. Scott & Sons Company ("OMS," and, together with Scotts,
the "Issuers"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts. Interest on the Notes is
payable on and of each year, commencing , 1994. The
Notes are redeemable in whole or in part at the option of the Issuers at any
time on or after , 1999, at the redemption prices set forth
herein. Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers are required to
offer to purchase all outstanding Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof,
together with accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. See
"Description of Notes."
The Notes will be subordinated to all existing and future Senior Debt of
the Issuers. As of April 2, 1994, after giving effect to the offering of the
Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom, the combined aggregate amount of
indebtedness of the Issuers that would constitute Senior Debt would have been
approximately $128.2 million. See "Description of Notes -- Subordination."
The Notes will be represented by one or more global Notes registered in the
name of the nominee of The Depositary Trust Company. Beneficial interests in the
global Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. Except as described
herein, the Notes will be issued only in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof. The Notes will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement
System until maturity, and secondary market trading activity for the Notes will
therefore settle in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and
interest will be made by the Issuers in immediately available funds. See
"Description of Notes -- Same-Day Settlement and Payment."
Application has been made to list the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
SEE "INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS" FOR A DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT
SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT RELATES.
ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
INITIAL PUBLIC UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO
OFFERING PRICE(1) DISCOUNT(2) COMPANY(1)(3)
----------------- ------------ --------------
Per Note............................ % % %
Total............................... $ $ $
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(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from July , 1994.
(2) The Issuers have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $ payable by the Issuers.
The Notes are offered severally by the Underwriters, as specified herein,
subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject
any order in whole or in part. It is expected that the Notes will be ready for
delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of DTC in New York, New
York, on or about July , 1994, against payment therefor in immediately
available funds.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. CHEMICAL SECURITIES INC.
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The date of this Prospectus Supplement is July , 1994.
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[Photo 1]
The Scotts Company Headquarters
Marysville, Ohio
[Photo 2]
Dwight G. Scott Research Center
Marysville, Ohio
[Photo 3]
[Photo 4]
[Photo 5]
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET.
SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, IN THE
OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE
DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
[Photo 6] [Photo 7] [Photo 8]
[Photo 9] [Photo 10] [Photo 11]
[Photo 12] [Photo 13] [Photo 14]
[Photo 15] [Photo 16] [Photo 17]
[Photo 18] [Photo 19] [Photo 20]
[Photo 21] [Photo 22] [Photo 23]
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY INFORMATION IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (INCLUDING THE NOTES
THERETO) CONTAINED ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN. AS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS,
UNLESS THE CONTEXT INDICATES OTHERWISE, THE "ISSUERS" MEAN THE SCOTTS COMPANY
("SCOTTS") AND ITS WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDIARY, THE O.M. SCOTT & SONS COMPANY
("OMS"), AND THE "COMPANY" MEANS THE ISSUERS AND OMS' DIRECT AND INDIRECT
SUBSIDIARIES, INCLUDING HYPONEX CORPORATION ("HYPONEX"), ACQUIRED IN NOVEMBER
1988, REPUBLIC TOOL & MANUFACTURING CORP. ("REPUBLIC"), ACQUIRED IN NOVEMBER
1992, AND SCOTTS-SIERRA HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS COMPANY ("SIERRA"), ACQUIRED IN
DECEMBER 1993. SALES AND MARKET SHARE DATA GIVEN FOR THE COMPANY HEREIN DO NOT
INCLUDE SIERRA UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED.
THE COMPANY
The Company is one of the oldest and most widely recognized manufacturers
of products used to grow and maintain landscape: lawns, gardens and golf
courses. In both the consumer and professional market segments, the Company's
Scotts(R) and Turf Builder(R) (for consumer lawn care), ProTurf(R) (for
professional turf care) and Osmocote(R) and Peters(R) (for commercial
horticulture) brands command market-leading shares more than double those of the
next ranked competitors. The Company's long history of technical innovation, its
reputation for quality and service and its effective marketing tailored to the
needs of do-it-yourselfers and professionals have enabled the Company to
maintain leadership in its markets while delivering consistent growth in sales
and operating income and stable operating margins. Do-it-yourselfers and
professionals purchase through different distribution channels and have
different information and product needs. Accordingly, the Company has two
business groups, Consumer and Professional, to serve these markets.
CONSUMER BUSINESS GROUP
The Consumer Business Group (which accounted for approximately 80% of
fiscal 1993 net sales) develops and markets the products consumers need to grow
and maintain beautiful lawns and gardens: fertilizers, weed and insect controls,
grass seed, organic products and lawn spreaders. The Company estimates that its
lawn fertilizer and fertilizer/control combination products, sold under the
Scotts and Turf Builder brand names, have a 46% share of the U.S. consumer lawn
care chemicals market. The organic product line of topsoils, potting soils,
composted manures and mulches are sold under the Hyponex(R) brand and other
labels. The Company has broadened and strengthened its organic product line as a
result of its recent acquisition of Sierra, which manufactures Peters
Professional(R) potting soil (see "-- Sierra Acquisition"). Management estimates
that the Company has the leading market share in the total U.S. branded organic
products market and over a 50% share of the U.S. retail potting soil segment.
The Company provides a high level of service for consumers. It backs its
promise of satisfaction with an unconditional "No Quibble" guarantee for its
Scotts products and maintains a toll-free hotline for lawn care advice. The
Company's consumer products are sold in the United States through mass
merchandisers and independent retailers, and internationally in Canada, Japan
and Europe through various distribution channels.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS GROUP
The Professional Business Group (which accounted for approximately 20% of
fiscal 1993 net sales) develops and markets products for professional users:
golf courses, commercial nurseries, sports fields, lawn care service companies
and landscapers. Scotts professional products provide these users with a wide
array of technically sophisticated controlled-release and water-soluble
fertilizers, controls, application devices and growing media under such
well-known labels as Scotts ProTurf (for golf course and other turf
applications), Osmocote and Sierra(R)(for commercial horticulture), ProGrow(R)
(for the landscape market) and Peters and MetroMix(R) (for greenhouses and
commercial nurseries). Depending on the market segment, these products are sold
through
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distributors, directly through the Company's agronomically-trained technical
representatives ("tech reps"), or through Company-operated stores.
Management estimates that Scotts ProTurf fertilizer and control products
have the leading share of the U.S. non-commodity golf course turf care market.
In 1993, ProTurf products were used on 81 of the GOLF DIGEST top 100 courses and
approximately 55% of the over 14,500 golf courses in the United States. The
Company's strong research and development capabilities and agronomically-trained
sales force have enabled the Company to introduce innovative new products and
technologies and thereby maintain its leading position in these targeted
professional turf markets.
With the acquisition of Sierra, the Company has become the leading supplier
of controlled-release and water-soluble fertilizers to the commercial
horticulture segment, with an estimated combined market share of over 50% in the
United States. Sierra's commercial horticultural products also have significant
market positions in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Rim. A
recently formed unit within the Professional Business Group, under the ProGrow
name, will concentrate on marketing products to professional turf and landscape
customers other than golf courses and sports fields, such as lawn care service
companies.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's business strategy is to be the premier global manufacturer
and marketer of products used in landscape growth and maintenance. The major
elements of the Company's strategy are to:
DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED PRODUCTS. The Company's
proven ability to develop and market new products has been instrumental in
establishing its leading market shares. The Company is fully committed to
continuing this tradition. For example, it is introducing Turf Builder for Shady
Lawns(R) in 1994 utilizing proprietary technology to answer the most often
expressed needs of its do-it-yourself consumers. In its professional markets,
the technical expertise of its sales force, combined with the Company's strong
research and development efforts, have resulted in new products introduced since
1988 accounting for 66% of the Professional Business Group's net sales in fiscal
1993. These new professional products often have consumer applications. With the
addition of Sierra's research and development expertise and facilities, new
product development is expected to continue and expand.
STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH MASS MERCHANDISERS AND INDEPENDENT
RETAILERS. As the only nationwide supplier of a full line of lawn and garden
products, the Company has strong relationships with mass merchandisers and major
home center retailers such as Kmart, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Sales to these
three retailers increased approximately 28% from fiscal 1992 to fiscal 1993 and
accounted for 39% of the Consumer Business Group's net sales in fiscal 1993.
Through customized marketing programs and product offerings, the Company intends
to further strengthen its relationship with mass merchandisers, while continuing
to support its independent retailers.
ACCELERATE GROWTH THROUGH CROSS-SELLING. The Company intends to continue
its efforts to cross-sell a wider range of its brand name products to retailers
by capitalizing on its position as the only nationwide supplier of a full line
of landscape growth and maintenance products. The Company also expects to
improve its distribution of Scotts products internationally using the sales
distribution and manufacturing network of the recently-acquired Sierra.
Management also plans to use the leading position of the Scotts brand name in
the golf course segment to increase sales of Sierra products and to take
advantage of Sierra's strong commercial horticulture presence both in the United
States and abroad to increase sales of various Scotts professional products.
EXPAND THROUGH SELECTIVE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. Since 1988, the Company
has completed three strategic acquisitions of companies in the lawn and garden
industry. These acquisitions have provided the Company with the opportunity to
expand its product offerings while building upon the Company's existing
strengths in distribution, technology and brand marketing. The Company believes
its most recent acquisition of Sierra, a leading manufacturer and marketer to
the commer-
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cial horticulture markets in the United States and abroad, will further improve
the Company's global competitiveness.
SIERRA ACQUISITION
On December 16, 1993, the Company acquired Sierra from W.R. Grace &
Co.-Conn., and other investors, for approximately $123 million in cash. Sierra,
a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty fertilizers, pesticides and
premium growing media used in commercial horticulture, golf course and consumer
applications, had net sales of approximately $108.7 million for the period from
January 1, 1993, through December 16, 1993. Its products are manufactured in six
plants located in the United States and one in the Netherlands. Sierra markets
its products in the United States and internationally under brand names
including Peters, Osmocote, Once(R) and Terra-Lite(R). Through Sierra's overseas
subsidiaries, products are distributed in numerous foreign markets, including,
among others, Australia, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Approximately 25% of
Sierra's 1993 net sales were abroad.
For the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 1993, the Company had net
sales of $466.0 million and net income before extraordinary items and accounting
changes of $21.0 million, representing increases of 12.7% and 39.6%,
respectively, over fiscal 1992. Net sales and net income before cumulative
effect of accounting changes for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1993, on a
pro forma basis giving effect to the Sierra acquisition were $585.3 million and
$20.3 million, respectively. See "Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data."
THE OFFERING -- SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
Securities Offered.......... $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of % Senior
Subordinated Notes due , 2004 (the "Notes"). The
Notes are joint and several obligations of the Issuers.
Interest Payment Dates...... and of each year, commencing ,
1995.
Optional Redemption......... The Notes will not be redeemable prior to ,
1999. Thereafter the Notes will be redeemable at the option of
the Issuers, in whole or in part, at the redemption prices set
forth herein, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.
Ranking..................... The Notes will be subordinated to all existing and future
Senior Debt of the Issuers. The Subordinated Indenture provides
that the Issuers will not incur or otherwise become liable for
any indebtedness that is subordinate or junior in right of
payment to any Senior Debt, and that is senior in right of
payment to the Notes.
Certain Covenants........... The Subordinated Indenture contains certain covenants limiting,
among other things, indebtedness of subsidiaries of the
Issuers, dividend and other payment restrictions affecting
subsidiaries of the Issuers, liens securing PARI PASSU and
subordinated indebtedness and transactions with affiliates. See
"Description of Notes -- Certain Covenants."
Use of Proceeds............. The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be used to
reduce term loans under the Bank Agreement. See "Use of
Proceeds."
Change of Control........... The Issuers will be required to offer to repurchase the Notes
upon a Change of Control (as defined) at 101% of the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of
repurchase. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Change of
Control" in the accompanying Prospectus.
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SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES
THERETO AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 1992 AND 1993 AND FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1993 INCLUDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS. THE SUMMARY
HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA AS OF APRIL 3, 1993 AND APRIL 2, 1994, AND FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED APRIL 3, 1993 AND APRIL 2, 1994, RESPECTIVELY, ARE DERIVED FROM
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOT INCLUDED HEREIN. SUCH UNAUDITED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN PREPARED ON THE SAME BASIS AS THE
COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, AND THE ISSUERS BELIEVE THAT SUCH
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTAIN ALL ADJUSTMENTS NECESSARY
FOR A FAIR PRESENTATION OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION PRESENTED (CONSISTING ONLY
OF NORMAL RECURRING ADJUSTMENTS). INTERIM RESULTS ARE NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE
OF RESULTS FOR THE FULL YEAR.
SIX MONTHS ENDED
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, -------------------------
------------------------------------------------------- APRIL 3, APRIL 2,
989(1) 1990 1991 1992 1993(2) 1993 1994(3)
------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ----------- -----------
(UNAUDITED) (UNAUDITED)
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT RATIOS)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA(4):
Net sales........................... $328,368 $350,441 $388,120 $413,558 $466,043 $ 228,859 $ 275,750
Gross profit........................ 148,183 163,638 180,164 200,425 221,825 109,324 129,286
Total operating expenses............ 118,634 132,988 142,777 158,260 177,344 86,523 101,054
Income from operations.............. 29,549 30,650 37,387 42,165 44,481 22,801 28,232
Interest and other expenses......... 28,638 37,411 32,932 15,962 9,114 4,913 8,361
Income (loss) before income taxes,
extraordinary items and cumulative
effect of accounting changes...... 911 (6,761) 4,455 26,203 35,367 17,888 19,871
Income taxes........................ 1,750 143 2,720 11,124 14,320 7,512 8,415
Extraordinary items:
Loss on early extinguishment of
debt, net of tax................ -- -- -- (4,186) -- -- --
Utilization of net operating
loss carryforwards.............. 1,670 -- 2,581 4,699 -- -- --
Cumulative effect of changes in
accounting for post-retirement
benefits, net of tax
and income taxes.................. -- -- -- -- (13,157) (13,157) --
Net income (loss)................... 831 (6,904) 4,316 15,592 7,890 (2,781) 11,456
OTHER HISTORICAL DATA:
Depreciation and amortization....... $ 19,621 $ 20,474 $ 17,785 $ 15,848 $ 18,144 $ 8,758 $ 10,777
Capital expenditures................ 6,722 8,494 8,818 19,896 15,158 6,063 12,436
EBITDA(5)........................... 47,300 49,080 53,269 56,771 61,598 30,528 37,413
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense........................... 1.46x 1.42x 1.72x 3.56x 7.29x 6.87x 4.94x
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(6)........................ 1.03x --(7) 1.14x 2.40x 4.08x 4.00x 3.08x
BALANCE SHEET DATA (END OF PERIOD):
Working capital..................... $ 10,363 $ 18,230 $ 21,260 $ 54,795 $ 78,891 $ 76,129 $ 112,217
Total assets........................ 276,253 270,429 260,729 268,021 321,590 421,525 622,143
Long-term debt, including current
portion........................... 201,203 192,915 182,954 35,897 92,524 102,206 231,588
Total stockholders' equity
(deficit)......................... 2,555 (12,677) (9,961) 175,929 143,013 131,998 155,136
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(1) Includes Hyponex from November 11, 1988.
(2) Includes Republic from November 19, 1992.
(3) Includes Sierra from December 17, 1993.
(4) Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to 1993 presentation;
these changes did not impact net income.
(5) As used herein, EBITDA is defined as income from operations plus
depreciation and amortization included therein. Deferred financing costs
which have been incurred and capitalized in connection with financing the
Company's operations and acquisitions are being amortized and
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reported as a portion of interest expense and therefore have been excluded
from the calculation of depreciation and amortization used in the
calculation of EBITDA. The Company believes that EBITDA is generally
recognized as an indicator of a company's ability to service its debt and
capital expenditure requirements. However, EBITDA is not intended to be a
performance measure that should be regarded as an alternative either to
income from operations or net income or as an indicator of operating
performance or cash flows as a measure of liquidity, as determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(6) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (a) the sum
of (i) income from operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and
the cumulative effect of accounting changes and (ii) fixed charges by (b)
fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness
(including amortization of deferred financing costs), capitalized interest
and the estimated interest component of operating leases (assumed to be
one-third of total rental expense).
(7) Reflects a deficiency of earnings to fixed charges of $6.8 million.
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COMPANY
SHOULD BE READ IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
INCLUDED IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS UNDER "UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL
DATA." THE FOLLOWING SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA GIVE EFFECT TO
THE ACQUISITION OF SIERRA, WHICH OCCURRED ON DECEMBER 16, 1993, AND THE SALE OF
THE NOTES OFFERED HEREBY AS IF THEY HAD OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 1, 1992.
FISCAL YEAR SIX MONTHS
ENDED ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, APRIL 2,
1993 1994
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(dollars in thousands, except
ratios)
PRO FORMA STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Net sales.................................................... $ 585,318 $296,576
Gross profit................................................. 273,716 139,020
Total operating expenses..................................... 217,727 109,818
Income from operations....................................... 55,989 29,202
Interest expense(1).......................................... 19,914 11,316
Other expense, net........................................... 4,453 1,386
Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of
accounting changes......................................... 31,622 16,500
Income taxes................................................. 13,975 6,503
Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes........ 17,647 9,997
OTHER PRO FORMA DATA:
Depreciation and amortization................................ 25,392 12,542
Capital expenditures......................................... 16,760 12,837
EBITDA(2).................................................... 75,647 39,401
Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense(1)....................... 3.80x 3.48x
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1)(3)..................... 2.30x 2.23x
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(1) Assumes the issuance of $100 million aggregate principal amount of Notes
offered hereby at an assumed interest rate of 9.75% and the application of
the net proceeds therefrom to the repayment of term debt under the Bank
Agreement at an average interest rate of 5.5%. Giving effect only to the
acquisition of Sierra, pro forma interest expense would be $15.5 million and
$9.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1993, and the six
months ended April 2, 1994, respectively.
(2) See note (5) to Summary Historical Financial Data.
(3) See note (6) to Summary Historical Financial Data.
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
PROPOSED REINCORPORATION OF THE COMPANY AND MERGER OF OMS
Scotts is currently contemplating reincorporating from Delaware to Ohio and
thereafter merging OMS into the new Ohio corporation, which will also be named
"The Scotts Company." Such reincorporation would require the approval of a
majority of Scotts' stockholders. Scotts currently expects to solicit proxies in
favor of the reincorporation and to hold a Special Meeting of Stockholders in
September 1994 to vote upon such reincorporation. The merger of OMS into the new
Scotts would not require the approval of Scotts' stockholders.
The proposed reincorporation of Scotts and merger of OMS are permitted by
the Subordinated Indenture. Upon the execution of a supplemental indenture to
the Subordinated Indenture the new Scotts will succeed to all of the rights and
obligations of the Issuers under the Notes and the Subordinated Indenture.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR SIX MONTHS ENDED APRIL 2, 1994, COMPARED WITH SIX
MONTHS ENDED APRIL 3, 1993
Net sales of $275.8 million increased by $46.9 million or approximately
20.5%. Net sales for the six months ended April 2, 1994 included $44.0 million
of net sales from Sierra. Net sales for the period, before inclusion of Sierra's
net sales, increased 1.3% to $231.7 million. The increase reflected increased
sales volume as improved weather arrived in the Company's key geographic areas
late in the second fiscal quarter, which allowed the Company to overcome a sales
decline in the first fiscal quarter. Consumer Business Group sales increased
2.6% to $195.7 million. Professional Business Group sales of $34.0 million
reflected an 8.7% decrease from the comparable period in 1993 but also a marked
improvement over the first fiscal quarter in 1994 which suffered a decline of
14.0%. Composting revenues of $2.0 million increased by $1.2 million.
Cost of sales represented 53.1% of net sales compared with 52.2% in the
comparable period in 1993, primarily due to a delay in the start-up of a new
line of spreaders as well as lower than expected margins due to the product mix
of organic products sold.
Operating expenses of $101.1 million increased by $14.5 million or
approximately 16.8%. The increase was partly caused by the inclusion of Sierra's
operating expenses during the 1994 period and partly by increased freight costs
due to higher sales for the period as well as more less-than-truckload shipments
in the first fiscal quarter of 1994 due to a delay in the availability of a new
line of spreaders. The increase was also caused by increased spending for
national advertising and promotion programs and was partly offset by decreased
general and administrative expenses, exclusive of Sierra's expenses, which were
managed at a lower level during fiscal 1994.
Interest expense of $7.6 million increased by $3.1 million or approximately
70.1%. The increase was primarily attributable to an increase in borrowing
levels resulting from the purchase of a block of Scotts Class A Common Stock in
February 1993 and the acquisition of Sierra in December 1993.
Income before cumulative effect of accounting changes increased by $1.1
million to $11.5 million. The increase was primarily attributable to increased
operating income which was partly offset by higher interest expense and income
taxes.
Net income of $11.5 million increased by $14.2 million from a loss of $2.8
million during the comparable period in 1993. The increase was primarily
attributable to a prior period non-recurring charge of $13.2 million for the
cumulative effect of changes in accounting for postretirement benefits, net of
tax and income taxes as well as increased operating income partly offset by
higher interest expense and taxes.
Current assets of $341.3 million increased by $197.6 million compared with
current assets at September 30, 1993 and by $98.2 million compared with current
assets at April 3, 1993. The increase compared with September 30, 1993 is partly
attributable to the seasonal nature of the
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Company's business, with inventory and accounts receivable levels being
generally higher at the end of March relative to the end of September. The
increase was also caused, in part, by inclusion of Sierra's current assets which
amounted to $56.4 million. The increase compared with April 3, 1993 was partly
caused by inclusion of Sierra's current assets and also by a higher level of
accounts receivable due to greatly increased sales volume in March 1994 (for
which receivables had not yet been collected) and higher inventory levels which
were primarily due to a planned increase in inventories of organic products
prepacked in anticipation of the Spring selling season.
Total assets of $622.1 milion increased by $300.6 million compared with
September 30, 1993 and by $200.6 million compared with April 3, 1993. The
increase compared with September 30, 1993 was partly due to the seasonality of
the Company's business and partly due to the inclusion of Sierra's total assets
which amounted to $156.1 million, including goodwill of $66.5 million. The
increase compared with April 3, 1993 is primarily due to inclusion of Sierra's
total assets and also due, in part, to the increases in accounts receivable and
inventory levels discussed above.
Total liabilities of $467.0 million increased by $288.4 million compared
with total liabilities at September 30, 1993 and by $177.5 million compared with
total liabilities at April 3, 1993. The increase compared with September 30,
1993 is partly caused by the seasonality of the Company's business, which is
reflected in higher levels of accounts payable and accrued liabilities. It is
also caused by $125 million of term debt incurred in December 1993 to facilitate
the acquisition of Sierra and by inclusion of Sierra's total liabilities which
amounted to $26.7 million. The increase compared with April 3, 1993 was
primarily caused by the borrowings for the Sierra acquisition and by inclusion
of Sierra's total liabilities.
Stockholders' equity of $155.1 million increased by $12.1 million compared
with stockholders' equity on September 30, 1993, primarily due to $11.5 million
of net income for the six months ended April 2, 1994. Stockholders' equity
increased by $23.1 million compared with April 3, 1993. This increase was
primarily due to net income of $22.1 million for the twelve months ended April
2, 1994.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds to the Issuers from the offering of the Notes, after
payment of estimated offering expenses and underwriting discount, will be
approximately $97.2 million. The Issuers intend to use the net proceeds to repay
term loans under the Bank Agreement. Such term loans mature semi-annually
through final maturity on September 30, 2000, and as of June 15, bore a weighted
average interest rate of 5.5%. See "Description of Bank Agreement" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
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CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the current maturities of long-term debt and
consolidated capitalization of the Company as of April 2, 1994, and as adjusted
to give effect to the sale by the Issuers of the Notes offered hereby and the
application of the estimated net proceeds therefrom, as described under "Use of
Proceeds." This table should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
APRIL 2, 1994
------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED
-------- -----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
Short-term debt:
Revolving credit and bank line of credit................ $ 98,000 $ 98,000
Current maturities of long-term debt.................... 20,417 5,417
-------- -----------
Total short-term debt.............................. $118,417 $ 103,417
========= ============
Long-term debt:
Bank Agreement (excluding current maturities):
Revolving Credit Loans............................. $ 30,000 $ 30,000
Term Loans......................................... 175,000 92,810
% Senior Subordinated Notes due , 2004.... -- 100,000
Other long-term debt.................................... 6,171 6,171
-------- -----------
Total long-term debt............................... 211,171 228,981
-------- -----------
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, $.01 par value; 10,000,000 shares
authorized and none issued............................ -- --
Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value; 35,000,000 shares
authorized and 21,073,430 shares issued............... 211 211
Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value; 35,000,000 shares
authorized and none issued............................ -- --
Capital in excess of par value.......................... 193,618 193,618
Retained earnings (1)................................... 2,448 2,448
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment...... 300 300
Less: Common Stock in treasury at cost.................. (41,441) (41,441)
-------- -----------
Total stockholders' equity......................... 155,136 155,136
-------- -----------
Total capitalization............................... $366,307 $ 384,117
========= ============
- ---------------
(1) The Company expects to incur a write-off of deferred financing costs of
approximately $1.8 million (pre-tax) as a result of the repayment of term
loans with the proceeds of this offering in the fiscal quarter in which the
closing of the offering occurs.
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DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
THE FOLLOWING DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTICULAR TERMS OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY (REFERRED TO IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS AS THE "OFFERED DEBT
SECURITIES") SUPPLEMENTS, AND TO THE EXTENT INCONSISTENT THEREWITH REPLACES, THE
DESCRIPTION OF THE GENERAL TERMS AND PROVISIONS OF DEBT SECURITIES SET FORTH IN
THE PROSPECTUS, TO WHICH DESCRIPTION REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE. CAPITALIZED TERMS
NOT OTHERWISE DEFINED HEREIN SHALL HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM IN THE
PROSPECTUS.
GENERAL
The Notes will be issued under the Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented
by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of , 1994 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture"), between the Company and Chemical Bank, as trustee (the
"Trustee"), and will constitute a series of Subordinated Debt Securities
described in the accompanying Prospectus. The statements under this caption
relating to the Notes, the Subordinated Indenture and the First Supplemental
Indenture are summaries and do not purport to be complete, and where reference
is made to particular provisions of the Subordinated Indenture or the First
Supplemental Indenture, such provisions, including the definition of certain
terms, are incorporated by reference as a part of such summaries or terms, which
are qualified in their entirety by such reference. Unless otherwise indicated,
references under this caption to the Subordinated Indenture are references to
the Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture.
The Subordinated Indenture has been, and the First Supplemental Indenture will
be, filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus is a part.
The Notes will be unsecured, joint and several obligations of the Issuers,
will be limited to $100 million aggregate principal amount and will mature on
, 2004. The Notes will bear interest at the rate per annum shown on
the front cover of this Prospectus Supplement from July , 1994 or from
the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or
provided for, payable semi-annually on and of each
year, commencing , 1995, to the Person in whose name the Note (or any
predecessor Note) is registered at the close of business on the preceding
or , as the case may be. Interest on the Notes will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Principal of
and premium, if any, and interest on the Notes will be payable at the office of
the corporate trust office of the Trustee, as Paying Agent, provided that at the
option of the Issuers, interest on the Notes may be payable by check mailed to
the address of the Person entitled thereto as it appears in the Note Register.
Initially, the Trustee will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Notes
may be presented for registration of transfer and exchange at the offices of the
Registrar.
REDEMPTION
The Notes will be subject to redemption, at the option of the Issuers, in
whole or in part, at any time on or after , 1999 and prior to
maturity, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice mailed to each
Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his address appearing in the Security
Register, in amounts of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000, at the
following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of principal amount) plus
accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date (subject to the right of
Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to
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receive interest due on an Interest Payment Date that is on or prior to the
Redemption Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of
the years indicated:
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
----------------------------------------------------
1999...................................... %
2000......................................
2001......................................
2002 and thereafter....................... 100
If less than all the Notes are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in
such manner as it shall deem fair and appropriate, the particular Notes to be
redeemed or any portion thereof that is an integral multiple of $1,000.
The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.
SUBORDINATION
The payment of the principal and premium, if any, and interest on the
Notes, and any other obligations of the Issuers in respect of the Notes
(including any obligation to repurchase Notes) will, to the extent set forth in
the Subordinated Indenture, be subordinate in right of payment to the prior
payment in full of all Senior Debt, as described under "Description of Debt
Securities -- Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
At April 2, 1994, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the offering
of the Notes and the use of proceeds therefrom, combined aggregate Senior Debt
of the Issuers would have aggregated approximately $128.2 million. There is
currently no indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Notes. See
"Capitalization." The Issuers expect from time to time to incur additional
indebtedness constituting Senior Debt. The Subordinated Indenture does not
prohibit or limit the Incurrence of additional Senior Debt.
DEFEASANCE
The provisions of Article 13 of the Subordinated Indenture relating to
defeasance and covenant defeasance, which are described in the accompanying
Prospectus, will apply to the Notes.
COVENANTS
The following covenants, in addition to those set forth in the accompanying
Prospectus, are applicable to the Subordinated Indenture and the Notes:
LIMITATION ON DEBT AND PREFERRED STOCK OF SUBSIDIARIES
The Issuers may not permit any Subsidiary (other than, in the case of
Scotts, OMS) of an Issuer to Incur or suffer to exist any Debt or issue any
Preferred Stock except: (i) Debt or Preferred Stock outstanding on the date of
issuance of the Notes after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of
the Notes as described in a schedule to the First Supplemental Indenture; (ii)
Debt consisting of a guarantee by a Subsidiary of an Issuer of Senior Debt
Incurred by an Issuer, including, but not limited to, the guarantees by
Subsidiaries of the Issuers of Debt Incurred by the Issuers under the Bank
Agreement; (iii) Debt Incurred or Preferred Stock issued to and held by an
Issuer or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of an Issuer; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon
either (x) the transfer or other disposition by an Issuer or such Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of any Debt so permitted to a Person other than an Issuer or another
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of an Issuer or (y) the issuance (other than directors'
qualifying shares), sale, lease, transfer or other disposition of shares of
Capital Stock (including by consolidation or merger) of such Wholly Owned
Subsidiary to a Person other than an Issuer or another such Wholly Owned
Subsidiary, the provisions of this Clause (iii) shall no longer be applicable to
such Debt and such Debt shall be deemed to have been
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Incurred at the time of such transfer or other disposition; (iv) Debt Incurred
or Preferred Stock issued by a Person prior to the time (A) such Person became a
Subsidiary of an Issuer, (B) such Person merges into or consolidates with a
Subsidiary of an Issuer or (C) another Subsidiary of an Issuer merges into or
consolidates with such Person (in a transaction in which such Person becomes a
Subsidiary of an Issuer), which Debt or Preferred Stock was not Incurred or
issued in anticipation of such transaction and was outstanding prior to such
transaction; (v) Debt secured by a Lien on real or personal property which Debt
(a) constitutes all or a part of the purchase price of such property or (b) is
Incurred prior to, at the time of or within 270 days after the acquisition of
such property for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price
thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Debt so secured does not exceed the purchase
price of such property and such Lien does not extend to or cover any property
other than such item of property and any improvements on such item; (vi) Debt or
Preferred Stock which is exchanged for, or the proceeds of which are used to
refinance or refund, any Debt or Preferred Stock permitted to be outstanding
pursuant to Clauses (iv) and (v) hereof (or any extension or renewal thereof),
in an aggregate principal amount, in the case of Debt, or liquidation
preference, in the case of Preferred Stock, not to exceed the principal amount
or liquidation preference of the Debt or Preferred Stock, respectively, so
exchanged, refinanced or refunded plus the amount of any premium required to be
paid in connection with such refinancing pursuant to the terms of the Debt or
Preferred Stock so exchanged, refinanced or refunded or the amount of any
premium reasonably determined by the Issuers as necessary to accomplish such
refinancing by means of a tender offer or privately negotiated repurchase, plus
the amount of expenses of the Issuers and the Subsidiary incurred in connection
with such refinancing and PROVIDED such exchanging, refinancing or refunding
Debt or Preferred Stock by its terms, or by the terms of any agreement or
instrument pursuant to which such Debt or Preferred Stock is issued, (x) does
not provide for payments of principal or liquidation value at the stated
maturity of such Debt or Preferred Stock or by way of a sinking fund applicable
to such Debt or Preferred Stock or by way of any mandatory redemption,
defeasance, retirement or repurchase of such Debt or Preferred Stock by an
Issuer or any Subsidiary of an Issuer (including any redemption, retirement or
repurchase which is contingent upon events or circumstances, but excluding any
retirement required by virtue of acceleration of such Debt upon an event of
default thereunder), in each case prior to the stated maturity of the Debt or
Preferred Stock being refinanced or refunded and (y) does not permit redemption
or other retirement (including pursuant to an offer to purchase made by an
Issuer or a Subsidiary of an Issuer) of such Debt or Preferred Stock at the
option of the holder thereof prior to the stated maturity of the Debt or
Preferred Stock being refinanced or refunded, other than a redemption or other
retirement at the option of the holder of such Debt or Preferred Stock
(including pursuant to an offer to purchase made by an Issuer or a Subsidiary of
an Issuer) which is conditioned upon the change of control of the Issuers
pursuant to provisions substantially similar to those contained in the Indenture
described under "Change of Control," and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that (a) such
exchanging, refinancing or refunding debt shall be Incurred only by the
Subsidiary that is the obligor with respect to the Debt or Preferred Stock being
exchanged, refinanced or refunded, (b) in the case of any exchange, refinancing
or refunding of Preferred Stock, such Preferred Stock is exchanged, refinanced
or refunded with Preferred Stock and (c) any exchange, refinancing or refunding
of Debt permitted to be outstanding pursuant to Clause (v) above shall consist
of Debt secured by a Lien on the property securing the Debt being exchanged,
refinanced or refunded, and no other property; (vii) Debt Incurred by any
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries substantially all of the assets and operations of
which are outside the United States (each, a "Foreign Subsidiary"), the proceeds
of which are used to finance, or refinance from a third party, the working
capital or capital expenditures of such Foreign Subsidiary; and (viii) Debt or
Preferred Stock not otherwise permitted pursuant to Clauses (i) through (vii)
above which, together with any other Debt or Preferred Stock outstanding
pursuant to this Clause (viii), is in an aggregate amount not in excess of $5
million at any time outstanding.
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LIMITATIONS CONCERNING DISTRIBUTIONS BY AND TRANSFERS FROM SUBSIDIARIES
Each of the Issuers may not, and may not permit any Subsidiary to, suffer
to exist any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any
Subsidiary of an Issuer (other than, in the case of Scotts, OMS) (i) to pay
directly or indirectly dividends or make any other distributions in respect of
its Capital Stock or pay any Debt or other obligation owed to an Issuer or any
other Subsidiary; (ii) to make loans or advances to an Issuer or any other
Subsidiary; or (iii) to transfer any of its property or assets to an Issuer or
any other Subsidiary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuers may, and may
permit any Subsidiary to, suffer to exist any such encumbrance or restriction
(a) pursuant to any agreement in effect on the date of the Indenture (including
the Bank Agreement) as described in a schedule to the First Supplemental
Indenture, (b) pursuant to an agreement relating to any Debt Incurred by such
Subsidiary prior to the date on which such Subsidiary was acquired by an Issuer
and outstanding on such date and not Incurred in anticipation of becoming a
Subsidiary, (c) pursuant to an agreement effecting a renewal, refunding or
extension of Debt Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in Clause (b)
above; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions contained in such renewal,
refunding or extension agreement relating to such encumbrance or restriction are
no more restrictive in any material respect than the provisions contained in the
agreement the subject thereof, as determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of Scotts and evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors of
Scotts filed with the Trustee, or (d) pursuant to customary encumbrances in any
agreement relating to any Debt Incurred by a Foreign Subsidiary pursuant to the
provisions of the Indenture described in Clause (vii) under "Limitation on Debt
and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries" above.
LIMITATION ON LIENS SECURING PARI PASSU OR SUBORDINATED DEBT
Each of the Issuers may not, and may not permit any Subsidiary of an Issuer
to, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien on or with respect to any property or
assets now owned or hereafter acquired to secure any Debt which is PARI PASSU or
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes without making, or causing such
Subsidiary to make, effective provision for securing the Notes (x) equally and
ratably with such Debt as to such property for so long as such Debt will be so
secured or (y) in the event such Debt is Debt of an Issuer which is subordinate
in right of payment to the Notes, prior to such Debt as to such property for so
long as such Debt will be so secured.
The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to: (i) Liens securing only the
Notes; and (ii) Liens in favor of an Issuer.
TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES AND RELATED PERSONS
Each of the Issuers may not, and may not permit any Subsidiary of an Issuer
to, enter into any transaction (or series of related transactions) with an
Affiliate or Related Person of an Issuer (other than an Issuer or a Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of an Issuer), including any investment, either directly or
indirectly, unless such transaction is on terms no less favorable to such Issuer
or such Subsidiary than those that could be obtained in a comparable arm's
length transaction with an entity that is not an Affiliate or Related Person and
is in the best interests of such Issuer or such Subsidiary. For any transaction
that involves in excess of $100,000 but less than or equal to $1,000,000, the
Chief Executive Officer of Scotts shall determine that the transaction satisfies
the above criteria and shall evidence such a determination by a certificate
filed with the Trustee. For any transaction that involves in excess of
$1,000,000, a majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors
shall determine that the transaction satisfies the above criteria and shall
evidence such a determination by a Board Resolution filed with the Trustee. The
foregoing requirements will not be applicable to (i) any issuance of securities,
or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to
employment arrangements or employee stock option or ownership plans approved by
the Board of Directors; (ii) directors' fees and expenses or (iii) loans or
advances to employees in the ordinary course of business.
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LIMITATION ON CERTAIN DEBT
Each of the Issuers may not Incur any Debt which by its terms is both (i)
subordinated in right of payment to any Senior Debt of such Issuer and (ii)
senior in right of payment to the Notes.
PROVISION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Whether or not the Issuers are required to be subject to Section 13(a) or
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor provision
thereto, the Issuers shall file with the Commission the annual reports,
quarterly reports and other documents which the Issuers would have been required
to file with the Commission pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any
successor provision thereto if the Issuers were so required, such documents to
be filed with the Commission on or prior to the respective dates (the "Required
Filing Dates") by which the Issuers would have been required so to file such
documents if the Issuers were so required. The Issuers shall also in any event
(a) within 15 days of each Required Filing Date (i) transmit by mail to all
Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, without
cost to such Holders, and (ii) file with the Trustee, copies of the annual
reports, quarterly reports and other documents which the Issuers file with the
Commission pursuant to such Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provision
thereto or would have been required to file with the Commission pursuant to such
Section 13(a) or 15(d) or any successor provisions thereto if the Issuers were
required to be subject to such Sections and (b) if filing such documents by the
Issuers with the Commission is not permitted under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, promptly upon written request supply copies of such documents to any
prospective Holder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as OMS continues to
be a majority-owned Subsidiary of Scotts, the Issuers may satisfy the
requirements of this paragraph by filing, transmitting or supplying such reports
and other documents with respect to Scotts.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
The following definitions, in addition to the definitions set forth in the
accompanying Prospectus, are applicable to the Subordinated Indenture and the
Notes:
"Incur" means, with respect to any Debt or other obligation of any Person,
to create, issue, incur (by conversion, exchange or otherwise), assume,
Guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect of such Debt or other obligation
or the recording, as required pursuant to generally accepted accounting
principles or otherwise, of any such Debt or other obligation on the balance
sheet of such Person (and "Incurrence", "Incurred", "Incurrable" and "Incurring"
shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that a
change in generally accepted accounting principles that results in an obligation
of such Person that exists at such time becoming Debt shall not be deemed an
Incurrence of such Debt.
"Lien" means, with respect to any property or assets, any mortgage or deed
of trust, pledge, hypothecation, assignment, deposit arrangement, security
interest, lien, charge, easement (other than any easement not materially
impairing usefulness or marketability), encumbrance, preference, priority or
other security agreement or preferential arrangement of any kind or nature
whatsoever on or with respect to such property or assets (including, without
limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement having
substantially the same economic effect as any of the foregoing).
"PARI PASSU", when used with respect to the ranking of any Debt of any
Person in relation to other Debt of such Person, means that each such Debt (a)
either (i) is not subordinated in right of payment to the same Debt of such
Person or (ii) is subordinate in right of payment to the same Debt of such
Person as is the other and is so subordinate to the same extent and (b) is not
subordinate
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in right of payment to the other or to any Debt of such Person as to which the
other is not so subordinate.
"Preferred Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person of any
class or classes (however designated) that ranks prior, as to the payment of
dividends or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such Person, to shares of Capital
Stock of any other class of such Person.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person
all of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which
(other than directors' qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such
Person or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person or by such
Person and one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
The Notes will be represented by one or more permanent global securities
(each, a "Global Note") and registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company, New York, New York ("DTC") or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a
Global Note, DTC or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Notes represented by
such Global Note to the accounts of the participants. The accounts to be
credited shall be designated by the Underwriters. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Notes will be limited to institutions that have
accounts with DTC or its nominee ("participants") and to persons that may hold
interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by
participants in such Global Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of those
ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by such
participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers
of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a
Global Note.
Notwithstanding any provision of the Subordinated Indenture or of the
Notes, no Global Note may be exchanged in whole or in part for Notes registered,
and no transfer of a Global Note in whole in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than DTC or any nominee of DTC unless (i) DTC has notified
the Issuers that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such
Global Note or has ceased to be qualified to act as such as required by the
Subordinated Indenture or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an
Event of Default with respect to the Notes represented by such Global Note. All
Notes issued in exchange for a Global Note or any portion thereof will be
registered in such names as DTC may direct.
As long as DTC or its nominee is a registered holder and owner of such
Global Note, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the
sole owner and holder of the related Notes for all purposes of the Notes and for
all purposes under the Subordinated Indenture. Except in the limited
circumstances referred to above, owners of beneficial interests in any such
Global Notes will not be entitled to have the Notes represented by such Global
Notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of certificated Notes in definitive form and will not be
considered to be the owners or holders of any Notes under the Subordinated
Indenture or the Notes. Payment of principal of, interest, if any, and premium,
if any, on Notes represented by a Global Note registered in the name of or held
by DTC or its nominee will be made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as
the registered owner or holder of such Global Note.
Payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial
interests in a Global Note may be subject to various policies and procedures
adopted by DTC from time to time. Neither the Issuers nor the Trustee will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or
payments made on account of, beneficial ownership interests in a Global Note for
any
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Notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests or for any other aspect of the relationship
between DTC and its participants or the relationship between such participants
and the owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note owning through such
participants.
SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
Settlement for the Notes will be made by the Underwriters in immediately
available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made by the
Issuers in immediately available funds or the equivalent.
Secondary trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearinghouse or next-day funds. In contrast, the Notes
will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and secondary market
trading activity in the Notes will therefore be required by DTC to settle in
immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any,
of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the Notes.
TRUSTEE
Chemical Bank is the Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. Chemical
Bank is an affiliate of Chemical Securities Inc., one of the Underwriters of the
Notes. Chemical Bank is also agent bank and a lender to the Issuers under the
Bank Agreement and will receive its proportionate share of the repayment by the
Issuers of amounts outstanding under the Bank Agreement from the proceeds of the
offering of the Notes. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Trustee" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
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UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting
Agreement, the Issuers have agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters named
below, and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to purchase, the
principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite its name below:
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT
UNDERWRITER OF NOTES
----------- --------------
Goldman, Sachs & Co........................................................ $
Chemical Securities Inc....................................................
--------------
Total................................................................. $ 100,000,000
==============
Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the Notes, if any are
taken.
The Underwriters propose to offer the Notes in part directly to the public
at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus Supplement and in part to certain securities dealers at such price
less a concession of % of the principal amount of the Notes. The Underwriters
may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not to exceed % of
the principal amount of the Notes to certain brokers and dealers. After the
Notes are released for sale to the public, the offering price and other selling
terms may from time to time be varied by the Underwriters.
The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
The Issuers have been advised by the Underwriters that they intend to make a
market in the Notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market
making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity
of the trading market for the Notes.
The Issuers have agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
Chemical Securities Inc. is an affiliate of Chemical Bank, which is agent
bank and a lender to the Issuers under the Bank Agreement and which will act as
Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture. Chemical Bank will receive its
proportionate share of the repayment by the Issuers of amounts outstanding under
the Bank Agreement from the proceeds of the offering of the Notes. In addition,
Chemical Bank, or its affiliates, participates on a regular basis in various
general financing and banking transactions for the Issuers.
Under rules of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
("NASD"), Chemical Securities Inc., which is an NASD member and is participating
in the offering of the Notes as an Underwriter, may be considered an affiliate
of Chemical Bank, which will receive more than ten percent of the net proceeds
from the offering of the Notes. Accordingly, the offering of the Notes is being
made in conformity with Article III, Section 44(c)(8) of the Rules of Fair
Practice of the NASD. In accordance therewith, the yield to maturity of the
Notes can be no lower than that recommended by a "qualified independent
underwriter" who must also perform certain other functions in connection with
the offering of the Notes. Goldman, Sachs & Co. are assuming the
responsibilities of acting as a "qualified independent underwriter" in
establishing the minimum yield to maturity on the Notes and in conducting a "due
diligence" review of the Company in connection with the offering of the Notes.
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VALIDITY OF THE NOTES
The validity of the Notes offered hereby will be passed upon for the
Issuers by Craig D. Walley, Esq., Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
of Scotts and by Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Columbus, Ohio and for the
Underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell, New York, New York. Vorys, Sater, Seymour
and Pease may rely upon the opinion of Mr. Walley as to all matters of New York
law. At June 21, 1994, Mr. Walley beneficially owned 90,536 shares of Scotts'
Class A Common Stock and had options to purchase an additional 23,987 shares, of
which options to purchase 5,273 shares were currently exercisable.
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[Scotts Logo]
$100,000,000
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
THE O.M. SCOTT & SONS COMPANY
DEBT SECURITIES
------------------------
The Scotts Company ("Scotts") and The O.M. Scott & Sons Company ("OMS,"
and, together with Scotts, the "Issuers"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts,
may offer from time to time their unsecured senior or subordinated debt
securities consisting of notes, debt securities or other evidences of
indebtedness (the "Debt Securities") at an initial offering price (or net
proceeds, in the case of Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount)
not to exceed $100,000,000, or its equivalent in such other currency or in
composite currencies or currency units as may be designated by the Issuers at
the time of offering. The Debt Securities may be offered in one or more series
in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market
conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a Prospectus Supplement or
Prospectus Supplements. Scotts is a holding company, and all of Scotts'
operations are conducted through OMS and OMS' subsidiaries. The Debt Securities
will be the joint and several obligations of the Issuers.
The terms of each series of Debt Securities, including, where applicable,
the specific designation, rank, aggregate principal amount, authorized
denominations, maturities, rate or rates and time or times of payment of any
interest, any terms for optional or mandatory redemption or payment of
additional amounts or any sinking fund provisions, any initial public offering
price, the proceeds to the Issuers and any other specific terms in connection
with the offering and sale of such series (the "Offered Debt Securities") will
be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements.
The Debt Securities may be sold directly by the Issuers, through agents
designated from time to time or through underwriters or dealers. See "Plan of
Distribution." If any agents of the Issuers or any underwriters are involved in
the sale of any Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement.
------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY
IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
The date of this Prospectus is June 21, 1994.
21
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Scotts is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's regional offices located at
Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison, 14th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60661 and Seven
World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies of such
material can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
The Issuers have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 (together with
all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are
omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For
further information, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the
exhibits filed as part thereof. Statements contained herein concerning
provisions of any document filed as an exhibit are not necessarily complete and,
in each instance, reference is made to the copy of each document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement. Each such statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
Scotts' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1993; Scotts' Current Report on Form 8-K, dated December 30, 1993; Scotts'
Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended January 1, 1994 and
April 2, 1994, respectively; Scotts' Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated
February 28, 1994; and all other documents filed by Scotts pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities,
which documents are filed with the Commission (File No. 0-19768) pursuant to the
Exchange Act, are incorporated herein by reference. Any statement contained in a
document incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
Scotts will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the request of any such person, a copy of all of
the documents which are incorporated herein by reference, other than exhibits to
such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents). Requests should be directed to The Scotts Company, 14111
Scottslawn Road, Marysville, Ohio 43041, Attention: Chief Financial Officer,
telephone (513) 644-0011.
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INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS
Prospective purchasers of any Debt Securities should consider carefully, in
addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus, the following
factors.
SEASONALITY; WEATHER CONDITIONS
The Company's business is highly seasonal, with approximately 70% of net
sales occurring in the second and third fiscal quarters. Unexpected production
or transportation difficulties occurring at a time of peak production or sales
could cause sales losses which could not readily be recovered in the current
year.
In addition, the Company's consumer business may be adversely affected by
the weather. Poor weekend weather during the Spring tends to adversely affect
consumer purchases of do-it-yourself lawn care products. Historically, the
Company has attempted to lessen the impact of possible adverse weather by
offering promotional programs at the retailer and consumer level to encourage
consumer purchases in the early Spring. Management believes this strategy and
the international scope of the Company's business reduces, but does not
eliminate, the Company's vulnerability to poor Spring weekend weather.
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION
Many of the components of the Company's products and the harvesting of
certain of Hyponex's organic products are subject to regulation by the United
States Environmental Protection Agency (the "EPA"), other federal agencies and
departments, and similar foreign, state and local agencies. Such regulations may
affect the Company by restricting or prohibiting the use of these components or
such harvesting. The EPA and similar state agencies may also affect the
Company's business by regulating the disposal of waste generated in the conduct
of the business.
SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
Kmart Corporation, including its Builders' Square unit ("Kmart"), and Home
Depot accounted for approximately 21.9% and 9.3%, respectively, of the Company's
net sales in fiscal 1993, which reflects their significant position in the
retail lawn and garden market. Although the Company considers its relations with
Kmart and Home Depot to be good, the loss of either of these customers or a
substantial decrease in the amount of their purchases could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's business.
RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED BY LENDERS
The discretion of the management of the Company with respect to certain
business matters is limited by covenants contained in the Third Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement, dated April 7, 1992, as amended (the "Bank
Agreement"), among Scotts, OMS, Chemical Bank, as agent, and the lenders named
therein. Among other things, these covenants limit or prohibit the Company from
incurring additional indebtedness, creating liens, entering into mergers,
acquisitions or divestitures, making distributions with respect to capital
stock, making capital expenditures and making investments and loans, and require
the Company to maintain certain ratios or amounts related to interest expense
coverage, current assets, operating profit and net worth. See "Description of
the Bank Agreement" for additional information concerning the Bank Agreement.
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THE COMPANY
The Company is one of the oldest and most widely recognized manufacturers
of products used to grow and maintain landscape: lawns, gardens and golf
courses. In both the consumer and professional market segments, the Company's
Scotts and Turf Builder (for consumer lawn care), ProTurf (for professional turf
care) and Osmocote and Peters (for commercial horticulture) brands command
market-leading shares more than double those of the next ranked competitors. The
Company's long history of technical innovation, its reputation for quality and
service and its effective marketing tailored to the needs of do-it-yourselfers
and professionals have enabled the Company to maintain leadership in its markets
while delivering consistent growth in sales and operating income and stable
operating margins. Do-it-yourselfers and professionals purchase through
different distribution channels and have different information and product
needs. Accordingly, the Company has two business groups, Consumer and
Professional, to serve these markets.
CONSUMER BUSINESS GROUP
The Consumer Business Group (which accounted for approximately 80% of
fiscal 1993 net sales) develops and markets the products consumers need to grow
and maintain beautiful lawns and gardens: fertilizers, weed and insect controls,
grass seed, organic products and lawn spreaders. The Company estimates that its
lawn fertilizer and fertilizer/control combination products, sold under the
Scotts and Turf Builder brand names, have a 46% share of the U.S. consumer lawn
care chemicals market. The organic product line of topsoils, potting soils,
composted manures and mulches are sold under the Hyponex brand and other labels.
The Company has broadened and strengthened its organic product line as a result
of its recent acquisition of Sierra, which manufactures Peters Professional
potting soil (see "--Sierra Acquisition"). Management estimates that the Company
has the leading market share in the total U.S. branded organic products market
and over a 50% share of the U.S. retail potting soil segment.
The Company provides a high level of service for consumers. It backs its
promise of satisfaction with an unconditional "No Quibble" guarantee for its
Scotts products and maintains a toll-free hotline for lawn care advice. The
Company's consumer products are sold in the United States through both mass
merchandisers and independent retailers, and internationally in Canada, Japan
and Europe through various distribution channels.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS GROUP
The Professional Business Group (which accounted for approximately 20% of
fiscal 1993 net sales) develops and markets products for professional users:
golf courses, commercial nurseries, sports fields, lawn care service companies
and landscapers. Scotts professional products provide these users with a wide
array of technically sophisticated controlled-release and water-soluble
fertilizers, controls, application devices and growing media under such
well-known labels as Scotts ProTurf (for golf course and other turf
applications), Osmocote and Sierra (for commercial horticulture), ProGrow (for
the landscape market) and Peters and MetroMix (for greenhouses and commercial
nurseries). Depending on the market segment, these products are sold through
distributors, directly through the Company's agronomically trained technical
representatives, or through Company-operated stores.
Management estimates that Scotts ProTurf fertilizer and control products
have the leading share of the U.S. non-commodity golf course turf care market.
In 1993, ProTurf products were used on 81 of the Golf Digest top 100 courses and
approximately 55% of the over 14,500 golf courses in the Untied States. The
Company's strong research and development capabilities and agronomically-trained
sales force have enabled the Company to introduce innovative new products and
technologies and thereby maintain its leading position in these targeted
professional turf markets.
With the acquisition of Sierra, the Company has become the leading supplier
of controlled-release and water-soluble fertilizers to the commercial
horticulture segment, with an estimated combined market share of over 50% in the
United States. Sierra's commercial horticultural products
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also have significant positions in Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the
Pacific Rim. A recently formed unit within the Professional Business Group,
under the ProGrow name, will concentrate on marketing Scotts products to
professional turf and landscape customers other than golf courses and sports
fields, such as lawn care service companies.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's business strategy is to be the premier global manufacturer
and marketer of products used in landscape growth and maintenance. The major
elements of the Company's strategy are to:
DEVELOP INNOVATIVE AND TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED PRODUCTS. The Company's
proven ability to develop and market new products has been instrumental in
establishing its leading market shares. The Company is fully committed to
continuing this tradition. For example, it is introducing Turf Builder for Shady
Lawns in 1994 utilizing proprietary technology to answer the most often
expressed needs of its do-it-yourself consumers. In its professional markets,
the technical expertise of its sales force, combined with the Company's strong
research and development efforts, have resulted in new products introduced since
1988 accounting for 66% of the Professional Business Group's net sales in fiscal
1993. These new professional products often have consumer applications. With the
addition of Sierra's research and development expertise and facilities, new
product development is expected to continue and expand.
STRENGTHEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH MASS MERCHANDISERS AND INDEPENDENT RETAILERS.
As the only nationwide supplier of a full line of lawn and garden products, the
Company has strong relationships with mass merchandisers and major home center
retailers such as Kmart, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. Sales to these three retailers
increased approximately 28% from fiscal 1992 to fiscal 1993 and accounted for
39% of the Consumer Business Group's net sales in fiscal 1993. Through
customized marketing programs and product offerings, the Company intends to
further strengthen its relationship with mass merchandisers, while continuing to
support its independent retailers.
ACCELERATE GROWTH THROUGH CROSS-SELLING. The Company intends to continue
its efforts to cross-sell a wider range of its brand name products to retailers
by capitalizing on its position as the only nationwide supplier of a full line
of landscape growth and maintenance products. The Company also expects to
improve its distribution of Scotts products internationally using the sales
distribution and manufacturing network of the recently-acquired Sierra.
Management also plans to use the leading position of the Scotts brand name in
the golf course segment to increase sales of Sierra products and to take
advantage of Sierra's strong commercial horticulture presence both in the United
States and abroad to increase sales of various Scotts professional products.
EXPAND THROUGH SELECTIVE STRATEGIC ACQUISITIONS. Since 1988, the Company
has completed three strategic acquisitions of companies in the lawn and garden
industry. These acquisitions have provided the Company with the opportunity to
expand its product offerings while building upon the Company's existing
strengths in distribution, technology and brand marketing. The Company believes
its most recent acquisition of Sierra, a leading manufacturer and marketer to
the commercial horticulture markets in the United States and abroad, will
further improve the Company's global competitiveness.
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SIERRA ACQUISITION
On December 16, 1993, the Company acquired Sierra from W.R. Grace &
Co.-Conn., and other investors, for approximately $123 million in cash. Sierra,
a leading manufacturer and marketer of specialty fertilizers, pesticides and
premium growing media used in commercial horticulture, golf course and consumer
applications, had net sales of approximately $108.7 million for the period from
January 1, 1993, through December 16, 1993. Its products are manufactured in six
plants located in the United States and one in The Netherlands. Sierra markets
its products in the United States and internationally under brand names
including Peters, Osmocote, Once and Terra-Lite. Through Sierra's overseas
subsidiaries, products are distributed in numerous foreign markets, including,
among others, Australia, Europe and the Pacific Rim. Approximately 25% of
Sierra's 1993 net sales were abroad.
For the Company's fiscal year ended September 30, 1993, the Company had net
sales of $466.0 million and net income before extraordinary items and accounting
changes of $21.0 million, representing increases of 12.7% and 39.6%,
respectively, over fiscal 1992. Net sales and net income before cumulative
effect of accounting changes for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1993, on a
pro forma basis giving effect to the Sierra acquisition were $585.3 million and
$20.3 million, respectively. See "Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data."
HISTORY
The Company traces its roots back to the seed business founded in 1870 by
Orlando McLean Scott in Marysville, Ohio. In 1986, OMS was purchased by Clayton
& Dubilier (now Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc.), a private investment firm,
members of management and other investors from ITT Corporation in a leveraged
transaction. The Company acquired the lawn and garden business of Hyponex in
November 1988 through a series of mergers for approximately $111.4 million. In
February 1992, the Company completed the initial public offering of its common
stock and received net proceeds of approximately $159.5 million, which were used
to redeem certain notes and debentures issued in 1986 in connection with the
leveraged transaction and to reduce other outstanding indebtedness. The Company
acquired Republic, a garden tool and lawn spreader manufacturer, in November
1992 for approximately $16 million. In February 1993, the Company repurchased
all 2.4 million shares of its Class A Common Stock owned by Clayton, Dubilier &
Rice, Inc. for approximately $41.4 million. The Company acquired Sierra, then
known as Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company, on December 16, 1993 for
approximately $123 million.
The Company's principal executive offices are located at 14111 Scottslawn
Road, Marysville, Ohio 43041, and its telephone number is (513) 644-0011.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company's Bank Agreement currently provides that the net proceeds to
the Company from the offering of any of the Debt Securities, after payment of
any offering expenses and underwriting discounts or commissions, be used to
repay term loans under the Bank Agreement. Such term loans mature semi-annually
through final maturity on September 30, 2000, and, as of September 30, 1993,
bore a weighted average interest rate of 5.5%. See "Description of Bank
Agreement."
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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA
The following table sets forth selected historical financial data of the
Company on a consolidated basis. The statement of operations data for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993, and the balance sheet
data as of September 30, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993 were derived from the
audited Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company. The selected
historical financial data should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto and "Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" appearing
elsewhere herein.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1989(1) 1990 1991 1992 1993(2)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA (3)
Net sales...................................... $ 328,368 $ 350,441 $ 388,120 $ 413,558 $ 466,043
Cost of sales.................................. 180,185 186,803 207,956 213,133 244,218
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Gross profit................................... 148,183 163,638 180,164 200,425 221,825
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing.................................... 50,222 48,681 57,489 66,245 74,579
Distribution................................. 39,377 55,628 57,056 61,051 67,377
General and administrative................... 24,405 23,965 22,985 24,759 27,688
Research and development..................... 4,630 4,714 5,247 6,205 7,700
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Total operating expenses..................... 118,634 132,988 142,777 158,260 177,344
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income from operations......................... 29,549 30,650 37,387 42,165 44,481
Interest and other expenses.................... 28,638 37,411 32,932 15,962 9,114
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before income taxes,
extraordinary items and cumulative effect of
accounting changes........................... 911 (6,761) 4,455 26,203 35,367
Income taxes................................... 1,750 143 2,720 11,124 14,320
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income (loss) before extraordinary items and
cumulative effect of accounting changes...... (839) (6,904) 1,735 15,079 21,047
Extraordinary items:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of
tax........................................ -- -- -- (4,186) --
Utilization of net operating loss
carryforwards.............................. 1,670 -- 2,581 4,699 --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting for
postretirement benefits, net of tax and
income taxes................................. -- -- -- -- (13,157)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss).............................. $ 831 $ (6,904) $ 4,316 $ 15,592 $ 7,890
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net income (loss) per common share: (4)
Income (loss) before extraordinary items and
cumulative effect of accounting changes...... $ (0.07) $ (0.58) $ 0.15 $ 0.84 $ 1.07
Extraordinary items:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of
tax.......................................... -- -- -- (0.23) --
Utilization of net operating loss
carryforwards................................ 0.14 -- 0.21 0.26 --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting
postretirement benefits, net of tax and
income taxes................................. -- -- -- -- (0.67)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss)............................ $ 0.07 $ (0.58) $ 0.36 $ 0.87 $ 0.40
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Weighted average common shares outstanding
during the period............................ 11,511,278 11,976,733 11,832,651 18,014,151 19,687,013
OTHER HISTORICAL DATA:
Depreciation and amortization.................. $ 19,621 $ 20,474 $ 17,785 $ 15,848 $ 18,144
Capital expenditures........................... 6,722 8,494 8,818 19,896 15,158
EBITDA(5)...................................... 47,300 49,080 53,269 56,771 61,598
Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense............ 1.46x 1.42x 1.72x 3.56x 7.29x
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(6).......... 1.03x --(7) 1.14x 2.40x 4.08x
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FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1989(1) 1990 1991 1992 1993(2)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT FOR SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)
BALANCE SHEET DATA (END OF PERIOD)(3)
Working capital................................ $ 10,363 $ 18,230 $ 21,260 $ 54,795 $ 78,891
Property, plant and equipment, net............. 85,976 83,384 79,903 89,070 98,791
Total assets................................... 276,253 270,429 260,729 268,021 321,590
Long-term debt, including current portion...... 201,203 192,915 182,954 35,897 92,524
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)........... 2,555 (12,677) (9,961) 175,929 143,013
- ---------------
(1) Includes Hyponex from November 11, 1988.
(2) Includes Republic from November 19, 1992.
(3) Certain amounts have been reclassified to conform to 1993 presentation;
these changes did not impact net income.
(4) Net income (loss) per share for fiscal 1991 and 1990 has been restated to
eliminate the effect of accretion to redemption value of redeemable common
stock to be comparable with fiscal 1992. All per share amounts for fiscal
1988 through 1991 have been adjusted for the January 1992 reverse stock
split, in which every 2.2 shares of old Class A Common Stock were exchanged
for one share of new Class A Common Stock.
(5) As used herein, EBITDA is defined as income from operations plus
depreciation and amortization included therein. Deferred financing costs
which have been incurred and capitalized in connection with financing the
Company's operations and acquisitions are being amortized and reported as a
portion of interest expense and therefore have been excluded from the
calculation of depreciation and amortization used in the calculation of
EBITDA. The Company believes that EBITDA is generally recognized as an
indicator of a Company's ability to service its debt and capital expenditure
requirements. However, EBITDA is not intended to be a performance measure
that should be regarded as an alternative either to income from operations
or net income or as an indicator of operating performance or cash flows as a
measure of liquidity, as determined in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles.
(6) The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (a) the sum
of (i) income from continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary
items and the cumulative effect of accounting changes and (ii) fixed charges
by (b) fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness
(including amortization of deferred financing costs), capitalized interest
and the estimated interest component of operating leases (assumed to be
one-third of total rental expense).
(7) Reflects a deficiency of earnings to fixed charges of $6.8 million.
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UNAUDITED PRO FORMA FINANCIAL DATA
The following unaudited pro forma financial information of the Company has
been derived from the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and the
Consolidated Financial Statements of Sierra. The Pro Forma Consolidated
Statement of Operations gives effect to the acquisition of Sierra, which
occurred on December 16, 1993, as if it had occurred on October 1, 1992.
THE PRO FORMA INFORMATION AND ACCOMPANYING NOTES SHOULD BE READ IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE COMPANY'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND NOTES
THERETO APPEARING ELSEWHERE HEREIN AND WITH SIERRA'S CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS AND NOTES THERETO INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN. THE PRO FORMA
INFORMATION DOES NOT PURPORT TO REPRESENT WHAT THE COMPANY'S RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS ACTUALLY WOULD HAVE BEEN HAD THE ACQUISITION OF SIERRA OCCURRED ON
OCTOBER 1, 1992 OR TO PROJECT THE COMPANY'S RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR ANY FUTURE
PERIOD. THE PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION IS BASED ON ESTIMATES OF FINANCIAL
EFFECTS THAT MAY NOT PROVE TO BE ACCURATE OVER TIME.
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PRO FORMA CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1993
(UNAUDITED)
THE SCOTTS SIERRA
COMPANY HISTORICAL PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL (1) ADJUSTMENTS PRO FORMA
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
(DOLLAR IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA AND RATIOS)
Net sales......................... $ 466,043 $ 119,275 $ -- $ 585,318
Cost of sales..................... 244,218 66,135 1,249 (2) 311,602
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Gross profit.................... 221,825 53,140 (1,249) 273,716
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing....................... 74,579 23,243 -- 97,822
Distribution.................... 67,377 4,025 -- 71,402
General and administrative...... 27,688 8,837 164 (3) 36,689
Research and development........ 7,700 4,114 -- 11,814
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Total operating expenses..... 177,344 40,219 164 217,727
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Income from operations............ 44,481 12,921 (1,413) 55,989
Interest expense.................. 8,454 7,514 (507)(4) 15,461
Other expense, net................ 660 1,030 2,763 (5) 4,453
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Income before income taxes and
cumulative effect of accounting
changes......................... 35,367 4,377 (3,669) 36,075
Income taxes...................... 14,320 1,727 (246) (6) 15,801
---------- ---------- ----------- ----------
Income before cumulative effect of
accounting changes.............. $ 21,047 $ 2,650 $ (3,423) $ 20,274
========== ========== =========== ==========
Earnings per common share before
cumulative effect of accounting
changes......................... $ 1.07 $ 1.03
========== ==========
Weighted average common shares
outstanding..................... 19,687,013 19,687,013
========== ==========
Other Pro Forma Data:
Depreciation and amortization... $ 18,144 $ 3,840 $ 3,262 $ 25,246
EBITDA (7)...................... 60,938 15,623 (914) 75,647
Ratio of EBITDA to interest
expense...................... 7.21x 2.08x -- 4.89x
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges (8).................. 4.08x 1.49x -- 2.81x
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(1) Certain reclassifications have been made to Sierra's historical statement of
operations to conform to The Scotts Company classifications. To conform
Sierra's fiscal year of December 31, 1993 to the Company's fiscal year of
September 30, 1993, Sierra's results of operations for the three months
ended December 31, 1993 have been excluded and its results of operations for
the three months ended December 31, 1992 have been included in the pro forma
presentation. Net sales and net income for these respective three month
periods were:
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THREE MONTHS ENDED
DECEMBER 31,
--------------------
1993 1992
------- -------
(IN THOUSANDS)
Net sales.......................................... $25,705 $27,798
Net (loss) income.................................. (784) 485
(2) This adjustment reflects the following:
(IN THOUSANDS)
$ 1,140 manufacturing profit in acquired inventories
209 depreciation of the step-up of tangible assets acquired
42 amortization of patents acquired
(142) reduction in expenses related to assumed facilities leases
-------
$ 1,249
======
(3) To amortize $164,000 of organizational costs associated with the
acquisition.
(4) This adjustment reflects the following:
(IN THOUSANDS)
$ 6,781 interest on acquisition indebtedness
326 amortization of deferred financing costs
(7,514) elimination of interest on Sierra's retired indebtedness
(100) elimination of Sierra's deferred financing costs
-------
$ (507)
======
(5) To amortize non-compete agreements ($1.2 million) and goodwill ($1.6
million).
(6) To reflect domestic income taxes not previously recorded by Sierra due to
its net operating loss position, as well as the tax effects of pro forma
adjustments to interest expense, patent amortization, adjusted lease expense
and amortization of non-compete agreements and goodwill at statutory federal
and state income tax rates.
(7) See note 5 to "Selected Historical Financial Data."
(8) See note 6 to "Selected Historical Financial Data."
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Company's
Consolidated Financial Statements and the Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data and
respective notes thereto included elsewhere in this Prospectus.
GENERAL
The increasing share of consumer business attributable to mass
merchandisers, as well as the December 1993 acquisition of Sierra, have affected
and will continue to affect the Company in several ways.
Based on its experience in the past several years, management anticipates
that a greater proportion of the Company's consumer products will be sold
through the mass merchandiser distribution channel. Increased sales to mass
merchandisers makes the Company's sales more seasonal, as the inventory controls
and just-in-time ordering which mass merchandisers utilize tend to concentrate
the Company's sales "in season" (I.E., during the second and third fiscal
quarters). In addition, local regulatory efforts to decrease the amount of
fertilizers and control products stored at golf courses have resulted in
increasing reluctance by golf course customers to purchase products in the late
Fall for Spring use. This reluctance has increased, and likely will continue to
increase, the seasonality of the Company's business.
The acquisition of Sierra should have an important impact on the Company.
At the time of the acquisition, Sierra's business was primarily professional. On
a pro forma basis, Sierra would have added approximately $100 million in net
sales to the Company's Professional Business Group and approximately $15 million
to the Company's Consumer Business Group for the fiscal year ended September 30,
1993. Management believes that Sierra's sales should offset to some extent the
increasing seasonality of the Company's sales discussed above both because the
Professional Business Group's customers tend to purchase the Company's products
during a greater part of the fiscal year and because Sierra has substantial
sales outside of the United States, where seasons and usage patterns are
different. The Company believes that the acquisition of Sierra will also benefit
the Company by providing fertilizer manufacturing facilities in a number of
locations outside of Ohio, including one in The Netherlands, which, over the
long term, should help ameliorate the Company's current manufacturing capacity
limitations and help to control distribution costs while increasing customer
service.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
FISCAL 1993 COMPARED WITH FISCAL 1992
Net sales of $466.0 million increased by $52.5 million, or 12.7%. The
majority of the increase resulted from increased sales volume of consumer
products. Consumer Business Group sales of $370.2 million increased by $47.6
million, or 14.8%. The growth was principally derived from increased sales
volume to major retailers and from sales for Republic, acquired in November
1992, which accounted for approximately 37.5% of the increase in Consumer
Business Group sales. Professional Business Group sales of $93.7 million
increased by $3.6 million, or 4.0%. The majority of the increase was due to
increased sales volume.
Cost of sales of $244.2 million (52.4% of net sales) compared with $213.1
million (51.5% of net sales) in fiscal 1992. The increase was primarily caused
by lower gross profit margins on Republic's products in fiscal 1993. Cost
savings from the implementation of new controlled-release fertilizer technology,
which exceeded start-up costs incurred early in fiscal 1993, partly offset the
increase.
Operating expenses of $177.3 million increased by $19.1 million, or 12.1%.
The increase was caused by increased investment in advertising and consumer
rebates in fiscal 1993, higher distribution costs related to increased sales,
and the inclusion of operating expenses for Republic which amounted to
approximately $3.0 million from November through the end of the fiscal year.
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Income from operations of $44.5 million increased by $2.3 million or 5.5%,
which resulted from increased sales, partially offset by increased operating
expenses. The increase was also offset, in part, by additional pretax charges of
$2.4 million, in fiscal 1993, resulting from the implementation of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") Statement of Accounting Standards No. 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions" ("SFAS
106").
Interest expense of $8.5 million decreased by $7.5 million or 47.0%. The
decrease resulted from reduced borrowings and lower interest rates in fiscal
1993 including the effect of early redemption of subordinated notes and
debentures. Reduced borrowings resulted from the application of the net proceeds
of Scotts' January 1992 initial public offering and cash flow from operations,
partly offset by the use of capital resources for the Republic acquisition, the
purchase of Scotts' Class A Common Stock from Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. and
capital investment in 1993.
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting
changes increased by approximately $6.0 million, or 39.6%, primarily due to
increased operating income and lower interest expense. The increase was
partially offset by a $1.4 million charge, net of tax, related to adoption of
SFAS 106 in 1993.
Net income of $7.9 million decreased by $7.7 million, or 49.4%. The
decrease was attributable to current expense from the implementation of SFAS 106
and a non-recurring charge for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting
in the amount of $14.9 million, net of tax. The decrease was partially offset by
a non-recurring benefit of $1.8 million, related to implementation of FASB
Statement of Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes".
FISCAL 1992 COMPARED TO FISCAL 1991
Net sales for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1992 of $413.6 million
increased by $25.4 million, or 6.6%. Consumer Business Group sales of $322.6
million increased by $19.4 million, or 6.4%. This growth was derived from
increased sales to major retailers, while geographical diversification offset
the effect of locally unfavorable weather conditions and the soft economy.
Professional Business Group sales of $90.1 million increased by $5.1 million, or
6.0%, primarily due to sales of new Poly-S([) fertilizer products and improved
selling programs. Through its patented Poly-S technology, the Company produces
nutrient particles with an inner coating of sulfur and an outer polymer coating.
Cost of sales of $213.1 million (51.5% of net sales) for fiscal 1992
compared with $208.0 million (53.6% of net sales) for fiscal 1991. The decrease
was partly attributable to favorable product costs, and, in part, to
non-recurring costs in fiscal 1991 resulting from the contamination of certain
of the Company's professional products with atrazine, a herbicide, and the
resulting damage to the greens of a number of golf courses in the United States
and Canada. These non-recurring costs totaled $2.2 million in fiscal 1991.
Marketing expense of $66.2 million (16.0% of net sales) for fiscal 1992
compared with $57.5 million (14.8% of net sales) for fiscal 1991. The increase
was primarily attributable to the cost of expanding geographic coverage of
Scott's Early Bird rebate promotion and the addition of an on-bag rebate for
selected Hyponex soil and bark products.
Distribution expense of $61.1 million for fiscal 1992 compares with $57.1
million for fiscal 1991 reflecting higher freight costs in 1992 on increased
sales. Distribution expense in both fiscal 1992 and fiscal 1991 represented
approximately 14.7% of net sales.
General and administrative expense of $24.8 million (6.0% of net sales) for
fiscal 1992 compared with $23.0 million (5.9% of net sales) for fiscal 1991. The
increase was partly caused by an increase in the cost of medical and pension
benefits provided by the Company and partly by a general increase in costs in
fiscal 1992.
Other expense (net) of $.02 million for fiscal 1992 compares with other
expense (net) of $2.0 million in fiscal 1991. The decrease was partly
attributable to royalty income received in fiscal 1992
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33
by OMS under a licensing agreement permitting the use of Scott's name on certain
lawnmowers manufactured and distributed by a licensee. The decrease was also
attributable to non-recurring charges recorded in fiscal 1991 offset by foreign
currency transaction losses recognized in 1992.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Capital expenditures totaled $15.2 million and $19.9 million for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 1993 and 1992, respectively, and are expected to total
approximately $31.5 million in fiscal 1994. Capital expenditures planned for
fiscal 1994 include a substantial addition to the Company's Marysville, Ohio
production facilities estimated to be $13 million. The most significant project
planned is a new production building to manufacture products using Scott's new
patented controlled-release fertilizer Poly-S(R) technology. The facility will
provide additional production capacity in response to customer demand for
Poly-S(R) products. The Bank Agreement, as amended on December 16, 1993,
restricts the amount the Company may spend on future capital expenditures to $35
million per year in fiscal 1994 and thereafter. These expenditures will be
financed with cash provided by operations and utilization of available credit
facilities.
Effective November 19, 1992, OMS acquired Republic for a purchase price of
approximately $16.4 million. A description of the Republic acquisition is found
in Note 2 on page F-9 of this Prospectus.
On February 23, 1993, Scotts purchased all of the shares of its Class A
Common Stock held by a fund managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. A total of
2,414,895 shares of Class A Common Stock were purchased for approximately $41.4
million which was financed through the use of term loans under the Bank
Agreement which is described below.
Effective December 16, 1993, OMS completed the acquisition of Sierra for an
aggregate purchase price of approximately $123.3 million, including estimated
transaction costs of $3.3 million. The acquisition was financed through the use
of term loans under the Bank Agreement. Chemical Bank serves as agent for the
participating banks.
Primarily as the result of the inclusion of Republic's current assets,
current assets increased from $115.5 million on September 30, 1992 to $143.7
million on September 30, 1993. Higher inventories of the Company's products at
September 30, 1993 also contributed to the increase.
Total liabilities of $178.6 million, at September 30, 1993, increased by
$86.5 million. The increase was principally due to the addition of term loans
for the purchase of Class A Common Stock mentioned above and a long-term
liability related to the adoption of SFAS 106 effective October 1, 1992.
Total shareholders' equity decreased from $175.9 million on September 30,
1992 to $143.0 million on September 30, 1993, primarily due to a reduction in
total shareholders' equity for treasury stock representing the Class A Common
Stock purchased in February 1993.
The major sources of liquidity for Company operations and expansion are
funds generated internally and borrowings under the Bank Agreement. The Bank
Agreement was amended in November 1992 to permit the acquisition of Republic,
amended in February 1993 to provide financing for and permission to purchase the
Class A Common Stock mentioned above and amended again in December 1993 to
provide financing for and permit the acquisition of Sierra. As amended, the Bank
Agreement provides a revolving credit commitment of $150.0 million through March
31, 1996 and $195.0 million of term loans with scheduled maturities commencing
on April 30, 1994 and extending through September 30, 2000. The loans are
provided by Chemical Bank, as agent, and thirteen other participating banks. The
increased credit availability provided adequate capital for the acquisition of
Republic and Sierra and their estimated future working capital needs. See
"Description of Bank Agreement."
Among other requirements, the financial covenants in the Bank Agreement
require maintenance of Adjusted Operating Profit, Consolidated Net Worth and
Interest Coverage (each as defined
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therein) and require the Company to reduce revolving borrowings under the Bank
Agreement to $30.0 million for thirty consecutive days each year. The Company
met all the requirements of the financial covenants during the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1993.
The Company's business is highly seasonal with approximately 69% of sales
occurring in the second and third fiscal quarters ending March and June,
respectively. Seasonality is reflected in working capital requirements. Working
capital needs are greatest from November through May, the peak production
periods, and are highest in March. Working capital needs are relatively low in
the summer months. In addition, the Company's consumer business may be adversely
affected by the weather. Poor weekend weather during the Spring tends to
adversely affect consumer purchases of the Company's do-it-yourself products.
Historically, the Company has attempted to lessen the impact of possible adverse
weather by promotional programs at the retail and consumer levels to encourage
consumer purchases in the early Spring.
Management believes that cash flow and capital resources will be sufficient
to meet future debt service requirements and working capital needs.
INFLATION
The Company is subject to the effects of changing prices. The Company has,
however, generally been able to pass along inflationary increases in its costs
by increasing the prices of its products. In addition, the application of
purchase accounting in connection with the Company's acquisition by a company
formed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and the Hyponex acquisition mitigates the
effects of changing costs on the financial statements because assets and
liabilities were adjusted to fair values on the acquisition dates and cost of
sales and depreciation have therefore been adjusted accordingly.
ACCOUNTING ISSUES
The Company adopted SFAS 106 and SFAS 109 effective October 1, 1992. The
effect on 1993 net income of adopting SFAS 106 was an aftertax charge of $1.4
million for fiscal 1993 and a non-recurring charge of $14.9 million net of tax,
for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting. The cumulative effect of
adopting SFAS 109 was a non-recurring benefit of $1.8 million. The adoption of
SFAS 109 also resulted in a deferred tax asset. A valuation reserve was not
established because the Company expects sufficient future taxable income to
realize the benefit of the deferred tax asset.
In November 1992, FASB issued Statement Financial Accounting Standards No.
112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits" ("SFAS 112") which
changes the prevalent method of accounting for benefits provided after
employment but before retirement. Scotts must adopt SFAS 112 no later than the
first quarter of fiscal 1995. Management is currently evaluating the provisions
of SFAS 112 and, at this time, the effect of adopting SFAS 112 has not been
determined.
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BUSINESS
The Company is one of the oldest and most widely recognized manufacturers
of products used to grow and maintain landscape: lawns, gardens and golf
courses. In both the consumer and professional market segments, the Company's
Scotts and Turf Builder (for consumer lawn care), ProTurf (for professional turf
care) and Osmocote and Peters (for commercial horticulture) brands command
market-leading shares more than double those of the next ranked competitors. The
Company's long history of technical innovation, its reputation for quality and
service and its effective marketing tailored to the needs of do-it-yourselfers
and professionals have enabled the Company to maintain leadership in its markets
while delivering consistent growth in sales and operating income and stable
operating margins. Do-it-yourselfers and professionals purchase through
different distribution channels and have different information and product
needs. Accordingly, the Company has two business groups, Consumer and
Professional, to serve these markets.
CONSUMER BUSINESS GROUP
PRODUCTS
The Company's consumer products include lawn fertilizers,
fertilizer/control combination products, potting soils and other organic
products, grass seed, lawn spreaders, indoor and outdoor plant care products and
garden tools. The following table sets forth information concerning sales of the
Company's consumer products in fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993:
CONSUMER PRODUCTS SALES
(IN MILLIONS)
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
---------------------------------
1991 1992 1993
------- ------- -------
Fertilizers and Combination Products.......................... $ 132.4 $ 134.2 $ 154.4
Organic Products.............................................. 133.4 143.2 150.3
Grass Seed.................................................... 13.3 23.7 25.4
Lawn Spreaders................................................ 11.2 10.2 28.2
Garden Products, Tools and Indoor Products.................... 7.5 5.7 5.0
International................................................. 5.4 5.6 6.9
------- ------- -------
Total....................................................... $ 303.2 $ 322.6 $ 370.2
====== ====== ======
LAWN FERTILIZERS AND COMBINATION PRODUCTS. The Company's most important
consumer products are lawn fertilizers, such as Turf Builder(R), and combination
fertilizer/control products, such as Turf Builder Plus 2(R) (which is used to
eliminate dandelions and other broadleaf weeds) and Turf Builder Plus Halts(R)
(to prevent crabgrass and other weeds). Typically, these are patented,
homogeneous, controlled-release products which provide complete controlled
feeding for consumers' lawns for up to two months without the risk of damage to
the lawn presented by less expensive non-controlled-release products. A number
of the Company's products are specially formulated for geographical differences
and some, such as Bonus(R) S (to control weeds in Southern grasses) are
distributed to limited areas. Most of the Company's fertilizer and combination
products are sold in dry, granular form, although the Company also sells a small
amount of liquid lawn care products. Consumer products that utilize Sierra's
technology include Peters(R) Professional(R) all-soluble fertilizers and Once(R)
controlled-release lawn fertilizer, which can provide up to three months of
feeding from one application.
Management estimates that in fiscal 1993 the Company's share of the U.S.
consumer lawn chemicals products market was approximately 46%, more than double
that of the second leading brand.
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ORGANIC PRODUCTS. The Company sells a broad line of organic products under
the Hyponex and other labels, including retail potting soils, topsoil, peat,
manures and mulches. Management estimates that the Company's fiscal 1993 U.S.
market share was approximately 50% in potting soils, more than double that of
the next leading brand, and approximately 39% in other consumer organic
products.
GRASS SEED. High quality seed was the Company's first product. Today, the
Company sells numerous varieties and blends of grass seed, many of them
proprietary, designed for different uses and geographies. Management estimates
that the Company's share of the U.S. consumer grass seed market was
approximately 28% in fiscal 1993.
LAWN SPREADERS. Because Scott's granular lawn care products perform best
when applied evenly and accurately, the Company sells a line of spreaders
specifically developed for use with Scotts products. This line includes the
SpeedyGreen(R) and EasyGreen(R) rotary spreaders, the PrecisionGreen(R) and
AccuGreen(R) drop spreaders, and the HandyGreen(R) hand-held rotary spreader.
In November 1992, the Company acquired Republic, a manufacturer of
spreaders and other lawn and garden equipment. Republic had fiscal 1993 sales of
approximately $17.8 million. The Company intends to continue marketing both its
line of Scotts spreaders and Republic's EZ(R) line of spreaders in 1994 and is
integrating the manufacture of its spreaders through Republic. Management
estimates that the Company's share of the U.S. market for lawn spreaders was
approximately 33% in fiscal 1993, more than double that of the next leading
manufacturer.
GARDEN PRODUCTS, TOOLS AND INDOOR PRODUCTS. The Company produces and sells
a line of boxed Scotts Plant Foods, garden and landscape fertilizers. The
Company has a licensing agreement with Union Tools, Inc. ("Union") under which
Union, in return for the payment of royalties, is granted the right to produce
and market a line of garden tools bearing the Scotts trademark and has agreed to
undertake the marketing of a line of Scotts tools produced in Germany which were
formerly marketed by the Company. The Company also has a license agreement with
NOMA Industries, licensing that company in return for royalty payments to
produce and sell a line of power lawnmowers under the Scotts name. The Company
sells a line of indoor plant care products. In management's estimation, the
Company did not have a material share of the markets for these products in
fiscal 1993.
INTERNATIONAL. The Company produces and sells consumer lawn and garden
care products, under various labels, internationally, principally in Canada,
Japan and Europe. In 1991, the Company established a subsidiary and a network of
sales representatives in the United Kingdom to enter the consumer lawn and
garden market in Great Britain. Sierra has a manufacturing facility in The
Netherlands and sells its fertilizer products throughout Europe, and in
Australia and New Zealand, but primarily for professional use.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company believes that it achieved its leading position in the
do-it-yourself lawn care market on the basis of its sophisticated technology,
the superior quality and value of its products and the service it provides
consumers. The Company seeks to maintain and expand its market position by
emphasizing these qualities and taking advantage of the Scotts name and
reputation. Since its acquisition of Hyponex, the Company has also focused on
increasing sales of its higher margin organic items such as potting soils.
With the acquisition of Republic in 1992, the Company was able to begin
integrating the manufacture of its important lawn spreader product line. The
more recent acquisition of Sierra should provide the Company with numerous
strategic opportunities, including expanding the distribution of Scotts products
internationally, by using the Sierra facilities and personnel in Europe and
elsewhere. The Company also expects to increase sales of water-soluble
fertilizers manufac-
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tured by Sierra in the consumer market and to test certain bioinsecticides for
which Sierra has licenses.
Drawing upon its strong research and development capabilities, the Company
intends to continue to develop and introduce new and innovative lawn and garden
products. The Company believes that its ability to introduce successful new
consumer products has been a key element in Scotts' growth. New consumer
products in recent years include the HandyGreen(R) hand-held spreader (1991), an
improved Hyponex Professional Mix Potting Soil (1991), PatchMaster(R) (1992), a
unique lawn repair product containing seed, Starter(R) fertilizer and mulch, and
3-Step Scotts Lawn Care System consisting of three products in one easy-to-carry
box (1993). For fiscal 1994, the Company has introduced premium planting and
potting soils under the Scotts brand name, a proprietary fertilizer product,
Turf Builder for Shady Areas, and a line of grass seed coated with a fungicide
to improve germination.
The Company also seeks to capitalize upon the competitive advantages
stemming from its position as the leading nationwide supplier of a full line of
consumer lawn and garden products. The Company believes that this gives it an
important edge in selling to larger retailers, such as mass merchandisers and
home centers, who value the efficiency of dealing with a limited number of
suppliers.
Finally, the Company has developed a program to take advantage of Hyponex's
composting expertise and the increasing concern about landfill capacity by
entering into agreements with municipalities and waste haulers to compost yard
waste. A pilot program was started in 1991 on Company-owned land in Marysville
when the Company entered into a five-year contract with Franklin County, Ohio,
to compost a minimum of 50,000 tons of yard waste per year for a fee of $20 per
ton. During 1992, the Company entered into agreements for composting yard waste
in Greensboro, North Carolina; Waukesha County, Wisconsin; Spokane, Washington
and Portland, Oregon. The Company now has twelve compost facilities. In addition
to service fees, the Company plans to substitute the resulting compost for a
portion of the raw materials in Hyponex and other Company products. Revenues in
fiscal 1993 and 1992 from composting services were $2.1 million and $0.8
million, respectively.
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
The Company employs a 93 person direct sales force for its consumer
products to cover approximately 24,000 retail outlets and headquarters of
national, regional and local chains. Most salespeople have college degrees and
prior sales experience. Sierra's sales force is composed primarily of
distributors, supported by a technically trained field force of six. In recent
years, the percentage of sales to mass merchandisers and large buying groups has
increased. The top ten accounts represented 59% of the Consumer Business Group
sales in fiscal 1993 versus 51% in 1990. See "-- Matters Relating to the Company
Generally--Significant Customers."
At the same time, the Company continues to support its independent
retailers. Most importantly, the Company developed a special line of products,
marketed under the Lawn Pro(R) name, which are sold exclusively by independent
retailers. These products include the 4-Step(TM) program, introduced in 1984,
which encourages consumers to purchase four products at one time (fertilizer
plus crabgrass preventer, fertilizer plus weed control, fertilizer plus insect
control and a special fertilizer for Fall application). The Company promotes the
4-Step program as providing consumers with all their annual lawn care needs for
less than half of what a lawn care service would cost. The Company believes that
the Lawn Pro line has helped maintain the loyalty of the independent retailers
in the face of increasing competition from mass merchandisers. During 1993, the
Company reintroduced its Lawn Care(R) magazine as part of the direct mail
promotion for the Lawn Pro 4-Step program.
The Company supports its sales efforts with extensive advertising and
promotional programs. Because of the importance of the Spring sales season in
the marketing of consumer lawn and garden products, the Company focuses its
promotional efforts on this period. Through advertising,
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consumer rebates, retailer allowances and other promotional efforts, the Company
seeks to encourage customers to make the bulk of their lawn and garden purchases
in the early Spring. The Company believes that its early season promotions
substantially moderate the risk to its consumer sales posed by bad weekend
weather.
An important part of the Company's sales effort is Scotts' national
toll-free consumer hotline, on which Scott's "lawn consultants" answer questions
about the Company's products and give general lawn care advice to consumers. The
Company's lawn consultants responded to over 240,000 telephone and written
inquiries in fiscal 1993 and have handled over 2,000,000 calls since the
inception of the consumer hotline in 1972.
Backing up the Company's marketing effort is its well-known "No Quibble"
guarantee, instituted in 1958, which promises consumers a full refund if for any
reason they are not satisfied with the results after using Scotts products.
Refunds under this guarantee have consistently amounted to less than 0.3% of net
sales on an annual basis.
COMPETITION
The consumer lawn and garden market is highly competitive. The most
significant competitors for the consumer lawn care business are lawn care
service companies. At least one of these, Tru Green Company, which also owns the
ChemLawn(R) lawn care service business, operates nationally and is significantly
larger than the Company. In the do-it-yourself segment, the Company's products
compete primarily against regional products and private label products produced
by various suppliers and sold by such companies as Kmart. These products compete
across the entire range of the Company's product line. In addition, certain of
the Company's products compete against branded fertilizers, pesticides and
combination products produced by such companies as Monsanto Company (Ortho(R)
and Greensweep(R)), Lebanon Chemical Corp. (Greenview(R)) and Stern's
Miracle-Gro Products, Inc.
Most competitors, with the exception of lawn care service companies, sell
their products at prices lower than those of the Company. The Company competes
primarily on the basis of its strong brand names, quality, value, service and
technological innovation. The Company's competitive position is also supported
by its national sales force, advertising campaigns and its unconditional
guarantee. There can be no assurance, however, that additional competition from
new or existing competitors will not erode the Company's share of the consumer
market or its profit margins.
BACKLOG
The major portion of annual consumer product orders (other than organic
products which are normally ordered in season on an "as needed" basis) are
received from retailers during the months of October through January and are
filled during the months of January through March. As of April 30, 1994, orders
on hand for retail customers (excluding orders for Sierra products and
Republic's EZ brand spreaders) totaled approximately $16.8 million compared to
approximately $14.7 million on the same date in 1993. All such orders are
expected to be filled in fiscal 1994.
PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS GROUP
THE MARKET
The Company sells its professional products to golf courses, sports fields,
nurseries, lawn and landscape service companies and growers of specialty
agricultural crops. Among the purchasers of the Company's products in fiscal
1993 were such golf courses as Augusta National (Georgia), Cypress Point,
Spyglass and Pebble Beach (California), Muirfield Village (Ohio), The Country
Club (Massachusetts), Colonial Country Club (Texas) and Butler National
(Illinois), and such sports complexes as Fenway Park, Camden Yard, Wrigley Field
and the Rose Bowl.
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The following table sets forth the amount of Company sales to its
professional markets in fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993:
PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS SALES
(IN MILLIONS)
FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
--------------------------------
1991 1992 1993
------ ------ ------
Golf Courses (North America).................................. $ 58.2 $ 62.6 $ 68.6
Nurseries..................................................... 8.0 7.3 7.7
Lawn/Landscape Services....................................... 8.9 10.6 9.0
Specialty Agriculture......................................... 4.3 3.1 1.2
Sports Fields/Parks/Schools................................... 2.4 3.0 2.9
International (other than Canada)............................. 3.2 3.5 4.3
------ ------ ------
Total....................................................... $ 85.0 $ 90.1 $ 93.7
===== ===== =====
Golf courses are the most important of the Company's professional markets,
accounting for over 70% of the Company's Professional Business Group's net sales
in fiscal 1993. In fiscal 1993, the Company sold products to approximately 55%
of the over 14,500 golf courses in the United States, including 81 of Golf
Digest's top 100 U.S courses. Management estimates, based upon an independent
biannual market survey and other information available to the Company, that the
Company's share of the $200 million U.S. golf course turf care segment (not
including commodity products) was approximately 25% in fiscal 1993. In addition,
Sierra had sales of approximately $9 million to the golf course turf care
segment in calendar 1993.
According to the National Golf Foundation, approximately 200 new golf
courses have been constructed annually for the last two years. Management
believes that this increase in the number of courses, and the trend toward more
highly-maintained golf courses, contributes to an annual sales growth rate in
Scott's targeted golf course segment of approximately 7%. The commercial nursery
and the sports field segments, management estimates, are growing at 4-5%
annually.
Sierra sells both controlled-release and water-soluble fertilizers as well
as a line of pesticides (primarily fungicides) to the commercial horticultural
segment both in the United States and abroad with calendar 1993 sales of
approximately $55 million in the United States and $31 million abroad. The
Company estimates that, in calendar 1993, Sierra had approximately a 33% share
of the U.S. commercial ornamental growth category overall, and over a 50% share
of the U.S. commercial ornamental fertilizer segment in the United States, more
than double the share of the next leading manufacturer.
PRODUCTS
The Company's professional turf products, marketed primarily under the
ProTurf(R) name, include a broad line of sophisticated fertilizers, control
products, growth regulators, grass seed and application devices. The products
are sold to golf courses, lawn/landscape service companies, athletic field
managers and apartment and office complexes. Most ProTurf products are designed
for specialized applications. For example, various fertilizers are sold for use
on particular areas (E.G., some for golf course greens, others for fairways) and
for particular purposes (such as high phosphorous fertilizers and fertilizer
containing micronutrients to correct nutrient deficiencies). Similarly, the
Company markets a line of fungicides primarily for use on highly maintained
areas such as bentgrass greens. A patented technology introduced in 1987,
TGR(R), combines a turf growth regulator and a fertilizer to control POA ANNUA,
a serious weed problem on golf courses. The TGR product line has since been
expanded to include other uses, including the reduction of clippings, color
enhancement and the improvement of turf density. Although ProTurf products are
primarily
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granular, the Company also markets a line of liquid turf products, now numbering
15, which some turf managers prefer for their cost effectiveness and
ease-of-application over large areas. In 1992, the Company's patented Poly-S(R)
fertilizer technology replaced the Company's sulfur-coated turf fertilizer line,
and has gained rapid acceptance. Additional line extensions utilizing Poly-S
technology were introduced in 1993 in North America, Europe, Australia, the
Pacific Rim and Japan. The company's patented Triaform(TM) controlled-release
fertilizer technology was introduced in 1993 in 12 new formulations. In 1993,
the Company also successfully launched its first natural control product,
Turplex(R) BioInsecticide, for the professional market.
Scott's horticulture products are sold primarily to professional nurseries.
The horticulture line includes fertilizers and pesticides particularly
formulated for container-grown ornamental plants. For example, the Company
markets a proprietary fertilizer designed to meet the requirements of commercial
nursery growers who demand dependable, long-lasting and safe controlled-release
fertilizers to incorporate in their growing media. Controlled-release fertilizer
products utilizing Poly-S technology were also introduced in 1992, and extended
in 1993, into the nursery and specialty agriculture markets. A new patented
polymer coating technology, ScottKote(R), was introduced late in fiscal 1993,
and several new products utilizing this technology will be added during 1994.
Sierra's products for professional users include its Osmocote line of
controlled-release fertilizers. These are sold in various formulations for
different crops and can be produced in versions having a release period of up to
12 months. The greenhouse segment uses water-soluble fertilizers such as Peters
Professional. Soilless growing media, under such trademarks as Metro-Mix(R) and
Terra-Lite(R) are also sold to commercial growers. Finally, Sierra also sells a
line of proprietary pesticide products for horticultural and turf professionals.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Company's Professional Business Group focuses its sales efforts on the
middle and high end of the professional market and generally does not compete
against sellers of commodity products. Demand for the Company's professional
products is primarily driven by product quality, performance and technical
support. The Company seeks to meet these needs with a range of sophisticated,
specialized products and a professional, agronomically-trained sales force.
A primary focus of the Professional Business Group's strategy is to provide
a continuing flow of innovative new products to its professional customers.
Products introduced since 1988 accounted for 63% of the Professional Business
Group's net sales in fiscal 1993.
The Company intends to use its strong position in the golf course segment
to increase sales of Sierra products to those users, and, conversely, to expand
the distribution of its ProGrow line in the commercial horticultural segment in
which Sierra has a strong position.
The Professional Business Group also works to increase market coverage by
focusing on various professional market niches. In 1965, the Company established
its first specialized professional sales force, focusing on golf courses. Since
1985, it has established separate sales forces and/or sales managers for lawn
and landscape services, sports fields, golf course architects and construction
companies, and international segments of the professional market. In 1992, the
Company introduced a fairway application service for golf courses. This service
has been expanded and is now available in the Carolinas, Georgia, Texas and
Southern California. Additional service markets are planned for 1994. In 1993,
two new Professional Service Centers were tested in the Washington, D.C. market.
These new Company-operated service centers offer convenient, one-stop shopping
for smaller lawn and landscape service customers. Plans are to expand this test
in 1994.
MARKETING AND PROMOTION
The Professional Business Group's sales force consists of 97 technical
representatives ("tech reps") who cover approximately 11,600 accounts. Many tech
reps are experienced former golf course superintendents or nursery managers and
most have degrees in agronomy, horticulture or
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similar disciplines. Tech reps work closely with golf course and sports field
superintendents, turf and nursery managers, and other landscape professionals.
In addition to marketing the Company's products, Scott's tech reps provide
consultation, testing services, and advice regarding maintenance practices,
including individualized comprehensive programs incorporating various products
for use at specified times throughout the year. Sierra sells to the professional
user primarily through an extensive network of distributors backed up by over
100 field sales representatives worldwide, most with substantial experience in
the horticulture market.
To reach potential purchasers, the Company uses trade advertising and
direct mail, publishes newsletters, and sponsors seminars throughout the
country. In addition, the Company maintains a special toll-free hotline for its
professional customers. The professional customer service department responded
to over 40,000 telephone inquiries in fiscal 1993.
COMPETITION
In the professional turf and nursery market the Company faces a broad range
of competition from numerous companies ranging in size from multi-national
chemical and fertilizer companies such as DuPont and Dow-Elanco Company, to
smaller specialized companies such as Lesco, Inc. and Lebanon Chemical Corp., to
local fertilizer manufacturers and blenders. Portions of this market, such as
fairway and rough fertilizers for golf courses, are sometimes served by large
agricultural fertilizer companies, while other segments, such as fertilizers and
pest controls for golf course greens and high value nursery crops, are served by
specialized, research-oriented companies. In certain areas of the country,
particularly Florida, a number of companies have begun to offer turf care
services, including product application, to golf courses. In addition, the
higher margins available for sophisticated products to treat high value crops
continue to attract large and small chemical producers and formulators, some of
which have larger research departments and budgets than the Company. While the
Company believes that its reputation, expertise in product development, and
professional sales force will enable it to continue to maintain and build its
share of the professional market, there can be no assurance that the Company's
market share or margins will not be eroded in the future by new or existing
competitors.
BACKLOG
The major portion of professional product orders are received during the
months of August through November and are filled during the months of September
through November. As of April 30, 1994, orders on hand from professional
customers (excluding orders for Sierra products) totaled approximately $5.8
million compared with $5.5 million on the same date in 1993. All such orders are
expected to be filled in fiscal 1994.
MATTERS RELATING TO THE COMPANY GENERALLY
PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND LICENSES
The "Scotts" and "Hyponex" brand names and logos, as well as a number of
product trademarks, including "Turf Builder," "Lawn Pro," "Osmocote" and
"Peters" are federally registered and are considered material to the Company's
business. In 1989, the Company assigned all its rights to certain Hyponex
trademarks in the Far East to a Japanese company.
As of December 31, 1993, the Company held over 100 patents on processes,
compositions, grasses, and mechanical spreaders and has several additional
patent applications pending. Over the past two years, the Company has been
granted a number of patents covering key new process and product technologies.
This new patent protection will extend well into the next decade. The Company
also holds exclusive and nonexclusive patent licenses from certain chemical
suppliers permitting the use and sale of patented pesticides.
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RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
The Company has a long history of innovation, and its research and
development successes can be measured in terms of sales of new products and by
the Company's patents. Products introduced since 1987 accounted for over $160
million (34%) of the Company's fiscal 1993 net sales. Virtually all of the
Company's fertilizer products, many of its grasses and many of its mechanical
devices are covered by one or more of over 100 U.S. and foreign patents owned by
the Company.
The Company's research and development department is headquartered in the
Dwight G. Scott Research Center in Marysville, Ohio. The Company also operates
three research field stations in Florida, Texas and Oregon. In addition, the
Company funds research at universities across the United States and conducts
cooperative projects with key professional customers. Research to develop new
and improved application devices is conducted at Republic's manufacturing
facility in Carlsbad, California. Investment in research is directed toward
developing new technology and products to increase manufacturing efficiency,
reduce product cost, improve performance, solve specific problems, improve
packaging and simplify lawn, turf and horticultural plant care.
Since its introduction of the first home lawn fertilizer in 1928, the
Company has used its research and development strengths to build the
do-it-yourself market. In 1947, it introduced the first fertilizer/control
combination product; in 1950, the first pre-emergent crabgrass control; in 1957,
the first lightweight, controlled-release fertilizer and, in 1964, the first
patented bluegrass ("Windsor"). Technology continues to be a Company hallmark.
Its introduction of the TGR line in 1987 to control poa annua on golf courses is
an example. In 1992, the Company introduced Poly-S, a proprietary
controlled-release fertilizer technology. In 1993, ScottKote(R), another
controlled-release technology primarily for the nursery market, was introduced.
In addition, the Company has modified its Marysville facility to utilize a new,
patented production process which is expected to reduce costs and improve
product quality, while increasing production capacity. (See "-- Production
Facilities.") Since the Hyponex acquisition, the Company's research and
development department has worked to improve the quality and reduce the
production cost of branded organic products, in particular potting soils. One of
the results of this effort is the introduction, in 1994, of a line of
value-added, premium quality potting soils and planting mixes under the Scotts
brand.
Research has also been focused on durability, precision, and reduced
production costs of the Republic-produced spreaders. Recently, Republic
completely redesigned the major products within the Company's consumer spreader
line that can be distributed and displayed using innovative packaging.
Sierra pioneered the use of controlled-release fertilizers for the
horticultural markets with the introduction of "Osmocote" in the 1960s. This
polymer-encapsulated technology has achieved a large share of the horticultural
markets due to its ability to meet the strict performance requirements of
professional growers. Research and development is currently focused on product
improvement and cost reductions. A new, multi-coated controlled-release
technology has been developed by Sierra researchers. A new production line is
currently under construction at Sierra's Charleston, South Carolina plant to
commercialize this high performance product.
In the years prior to its acquisition by the Company in 1993, Sierra's
research group developed an improved, patented line of soluble fertilizers under
the "Excel" brand and introduced reformulated potting soils and planting mixes
in both the consumer and professional markets.
Expenditures for research and development were approximately $5.2 million
(1.4% of net sales), $6.2 million (1.5% of net sales) and $7.7 million (1.7% of
net sales) in fiscal 1991, 1992, and 1993 respectively. Approximately 14% of
research and development resources are allocated to advanced technology, 37% to
product and process development, and 49% to regulatory compliance and other
technical activities. The Company plans a comparable level of spending for the
next several years.
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PRODUCTION FACILITIES
The manufacturing plants for Scotts' consumer and professional
fertilizer-based products are located in Marysville, Ohio, adjacent to the
Company's corporate headquarters and Dwight G. Scott Research Center. The
Company's Taylor Seed Packaging Plant is located on a separate site in
Marysville. Hyponex organic products are harvested and packaged in 20 locations
throughout the United States. The Company's best selling consumer lawn spreaders
are produced at the Republic facility in Carlsbad, California. Some granular and
mechanical products and all liquid products, constituting an aggregate of
approximately 16% of the Company's cost of sales in fiscal 1993, are produced
for the Company by other manufacturers. Sierra has manufacturing sites in the
United States and one located in The Netherlands. Sierra's controlled-release
fertilizers are produced in Charleston, South Carolina, Milpitas, California,
and at Heerlen, The Netherlands. Water-soluble fertilizers are produced in
Allentown, Pennsylvania, and the potting soils are produced in Travelers Rest,
South Carolina and in Hope, Arkansas.
Management believes that each of its facilities is well-maintained and
suitable for its purpose. Substantially all the Company's owned properties is
mortgaged to secure the Company's indebtedness under the Bank Agreement.
The Company's fertilizer processing and packaging facilities currently
operate, on average, five days per week for three shifts. Because of the
seasonal nature of the demand for the Company's products, these facilities
operate less in the Summer and more, usually every other weekend, during the
Fall and Winter.
The Company's Marysville facilities were substantially modified during
fiscal 1992 and 1993. The Company replaced one of the existing fertilizer
production lines with a line utilizing a new, patented process which it
developed. In addition, the Company erected a new physical-blend facility and
added equipment to apply polymer coating to fertilizer materials.
CAPITAL EXPENDITURES
Capital expenditures totaled $19.9 million and $15.2 million for the fiscal
years ended September 30, 1992 and 1993, respectively. The Company expects that
capital expenditures during fiscal 1994 will total approximately $31.5 million,
of which approximately $13 million is attributable to construction of a new
Poly-S production facility to meet strong forecasted demand. Further,
approximately $4 million is for Sierra's capital needs, including construction
of a new processing line at its Charleston, South Carolina facility to produce a
technologically advanced fertilizer.
PURCHASING
The key ingredients in the Company's fertilizer and control products are
various commodity and specialty chemicals including vermiculite, phosphates,
urea, potash, herbicides, insecticides and fungicides. Sierra purchases
granulates, homogeneous fertilizer substrates to be coated, and the resins for
coating. These resins are primarily supplied domestically by Sierra SunPol
Resins, a 97%-owned subsidiary of Sierra. The Company obtains its raw materials
from various sources, which the Company presently considers to be adequate. No
one source is considered to be essential to either of the Company's Consumer or
Professional Business Groups, or to its business as a whole. The Company has
never experienced a significant interruption of supply.
Sphagum peat, peat humus, vermiculite manure and bark constitute Hyponex's
most significant raw materials. At current production levels, the Company
estimates Hyponex's peat reserves to be sufficient for its near-term needs in
all locations except the Northeast.
Regulatory activities by the Army Corps of Engineers have prevented
production at one peat harvesting facility located in Lafayette, New Jersey. See
"Environmental and Regulatory Considerations." To meet the demand previously
filled by this facility, the Company has been purchasing peat from other nearby
producers. Bark products are obtained from sawmills and other wood residue
producers and manure is obtained from a variety of sources, such as feed lots,
race tracks and
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mushroom growers. The Company is currently substituting composted yard waste for
some organic raw materials and is planning to expand this practice. Raw
materials for Republic manufacturing include various engineered resins and
metals, all of which are available from a variety of vendors.
DISTRIBUTION
The primary distribution center for the Company's products is also located
at the Company's headquarters in Marysville, Ohio. The Company's products are
shipped from Marysville by rail and truck. While the majority of truck shipments
are made by contract carriers, a portion is made by Scotts' own fleet of leased
trucks. Inventories are also maintained in field warehouses located in major
markets.
Most of Hyponex's organic products have low sales value per unit of weight,
making freight costs significant to profitability. Hyponex therefore has located
approximately twenty distribution locations near large metropolitan areas in
order to minimize shipping costs. Hyponex uses its own fleet of approximately 70
trucks as well as contract haulers to transport its products from distribution
points to retail customers.
Sierra's products are produced at three fertilizer and two organic
manufacturing facilities located in the United States. The majority of shipments
are via common carriers to distributors' warehouses. A small private trucking
fleet is maintained at the organic facilities for direct shipment of custom
orders to customers. Inventories are also maintained in field warehouses.
Republic-produced, Scotts branded spreaders are shipped via common carrier
to regional warehouses serving the Company's retail network. Republic's E-Z
spreader line and its private label lines are sold freight-on-board (FOB)
Carlsbad with transportation arranged by the customer.
SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS
Kmart and Home Depot represented approximately 21.9% and 9.3%,
respectively, of the Company's sales in fiscal 1993, which reflects their
significant position in the retail lawn and garden market. The loss of either of
these customers or a substantial decrease in the amount of their purchases could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.
EMPLOYEES
The Company's corporate culture emphasizes employee participation in
management, comprehensive employee benefits and programs and profit sharing
plans. As of April 30, 1994, the Company employed approximately 2,500 full-time,
year-round workers and an additional five part-time or temporary workers.
Full-time workers average approximately 10 years employment with the Company or
its predecessors. During peak production periods, the Company engages as many as
750 temporary employees. The Company's employees are not unionized, except that
twenty-one of Sierra's employees at its Milpitas facility are represented by the
International Chemical Workers Union.
ENVIRONMENTAL AND REGULATORY CONSIDERATIONS
Federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to environmental
matters affect the Company in several ways. All products containing pesticides
must be registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (and in many
cases, similar state agencies) before they can be sold. The inability to obtain
or the cancellation of any such registration could have an adverse effect on the
Company's business. The severity of the effect would depend on which products
were involved, whether another product could be substituted and whether the
Company's competitors were similarly affected. The Company attempts to
anticipate regulatory developments and maintain registrations of, and access to,
substitute chemicals, but there can be no assurance that it will continue to be
able to avoid or minimize these risks. Fertilizer and organic products
(including manures) are also subject to state labeling regulations.
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In addition, the use of certain pesticide and fertilizer products is
regulated by various local, state and federal environmental and public health
agencies. These restrictions may include requirements that only certified or
professional users apply the product or that certain products be used only on
certain types of locations (such as "not for use on sod farms or golf courses"),
may require users to post notices on properties to which products have been or
will be applied, may require notification of individuals in the vicinity that
products will be applied in the future or may ban the use of certain
ingredients.
Compliance with such regulations and the obtaining of registrations does
not assure, however, that the Company's products will not cause injury to the
environment or to people under all circumstances.
State and federal authorities generally require Hyponex to obtain permits
(sometimes on an annual basis) in order to harvest peat and to discharge water
run-off or water pumped from peat deposits. The state permits typically specify
the condition in which the property will be left after the peat is fully
harvested, with the residual use typically being natural wetland habitats
combined with open water areas. Hyponex is generally required by these permits
to limit its harvesting and to restore the property consistent with the intended
residual use. In some locations, Hyponex has been required to create water
retention ponds to control the sediment content of discharged water.
In July 1990, the Philadelphia district of the Army Corps of Engineers
directed that peat harvesting operations be discontinued at Hyponex's Lafayette,
New Jersey facility, and the Company complied. In May 1992, the Department of
Justice filed suit seeking a permanent injunction against such harvesting at
that facility and civil penalties. The Philadelphia district of the Corps has
taken the position that peat harvesting activities there require a permit under
Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. If the Corps' position is upheld, it is
possible that further harvesting of peat from this facility would be prohibited.
The Company is defending this suit and is asserting a right to recover its
economic losses resulting from the government's actions. Management does not
believe that the outcome of this case will have a material adverse effect on the
Company's operations or its financial condition. See "Legal Proceedings."
Finally, state, federal and local agencies regulate the disposal, handling
and storage of waste and air and water discharges from Company facilities.
During fiscal 1993, the Company had approximately $234,000 in environmental
capital expenditures and $266,600 in environmental expenses, compared with
approximately $32,000 in environmental capital expenditures and $209,000 in
environmental expenses in fiscal 1992. The Company has budgeted $1,061,500 in
environmental capital expenditures and $341,000 in environmental expenses for
fiscal 1994.
The Company has been identified by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency
(the "Ohio EPA") as a Potentially Responsible Party ("PRP") with respect to a
site in Union County, Ohio (the "Hershberger site") that has allegedly been
contaminated by hazardous substances whose transportation, treatment or disposal
the Company allegedly arranged. Pursuant to a consent order with the Ohio EPA,
the Company, together with four other PRPs identified to date, is investigating
the extent of contamination in the site and developing a remediation program.
Sierra is a potentially responsible party in connection with the Lorentz
Barrel and Drum Superfund Site in California, as a result of its predecessor
having shipped barrels to Lorentz for reconditioning or sale between 1967 and
1972. Although many other companies are participating in the remediation of this
site, issues relating to the allocation of the costs have not yet been resolved.
In addition, Sierra is a defendant in a private cost-recovery action relating to
the Novak Sanitary Landfill, located near Allentown, Pennsylvania. By agreement
with W. R. Grace-Conn., Sierra's liability is limited to a maximum of $200,000
with respect to this site. The Company's management does not believe that the
outcome of these proceedings will in the aggregate have a material adverse
effect on its financial condition or results of operations.
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LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
In addition to the matters described in "-- Environmental and Regulatory
Considerations," the Company is involved in other lawsuits and claims which
arise in the normal course of its business. In the opinion of management, these
claims, as well as those mentioned above individually and in the aggregate are
not expected to result in an adverse effect on the Company's financial position
or results of operations.
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MANAGEMENT
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF SCOTTS AND OMS
The executive officers of Scotts and the directors of Scotts and OMS and,
as of May 2, 1994, their positions, their ages and years with the Company (and
its predecessors) are set forth below.
YEARS WITH
THE
COMPANY (AND
POSITION(S) ITS
NAME AGE HELD PREDECESSORS)
- ---------------------- --- --------------------------------------------- ------------
Tadd C. Seitz 52 Chairman of the Board; Chief Executive 21
Officer
Theodore J. Host 48 Director; President; Chief Operating Officer 2
Paul D. Yeager 55 Executive Vice President; Chief Financial 19
Officer
Richard B. Stahl 58 Senior Vice President 26
J. Blaine McKinney 50 Senior Vice President, Consumer Business 1
Group
Bernard R. Ford 50 Vice President, Strategy and Business 15
Development
Michael P. Kelty 43 Vice President, Technology and Operations 14
Kenneth W. Holbrook 54 Senior Vice President and General Manager --
--Professional Business Group
Lawrence M. McCartney 53 Vice President, Information Systems 19
Wim Pieters 52 Vice President and Managing Director, Europe --
and Related Markets
Lisle J. Smith 37 Vice President, Administration and Planning --
Robert A. Stern 51 Vice President, Human Resources 11
Craig D. Walley 50 Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary 9
Robert M. Webb 51 Vice President, Manufacturing and Logistics 18
James B. Beard 56 Director 4
John S. Chamberlin 63 Director 4
Alberto Cribiore 48 Director 7
Joseph P. Flannery 59 Director 7
Donald A. Sherman 40 Director 10
John M. Sullivan 58 Director --
L. Jack Van Fossen 56 Director --
Executive Officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors (and
in the case of Mr. Host, pursuant to an employment agreement).
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The business experience of each of the persons listed above during the past
five years is as follows:
Mr. Seitz has been the Chief Executive Officer of OMS since 1983 (and of
Scotts since 1986) and Chairman of the Board of Scotts and OMS since 1986. He
was also President of the Company from 1983 until 1991. Previously, Mr. Seitz
served as the Company's Director of Marketing and as General Manager of Burpee.
Mr. Seitz is a director of Holophane Corporation.
Mr. Host has been President and Chief Operating Officer of OMS since
October 1991 and a director of Scotts and OMS since December 1991. From May 1990
to October 1991, he was Senior Vice President, Marketing for Coca-Cola USA. He
previously was President of the Boyle-Midway Household Products division of
American Home Products, Inc.
Mr. Yeager has been an Executive Vice President of OMS since 1991 and a
Vice President and the Chief Financial Officer since 1980. He was first
Assistant Comptroller and then Comptroller of OMS from 1974 to 1980. Mr. Yeager
is also Vice President and Treasurer of Scotts.
Mr. Stahl was Vice President and General Manager of the Company's
Professional Business Group from December 1987 to December 1993. He was named
Senior Vice President in December 1993. Mr. Stahl joined OMS in 1967 as a
technical representative in the golf course division.
Mr. McKinney was named Senior Vice President, Consumer Business Group, in
June 1992. From January 1990 to June 1992, he was in marketing and sales
management as Vice President of Marketing and Sales of Salov, N.A., a
manufacturer of consumer products. From July 1989 to January 1990 he was
Director of Sales of Rickett & Colman, Ltd., a consumer products company.
Between 1965 and July 1989, he was employed by American Home Products, Inc.,
becoming Vice President-Director of Sales in the Boyle Midway Household Products
Division.
Mr. Ford has been Vice President, Strategy and Business Development of OMS
since December 1987. Other positions at OMS that Mr. Ford has held include
Director of Market Development, Director of Export Marketing Services and
Director of Marketing.
Mr. Holbrook was named Senior Vice President and General Manager of the
Company's Professional Business Group in 1994. From 1991 through December 1993,
Mr. Holbrook was President of Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company. From
1980 to 1991, he was President of Koch Materials Company, a division of Koch
Industries.
Mr. Kelty has been a Vice President of OMS since December 1988. He has
served as Director of Research and Development of OMS since August 1988. Prior
to that, he was the Company's Director of Advanced Technology Research, and from
1983 to 1987 he was Director, Chemical Technology Development for OMS.
Mr. McCartney has been a Vice President of OMS since 1989. He jointed OMS
in 1974 as Systems and Programming Manager, and was Director, Information
Systems from 1976 until 1989.
Mr. Pieters was named a Vice President of OMS in 1994. From January 1993
through December 1993, Mr. Pieters was a Vice President of Grace-Sierra
Horticultural Products Company, in charge of its international business. Prior
to 1993, he was Director of Technology and Development of the Fabrics and Fiber
Division of Amoco, Europe.
Mr. Smith was named a Vice President of OMS in 1994. From 1991 to December
1993, Mr. Smith was Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grace-Sierra
Horticultural Products Company, and from 1987 to 1991 he was Comptroller.
Mr. Stern has been Vice President, Human Resources of OMS since 1984.
Mr. Walley has been Vice President and General Counsel of OMS since 1985.
Since 1986, Mr. Walley has also been Vice President and Secretary of Scotts.
Mr. Webb has been a Vice President of OMS since 1988. He was Vice
President-Operations of Hyponex Corporation from 1980 until 1988.
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Dr. Beard became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1989. He is a Professor
Emeritus of Turfgrass Physiology and Ecology at Texas A&M University and is the
president and chief scientist of the International Turfgrass Society. Dr. Beard
is the author of numerous books and articles on turfgrass science and is an
active lecturer and consultant.
Mr. Chamberlin became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1989. He has held a
number of positions at General Electric Company including Vice President and
General Manager of its Housewares and Audio Business Division. From 1976 until
1985, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Lenox, Inc., and in 1985
joined Avon Products, Inc. as President and Chief Operating Officer. Since
leaving Avon in 1988, he has served as advisor for investment firms. He is also
a director of The Travelers Insurance Company.
Mr. Cribiore became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1986. He is Vice
President and a director of Clayton & Dubilier, which he joined in 1985. From
1982 to 1985, Mr. Cribiore was a Senior Vice-President of Warner Communications.
Mr. Cribiore is a general partner of Clayton & Dubilier Associates II Limited
Partnership ("Associates"), a general partner of the general partners of other
Clayton & Dubilier managed investment partnerships. Mr. Cribiore is also a
director of other corporations in which investment partnerships managed by
Clayton & Dubilier have invested, including CDK Holding Corporation and its
subsidiary, The Kendall Company.
Mr. Flannery became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1986. He was a
consultant to Clayton & Dubilier from September, 1988 to December 1990. Mr.
Flannery was President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Uniroyal, Inc. from 1982 to 1986. Mr. Flannery has served as
President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Uniroyal Holding, Inc. since 1986. Mr. Flannery is also a director of
Ingersoll-Rand Company, Kmart Corporation, Newmont Mining Company and Arvin
Industries, Inc., as well as other corporations in which investment partnerships
managed by Clayton & Dubilier have invested, including CDK Holding Corporation
and its subsidiary, The Kendall Company and APS Holding Corporation and various
of its subsidiaries.
Mr. Sherman became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1988. Mr. Sherman served
as President of Hyponex Corporation from 1985 until November 1988, and as Vice
President -- Finance and Treasurer of Hyponex Corporation from 1983 to 1985. He
has been President of Waterfield Mortgage Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana since
1989.
Mr. Sullivan became a director of Scotts and OMS on January 18, 1994. Mr.
Sullivan was Chairman of the Board from 1987 to 1993, and President and Chief
Executive Officer from 1984 to 1993 of Prince Holdings, Inc., a corporation
which, through its subsidiaries, manufactures sporting goods. Since his
retirement from Prince Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries in 1993, Mr. Sullivan
has served as an independent director for various corporations, none of which,
other than the Company, are subject to the Exchange Act.
Mr. Van Fossen became a director of Scotts and OMS in 1993. Mr. Van Fossen
has been President and Chief Executive Officer of Red Roof Inns, Inc., an owner
and operator of motels, since 1991. From 1988 to 1991, Mr. Van Fossen was
self-employed as an independent business consultant. Prior to 1988, Mr. Van
Fossen was Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Chemlawn
Corporation. Mr. Van Fossen also serves as a director of Cardinal Health, Inc.
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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
The following table furnishes certain information as of January 7, 1994, as
to the shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by each director and executive
officer of the Company included in the Summary Compensation Table included in
the Company's Proxy Statement, by all directors and executive officers of the
Company as a group, and, to the Company's knowledge, by the only persons owning
beneficially more than 5% of the outstanding shares of such class.
AMOUNT AND
NATURE OF
BENEFICIAL PERCENT
BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP(1) OF CLASS(2)
---------------- ------------ -----------
Government of Singapore
Investment Corporation Pte Ltd.
250 North Bridge Road
#33-00 Raffles City Tower
Singapore 0617...................................... 1,060,600(3) 5.68%(3)
Thorsell, Parker Partners Incorporated
215 Main Street
Westport, CT 06880.................................. 997,100(4) 5.34%(4)
James B. Beard...................................... 20,727 (5)
John S. Chamberlin.................................. 26,727 (5)
Alberto Cribiore.................................... -- --
Joseph P. Flannery.................................. 29,454 (5)
Theodore J. Host(6)(7).............................. 217,593 1.16%
Tadd C. Seitz(6).................................... 519,720 2.78%
Donald S. Sherman................................... 26,727 (5)
John M. Sullivan.................................... -- --
L. Jack Van Fossen.................................. 1,200 (5)
J. Blaine McKinney(6)............................... 18,742 (5)
Richard B. Stahl(6)................................. 112,344(8) (5)
Paul D. Yeager (6).................................. 153,507(9) (5)
All directors and executive
officers as a group (19 persons).................... 1,624,042(10) 8.55%
- ---------------
(1) Unless otherwise indicated, the beneficial owner has sole voting and
investment power as to all of the shares of Class A Common Stock reflected
in the table.
(2) The percent of class is based upon the sum of 18,658,535 shares of Class A
Common Stock outstanding on January 7, 1994, and the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock as to which the named person has the right to acquire
beneficial ownership upon the exercise of options exercisable within 60 days
of January 7, 1994.
(3) Based on information contained in a Schedule 13D dated October 18, 1993
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Government of Singapore
Investment Corporation Pte Ltd, an agency of the Singapore government and an
investment manager, shares voting and investment power with respect to
749,400 shares of Class A Common Stock with the Government of Singapore and
shares voting and investment power with respect to 311,200 shares of Class A
Common Stock with the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
(4) Based on information provided to the Company by Thorsell, Parker Partners
Incorporated ("Thorsell, Parker"), Thorsell, Parker, a registered investment
advisor, is deemed to have beneficial ownership of 997,100 shares of Class A
Common Stock as of December 31, 1993, all of which shares are held in
portfolios of clients for which Thorsell, Parker serves as investment
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manager with investment discretion. Thorsell, Parker also exercises sole
voting power with respect to 747,825 of such shares.
(5) Represents ownership of less than 1% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock
of the Company.
(6) Executive officer of the Company named in the Summary Compensation Table
included in the Company's Proxy Statement for 1994 Annual Meeting of
Stockholders.
(7) Includes 45,454 shares of Class A Common Stock which were issued to Mr. Host
at the time of his employment by the Company and which are pledged to Bank
One, N.A.
(8) Includes 25,000 shares of Class A Common Stock held in the Richard B. Stahl
and Nancy E. Stahl 1992 Charitable Remainder Trust. In his capacity as
trustee of said Trust, Mr. Stahl exercises sole voting and investment power
with respect to such Common Shares. Also includes 1,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock held by the son of Mr. Stahl who shares his home.
(9) Includes 100 shares of Class A Common Stock held by each of Mr. Yeager's
wife and his two daughters who share his home.
(10) See Notes (7), (8) and (9) above. Also includes Class A Common Stock held
by the respective spouses of executive officers of the Company and by their
children who reside with them.
DESCRIPTION OF BANK AGREEMENT
Scotts and OMS are co-obligors under the Company's Bank Agreement. As
amended on December 16, 1993, in connection with the acquisition of Sierra, the
Bank Agreement provides for a revolving credit facility of $150 million, which
terminates on March 31, 1996 and which includes swing-line and letter of credit
subfacilities, and term loans of $195 million ($190 million outstanding).
Scheduled maturities for the term loans are as follows: $15 million due on
October 31, 1994; $10 million due semi-annually in 1995; $17.5 million due
semi-annually in 1996 and $15 million due semiannually thereafter through final
maturity on September 30, 2000. The Bank Agreement generally requires that the
Company apply the Net Cash Proceeds (as defined therein) from the offering of
Debt Securities to the prepayment of the term loans as follows: 15% to the
installments due in 1994; 15% to the installments due in 1995; 20% to the
installments due in 1996; 15% to the installments due in 1997; 15% to the
installments due in 1998; 10% to the installments due in 1999 and the balance to
the remaining installments in the inverse order of their stated maturity.
The Bank Agreement is guaranteed by most of the Company's subsidiaries and
is secured by substantially all the assets of the Company, as well as by the
pledge of 100% of the capital stock of each of the Company's wholly-owned
domestic subsidiaries and 65% of the Company's wholly-owned foreign
subsidiaries.
Borrowings under the Bank Agreement bear interest, at the Company's option,
at a rate equal to either (i) the higher of the agent bank's reference rate and
1/2% above the "Federal Funds" rate or (ii) the LIBO Rate (as defined therein)
plus 1 1/4%.
The Bank Agreement contains a number of affirmative and negative covenants
and customary events of default. The agreement also contains financial covenants
requiring the Company to maintain certain levels of Adjusted Operating Profit,
Consolidated Net Worth and Interest Coverage (each as defined therein) and
requiring the Company to reduce, or "clean-down," non-term borrowings under the
Bank Agreement to $30 million or less for thirty consecutive days each year. An
offering of Debt Securities may require an amendment of or consent under the
Bank Agreement.
Loans under the Bank Agreement are provided by Chemical Bank, as a lending
bank and as agent for the thirteen other participating banks. Chemical Bank is
an affiliate of Chemical Securities Inc. In addition, Chemical Bank is the
trustee under the Indentures. See "Description of Debt Securities -- The
Trustee."
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions
of the Debt Securities to which any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The
particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement and
the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may not apply to the Debt
Securities so offered will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such Debt Securities.
The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture to be dated
as of June 1, 1994 (the "Senior Indenture") among Scotts, OMS and Chemical Bank,
as trustee. The Subordinated Debt Securities are to be issued under a separate
Indenture to be dated as of June 1, 1994 (the "Subordinated Indenture"), also
among Scotts, OMS and Chemical Bank, as trustee. The Senior Indenture and the
Subordinated Indenture are sometimes referred to collectively as the
"Indentures." Copies of the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture have
been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. Chemical Bank is
hereinafter referred to as the "Trustee." The following summaries of certain
provisions of the Senior Debt Securities, the Subordinated Debt Securities and
the Indentures do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture
applicable to a particular series of Debt Securities (the "Applicable
Indenture"), including the definitions therein of certain terms. Wherever
particular Sections, Articles or defined terms of the Indentures are referred
to, it is intended that such Sections, Articles or defined terms shall be
incorporated herein by reference. Article and Section references used herein are
references to the Applicable Indenture. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined
herein shall have the meaning given in the Applicable Indenture.
GENERAL
The Debt Securities will be joint and several obligations of the Issuers.
The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities
which may be issued thereunder and each Indenture provides that Debt Securities
may be issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series. Unless
otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt Securities
when issued will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Issuers and
will rank equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness of the Issuers. The Subordinated Debt Securities when issued will
be unsecured obligations of the Issuers subordinated in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Debt (as defined) of each Issuer, as
described under "Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in the
Prospectus Supplement applicable to an offering of Subordinated Debt Securities.
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
Debt Securities offered thereby (the "Offered Debt Securities") which shall set
forth whether the Offered Debt Securities shall be Senior Debt Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities, and shall further set forth the following terms of
the Offered Debt Securities: (1) the title of the Offered Debt Securities; (2)
whether the Offered Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or Subordinated
Debt Securities; (3) any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered
Debt Securities; (4) the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate
principal amount thereof) at which the Offered Debt Securities will be issued;
(5) the Person to whom any interest on the Offered Debt Securities will be
payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Offered Debt Securities (or
one or more Predecessor Securities) are registered on any Regular Record Date;
(6) the date or dates on which the principal of the Offered Debt Securities will
be payable; (7) the rate or rates per annum (which may be fixed, floating or
adjustable) at which the Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or
the formula pursuant to which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date
or dates from which such interest will accrue and the dates on which such
interest, if any, will be payable and the Regular Record Dates for such interest
payment dates; (8) the place or places where principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest, if any, on Offered Debt Securities will be payable; (9) if
applicable, the price at which, the periods within which and the terms and
conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities may be redeemed at the option
of the Issuers, pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise; (10) if applicable, any
obligation of the Issuers to redeem or purchase Offered Debt Securities
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pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a
Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at
which and the terms and conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities will
be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part; (11) if applicable, the terms of
any right to convert or exchange the Offered Debt Securities into other
securities or property of either or both of the Issuers or otherwise; (12) if
other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which the Offered Debt Securities will be issuable; (13) the
currency or currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in
which payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on
any of the Offered Debt Securities will be payable if other than the currency of
the United States of America; (14) if the amount of payments of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities may be
determined with reference to one or more indices, the manner in which such
amounts will be determined; (15) if the principal of (or premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on any of the Offered Debt Securities of the series is to be
payable, at the election of the Issuers or a Holder thereof, in one or more
currencies, including composite currencies, or currency units other than that or
those in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the currency,
currencies, including composite currencies, or currency units in which payment
of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of
such series as to which such election is made will be payable, and the periods
within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be
made; (16) the portion of the principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities,
if other than the principal amount thereof, payable upon acceleration of
maturity thereof; (17) whether all or any part of the Offered Debt Securities
will be issued in the form of a permanent Global Security or Securities and, if
so, the depositary for, and other terms relating to, such permanent Global
Security or Securities; (18) any event or events of default applicable with
respect to the Offered Debt Securities in addition to those provided in the
Indentures; (19) any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of the
Offered Debt Securities in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those
included in the Indentures for the benefit of Debt Securities of all series, or
any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of the Offered Debt
Securities in lieu of any covenant or warranty included in the Indentures for
the benefit of Offered Debt Securities, or any combination of such covenants,
warranties or provisions; (20) if the Debt Securities are Subordinated Debt
Securities, whether the provisions of the Subordinated Indenture described under
the caption "Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" or other
subordination provisions will be applicable to such Subordinated Debt
Securities; (21) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the
Offered Debt Securities; (22) if applicable, that such Offered Debt Securities,
in whole or any specified part, are defeasible pursuant to the provisions of the
Indentures described under "Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance"; (23) any
authenticating or paying agents, registrars, conversion agents or any other
agents with respect to the Offered Debt Securities; and (24) any other terms or
provisions of the Offered debt Securities not inconsistent with the Indentures.
(Sections 301 and 901)
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto,
the Offered Debt Securities are to be issued as registered securities without
coupons in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. (Section
302). No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of such
Offered Debt Securities, but the Issuers or the Trustee may require payment of a
sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in
connection therewith. (Section 305) The Indentures also provide that the Debt
Securities of any series, if so specified with respect to a particular series,
may be issued in permanent global form. See "Permanent Global Securities".
Debt Securities may be issued as Original Issue Discount Debt Securities to
be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. Special Federal
income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable thereto will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. "Original Issue
Discount Debt Security" means any security which provides for an amount less
than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon the declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof upon the occurrence and continuance of an
Event of Default. (Section 101)
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If the Debt Securities are denominated in whole or in part in any currency
other than United States dollars, if the principal of (and premium, if any) or
interest, if any, on the Debt Securities are to be payable at the election of
the Company or a Holder thereof, in a currency or currencies other than that in
which such Debt Securities are to be payable, or if any index is used to
determined the amount of payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest
on any series of the Debt Securities, special Federal income tax, accounting and
other considerations applicable thereto will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto.
Since each of the Issuers is a holding company, the rights of each Issuer,
and hence the right of creditors of each Issuer (including the Holders of Debt
Securities), to participate in any distribution of the assets of any Subsidiary
upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily subject to
the prior claims of creditors of the Subsidiary, except to the extent that
claims of an Issuer itself as a creditor of the Subsidiary may be recognized.
The Indentures do not contain any provisions that would provide protection
to Holders of the Debt Securities against a sudden and dramatic decline in
credit quality of the Company resulting from any takeover, recapitalization or
similar restructuring.
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of interest on a Debt Security on any Interest Payment Date will be made to the
Person in whose name such Debt Security (or one or more Predecessor Debt
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest payment. (Section 307)
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
principal of and any premium and interest on the Debt Securities of a particular
series will be payable at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as
the Issuers may designate for such purpose from time to time, except that at the
option of the Issuers payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to the
address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the Security
Register. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the corporate trust office of the Trustee in The City of New York will be
designated as the Issuers' sole Paying Agent for payments with respect to Debt
Securities of each series. Any other Paying Agents initially designated by the
Issuers for the Debt Securities of a particular series will be named in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Issuers may at any time designate
additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agent or
approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that
the Issuers will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each place of payment
for the Debt Securities of a particular series. (Section 1002)
All moneys paid by the Issuers to a Paying Agent for the payment of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Debt Security which remain
unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has
become due and payable will be repaid to the Issuers, and the Holder of such
Debt Security thereafter may look only to the Issuers for payment thereof.
(Section 1003)
SUBORDINATION OF SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto,
the following provisions will apply to the Subordinated Debt Securities.
The payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on, and
any obligation to repurchase, the Subordinated Debt Securities will, to the
extent set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, be subordinate in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, including the Senior
Debt Securities. Upon any payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon
any liquidation, dissolution, winding up, reorganization, assignment of the
benefit of creditors, marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt
restructuring or similar proceedings of an Issuer, the holders of all Senior
Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of principal of (and
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premium, if any) and interest, if any, due or to become due on such Senior Debt
before the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be entitled to
receive or retain any payment in respect of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt Securities. (Section 1402)
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any such
dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, any payment or
distribution of assets of an Issuer of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, including any such payment or distribution which may be
payable or deliverable by reason of the payment of any other indebtedness of an
Issuer being subordinated to the payment of the Subordinated Debt Securities,
shall be received by the Trustee, any paying agent or the holders of the
Subordinated Debt Securities before all Senior Debt of an Issuer is paid in
full, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and
shall be paid over to the holders of such Senior Debt or their representative or
representatives or to the trustee or the trustees under any indenture under
which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Debt may have been issued,
ratably for application to the payment of all Senior Debt of an Issuer remaining
unpaid until all such Senior Debt shall have been paid in full, after giving
effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior
Debt.
By reason of such subordination, in the event of liquidation or insolvency,
creditors of an Issuer who are not holders of Senior Debt or Subordinated Debt
Securities may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Debt and may
recover more, ratably, than the holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities.
In the event that any Senior Payment Default (as defined below) shall have
occurred and be continuing, then no payment of principal of or interest on the
Subordinated Debt Securities may be made unless and until such Senior Payment
Default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or all
amounts then due and payable in respect of Senior Debt shall have been paid in
full, or provision shall have been made for such payment in cash or cash
equivalents or otherwise in a manner satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt.
"Senior Payment Default" means any default in the payment of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest on any Senior Debt when due, whether at the stated
maturity of any such payment or by declaration of acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise.
In the event that any Senior Nonmonetary Default (as defined below) shall
have occurred and be continuing, the, upon the receipt by the Issuers and the
Trustee of written notice of such Senior Nonmonetary Default from holders of not
less than 25% of the principal amount of such Senior Debt (or a trustee, agent
or other representative for such a holder), no payment of principal of or
interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities may be made during the period (the
"Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the date of such receipt of such
written notice and ending on the earlier of (i) the date on which such Senior
Nonmonetary Default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to
exist and any acceleration of Senior Debt shall have been rescinded or annulled
or the Senior Debt to which such Senior Nonmonetary Default relates shall have
been discharged or (ii) the 179th day after the date of such receipt of such
written notice. No more than one Payment Blockage Period may be commenced with
respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities during any 360-day period and there
must be a period of at least 181 consecutive days in each 360-day period when no
Payment Blockage Period is in effect. For all purposes of this paragraph, no
Senior Payment Default or Senior Nonmonetary Default that existed or was
continuing on the date of commencement of any Payment Blockage Period can be, or
be made, the basis for the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period
by the holders of Senior Debt or their representatives unless such Senior
Payment Default or Senior Nonmonetary Default shall have been cured for a period
of not less than 90 consecutive days. "Senior Nonmonetary Default" means the
occurrence or existence and continuance of any event of default, or of any event
which, after notice or lapse of time (or both), would become an event of
default, under the terms of any instrument pursuant to which any Senior Debt is
outstanding, permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both) one or more
holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee or agent on behalf of the holders
thereof) to declare such
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Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become
due and payable, other than a Senior Payment Default.
In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Issuers shall make
any payment of principal of or interest on the Subordinated Debt Securities to
the Trustee or any Holder prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this
Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment, have
been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may be, the Holder, then and in
such event such payment shall be paid over and delivered forthwith to the
Issuers.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
particular series of Subordinated Debt Securities offered thereby, "Debt" has
the meaning accorded thereto under "--Certain Definitions" below.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
particular series of Subordinated Debt Securities offered thereby, "Senior Debt"
means (a) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any,
(including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to an Issuer to the extent that such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding) on Debt, whether
incurred on or prior to the date of the Subordinated Indenture or thereafter
created, assumed or incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing
the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such
obligations are not superior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt
Securities or to other Debt which is PARI PASSU with, or subordinated to the
Subordinated Debt Securities and (b) any deferrals, renewals or extensions of
such Senior Debt; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Senior Debt shall be deemed to include
(i) Debt existing under the Bank Agreement and under any Bank Hedging Agreement
and (ii) Debt existing under the Senior Indenture; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER,
that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to include (i) the Subordinated Debt
Securities or (ii) the Debt referred to in clause (vi) of the definition of
Debt. (Section 101 of the Subordinated Indenture)
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit or prohibit the incurrence of
additional Senior Debt by either Issuer, which may include Debt that is senior
to the Subordinated Debt Securities, but subordinate to other obligations of one
or both of the Issuers. The Senior Debt Securities, when issued, will constitute
Senior Debt.
The Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions, if any,
applicable to the subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities of a
particular series.
At April 2, 1994 the combined total amount of indebtedness of the Issuers
that would constitute Senior Debt was $329.6 million.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, the Issuers will be required to
make an Offer to Purchase all outstanding Debt Securities at a purchase price
equal to 101% of their principal amount plus accrued interest to the date of
purchase. A "Change of Control" will be deemed to have occurred in the event
that either (a) any Person or any Persons acting together that would constitute
a group (for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
or any successor provision thereto) (a "Group"), together with any Affiliates or
Related Persons thereof shall beneficially own (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or any successor provision thereto) at
least 30% of the aggregate voting power of all classes of Capital Stock of
either Issuer entitled to vote generally in the election of directors; or (b)
any Person or Group, together with any Affiliates or Related Persons thereof,
shall succeed in having a sufficient number of its nominees elected to the Board
of Directors of either Issuer such that such nominees, when added to any
existing director remaining on the Board of Directors of such Issuer after such
election who is an Affiliated or Related Person of such Person or Group, will
constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of such Issuer. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, with respect to OMS, Scotts shall be deemed not to constitute
such a Person or Group for the purposes of clauses (a) and (b) above. (Section
1009)
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The Indentures provide that the Issuers will establish a Purchase Date for
any Subordinated Debt Securities on a date subsequent to the Purchase Date
established for any Senior Debt Securities.
In the event that the Issuers make an Offer to Purchase Debt Securities,
the Issuers intend to comply with any applicable securities laws and
regulations, including any applicable requirements of Section 14(e) of, and Rule
14e-1 under, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
Neither of the Issuers may, in a single transaction or a series of related
transactions, consolidate with or merge into any other Person or sell, lease or
otherwise transfer its property and assets as, or substantially as, an entirety
to any Person and neither may permit any Person to merge into or consolidate
with such Issuer unless (i) either (A) such Issuer will be the resulting or
surviving entity or (B) any successor or purchaser is a corporation, partnership
or trust organized under the laws of the United States of America, any State or
the District of Columbia, and any such successor or purchaser expressly assumes
such Issuer's obligations on the Debt Securities under a supplemental Indenture,
(ii) immediately after giving effect to the transaction no Event of Default, and
no event which after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing, and (iii) certain other
conditions are met. (Section 801). Upon any consolidation or merger into any
other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of an Issuer's assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, the successor Person shall succeed
to, and be substituted for, an Issuer under the Indentures, and such Issuer,
except in the case of a lease, shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under the Indentures and the Debt Securities to the extent it was the
predecessor Person. (Section 802)
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND NOTICE THEREOF
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a
particular series of Debt Securities, the following events are defined in the
Indentures as "Events of Default" with respect to Debt Securities of any series:
(a) failure to pay principal (including any sinking fund payment) of (or
premium, if any, on) any Debt Security of that series when due (in the case of
the Subordinated Indenture, whether or not payment is prohibited by the
subordination provisions); (b) failure to pay any interest on any Debt Security
of that series when due, continued for 30 days (in the case of the Subordinated
Indenture, whether or not payment is prohibited by the subordination
provisions); (c) default in the payment of the purchase price of Debt Securities
of that series required to be purchased pursuant to an Offer to Purchase as
described under "Change of Control" when due and payable (in the case of the
Subordinated Indenture, whether or not payment is prohibited by the
subordination provisions); (d) failure to perform or comply with the provisions
described under "Merger, Consolidation and Sales of Assets"; (e) failure to
perform any other covenant or agreement of the Issuers under the Indentures
(other than a covenant included in the Indentures solely for the benefit of a
series of Debt Securities other than that series) continued for 60 days after
written notice to the Issuers by the Trustee or Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities of that series; (f)
default under the terms of any instrument evidencing or securing Debt for money
borrowed, including Debt Securities of another series, by an Issuer or any
Subsidiary having an outstanding principal amount of $5 million individually or
in the aggregate which default results in the acceleration of the payment of
such indebtedness or constitutes the failure to pay such indebtedness when due;
(g) the rendering of a final judgment or judgments (not subject to appeal)
against an Issuer or any Subsidiary in an amount in excess of $5 million which
remains undischarged or unstayed for a period of 60 days after the date on which
the right to appeal has expired; and (h) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization affecting an Issuer or any Subsidiary. (Section
501)
Except as defined in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto and except
as specified in clause (f) of the preceding paragraph, no Event of Default with
respect to Debt Securities of a particular series shall necessarily constitute
an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of
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any other series. If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any
series at the time outstanding shall occur and be continuing, either the Trustee
or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Debt
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all
Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that under certain circumstances the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of outstanding Debt Securities of that series may rescind or
annul such declaration and its consequences. (Section 502). If an Event of
Default specified in clause (h) of the preceding paragraph occurs, the
outstanding Debt Securities will IPSO FACTO become immediately payable without
any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. (Section
502)
Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to any series of
Offered Debt Securities which are Original Issue Discount Securities for the
particular provisions relating to the principal amount of such Original Issue
Discount Securities due on acceleration upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default and the continuation thereof.
The Issuers will be required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement
by certain officers of the Issuers as to compliance with all conditions and
covenants of the Indentures. (Section 1004)
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of any series affected will have the right, subject to certain
limitations, to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, and
to waive certain defaults. (Sections 512 and 513)
The Indentures provide that, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default
that shall be continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of its rights and
powers under the Indentures, and use the same degree of care and skill in its
exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his own affairs. (Section 601). Subject to such provisions, the
Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers
under the Indentures at the request of any of the Holders of Debt Securities
unless they shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request.
(Section 603)
No Holder of a Debt Security of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Indentures or for any remedy thereunder,
unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of
a continuing Event of Default and unless also the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of the same series
shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity to the
Trustee, to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have
received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of the same series a direction inconsistent with
such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days.
(Section 507). However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a
Holder of a Debt Security for enforcement of payment of the principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Debt Security on or after the
respective due dates expressed in such Debt Security, or of the right to convert
such Debt Security in accordance with the Indentures (if applicable). (Section
508)
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modifications and amendments of each Indenture may be made by the Issuer
and the Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of
aggregate principal amount of each series of the outstanding Debt Securities
issued under such Indenture which is affected by the modification or amendment;
provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the
consent of each Holder of such Debt Security affected thereby: (1) change the
Stated
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Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any instalment of principal
or interest, if any, on any such Debt Security; (2) reduce the principal amount
of (or premium, if any) or the interest rate, if any, on any such Debt Security
or the principal amount due upon acceleration of an Original Issue Discount
Security; (3) adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the
Holder of any such Debt Security; (4) reduce the amount of or postpone the date
fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation; (5) change
the place or currency of payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or the
interest, if any, on any such Debt Security; (6) impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to any such Debt
Security on or after the Stated Maturity (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the Redemption Date); (7) adversely change the right to convert or
exchange, including decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion
price of, such Debt Security (if applicable); (8) reduce the percentage of the
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of
the Holders of which is necessary to modify or amend the Applicable Indenture;
(9) in the case of the Subordinated Indenture, modify the subordination
provisions in a manner adverse to the holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities; (10) modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of
outstanding Debt Securities necessary to waive compliance with certain
provisions of the Applicable Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults or (11)
following the mailing of any Offer to Purchase, modify any Offer to Purchase
required under the "Change in Control" covenant contained in the Indentures in a
manner materially adverse to the holders thereof. (Section 902)
The Subordinated Indenture also prohibits any modification of amendment of
the subordination provisions thereof in a manner adverse to the holders of
Senior Debt, without such holders' consent. (Subordinated Indenture Section 902)
The holders of at least a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may, on behalf of all Holders of that
series, waive compliance by the Issuers with certain restrictive provisions of
the Indentures and waive any past default under the Indentures, except a default
in the payment of principal, premium or interest or in the performance of
certain covenants. (Sections 1011 and 513)
Each Indenture provides that in determining whether the Holders of the
requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities or any series have
given or taken any direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the
Applicable Indenture as of any date, (i) the principal amount of an Original
Issue Discount Debt Security that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the
amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of such date
upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date, (ii) if, as of such
date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Debt Security is
not determinable (for example, because it is based on an index), the principal
amount of such Debt Security deemed to be Outstanding as of such date will be an
amount determined in the manner prescribed for such Debt Security and (iii) the
principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units that will be deemed to be Outstanding will be the U.S. dollar
equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner prescribed for such Debt
Security, of the principal amount of such Debt Security (or, in the case of a
Debt Security described in clause (i) or (ii) above, of the amount described in
such clause). Certain Debt Securities, including those for whose payment or
redemption money has been deposited or set aside in trust for the Holders and
those that have been fully defeased pursuant to Section 1302, will not be deemed
to be Outstanding. (Section 101)
Except in certain limited circumstances, the Issuers will be entitled to
set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of
Outstanding Debt Securities of any series entitled to give or take any
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action under the Applicable
Indenture, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in such
Applicable Indenture. In certain limited circumstances, the Trustee will be
entitled to set a record date for action by Holders. If a record date is set for
any action to be taken by Holders of a particular series, such action may be
taken only by persons who are Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities of that
series on the record date. To be effective, such action must be taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of such Debt Securities within a specified
period following the record date. For any particular record date, this
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period will be 180 days or such shorter period as may be specified by the
Issuers (or the Trustee, if it set the record date), and may be shortened or
lengthened (but not beyond 180 days) from time to time. (Section 104)
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Indentures provide, if such provision is made applicable to the Debt
Securities of any series pursuant to Section 301 of the Applicable Indenture
(which will be indicated in the Prospectus Supplement applicable thereto), that
the Issuers may elect either (A) to defease and be discharged from any and all
obligations with respect to such Debt Securities then outstanding (including, in
the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions described under
"Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" herein and except for the
obligations to exchange or register the transfer of such Debt Securities, to
replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities, to
maintain an office or agency in respect of the Debt Securities, and to hold
monies for payments in trust) ("defeasance"), or (B) to be released from its
obligations with respect to such Debt Securities concerning the restrictions
described under "Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets" and any other
covenants applicable to such Debt Securities (including, in the case of
Subordinated Debt Securities, the provisions described under "Subordination of
Subordinated Debt Securities" herein) which are subject to covenant defeasance
("covenant defeasance"), and the occurrence of an event described and notice
thereof in clauses (e) and (f) under "Events of Default and Notice Thereof"
(with respect to covenants determined, pursuant to Section 301 of the Applicable
Indenture, to be subject to covenant defeasance) shall no longer be an Event of
Default, in each case, upon the irrevocable deposit with the Trustee (or other
qualifying trustee), in trust for such purpose, of money, and/or U.S. Government
Obligations (as defined in the Indentures) (or Foreign Government Obligations
(as defined in the Indentures) in the case of Debt Securities denominated in
foreign currencies) which through the payment of principal and interest in
accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient without
reinvestment to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any,
on such Debt Securities, and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments
thereon, on the scheduled due dates therefor. Such a trust may only be
established if, among other things, (i) the Issuers have delivered to the
Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the Applicable Indenture) to the
effect that the Holders of such Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain
or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or
covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if
such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, (ii) no Event of
Default or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become an Event of Default under the Applicable Indenture shall have
occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, (iii) in the case of
Subordinated Debt Securities, (x) no default in the payment of principal of (or
premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Senior Debt beyond any applicable
grace period shall have occurred and be continuing, or (y) no other default with
respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing and shall have
resulted in the acceleration of such Senior Debt and (iv) certain other
customary conditions precedent are satisfied. In the case of defeasance under
clause (A) above, the opinion of counsel referred to in clause (i) above must
refer to an be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service issued to the
Company or published as a revenue ruling or on a change in applicable Federal
income tax law, in each case after the date of the Applicable Indenture.
(Article Thirteen)
Under current Federal income tax law, defeasance would likely be treated as
a taxable exchange of such Debt Securities for interests in the defeasance
trust. As a consequence a Holder would recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the Holder's cost or other tax basis for such Debt Securities
and the value of the Holder's proportionate interest in the defeasance trust,
and thereafter would be required to include in income a proportionate share of
the income, gain and loss of the defeasance trust. Under current Federal income
tax law, covenant defeasance would ordinarily not be treated as a taxable
exchange of such Debt Securities. Purchasers of such Debt Securities should
consult their own advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of such
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defeasance and covenant defeasance, including the applicability and effect of
tax laws other than the Federal income tax law.
The Issuers may exercise the defeasance option with respect to such Debt
Securities notwithstanding prior exercise of the covenant defeasance option. If
the Issuers exercise the defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities may
not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Issuers exercise the
covenant defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities may not be
accelerated by reference to the covenants noted under clause (B) above. In the
event the Issuers fail to comply with the remaining obligations with respect to
such Debt Securities under the Applicable Indenture after exercising their
covenant defeasance option and such Debt Securities are declared due and payable
because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S.
Government Obligations (or Foreign Government Obligations in the case of Debt
Securities denominated in foreign currencies) on deposit with the Trustee may be
insufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the
time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default, because the
required deposit in the defeasance trust is based upon scheduled cash flows,
rather than market values, which will vary depending on prevailing interest
rates and other factors. However, the Issuers will remain liable in respect of
such payments. (Article Thirteen)
The Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions, if any,
applicable to defeasance with respect to the Debt Securities of a particular
series.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms used in the
Indentures. Reference is made to the Applicable Indenture with respect to any
particular series of Debt Securities for the full definition of all such terms,
as well as any other terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
(Section 101)
"Affiliate" of any Person means any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
such Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with
respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of
such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
"Bank Agreement" means the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement,
dated as of April 7, 1992, among the Issuers, Chemical Bank (as successor to
Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as Agent, and the lenders identified
therein (the "Banks"), as amended by the First Amendment thereto, dated as of
November 19, 1992, the Second Amendment thereto, dated as of February 23, 1993,
and the Third Amended thereto, dated as of December 15, 1993, as such agreement
may be amended, extended, restated or otherwise modified.
"Bank Hedging Agreement" means, with respect to an Issuer, any agreement
between such Issuer and any Bank that is a lender under the Bank Agreement
consisting of (a) any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future,
interest rate option, interest rate swap, interest rate cap or other interest
rate hedge or arrangement and (b) any agreement or arrangement designed to limit
or eliminate the risk and/or exposure of such Issuer to fluctuations in currency
exchange rates.
"Capital Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligation to pay rent
or other payment amounts under a lease of (or other Debt arrangements conveying
the right to use) real or personal property of such Person which is required to
be classified and accounted for as a capital lease or a liability on the fact of
a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. The stated maturity of such obligation shall be the date of the last
payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date
upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a
penalty.
"Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests,
participation or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock of
such Person.
"Common Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person that does
not rank prior, as to the payment of dividends or as to the distribution of
assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of such Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.
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"Debt" means (without duplication and without regard to any portion of
principal amount that has not accrued and to any interest component thereof
(whether accrued or imputed) that is not due and payable) with respect to any
Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion of the assets of such Person and
whether or not contingent, (i) every obligation of such Person for money
borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, including obligations incurred in connection
with the acquisition of property, assets or businesses; (iii) every
reimbursement obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit,
bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued for the account of such
Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or
accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business); (v) every
Capital Lease Obligation of such Person; (vi) the maximum fixed redemption or
repurchase price of Redeemable Stock of such Person at the time of
determination; and (vii) every obligation of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the payment
of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible or
liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise. (Section 101 of the
Subordinated Indenture)
"Offer to Purchase" means a written offer (the "Offer") sent by the Issuers
by first class mail, postage prepaid, to each Holder at its address appearing in
the Debt Security Register on the date of the Offer offering to purchase up to
the principal amount of Debt Securities specified in such Offer at the purchase
price specified in such Offer (as determined pursuant to the Applicable
Indenture). Unless otherwise required by applicable law, the Offer shall specify
an expiration date (the "Expiration Date") of the Offer to Purchase which shall
be, subject to any contrary requirements of applicable law, not less than 30
days or more than 60 days after the date of such Offer and a settlement date
(the "Purchase Date") for purchase of Debt Securities within five Business Days
after the Expiration Date. The Issuers shall notify the Trustee at least 15
Business Days (or such shorter period as is acceptable to the Trustee) prior to
the mailing of the Offer of the Issuers' obligation to make an Offer to
Purchase, and the Offer shall be mailed by the Issuers or, at the Issuers'
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuers. The Offer
shall contain information concerning the business of the Issuers and their
Subsidiaries which the Issuers in good faith believe will enable such Holders to
make an informed decision with respect to the Offer to Purchase (which at a
minimum will include (i) the most recent annual and quarterly financial
statements and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations" contained in the documents required to be filed with the
Trustee pursuant to the Indenture (which requirements may be satisfied by
delivery of such documents together with the Offer), (ii) a description of
material developments in the Issuers' business subsequent to the date of the
latest of such financial statements referred to in clause (i) (including a
description of the events requiring the Issuers to make the Offer to Purchase),
(iii) if applicable, appropriate pro forma financial information concerning the
Offer to Purchase and the events requiring the Issuers to make the Offer to
Purchase and (iv) any other information required by applicable law to be
included therein. The Offer shall contain all instructions and materials
necessary to enable such Holders to tender Debt Securities pursuant to the Offer
to Purchase. The Offer shall also state:
(1) the Section of the Applicable Indenture or Indentures pursuant to
which the Offer to Purchase is being made;
(2) the Expiration Date and the Purchase Date;
(3) the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities
offered to be purchased by the Issuers pursuant to the Offer to Purchase
(including, if less than 100%, the manner by which such has been determined
pursuant to the Section of the Indentures requiring the Offer to Purchase)
(the "Purchase Amount");
(4) the purchase price to be paid by the Issuers for each $1,000
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities accepted for payment (as
specified pursuant to the Applicable Indenture or Indentures) (the
"Purchase Price");
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(5) that the Holder may tender all or any portion of the Debt
Securities registered in the name of such Holder and that any portion of a
Debt Security tendered must be tendered in an integral multiple of $1,000
principal amount;
(6) the place or places where Debt Securities are to be surrendered
for tender pursuant to the Offer to Purchase;
(7) that interest on any Debt Security not tendered or tendered but
not purchased by the Issuers pursuant to the Offer to Purchase will
continue to accrue;
(8) that on the Purchase Date the Purchase Price will become due and
payable upon each Debt Security being accepted for payment pursuant to the
Offer to Purchase and that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and
after the Purchase Date;
(9) that each Holder electing to tender a Debt Security pursuant to
the Offer to Purchase will be required to surrender such Debt Security at
the place or places specified in the Offer prior to the close of business
on the Expiration Date (such Debt Security being, if the Issuers or the
Trustee so requires, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written
instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to Scotts and the Trustee duly
executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in
writing);
(10) that Holders will be entitled to withdraw all or any portion of
Debt Securities tendered if the Issuers (or their Paying Agent) receive,
not later than the close of business on the Expiration Date, a telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the
Holder, the principal amount of the Debt Securities the Holder tendered,
the certificate number of the Debt Security the Holder tendered and a
statement that such Holder is withdrawing all or a portion of its tender;
(11) that (a) if Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount less
than or equal to the Purchase Amount are duly tendered and not withdrawn
pursuant to the Offer to Purchase, the Issuers shall purchase all such Debt
Securities and (b) if Debt Securities in an aggregate principal amount in
excess of the Purchase Amount are tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to
the Offer to Purchase, the Issuers shall purchase Debt Securities having an
aggregate principal amount equal to the Purchase Amount on a pro rata basis
(with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate so that only Debt
Securities in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof shall
be purchased); and
(12) that in the case of any Holder whose Debt Security is purchased
only in part, the Issuers shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver to the Holder of such Debt Security without service charge, a
new Debt Security or Debt Securities, of any authorized denomination as
requested by such Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in
exchange for the unpurchased portion of the Debt Security so tendered.
Any Offer to Purchase shall be governed by and effected in accordance with the
Offer for such Offer to Purchase.
"Redeemable Stock" of any Person means, when used in an Indenture pursuant
to which a particular series of Debt Securities is outstanding, any equity
security of such Person that by its terms or otherwise is required to be
redeemed prior to the final Stated Maturity of such series of Debt Securities or
is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof at any time prior to the final
Stated Maturity of such series of Debt Securities.
"Related Person" of any Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly owning (a) 5% or more of the Outstanding Common Stock of such Person
(or, in the case of a Person that is not a corporation, 5% or more of the equity
interest in such Person) or (b) 5% or more of the combined voting power of the
Voting Stock of such Person.
"Subsidiary" of any Person means (i) a corporation more than 50% of the
combined voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock of which is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by
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one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such Person and one or more
Subsidiaries thereof or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in
which such Person, or one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such
Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has
at least a majority ownership and power to direct the policies, management and
affairs thereof.
"Voting Stock" of any Person means Capital Stock of such Person which
ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors (or persons performing
similar functions) of such Person, whether at all times or only so long as no
senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
PERMANENT GLOBAL SECURITIES
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more
permanent Global Securities that will be deposited with a Depositary or its
nominee. In such a case, one or more Global Securities will be issued in a
denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate
principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of the series to be represented
by such Global Security or Securities. The Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series of Debt Securities will describe the circumstances, if any, under
which beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may
exchange such interests for Debt Securities of such series and of like tenor and
principal amount in any authorized form and denomination. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive registered form,
a permanent Global Security may not be registered for transfer or exchange
except in the circumstances described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
(Sections 204 and 305)
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any
portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a permanent Global
Security and a description of the Depositary will be contained in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
THE TRUSTEE
Chemical Bank will be the Trustee under each of the Indentures.
In case of an Event of Default under one of the Indentures, the Trustee, by
virtue of its acting as Trustee under the other Indenture, would be deemed to
have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act") and may be required to resign as
Trustee under one of the Indentures.
Chemical Bank is the agent bank and a lender under the Bank Agreement. Each
Indenture contains limitations on the right of the Trustee, as a creditor of the
Issuers, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain
property received in respect of any such claims as security or otherwise. In
addition, in case of an Event of Default under an Indenture, the Trustee, by
virtue of being a creditor of the Issuers, would be deemed to have a conflicting
interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act and may be required to
resign as Trustee under such Indenture.
Chemical Securities Inc. is an affiliate of the Trustee and may act as
underwriter with respect to one or more series of Debt Securities or for other
securities of the Issuers. In case of an Event of Default under an Indenture, if
Chemical Securities Inc. had acted as underwriter of securities of an Issuer
within one year prior to such time, the Trustee would be deemed to have a
conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act and may be
required to resign as Trustee under such Indenture.
The Trustee or its affiliates act as depositary for funds of, make loans to
and perform other services for, of may be a customer of, the Issuers in the
ordinary course of business.
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GOVERNING LAW
The Indentures and the Debt Securities are governed by and shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Issuers may sell Debt Securities to one or more underwriters for public
offering and sale by them or may sell Debt Securities to investors or other
persons directly or through agents. The Issuers may sell Debt Securities as soon
as practicable after effectiveness of the Registration Statement, provided that
favorable market conditions exist. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the
offer and sale of the Debt Securities will be named in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
Underwriters may offer and sell the Debt Securities at a fixed price or
prices, which may be changed, or at prices related to prevailing market prices
or at negotiated prices. The Issuers also may, from time to time, authorize
firms acting as agents of the Issuers to offer and sell the Debt Securities upon
such terms and conditions as shall be set forth in any Prospectus Supplement. In
connection with the sale of Debt Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have
received compensation from the Issuers in the form of underwriting discounts or
commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of Debt Securities
for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell Debt Securities to or
through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions
(which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may
act as agent.
Any underwriting compensation paid by the Issuers to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of Debt Securities, and any discounts,
concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers,
will be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers
and agents participating in the distribution of the Debt Securities may be
deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them
and any profit realized by them on resale of the Debt Securities may be deemed
to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements with the
Issuers, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to
reimbursement by the Issuers for certain expenses.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or
perform services for, or be customers of, the Issuers in the ordinary course of
business.
The Debt Securities may or may not be listed on a national securities
exchange or a foreign securities exchange. No assurances can be given that there
will be a market for the Debt Securities.
VALIDITY OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
The validity of the Debt Securities will be passed upon for the Issuers by
Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease, Columbus, Ohio.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of September 30, 1992 and
1993, and the consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholder's equity
(deficit) and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
September 30, 1993, included in this Prospectus have been audited by Coopers &
Lybrand, independent accountants, as stated in their report appearing in this
Prospectus, and are included in reliance upon the report, which includes an
explanatory paragraph on changes in accounting for income taxes and post
retirement benefits other than pensions, of such firm given upon their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.
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The consolidated balance sheet of Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products
Company ("Grace-Sierra") as of December 16, 1993, and the consolidated statement
of operations, changes in common shareholder's deficit and cash flows for the
period from January 1, 1993 to December 16, 1993, included in the Company's
Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated February 28, 1994, have been audited by
Coopers & Lybrand, independent accountants, and are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as
experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated balance sheet of Grace-Sierra as of and the consolidated
statement of operations, changes in common shareholder's deficit and cash flows
for the year ended December 31, 1992, included in the Company's Current Report
on Form 8-K/A dated February 28, 1994, have been audited by Price Waterhouse,
independent accountants, and are incorporated herein by reference in reliance
upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting
and auditing.
47
67
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements of The Scotts Company and
Subsidiaries:
Report of Independent Accountants................................... F-2
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 1992 and 1993.......... F-3
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended September 30,
1991, 1992 and 1993.............................................. F-4
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Deficit)
for the years ended September 30, 1991, 1992 and 1993............ F-5
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September
30, 1991, 1992 and 1993.......................................... F-6
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.......................... F-7
F-1
68
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
To the Shareholders and Board of
Directors of The Scotts Company
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Scotts
Company and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1992 and 1993, and the related
consolidated statements of income, changes in shareholders' equity (deficit),
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30,
1993. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of The Scotts
Company and Subsidiaries as of September 30, 1992 and 1993, and the consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended September 30, 1993, in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles.
As discussed in Notes 3 and 6 to the consolidated financial statements,
effective the beginning of fiscal 1993 the Company changed its method of
accounting for postretirement benefits other than pensions and income taxes.
Coopers & Lybrand
Columbus, Ohio
November 19, 1993, except as to Note 12,
which is as of December 16, 1993.
F-2
69
THE SCOTTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 1992 AND 1993
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
1992 1993
-------- --------
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash.......................................................................................... $ 880 $ 2,323
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $2,110 in 1992 and $2,511 in 1993...................... 51,580 60,848
Inventories................................................................................... 59,697 76,654
Prepaid and other assets...................................................................... 3,376 3,917
-------- --------
Total current assets.................................................................... 115,533 143,742
-------- --------
Property, plant and equipment, at cost:
Land and land improvements.................................................................... 18,537 19,817
Buildings..................................................................................... 31,307 36,300
Machinery and equipment....................................................................... 62,082 87,250
Furniture and fixtures........................................................................ 5,561 5,952
Construction in progress...................................................................... 16,914 4,687
-------- --------
134,401 154,006
Less accumulated depreciation................................................................. 45,331 55,215
-------- --------
89,070 98,791
-------- --------
Patents and other intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $17,932 in 1992 and
$21,053 in 1993............................................................................... 20,272 19,972
Deferred financing and organizational costs, net of accumulated amortization of
$6,673 in 1992 and $7,770 in 1993............................................................. 3,708 3,530
Excess of costs over underlying value of net assets acquired (goodwill), net of accumulated
amortization of $4,119 in 1992 and $5,123 in 1993............................................. 36,030 41,340
Other assets.................................................................................... 3,408 14,215
-------- --------
Total Assets............................................................................ $268,021 $321,590
======== ========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Revolving credit.............................................................................. $ 4,000 $ --
Current portion of term debt.................................................................. 543 5,444
Bank line of credit........................................................................... 1,658 705
Accounts payable, trade....................................................................... 29,313 28,279
Accrued liabilities........................................................................... 7,315 9,135
Accrued payroll and fringe benefits........................................................... 10,293 12,035
Accrued taxes................................................................................. 7,616 9,253
-------- --------
Total current liabilities............................................................... 60,738 64,851
-------- --------
Long-term debt, less current portions........................................................... 31,354 87,080
Postretirement benefits other than pensions..................................................... -- 26,646
-------- --------
Total Liabilities....................................................................... 92,092 178,577
-------- --------
Commitments and Contingencies
Shareholders' Equity:
Preferred stock, $.01 par value, authorized 10,000,000 shares; none issued.................... -- --
Class A Common stock, voting, par value $.01 per share; authorized 35,000,000 shares;
21,073,430 issued in 1992 and 1993.......................................................... 211 211
Class B Common stock, non-voting, par value $.01 per share; authorized 35,000,000 shares; none
issued...................................................................................... -- --
Capital in excess of par value................................................................ 192,604 193,263
Deficit....................................................................................... (16,886) (9,020)
Treasury stock 2,414,895 shares in 1993, at cost.............................................. -- (41,441)
-------- --------
Total Shareholders' Equity.............................................................. 175,929 143,013
-------- --------
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity.............................................. $268,021 $321,590
======== ========
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements are an integral part of these statements.
F-3
70
THE SCOTTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1991, 1992 AND 1993
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
1991 1992 1993
----------- ----------- -----------
Net sales............................................. $ 388,120 $ 413,558 $ 466,043
Cost of sales......................................... 207,956 213,133 244,218
----------- ----------- -----------
Gross profit.......................................... 180,164 200,425 221,825
----------- ----------- -----------
Operating expenses:
Marketing........................................... 57,489 66,245 74,579
Distribution........................................ 57,056 61,051 67,377
General and administrative.......................... 22,985 24,759 27,688
Research and development............................ 5,247 6,205 7,700
----------- ----------- -----------
Total operating expenses.................... 142,777 158,260 177,344
----------- ----------- -----------
Income from operations................................ 37,387 42,165 44,481
Other expenses, net, including interest expense of
$30,932 in 1991, $15,942 in 1992 and $8,454 in
1993................................................ 32,932 15,962 9,114
----------- ----------- -----------
Income before income taxes, extraordinary items and
cumulative effect of accounting changes............. 4,455 26,203 35,367
Income taxes.......................................... 2,720 11,124 14,320
----------- ----------- -----------
Income before extraordinary items and cumulative
effect of accounting changes........................ 1,735 15,079 21,047
Extraordinary items:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of tax.... -- (4,186) --
Utilization of net operating loss carryforwards..... 2,581 4,699 --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting for post-
retirement benefits, net of tax and income taxes.... -- -- (13,157)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income............................................ $ 4,316 $ 15,592 $ 7,890
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income per common share:
Income before extraordinary items and accounting
changes.......................................... $ .15 $ .84 $ 1.07
Extraordinary items:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt, net of
tax............................................ -- (.23) --
Utilization of net operating loss
carryforwards.................................. .21 .26 --
Cumulative effect of changes in accounting for
postretirement benefits, net of tax and income
taxes............................................ -- -- (.67)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income.......................................... $ .36* $ .87 $ .40
=========== =========== ===========
Weighted average common shares outstanding during the
period.............................................. 11,832,651 18,014,151 19,687,013
=========== =========== ===========
- ---------------
* Net income per share for fiscal 1991 has been restated to eliminate the effect
of accretion to redemption value of redeemable common stock to be comparable
with fiscal 1992 and 1993.
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements are an integral part of these statements.
F-4
71
THE SCOTTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1991, 1992 AND 1993
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE AMOUNTS)
CLASS A TOTAL
COMMON STOCK CAPITAL IN TREASURY STOCK SHAREHOLDERS'
--------------------- EXCESS OF ----------------------- EQUITY
STOCK AMOUNT PAR VALUE (DEFICIT) SHARES AMOUNT (DEFICIT)
----------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- -------- -------------
Balance, September 30, 1990.... 9,500,000 $ 95 $ 19,264 $(32,036) -- -- $ (12,677)
Purchase of redeemable common
stock........................ 235,227 2 733 235,227 $ (710) 25
Issuance of redeemable common
stock........................ (118,182) (1) (289) (118,182) 290 --
Net income..................... 4,316 4,316
Accretion to redemption value
of redeemable common stock... (1,625) (1,625)
----------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- -------- -----------
Balance, September 30, 1991.... 9,617,045 96 18,083 (27,720) 117,045 (420) (9,961)
Adjustment for redeemable
common stock................. 2,162,500 22 9,826 9,848
Issuance of common stock held
in treasury.................. 310 (112,499) 407 717
Exchange of warrants for common
stock........................ 325,454 3 4,754 (4,770) (4,546) 13 --
Issuance of common stock....... 8,968,750 90 159,430 159,520
Net income..................... 15,592 15,592
Amortization of unearned
compensation................. 24 24
Options outstanding............ 177 177
Foreign currency translation
adjustment................... 12 12
Adjustment for fractional
shares....................... (319) --
----------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- -------- -----------
Balance, September 30, 1992.... 21,073,430 211 192,604 (16,886) -- -- 175,929
Net income..................... 7,890 7,890
Amortization of unearned
compensation................. 24 24
Options outstanding............ 635 635
Foreign currency translation
adjustment................... (24) (24)
Purchase of common stock....... (2,414,895) (41,441) (41,441)
----------- ------ ---------- -------- ---------- -------- -----------
Balance, September 30, 1993.... 21,073,430 $211 $193,263 $ (9,020) (2,414,895) $(41,441) $ 143,013
=========== ====== ========== ======== ========== ======== ===========
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements are an integral part of these statements.
F-5
72
THE SCOTTS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1991, 1992 AND 1993
(IN THOUSANDS)
1991 1992 1993
-------- -------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income....................................................... $ 4,316 $ 15,592 $ 7,890
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation............................................... 10,670 10,206 12,278
Amortization............................................... 7,115 5,642 5,866
Extraordinary loss on early extinguishment of debt......... -- 4,186 --
Cumulative effect of change in accounting for
postretirement benefits................................. -- -- 24,280
Postretirement benefits.................................... -- -- 2,366
Deferred income taxes...................................... -- 1,588 (12,740)
Loss on sale of equipment.................................. 1,414 392 94
Provision for losses on accounts receivable................ 1,068 990 1,409
Other...................................................... -- 204 748
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable..................................... (1,514) (5,476) (10,002)
Inventories............................................. 1,735 (3,291) (11,147)
Prepaid and other current assets........................ 1,216 (268) (393)
Accounts payable........................................ 1,826 (654) (2,390)
Accrued liabilities..................................... (4,750) (5,351) 1,630
Other assets and liabilities............................ 3,542 3,682 4,784
-------- -------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities............. 26,638 27,442 24,673
-------- -------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Investment in plant and equipment.......................... (8,818) (19,896) (15,158)
Acquisition of Republic, net of cash acquired.............. -- -- (16,366)
Proceeds from sale of equipment............................ 215 131 194
-------- -------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities................. (8,603) (19,765) (31,330)
-------- -------- --------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under term debt................................. 941 -- 70,000
Payments on term and other debt............................ (11,008) (58,307) (640)
Net payments under revolving credit........................ (6,000) (36,500) (18,238)
Net borrowings (payments) under bank line of credit........ 58 349 (953)
Redemption of senior subordinated notes.................... -- (53,223) --
Redemption of subordinated debentures...................... -- (21,132) --
Deferred financing cost incurred........................... -- (1,117) (628)
Net proceeds from issuance of Class A Common Stock......... -- 160,237 --
Purchase of Class A Common Stock........................... -- -- (41,441)
Net purchase of redeemable Class A Common Stock............ (241) -- --
-------- -------- --------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities... (16,250) (9,693) 8,100
-------- -------- --------
Net increase (decrease) in cash.................................. 1,785 (2,016) 1,443
Cash, beginning of period........................................ 1,111 2,896 880
-------- -------- --------
Cash, end of period.............................................. $ 2,896 $ 880 $ 2,323
======== ======== ========
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
Interest (net of amount capitalized)....................... $ 29,592 $ 16,240 $ 6,169
Income taxes paid.......................................... 72 1,189 11,500
The accompanying notes to consolidated financial
statements are an integral part of these statements.
F-6
73
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The Scotts Company ("Scotts") through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, The O.
M. Scott & Sons Company ("OMS"), Hyponex Corporation ("Hyponex") and Republic
Tool and Manufacturing Corp. ("Republic"), (collectively, the "Company"), is
engaged in the manufacture and sale of lawn care and garden products.
Substantially all of the assets currently held by Scotts consist of the capital
stock of OMS and advances to OMS. The consolidated financial statements include
the financial statements of Scotts and OMS. All material intercompany
transactions have been eliminated.
Shareholders' equity, shares outstanding and per share amounts for all
periods have been adjusted for the January 1992 reverse stock split, in which
every 2.2 shares of old Class A Common Stock were exchanged for one share of new
Class A Common Stock.
INVENTORIES
Inventories are principally stated at the lower of cost or market
determined by the FIFO method; certain inventories of Hyponex (primarily organic
products) are accounted for by the LIFO method. At September 30, 1992 and 1993,
approximately 28% and 24% of inventories, respectively, are valued at the lower
of LIFO cost or market. Inventories include the cost of raw materials, labor and
manufacturing overhead.
The Company makes provisions for obsolete or slow-moving inventories as
necessary to properly reflect inventory value. Inventories as of September 30,
1992 and 1993, net of such provisions, consisted of:
1992 1993
----------- -----------
Finished Goods...................................... $34,605,000 $44,735,000
Raw Materials....................................... 26,063,000 31,905,000
----------- -----------
FIFO Cost........................................... 60,668,000 76,640,000
LIFO Reserve........................................ (971,000) 14,000
----------- -----------
$59,697,000 $76,654,000
============ ============
ADVERTISING AND CONSUMER GUARANTEE
The Company has a cooperative advertising program with customer dealers
whereby the Company reimburses dealers for the qualifying portion of dealer
advertising costs. Such advertising allowances are based on the timing of dealer
orders and deliveries. The Company provides for the cost of this program in the
period the sales to dealers are recorded.
The Company accrues amounts for product non-performance claims by consumers
under the Company's product guarantee program. The provision is determined by
applying an experience rate to sales in the period the related products are
shipped to dealers.
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Property, plant and equipment, including significant improvements, are
stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to
operating expenses as incurred. When properties are retired, or otherwise
disposed of, the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation are
removed from the accounts.
Depletion of applicable land is computed on the units-of-production method.
Depreciation of other property, plant and equipment is provided on the
straight-line method and is based on the estimated useful economic lives of the
assets as follows:
F-7
74
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Land improvements................................................... 10-25 years
Buildings........................................................... 10-40 years
Machinery and equipment............................................. 3-15 years
Furniture and fixtures.............................................. 6-10 years
Property subject to capital leases in the amount of $1,951,000 and
$1,484,000 (net of accumulated amortization of $1,128,000 in 1992 and $1,560,000
in 1993) has been included in machinery and equipment at September 30, 1992 and
1993, respectively.
The Company capitalized interest costs of $380,000 in fiscal 1992 as part
of the cost of major asset construction projects.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Significant costs are incurred each year in connection with research and
development programs that are expected to contribute profits to operations of
future years. All costs associated with research and development are charged to
expense as incurred.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill is being amortized over 40 years on a straight-line basis.
Financing costs incurred in obtaining long-term debt are capitalized and
amortized over the life of the related debt using the effective-interest method.
Other intangible assets consist primarily of patents and are being amortized on
a straight-line basis over their estimated useful economic lives varying from 7
to 24 years.
FOREIGN CURRENCY
The Company has operations located in the United Kingdom where the local
currency is the functional currency. Foreign currency financial statements of
these operations are translated using exchange rates in effect at period end for
assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during the period for results
of operations. Related foreign currency translation adjustments of $12,000 and
($12,000) are reported as a component of shareholders' equity as of September
30, 1992 and 1993, respectively.
Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in other
expenses, net. In fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993, the Company recorded foreign
exchange losses of $141,000, $324,000 and $196,000, respectively.
INCOME TAXES
Effective October 1, 1992, the Company adopted Statement of Financial
Accounting Standard ("SFAS") No. 109, "Accounting for Income Taxes", which
requires recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected
future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the financial
statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and
liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial
statement and tax bases of the assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates.
Prior to fiscal 1993, the Company's deferred income tax provision was based
on differences between financial reporting and taxable income.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior years' financial
statements to conform to fiscal 1993 classifications.
F-8
75
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
2. ACQUISITION
Effective November 19, 1992, the Company acquired Republic headquartered in
Carlsbad, California. Republic designs, develops, manufactures and markets lawn
and garden equipment with the substantial majority of its revenue derived from
the sale of its products to mass merchandisers, home centers and garden outlets
in the United States. The purchase price of approximately $16,366,000 was
financed under the Company's revolving credit agreement.
The acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method. Accordingly,
the purchase price was allocated among the assets acquired and liabilities
assumed based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The
excess of purchase price over the estimated fair values of the net assets
acquired ("goodwill") of approximately $6,400,000 is being amortized on a
straight-line basis over 40 years.
The following represents the pro forma results of operations assuming the
acquisition had occurred effective October 1, 1991 after giving effect to
certain adjustments, including depreciation and amortization on tangible and
intangible property, increased interest on acquisition debt and related income
tax effects. Republic's results of operations have been included in the
Company's Consolidated Statement of Income since November 19, 1992. As such, the
Company's fiscal 1993 pro forma results of operations are not materially
different from actual results and are therefore not presented.
YEAR ENDED
SEPTEMBER 30, 1992
------------------
(UNAUDITED)
Net sales...................................................... $ 427,706,000
=============
Income before extraordinary items.............................. $ 13,968,000
=============
Net income..................................................... $ 14,481,000
=============
Earnings per common share on income before extraordinary
items........................................................ $.77
Earnings per common share...................................... $.80
The pro forma information provided does not purport to be indicative of
actual results of operations if the acquisition had occurred as of October 1,
1991, and is not intended to be indicative of future results or trends.
3. ASSOCIATE BENEFITS
OMS has a defined benefit pension plan covering substantially all full-time
associates who have completed one year of eligible service or reached the age of
21, whichever is later. Benefits are based on years of service and the
associates' average final compensation and are adjusted for Social Security
Benefits as defined in the plan. The Company's funding policy is to contribute
an amount that can be deducted for Federal income tax purposes subject to
Employee Retirement Income Security Act limitations.
F-9
76
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The following table sets forth the plan's funded status and the related
amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 1992 and
1993.
1992 1993
------------ ------------
Actuarial present value of benefit obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation:
Vested benefits.............................. $(26,112,000) $(28,904,000)
Nonvested benefits........................... (1,649,000) (1,875,000)
Additional obligation for projected compensation
increases....................................... (6,028,000) (5,530,000)
------------ ------------
Projected benefit obligation for service rendered to
date................................................. (33,789,000) (36,309,000)
Plan assets at fair value, primarily corporate bonds,
U.S. bonds and cash equivalents...................... 30,890,000 33,214,000
------------ ------------
Plan assets less than projected benefit obligations.... (2,899,000) (3,095,000)
Unrecognized net asset being recognized over 11 1/2
years................................................ (757,000) (626,000)
Unrecognized net loss.................................. 5,323,000 4,609,000
------------ ------------
Prepaid pension costs............................. $ 1,667,000 $ 888,000
============ ============
Pension cost includes the following components:
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
-----------------------------------------
1991 1992 1993
----------- ----------- -----------
Service cost............................... $ 1,172,000 $ 1,571,000 $ 1,571,000
Interest cost.............................. 2,172,000 2,438,000 2,628,000
Actual return on plan assets............... (2,450,000) (2,602,000) (2,774,000)
Net amortization and deferral.............. (132,000) (133,000) (18,000)
----------- ----------- -----------
Net pension cost...................... $ 762,000 $ 1,274,000 $ 1,407,000
=========== =========== ===========
The weighted average settlement rate used in determining the actuarial
present value of the projected benefit obligation was 9%, 8% and 8% as of
September 30, 1991, 1992 and 1993, respectively. Future compensation is assumed
to increase 5% annually for fiscal 1991 and 1992, and 4% annually for fiscal
1993. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets was 10% in fiscal
1991 and 1992, and 9% in fiscal 1993.
The Company provides comprehensive major medical benefits to some of its
retired associates and their dependents. Substantially all of the Company's
associates become eligible for these benefits if they retire at age 55 or older
with more than ten years of service. The plan requires certain minimum
contributions from retired associates and includes provisions to limit the
overall cost increases the Company is required to cover. The Company funds its
portion of retiree medical benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis.
Effective October 1, 1992, the Company changed its method of accounting for
postretirement benefit costs other than pensions by adopting SFAS No. 106,
"Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions." The
Company elected to immediately recognize the cumulative effect of the change in
accounting which resulted in a charge of $14,932,000, net of income taxes of
$9,348,000, or $.76 per share. In addition to the cumulative effect, the
Company's retiree medical costs applying the new accounting method increased
$1,437,000, net of income taxes of $929,000, or $.07 per share, during fiscal
1993 as a result of the change in accounting.
F-10
77
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost for fiscal 1993 included the
following components:
Service cost - benefits attributed to associate service during the
year................................................................ $ 930,000
Interest cost on accumulated postretirement benefit obligation........ 2,038,000
-----------
Net periodic postretirement benefit cost.............................. $ 2,968,000
===========
The following table sets forth the retiree medical plan status reconciled
to the amount included in the consolidated balance sheet as of September 30,
1993.
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation:
Retirees.............................................................. $ 6,738,000
Fully eligible active plan participants............................... 314,000
Other active plan participants........................................ 8,305,000
-----------
Total accumulated postretirement benefit obligation................... 15,357,000
Unrecognized prior service cost....................................... 9,494,000
Unrecognized gains from changes in assumptions........................ 1,795,000
-----------
Accrued postretirement benefit cost................................... $26,646,000
===========
The discount rate used in determining the accumulated postretirement
benefit obligation was 8.5%. For measurement purposes, a 14% annual rate of
increase in per capita cost of covered retiree medical benefits was assumed for
fiscal 1994; the rate was assumed to decrease gradually to 5.5% through the year
2051 and remain at that level thereafter. A 1% increase in the health care cost
trend rate assumptions would increase the accumulated postretirement benefit
obligation as of September 30, 1993 by $875,000.
Both OMS and Hyponex have defined contribution profit sharing plans. Both
plans provide for associates to become participants following one year of
service. The Hyponex plan also requires associates to have reached the age of 21
for participation. The plans provide for annual contributions which are entirely
at the discretion of the Board of Directors. Contributions are allocated among
the participants employed as of the last day of the calendar year, based upon
participants' earnings. Each participant's share of the annual contributions
vest according to the provisions of the plans. The Company has provided a profit
sharing provision for the plans of $1,750,000, $1,750,000 and $1,993,000 for
fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993, respectively. The Company's policy is to deposit the
contributions with the trustee in the following year.
The Company is self-insured for certain health benefits up to $125,000 per
occurrence per individual. The cost of such benefits is recognized as expense in
the period the claim occurred. This cost was $5,293,000, $6,439,000 and
$6,662,000 in 1991, 1992 and 1993, respectively. The Company is self-insured for
State of Ohio workers compensation up to $500,000 per claim. The cost for
workers compensation was $139,000, $127,000 and $268,000 in 1991, 1992 and 1993,
respectively. Claims in excess of stated limits of liability and claims for
workers compensation outside of the State of Ohio are insured with commercial
carriers. The Company had an accrued vacation liability of $3,404,000 and
$3,612,000 at September 30, 1992 and 1993, respectively.
In November 1992, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
112, "Employers' Accounting for Postemployment Benefits", which changes the
prevalent method of accounting for benefits provided after employment but before
retirement. The Company is required to adopt SFAS No. 112 no later than the
first quarter of fiscal 1995. Management is currently evaluating the provisions
of SFAS No. 112 and, at this time, the effect of adopting SFAS No. 112 has not
been determined.
F-11
78
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
4. LONG-TERM DEBT
SEPTEMBER 30,
--------------------------
1992 1993
----------- -----------
Revolving Credit Loan.................................... $34,000,000 $21,000,000
Term Loan................................................ -- 70,000,000
Capital lease obligations and other...................... 1,897,000 1,524,000
----------- -----------
35,897,000 92,524,000
Less current portions.................................... 4,543,000 5,444,000
----------- -----------
$31,354,000 $87,080,000
=========== ===========
Maturities of term debt in 1994 through 1996 are $5,000,000 in each year;
1997 and 1998 maturities are $10,000,000 in each year; and aggregate maturities
thereafter are $35,000,000.
On February 23, 1993, the Company entered into an amendment to the Third
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement ("Agreement") with Chemical Bank
("Chemical") and various participating banks. This amendment to the Agreement
provides the Company with $70,000,000 of term loans with scheduled maturities
commencing on March 31, 1994 and extending through September 30, 2000. The
Agreement continues to provide a revolving credit commitment of $150,000,000
through the scheduled termination date of March 31, 1996. The Agreement permits
up to $75,000,000 of the revolving credit commitment to be utilized in support
of commercial paper and up to $15,000,000 to be utilized for letters of credit.
The facility contains a requirement limiting the maximum amount borrowed under
the revolving credit commitment to $30,000,000 for a minimum of 30 consecutive
days each fiscal year.
For both term and revolving credit borrowings under the Agreement, the
Company can elect to borrow domestic funds at the reference rate ("prime") of
Chemical or Eurodollars at 1 1/4% in excess of the London Interbank Offered Rate
("LIBOR"). Interest on Chemical rate loans is payable quarterly and interest on
Eurodollar loans is payable at three month intervals from the date of each
Eurodollar contract. Applicable rates for Chemical and Eurodollar loans were
6.0% and 4.5%, respectively, at September 30, 1993. A commitment fee of 3/8 of
1% is charged on the average daily unused portion of the available commitment.
An additional 1/4 of 1% is charged on the average daily aggregate principal
amount of commercial paper obligations outstanding. Loans under the Agreement
are collateralized by substantially all of the Company's tangible and intangible
assets.
The Agreement contains certain financial and operating covenants, the most
restrictive of which requires the Company to maintain earnings before interest,
taxes, profit sharing, certain depreciation charges and the effect of certain
accounting changes, as defined, to meet specified requirements. The Company was
in compliance with all required covenants at September 30, 1993.
At September 30, 1993, the Company had available an unsecured $2,000,000
line of credit with a bank, which is renewable annually, of which $1,658,000 and
$705,000 was outstanding at September 30, 1992 and 1993, respectively.
During fiscal 1992, the Company recorded an extraordinary charge of
$4,186,000, net of income taxes of $2,157,000, related to the early
extinguishment of 13% Senior Subordinated Notes and 13.5% Subordinated
Debentures.
5. SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
The Class A and Class B Common Stock are identical in all respects except
for voting rights and the right of the holder of non-voting Class B stock to
convert into an equal number of shares of voting Class A stock and the right of
the holder of voting Class A stock to convert into an equal number of shares of
non-voting Class B stock. In January 1992, every 2.2 shares of old Scotts Class
A Common Stock were exchanged for one share of new Scotts Class A Common Stock
F-12
79
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
("Shares"). On February 7, 1992, the Company closed the initial public offering
of its Shares pursuant to which Scotts sold 8,968,750 newly issued Shares and
certain non-management shareholders of Scotts sold an aggregate of 5,406,250
Shares. The Scotts Class A Common Stock is listed on the NASDAQ National Market
System under the symbol "SCTT."
On February 23, 1993, the Company purchased all of the shares of Class A
Common Stock held by a fund managed by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. In
aggregate, 2,414,895 shares of Class A Common Stock were purchased for
approximately $41,441,000, including transaction costs. As a result of this
transaction, 18,658,535 shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding as of
September 30, 1993.
In accordance with the provisions of certain of the Management Stock
Subscription Agreements ("MSS Agreements") under which certain Shares were sold
to management investors ("Purchaser") during periods prior to the initial public
offering, under specified conditions Purchasers could require the Company to
purchase all of the Shares held by the Purchaser at a formula price based on
book value. Pursuant to requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Shares issued by the Company under the MSS Agreements were considered redeemable
Shares, excluded from shareholders' equity and were subject to accretion to the
current redemption value of the Shares. Upon closing of the initial public
offering, the obligation of the Company to purchase Shares terminated.
Accordingly, Shares previously classified as redeemable common stock were
reclassified to shareholders' equity. During the year ended September 30, 1991,
activity in redeemable Shares consisted of 235,227 Shares being redeemed for
$710,100 and 118,182 Shares being issued for $469,550. Accretion totalled
$1,625,000 for fiscal 1991.
On November 4, 1992, the Company adopted The Scotts Company 1992 Long Term
Incentive Plan (the "Plan"). The Plan was accepted by the shareholders at
Scotts' annual meeting on February 25, 1993. Under the Plan stock options, stock
appreciation rights and performance share awards may be granted to officers and
other key employees of the Company. The Plan also provides for Board members,
who are neither employees of the Company nor associated with Clayton, Dubilier &
Rice, Inc., to receive stock options. The maximum number of shares of Class A
Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan is 1,700,000, plus the number of
shares surrendered to exercise options (other than director options) granted
under the Plan, up to a maximum of 1,000,000 surrendered shares.
In addition, pursuant to various employment agreements, the Company granted
136,364 and 300,000 stock options in fiscal 1992 and 1993, respectively.
Aggregate stock option activity consists of the following:
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
------------------------
1992 1993
-------- ---------
Options outstanding at October 1.......................... -- 136,364
Options granted........................................... 136,364 449,925
Options exercised......................................... -- --
Options cancelled......................................... -- --
------- -------
Options outstanding at September 30....................... 136,364 586,289
======= =======
Options exercisable at September 30....................... 45,455 90,910
======= =======
Option prices per share:
Granted................................................. $9.90 $16.25-$18.75
During fiscal 1993, 128,880 performance share awards were granted. These
awards entitle the grantee to receive shares or, at the grantees election, the
equivalent value in cash or stock options, subject to stock ownership
requirements. These awards are conditioned on the attainment of certain
F-13
80
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
performance and other objectives established by the Compensation Committee of
the Company's Board of Directors.
Compensation for certain stock options results from the difference between
the grant price and market price at the date of grant, and is recognized over
the vesting period of the options. Compensation for performance share awards is
initially measured at the grant date based upon the current market value of the
common stock, with adjustments made quarterly for market price fluctuations. The
Company recognized compensation expense for stock options and performance share
awards of $177,000 and $635,000 in fiscal 1992 and 1993, respectively.
In October 1991, an officer of Scotts purchased 22,727 Shares and three
other Scotts associates purchased an aggregate of 44,318 Shares at a purchase
price of $3.98 per share. Pursuant to an employment agreement, an officer of
Scotts purchased 45,454 Shares at a purchase price of $9.90 per share in January
1992. The Company has recognized $118,000 of unearned compensation equivalent to
the difference between the fair market value and the purchase price of the
Shares as a charge to capital in excess of par value. This unearned compensation
is being amortized on a straight line basis over the period of the employment
agreement.
A significant portion of the price paid by certain officers and management
associates is financed by a major bank. The Company has guaranteed the full and
prompt payment of debt outstanding by management investors to purchase stock of
approximately $1,729,000 and $230,000 at September 30, 1992 and 1993,
respectively.
In connection with the 1988 acquisition of the lawn and garden business of
Hyponex, the Company entered into a warrant purchase agreement with the prior
majority shareholder of Hyponex. In January 1992, the warrants were exchanged
for 330,000 Shares. The repurchase and retirement of the warrants was valued at
the estimated value of the Shares at the date of the exchange less the original
consideration received.
6. INCOME TAXES
The Company adopted SFAS No. 109 effective October 1, 1992, resulting in a
benefit of $1,775,000 being reported as a cumulative effect of accounting change
in the fiscal 1993 Consolidated Statement of Income. Assets recorded in prior
business combinations net-of-tax were adjusted to pre-tax amounts, resulting in
recognition of $1,501,000 of deferred tax liabilities at the date of adoption.
Prior to fiscal 1993 the Company accounted for income taxes under Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 11.
F-14
81
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
The provision for income taxes consists of the following:
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
-------------------------------------------
1991 1992 1993
----------- ----------- -----------
Currently Payable:
Federal....................................... $ 139,000 $ 1,802,000 $14,537,000
State......................................... -- 878,000 1,400,000
Deferred:
Federal....................................... -- 1,588,000 (11,694,000)
State......................................... -- -- (1,046,000)
----------- ----------- -----------
Income Tax Expense.............................. $ 139,000 $ 4,268,000 $ 3,197,000
=========== =========== ===========
Income tax expense is included in the financial statements as follows:
Operations...................................... $ 2,720,000 $11,124,000 $14,320,000
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
principles.................................... -- -- (11,123,000)
Extraordinary items............................. (2,581,000) (6,856,000) --
----------- ----------- -----------
Income Tax Expense.............................. $ 139,000 $ 4,268,000 $ 3,197,000
=========== =========== ===========
Deferred income taxes for fiscal 1993 reflect the impact of "temporary
differences" between the amounts of assets and liabilities for financial
reporting purposes and such amounts as determined by tax regulations. These
temporary differences are determined in accordance with SFAS No. 109 and are
more inclusive in nature than "timing differences" as determined under
previously applicable accounting principles.
The components of the net deferred tax asset (liability) are as follows:
SEPTEMBER 30,
1993
------------
Assets
Accounts receivable........................................................ $ 687,000
Inventory.................................................................. 2,359,000
Accrued expenses........................................................... 6,589,000
Postretirement benefits.................................................... 10,458,000
Other...................................................................... 652,000
------------
Gross deferred tax assets.................................................. $ 20,745,000
------------
Liabilities Property and equipment........................................... (9,913,000)
Safe harbor leases......................................................... (1,181,000)
------------
Gross deferred tax liabilities............................................. (11,094,000)
------------
Net asset.................................................................. $ 9,651,000
============
The net current and non-current components of deferred income taxes recognized in
the balance sheet at September 30, 1993 are:
Net current liability...................................................... $ (57,000)
Net non-current asset...................................................... 9,708,000
------------
Net asset.................................................................. $ 9,651,000
============
F-15
82
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
A reconciliation of the Federal corporate income tax rate and the effective
tax rate on income before income taxes is summarized below:
YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER
30,
----------------------
1991 1992 1993
---- ---- ----
Statutory income tax rate......................................... 34.0% 34.0% 35.0%
Pension amortization.............................................. 5.8 0.3 0.7
Goodwill amortization and other permanent differences resulting
from purchase accounting........................................ 25.4 4.0 4.7
State taxes, net of federal benefit............................... -- 2.2 3.4
Other............................................................. (4.1) 2.0 (3.3)
---- ---- ----
Effective income tax rate......................................... 61.1% 42.5% 40.5%
==== ==== ====
In fiscal 1991 and 1992, for financial reporting purposes the Company
utilized $8,000,000 and $13,800,000 of net operating loss carryforwards and
reflected the related tax benefits of $2,581,000 and $4,699,000, respectively,
as extraordinary items. At September 30, 1992, the Company fully utilized its
financial reporting net operating loss carryforwards. For tax purposes, the
Company has remaining net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$5,000,000 which will be utilized on the fiscal 1993 Federal income tax return.
The variance between the operating loss carryforwards on a tax basis and a
financial reporting basis is principally due to excess tax depreciation, uniform
capitalization rules, nondeductible reserves, capitalization and amortization of
package and design costs, and various accrued liabilities that are not
deductible for tax purposes until paid. Deferred taxes were not recorded during
fiscal 1991 as the Company was in a net operating loss carryforward position at
the end of that year. During 1992, the Company recognized $1,588,000 of deferred
taxes previously offset by net operating loss carryforwards.
During fiscal 1991 and 1992, the Company was subject to the alternative
minimum tax ("AMT") for financial reporting purposes resulting in AMT expense of
$139,000 and $1,200,000, respectively. The net operating loss carryforwards for
AMT purposes were approximately $18,500,000 and $18,600,000 for financial
reporting and income tax purposes, respectively, at September 30, 1991. During
fiscal 1992, the Company fully utilized its AMT net operating loss
carryforwards. AMT paid results in a tax credit carryforward which can be used
in subsequent years to offset regular income tax to the extent it exceeds AMT
tax in those years. At September 30, 1992, the Company had $1,480,000 of AMT
credit carryforwards which will be utilized on the fiscal 1993 Federal income
tax return.
7. LEASES
The Company leases buildings, land and equipment under various
noncancellable lease agreements for periods of two to six years. The lease
agreements generally provide that the Company pay taxes, insurance and
maintenance expenses related to the leased assets. Certain lease agreements
contain purchase options. At September 30, 1993, future minimum lease payments
were as follows:
F-16
83
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
YEAR ENDING CAPITAL OPERATING
SEPTEMBER 30, LEASES LEASES TOTAL
- ------------------------------------- ---------- ----------- -----------
1994............................ $ 566,000 $ 5,775,000 $ 6,341,000
1995............................ 508,000 4,054,000 4,562,000
1996............................ 367,000 3,068,000 3,435,000
1997............................ 54,000 2,204,000 2,258,000
1998............................ -- 860,000 860,000
1999 and thereafter............. -- 159,000 159,000
---------- ----------- -----------
Total minimum lease payments......... 1,495,000 $16,120,000 $17,615,000
=========== ===========
Less: Amount representing interest... 223,000
----------
Present value of net minimum lease
payments........................... $1,272,000
==========
The Company also leases transportation and production equipment under
various one-year operating leases, which provide for the extension of the
initial term on a monthly or annual basis. Total rental expense for operating
leases was $6,003,000, $7,281,000 and $9,125,000 for fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993,
respectively.
8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Seed production agreements obligate the Company to make future purchases.
Seed purchases under production agreements for fiscal 1991, 1992 and 1993 were
approximately $5,124,000, $9,281,000 and $4,692,000, respectively. At September
30, 1993, estimated annual seed purchase commitments were as follows:
YEAR ENDING
SEPTEMBER 30,
- -------------------------------------
1994............................ $10,670,000
1995............................ 5,463,000
1996............................ 3,037,000
1997............................ 692,000
The Company is involved in various lawsuits and claims which arise in the
normal course of business. In the opinion of management, these claims
individually and in the aggregate are not expected to result in a material
adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations,
however, there can be no assurance that future quarterly or annual operating
results will not be materially affected by final resolution of these matters.
The following details the more significant of these matters.
The Company has been involved in studying a landfill to which it is
believed some of the Company's solid waste had been hauled in the 1970's. In
September 1991, the Company was named by the Ohio Environmental Protection
Agency ("Ohio EPA") as a Potentially Responsible Party ("PRP") with respect to
this landfill. Pursuant to a consent order with the Ohio EPA, the Company,
together with four other PRP's identified to date, is investigating the extent
of contamination at the landfill and developing a remediation program.
In July 1990, the Company was directed by the Army Corps of Engineers (the
"Corps") to cease peat harvesting operations at its New Jersey facility. The
Corps' has alleged that the peat harvesting operations were in violation of the
Clean Water Act ("CWA"). The United States Department of Justice has commenced a
legal action to seek a permanent injunction against peat harvesting at this
facility and to recover civil penalties under the CWA. This action had been
suspended while the parties engaged in discussion to resolve the dispute. Those
discussions have
F-17
84
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
not resulted in a settlement and accordingly the action has been reinstated. The
Company intends to defend the action vigorously but if the Corps' position is
upheld the Company could be prohibited from further harvesting of peat at this
location and penalties could be assessed against the Company. In the opinion of
management, the outcome of this action will not have a material adverse effect
on the Company's financial position or results of operations. Furthermore,
management believes the Company has sufficient raw material supplies available
such that service to customers will not be adversely affected by continued
closure of this peat harvesting operation.
9. CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK
Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to
concentration of credit risk consist principally of trade accounts receivable.
The Company sells its consumer products to a wide variety of retailers,
including mass merchandisers, home centers, independent hardware stores,
nurseries, garden outlets, warehouse clubs and local and regional chains.
Professional products are sold to golf courses, sportsfields, nurseries, lawn
care service companies and growers of specialty agricultural crops. One customer
accounted for 16.6% of consolidated net sales in fiscal 1991; in 1992 and 1993
two customers accounted for 15.3% and 7.5%, and 18.0% and 9.3% of consolidated
net sales, respectively. No other customer accounted for more than 5% of
consolidated net sales. As of September 30, 1993, two accounts comprised 9.2%
and 7.9% of trade accounts receivable, respectively. The Company performs a
credit review before extending credit to a customer. The Company establishes its
allowance for doubtful accounts based on factors surrounding the credit risk of
specific customers, historical trends and other information.
F-18
85
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
10. QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations
for fiscal 1992 and 1993 (in thousands except share data):
FISCAL QUARTER ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------
FISCAL 1992 DECEMBER 28 MARCH 28 JUNE 27 SEPTEMBER 30 FULL YEAR
----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Net sales.................................. $ 61,638 $ 150,780 $ 130,219 $ 70,921 $ 413,558
Gross profit............................... 28,960 73,919 63,271 34,275 200,425
Income (loss) before extraordinary items... (2,677) 9,266 7,277(1) 1,213 15,079
Net income (loss).......................... (2,677) 13,965 3,091 1,213 15,592
Net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before extraordinary
items................................ (.23) .52 .34(1) .06 .84
Net income (loss)...................... (.23) .79 .15 .06 .87
Weighted average common shares outstanding
during the period........................ 11,815,642 17,690,462 21,117,117 21,123,574 18,014,151
FISCAL QUARTER ENDED
---------------------------------------------------------------
FISCAL 1993 JANUARY 2 APRIL 3 JULY 3 SEPTEMBER 30 FULL YEAR
----------- ------------- ----------- ----------- ------------- -----------
Net sales.................................. $ 67,757 $ 161,102 $ 156,327 $ 80,857 $ 466,043
Gross profit............................... 30,703 78,621 74,814 37,687 221,825
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
accounting changes (2)................... (471) 10,847 7,986 2,685 21,047
Net income (loss) (3)...................... (13,628) 10,847 7,986 2,685 7,890
Net income (loss) per common share:
Income (loss) before cumulative effect
of accounting changes (2)............ (.02) .54 .43 .14 1.07
Net income (loss) (3).................. (.65) .54 .43 .14 .40
Weighted average common shares outstanding
during the period........................ 21,128,564 20,138,585 18,743,752 18,737,150 19,687,013
- ---------------
(1) Income before extraordinary items for the quarter ended June 27, 1992 has
been restated from that previously reported as a result of a change in the
estimated effective tax rate attributable to the loss on early retirement of
debt reported in that quarter. This change did not impact net income for the
quarter.
(2) Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting changes for each of the
first three quarters of fiscal 1993 has been restated to reflect the ongoing
charge resulting from the adoption of SFAS 106 effective October 1, 1992.
The net of tax charge was $462 or $.02 per share for the quarter ended
January 2, 1993 and $325 or $.02 per share for each of the subsequent two
quarters.
(3) The net loss for the quarter ended January 2, 1993 has been restated to
reflect the cumulative effect of accounting for postretirement benefits (a
net of tax charge of $14,932 or $.71 per share) and income taxes (a benefit
of $1,775 or $.08 per share).
F-19
86
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
11. RELATED PARTIES
Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc., a private investment firm in which a
director of the Company is an owner, was paid $300,000 in fiscal 1991 and 1992,
and $125,000 in 1993 by the Company for financial advisory and management
consulting services. These services ceased effective with the Class A Common
Stock purchase described in Note 5.
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Effective December 16, 1993, the Company completed the acquisition of
Grace-Sierra Horticultural Products Company ("Grace-Sierra") for an aggregate
purchase price of approximately $123,300,000, including estimated transaction
costs of $3,300,000. Grace-Sierra, based in Milpitas, California, is a leading
international manufacturer and marketer of specialty fertilizers and related
products for the nursery, golf course, greenhouse and consumer markets with
calendar 1992 worldwide net sales of approximately $107,000,000.
In connection with the acquisition of Grace-Sierra, the Company amended its
Agreement with Chemical, whereby term debt commitments available thereunder were
increased to $195,000,000 to enable the Company to consummate the acquisition.
F-20
87
[Photo 24]
[Photo 25]
[Photo 26]
[Photo 27]
[Photo 28]
[Photo 29]
[Photo 30]
88
======================================================
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT
BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY SUCH
SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS NOR ANY
SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR
THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME
SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF SUCH INFORMATION.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
PAGE
-----
Prospectus Summary.............................. S-3
Recent Developments............................. S-8
Use of Proceeds................................. S-9
Capitalization.................................. S-10
Description of Notes............................ S-11
Underwriting.................................... S-18
Validity of the Notes........................... S-19
PROSPECTUS
Available Information........................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference..................................... 2
Investment Considerations....................... 3
The Company..................................... 4
Use of Proceeds................................. 6
Selected Historical Financial Data.............. 7
Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Data.............. 9
Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations......................... 12
Business........................................ 16
Management...................................... 28
Beneficial Ownership of Class A
Common Stock.................................. 31
Description of Bank Agreement................... 32
Description of Debt Securities.................. 33
Plan of Distribution............................ 46
Validity of the Debt Securities................. 46
Experts......................................... 46
Index to Financial Statements................... F-1
======================================================
======================================================
$100,000,000
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
THE O.M. SCOTT &
SONS COMPANY
% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
DUE , 2004
---------------------------
[SCOTTS LOGO]
---------------------------
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
CHEMICAL SECURITIES INC.
======================================================
89
APPENDIX OF PHOTOS
1 - The Scotts Company Headquarters
2 - Dwight G. Scott Research Center
3 - Lawn and flower garden
4 - Desert golf course
5 - Woman tending flower garden
6-23 - Products of The Scotts Company and "No Quibble Guarenty" logo
24 - Outfield of ballpark
25-27 - Lawns and landscaping
28 - Customers with products of The Scotts Company
29 - Woman tending flower garden
30 - Greenhouse and nursery
