UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
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ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018
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or
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the transition period from to
(Commission File No.) 001-33531
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Nevada
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46-0510685
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(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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6075 Longbow Drive, Suite 200
Boulder, Colorado 80301
(303) 444-7755
(Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s of principal executive office)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
None
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
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Title of each class:
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Name of each exchange on which registered:
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Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share
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OTCQB
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Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ☐ No ý
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ☐ No ý
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý No ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý No ☐
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of the Form 10-K or any amendment to the Form 10-K. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☐
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Accelerated filer ☐
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Non-accelerated filer ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
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Smaller reporting company ☒
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Emerging growth company ☐
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ý
The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of September 30, 2017 was $17,256,954, the last day of our most recent second quarter. For the purpose of the foregoing calculation only, all directors and executive officers of the registrant and owners of more than 5% of the registrant’s common stock are assumed to be affiliates of the registrant. This determination of affiliate status is not necessarily conclusive for any other purpose.
The number of shares of the registrant’s common stock outstanding as of June 14, 2018 is 34,328,036
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
None
AeroGrow International, Inc.
Annual Report on Form 10-K
Year Ended March 31, 2018
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PART I
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Page
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Item 1.
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1
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Item 1A.
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9
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Item 1B.
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13
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Item 2.
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13
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Item 3.
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14
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Item 4.
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14
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PART II
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Item 5.
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15
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Item 6.
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16
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Item 7.
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16
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Item 7A.
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30
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Item 8.
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31
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Item 9.
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31
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Item 9A.
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31
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Item 9B.
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32
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PART III
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Item 10.
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33
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Item 11.
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37
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Item 12.
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42
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Item 13.
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44
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Item 14.
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45
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PART IV
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Item 15.
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46
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Item 16.
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72 |
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73
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NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”) for AeroGrow International, Inc. (“AeroGrow,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us”), including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” and “estimates,” as well as variations of such words and similar expressions, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements may include, among others, statements concerning our expectations regarding our business, growth prospects, revenue trends, operating costs, working capital requirements, access to funding, competition, results of operations and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Part I Item 1A of and elsewhere in this Annual Report, and in other reports we file with the SEC, including the most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. While forward-looking statements are based on reasonable expectations of our management at the time that they are made, you should not rely on them. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
PART I
Corporate History
AeroGrow International, Inc. (“AeroGrow,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our”) was formed as a Nevada corporation in March, 2002. After more than three years of initial research and product development, we began sales activities in 2006. Our principal executive offices are located at 6075 Longbow Drive, Suite 200, Boulder, Colorado 80301 and our main telephone number is (303) 444-7755.
Our Business
AeroGrow is a developer, marketer, direct-seller, and wholesaler of advanced indoor garden systems designed for consumer use and priced to appeal to the gardening, cooking, healthy eating, and home and office decor markets. We offer multiple lines of proprietary indoor gardens, grow lights, a patented nutrient formula, more than 40 corresponding proprietary seed pod kits, and various cooking, gardening and decor accessories, primarily in the United States and Canada, as well as selected countries in Europe. As of March 31, 2018, we have manufactured and shipped approximately 1.7 million AeroGarden® units and approximately 3.6 million seed pod kits to consumers worldwide, through the following two sales channels:
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Retail Sales Channel, both online and in-store retail distribution (with about 1,300 brick and mortar store fronts carrying our products) in North America, and in three countries internationally; and
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Direct-to-Consumer Sales Channel, predominantly online via our website based upon traffic from our catalogues, commercials and other awareness campaigns. We mailed approximately 279,000 catalogues in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 (“Fiscal 2018”). In Fiscal 2018, we also utilized 30, 60 and 120 second television commercials. In prior years, we have also utilized direct television sales, including infomercials and 60 and 120 second television commercials, mall kiosks, and print and radio advertisements.
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After more than three years of initial research and product development, we commenced initial marketing and distribution of our products in March 2006 with an emphasis on our retail sales channel, which typically generates lower margins and requires much higher investments in inventory than our direct sales channel. As a result of the downturn in the economy in 2009 and the corresponding lack of funding, we shifted our sales and marketing efforts away from retail distribution. During the four-year period ending March 31, 2013, we emphasized our higher margin “direct-to-consumer” sales channels, primarily our own in-house direct mail catalogue, e-mail marketing, and internet marketing, and continued to sell to a limited number of international customers.
Beginning in April 2013, we began to sell to retail customers again due to the improving economic conditions and our strategic alliance with a subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (“Scotts Miracle-Gro”). In September 2017, Scotts Miracle-Gro provided us with up to $2.0 million of incremental working capital on an as needed basis. Interest was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum. We believe that the strategic alliance also gives Scotts Miracle-Gro an entry into the burgeoning indoor gardening market, while providing AeroGrow a broad base of support in marketing, distribution, supply chain logistics, R&D, and sourcing. See “April 2013 Scotts Miracle-Gro Strategic Alliance” below.
Our principal products are indoor gardens and proprietary seed pod kits that allow consumers, with or without gardening experience, to grow: (i) vegetables, such as tomatoes, chili peppers and salad greens; (ii) fresh herbs, including cilantro, chives, basil, dill, oregano, and mint; and (iii) flowers, such as petunias, snapdragons, geraniums and vinca. Consumers can also plant and grow their own seeds using our proprietary “grow anything” kits, or use their AeroGardens as seed starters for their outdoor gardens with our “seed starting” systems.
Our indoor gardens are designed to be simple, consistently successful, and affordable. We believe that our products enable almost anyone, from consumers who have little or no gardening experience to those who are professional gardeners, to produce year-round harvests of a variety of herbs, vegetables, and flowers, regardless of season, weather, or availability of natural light. We believe that our unique and attractive designs make our indoor gardening products appropriate for use in almost any location, including kitchens, living areas, and offices.
Our indoor gardening units are sold designed to match customer needs and interests with the appropriate garden unit features and benefits at retail list prices ranging from approximately $90 to $700, depending on size, design elements, light intensity and other automated features. As is customary, we sometimes offer temporary discounts and targeted promotions that are designed to generate higher sales volume.
April 2013 Scotts Miracle-Gro Strategic Alliance
In April 2013 (the first month of Fiscal 2014), we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement and strategic alliance with a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro. In conjunction with this transaction, we entered into several other agreements, including: (i) an Intellectual Property Sale Agreement; (ii) a Technology Licensing Agreement; (iii) a Brand Licensing Agreement; and (iv) a Supply Chain Management Agreement. For further information on the strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, please see Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements.
Intellectual Property Sale Agreement. Pursuant to the Intellectual Property Sale Agreement, we agreed to sell all intellectual property associated with our hydroponic products (the “Hydroponic IP”), other than the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks, free and clear of all encumbrances, to Scotts Miracle-Gro for $500,000; we also agreed to pay 2% of our revenue to Scotts Miracle-Gro for a defined period. Scotts Miracle-Gro has the right to use the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks in connection with the sale of products incorporating the Hydroponic IP.
Technology Licensing Agreement. Under the Technology Licensing Agreement, Scotts Miracle-Gro granted us an exclusive license to use the Hydroponic IP in North America and certain European Countries ( collectively, the “AeroGrow Markets”) in return for a royalty of 2% of annual net sales, as determined at the end of each fiscal year through March 2018. For the first four years of the agreement, we paid the royalty in shares of common stock. The initial term of the Technology Licensing Agreement was five years, but is renewable for additional five-year terms by providing notice to Scotts Miracle-Gro at least six months in advance of the expiration of each five-year term. As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2018, we renewed the Technology Licensing Agreement for an additional five-year term ending in March 2023.
Brand Licensing Agreement. Under the Brand Licensing Agreement, we may use certain of Scotts Miracle-Gro trade names, trademarks and/or service marks to rebrand the AeroGarden, and, with the written consent of Scotts Miracle-Gro, other products in the AeroGrow Markets in exchange for our payment to Scotts Miracle-Gro of an amount equal to 5% of incremental growth in net sales, as compared to net sales during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. The initial term of the Brand Licensing Agreement was five years, but is renewable for additional five-year terms by providing notice to Scotts Miracle-Gro at least six months in advance of the expiration of each five-year term. As disclosed in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 4, 2018, we renewed the Brand Licensing Agreement for an additional five-year term ending in March 2023.
Supply Chain Services Agreement. Under the Supply Chain Services Agreement, Scotts Miracle-Gro will pay AeroGrow an annual fee equal to 7% of the cost of goods of all products and services requested by Scotts Miracle-Gro during the term of the Technology Licensing Agreement (referenced above), thereby assisting AeroGrow in exploiting the Hydroponic IP internationally (outside of the AeroGrow Markets).
Hydroponics and Aeroponics Industry - Background
Hydroponics is the science of growing plants using nutrients suspended in water instead of soil. Used commercially worldwide, hydroponics is considered an advanced and often preferred crop production method. Hydroponics is typically used inside greenhouses to give growers the ability to better regulate and control nutrient delivery, light, air, water, humidity, pests, and temperature. Hydroponic growers benefit by producing crops faster and with higher crop yields per acre than traditional soil-based growers.
Aeroponic technology is derived from hydroponics and occurs when plant roots are suspended in an air chamber and bathed with a nutrient solution. We believe that the aeroponic technology used in our indoor gardening products is a technological advance over most hydroponic growing systems because plant roots are partially suspended in air and allowed direct access to oxygen, while being bathed in a highly oxygenated, nutrient rich solution. For these reasons, we believe the use of a well-designed and maintained aeroponic system can yield increases in growth rates and plant survival when compared to most hydroponic or soil-based systems.
Until the development of our indoor gardening products, certain barriers prevented hydroponic or aeroponic technology from being incorporated into mainstream, mass-marketed consumer products, including:
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Consumers generally lack the specialized knowledge required to select, set up, operate, and maintain the various components for a typical hydroponic or aeroponic system, including growing trays, irrigation channels, growing media, nutrient reservoirs, and nutrient delivery systems consisting of electronic timers, pumps, motors, tubing, and nozzles;
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In the absence of adequate natural light, consumers generally do not possess the specific knowledge required to select, set up, operate, and maintain the varied indoor lighting systems that are necessary to grow plants indoors;
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Consumers are often unable to properly mix and measure complex hydroponic nutrient formulas, which change depending on the plant variety and the stage of plant growth;
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Consumers are unable to deal with the problem of nutrient spoilage; and
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Federally mandated water quality reports show that the water in many large cities is not suitable for hydroponic or aeroponic growing and requires treatments in order to sustain growth.
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Our research leads us to believe that these complexities have been accepted in existing hydroponic market channels because manufacturers have generally focused their product development and marketing efforts on satisfying the needs of the commercial greenhouse and dedicated hobbyist markets. These users are motivated to gain the specialized knowledge, equipment and experience currently required to successfully grow plants with these products. Our research also indicates that the hydroponic growing equipment currently available in these markets is bulky, expensive and comprised of many, often unintegrated, parts.
We believe that the complexities of currently available commercial hydroponic and aeroponic products fail to address the needs and wants of the mass consumer market, leaving that market underserved. We further believe that our patented inventions, companion technologies, and trade secrets have simplified and improved hydroponic and aeroponic technologies and have enabled us to create an indoor hydroponic and aeroponic gardening system appropriate for the mass consumer market.
Proprietary Technology and Intellectual Property
Since our inception in 2002, we have been innovating, simplifying, and integrating proprietary technologies and inventions into a family of “plug and grow” indoor gardening products and related seed pod kits specifically designed and priced for the mass consumer market. We have used this technology platform to develop eight different models of indoor gardens, each with different features and technology groupings, with list prices ranging from approximately $90 to $700. Multiple patent applications have been filed in the United States and internationally to protect the inventions that are exclusively used in our indoor garden system and seed pod kits, and seven patents have been issued (four in the United States and three internationally). We have also obtained access to, both domestically and internationally, trademarks and certain domain names, including AeroGrow.com, AeroGarden.com, AeroGarden.net, AeroGarden.tv, AeroGarden.biz, and Getthegarden.com, among others.
Our success and ability to compete are substantially dependent upon our exclusive access to technology and expertise. While we rely on patent, copyright, trade secret, and trademark law to protect the use of such technology, we also believe that factors such as the technological and creative skills of our personnel, new product developments, product enhancements, and reliable product maintenance are essential to establishing and maintaining a technology leadership position. There can be no assurance, however, that others will not develop technologies that are similar or superior to our technologies. Each of our employees, independent contractors, interns, and consultants has executed assignment of rights to intellectual property agreements and nondisclosure agreements. The assignment of application rights to intellectual property agreements grant us the right to own inventions and related patents which may be granted in the United States and throughout the world. The nondisclosure agreements generally provide that these people will not disclose our confidential information to any other person without our prior written consent.
Following is a description of the proprietary technologies, all of which were sold to Scott Miracle-Gro, and inventions that are exclusively used in our indoor garden system and seed pod kits.
Rainforest Nutrient Delivery System. The “rainforest” nutrient delivery system combines technologies with features from several hydroponic and aeroponic methodologies into a proprietary system that leaves plant roots suspended in an air gap. Plant roots take oxygen directly out of the air and, in testing of aeroponic systems by multiple different sources, including lettuce studies by NASA Small Business Innovation Research, plants grow faster as a result.
Advanced Growing System. The Advanced Growing System (“AGS”) is available on several of our indoor gardens and combines features from the rainforest delivery system with technologies that deliver increased nutrient oxygenation, faster and healthier root growth, decreased consumer maintenance requirements, and increased product reliability. With AGS, plant roots are suspended in air in a 100% humid aeroponic chamber and then grow into a continuously oxygenated nutrient bath.
Pre-Seeded Bio-Grow Seed Pods. The proprietary bio-grow seed pods include specially selected, pre-implanted seeds, a growing medium, removable bio-dome covers, and a grow basket.
Microprocessor-Based Control Panel and Nutrient Cycle Delivery System. The microprocessor-based controls include automated grow lights to ensure that plants receive the proper amount of lighting, and feature nutrient and water reminder systems that alert consumers to add water and nutrients when needed. In addition, some systems allow consumers to select from multiple plant types (for example, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, or flowers) and the system then automatically adjusts the nutrient, water and lighting cycles to optimize growth. In addition, some systems take into account stage of growth of the specific plants when optimizing these factors. Our ULTRA gardens, which were first introduced in fiscal year 2013, include a display screen that walks consumers step-by-step through planting, tending and harvest, and allows for complete customization of all aspects of the grow cycle, including photo period, pump cycle and nutrient cycle.
Custom Nutrients and Automatic pH Adjustment. The patented nutrient solutions have been designed specifically to deliver the proper nutrients to plants, while offering consumers a user-friendly application methodology. Plant specific nutrients are included with each seed pod kit, and consumers simply add them when instructed by the microprocessor-based nutrient reminder. The pre-measured and mixed nutrients eliminate the need for mixing multi-part nutrient formulas and storing various nutrients in separate containers. A proprietary buffer has been formulated and included into the nutrients that automatically adjusts tap water from around the country to the right pH ranges for plant growth. Without this adjustment, tap water from many areas in the country will severely limit or inhibit plant growth in most aeroponic and hydroponic systems.
Integrated and Automated Lighting System. Hydroponic systems typically do not incorporate built-in lighting systems. Our indoor gardening products include built-in adjustable grow lights with ballast, reflector hood, grow bulbs and an electronic timer. The integrated lighting systems include proprietary high-output compact fluorescent light LED bulbs that deliver a spectrum and intensity of light designed to optimize plant growth without supplemental sunlight needed. In addition, the lighting system is fully automated and controlled by a microprocessor-based control panel described above. Variations in lighting are a differentiator in our product lines, and we have several gardens on the market with “50% more light and twice the height” of our initial gardens, thereby allowing consumers to grow larger plants such as full-sized tomatoes in our indoor gardens, and deliver higher yields.
New Technologies in Development. We continue to develop improvements in lights, nutrients, oxygenation, seed variety selection, and style and design innovations, each of which are applied to our products on an ongoing basis.
Business Segments
We divide our business into the following reportable segments:
This division of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by our Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision-maker of the Company). Financial information about these segments for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 and is presented in Note 10 - “Segment Information” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The products described below are offered are not mutually exclusive to a specific segment. The description of products and processes throughout this form are applicable to both segments.
Markets
Based on our sales experience to date and our existing channels of distribution, and supplemented by our own formal and informal market research consisting of individual consumer interviews, focus groups, blog monitoring, customer modeling, and Internet survey responses, we believe that our indoor gardening products appeal to a broad spectrum of consumers across multiple areas of interest. We believe that our products appeal to at least four major market segments:
Gardener Market. A recent study conducted by the National Gardening Association states that gardening is America’s number one hobby with more than 81 million households active in gardening. Based upon this survey, there were estimated to be 36 million households participating in food gardening and 13 million households participating in fresh herb gardening. We believe that our indoor gardening products and related products offer both expert and novice gardeners several major benefits not readily available through traditional gardening methods, including:
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the ability to grow fresh herbs, lettuces, vegetables, tomatoes, and flowers year-round, regardless of indoor light levels or seasonal weather conditions;
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the ability to easily start growing plants indoors during colder months and then transplant them outdoors at the onset of the outdoor growing season;
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the ability to use stem cuttings to propagate multiple reproductions of the desired plants in our indoor gardening products; and
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the ease of growing in our indoor gardens, in contrast to the toil associated with traditional gardening, including preparing the soil, planting, thinning, weeding, watering, and removing pests.
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“Want-to-be” Gardener Market. We believe that many people have an interest in gardening but lack the knowledge, confidence, available space, equipment, or time to garden. We have observed the following barriers that often prevent people from gardening:
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gardening requires an ongoing time commitment;
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apartment, high-rise, and condominium dwellers often lack the land needed for a traditional garden;
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gardening requires physical work, which can be a significant barrier to people with limited mobility or health issues;
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buying the necessary equipment to garden can be expensive; and
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gardening requires knowledge and expertise.
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We believe that our indoor gardening products overcome many of these barriers and provide a simple, convenient way for many current non-gardeners to begin to garden.
Cooking and Healthy Eating Market. Many customers enjoy cooking as a hobby, including those who:
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are interested in cooking and appreciate the convenience and satisfaction of having a readily available supply of fresh-cut herbs to flavor soups, salads, and other dishes;
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prefer the distinctive texture and taste of freshly picked, vine-ripened tomatoes, basil, lettuces, and other vegetables over days-old supermarket produce; and
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are interested in healthy, pesticide-free foods for themselves and their families, reflecting both the rapidly growing interest in naturally and organically grown foods and the increasing number of people who, for health or weight concerns, include salads and fresh vegetables as part of their families’ diets.
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We believe that our indoor gardening products are embraced in this market by people who understand the value of having an ongoing supply of fresh herbs and fresh produce throughout the year.
Home and Office Decor Market. Flowers are frequently used to brighten homes and offices worldwide. It is difficult to readily grow flowers indoors due to a lack of sufficient light and growing knowledge. As a result, people often use cut flowers, which are expensive, short-lived, and require ongoing maintenance. Our indoor gardening products enable colorful and fragrant flowers to be easily grown indoors year round and at a lower cost. Flowers grown with our indoor gardening products will last for months with minimal care and maintenance. Flowers can be grown in a wide variety of indoor locations, including kitchen and bathroom countertops, living rooms, bedrooms, family rooms, offices, work stations, waiting rooms, and lobbies.
Products
AeroGarden Indoor Gardens. We offer nine different indoor garden models with list prices ranging from approximately $90 to $700 and differentiated based on size, design, light intensity, degree of automation, inclusion of Adaptive Growth Technology or Advanced Growing Systems, height potential of light hoods, and inclusion of plant support systems.
Our AeroGarden product line is divided into eight main categories:
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AeroGarden Sprout Series – The AeroGarden Sprout series features the Advanced Growing System, grow lights, a smaller footprint, and an attractive, slim, elegant design that makes it suitable for use as a decorative feature throughout the home or office. AeroGarden Sprouts fit easily on kitchen counters, night stands, and end tables. Some models include upgraded trim and designs such as the red and blue garden targeted at all-family usage. List prices start at $89.95.
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AeroGarden 6 Series – The AeroGarden 6 series has a compact, triangular shape that is a perfect fit for kitchen counter-top corners with energy efficient LED lighting. It has a smaller footprint than the AeroGarden 7 and as a result features six pods for planting. The list prices start at $159.95.
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AeroGarden Harvest Series – The AeroGarden Harvest series has a compact, beautiful design that has a smaller footprint and is perfect fit for a kitchen counter-top with energy efficient LED lighting. It has a smaller footprint than the AeroGarden 7 and as a result features six pods for planting. It features a variety of trim and touch screen control panels. The starting list price is $149.95.
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AeroGarden 7 Series – Includes our original products which feature the rainforest nutrient delivery system, automated LED lights, and reminder systems. The list price is $199.95.
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AeroGarden Extra Series – A seven pod garden with extended lamp arms and greater light output for growing larger vegetables. Some models also include stainless steel trim. This garden offers a model with an LED light that delivers faster growth with higher yields but uses less energy. List prices start at $219.95.
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AeroGarden ULTRA Series - The ULTRA features the new MyGarden control panel – an automated garden “brain” that makes gardening easier than ever for beginners and offers complete customization for experts. It also includes a redesigned lighting system featuring new MaxGrow Grow Lights and aluminum reflectors, the widest, easiest range of Grow Light adjustment from small to tall, an improved trellis system, a 20% larger reservoir, and a “QuickPlant” button that walks users step-by-step through the planting process. This garden comes with an LED light that delivers faster growth with higher yields but uses less energy. List prices start at $279.95.
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AeroGarden Bounty Series – A nine pod garden with a more powerful LED lighting system to deliver higher yields and the ability to grow more plants. This garden includes and interactive LCD display panel that utilizes screen prompts to walk users through the planting process. Some models also include stainless steel trim. List prices start at $349.95.
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AeroGarden Farm Series – A twenty-four pod garden, the biggest garden to date, with a more powerful LED lighting system to deliver higher yields and the ability to grow more plants. This garden includes and interactive LCD display panel that utilizes screen prompts to walk users through the planting process and two independently adjustable lighting panels. List prices start at $599.95.
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In fiscal year 2015, we introduced a series of LED grow light systems that enhance plant growth and were generally well-received in the market. The LED lighting systems were available on the AeroGarden 7, the AeroGarden Extra and the AeroGarden ULTRA. The Company has continued to release additional LED grow light systems and AeroGardens with different control panel options and colors and has almost completely moved away from any models with CFL lighting systems.
AeroGarden Seed Pod Kits. We offer more than 40 seed pod kits for use in our indoor gardening products. These seed pod kits include pre-seeded bio-grow seed pods and a three-to-six-month supply of nutrients, including our patented formula for adjusting water quality. Our seed pod kits have list prices ranging from $13 to $30, and include:
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Vegetable Gardens: tomato, pepper, and salsa garden.
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Herb Gardens: gourmet herbs, Italian herbs, and pesto basil.
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Flower Gardens: cascading petunias, English cottage, scented blooms, and mountain meadow.
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Salad Gardens: salad greens, romaine lettuce.
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Our seed pod kits are sold to consumers for use with our indoor gardening products. Individual seed pod kits are grown by consumers for three to six months and then new seed pod kits may be purchased for replanting.
AeroGarden Seed-Starting Kits. Our line of Garden Starter Systems and Grow Anything Kits are designed to allow consumers to plant and grow their own seeds in the AeroGarden. With our Garden Starter Systems, consumers can start up to 66 seedlings in our indoor gardens for transplant into their outdoor gardens when weather allows. With the Grow Anything Kits, consumers can grow their own seeds to maturity in the AeroGarden, or transplant seeds outdoors when weather allows, including plant nutrients, nutrient dispensers, and other products.
Other Accessories. To complement and expand the functionality of our indoor gardening products, we have developed a variety of accessory products.
Future Products. The core technology platform can be leveraged by bundling different components into new products with a wide variety of features and price points that then can be sold through a variety of direct and retail channels for use in different settings around the home or office. Examples include significantly larger, modular gardens, and less expensive, more decorative gardens.
Integrated Marketing and Sales Channel Strategy
We consider our products to be an entirely new product category and our primary objective has been to maximize the exposure of the product and educate consumers on the benefits of indoor gardening through an integrated marketing and distribution strategy. We launched our products in 2006 with a nationwide public relations campaign, and received extensive media exposure, with multiple features on national talk shows as well as local television coverage, local and national print articles and blog and Internet pieces. We combined the public relations launch with a retail and direct strategy focusing on high visibility partners and media, including product sales through retailers, national cataloguers, home shopping channels, direct television commercials, our own in-house direct-to-consumer catalogue, internet sales, and inbound and outbound telemarketing.
Channel/Consumer Strategy. As of March 31, 2018, our products were offered in approximately 1,000 storefronts in North America, as well as through select online retailers such as Amazon.com and Sur La Table.com. We plan to expand and revise our retail presence during the coming fiscal year as our trials with specific retailers and brick and mortar stores are revised and examined. For further information on the strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, please see Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements.
Direct-to-Consumer Sales. In 2007, we began mailing our own in-house, direct mail product catalogue, which tested successfully with a mailing of approximately 60,000 catalogues. In Fiscal 2018, we mailed approximately 518,000 catalogues. With our catalogue sales we focus on remarketing to current customers and also prospecting for new customers using database marketing techniques.
We established our first consumer product website in the fall of 2006 and supplemented this website in late 2007 with search engine advertising, banner advertising, email campaigns and web affiliate programs. In the fall of 2008 we took on in-house management of many of these programs from third-party providers and have seen resulting increases in efficiency.
A key focus of our web and catalogue marketing is to maximize the lifetime value of AeroGrow customers through repeat sales of our seed pod kits, light bulbs and accessories. During Fiscal 2018, direct-to-consumer sales represented 25.3% of our total net sales.
Retail Sales. Initial shipments to retailers commenced in March 2006. Over the next several years, we rapidly grew our retail distribution and as of March 31, 2009 our products were being sold through approximately 7,500 stores in North America. We then began to reduce our sales to retailers (as discussed above) and as of March 31, 2013 our products were only sold through 72 stores in North America. Since March 31, 2013, we have renewed our focus on reaching the end-consumer through the retail market and dramatically increased our visibility in stores. In Fiscal 2018, our products were sold in approximately 1,000 stores and sales to retailers represented 71.0% of our total net sales.
During Fiscal 2018, sales to Amazon.com, Inc. represented approximately 42.5% of our retailer sales and approximately 30.2% of our total sales. As we continue our expansion of our retail sales efforts during the coming fiscal year, we expect to continue our sales with strong retailers as a result of our strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro.
International Sales. In Fiscal 2018, international sales were conducted through third-party distributors and we began to focus efforts on new retailers such as Amazon.co.uk. During Fiscal 2018, international sales represented 3.7% of our total net sales, as we continued to expand into Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain and France.
Competition
Aeroponic and hydroponic technologies have historically been limited to ardent hobbyists and commercial growing facilities. We believe that we are the first company to develop and offer a simple dirt-free indoor growing system for the mass consumer market.
Typical hydroponic manufacturers offer a range of equipment and accessories through distributors or small independent “hydro-shops” in a trade-oriented manner similar to plumbing or electrical suppliers. Purchasers typically mix and match equipment from various suppliers in an “a la carte” fashion to individually customize a large system that they then assemble on their premises. We believe that these products are substantially more expensive than our products.
We believe that our simplified and complete indoor gardening products and current and planned methods of distribution offer significant benefits from these traditional hydroponic industry practices. To date, we have discovered a few kitchen design firms that have tried to introduce an indoor growing system into the market, but we do not believe they have a significant presence in the market. In our laboratory tests, these systems have performed at levels far below our own systems in terms of germination success, longevity, speed-of-growth and overall yields. However, we recognize that there are other companies that are better funded and have greater experience in producing hydroponic products in commercial markets, or that have been more successful in manufacturing or selling consumer products or soil-based gardening products.
Manufacturing and Operations
We source our AeroGarden products and accessory items from contract manufacturing companies that manufacture products using tooling we own, in accordance with our specifications, and subject to our intellectual property rights provided by the Technology Licensing Agreement with Scotts Miracle-Gro. We have four Chinese manufacturers of our garden products. Several are capable of manufacturing multiple garden models. We believe the existing production capacity of these manufacturers is more than sufficient to meet our garden requirements for the short-to-medium term. In addition, capacity expansion is available in a reasonable period of time with a nominal tooling investment. We also try to have multiple, dual-sourced manufacturers of our many component parts and accessories. Indoor gardening products are shipped from China to the third-party fulfillment center in Missouri, as well as to third-party distribution facilities in countries outside North America.
Product Returns and Warranties
To date, product returns have been within our expectations for both retail and direct-to-consumer sales. At retail, we generally use a “destroy in field” methodology as the cost of shipping a used product back to us often does not justify the value of the recovered unit. We record warranty liabilities at the time of sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under our basic warranty program. The specific warranty terms and conditions vary depending upon the product sold, but generally include technical support, repair parts, and labor for periods up to one year. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of installed units currently under warranty, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims on those units, and cost per claim to satisfy our warranty obligation.
Governmental Regulation and Certification
We believe that we are in compliance with regulations in the United States and Canada concerning the shipping and labeling of seeds and nutrients. Currently, the components for the indoor garden system are ETL certified. These certifications confirm that the products have been tested and conform to a recognized level of fire and other safety standards for consumers. Such independent third-party certification is required for sales of products through many major retailers.
We believe that our costs of compliance with environmental laws will not be material.
Personnel
As of March 31, 2018, AeroGrow employed 34 full-time employees. In addition, we contract the services of part-time and project consultants on an “as needed” basis. We believe that our employee relations are good. Historically, our outsourced business also included manufacturing, telemarketing, infomercial production, fulfillment and shipping. Additional employees and/or consultants may be hired in the future as our operations merit.
Our business, future performance and forward-looking statements are affected by general industry and market conditions and growth rates, general economic and political conditions in the United States, Canada and worldwide, competition, interest rate and currency exchange rate fluctuations and other events. The following items are representative of the risks, uncertainties and other conditions that may impact our business.
Risks Related to our Business, Products and Markets
We have incurred substantial net losses since inception and may never achieve profitability.
Since we commenced operations in 2002, and through March 31, 2018, we incurred substantial losses, including a net loss of $442,000 for the twelve month period ended March 31, 2018. As of March 31, 2018, our losses have resulted in an accumulated deficit of $128.1 million. The future success of our business will depend in part on our ability to use the Scotts Miracle-Gro partnership to: (i) profitably expand sales of our AeroGarden indoor garden systems, seed pod kits and accessory products; (ii) develop new product extensions and applications; and (iii) efficiently spend marketing dollars to gain customer acceptance.
Our financial condition may limit our ability to borrow funds or to raise additional equity as may be required to fund our future operations.
Our ability to borrow funds or raise additional equity may be limited by our financial condition. In addition, a failure to obtain additional funding to support our working capital and operating requirements could prevent us from making expenditures that are needed to allow us to grow our operations. In the event we cannot raise additional funding to fulfill working capital needs, we will have to scale back on our operating plans for the current and future fiscal years. There can be no assurance that we will be able to secure the additional capital in an amount and in time to support all of our operating plans.
As we grow our sales into the retail channel and increase sales through individual retailers, the loss or significant reductions in orders from our top retail customers could have a material adverse impact on our business.
In Fiscal 2018, our net sales to one retail customer, Amazon.com, Inc., totaled 42.5% of our total net sales to retailers and 30.2% of our total net sales. The loss of this significant customer, or a significant decline in orders could materially affect our sales of indoor garden systems, seed pod kits and accessories, and could therefore have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
We do not have long-term sales agreements with, or other contractual assurances as to future sales to, any of our current or planned major retail customers. In addition, our business may be negatively affected by changes in the policies of our retailers, such as payment terms, shelf space limitations, price demands and other conditions.
Our future success is completely dependent on our ability to market our indoor garden systems, seed pod kits and accessory products and generate consumer acceptance on a broader scale.
We have introduced our indoor garden systems and seed pod kits as new products to consumer markets unfamiliar with their use and benefits. Although we believe that we have penetrated only a small portion of the potential market for our products, our marketing efforts may not generate widespread consumer adoption. If our marketing strategies fail to attract customers, our product sales may not produce future revenue sufficient to meet our operating expenses or fund our future operations. Our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition will be materially and adversely affected.
If we are unable to recruit, train and retain key personnel necessary to operate our business, our ability to successfully manage our business and develop and market our products may be harmed.
To maintain our business position, we will need to attract, retain, and motivate highly skilled design, development, management, accounting, sales, merchandising, marketing, and customer service personnel. Competition for many of these types of personnel can be intense, depending on general economic conditions, alternative employment options, and job location. As a result, we may be unable to successfully attract or retain qualified personnel. Additionally, any of our officers or employees can terminate their employment with us at any time. The loss of any key employee, or our inability to attract or retain other qualified employees, could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
A worsening of the economy, particularly in the United States and Canada, could materially adversely affect our business.
The success of our business operations depends significantly on consumer confidence and discretionary spending, which deteriorated during the worldwide economic downturn in 2008-2012. A re-occurrence of the economic downturn and the consequent impact on consumer spending, particularly in the United States and Canada, could adversely impact our revenue, ability to market our products, build customer loyalty, or otherwise implement our business strategy. In such a scenario, we would experience a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Our revenue and level of business activity are highly seasonal, requiring us to staff our operations, incur overhead and marketing costs, purchase and manufacture inventory, and incur other operating costs in advance of having firm customer orders for our products. A material variance in actual orders relative to anticipated orders could have an adverse impact on our business.
For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, approximately 60.1% of our total net sales occurred during four consecutive calendar months (October through January). We must therefore estimate sales in advance of the anticipated peak months and operate our business during the balance of the year in such a way as to insure that we can meet the demand for our products during the peak months. This requires us to incur significant operating, marketing, and overhead expenses, and to utilize cash and other capital resources to invest in inventory in advance of having certainty as to the ultimate level of demand for our product during the peak months. Shortfalls in the supply of our products could result in a significant loss of revenue due to lack of adequate product inventory. For example, the cobranding of our product with the “Miracle-Gro AeroGarden” trade name caused a delay in available inventory during the first six months of Fiscal 2014. Additionally, during the third and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2013, a labor strike in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach delayed the delivery of AeroGarden inventory during the critical pre-Christmas season and caused a decline in sales during that time period. Alternatively, a shortfall in actual demand for our products, relative to forecast, during peak months could cause us to liquidate excess inventory at a loss or at substantially lower margins. In any of these cases, we may not generate enough revenue to cover expenses incurred throughout the balance of the year. Our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
Our current or future manufacturers could fail to fulfill our orders for indoor garden systems, which would disrupt our business, increase our costs, and could potentially cause us to lose our market.
We currently depend on four contract manufacturers in China to produce our indoor garden systems. These manufacturers could fail to produce the indoor garden system to our specifications or in a workmanlike manner and may not deliver the systems on a timely basis. Our manufacturers must also obtain inventories of the necessary parts and tools for production. Although we own the tools and dies used by our manufacturers, our manufacturers operate in China. As a result, our manufacturers may be subject to business risks that fall outside our control, including but not limited to, political, currency, regulatory and shipping/transportation risks, each of which may affect the manufacturer’s ability to fulfill our orders for indoor garden systems. As discussed in the preceding risk factor, the December 2012 labor strike in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach delayed the delivery of AeroGarden inventory during the critical pre-Christmas season and caused a decline in sales during the third and fourth quarters of Fiscal 2013. In addition, port congestion in October 2014 backed up deliveries and delayed ground transportation during the third quarter of Fiscal 2015. Weather or natural disasters in China could disrupt our supply of product. Any change in manufacturers could disrupt or delay our ability to fulfill orders for indoor garden systems while we search for alternative supply sources, provide specifications, and test initial production. Our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
Our current AeroGarden manufacturers are located in China and therefore our product costs may be subject to fluctuations in the value of the dollar against the Chinese currency and increases in Chinese labor rates.
Although we purchase our AeroGarden products in U.S. dollars, the prices charged by our factories are predicated upon their cost for components, labor and overhead. Therefore, increases in Chinese labor rates and changes in the valuation of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Chinese currency may cause our manufacturers to raise prices of our products, which could reduce our profit margins and have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Increases in tariffs or other taxes on our products or equipment and supplies could have an adverse impact on our operations.
We purchase a significant portion of supplies from suppliers outside the United States. The United States and other countries have levied tariffs and taxes on certain goods. Further tariffs, additional taxes, or trade barriers may increase our selling and/or manufacturing costs, decrease margins, reduce the competitiveness of our products, or inhibit our ability to sell products or purchase necessary supplies, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, or financial conditions.
We are highly reliant upon a single distribution and assembly facility. Any material disruption to the operation of this facility could adversely affect our business.
All of our North American fulfillment and distribution operations, and the entirety of our seed pod kit assembly operations are located in a third-party-managed facility based in Mexico, Missouri. Any material disruption to the operation of this facility, whether caused by internal or external factors could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
We rely on third-party providers in our manufacturing, warehouse, distribution, order processing, and fulfillment operations. If these parties are unwilling to continue providing services to us, or are unable to adequately perform such services for us on a cost effective basis, our business could be materially harmed.
We engage third parties to perform certain critical functions supporting our business operations. Any disruption in our relationship with any of our vendors could cause significant disruption to our business and we may not be able to locate another party that can provide comparable services in a manner that is timely, consistent with our business plan, or on acceptable commercial terms. Our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
We may face significant competition, and if we are unable to compete effectively, our sales may be adversely affected.
We believe that our complete indoor garden systems offer significant benefits over traditional hydroponic industry products. However, there are companies in a variety of related markets, including but not limited to, consumer electronics, commercial hydroponics, gardening wholesale, and soil-based gardening that are larger, better funded, and have experience in our channels of distribution. These companies may decide to develop products to compete with our products. These companies could use hydroponic technologies, and could achieve better consumer acceptance. The success of any competing products may have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
Increases in energy prices, resulting from general economic conditions, or other factors, may raise our cost of goods sold and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Energy costs, especially gasoline and fuel costs, are significant expenses in the delivery of our products. Increased costs resulting from general economic conditions, war, acts of nature, or other factors, may result in declining margins and operating results if market conditions prevent us from passing these increased costs on to our customers through timely price increases on our products. Our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition would be materially and adversely affected.
If our indoor garden systems fail to perform properly, our business could incur increased warranty-related costs and reduced income.
From our inception through March 31, 2018, we have sold approximately 2.0 million AeroGardens and have provided a limited warranty with each garden sold. In addition, our indoor garden systems are “guaranteed to grow.” We therefore may be required to replace or repair products or refund the purchase price to consumers. Failure of our products to meet expectations could damage our reputation, decrease sales, increase costs related to returns and repairs, delay market acceptance of our products, result in unpaid accounts receivable, and divert our resources to remedy the malfunctions. The occurrence of any of these events would have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, results of operations and financial condition.
From time to time, we may be subject to litigation that, if decided adversely to us, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition.
From time to time, we are a party to various litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. We cannot estimate with certainty our ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such litigation. Although we do not believe that any current litigation poses a material threat to our business, defense of any lawsuits or proceedings, even if successful, may require management to spend a substantial time and attention on the part of our management personnel that otherwise would be spent on other aspects of our business, and may require the expenditure of significant amounts for legal fees and other related costs. Settlement of lawsuits also may result in significant payments and modifications to our operations. In addition, we also may be subject to adverse publicity as a result of litigation. Any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our business, prospects, results of operations, and financial condition.
Cyber-attacks targeting systems and infrastructure used by our Company may adversely impact our operations.
Our business has become increasingly dependent on digital technologies to conduct certain development, operating and sales activities. We depend on digital technology to communicate with our employees, third-party manufacturers, partners and customers. We have been the subject of cyber-attacks on our internal systems and through those of third parties, but these incidents did not have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Nevertheless, unauthorized access to our proprietary or commercially sensitive information could lead to leaks of customer-sensitive information, data corruption, communication interruption, or other disruptions in our sales, product development, production or planned business transactions, any of which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Further, as cyber-attacks continue to evolve, we may be required to expend significant additional resources to continue to modify or enhance our protective measures or to investigate and remediate any vulnerabilities to cyber-attacks.
Risks Related to the Market for our Securities
The market price of our shares may fluctuate greatly. Investors in AeroGrow common stock bear the risk that they will not recover their investment.
Our common stock, like that of many emerging growth companies, is typically subject to price and volume volatility. Trading in our common stock is limited, and the price per share is likely to be influenced by the price at which and the amount of shares that selling security holders are attempting to sell at any time. If a large stockholder, including Scotts Miracle-Gro and its affiliates, decided to sell its shares, the price of our common stock would decline. Our common stock may also be subject to the activities of persons engaged in short selling securities, which generally has the effect of driving the price down. The price of our common stock has fluctuated, and may continue to fluctuate, widely. A full and stable trading market for our common stock may never develop and, as a result, stockholders may not be able to sell their shares at the time they elect, if at all.
We can issue debt securities and shares of preferred stock without approval of common stockholders, which could adversely affect your rights and undermine the value of your shares.
Our Articles of Incorporation allow our Board of Directors to approve the terms and conditions of debt securities and preferred stock for issuance by the Company, including but not limited to voting rights, conversion privileges and liquidation preferences, without the approval of common stockholders. The rights of the holders of our common stock may be adversely impacted as a result of the rights that could potentially be granted to holders of debt securities or preferred stock that we may issue. As a result, the price of our common stock may be adversely affected by future issuances of debt or preferred stock.
For example, in April 2013 (during the first quarter of fiscal year 2014), we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with SMG, a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, SMG acquired 2,649,007 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and (ii) a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant”). The Series B Preferred Stock is convertible into 2,649,007 shares of common stock ($4.0 million divided by a conversion price of $1.51 per share). The Warrant entitled, but did not obligate, Scotts Miracle-Gro to purchase a number of shares of common stock that, on a “fully diluted basis,” constitute 80% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock (when added to all other shares owned), as calculated as of the date or dates of exercise. The Warrant was able to be exercised at any time and from time to time for a period of five years between April 22, 2016 and April 22, 2021. On November 29, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro converted its Series B Preferred Stock into common stock and fully exercised its warrant to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock (the “Change of Control Transaction”). Please see Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements for more detailed disclosure regarding the strategic relationship with Scotts Miracle-Gro and the terms of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Warrant and other transactions.
Scotts Miracle-Gro has a controlling interest in AeroGrow’s common stock and, as a result, has effective control over the Board of Directors and all matters affecting the Company.
The November 2016 Change of Control Transaction gave Scotts Miracle-Gro effective control over all matters affecting the Company, including the power to approve or reject significant corporate matters, such as mergers, acquisitions, dividends, loans, security issuances and all matters that require shareholder approval. Among other things, Scotts Miracle-Gro’s controlling interest could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire us, even if a proposed acquisition would be beneficial to you, and you may not realize the premium return that stockholders may realize in conjunction with corporate takeovers.
In addition, pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, three of the five members of our Board of Directors are delegates of Scotts Miracle-Gro. As a result, Scotts Miracle-Gro has control over our business strategy, operations, managerial decisions and potential capital transactions. Your ability to influence key corporate decisions has been significantly diminished and you may disagree with decisions made by Scotts Miracle-Gro. The price of our common stock may be adversely affected and your ownership may be subject to substantial dilution.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.
ITEM 2. DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
In Fiscal 2018, we leased a 9,868 square foot office space in, Boulder, Colorado, with a current monthly rent of $11,000, which is subject to annual increases of 3.5%. We also pay our proportionate share of building taxes, insurance and operating expenses. The current lease term expires on September 30, 2019. As of April 1, 2018, we agreed to lease an additional 1,314 square feet at the same location, which increased the monthly rent to $12,000. The lease agreement contains other standard office lease provisions.
While our facilities appear adequate for the foreseeable future, we may add space to meet future growth as needed. Upon expiration of our current leases, we believe that we will be able to either renew our existing leases or arrange new leases in nearby locations on acceptable terms. We believe that these properties are adequately covered by insurance.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
From time to time, we are party to various litigation matters, in most cases involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. We cannot estimate with certainty our ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to any such pending litigation matters. However, based on our examination, we believe of such matters, that our ultimate liability, if any, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES
Not applicable.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
Our common stock is listed on the OTCQB market tier under the symbol “AERO.”
Price Range of Common Stock
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low daily closing prices of our common stock for the two most recently completed fiscal years while trading on the markets noted above.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended 3/31/18
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended 3/31/17
|
|
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
1st Quarter - Ended June 30
|
|
$
|
2.95
|
|
|
$
|
2.26
|
|
|
$
|
2.85
|
|
|
$
|
1.62
|
|
|
2nd Quarter - Ended Sept 30
|
|
$
|
2.85
|
|
|
$
|
2.15
|
|
|
$
|
4.55
|
|
|
$
|
2.38
|
|
|
3rd Quarter - Ended Dec 31
|
|
$
|
2.63
|
|
|
$
|
2.17
|
|
|
$
|
5.42
|
|
|
$
|
3.40
|
|
|
4th Quarter - Ended Mar 31
|
|
$
|
3.44
|
|
|
$
|
2.23
|
|
|
$
|
4.04
|
|
|
$
|
2.30
|
|
Holders
As of June 14, 2018, we had approximately 456 holders of record of our common stock. A substantially greater number of stockholders are “street name” or beneficial holders, whose shares are held of record by banks, brokers and other financial institutions. See “Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters,” for additional information about holders of our common stock.
Dividends
We issued a special one-time dividend based on Scotts Miracle-Gro’s exercise of the warrant. On November 29, 2016 (during Fiscal Year 2017), the board of directors declared a cash distribution of $1.21 per share of Common Stock. The dividend was paid on January 3, 2017, to shareholders of record on December 20, 2016. Otherwise, we have never declared or paid cash dividends on our common stock. We currently intend to retain all available funds and any future earnings for use in the operation of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future. Any future determination to declare cash dividends will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to compliance with covenants under any existing financing agreements, which may restrict or limit our ability to declare or pay dividends, and will depend on our financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, general business conditions, and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant.
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The equity compensation plan information called for by Item 201(d) of Regulation S-K is set forth in Item 12 “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” of Part III of this Annual Report under the heading “Equity Compensation Plan Information.”
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
We did not repurchase any shares of our common stock during Fiscal Year 2018.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
|
Statements of Operations Data
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal Years ended March 31,
|
|
|
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
21,598
|
|
|
|
15,044
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
Operating Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
558
|
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
8,071
|
|
|
|
6,125
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
2,519
|
|
|
|
2,394
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
11,148
|
|
|
|
8,911
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(448
|
)
|
|
|
(346
|
)
|
|
Other income (expense)
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
(2,252
|
)
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(442
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,598
|
)
|
|
Change in fair value of stock to be distributed for Scotts Miracle-Gro transactions
|
|
|
534
|
|
|
|
(2,167
|
)
|
|
Net (loss) attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
92
|
|
|
$
|
(4,765
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
$
|
(0.31
|
)
|
|
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding, basic and diluted
|
|
|
31,128
|
|
|
|
15,547
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding, diluted
|
|
|
31,212
|
|
|
|
15,547
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
2018 |
|
|
2017 |
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
7,497
|
|
|
$
|
8,819
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
18,167
|
|
|
$
|
15,514
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
5,424
|
|
|
$
|
3,615
|
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
12,743
|
|
|
$
|
11,899
|
|
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
This Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Annual Report”), including the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” contains forward-looking statements regarding future events and our future results that are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections about the industry in which we operate and the beliefs and assumptions of our management. Words such as “expects,” “anticipates,” “targets,” “goals,” “projects,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” variations of such words, and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward looking statements may include, among others, statements concerning our expectations regarding our business, growth prospects, revenue trends, operating costs, results of operations, working capital requirements, access to funding, competition and other statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated events or trends, and similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual results may differ materially and adversely from expectations expressed or implied in forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in this Report under the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I and elsewhere, and in other reports we file with the SEC, specifically the most recent reports on Form 10-Q. While forward-looking statements are based on reasonable expectations of our management at the time that they are made, you should not rely on them. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
Executive Overview
We are in the business of developing, marketing, and distributing advanced indoor aeroponic and hydroponic garden systems. After several years of initial research and product development, we began sales activities in March 2006. Since that time we have expanded our operations and currently offer nine different indoor garden models, more than 40 seed pod kits, and various gardening and kitchen accessories. Although our business is focused on the United States and Canada, our products are available in other countries and we have continued to expand our market into Europe, including the United Kingdom.
Background of Scotts Miracle-Gro Alliance – Fiscal Years 2014-2018
As disclosed above under the caption “Item 1. Business,” we entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement and strategic alliance in April 2013 with a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, we issued (i) 2,649,007 shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock); and (ii) a warrant to purchase shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million. In November 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro converted all of its Series B Preferred Stock and exercised all of its warrants into common stock and presently owns approximately 80% of the Company’s outstanding common stock. In addition, as part of the strategic alliance, we entered into several other agreements with Scotts Miracle-Gro, including: (i) an Intellectual Property Sale Agreement in which we agreed to sell all intellectual property associated with our hydroponic products, other than the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks, free and clear of all encumbrances, to Scotts Miracle-Gro for $500,000; (ii) a Technology Licensing Agreement; (iii) a Brand License Agreement; and (iv) a Supply Chain Management Agreement. In addition to the initial working capital infusion of approximately $4.5 million in Fiscal Year 2014 from the Securities Purchase Agreement and Intellectual Property Sale Agreement, as well as ongoing seasonal term loans to fund operations through Fiscal Year 2018, we believe that the strategic alliance affords us the use of the globally recognized and highly trusted Miracle-Gro brand name.
We believe that the strategic alliance also gives Scotts Miracle-Gro an entry into the burgeoning indoor gardening market, while providing AeroGrow a broad base of support in marketing, distribution, supply chain logistics, R&D, and sourcing. We have used the opportunities provided by our strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro to re-establish our presence in the retail sales channels. During the first six months of Fiscal 2014, we cobranded our products with the Miracle-Gro AeroGarden trade name. We have since renewed our focus in growing the business via retail markets as we grow awareness of our newly cobranded product. During Fiscal 2018, we continued our strategic growth initiative by offering our products in approximately 1,000 stores and we also enhanced the depth and breadth of our direct sales distribution channels by distributing approximately 518,000 direct mail catalogues, significantly increasing our web-selling presence and developing a robust e-mail marketing program. In Fiscal 2018, approximately 25.3% of our total sales were to direct customers and approximately 74.7% of our total sales were to retail customers. Amazon.com, Inc., our largest retailer customer, comprised approximately 42.5% of our sales to retailers and 30.2% of our total sales during Fiscal 2018.
New Developments – Fiscal Year 2018
In July 2017, we also entered into a $2.0 million Term Loan Agreement with Scotts Miracle-Gro in order to provide incremental working capital in advance of our peak selling season. Interest was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum.
Our Critical Accounting Policies
Inventory
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, as determined by standard pricing which approximates the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. When the Company is the manufacturer, raw materials, labor and manufacturing overhead are included in inventory costs. We record the raw materials at delivered cost. Standard labor and manufacturing overhead costs are applied to the finished goods based on normal production capacity. A majority of our products are manufactured overseas and are recorded at cost.
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
$
|
4,117
|
|
|
$
|
2,274
|
|
|
Raw materials
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
647
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,047
|
|
|
$
|
2,921
|
|
The Company determines an inventory obsolescence reserve based on management’s historical experience and establishes reserves against inventory according to the product lifecycle. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company reserved $66,000 and $362,000, respectively, for inventory obsolescence. The decrease in the inventory obsolescence is attributable to further examining aged inventory and disposing of the inventory that had been reserved.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales, net of estimated returns, when persuasive evidence of a sale exists, including the following: (i) a product is shipped under an agreement with a customer; (ii) risk of loss and title has passed to the customer; (iii) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer and distributor programs and incentive offerings, including promotions and other volume-based incentives. Certain incentive programs require the Company to estimate based on industry experience the number of customers who will actually redeem the incentive. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company accrued $430,000 and $304,000, respectively, as its estimate for the foregoing deductions and allowances.
Warranty and Return Reserves
The Company records warranty liabilities at the time of sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under its basic warranty program. The specific warranty terms and conditions vary depending upon the product sold but generally include technical support, repair parts and labor for periods up to one year. Factors that affect our warranty liability include the number of installed units currently under warranty, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims on those units, and cost per claim to satisfy our warranty obligation. Based upon the foregoing, the Company recorded a provision for potential future warranty costs of $111,000 and $125,000, as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively.
The Company reserves for known and potential returns and associated refunds or credits related to such returns based upon historical experience. In certain cases, customers are provided a fixed allowance, usually in the 1% to 2% range, to cover returned goods. This allowance is deducted from payments made to us by such retailers. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a reserve for customer returns of $293,000 and $175,000, respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are recorded in cost of revenue. Shipping and handling costs associated with freight out to customers are also included in cost of revenue. Shipping and handling charges paid by customers are included in product sales.
Stock Based Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based payments in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 718-10-55 Shared-Based Payment. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards issued. For the years ended March 31, 2018, and 2017, equity compensation in the form of stock options and grants of restricted stock that vested totaled $0 and $152,000, respectively, and is included in the accompanying statements of operations in the following categories:
|
|
|
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
27
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
152
|
|
Advertising and Production Costs
The Company expenses all production costs related to advertising, including, print, television, and radio advertisements when the advertisement has been broadcast or otherwise distributed. In contrast, we record media and marketing costs related to our direct-to-consumer advertisements, inclusive of postage and printing costs incurred in conjunction with mailings of direct response catalogues, and related direct response advertising costs, in accordance with ASC 340-20-25 Reporting on Advertising Costs. As prescribed by ASC 340-20-25, direct response advertising costs incurred are reported as assets and should be amortized over the estimated period of the benefits, based on the proportion of current period revenue from the advertisement to probable future revenue.
As the Company has re-entered the retail distribution channel, it has expanded advertising into online gateway and portal advertising, as well as placement in third party catalogues.
Advertising expenses for the years ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, were as follows:
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
$
|
579
|
|
|
$
|
424
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
3,412
|
|
|
|
2,533
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
759
|
|
|
|
706
|
|
|
Total advertising expense
|
|
$
|
4,750
|
|
|
$
|
3,663
|
|
As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company deferred $14,000 and $24,000, respectively, related to such media and advertising costs, including catalogue costs (as described above) and commercial production costs. The costs are included in the prepaid expenses and other line of the balance sheets.
Research and Development
Research, development, and engineering costs are expensed as incurred. Research, development, and engineering expenses primarily include payroll and headcount related costs, contractor fees, infrastructure costs, and administrative expenses directly related to research and development support.
Fair Value Measurements
In evaluating the fair value of derivative financial instruments, there are numerous assumptions which management must make that may influence the valuation of the derivatives in the financial statements. We revalue our financial instruments at fair value on a case by case basis and recognize the change in the fair value of the instrument at each reporting period.
Intellectual Property Sale Agreement
Under the Intellectual Property Sale Agreement with Scotts Miracle-Gro, we received $500,000 cash in April 2013 and agreed to pay a specified percentage of our revenue to Scotts Miracle-Gro for a defined period. Because AeroGrow has significant involvement in the generation of its revenue, the excess paid over net book value is classified as debt and is being amortized under the effective interest method.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows.” The new guidance will require that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents is required to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this new guidance in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2018; the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires entities to estimate all expected credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables, held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The updated guidance also expands the disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand the entity’s assumptions, models and methods for estimating expected credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impacts of this new guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Compensation Accounting,” which requires that excess tax benefits are recorded on the income statement as opposed to additional paid-in-capital, and treated as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current U.S. GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur. ASU 2016-09 further requires cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes to be classified as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows. The standard became effective for us in Fiscal Year 2018 and did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The adoption of this ASU is expected to result in all operating leases being capitalized and a current and long-term liability recorded in the Company’s financial statements.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 to defer the effective date by one year of previously issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which amended revenue recognition guidance to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires expanded disclosures relating to the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about customer contracts, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This accounting guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 using one of two prescribed methods. We anticipate we will adopt the modified retrospective transition method and are currently do not believe there will be a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern: Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued. This ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Inflation, Seasonality and Currency Fluctuations
We do not currently expect inflation to have a significant effect on our operations. Because our garden systems are designed for indoor gardening use, we experience slower sales in the United States and Canada during the late spring and summer months when our consumers may tend to garden outdoors. In addition, we have experienced increased sales during the pre-holiday season lasting from October through December of each year. We sell to our international distributors in U.S. dollars thereby minimizing effects from currency fluctuations. We purchase our gardens and other accessory products from Chinese manufacturers, and these purchases are denominated in U.S. dollars. However, over time, the cost of the products we procure from China may be affected by changes in the value of the U.S. dollar relative to the Chinese currency and/or by labor and material cost increases faced by our Chinese manufacturers.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of sales, our financial results for the last two fiscal years:
|
|
|
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Net revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
|
25.3
|
%
|
|
|
31.9
|
%
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
71.0
|
%
|
|
|
65.2
|
%
|
|
International
|
|
|
3.7
|
%
|
|
|
2.9
|
%
|
|
Total net revenue
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
66.9
|
%
|
|
|
63.7
|
%
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
33.1
|
%
|
|
|
36.3
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
1.7
|
%
|
|
|
1.7
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
25.0
|
%
|
|
|
25.9
|
%
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
7.8
|
%
|
|
|
10.1
|
%
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
34.5
|
%
|
|
|
37.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(1.4
|
%)
|
|
|
(1.4
|
%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other income/(expense), net
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
(9.5
|
%)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
(1.4
|
%)
|
|
|
(10.9
|
%)
|
Fiscal Years Ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017
Summary Overview
Our net revenue in Fiscal 2018 totaled $32.3 million, an increase of 36.8% from Fiscal 2017 revenues. This increase was primarily due to our increased focus on selling through web/internet channels (Amazon.com, etc.) and further expansion into the retail channel through houseware customers (namely Bed Bath & Beyond, and Sur La Table). Additionally, the sales increase relates to newly acquired retail accounts including Macy’s and Kohl’s and a reintroduction into Home Depot. In addition, we believe an increased level of general advertising drove sales increases in all of our channels.
Our sales to retailer customers increased by 48.8% to $22.9 million during Fiscal 2018. Retailer sales encompass sales to both traditional in-store and on-line retailers. The increase in sales to retailers reflected sales to the existing Amazon.com and Bed Bath & Beyond accounts, as well as newly acquired retail accounts such as Macy’s and Kohls. We spent $3.3 million in advertising dollars in the retail distribution channel, primarily to promote general brand awareness which included a broad-based campaign involving 30, 60 and 120 second television commercials and third party catalogues.
Direct-to-consumer sales during Fiscal 2018 increased to $8.2 million, an increase of 8.6%, despite dramatically increased competition from our on-line retailers (primarily Amazon.com). However, we believe that our increased presence on Amazon and other select online retailers leads to greater visibility, as well as continued momentum from our general advertising and marketing campaign and an expanded user-base, contribute to increased direct-to-consumer sales.
International sales during Fiscal 2018 increased to $1.2 million, an increase of 77.4%, as we continue to test the international markets and understand the trends and acceptance of our product in international markets. The international markets consisted primarily of sales to Amazon platforms in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Spain.
For the year ended March 31, 2018, total dollar sales of AeroGardens and seed pod kit accessories increased by 50.2% and 39.9%, respectively. AeroGarden sales net of allowances represent 77.7% of total revenue as compared to 78.1% in the prior year period. This percentage decrease, on a product line basis, was primarily attributable to existing and new customers purchasing several new accessories such as the new variations of the LED lights and lighting systems. Seed pod kit and accessory gross sales increased as a percent of the total sales from 21.9% in Fiscal 2017 to 22.3% in Fiscal 2018, primarily as a result of the continued popularity of AeroGardens that have been placed in service over the past few years; additionally, as noted above, the total dollar sales increased by $2.1 million.
For Fiscal 2018, we incurred $4.8 million in advertising expenditures, a 30.0% year-over-year increase compared to the Fiscal Year ended 2017, which includes $750,000 in general television, YouTube, Facebook and other media advertising. The Company views this investment as a long term commitment to increasing awareness of the AeroGarden brand and indoor gardening category to support the growth in both our direct-to-consumer and retail channels. Overall advertising efficiency (measured as total revenue per dollar of advertising expense) increased from $6.45 to $6.80 for the years ended March 31, 2017 and March 31, 2018, respectively, due to a similar focus on general advertising and brand awareness and expanded focus on retail advertising. These expenditures included:
|
·
|
Direct-to-consumer advertising increased 36.6% to $579,000 from $424,000 for the year ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively. This increase reflects an increase in advertising spending for catalogues. Efficiency, as measured by dollars of direct-to-consumer sales per dollar of related advertising expense, declined to $14.1, or 20.5%, for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, as compared to $17.8 for Fiscal 2017. Catalogue advertising expenses increased during the year and which helped drive the efficiency of advertising expenses, however, we spent more on other direct-to-consumer measurable media, which wasn’t able to drive as efficient of advertising expenses.
|
|
·
|
Retail advertising increased $0.9 million to $3.4 million for the year ended March 31, 2018, as we focused on driving product awareness on behalf of our retail partners and invested in: (i) platforms made available by our retailers; (ii) various promotional programs to increase product awareness with our housewares channel of retail accounts including catalogues and email campaigns; and (iii) web-based advertising programs (e.g. inclusion in retail catalogues, website banner ads, email blasts, targeted search campaigns, etc.). We anticipate that increased advertising in the retail channel will generate greater customer awareness and also help drive direct-to-consumer sales.
|
|
·
|
Finally, in support of driving increased levels of category and brand awareness during the year ended March 31, 2018, we spent over $750,000 in general television, YouTube, Facebook and other media advertising. The Company views this investment as a long term commitment to increasing awareness of the AeroGarden brand.
|
The combination of all of the factors cited above helped drive a year-over-year increase in total net revenues of 36.8% to $32.3 million in Fiscal 2018.
Our gross margin for Fiscal 2018 was 33.1%, down from 36.3% in the prior fiscal year. This decrease was caused by: (i) a shift in retailer and product mix, both of which have different margins and are dependent on whether we are selling online or in stores; (ii) an increase in retail sales, relative to our direct-to-consumer sales (i.e., channel mix); (iii) and the introduction of new retail accounts, as compared to existing retail accounts; and; (iv) expansion into the European market, which entails additional costs as we try to grow the business. This decrease was partially offset by the introduction of new products with higher margins. Long term, we also believe that creating increased brand awareness through advertising will help us maintain higher prices and deliver better margins.
Operating expenses for Fiscal 2018 totaled $11.1 million, an increase of 25.1% or $2.2 million over the prior fiscal year. Even with the increases in spending noted above, which is primarily due to the increase in advertising, operating expenses as a percentage of total revenue decreased 3.2% year-over-year. Gross spending increased in the following areas:
|
·
|
A $1.1 million increase in advertising, primarily related to general brand awareness and marketing and promotional programs with our key retailers;
|
|
·
|
A $646,000 increase due to a changes to our compensation program to align with our growth initiatives and a small increase in headcount;
|
|
·
|
A $350,000 increase in general market research, new product samples, testing and certification, public relations and new product programs, including testing, certification, samples and illustration/language translations for international distribution; and
|
|
·
|
An $83,000 increase in travel to manufacturers in China and potential domestic and European customers.
|
General and administrative expense totaled $2.5 million during Fiscal 2018, an increase of 5.9% or $125,000 as compared to the prior year, primarily due to increases in travel, bad debt, the use of outside contractors for new market and product issues and office supplies, partially offset by decreases in insurance, depreciation and employee related expenses such as non-cash compensation.
Research and development costs also increased 41.3% year-over-year, or $166,000 in Fiscal 2018. Research and development spending increased in Fiscal 2018, particularly related to the addition of full-time employees to expedite our new product development process which replaces some design and consulting contractors used in the prior year, travel to develop new product manufacturer capabilities, market research and new product development, and testing certifications, partially offset by reimbursable consulting fees based on agreements with Scotts Miracle-Gro.
Our loss from operations totaled $448,000 for Fiscal 2018, as compared to a loss of $346,000 in the prior year. The decreased loss primarily reflected the $8.8 million increase in sales, offset by decreased gross margin and increased sales and marketing expenses (as discussed above).
Other income for Fiscal 2018 totaled $6,000, as compared to other loss of $2.3 million in the prior year. The net other income in the current year period included interest income recognized from our improved cash position. The net other loss in the prior year included a non-cash loss of $2.1 million to reflect the change in fair value of the Scotts Miracle-Gro warrant and $108,000 of interest expense related to the loan with Scotts Miracle-Gro.
Our net loss for Fiscal 2018 totaled $442,000, a $2.2 million decrease over the net loss of $2.6 million in Fiscal 2017, primarily due to increase in the change in fair value of the Scotts Miracle-Gro warrant, partially offset by higher sales volumes and an increase in operating margins as we continued to refine our selling strategy.
Revenue
The table set forth below shows quarterly revenues by sales channel for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018, and March 31, 2017:
|
Fiscal 2018
|
|
Quarters ended
|
|
|
Year ended
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
30-Jun-17
|
|
|
30-Sep-17
|
|
|
31-Dec-17
|
|
|
31-Mar-18
|
|
|
31-Mar-18
|
|
|
Sales – direct-to-consumer
|
|
$
|
1,425
|
|
|
$
|
911
|
|
|
$
|
3,189
|
|
|
$
|
2,647
|
|
|
$
|
8,172
|
|
|
Sales – retail
|
|
|
974
|
|
|
|
4,746
|
|
|
|
13,356
|
|
|
|
3,839
|
|
|
|
22,915
|
|
|
Sales – international
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
84
|
|
|
|
806
|
|
|
|
258
|
|
|
|
1,211
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,462
|
|
|
$
|
5,741
|
|
|
$
|
17,351
|
|
|
$
|
6,744
|
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
Fiscal 2017
|
|
Quarters ended
|
|
|
Year ended
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
30-Jun-16
|
|
|
30-Sep-16
|
|
|
31-Dec-16
|
|
|
31-Mar-17
|
|
|
31-Mar-17
|
|
|
Sales – direct-to-consumer
|
|
$
|
1,142
|
|
|
$
|
825
|
|
|
$
|
3,205
|
|
|
$
|
2,354
|
|
|
$
|
7,526
|
|
|
Sales – retail
|
|
|
948
|
|
|
|
1,381
|
|
|
|
9,740
|
|
|
|
3,332
|
|
|
|
15,401
|
|
|
Sales – international
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
262
|
|
|
|
318
|
|
|
|
682
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,156
|
|
|
$
|
2,242
|
|
|
$
|
13,207
|
|
|
$
|
6,004
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
In Fiscal 2018, revenue totaled $32.3 million, an increase of $8.7 million, or 36.8%, from Fiscal 2017. Sales to retailer customers for Fiscal 2018 totaled $22.9 million, up $7.5 million, or 48.8%, from the same period a year earlier, principally reflecting sales to newly acquired retail accounts such as Macy’s and Kohls, as well as increased sales to in-store programs for existing retail customers (primarily Bed Bath & Beyond, and Sur La Table) and increases in the web/internet channels of Amazon.com. The increase in retail distribution channels is the result of increased advertising and growth of the product category in the marketplace. Direct-to-consumer revenue totaled $8.2 million in Fiscal 2018 as compared to $7.5 million in Fiscal 2017, principally reflecting the positive effect of our increased advertising in the retail markets, and the increase in our spending in the direct-to-consumer channel with additional catalogues. International sales total $1.2 million, an increase of $500,000, as we test international markets in the United Kingdom, Germany and France, primarily through the Amazon platforms.
The following table presents our quarterly sales by product category, in U.S. dollars and as a percent of total net revenue, for Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2017.
|
Fiscal 2018
|
|
Quarters ended
|
|
|
Year ended
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
30-Jun-17
|
|
|
30-Sep-17
|
|
|
31-Dec-17
|
|
|
31-Mar-18
|
|
|
31-Mar-18
|
|
|
Product Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
$
|
1,652
|
|
|
$
|
6,626
|
|
|
$
|
19,307
|
|
|
$
|
4,060
|
|
|
$
|
31,645
|
|
|
Seed pod kits and accessories
|
|
|
829
|
|
|
|
1,255
|
|
|
|
2,111
|
|
|
|
3,029
|
|
|
|
7,224
|
|
|
Discounts, allowances and other
|
|
|
(19
|
)
|
|
|
(2,140
|
)
|
|
|
(4,067
|
)
|
|
|
(345
|
)
|
|
|
(6,571
|
)
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,462
|
|
|
$
|
5,741
|
|
|
$
|
17,351
|
|
|
$
|
6,744
|
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
% of Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
|
67.1
|
%
|
|
|
115.4
|
%
|
|
|
111.3
|
%
|
|
|
60.2
|
%
|
|
|
98.0
|
%
|
|
Seed pod kits and accessories
|
|
|
33.7
|
%
|
|
|
21.8
|
%
|
|
|
12.1
|
%
|
|
|
44.9
|
%
|
|
|
22.3
|
%
|
|
Discounts, allowances and other
|
|
|
(0.8
|
)%
|
|
|
(37.2
|
)%
|
|
|
(23.4
|
)%
|
|
|
(5.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(20.3
|
)%
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
Fiscal 2017
|
|
Quarters ended
|
|
|
Year ended
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
30-Jun-16
|
|
|
30-Sep-16
|
|
|
31-Dec-16
|
|
|
31-Mar-17
|
|
|
31-Mar-17
|
|
|
Product Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
$
|
1,347
|
|
|
$
|
1,645
|
|
|
$
|
13,524
|
|
|
$
|
4,553
|
|
|
$
|
21,069
|
|
|
Seed pod kits and accessories
|
|
|
780
|
|
|
|
750
|
|
|
|
1,994
|
|
|
|
1,639
|
|
|
|
5,163
|
|
|
Discounts, allowances and other
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
(153
|
)
|
|
|
(2,311
|
)
|
|
|
(188
|
)
|
|
|
(2,623
|
)
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,156
|
|
|
$
|
2,242
|
|
|
$
|
13,207
|
|
|
$
|
6,004
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
|
% of Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
|
62.5
|
%
|
|
|
73.4
|
%
|
|
|
102.4
|
%
|
|
|
75.8
|
%
|
|
|
89.2
|
%
|
|
Seed pod kits and accessories
|
|
|
36.2
|
%
|
|
|
33.5
|
%
|
|
|
15.1
|
%
|
|
|
27.3
|
%
|
|
|
21.9
|
%
|
|
Discounts, allowances and other
|
|
|
1.3
|
%
|
|
|
(6.9
|
)%
|
|
|
(17.5
|
)%
|
|
|
(3.1
|
)%
|
|
|
(11.1
|
)%
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
AeroGarden garden unit revenue totaled $31.6 million in Fiscal 2018, up $10.6 million or 50.2%, from a year ago, principally due to: (i) the increase in retail channel sales; (ii) the increase in general brand awareness; and (iii) the launch of the new AeroGarden Harvest and Bounty models. Sales of seed pod kits and accessories increased by $2.1 million, or 39.9%, an overall increase in brand awareness and the growth of the existing customer base. In Fiscal 2018, sales of seed pod kits and accessories represented 22.3% of our total net revenue, an increase from 21.9% in the prior fiscal year, reflecting the expansion of AeroGarden sales in store markets. The increase in seed pod kit and accessories is minimal as it contains decreases in compact fluorescent light bulb sales as we incorporate more LED lighting technology into our gardens. Discounts, Allowances and Other revenue (expense), which is comprised of items that are not specifically identifiable to a product, such as grow club revenue, shipping revenue, accruals and deductions, increased as a percentage of total revenue from (11.1)% in Fiscal 2017 to (20.3)% in Fiscal 2018 due to increases in revenue deductions for sales allowances and discounts for retail accounts as we test the in-store retail market.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for Fiscal 2018 totaled $21.6 million, a 43.6% increase from the prior fiscal year. Cost of revenue includes product costs for purchased and manufactured products, freight costs for inbound freight from manufacturers and outbound freight to customers, costs related to warehousing, credit card processing fees for direct sales, and duties and customs applicable to imported products. The dollar amount of cost of revenue increased because of the 36.8% increase in total sales, along with increased supply chain costs. As a percent of total revenue, cost of revenue totaled 66.9% in Fiscal 2018, as compared to 63.7% in the year earlier period. The increase in costs as a percent of revenue resulted from:
|
·
|
Revenue mix shift from higher margin customers to lower margin retail customers;
|
|
·
|
Less favorable product mix and specific retailer mix within the retail channel, as we expand in-store sales in the housewares channel; and
|
|
·
|
Increases in supply chain costs such as international shipping;
|
Gross Margin
Our gross margin varies based upon the factors affecting net revenue and cost of revenue as discussed above, as well as the mix of our revenue from our various customers, with each customer having a different margins. In a direct-to-consumer sale, we recognize as revenue the full consumer purchase price for the product. In retail and international sales, by comparison, we recognize as revenue the wholesale price for the product which we charge to the retailer or international distributor, with fluctuations attributable to the mix of on-line and brick and mortar customers. Gross margins also vary based on specific products, as well as the maturity and size of the customer relationship. Media costs associated with direct sales are included in sales and marketing costs. Overall, the gross margin for Fiscal 2018 was 33.1% as compared to 36.3% in the prior year. The decrease in our gross margin was primarily attributable to increased supply chain expenses, a shift in customer mix as we expanded our distribution to new and different retailers, and shift in product mix.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing costs for Fiscal 2018 totaled $8.1 million, an increase of $1.9 million, or 31.7%, from the prior fiscal year. Sales and marketing costs include all costs associated with the marketing, sales, operations, customer support, and sales order processing for our products. The following table breaks down the components of our sales and marketing costs for Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2017:
|
|
|
Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Advertising
|
|
$
|
4,750
|
|
|
$
|
3,663
|
|
|
Salaries and related expenses
|
|
|
2,202
|
|
|
|
1,742
|
|
|
Sales commissions
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
|
151
|
|
|
Trade shows
|
|
|
51
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
Travel
|
|
|
174
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
Media production and promotional products
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
49
|
|
|
Quality control and processing fees
|
|
|
200
|
|
|
|
115
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
539
|
|
|
|
245
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
8,071
|
|
|
$
|
6,125
|
|
Advertising is principally composed of the costs of developing and airing our infomercials, the costs of development, production, printing, and postage for our catalogues, and mailing and web media costs for search and affiliate web marketing programs and retail support placement. Each of these are key components of our integrated marketing strategy because they generate direct-to-consumer sales and help build awareness of, and consumer demand for, our products in all our channels of distribution. Advertising expense totaled $4.8 million for Fiscal 2018, a year-over-year increase of 30.0%, or $1.1 million, primarily because of our increased focus on retail advertising, catalogue mailing expenses and additional general television, YouTube, Facebook and other general media advertising.
Sales and marketing personnel costs include salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits and other payroll costs for our sales, operations, customer service, graphics and marketing departments. Personnel costs for sales and marketing in Fiscal 2018 were $2.2 million, up 25.3% from Fiscal 2017 levels, to support increased marketing and advertising to our expanded revenue channels.
Sales commissions, which generally include 3-7% of cash collections from some of our retailer customers, are paid to third-party sales representatives that assist us in developing and maintaining relationships with certain retailers. Sales commission expense totaled $106,000 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of 29.8% from the prior fiscal year as a result of lower commission percentages payable to our internal customer service telephone sales agents, partially offset by an increase in sales to customers represented by third-party sales representatives.
Other marketing expenses increased $294,000, or 120.0%, year-over-year primarily as a result of increases in a variety of other marketing initiatives, including direct marketing consulting with several retailers, general marketing programs to develop brand and understand target market customers.
General and Administrative
General and administrative expense for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 totaled $2.5 million, an increase of 5.9% or $141,000 as compared to the prior year. This increase was principally due to increases in travel, bad debt, the use of outside contractors for new market and product issues, and office supplies, partially offset by decreases in insurance, depreciation, and employee related expenses such as non-cash compensation.
Research and Development
Research and development costs totaled $558,000 for Fiscal 2018, an increase of $163,000, or 41.3% from the prior fiscal year. Research and development costs are comprised of payroll, travel and other costs associated with (i) development of new AeroGarden models and technologies; (ii) our plant laboratories that research new plant varieties and growing technologies; (iii) new technologies, such as improved lighting and nutrient formulation; and (iv) costs to enhance the performance of our products. Although our research and development spending increased in Fiscal 2018, particularly related to design and consulting service expenses for market research, new product development and ongoing certification and testing of all our AeroGarden garden units (as required by our retail partners). Certain consulting fees were reimbursed by Scotts Miracle-Gro pursuant to contractual requirements resulting in a net decrease in research and development costs.
Operating Loss
The loss from operations totaled $448,000 in Fiscal 2018, an increase of $103,000, or 29.8%, from the prior year, primarily as a result of an increase in the gross profit, partially offset by a decrease in the gross margin and an increase in retail specific advertising programs and general television, YouTube, Facebook and other general media advertising.
Other Income and Expense
Other income for Fiscal 2018 totaled $6,000, as compared to other loss of $2.3 million in the prior year. Net other income for Fiscal 2017 included a non-cash loss of $2.1 million related to the change in the fair value of the Scotts Miracle-Gro warrant and $293,000 of interest expense related to the loan with Scotts Miracle-Gro.
Net Loss
Our net loss for Fiscal 2018 was $442,000, a $2.3 million decrease over our net loss of $2.6 million in Fiscal 2017. This decrease in our net loss was primarily attributable to the change in fair value of the Scotts Miracle-Gro warrant when the warrant was fully exercised in the prior year, which does not have a corresponding fair value in the current year.
Segment Results
We report our segment information in the same way that management assesses the business and makes decision regarding the allocations of resources in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (ASC). We have two reportable segments. Retail and Direct-to-Consumer. Factors considered in determining our Reportable Segments include the nature of the business activities, the reports provided to the Company’s chief operating decision maker (CODM) for operating and administrative activities, available information and information that is presented to our Board of Directors.
The Company’s CODM has been identified as the Chief Executive Officer because he has final authority over the performance assessment and resource allocation decisions. The CODM regularly receives discrete financial information about each Reportable Segment. The CODM uses all such information for performance assessment and resource allocation decisions. The CODM evaluates the performance of and allocates resources based upon the contribution margins of each segment.
We divide our business into two reportable segments: Direct-to-Consumer and Retail. This division of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by the chief operating decision maker of the Company. The Company evaluates performance based on the primary financial measure of contribution margin (“segment profit”). Segment profit reflects the income or loss from operations before corporate expenses, non-operating income, net interest expense, and income taxes.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Corporate/Other
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
8,172
|
|
|
$
|
24,126
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
5,672
|
|
|
|
15,926
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21,598
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
8,200
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
30.6
|
%
|
|
|
33.9
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
33.1
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing (1)
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
3,670
|
|
|
|
1,590
|
|
|
|
5,389
|
|
|
Segment profit
|
|
|
2,371
|
|
|
|
4,530
|
|
|
|
(1,590
|
)
|
|
|
5,311
|
|
|
Segment profit percentage
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
18.8
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
16.4
|
%
|
(1) Sales and marketing includes advertising, trade shows, media production and promotional products and other as discussed in the sales and marketing section.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Corporate/Other
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
7,526
|
|
|
$
|
16,083
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
4,668
|
|
|
|
10,376
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
15,044
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
2,858
|
|
|
|
5,707
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
38.0
|
%
|
|
|
35.5
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36.3
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing (1)
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
2,714
|
|
|
|
1,140
|
|
|
|
3,983
|
|
|
Segment profit
|
|
|
2,729
|
|
|
|
2,993
|
|
|
|
(1,140
|
)
|
|
|
4,582
|
|
|
Segment profit percentage
|
|
|
36.3
|
%
|
|
|
18.6
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
19.4
|
%
|
(1) Sales and marketing includes advertising, trade shows, media production and promotional products and other as discussed in the sales and marketing section.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
After adjusting the net loss for non-cash items and changes in operating assets and liabilities, net cash used by operating activities totaled $831,000 in Fiscal 2018, as compared to net cash provided by operating activities of $560,000 in the prior fiscal year.
Non-cash items, consisting of depreciation, amortization, bad debt (recoveries) allowances, issuances of common stock and options, and adjustments to the fair value of Scotts Miracle-Gro warrant liability totaled a net loss of $101,000 in Fiscal 2018, as compared to a net loss of $3.9 million in the prior fiscal year.
Changes in current assets used cash of $3.6 million during Fiscal 2018, primarily due to increases in accounts receivable, inventory, and other current assets. In Fiscal 2017, changes in these assets used $975,000, reflecting increases in accounts receivable and inventory, partially offset by a decrease in other current assets. As of March 31, 2018, the inventory balance was $5.0 million, representing approximately 85 days of sales activity during Fiscal 2018. Net accounts receivable totaled $4.3 million as of March 31, 2018, representing approximately 68 days of net retail sales activity at the average daily rate of sales recognized during Fiscal 2018. The days of sales in receivables and inventory calculations can fluctuate, and are greatly impacted by our seasonality and the timing of sales and inventory receipts during the period.
Current operating liabilities increased $1.8 million during Fiscal 2018, principally because of a $1.8 million increase in accounts payable, accrued liabilities, customer deposits, and the SMG IP and Brand accrual. In the prior year period, current operating liabilities increased $301,000 primarily due to increases in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, including accrued interest and customer deposits. Accounts payable as of March 31, 2018 totaled $2.7 million, representing approximately 31 days of daily expense activity at the average daily rate of expenses incurred during Fiscal 2018.
Net investment activity used $464,000 of cash, primarily due to purchases of equipment to manufacture our new products, as compared to cash used of $138,000 in the prior year.
Net financing activity, including the exercise of warrants, dividends, and borrowing and repayment of debt, used cash of $7,000 during Fiscal 2018, as compared to cash provided of $7.0 million in the prior fiscal year.
As of March 31, 2018, we had a cash balance of $7.5 million, of which $15,000 was restricted as collateral for our various corporate obligations. This compares to a cash balance of $8.8 million as of March 31, 2017, of which $15,000 was restricted.
As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the outstanding balance of our debt is as follows:
|
|
|
For the Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of intellectual property liability (see Note 3)
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Less current portion
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Long term debt
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
As of March 31, 2018, we have $0 of debt requiring cash payments. The remaining debt in the current liability is related to the Scotts Miracle-Gro transaction, for further information see Note 3 to our financial statements.
We use, or have used, a variety of debt funding sources to meet our liquidity requirements, including the following:
Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrant
In April 2013, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with SMG Growing Media, Inc. (the “Investor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: “SMG”), a worldwide marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Scotts Miracle-Gro acquired 2,649,007 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and (ii) a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant,” as described in greater detail below) for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million. The Warrant entitled, but did not obligate, Scotts Miracle-Gro to purchase a number of shares of common stock that, on a fully diluted basis, constitute 80% of the Company’s outstanding common stock (when added to all other shares owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro). In November 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant option to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock and as such all outstanding Convertible Preferred Stock was converted into common stock. The warrant exercise generated $47.8 million of proceeds, and our Board of Directors then immediately declared a one-time cash dividend of $40.5 million, or $1.21 per share, on the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. The dividend was paid on January 3, 2017, to shareholders of record on December 20, 2016. The remaining proceeds were used to repay principal and accrued interest on the Term Loan and for operations and working capital. For additional information about the Series B Preferred Stock, the Warrant, and related transactions with Scotts Miracle-Gro, see Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants and Other Transaction” to our financial statements.
Cash Requirements
We generally require cash to:
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fund our operations and working capital requirements,
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develop and execute our product development and market introduction plans,
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execute our sales and marketing plans,
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fund research and development efforts, and
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pay debt obligations as they come due.
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At this time, we do not expect to enter into additional capital leases to finance major purchases. In addition, we do not currently have any binding commitments with third parties to obtain any material amount of equity or debt financing other than the financing arrangements described in this report.
Assessment of Future Liquidity and Results of Operations
Liquidity
To assess our ability to fund ongoing operating requirements, we developed assumptions regarding operating cash flow. Critical sources of funding, and key assumptions and areas of uncertainty include:
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our cash of $7.5 million ($15,000 of which is restricted as collateral for our various corporate obligations) as of March 31, 2018;
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our cash of $7.4 million, ($15,000 of which is restricted as collateral for our various corporate obligations) as of June 18, 2018;
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continued support of, and extensions of credit by, our suppliers and previous lenders, including Scotts Miracle-Gro;
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our historical pattern of increased sales between September and March, and lower sales volume from April through August;
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the level of spending necessary to support our planned initiatives; and
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our sales to consumers, retailers, and international distributors, and the resulting cash flow from operations, which will depend in great measure on acceptance of our products by retail distribution customers and the success of planned direct-to-consumer sales initiatives.
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During Fiscal 2018 we took a number of actions to address our liquidity needs. Most importantly, we concentrated on limiting our margin decline despite a shift to lower-margin channels in an effort to support our marketing efforts which will allow us to continue to increase our sales. Specifically, we focused our efforts on generating general brand awareness and expanding our retail operations with key strategic retailers and better enhancing our relationships with those retailers to sell our products at the margins we believe are capable of generating growth. Our retail expansion continued and we have strategically began expanding the number of major retailers that carry our products in order to focus on those retailers that have proven to be the best and most profitable business partners.
As disclosed in greater detail in Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock Warrants and Other Transaction” to our financial statements, we raised: (i) $4.0 million from Scotts Miracle-Gro during the first quarter of 2014 through the issuance of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and a Warrant; (ii) an additional $500,000 from the sale of all intellectual property associated with our Hydroponic IP, other than the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks; and (iii) an additional $47.8 million in November 2016, as Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant option to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock. Our Board of Directors then immediately declared a one-time cash dividend of $40.5 million, or $1.21 per share, on the Company’s outstanding Common Stock. The dividend was paid on January 3, 2017, to shareholders of record on December 20, 2016. The remaining proceeds were used to repay principal and accrued interest on the Term Loan and for operations and working capital.
In second quarter of Fiscal 2018, the Company entered into a Term Loan Agreement in the principal amount of up to $2.0 million with Scotts Miracle-Gro with a maturity date of April 15, 2018, and the principal amount was repaid in full for December 2017. The Term Loan Agreement was secured by a lien on the assets of the Company. Interest was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum. The funding provided general working capital and was used for the purpose of acquiring inventory to support our expansion into retail and its direct-to-consumer sales channels in advance of our peak selling season. As disclosed above, the principal and accrued interest on the Term Loan were repaid during the third quarter of fiscal year 2018.
Based on these facts and assumptions, we believe our existing cash and cash equivalents, along with the cash generated by our anticipated results from operations, will be sufficient to meet our needs for the next twelve months from the filing date of this report based on current cash on hand plus financing from Scotts Miracle-Gro similar to the last few years. However, we may need to seek additional debt or equity capital to provide a cash reserve against contingencies, address the seasonal nature of our working capital needs, and to purchase inventory and incur other expenses in an attempt to increase the scale of our business. There can be no assurance we will be able to raise this additional capital.
Results of Operations
There are several factors that could affect our future results of operations. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
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the effectiveness of our consumer marketing efforts in generating both direct-to-consumer sales, and sales to consumers by our retailer customers,
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uncertainty regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions on consumer spending,
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uncertainty regarding the capital markets and our access to sufficient capital to support our current and projected scale of operations,
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the seasonality of our business, in which we have historically experienced higher sales volume during the fall and winter months (September through March),
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a continued, uninterrupted supply of product from our third-party manufacturing suppliers in China, and
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the success of the Scotts Miracle-Gro relationship.
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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We do not have current commitments under capital leases and have not entered into any contracts for financial derivative such as futures, swaps, and options other than those disclosed in this Annual Report.
Obligations and Commitments
As part of our ongoing operations, we enter into arrangements that obligate us to make future payments under contracts, such as leases and the timing and effect that such commitments are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods. The following is a summary of these obligations as of March 31, 2018.
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Less than 1 year
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1 -3 years
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More than 3 years
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Total
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(in thousands)
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Operating leases
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$
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160
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$
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80
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$
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-
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$
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240
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Totals:
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$
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160
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$
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80
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$
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-
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$
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240
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See Note 2, Note 3 and Note 7 to our financial statements for additional information related to our notes payable and long term debt and operating leases, respectively.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest income is most sensitive to fluctuations in the general level of U.S. interest rates. As such, changes in U.S. interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and the value of those. Due to the short-term nature of our cash equivalents, we have concluded that a change in interest rates does not pose a material market risk to us with respect to our interest income. However, as discussed above, if we acquire additional debt changes in the general level of market interest rates could impact our interest expense during the terms of future debt arrangements. In this regard, interest on our Term Loan with Scotts Miracle-Gro was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We transact business primarily in U.S. currency. Although we purchase our products in U.S. dollars, the prices charged by our suppliers in Asia are predicated upon their cost for components, labor and overhead. Therefore, changes in the valuation of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Asian currencies may cause our manufacturers to raise prices of our products which could reduce our profit margins.
In future periods, it is possible that we could be exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on accounts receivable from sales and net monetary assets denominated in foreign currencies and liabilities. To date, however, virtually all of our transactions have been denominated in U.S. dollars.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our financial statements appear in a separate section at the end of this Annual Report. Such information is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
None.
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We conducted an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Senior Vice President, Finance and Accounting, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. The term “disclosure controls and procedures,” as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures also include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on our assessment, management has concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2018. In making this assessment, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations (“COSO”) of the Treadway Commission’s Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013).
Based on our assessment, management has concluded that, as of March 31, 2018, our internal control over financial reporting was effective based on those criteria.
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal controls over financial reporting. Internal control over financial reporting is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f), promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as a process designed by, or under the supervision of, our principal executive and principal financial officers and effected by our board of directors, management and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and includes those policies and procedures that:
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Pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of the assets;
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Provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of our management and directors; and
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Provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
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Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Internal control over financial reporting cannot provide absolute assurance of achieving financial reporting objectives because of its inherent limitations. Internal control over financial reporting is a process that involves human diligence and compliance and is subject to lapses in judgment and breakdowns resulting from human failure. Internal control over financial reporting can also be circumvented by collusion or improper management override. Because of such limitations, there is a risk that material misstatements may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by internal control over financial reporting. However, these inherent limitations are known features of the financial reporting process. Therefore, it is possible to design into the process safeguards to reduce, though not eliminate, this risk.
Attestation Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm regarding internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by our independent registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the SEC that permit us to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 that have or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting identified in connection with the previously mentioned evaluation.
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.
PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Executive Officers
The following sets forth certain information with respect to our executive officers and significant employees, as of the filing date of this report. The executive officers have employment contracts with the Company as discussed in Item 11 below. All other employees are considered at-will.
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Name
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Age
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Position with AeroGrow
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J. Michael Wolfe
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59
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Grey H. Gibbs
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51
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SVP – Finance and Accounting
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John K. Thompson
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57
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EVP, Sales & Marketing and Secretary
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J. Michael Wolfe, age 59, became our Chief Operating Officer in January 2010, our President on February 9, 2011, and our Chief Executive Officer on March 31, 2011. He previously served as Vice President of Operations since April 2006. Prior to joining AeroGrow, Mr. Wolfe was an independent consultant. From 1992 to 2002, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Concepts Direct and was its Chief Executive Officer from 2000 to 2001. At Concepts Direct, Mr. Wolfe oversaw the development, launch and operations of seven independent catalogues. From 1987 to 1992, Mr. Wolfe served as Vice President of Wiland Services, Inc., a database management company where he oversaw the redesign of the company’s product line, its sales and investor relations. The Board believes that Mr. Wolfe’s leadership experience, combined with his extensive direct-to-consumer marketing background, his executive experience at a variety of direct-to-consumer companies, and his knowledge of AeroGrow’s history and business, qualifies him to serve as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Grey H. Gibbs, age 51, has been employed by AeroGrow since November of 2007. He has served as Senior Vice President – Finance and Accounting since May 2015 and previously served as: (i) Vice President of Finance and Accounting from June 2014 to May 2015; (ii) Vice President of Accounting from February 2011 to June 2014; and (iii) Controller from November 2007 to June 2011. Before joining AeroGrow, Mr. Gibbs was employed by Swift Company, an animal protein processor, as Director of Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance from 2006 to 2007 and Assistant Corporate Controller from 2004 to 2006. From 2003 to 2004, Mr. Gibbs was the Chief Financial Officer of JCIT International, an educational and consulting firm in lean manufacturing. From 1994 to 2002, Mr. Gibbs served in a range of strategic and financial roles for Agilent Technologies and Hewlett Packard, including New Product Introduction Program Manager, Outsourcing Program Manager, Site Finance Manager, Planning and Reporting Analyst and Senior Internal Auditor. Mr. Gibbs was also an Audit Supervising Senior for KPMG LLP from 1991 to 1994.
John K. Thompson, age 57, became Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing in April 2014. Mr. Thompson joined AeroGrow in 2002 and has served in a variety of senior management positions at AeroGrow, including his position as Vice President of Marketing from October 2009 to April 2014. Mr. Thompson also served as the Company’s International Division General Manager and Vice President of Investor Relations, and was instrumental in the research activities leading to the development and launch of the Company’s AeroGarden product line. Prior to joining AeroGrow, Mr. Thompson was Director of Marketing for Productivity Point International, a direct marketing and direct sales company, and Sales and Marketing Manager for CareerTrack, a direct marketing company that sold personal and professional growth products to the consumer and commercial markets.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors oversees the management of AeroGrow on your behalf. Among other things, the Board reviews our long-term strategic plans and exercises direct decision-making authority on key issues, including the appointment of our executive officers and setting the scope of their authority in managing AeroGrow’s day-to-day operations. Our Board is currently comprised of Chris Hagedorn (Chairman), H. MacGregor Clarke, David B. Kent, Albert Messina and Peter Supron. Messrs. Hagedorn, Messina and Supron are representatives of Scotts Miracle-Gro. Biographical information about Mr. Wolfe is contained above under the caption heading “Executive Officers.” Biographical information for Messrs. Hagedorn, Clarke, Kent, Messina and Supron is presented below.
H. MacGregor Clarke, age 57, has been a director since April 2018 and previously served as a director from July 2009 to March 2013. Mr. Clarke has served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Johns Manville, a Berkshire Hathaway company, since March 2013 and previously served as AeroGrow’s Chief Financial Officer from May 2008 through March 2013. From 2007 to 2008, Mr. Clarke was President and Chief Executive Officer, and from 2006 to 2007, Chief Financial Officer, of Ankmar, LLC, a garage door manufacturer, distributor and installer. From 2003 to 2006, Mr. Clarke was a senior investment banker with FMI Corporation, a management consulting and investment banking firm serving the building and construction industry. At FMI Corporation, Mr. Clarke was responsible for delivering consulting and investment banking services to clients, and for marketing to prospective clients in the financial services industry. From 1997 to 2002, Mr. Clarke served as an operating group Chief Financial Officer, then Vice President and General Manager for Johns Manville Corporation, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. Mr. Clarke also served as Vice President, Corporate Treasurer, and international division Chief Financial Officer for The Coleman Company, Inc. Prior to joining Coleman, Mr. Clarke was with PepsiCo, Inc. for over nine years and served in a range of financial roles, including Director of Corporate Strategic Planning, where he led strategy and planning related to the worldwide beverage sector. Mr. Clarke’s extensive financial and executive experience, in particular his prior service as an executive officer of four companies, among other factors, led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director.
Chris J. Hagedorn, age 33, has been a director since 2013 and Chairman of the Board since November 2016. Mr. Hagedorn was appointed the General Manager of The Hawthorne Gardening Company in October 2014 and was previously appointed Director of Indoor Gardening at Scotts Miracle-Gro in May of 2013. From 2011 to 2013, Mr. Hagedorn served as a Marketing Manager for the North Region at Scotts Miracle-Gro. Mr. Hagedorn was initially appointed to the Board by Scotts Miracle-Gro pursuant to a provision of the Securities Purchase Agreement between AeroGrow and Scotts Miracle-Gro which allowed Scotts Miracle-Gro, as holder of the Series B Preferred Convertible Stock, to appoint one member to the Board of Directors for so long as the convertible stock remained outstanding. For more details regarding the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Warrant, and related agreements, refer to Note 3. “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements. The Board believes that Mr. Hagedorn’s business experience and ties to Scotts Miracle-Gro, particularly in light of AeroGrow’s strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, qualifies him to serve as a director.
David B. Kent, age 59, has been a director since April 2018. Mr. Kent has served in various senior managerial roles and is currently Co-Founder of Darcie Kent Vineyards. Mr. Kent served as a Brand Manager for Procter & Gamble, the world’s foremost consumer package goods company. Mr. Kent served as CEO of the Wine Group LLC from 2000 to 2012. Mr. Kent’s extensive experience in marketing, retail and brand building, among other factors, led the Board to conclude that he should serve as a director.
Albert Messina (Bert), age 50, has been a director since November 2016. Mr. Messina has served in various senior managerial roles at the Hawthorne Gardening Company since 2014. He previously served as Finance and Strategy Lead at Hawthorne from 2014-2017. From 2012 to 2013, Mr. Messina served as a Senior Director of Strategy & Development for Source Interlink Media. Prior to that, Mr. Messina served as a Managing Director for DeSilva & Phillips Investment Bank. The Board believes that Mr. Messina’s business experience and ties to Scotts Miracle-Gro, particularly in light of AeroGrow’s strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, qualifies him to serve as a director.
Peter Supron, age 50, has been a director since November 2016. Mr. Supron currently Chief of Staff to the President and Chief Operating officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro. In this role, Mr. Supron partners with the business units in strategy development and has played a key role in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s entry into the Internet of Things market for lawn & garden, as well as Scotts Miracle Gro’s entry into the direct-to-consumer space. Previously, Peter led Scott Miracle-Gro’s corporate strategy & mergers & acquisitions function, its procurement team, as well has held various roles in finance. The Board believes that Mr. Supron’s business experience and ties to Scotts Miracle-Gro, particularly in light of AeroGrow’s strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, qualifies him to serve as a director.
Board Committees and Meetings
We have established two standing committees so that certain matters can be addressed in more depth than may be possible in a full Board meeting: an Audit Committee and a Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. The two committees each operate under a written charter.
Audit Committee. The current members of our Audit Committee are Messrs. Clarke (chairman), Hagedorn and Messina. The members were elected to the committee, and the chairman was appointed by the Board. The Board has determined that Mr. Clarke is considered an “audit committee financial expert,” as defined by Item 407(d)(5)(ii) of Regulation S-K, due to his extensive financial background and experience (as summarized in the biographical information for Mr. Clarke disclosed above). The Board has affirmatively determined that Mr. Clarke is an independent director as defined by applicable securities law and NASDAQ corporate governance guidelines. Due to their positions as significant stockholders of AeroGrow, Messrs. Hagedorn, Messina and Supron are not independent directors. The Audit Committee’s charter provides that the committee shall:
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oversee the accounting and financial reporting processes and audits of the financial statements;
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assist the Board with oversight of the integrity of our financial statements, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, and the performance of the independent auditors; and
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provide the Board with the results of its monitoring.
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Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. The current members of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee are Messrs. Supron (chairman), Kent, and Hagedorn. The members were elected to the committee, and the chairman was appointed, by the Board. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee’s charter provides that the committee shall:
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recommend to the Board the corporate governance guidelines to be followed;
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review and recommend the nomination of Board members;
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set the compensation for the chief executive officer and other officers; and
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administer the equity-based performance compensation plans of AeroGrow.
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The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee does not have a formal policy concerning stockholder recommendations to the Board of Directors and we did not receive any recommendations from stockholders requesting that the Board consider a candidate for inclusion as a nominee. The Committee has determined that it is appropriate to not have such a policy given the infrequency of such recommendations. The absence of such a policy does not mean, however, that a recommendation would not have been considered had one been received. The Committee would consider any candidate proposed in good faith by a stockholder on the same basis as a candidate proposed directly by the Board. To do so, a stockholder should send the candidate’s name, credentials, contact information, and the candidate’s consent to be considered to the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, c/o Corporate Secretary, AeroGrow International, Inc., 6075 Longbow Drive, Boulder, Colorado, 80301. The proposal should be received by the due date for a stockholder proposal, as set forth below under the caption heading “Submission of Stockholder Proposals,” in order to be considered timely for consideration by the Committee prior to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or, in lieu of an annual meeting, for an action by written consent of the stockholders. The proposing stockholder should also include his or her contact information and a statement of his or her share ownership (how many shares owned and for how long).
In evaluating director nominees, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee considers the appropriate skills and personal characteristics needed in light of the makeup of the current Board, including considerations of character, background, professional experience, education, skill, qualifications for committee membership, independence, race, gender, national origin, differences in viewpoint, and other individual qualities and attributes. Other than the foregoing, there are no stated minimum criteria for director nominees, although the Committee may also consider such other factors as it may deem are in the best interests of the AeroGrow and its stockholders. The Committee does, however, believe it is appropriate for a member or members of AeroGrow’s management to participate as members of the Committee.
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee identify nominees by first evaluating the current members of the Board willing to continue in service. Current members of the Board with skills and experience that are relevant to our business and who are willing to continue in service are considered for re-nomination. If any member of the Board does not wish to continue in service or if the Board decides not to re-nominate a member for re-election, the Committee then identifies the desired skills and experience of a new nominee in light of the criteria above. Current members of the Board would be polled for suggestions as to individuals meeting the criteria described above. The Committee may also engage in research to identify qualified individuals. To date, we have not engaged third parties to identify or evaluate or assist in identifying potential nominees, although we reserve the right in the future to retain a third-party search firm, if appropriate.
Meetings. During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 the Board held eight meetings. A quorum of directors attended all of the meetings held by the Board during the period that he served as a director of AeroGrow. Also during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, the Audit Committee held four meetings and the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee held two meetings. Only one meeting did not include all the members of the Board otherwise each committee member attended all of the committee meetings held during the period that he served as a committee member.
The Company encourages all incumbent directors, as well as all nominees for election as director, to attend the annual stockholder meetings, but they are not required to do so. We did not hold an annual meeting last year.
Code of Ethics
The Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Ethics to provide guidance to all of our directors, officers and employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial and accounting officers, and persons performing similar functions. The Code of Ethics is posted on our website at www.aerogrow.com, and may be found by linking to “Investors” and then “Code of Ethics.” We intend to satisfy the disclosure requirement under Item 5.05 of Form 8-K regarding an amendment to, or waiver from, a provision of this code of ethics by posting such information on our website.
Board Structure and Risk Oversight
Chris Hagedorn serves as Chairman of the Board. Scotts Miracle-Gro is the largest investor in AeroGrow and its financial support was instrumental in allowing AeroGrow to persevere through a very difficult economic period. Messrs. Hagedorn, Messina and Supron are representatives of Scotts Miracle-Gro and they are involved in setting the strategic direction for the Company.
Our Board has overall responsibility for risk oversight. Throughout the year, the Board dedicates a portion of their meetings to review and discuss specific risk topics in greater detail. Strategic and operational risks are presented and discussed in the context of the President’s report on operations to the Board at regularly scheduled board meetings and at presentations to the Board by our other employees and consultants. The Board’s risk oversight process builds upon management’s risk assessment and mitigation processes. The small size of AeroGrow allows our Board to develop in-depth knowledge of different facets of the business. This in-depth knowledge, coupled with exposure to and frequent communication with our management, assists the Board in performing its oversight responsibilities, including risk management, in an effective manner.
Communications with the Board of Directors
Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with the Board or any individual director, by writing to:
AeroGrow International, Inc.
Attention: Board of Directors
c/o Corporate Secretary
6075 Longbow Drive, Suite 200
Boulder, Colorado 80301
If the letter is from a stockholder, the letter should state that the sender is a stockholder. Under a process approved by the Board, depending on the subject matter, management will:
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forward the letter to the director or directors to whom it is addressed; or
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attempt to handle the matter directly (as where information about our business or our stock is requested); or
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not forward the letter if it is primarily commercial in nature or relates to an improper or irrelevant topic.
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A summary of all relevant communications that are received after the last meeting of the full Board and which are not forwarded will be presented at each Board meeting along with any specific communication requested by a director.
All communications will be handled in a confidential manner, to the degree the law allows. Communications may be made on an anonymous basis; however, in these cases the reporting individual must provide sufficient details for the matter to be reviewed and resolved. The Company will not tolerate any retaliation against an employee who makes a good faith report.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) requires our executive officers and directors, and persons who own more than 10% of our common stock (herein collectively, our “Section 16 insiders”) to file with the SEC certain forms reporting their ownership and changes in beneficial ownership of our common stock and other equity with the SEC, and to furnish us with copies of these filings.
To our knowledge, based solely upon a review of the copies of such forms furnished to us and written representations that no other reports were required, we believe that, during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, all such filings required to be made by our Section 16 insiders were timely filed in accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act except for the following: (i) a report filed by Jack J. Walker, a former director, relating to a sale of common stock on December 15, 2017 was filed one business day late on December 20, 2017; (ii) a report filed by Mr. Walker relating to a sale of common stock on December 11, 2017 was filed one business day late on December 14, 2017; and (iii) a report filed by Wayne E. Harding, a former director, relating to a purchase of common stock on November 28, 2017 was filed one business day late on December 1, 2017.
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Compensation Philosophy
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee of our Board is responsible for guiding and overseeing the formulation and application of the compensation and benefit programs for our executive officers and our directors. A description of compensation for our non-employee directors is included below under the caption “Director Compensation.” The Committee acts pursuant to a charter that has been approved by our Board.
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee believes that the most effective compensation program is one that is designed to reward the achievement of specific annual, long-term, and strategic goals by AeroGrow, and which aligns executives’ interests with those of the stockholders by rewarding performance above established goals, with the ultimate objective of increasing stockholder value. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee evaluates both performance and compensation to ensure that AeroGrow maintains its ability to attract and retain superior employees in key positions and that compensation provided to key employees remains competitive relative to the compensation paid to similarly situated executives of our peer companies. Accordingly, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee believes executive compensation packages provided by AeroGrow to its executives, including the executive officers, should include salary compensation and annual cash incentives based on the Company’s ability to pay and fundamental measures of financial performance.
We compensate our executives through a mix of base salary, bonus, and equity compensation designed to be competitive with comparable employers and to align management’s incentives with the long-term interests of our stockholders. In making compensation decisions, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, may compare certain elements of total compensation against other comparable publicly traded and privately held companies that compete in our markets. A significant percentage of total compensation is allocated to incentive compensation as a result of the philosophy mentioned above. There is no pre-established policy or target for the allocation between either cash and non-cash or short-term and long-term incentive compensation. Rather, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee reviews information such as that referenced above with respect to our peers and our major shareholder, SMG, Scotts Miracle-Gro, to determine the appropriate level and mix of incentive compensation. Income from such incentive compensation is realized as a result of the performance of AeroGrow or the individual, depending on the type of award.
Compensation Process
Generally, base salaries and annual incentive awards will be reviewed at the end of each fiscal year with changes made to the base salaries effective April 1 of the following fiscal year. Whether an individual’s salary and incentive awards are increased or decreased depends on the individual’s performance as well as the overall performance of AeroGrow.
Although we have not issued stock options and other stock grants in the last two fiscal years, such equity grants are reviewed and approved at meetings of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee and the full Board. By establishing the meeting schedule and agenda for these grants in advance, AeroGrow diminishes any opportunity for manipulation of exercise prices on option grants to the extent any recipients are in possession of non-public information at the time of the meetings. Approval of grants for any newly hired or promoted executives during the course of the year generally occurs at the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee’s meeting immediately following the hiring or promotion.
Role of Executive Officers in Compensation Decisions
The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee make all compensation decisions for the executive officers and approve recommendations regarding equity awards to all elected officers. The Chief Executive Officer annually reviews the performance of each Named Executive Officer (other than the Chief Executive Officer, whose performance is reviewed by disinterested members of the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee). As a “smaller reporting company,” our “Named Executive Officers” include our (i) Chief Executive Officer; and (ii) other two most highly compensated executive officers based on SEC regulations. Compensation ranges for our Named Executive Officers are based on the individual’s experience and prior performance, as well as AeroGrow’s operating performance. The conclusions reached and recommendations based on these reviews, including with respect to salary adjustments and annual award amounts, are presented to the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee. The Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee can exercise its discretion in modifying any recommended adjustments or awards to executives.
Components of Total Compensation
In Fiscal 2018, the principal components of compensation for executive officers were:
|
·
|
performance-based annual incentive awards (cash bonuses); and
|
|
·
|
benefits and other perquisites.
|
Each component is designed to achieve a specific purpose and to contribute to a total package that is competitive, appropriately performance-based, and valued by AeroGrow’s executives. Although we did not issue stock options in Fiscal 2018, we have utilized equity compensation in prior years and may again in the future.
Base Salaries
We provide executive officers and other employees with base salary to compensate them for services rendered during the fiscal year. Base salary ranges for executive officers are determined for each executive based on his or her position and responsibility. During its review of base salaries for executives, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee primarily considers:
|
·
|
individual scope of responsibility;
|
|
·
|
market data, such as that obtained from a review of other similarly situated companies;
|
|
·
|
internal review of the executive’s compensation, both individually and relative to other officers; and
|
|
·
|
individual performance of the executive.
|
Salary levels are typically considered annually as part of our performance review process as well as upon a promotion or other change in job responsibility.
Performance-Based Annual Incentive Compensation
Though markets dictate that base salaries must be competitive, we are moving toward basing a greater proportion of our executive compensation on the achievement of measurable individual and company results through the award of annual incentive bonuses. These bonuses are often tied to performance against AeroGrow’s sales growth and EBIT objectives. By increasing variable pay as a percentage of total compensation, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee believes that executive compensation will be more aligned with value delivered to our stockholders. This limits fixed costs and also results in higher pay occurring only in years when merited by high performance. Due to company-wide improvements on sales and operations, we paid an aggregate of $185,000 in discretionary cash bonuses to our Named Executive Officers in Fiscal 2018. We accrued $233,000 in performance-based bonuses during Fiscal 2018 for payments that are to be paid to our Named Executive Officers during Fiscal 2018.
Long Term Stock-Based Compensation
This category of awards covers options granted to executives out of equity plans, and that vest over time, at different rates for different executives. Although we did not issue stock options in Fiscal 2018, we have utilized equity compensation in prior years and may again in the future. Because these awards vest over time and become more valuable to the recipient only as our stock price increases, the Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee believes these are a useful form of long-term incentive compensation, with the potential to directly align the interests of shareholders and management. During Fiscal 2018, we granted options to purchase 0 shares of common stock. For more details about outstanding stock options held by our Named Executive Officers, please refer to the table below entitled “Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End.”
At March 31, 2018, no options to purchase shares of our common stock were unvested. These options will result in $-0- of compensation expense.
Executives and Employment Arrangements
The following discussion and table relate to compensation arrangements on behalf of, and compensation paid by us during Fiscal 2018, to our Named Executive Officers who were employed by AeroGrow as of March 31, 2018.
Employment Contracts
We have employment agreements with J. Michael Wolfe and John K. Thompson.
J. Michael Wolfe
Effective as of March 4, 2012, AeroGrow and J. Michael Wolfe entered into an employment agreement (the “Wolfe Agreement”) that provides that he will be employed as the Chief Executive Officer and must devote substantially all of his working time and efforts to our business. The Wolfe Agreement superseded and replaced a previous agreement between the parties dated as of February 9, 2009. The Wolfe Agreement has an initial one year term, with automatic one year renewals unless advance notice is given by either party. Pursuant to the Wolfe Agreement, Mr. Wolfe’s annual base salary was set at $200,000 until September 2, 2012, at which time his annual base salary increased to $226,923. Beginning on April 1, 2013, and each April 1 thereafter, Mr. Wolfe’s annual base salary will be increased by 3%, or such higher percentage as may be determined by our Board of Directors. During Fiscal 2018, Mr. Wolfe’s annual base salary was $273,793. In addition, Mr. Wolfe will receive an automobile allowance of $750 per month during the term of the Wolfe Agreement. Mr. Wolfe is eligible to participate in our annual cash incentive compensation plan for senior managers, and in our 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, each as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The Wolfe Agreement also provides for medical, vacation, and other benefits commensurate with the policies and programs adopted by the Board of Directors for our senior executives. In the event that we terminate the employment of Mr. Wolfe without cause (as determined under the Wolfe Agreement), Mr. Wolfe will be entitled to receive his base salary for 12 months following the date of termination, plus a prorated portion of his annual cash bonus. In the event that we breach any term of the Wolfe Agreement and such breach is not cured within thirty days of notice being given, then Mr. Wolfe can terminate his employment and be entitled to receive his base salary for 12 months following the date of termination, plus a prorated portion of his annual cash bonus. The Wolfe Agreement also requires Mr. Wolfe to comply with certain restrictive covenants including but not limited to a covenant not to compete during the term of the Wolfe Agreement and for a period of twelve months following the termination of the Wolfe Agreement.
John K. Thompson
Effective as of March 4, 2012, AeroGrow and John K. Thompson entered into an employment agreement (the “Thompson Agreement”) that provides that he will be employed as the Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing and must devote substantially all of his working time and efforts to our business. The Thompson Agreement superseded and replaced a previous agreement between the parties dated as of January 26, 2009. The Thompson Agreement has an initial one year term, with automatic one year renewals unless advance notice is given by either party. Pursuant to the Thompson Agreement, Mr. Thompson’s annual base salary was set at $150,000 until September 2, 2012, at which time his annual base salary increased to $167,307. Beginning on April 1, 2013, and each April 1 thereafter, Mr. Thompson’s annual base salary will be increased by 3%, or such higher percentage as may be determined by our Board of Directors. During Fiscal 2018, Mr. Thompson’s annual base salary was $200,000. Mr. Thompson is eligible to participate in our annual cash incentive compensation plan for senior managers, and in our 2005 Equity Compensation Plan, each as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time. The Thompson Agreement also provides for medical, vacation, and other benefits commensurate with the policies and programs adopted by the Board of Directors for our senior executives. In the event that we terminate the employment of Mr. Thompson without cause (as determined under the Thompson Agreement), then Mr. Thompson will be entitled to receive his base salary for 12 months following the date of termination, plus a prorated portion of his annual cash bonus. In the event that we breach any term of the Thompson Agreement and such breach is not cured within thirty days of notice being given, then Mr. Thompson can terminate his employment and be entitled to receive his base salary for 12 months following the date of termination, plus a prorated portion of his annual cash bonus. The Thompson Agreement also requires Mr. Thompson to comply with certain restrictive covenants including but not limited to a covenant not to compete during the term of the Thompson Agreement and for a period of twelve months following the termination of the Thompson Agreement.
Other Company officers who do not qualify as Named Executive Officers are employed on an “at will” basis, subject to varying lengths of employment agreements and severance agreements.
Summary Compensation Table
The following table sets forth information regarding all forms of compensation received by the Named Executive Officers during Fiscal 2018 and Fiscal 2017:
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
Salary Paid
|
|
|
|
|
Bonus
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
Option Awards (1)
|
|
|
All Other Compensation
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Michael Wolfe, President and CEO
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
273,793
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
118,590
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
$
|
401,383
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
265,699
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,256
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
9,000
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
$
|
304,955
|
|
|
John K. Thompson, EVP, Sales and Marketing
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
200,000
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
65,939
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
265,939
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
194,068
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
20,363
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
214,431
|
|
|
Grey H. Gibbs, SVP of Finance and Accounting
|
|
2018
|
|
$
|
156,547
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
31,459
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
188,006
|
|
|
|
2017
|
|
$
|
154,267
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
8,863
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
163,130
|
|
| (1) |
Salaries are computed and disclosed on a cash basis. The executive officers did receive a pay increase in Fiscal 2018 (as determined by the employment agreements with respect to Messrs. Wolfe and Thompson).
|
| (2) |
Beginning in March 2012, Mr. Wolfe was paid $750 per month in accordance with his employment agreement.
|
The following table provides information with respect to the Named Executive Officers concerning unexercised stock options held by them at March 31, 2018. During the year ended March 31, 2018, some options granted to the Named Executive Officers were exercised.
Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End
|
Name
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
(Exercisable)
|
|
|
Number of Securities Underlying
Unexercised Options
(Unexercisable)
|
|
|
Exercise
Price per Share
|
|
Expiration Date
|
|
J. Michael Wolfe
|
|
|
33,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
7-Aug-2019
|
|
John K. Thompson
|
|
|
17,000
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
7-Aug-2019
|
|
Grey H. Gibbs
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
7-Aug-2019
|
| |
(1) Stock options granted on August 7, 2014 have an exercise price of $5.31 per share and vest quarterly over a two year period.
|
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation
Disclosure under this section is not required for a “smaller reporting company.”
Report of the Compensation Committee
Disclosure under this section is not required for a “smaller reporting company.”
Director Compensation
The following table provides information on AeroGrow’s compensation practices during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 for non-employee directors:
Non-Employee Director Compensation Information
|
Annual retainer for all non-employee directors (paid in quarterly installments)
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
|
Stock options granted for annual service on the Board by non-employee directors (1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Stock options granted for annual service on the Audit Committee (1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Stock options granted for annual service on the Governance, Compensation, and Nominating Committee (1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Additional stock options granted for annual service as Board Chairman (1)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Reimbursement for expenses attendant to Board membership
|
|
Yes
|
|
| (1) |
The options vest pro-rata monthly (one-twelfth per month) on the last day of each month throughout the term of service. If a director is unable to finish his or her term of service by reason of death or disability, the director options vest immediately.
|
Only Messrs. Harding, and Walker, both of whom resigned effective as of March 31, 2018, received non-employee director compensation during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. Chris J. Hagedorn, a full-time employee of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, was appointed to the Board and to both committees of the Board in April 2013 and was appointed as Chairman of the Board on November 29, 2016. Under the terms of the Scotts Miracle-Gro transaction, Mr. Hagedorn is not entitled to receive non-employee Board compensation. Albert Messina and Peter Supron were appointed to the Board on November 29, 2016. Under the terms of the Scotts Miracle-Gro transaction, Messrs. Messina and Supron are not entitled to receive non-employee Board compensation. We maintain $10 million of director and officer liability insurance and we have entered into indemnification agreements with each director. Subsequent to the warrant exercise Albert Messina and Peter Supron were appointed the Board and as full-time employees of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company they do not receive compensation as a non-employee director.
Summary of Board and Committee Composition
|
Current Directors
|
|
Board
|
|
|
Audit
|
|
|
Governance, Compensation, and Nominating
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chris J. Hagedorn, Chairman (1)
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
H. MacGregor Clarke (2)
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
David B. Kent (2)
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
Albert Messina (3)
|
|
X
|
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
Peter Supron (3)
|
|
X
|
|
|
|
|
|
X
|
|
| (1) |
Chris J. Hagedorn was appointed to the Board and to both committees of the Board in April 2013 and was appointed as Chairman of the Board on November 29, 2016, concurrently with Scotts Miracle-Gro’s exercise of the warrant to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding common stock.
|
| (2) |
Messrs. Clarke and Kent were appointed to the Board on April 1, 2018.
|
| (3) |
Messrs. Messina and Supron were appointed to the Board on November 29, 2016 upon exercise of the warrant held by Scotts Miracle-Gro.
|
Director Compensation Table during Fiscal 2018
The following table sets forth information regarding all forms of compensation received by members of our Board of Directors during Fiscal 2018:
|
Director
|
|
Director Fees Earned
or Paid in Cash
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
Option Awards (1)
|
|
|
Warrant Awards
|
|
|
All Other Compensation
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Jack J. Walker, Director (2)
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
|
Wayne E. Harding, III, Director (2)
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
40,000
|
|
|
Chris J. Hagedorn, Chairman (3)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
Albert Messina, Director (3)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
Peter Supron, Director (3)
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
| |
(1) Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock option awards, as computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718.
|
| |
(2) Messrs. Walker and Harding resigned from the Board effective as of March 31, 2018.
|
| |
(3) As an employee of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Messrs. Hagedorn, Messina and Supron did not receive compensation for his service on the Board of Directors.
|
Messrs. Clarke and Kent were appointed as members of the Board on April 1, 2018, the first day of Fiscal Year 2019, and did not receive any director compensation during Fiscal Year 2018.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Stock Ownership
The following table sets forth certain information as of June 14, 2018 regarding our common stock owned of record or known by the Company to be owned beneficially by: (i) each director, (ii) each executive officer named in the Summary Compensation Table (the “Named Executive Officers”), (iii) all those known by the Company to beneficially own more than 5% of the Company’s common stock, and (iv) all directors and Named Executive Officers as a group.
In general, a person is deemed to be a “beneficial owner” of a security under SEC Rule 13d-3 if that person has or shares the power to vote or direct the voting of such security, or the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which the person has the right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. To the best of our knowledge, subject to community and marital property laws, all persons named have sole voting and investment power with respect to such shares except as otherwise noted. For purposes of calculating percent of class ownership, the table below assumes a total of 34,328,036 shares of common stock outstanding. However, shares of our common stock subject to convertible preferred stock, warrants and stock options that are convertible or exercisable within 60 days of June 14, 2018 are deemed outstanding for purposes of computing the percentage ownership of the person holding such convertible preferred stock, warrants and stock options, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.
|
Name of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Number of Common Shares Beneficially Owned (1)
|
|
|
Number of Common Shares Acquirable Within 60 Days (2)
|
|
|
Percent Beneficial
Ownership
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5% Stockholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SMG Growing Media, Inc. (4), (6)
|
|
|
27,639,294
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
80.52
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Directors and Named Executive Officers
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H. MacGregor Clarke (3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Chris J. Hagedorn (3) (5)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
David B. Kent (3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Albert Messina (3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Peter Supron (3)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
J. Michael Wolfe (3)
|
|
|
147,091
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
Grey H. Gibbs (3)
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
John K. Thompson (3)
|
|
|
18,166
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
All AeroGrow Named Executive Officers and Directors as a Group (8 Persons)
|
|
|
172,757
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
|
*
|
Represents less than 1% of our outstanding common stock as of June 14, 2018.
|
|
(1)
|
Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which include holding voting and investment power with respect to the securities. Shares of common stock that are acquirable within 60 days, though conversion of preferred stock or exercise of options or warrants, are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage of the total number of shares beneficially owned by the designated person, but are not deemed outstanding for computing the percentage for any other person. Beneficial ownership is based on holdings known to the Company and may not include all shares of common stock beneficially owned but held in street name or reflect recent sales or purchases of securities that have not been made known to the Company.
|
|
(2)
|
The number of shares acquirable within 60 days includes any shares issuable upon conversion of convertible preferred stock or upon exercise of options or warrants that are currently exercisable or exercisable within the next 60 days. This number is included in the number of shares beneficially owned.
|
|
(3)
|
The address of the beneficial owner is 6075 Longbow Dr., Suite 200, Boulder, CO 80301.
|
|
(4)
|
Beneficial ownership is based on holdings known to the Company and includes information provided in a Schedule 13D filed with the SEC on August 30, 2017. SMG Growing Media, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro. The address of SMG Growing Media, Inc. and The Scotts Miracle-Gro is 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, Ohio 43041. The shares beneficially owned by SMG Growing Media, Inc. include shares of common stock that were issued on November 29, 2016 upon Scotts Miracle-Gro’s exercise of the Warrant and conversion of all outstanding Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. For further information refer to Note 3, “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements.
|
|
(5)
|
Mr. Hagedorn was elected to the Board by representative of SMG Growing Media, Inc. Mr. Hagedorn does not hold voting or investment power over the shares owned by SMG Growing Media, Inc. and therefore disclaims beneficial ownership over such shares.
|
|
(6)
|
The number referenced as acquirable within 60 days assumes the issuance of shares in accordance with the Scotts Miracle-Gro agreements discussed above.
|
Equity Compensation Plan Information
The following table summarizes information about our equity compensation plans as of March 31, 2018.
|
Plan category
|
|
Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Weighted average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
|
|
|
Number of securities remaining
available for future issuance
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans
|
|
|
174,856
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
12,367,866
|
|
|
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
174,856
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
|
12,367,866
|
|
At March 31, 2018 the Company has no unvested options, and no future compensation expense.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
Review, Approval or Ratification of Transactions with Related Parties
Since April 1, 2017, the beginning of Fiscal 2018, our Board of Directors reviewed and did not object to any of the related party transactions reported in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our Board recognizes that related party transactions present a heightened risk of conflicts of interest and/or improper valuation (or the perception thereof) and therefore follows the procedures as described below to address such risks.
Our Board of Directors is required to review all related party transactions. AeroGrow is prohibited from entering or continuing a material related party transaction that has not been reviewed and approved or ratified by the Board. Additionally, in transactions where an executive officer is considered to be a related party of any provider of our goods or services, the Board of Directors must approve the transaction. In reviewing a related party transaction, the Board of Directors considers all of the relevant factors surrounding the transaction including:
|
·
|
whether there is a valid business reason for us to enter into the related party transaction consistent with the best interests of AeroGrow and its stockholders;
|
|
·
|
whether the transaction is negotiated on an arm’s length basis on terms comparable to those provided to unrelated third parties or on terms comparable to those provided to employees generally;
|
|
·
|
whether the Board of Directors determines that it has been duly apprised of all significant conflicts that may exist or may otherwise arise on account of the transaction, and it believes, nonetheless, that we are warranted in entering into the related party transaction and have developed an appropriate plan to manage the potential conflicts of interest;
|
|
·
|
whether the rates or charges involved in the transaction are determined by competitive bids, or the transaction involves rates or charges fixed in conformity with law or governmental authority; and/or
|
|
·
|
whether the interest of the related party or that of a member of the immediate family of the related party arises solely from the ownership of our class of equity securities and all holders of our equity securities received the same benefit on a pro-rata basis.
|
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, and in prior years, we relied upon a variety of debt funding sources to meet our liquidity requirements, including transactions that: (i) involved members of our Board, management team and certain stockholders that beneficially own more than five percent of our outstanding voting securities and (ii) are required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K. In each case, these related parties received the same terms and conditions as other third-party investors. These transactions are disclosed above under the heading “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation– Liquidity and Capital Resources” and in Note 2, “Notes Payable and Long Term Debt,” Note 6 “Related Party Transactions,” and Note 8 “Stockholders’ Equity,” to our financial statements.
Board Independence
Our common stock trades on the OTCQB market tier and we are considered to be a “smaller reporting company” under applicable SEC rules. As such, we are not currently subject to corporate governance standards of other listed companies, which require, among other things, that the majority of the Board of Directors be independent. Because we are not currently subject to corporate governance standards defining the independence of our directors, we have chosen to define an “independent” director in accordance with the NASDAQ Global Market’s requirements for independent directors. Under the NASDAQ definition, an independent director is a person who is not an executive officer or employee of the Company and who does not have a relationship with the Company that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Our Board has determined that Mr. Harding is the only independent member of our Board of Directors during Fiscal 2018. Mr. Harding served as the Chairman of the Audit Committee until his resignation on March 31, 2018.
Chris J. Hagedorn was initially appointed to the Board by Scotts Miracle-Gro pursuant to a condition to the Securities Purchase Agreement between AeroGrow and Scotts Miracle-Gro which allows Scotts Miracle-Gro, as holder of the Series B Preferred Stock, to appoint one member to the Board of Directors. Additionally, Albert Messina and Peter Supron were appointed to the Board on November 29, 2016 by Scotts Miracle-Gro pursuant to Scotts Miracle-Gro’s exercise of the Warrant. Upon exercise of the Warrant, Scotts Miracle-Gro was entitled to appoint three of the five members of the Board (currently, Messrs. Hagedorn, Messina and Supron). For more details regarding the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Series B Preferred Stock, the Warrant, and related agreements, refer to Note 3, “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements.
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Fees of the Independent Registered Public Accountants
Aggregate fees billed by EKS&H LLLP (“EKS&H”) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
|
|
|
For the Fiscal Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
EKS&H
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Audit Fees
|
|
|
110
|
|
|
|
104
|
|
|
Audit Related Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
Tax Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Total EKS&H
|
|
|
110
|
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grand Total
|
|
$
|
110
|
|
|
$
|
106
|
|
Audit Fees: This category includes the audit of our annual financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, review of quarterly financial statements included in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and if and when required or requested, the audit of the effectiveness of our internal controls.
Audit-related fees: This category consists of assurance and related services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm that are reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements and are not reported above under “Audit Fees.”
Tax fees: This category consists of professional services rendered primarily in connection with our tax planning and compliance activities, including the preparation of tax returns. Although we did incur $26,000 and $13,000 in tax fees during Fiscal 2018 and 2017, respectively, we did not engage EKS&H for any tax services.
All other fees: This category consists of fees for other corporate services, primarily the review of SEC reports other than annual and quarterly reports.
Policy on Audit Committee Pre-Approval of Audit and Permissible Non-Audit Services
The primary purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in monitoring (i) the integrity of our financial statements and disclosures, including oversight of the accounting and financial reporting processes and the audits of our financial statements, (ii) compliance with our legal, ethical, and regulatory requirements, and (iii) the independence and performance of our independent registered public accounting firm.
The Audit Committee’s policy is to pre-approve all audit and non-audit services, other than de minimis non-audit services, provided by the independent registered public accounting firm. In this regard, all fees incurred in Fiscal 2017 and Fiscal 2018, as disclosed above under the caption “Fees of the Independent Registered Public Accountants,” were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. These services may include, among others, audit services, audit-related services, tax services, and other services. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year and any pre-approval is detailed as to particular services or categories of services and is generally subject to a specific budget. The independent registered public accounting firm and management are required to periodically report to the full Board regarding the extent of services provided by the independent registered public accounting firm in accordance with this pre-approval, and the fees for the services performed to date.
The Audit Committee considers the provision of non-audit services by our independent registered public accounting firm compatible with its independence. The Audit Committee will continue to approve all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by our independent registered public accounting firm.
ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
(a) (1) Financial Statements
The financial statements filed as part of this report are provided below.
(2) Financial Statement Schedules
All financial statement schedules have been omitted because they are not required, are not applicable or the information is included in the Financial Statements or Notes thereto.
(3) Exhibits
See exhibit index which follows immediately after the financials below.
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Audit Committee, Board of Directors, and Stockholders
AeroGrow International, Inc.
Boulder, Colorado
OPINION ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of AeroGrow International, Inc. (the “Company”) as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the related statements of income, comprehensive income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows, for each year in the two‑year period ended March 31, 2018, and the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each year in the two‑year period ended March 31, 2018, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
BASIS FOR OPINION
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (“PCAOB”) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
EKS&H LLLP
June 28, 2018
Boulder, Colorado
We have served as the Company’s auditors since 2011.
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BALANCE SHEETS
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
7,482
|
|
|
$
|
8,804
|
|
|
Restricted cash
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $39 and $20 at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
|
|
|
4,296
|
|
|
|
2,484
|
|
|
Other receivables
|
|
|
281
|
|
|
|
258
|
|
|
Inventory, net
|
|
|
5,047
|
|
|
|
2,921
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses and other
|
|
|
493
|
|
|
|
511
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
17,614
|
|
|
|
14,993
|
|
|
Property and equipment and intangible assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $4,386 and
$4,020 at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
|
|
|
514
|
|
|
|
415
|
|
|
Deposits
|
|
|
39
|
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
18,167
|
|
|
$
|
15,514
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable
|
|
$
|
2,748
|
|
|
$
|
1,853
|
|
|
Accrued expenses
|
|
|
2,231
|
|
|
|
1,520
|
|
|
Customer deposits
|
|
|
163
|
|
|
|
106
|
|
|
Debt associated with sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
5,222
|
|
|
|
3,596
|
|
|
Long term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital lease liability
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
Other liability
|
|
|
190
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
5,424
|
|
|
|
3,615
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 7)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, 0 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Common stock, $.001 par value, 750,000,000 shares authorized, 34,328,036 and 33,477,287 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
140,817
|
|
|
|
138,757
|
|
|
Stock dividend to be distributed
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,595
|
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(128,108
|
)
|
|
|
(129,486
|
)
|
|
Total stockholders’ equity
|
|
|
12,743
|
|
|
|
11,899
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
|
$
|
18,167
|
|
|
$
|
15,514
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
|
Years ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net revenue
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
21,598
|
|
|
|
15,044
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
558
|
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
8,071
|
|
|
|
6,125
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
2,519
|
|
|
|
2,394
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
11,148
|
|
|
|
8,911
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss from operations
|
|
|
(448
|
)
|
|
|
(346
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fair value changes in derivative warrant liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,108
|
)
|
|
Interest expense – related party
|
|
|
(21
|
)
|
|
|
(108
|
)
|
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
(36
|
)
|
|
Total other income (expense), net
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
(2,252
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(442
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,598
|
)
|
|
Change in fair value of stock to be distributed for Scotts Miracle-Gro transactions
|
|
|
534
|
|
|
|
(2,167
|
)
|
|
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
92
|
|
|
$
|
(4,765
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss per common share, basic and diluted
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
|
$
|
(0.31
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding, basic
|
|
|
31,128
|
|
|
|
15,547
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average number of common
shares outstanding, diluted
|
|
|
31,212
|
|
|
|
15,547
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Stock dividend
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
(in thousands,
|
|
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Paid-in
|
|
|
to be
|
|
|
Accumulated
|
|
|
Stockholders
|
|
|
except share data)
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
distributed
|
|
|
(Deficit)
|
|
|
Equity
|
|
|
Balances, March 31, 2016
|
|
|
2,649,007
|
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
|
|
7,499,966
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
84,129
|
|
|
$
|
2,391
|
|
|
$
|
(84,329
|
)
|
|
$
|
2,201
|
|
|
Common stock dividend distribution issued in connection with Scotts Miracle-Gro agreements
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,199,656
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
2,146
|
|
|
|
(1,723
|
)
|
|
|
1,119
|
|
|
|
1,543
|
|
|
Conversion of preferred stock to common stock and exercise of warrant
|
|
|
(2,649,007
|
)
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
24,296,526
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
|
|
50,541
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
50,562
|
|
|
Exercise of stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
481,139
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
786
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
787
|
|
|
Stock options issued under equity compensation plans
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
152
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
152
|
|
|
Change in fair value of stock to be distributed for Scotts Miracle-Gro transactions
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,003
|
|
|
|
1,927
|
|
|
|
(3,170
|
)
|
|
|
(240
|
)
|
|
Dividend paid
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(40,508
|
)
|
|
|
(40,508
|
)
|
|
Net (loss)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(2,598
|
)
|
|
|
(2,598
|
)
|
|
Balances, March 31, 2017
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
33,477,287
|
|
|
$
|
33
|
|
|
$
|
138,757
|
|
|
$
|
2,595
|
|
|
$
|
(129,486
|
)
|
|
$
|
11,899
|
|
|
Common stock dividend distribution issued in connection with Scotts Miracle-Gro agreements
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
851,749
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
2,060
|
|
|
|
(2,061
|
)
|
|
|
1,286
|
|
|
|
1,286
|
|
|
Change in fair value of stock to be distributed for Scotts Miracle-Gro transactions
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(534
|
)
|
|
|
534
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Net (loss)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(442
|
)
|
|
|
(442
|
)
|
|
Balances, March 31, 2018
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
34,329,036
|
|
|
$
|
34
|
|
|
$
|
140,817
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
(128,108
|
)
|
|
$
|
12,743
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash flows from operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net (loss)
|
|
$
|
(442
|
)
|
|
$
|
(2,598
|
)
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) to cash and cash equivalents used by operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of stock options under equity compensation plans
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
152
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization expense
|
|
|
346
|
|
|
|
368
|
|
|
Bad debt expense
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
Inventory allowance
|
|
|
(296
|
)
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
Fair value remeasurement of derivative warrant liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
2,108
|
|
|
Accretion of debt associated with sale of intellectual property
|
|
|
(37
|
)
|
|
|
(43
|
)
|
|
Loss on write-off of assets
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
SMG intellectual property royalty and branding license
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
1,241
|
|
|
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Increase) in accounts receivable
|
|
|
(1,881
|
)
|
|
|
(912
|
)
|
|
(Increase) in other receivable
|
|
|
(23
|
)
|
|
|
(26
|
)
|
|
(Increase) decrease in inventory
|
|
|
(1,830
|
)
|
|
|
152
|
|
|
Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
(315
|
)
|
|
Decrease in deposits
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
Increase(decrease) in accounts payable
|
|
|
2,181
|
|
|
|
(115
|
)
|
|
Increase in accrued expenses
|
|
|
901
|
|
|
|
555
|
|
|
Increase in accrued interest – related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
108
|
|
|
Increase (decrease) increase in customer deposits
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
|
(246
|
)
|
|
Net cash and cash equivalents provided (used) by operating activities
|
|
|
(851
|
)
|
|
|
560
|
|
|
Cash flows from investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of equipment
|
|
|
(464
|
)
|
|
|
(138
|
)
|
|
Net cash and cash equivalents (used) by investing activities
|
|
|
(464
|
)
|
|
|
(138
|
)
|
|
Cash flows from financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from notes payable – related party
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
5,250
|
|
|
Repayments of notes payable – related party
|
|
|
(1,000
|
)
|
|
|
(6,354
|
)
|
|
Repayments of capital lease
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
Proceeds for the exercise of warrants
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
47,810
|
|
|
Payments of dividend distribution
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(40,508
|
)
|
|
Proceeds from exercise of stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
787
|
|
|
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities
|
|
|
(7
|
)
|
|
|
6,981
|
|
|
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(1,322
|
)
|
|
|
7,403
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period
|
|
|
8,819
|
|
|
|
1,416
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
|
|
$
|
7,497
|
|
|
$
|
8,819
|
|
(continued on next page)
See supplemental disclosures on the following page and the accompanying notes to the financial statements
|
|
|
Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Interest paid in cash
|
|
$
|
20
|
|
|
$
|
104
|
|
|
Income taxes paid
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment acquired through capital lease
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
23
|
|
|
Decrease in liability due to issuance of stock to SMG on notes payable – related party
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
297
|
|
|
Fair value of common stock issued for payment of interest on notes payable-related party
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
480
|
|
|
Change in fair value of common stock issued for payment of interest on notes payable-related party at issuance
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
183
|
|
|
Change in fair value of SMG intellectual property royalty, branding license and interest on notes payable-related party
|
|
$
|
485
|
|
|
$
|
(2,774
|
)
|
|
Change in fair value of stock dividends for common stock issued on convertible preferred stock
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
1,003
|
|
|
Change in fair value of stock dividends accrued on convertible preferred stock
|
|
$
|
49
|
|
|
$
|
(579
|
)
|
|
Decrease in liability due to issuance of stock to SMG for intellectual property and branding license
|
|
$
|
1,286
|
|
|
$
|
1,006
|
|
See accompanying notes to the financial statements
AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1 – Description of the Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Organization and Description of the Business
AeroGrow International, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” “AeroGrow,” or “our “) was incorporated in the State of Nevada on March 25, 2002. The Company’s principal business is developing, marketing, and distributing advanced indoor aeroponic garden systems designed and priced to appeal to the consumer gardening, cooking and small indoor appliance markets worldwide. The Company manufactures, distributes and markets ten different models of its AeroGarden systems in multiple colors, as well as over 40 varieties of seed pod kits and a full line of accessory products through multiple channels including retail distribution (brick and mortar and online), catalogue and direct-to-consumer sales in the United States and Canada.
Liquidity and Basis of Presentation
As shown in the accompanying financial statements, we have incurred net losses of $442,000 and $2.6 million for the years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and have an accumulated deficit of $128.1 million as of March 31, 2018. As more fully discussed in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, the Company has developed sources of funding that management believes are sufficient to support the Company’s operating plan for one year from the date these financials were filed. The Company’s operating plan is predicated on a variety of assumptions including, but not limited to, the level of customer and consumer demand, the effect of cost reduction programs, and the state of the general economic environment in which the Company operates. There can be no assurance that these assumptions will prove to be accurate in all material respects, or that the Company will be able to successfully execute its operating plan.
We may need to seek additional debt or equity capital during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2019 to address the seasonal nature of our working capital needs, and to enable us to increase the scale of our business. Sources of funding to meet prospective cash requirements include the Company’s existing cash balances, cash flow from operations and financing from Scotts Miracle-Gro. There can be no assurance we will be able to raise this additional capital. As part of our efforts to seek additional funding of our operations, in April 2013, we entered into a strategic alliance with SMG Growing Media, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, a worldwide marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products (“Scotts Miracle-Gro”). As part of the strategic alliance, in April 2013 Scotts Miracle-Gro (i) acquired 2,649,007 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million; and (ii) purchased all of the Company’s intellectual property associated with hydroponic products, other than the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks, for $500,000. In November 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro exercised the warrant and converted its Series B Convertible Preferred Stock into shares of common stock, thereby bringing Scotts Miracle-Gro’s ownership of our common stock to approximately 80%. In every year since Fiscal Year 2014, Scotts Miracle-Gro has provided term loan funding to enable us to meet prospective cash flow requirements to fund inventory demands in advance of our peak selling season. For Fiscal Year 2018, we entered into a $2.0 million Term Loan with Scotts Miracle-Gro on September 13, 2017. On December 29, 2017, the outstanding balance of the Term Loan and accrued interest were repaid in full. For further information on the debt arrangement with Scotts Miracle-Gro, please see Note 2 “Notes Payable and Long Term Debt” and the strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro, please see Note 3 “Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions” to our financial statements. Additionally, in the prior year on November 29, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant option to purchase 80% of the Company’s common stock.
Significant Accounting Policies
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. It is reasonably possible that a change in the Company’s estimates will occur in the near term and such change could be material as information becomes available. Our estimates include the derivative warrant liability, warranty and return reserves, inventory obsolescence reserves and allowances for sales and cooperative advertising.
Net Income (Loss) per Share of Common Stock
The Company computes net income (loss) per share of common stock in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 260. ASC 260 requires companies with complex capital structures to present basic and diluted Earnings per Share (“EPS”). Basic EPS is measured as the income or loss available to common shareholders divided by the weighted average shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is similar to basic EPS, but presents the dilutive effect on a per share basis of potential common stock (e.g., convertible securities, options, and warrants) as if they had been converted at the beginning of the periods presented. Potential shares of common stock that have an anti-dilutive effect (i.e., those that increase income per share or decrease loss per share) are excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS. Securities that were excluded from the computation of EPS because to do so would have been anti-dilutive were employee stock options to purchase 93,000 shares of common stock for the period ended March 31, 2018 and employee stock options and warrants to purchase 488,000 shares for the period ended March 31, 2017.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents. There were no cash equivalents at March 31, 2018 and 2017.
Restricted Cash
The Company has secured activity related to its corporate credit card purchase account with a restricted money market account. The balance in this account as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017 was $15,000.
Concentrations of Risk
ASC 825-10-50-20 requires disclosure of significant concentrations of credit risk regardless of the degree of such risk. Financial instruments with significant credit risk include cash deposits. The amounts on deposit with two financial institutions exceeded the $250,000 federally insured limit as of March 31, 2018. However, management believes that the financial institution is financially sound and the risk of loss is minimal.
Customers and Accounts Receivable:
For the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company had one customer, Amazon.com, who represented 30.2%, of the Company’s net revenue. For the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company had one customer, Amazon.com, who represented 40.8%, of the Company’s net revenue.
As of March 31, 2018, the Company had two customers, Canadian Tire Corporation and Amazon.com, which represented 27.3% and 22.3%, respectively of outstanding accounts receivable. As of March 31, 2017, the Company had three customers, Amazon.com, Amazon.uk, and Amazon.ca, which represented 33.9%, 14.3% and 11.0%, respectively, of outstanding accounts receivable. Management believes that all receivables from these customers are collectible.
Suppliers:
For the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company purchased inventories and other inventory related items from one supplier totaling $14.7 million representing 68.0% of cost of revenue. For the year ended March 31, 2017, the Company purchased inventories and other inventory related items from one supplier totaling $8.7 million representing 57.6% of cost of revenue.
The Company’s primary contract manufacturers are located in China. As a result, the Company may be subject to political, currency, regulatory, shipping, labor and weather/natural disaster risks. Although the Company believes alternate sources of manufacturing could be obtained, these risks and any potential loss of supply could have an adverse impact on operations.
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The Company follows the guidance in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures (“ASC 820”), as it relates to the fair value of its financial assets and liabilities. This guidance requires disclosure of fair value information about certain financial instruments (insurance contracts, real estate, goodwill and taxes are excluded) for which it is practicable to estimate such values, whether or not these instruments are included in the balance sheet at fair value. The fair values presented for certain financial instruments are estimates which, in many cases, may differ significantly from the amounts that could be realized upon immediate liquidation.
Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability, i.e., exit price, in an orderly transaction between market participants. ASC 820 also provides a hierarchy for determining fair value, which emphasizes the use of observable market data whenever available. The three broad levels defined by the hierarchy are as follows, with the highest priority given to Level 1 as these are the most reliable, and the lowest priority given to Level 3. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:
|
Level 1:
|
Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
|
|
Level 2:
|
Quoted prices for similar assets in active markets, quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data, including model-derived valuations.
|
|
Level 3:
|
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity.
|
The carrying value of financial instruments, including cash, receivables, accounts payable and accrued expenses, approximates their fair value at March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017 due to the relatively short-term nature of these instruments.
The Company’s intellectual property liability carrying value was determined by Level 3 inputs. As discussed below in Notes 2 and 3, this liability was incurred in conjunction with the Company’s strategic alliance with Scotts Miracle-Gro. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the fair value of the Company’s sale of intellectual property liability was estimated using the discounted cash flow method, which is based on expected future cash flows, discounted to present value using a discount rate of 15%. Historically, the Company has also had a note payable from Scotts Miracle-Gro that is also valued using the discounted cash flow method. The Company borrowed a total of $1.0 million from Scotts Miracle-Gro from two $500,000 advances in October 2017, but repaid the principal and interest in full on December 29, 2017. The table below summarizes the fair value and carry value of each Level 3 category liability:
|
|
|
March 31, 2018
|
|
|
March 31, 2017
|
|
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Carry Value
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Carry Value
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sale of intellectual property liability
|
|
|
65
|
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
90
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
65
|
|
|
$
|
80
|
|
|
$
|
90
|
|
|
$
|
117
|
|
The table below sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of the Company’s Level 3 liabilities for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
Derivative warrant liability
|
|
|
Notes payable-related party
|
|
|
Sale of intellectual
property liability
|
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2016
|
|
$
|
644
|
|
|
$
|
1,277
|
|
|
$
|
117
|
|
|
Revaluations prior to exercise
|
|
|
2,108
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Exercise of derivative warrant liability
|
|
|
(2,752
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Proceeds notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
5,250
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Payment of notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(6,354
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Value of common stock issued for interest on notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(173
|
)
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Amortization of intellectual property
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(27
|
)
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2017
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
90
|
|
|
Revaluations prior to exercise
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Exercise of derivative warrant liability
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Proceeds notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Payment of notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Value of common stock issued for interest on notes payable-related party
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Amortization of intellectual property
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
(25
|
)
|
|
Balance, March 31, 2018
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
65
|
|
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for financial accounting purposes is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated lives of the respective assets. Office equipment and computer hardware are depreciated over five years. Tooling is depreciated over three years. Leasehold improvements are being amortized over the life of the lease.
Property and equipment consist of the following:
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Manufacturing equipment and tooling
|
|
$
|
3,797
|
|
|
$
|
3,349
|
|
|
Computer equipment and software
|
|
|
626
|
|
|
|
612
|
|
|
Leasehold improvements
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
|
116
|
|
|
Other equipment and intangible assets
|
|
|
358
|
|
|
|
358
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,897
|
|
|
|
4,435
|
|
|
Less: accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(4,385
|
)
|
|
|
(4,020
|
)
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
$
|
512
|
|
|
$
|
415
|
|
Depreciation expense for the years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, was $346,000, and $368,000, respectively.
Inventory
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost, determined on the basis of standard costing, which approximates the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. When the Company is the manufacturer, raw materials, labor and manufacturing overhead are included in inventory costs. The Company records the raw materials at delivered cost. Standard labor and manufacturing overhead costs are applied to the finished goods based on normal production capacity. A majority of the Company’s products are manufactured overseas and are recorded at standard cost, which includes product costs for purchased and manufactured products, and freight and transportation costs for inbound freight from manufacturers.
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finished goods
|
|
$
|
4,117
|
|
|
$
|
2,274
|
|
|
Raw materials
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
647
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,047
|
|
|
$
|
2,921
|
|
The Company determines an inventory obsolescence reserve based on management’s historical experience and establishes reserves against inventory according to the age of the product. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company had reserved $66,000 and $362,000, respectively, for inventory obsolescence.
Accounts Receivable and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
The Company sells its products to retailers and direct-to-consumer. Direct-to-consumer transactions are primarily paid by credit card. Retailer sales terms vary by customer, but are generally net 30 days to net 60 days. Accounts receivable are reported at net realizable value and net of the allowance for doubtful accounts. The Company uses the allowance method to account for uncollectible accounts receivable. The Company’s allowance estimate is based on a review of the current status of trade accounts receivable, which resulted in an allowance of $39,000 and $20,000 at March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively.
Other Receivables
In conjunction with the Company’s processing of credit card transactions for its direct-to-consumer sales activities and as security with respect to the Company’s performance for required credit card refunds and charge backs, the Company is required to maintain a cash reserve with Vanity, the Company’s credit card processor. This reserve is equal to 5% of the credit card sales processed during the previous six months. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the balance in this reserve account was $281,000 and $258,000, respectively.
Advertising and Production Costs
The Company expenses all production costs related to advertising, including, print, television, and radio advertisements when the advertisement has been broadcast or otherwise distributed. In contrast, the Company records media and marketing costs related to its direct-to-consumer advertisements, inclusive of postage and printing costs incurred in conjunction with mailings of direct response catalogues, and related direct response advertising costs, in accordance ASC 340-20 Capitalized Advertising Costs. As prescribed by ASC 340-20-25, direct-to-consumer advertising costs incurred are reported as assets and should be amortized over the estimated period of the benefits, based on the proportion of current period revenue from the advertisement to probable future revenue.
As the Company has re-entered the retail distribution channel, the Company has expanded its advertising to online gateway and portal advertising, as well as placement in third party catalogues.
Advertising expenses for the years ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, were as follows:
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
$
|
579
|
|
|
$
|
424
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
3,412
|
|
|
|
2,533
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
759
|
|
|
|
706
|
|
|
Total advertising expense
|
|
$
|
4,750
|
|
|
$
|
3,663
|
|
As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company had deferred $14,000 and $24,000, respectively, related to such media and advertising costs, which include the catalogue cost described above and commercial production costs. The costs are included in the prepaid expenses and other line of the balance sheet.
Research and Development
Research, development, and engineering costs are expensed as incurred. Research, development, and engineering expenses primarily include payroll and headcount related costs, contractor fees, infrastructure costs, and administrative expenses directly related to research and development support.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company uses the Black-Scholes option valuation model to estimate the fair value of stock option awards. For the years ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, equity compensation in the form of stock options and grants of restricted stock that vested totaled zero and $152,000, respectively, and is included in the accompanying statements of operations in the following categories:
|
|
|
Years ended
|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2018
|
|
|
March 31, 2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
27
|
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
152
|
|
Income Taxes
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at the end of each period, based on enacted laws and statutory rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Any liability for actual taxes to taxing authorities is recorded as income tax liability. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established against such assets where management is unable to conclude that it is “more likely than not” that the value of such asset will be realized. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company recognized a valuation allowance equal to 100% of the net deferred tax asset balance.
Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenue from product sales, net of estimated returns, when persuasive evidence of a sale exists, including the following: (i) a product is shipped under an agreement with a customer; (ii) risk of loss and title has passed to the customer; (iii) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (iv) collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured.
The Company records estimated reductions to revenue for customer and distributor programs and incentive offerings, including promotions, rebates, and other volume-based incentives. Certain incentive programs require the Company to estimate revenue reductions based on industry experience the number of customers who will actually redeem the incentive. At March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company had accrued $430,000 and $304,000 respectively, as its estimate for deductions and allowances. These expenses are included in the accrued expenses line of the balance sheets.
Warranty and Return Reserves
The Company records warranty liabilities at the time of sale for the estimated costs that may be incurred under its basic warranty program. The specific warranty terms and conditions vary depending upon the product sold, but generally include technical support, repair parts and labor for periods up to one year. Factors that affect the Company’s warranty liability include the number of installed units currently under warranty, historical and anticipated rates of warranty claims on those units, and cost per claim to satisfy the Company’s warranty obligation. Based upon the foregoing, the Company has recorded as of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017 a provision for potential future warranty costs of $111,000 and $125,000, respectively. These reserves are recorded in the accrued expenses line of the balance sheets.
The Company reserves for known and potential returns from customers and associated refunds or credits related to such returns based upon historical experience. In certain cases, retail customers are provided a fixed allowance, usually in the 1% to 2% range, to cover returned goods and this allowance is deducted from payments made to us by such customers. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company has recorded a reserve for customer returns of $293,000 and $175,000, respectively. These expenses are included in the accrued expenses line of the balance sheets.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are recorded in cost of revenue and are capitalized in inventory until the inventory is sold. Shipping and handling costs associated with freight out to customers are also included in cost of revenue. Shipping and handling charges paid by customers are included in net revenue.
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information
GAAP utilizes a management approach based on allocating resources and assessing performance as the source of the Company’s reportable segments. GAAP also requires disclosures about products and services, geographic areas and major customers. At present, the Company operates in two segments, Direct-to-Consumer and Retail Sales.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-18, “Statement of Cash Flows.” The new guidance will require that the statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. Therefore, amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents is required to be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this new guidance in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2018; the adoption did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, “Financial Instruments – Credit Losses: Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments,” which requires entities to estimate all expected credit losses for certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables, held at the reporting date based on historical experience, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts. The updated guidance also expands the disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand the entity’s assumptions, models and methods for estimating expected credit losses over the entire contractual term of the instrument from the date of initial recognition of that instrument. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim periods within that reporting period. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is in the process of evaluating the potential impacts of this new guidance on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-09, “Improvements to Employee Share-Based Compensation Accounting,” which requires that excess tax benefits are recorded on the income statement as opposed to additional paid-in-capital, and treated as an operating activity on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 also allows companies to make an accounting policy election to either estimate the number of awards that are expected to vest (current U.S. GAAP) or account for forfeitures when they occur. ASU 2016-09 further requires cash paid by an employer when directly withholding shares for tax-withholding purposes to be classified as a financing activity on the statement of cash flows. The standard became effective for us in Fiscal Year 2018 and did not have a material impact on our financial statements.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” The new standard establishes a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either finance or operating, with classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement. The new standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. The adoption of this ASU is expected to result in all operating leases being capitalized and a current and long-term liability recorded in the Company’s financial statements.
In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-14 to defer the effective date by one year of previously issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” which amended revenue recognition guidance to clarify the principles for recognizing revenue from contracts with customers. The guidance requires an entity to recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The guidance also requires expanded disclosures relating to the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Additionally, qualitative and quantitative disclosures are required about customer contracts, significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract. This accounting guidance is effective for the Company beginning in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2019 using one of two prescribed methods. We anticipate we will adopt the modified retrospective transition method and are currently do not believe there will be a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures.
In August 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-15, “Presentation of Financial Statements – Going Concern: Disclosures of Uncertainties about an Entity’s Ability to Continue as a Going Concern,” which requires management to evaluate whether there are conditions and events that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the financial statements are issued. This ASU is effective for annual periods ending after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.
Note 2 – Notes Payable and Long Term Debt
We relied upon a variety of debt funding sources to meet our liquidity requirements during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, as summarized below:
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
(in thousands)
|
|
|
2017
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Notes Payable –related party
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
Sale of intellectual property liability (see Note 3)
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Total debt
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Less current portion
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
Long term debt
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
Debt Payment Obligations
As of March 31, 2018, we have no remaining debt requiring cash payments. All outstanding debt obligations are related to the Scotts Miracle-Gro transaction as described in Note 3 to our financial statements.
Scotts Miracle-Gro Term Loan Agreement
On September 13, 2017, the Company entered into a Term Loan Agreement in the principal amount of up to $2.0 million with Scotts Miracle-Gro. The proceeds will be made available as needed in increments of $500,000 not to exceed $2.0 million with a due date of March 30, 2018. The Company repaid the principal and interest in full on December 29, 2017. As a result the Company’s note payable balance was $0 on December 31, 2017. The Term Loan Agreement was secured by a lien on the assets of the Company. Interest was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum and will be paid, in cash, quarterly in arrears at the end of each September, December and March. The funds provided under the Term Loan are used for general working capital and to acquire inventory to support anticipated growth as the Company expands its retail and its direct-to-consumer sales channels. The Company borrowed $1.0 million under the Term Loan in October 2017. The Term Loan permits prepayments without penalty or premium and as of December 31, 2017 the Company repaid the outstanding balance of the Term Loan and accrued interest in full.
Liability Associated with Scotts Miracle-Gro Transaction
On April 22, 2013, The Company and Scotts Miracle-Gro agreed to enter an Intellectual Property Sale Agreement, a Technology License Agreement, a Brand License Agreement, and a Supply Chain Services Agreement. The Intellectual Property Sale Agreement and the Technology License constitute an agreement of sales of future revenues. Because the Company received cash from Scotts Miracle-Gro and agreed to pay for a defined period a specified percentage of revenue and because the Company has significant involvement in the generation of its revenue, the excess paid over net book value is classified as debt and is being amortized under the effective interest method. As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company recorded a liability of $80,000 and $117,000, respectively, was recorded on the balance sheets for the Intellectual Property Sale Agreement.
Note 3 – Scotts Miracle-Gro Transactions – Convertible Preferred Stock, Warrants and Other Transactions
On April 22, 2013, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with SMG Growing Media, Inc. (the “Investor”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro (NYSE: “SMG”), a worldwide marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products. Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, Scotts Miracle-Gro acquired 2,649,007 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Series B Preferred Stock”), and (ii) a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrant,” as described in greater detail below) for an aggregate purchase price of $4.0 million. The Securities Purchase Agreement, Certificates of Designations for the Series B Preferred Stock, Form of Warrant, Indemnification Agreement, Investor’s Rights Agreement and Voting Agreement have been filed as exhibits to a Current Report on Form 8-K that was filed with the SEC on April 23, 2013. On November 29, 2016 Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised the Warrant and upon exercise of the Warrant the Series B Preferred Stock converted into shares of common stock.
The Series B Preferred Stock was convertible into 2,649,007 shares of common stock ($4.0 million divided by a conversion price of $1.51 per share). The Series B Preferred Stock bore a cumulative annual dividend of 8.0%, payable in shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.51 per share (subject to customary anti-dilution rights, as described in the Series B Preferred Stock Certificates of Designations). The Series B Preferred Stock did not have a liquidation preference and was entitled to vote on an “as-converted” basis with the common stock. The stock dividend accrued from day to day and was payable in shares of our common stock within thirty days after the end of each fiscal year end. The stock dividend was recorded at the fair market value of our common stock at the end of each quarter in the equity section of the balance sheet. The corresponding charge was recorded below net income to arrive at net income available to common shareholders. The Series B Preferred Stock automatically converted into the Company’s common stock: (i) upon the affirmative election of the holders of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of the Series B Preferred Stock voting together as a single class on an as-if-converted to common stock basis; or (ii) if, at the date of exercise in whole or in part of the Warrant, the holder (or holders) of the Series B Preferred Stock own 50.1% of the issued and then-outstanding common stock of the Company, giving effect to the issuance of shares of common stock in connection with the conversion of the Series B Preferred Stock and such exercise of the Warrant. By its terms, the Series B Preferred Stock automatically converted into the Company’s common stock on November 29, 2016.
The Warrant entitled, but did not obligate, Scotts Miracle-Gro to purchase a number of shares of common stock that, on a “fully diluted basis” (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement), constitute 80% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock (when added to all other shares owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro), as calculated as of the date or dates of exercise. The exercise price of the Warrant was equal to the quotient obtained by dividing:
(a) an amount equal to (i) 1.34 times the trailing twelve months “Net Sales” (which includes sales of the Company’s products by Scotts Miracle-Gro and its affiliates) minus (ii) “Debt Outstanding” net of cash (as such terms are defined in the Warrant,
by
(b) the total shares of capital stock outstanding, including outstanding in-the-money options and warrants, but not the Warrant contemplated in this Private Offering.
Upon exercise of the Warrants and demand by Scotts Miracle-Gro, the Company must use its best efforts to file a Registration Statement on Form S-3, or, if the Company is not eligible for Form S-3, on Form S-1 (collectively, the “Registration Statement”), covering the shares of the Company’s common stock covered by the Preferred Stock and the Warrant, within 120 calendar days after receipt of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s demand for registration and shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective as soon as possible thereafter.
The private offering and sale of the Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant was conducted in reliance upon exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, those under Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Scotts Miracle-Gro is an “accredited investor,” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Because the Series B Preferred Stock and the Warrant have not been registered under the Securities Act, they may not be reoffered or resold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from registration.
Under the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) is required to consist of five members, which shall be set forth in the Company’s Bylaws. In addition, Scotts Miracle-Gro is entitled to appoint one member to the Board and have one additional Board observer while the Warrant remains outstanding, pursuant to provision, Scotts Miracle-Gro has appointed Chris J. Hagedorn to the Company’s Board effective as of April 22, 2013. Upon exercise of the Warrant, Scotts Miracle-Gro was entitled to appoint three of the five members of the Board.
The foregoing description of the Securities Purchase Agreement, the Certificates of Designations for the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, the Warrant, and the resulting transaction is only a summary, does not purport to be complete, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the applicable documents, each of which was included as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, as filed with the SEC on April 23, 2013. The warrant on the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock was accounted for as a liability at its estimated fair value. The derivative warrant liability was re-measured to fair value, on a recurring basis, at the end of each reporting period until it was exercised. The Company accounted for the warrant as a liability and measured the value of the warrant using the Monte Carlo simulation model as of the end of each quarterly reporting period until the warrant was exercised. On November 29, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock, when the derivative warrant liability was extinguished and the Convertible Preferred Stock was converted to common stock.
In conjunction with the Private Offering described above, the Company and Scotts Miracle-Gro also agreed to the following:
Intellectual Property Sale. The Company also agreed to sell to Scotts Miracle-Gro all intellectual property associated with the Company’s hydroponic products (the “Hydroponic IP”), other than the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks, free and clear of all encumbrances, for $500,000. Scotts Miracle-Gro has the right to use the AeroGrow and AeroGarden trademarks in connection with the sale of products incorporating the Hydroponic IP. The Intellectual Property Sale Agreement and the Technology License constitute an agreement of sales of future revenues. Because the Company received cash from Scotts Miracle-Gro and agreed to pay for a defined period a specified percentage of the revenue, and the Company has significant involvement in the generation of the revenue, the excess paid over net book value is classified as a liability and is being amortized under the effective interest method. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, $80,000 and $117,000 was recorded as a liability on the balance sheets.
Technology Licensing Agreement. The Company was granted an exclusive license (the “Technology License”) to use the Hydroponic IP in North America and certain European countries (collectively, the “Company Markets”) in return for a royalty of 2% of annual net sales (the “Royalty”), as determined at the end of each fiscal year. The Royalty is payable in the Company’s common stock at $1.51 per share, the conversion price of the Series B Stock. As of March 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company has accrued as a liability $648,000 and $472,000, respectively, for the Technology Licensing Agreement. The accrual is calculated as 2% of the annual net sales and recorded as a liability. The accrued liability for shares to be distributed at $1.51 per share is fair valued at period end was $0 and $935,000 of the stock dividend to be distributed as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The initial term of the Technology License is five years, and the Company may renew the Technology License for an additional five-year terms by providing notice to Scotts Miracle-Gro at least six months in advance of the expiration of each five-year term, provided that Scotts Miracle-Gro is not in default under the Technology Licensing Agreement at the time of renewal. The Technology License may not be assigned.
Brand License. The Company and Scotts Miracle-Gro also entered a brand license whereby the Company may use certain of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s trade name, trademark and/or service mark to rebrand the AeroGarden and, with the written consent of Scotts Miracle-Gro, other products in the Company Markets in exchange for the Company’s payment to Scotts Miracle-Gro of an amount equal to 5% of incremental growth in annual net sales, as compared to net sales during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2013. Such brand license compensation was payable in the Company’s common stock at $1.51 per share (the conversion price of the Series B Preferred Stock). The initial term of the brand license will be five years, and the Company may renew the license for additional five-year terms by providing notice to Scotts Miracle-Gro at least six months in advance of the expiration of each five-year term, provided that Scotts Miracle-Gro is not in default under the brand license at the time of renewal. The brand license may not be assigned. The brand license may only be terminated by Scotts Miracle-Gro in the event of an uncured default, under the terms of the brand license. The Brand License Agreement was filed with the SEC on February 17, 2015 as Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2014. The accrual is calculated as 5% of the incremental annual net sales and recorded as a liability. The accrued liability for shares to be distributed at $1.51 per share amounts to $0 million and $1.6 million of the stock dividend to be distributed as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Collaboration. During the term of the Brand License, the Company has access to Scotts Miracle-Gro’s business development team, selling, marketing and supply chain resources, customer and email lists, for reasonable “out of pocket” costs, and Scotts Miracle-Gro will have access to the Company’s consumer email lists.
Supply Chain Services Agreement. During the term of the Technology License Agreement, Scotts Miracle-Gro will pay the Company an annual fee equal to 7% of the cost of goods of all products that Scotts Miracle-Gro purchases from the Company or a vendor, in exploiting the Hydroponic IP internationally (outside of the Company Markets) over the course of each contract year during the term of the Securities Purchase Agreement.
Note 4 – Equity Compensation Plans and Employee Benefit Plans
In August 2005, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan (the “2005 Plan”) pursuant to which both qualified and nonqualified stock options as well as restricted shares of common stock are reserved for issuance to eligible employees, consultants and directors of the Company. A total of 13,505,000 shares of our common stock may be granted under the 2005 Plan. The 2005 Equity Compensation plan has expired and we currently do not anticipate a shareholder meeting to approve a new plan.
The 2005 Plan is administered by the Company’s Governance, Compensation and Nominating Committee, which has the authority to select the individuals to whom awards are to be granted, the number of shares of common stock to be covered by each award, the vesting schedule of stock options and/or restricted stock, and all other terms and conditions of each award.
For the years ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, the Company did not grant any options to purchase the Company’s common stock under the 2005 Equity Compensation Plan. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had a total of 175,000 options outstanding with exercise prices ranging from $1.10 to $5.31 per share.
As a result of recognizing compensation expense for stock options, the net loss for the years ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, was increased by $0 and $152,000, respectively.
A summary of option activity in the 2005 Plan is as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise price
|
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Low
|
|
|
High
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Balances at April 1, 2016
|
|
|
656
|
|
|
$
|
1.01
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
|
$
|
2.13
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(481
|
)
|
|
|
1.01
|
|
|
|
2.42
|
|
|
|
1.67
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Balances at March 31, 2017
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
$
|
1.10
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Forfeited
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Balances at March 31, 2018
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
$
|
1.10
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
Information regarding all stock options outstanding under the 2005 Plan as of March 31, 2018 is as follows:
| |
|
|
OPTIONS OUTSTANDING AND EXERCISABLE
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
average
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
average
|
|
|
Intrinsic
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Contractual
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Value
|
|
|
price
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Life (years)
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
$
|
1.10
|
|
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
0.08
|
|
|
$
|
1.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1.55
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
2.38
|
|
|
$
|
1.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2.20
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
0.55
|
|
|
$
|
2.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
|
|
93
|
|
|
|
1.35
|
|
|
$
|
5.31
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
|
0.94
|
|
|
$
|
3.50
|
|
|
$
|
73
|
|
The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the difference between the Company’s closing stock price and the exercise price of each in-the-money option on the last trading day of the period presented which was March 30, 2018.
At March 31, 2018, there are no unvested outstanding options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock and that will result in no additional compensation expense.
We sponsor a defined contribution 401(k) plan adopted in fiscal year 2017, under which eligible associates voluntarily contribute to the plan, up to IRS maximums, through payroll deductions. We match a percentage of contributions, up to a stated limit, with all matching contributions being fully vested immediately. Our matching contributions under the 401(k) plan were $33,000 and $31,000 for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Note 5 – Income Taxes
Under the provisions of GAAP, a deferred tax asset or liability (net of valuation allowance) is provided in the financial statements by applying the provisions of applicable laws to measure the deferred tax consequences of temporary differences that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future years as a result of events recognized in the financial statements in the current or preceding years.
|
Income tax provision consisted of the following:
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Current:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
State
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
Deferred:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Foreign
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
State
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax provision
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
Reconciliation of effective tax rate:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the Years Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Federal taxes at statutory rate
|
|
|
30.75
|
%
|
|
|
34.00
|
%
|
|
State taxes, net of federal benefit
|
|
|
-11.09
|
%
|
|
|
0.58
|
%
|
|
FMV excess of conversion price
|
|
|
-74.75
|
%
|
|
|
5.15
|
%
|
|
Warrants Valuation
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
-15.35
|
%
|
|
Fair Value of Dividend-Paid by Stock
|
|
|
-48.71
|
%
|
|
|
-15.10
|
%
|
|
Stock Options ISO
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
-1.03
|
%
|
|
Other Permanent items
|
|
|
1.87
|
%
|
|
|
-0.13
|
%
|
|
Change in effective tax rate
|
|
|
353.71
|
%
|
|
|
-0.19
|
%
|
|
Other Adjustments
|
|
|
-12.96
|
%
|
|
|
-0.68
|
%
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
|
-6,366.72
|
%
|
|
|
-6.47
|
%
|
|
Federal NOL Carryforward Reduction
|
|
|
5,110.07
|
%
|
|
|
-0.80
|
%
|
|
State NOL Carryforward Reduction
|
|
|
655.18
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
NOL Created by Tax Stock Comp
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
-1.22
|
%
|
|
Stock-based compensation
|
|
|
362.89
|
%
|
|
|
1.22
|
%
|
|
Effective income tax rate
|
|
|
0.24
|
%
|
|
|
-0.02
|
%
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of March 31,
|
|
|
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
|
Non-Current Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Operating Loss
|
|
$
|
2,697
|
|
|
$
|
22,827
|
|
|
R & D credit carryforwards
|
|
|
597
|
|
|
|
597
|
|
|
Intangibles and fixed assets
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
82
|
|
|
Accrued compensation
|
|
|
226
|
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
Allowance for bad debt
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
Reserve for customer returns
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
Warranty reserve
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
Reserve for obsolete inventory
|
|
|
71
|
|
|
|
133
|
|
|
Stock-compensation
|
|
|
72
|
|
|
|
1,405
|
|
|
Royalty Payments made with Stock
|
|
|
462
|
|
|
|
455
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
44
|
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
(70
|
)
|
|
|
(105
|
)
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
|
(4,258
|
)
|
|
|
(25,730
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Current Deferred Tax Assets and Liabilities, Net
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
The Tax Reform Act of 1986 contains provisions that limit the utilization of net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards if there has been a change of ownership as described in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code. The Company believes there has been a change of ownership, and a study was conducted in order to determine future utilization of its net operating losses. The findings of the study indicate approximately $50 million of the Company’s net operating losses will expire due to the 382 limitations.
At March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, respectively, approximately $12.8 million and $62.2 million of net operating loss carryforwards for federal income tax purposes were available to offset future taxable income through the year 2037. At March 31, 2018, the total state net operating loss carry-forwards will expire between 2020 through 2037. The ultimate realization of these assets is dependent upon the generation of future taxable income sufficient to offset the related deductions and loss carryforwards within the applicable carryforward period. Based upon the level of historical taxable income and projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, management believes it is not more likely than not that the Company will not be able to realize the benefits of these deductible differences at March 31, 2018.
ASC 740 provides detailed guidance for the financial statement recognition, measurement and disclosure of uncertain tax positions recognized in the financial statements. Tax positions must meet a “more-likely-than-not” recognition threshold before a benefit is recognized in the financial statements. As of March 31, 2018, the Company has not recorded a liability for uncertain tax positions. Included in net deferred tax assets is $597,000 of federal research credits that may offset future taxable income through 2022. While the Company believes that the credit calculations are correct, it is possible that upon an examination by taxing authorities, the research credits available to offset future taxable income may be reduced in whole or in part. However, as the Company is not currently recognizing a benefit for the research credits, there is no impact to the financial statements pursuant to ASC 740. There have been no income tax related interest or penalties assessed or recorded and if interest and penalties were to be assessed, the Company would charge interest and penalties to income tax expense. It is not anticipated that unrecognized tax benefits would significantly increase or decrease within 12 months of the reporting date. The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. and various state jurisdictions and there are open statutes of limitations for taxing authorities to audit the Company’s tax returns from years ended March 31, 2014 through the current period.
On December 22, 2017 (the “Enactment Date”), the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Act”). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code and key provisions applicable to the Company, for 2018 including the following: (1) reduction of the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent; (2) elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax (AMT); (3) a new limitation on deductible interest expense; (4) limitations on the deductibility of certain executive compensation; (5) limitations on the use of federal tax credits (“FTCs”) to reduce the U.S. income tax liability; (6) limitations on net operating losses (“NOL’s”) generated after December 31, 2017, to 80 percent of taxable income. Consequently, the Company has recorded a decrease to its net deferred tax assets of 8.3 million with a corresponding net adjustment to the valuation allowance for the year ended March 31, 2018. Based on the Company’s current interpretation and subject to the release of the related regulations and any future interpretive guidance, the Company believes the effects of the change in tax law incorporated herein are substantially complete.
Concurrent with the enactment of the Tax Act, in December 2017, the SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 provides a measurement period that should not extend beyond one year from the Enactment Date for companies to complete the accounting under Accounting Standards Codification 740 - Income Taxes (“ASC 740”). In accordance with SAB 118, a company must reflect the income tax effects of those aspects of the Tax Act for which the accounting under ASC 740 is complete. To the extent that an entity’s accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act is incomplete but it is able to determine a reasonable estimate, it must record a provisional estimate in the financial statements. If a company cannot determine a provisional estimate to be included in the financial statements, it should continue to apply ASC 740 on the basis of the provisions of the tax laws that were in effect immediately before the enactment of the Tax Act.
Note 6 – Related Party Transactions
See Note 2 “Notes Payable and Long Term Debt,” and Note 8 “Stockholders’ Equity” to our financial statements for discussion related to debt and equity transactions involving our officers, directors and 5% or greater shareholders.
On September 13, 2017, the Company entered into a Term Loan Agreement in the principal amount of up to $2.0 million with Scotts Miracle-Gro. Interest was charged at the stated rate of 10% per annum, but the principal and accrued interest on the Term Loan were repaid in full as of December 31, 2017. As disclosed above in Note 2 under the caption “Scotts Miracle-Gro Term Loan,” the principal and interest balance of the Term Loan at March 31, 2018, was $0 and was paid in full during December 2017. During the year ended March 31, 2018, the Company sold product to Scotts Miracle-Gro for approximately $877,000. Additionally, we paid Scotts Miracle-Gro $61,000 for charges incurred from a warehouse fully owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro to fulfill an order with one of our customers.
On April 22, 2013, the Company entered into a Securities Purchase Agreement with SMG Growing Media, Inc. Scotts Miracle-Gro acquired 2,649,007 shares of the Company’s Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, and a warrant to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. The Warrant entitled, but did not obligate, Scotts Miracle-Gro to purchase a number of shares of common stock that, on a “fully diluted basis”, constitute 80% of the Company’s outstanding capital stock (when added to all other shares owned by Scotts Miracle-Gro), as calculated as of the date or dates of exercise. On November 29, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock. The Series B Preferred Stock was entitled to vote on an “as-converted” basis with the common stock. As a result of the above transactions, Scotts Miracle-Gro beneficially owns 80% of our outstanding voting stock and is a related party.
Note 7 – Commitments and Contingencies
We lease an office space in Boulder, Colorado. As of September 30, 2011, the Company executed an amendment to the lease which reduced the square footage and monthly rent and extended the lease term. We lease 9,868 square feet with a current monthly rent of $11,000. We also pay our proportionate share of building taxes, insurance and operating expenses. The lease term was extended to September 30, 2019. The agreement contains other standard office lease provisions. On April 1, 2018, the Company leased an additional 1,314 square feet of space, thereby increasing the total rent to $12,000 per month.
In May 2011, the Company reached an agreement with Wildernest Logistics Solutions to provide warehousing, distribution and fulfillment operations, and seed pod kit manufacturing. The agreement calls for a monthly $10,000 facility charge. The Company has extended its agreement with Wildernest Logistics Solutions effective April 17, 2014 for a two-year term with automatic one-year renewals.
Future cash payments under such agreements for the remaining years are as follows:
|
Year Ending
|
|
Rent
|
|
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
|
March 31, 2019
|
|
$
|
160
|
|
|
March 31, 2020
|
|
|
80
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
240
|
|
Rent expense for the years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, was $311,000 and $286,000, respectively.
Note 8 – Stockholders’ Equity
Common Stock and Common Stock Warrants
As of March 31, 2018, the Company had 34,328,036 common shares issued and outstanding out of the 750,000,000 shares (par value $0.001 per share) that have been authorized by the Company’s shareholders.
In August 2017, the Company issued 850,749 shares of common stock to SMG Growing Media, Inc. to fulfill the agreement for the technology licensing agreement and brand licensing agreement as further discussed in Note 3 above.
In conjunction with April 2013 issuance of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock to Scotts Miracle-Gro, the Company issued warrants to purchase 125,000 shares of common stock to the placement agent. This warrant has an exercise price of $1.54 per share (125% of the average closing price of the Company’s common stock during the five-day period prior to the April 22, 2013 closing date). The value of this warrant was estimated at $108,000, based on the Black-Scholes model with a stock price of $1.30, calculated exercise price of $1.54, expected life of three years, annualized volatility of 117.2% and a discount rate of 0.39%. The value of the warrant was recorded as stock issuance costs.
As discussed above, on November 29, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro fully exercised its warrant to purchase 80% of the Company’s outstanding stock. For additional details regarding the Scotts Miracle-Gro Warrant, see “Note 3 – Scotts Miracle-Gro Transaction” above.
A summary of the Company’s common stock warrant activity for the period from April 1, 2016 through March 31, 2018 is presented below:
|
|
|
Warrants
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding (in thousands)
|
|
|
Average Exercise Price
|
|
|
Intrinsic Value
|
|
|
Outstanding, April 1, 2016
|
|
|
444
|
|
|
$
|
6.45
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
(48
|
)
|
|
|
2.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, March 31, 2017
|
|
|
396
|
|
|
$
|
6.97
|
|
|
$
|
2
|
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
(394
|
)
|
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, March 31, 2018
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
$
|
2.10
|
|
|
$
|
5
|
|
As of March 31, 2018, the Company had the following outstanding warrants to purchase its common stock:
| |
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
|
Warrants Outstanding
(in thousands)
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Remaining Life
(Yrs)
|
|
| |
2
|
|
|
$
|
2.10
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
|
| |
2
|
|
|
$
|
2.10
|
|
|
|
0.77
|
|
Preferred Stock and Preferred Stock Warrants
The Company’s Articles of Incorporation authorize the issuance of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock with $0.001 par value.
As discussed in Note 3 above, the Series B Preferred Stock was converted into 2,649,007 shares of common stock ($4.0 million divided by a conversion price of $1.51 per share) on November 29, 2016, concurrently with Scotts Miracle-Gro’s exercise of its Warrant. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock bore a cumulative annual dividend of 8.0%, payable in shares of the Company’s common stock at a conversion price of $1.51 per share (subject to customary anti-dilution rights, as described in the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock Certificates of Designations). All shares related to this agreement were settled in the issuance in August 2017 and no accrual remains as of March 31, 2018 for the stock dividend. For additional details regarding the initial issuance of the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock and Warrant in March 2013 and the November 2016 conversation/exercise of the Series B Preferred Stock and Warrant, see “Note 3 – Scotts Miracle-Gro Transaction” above.
As of March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017, based on the number of shares issuable to Scotts Miracle-Gro the Company has accrued $0 and $49,000 for the stock dividend, respectively. For additional details regarding the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, see “Note 3 – Scotts Miracle-Gro Transaction” above.
Note 9 – Segment Information
The Company has determined that its reportable segments are those that are based on its method of internal reporting and the perspective of the chief operating decision maker. The company has two reportable segments, Retail Sales and Direct-to-Consumers. The Company evaluates performance based on the primary financial measure of contribution margin (“segment profit”). Segment profit reflects the income or loss from operations before corporate expenses, non-operating income, net interest expense, and income taxes. The Company doesn’t have an individually identified assets regarding specific segments as all processes to manufacture products are not different based on segment.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2018 |
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Corporate/Other
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
8,172
|
|
|
$
|
24,126
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
32,298
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
5,672
|
|
|
|
15,926
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
21,598
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
8,200
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,700
|
|
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
30.6
|
%
|
|
|
33.9
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
33.1
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing (1)
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
3,670
|
|
|
|
1,590
|
|
|
|
5,389
|
|
|
Segment profit
|
|
|
2,371
|
|
|
|
4,530
|
|
|
|
(1,590
|
)
|
|
|
5,311
|
|
|
Segment profit percentage
|
|
|
29.0
|
%
|
|
|
18.8
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
16.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Sales and marketing includes advertising, trade shows, media production and promotional products and other as discussed in the sales and marketing section.
|
|
|
Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2017
|
|
|
(in thousands)
|
|
Direct-to-consumer
|
|
|
Retail
|
|
|
Corporate/Other
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Net sales
|
|
$
|
7,526
|
|
|
$
|
16,083
|
|
|
$
|
-
|
|
|
$
|
23,609
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
|
4,668
|
|
|
|
10,376
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
15,044
|
|
|
Gross profit
|
|
|
2,858
|
|
|
|
5,707
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
8,565
|
|
|
Gross profit percentage
|
|
|
38.0
|
%
|
|
|
35.5
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
36.3
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing (1)
|
|
|
129
|
|
|
|
2,714
|
|
|
|
1,140
|
|
|
|
3,983
|
|
|
Segment profit
|
|
|
2,729
|
|
|
|
2,993
|
|
|
|
(1,140
|
)
|
|
|
4,582
|
|
|
Segment profit percentage
|
|
|
36.3
|
%
|
|
|
18.6
|
%
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
19.4
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) Sales and marketing includes advertising, trade shows, media production and promotional products and other as discussed in the sales and marketing section.
Note 10 – Subsequent Events
None.
|
3.1
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.2
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.3
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.4
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.5
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.6
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.7
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.8
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.9
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.10
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
3.11
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
4.2
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
10.2
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
10.3
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
10.4
|
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10.5
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10.6
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10.7
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10.8
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Third Addendum, effective as of September 30, 2011, to the Lease dated July 27, 2006 by and between the Company, as Tenant, and Pawnee Properties, LLC, as Landlord (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of our Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November 30, 2011)
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10.9
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10.10
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10.11
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10.12
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10.13
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10.14
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10.15
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10.16
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10.17
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10.18
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10.19
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10.20
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10.21
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10.22
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10.23
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10.24
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10.25
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10.26
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10.27
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10.28
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10.29
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10.30
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10.31
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10.32
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24.1*
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31.1*
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31.2*
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32.1*
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32.2*
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101.INS*
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XBRL Instance Document
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101.SCH*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
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101.CAL*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
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101.DEF*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
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101.LAB*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
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101.PRE*
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XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
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ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
Not applicable.
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.,
A NEVADA CORPORATION
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Date: June 28, 2018
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By:
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/s/ J. Michael Wolfe
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J. Michael Wolfe
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Title
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below does hereby constitute and appoint either of J. Michael Wolfe or Grey H. Gibbs, with full power of substitution and full power, to act as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power and authority to do and perform all and every act and thing whatsoever requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he or she might or could do if personally present at the doing thereof, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent may or shall lawfully do, or cause to be done, in connection with the proposed filing by AeroGrow International, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission, under the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of an Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 (the “Annual Report”), including but not limited to, such full power and authority to do the following: (i) execute and file such Annual Report; (ii) execute and file any amendment or amendments thereto; (iii) receive and respond to comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission related in any way to such Annual Report or any amendment or amendments thereto; and (iv) execute and deliver any and all certificates, instruments or other documents related to the matters enumerated above, as the attorney-in-fact in her sole discretion deems appropriate.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on the 28th day of June 2018.
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Signature
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Title
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Date
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/s/ J. MICHAEL WOLFE
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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JUNE 28, 2018
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J. Michael Wolfe
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(Principal Executive Officer)
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/s/ GREY H. GIBBS
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Senior Vice- President – Finance and Accounting
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JUNE 28, 2018
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Grey H. Gibbs
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(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
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/s/ CHRIS J. HAGEDORN
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Chairman of the Board
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JUNE 28, 2018
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Chris J. Hagedorn
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/s/ H. MACGREGOR CLARKE
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Director
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JUNE 28, 2018
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H. Macgregor Clarke
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/s/ ALBERT MESSINA
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Director
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JUNE 28, 2018
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Albert Messina
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/s/ PETER SUPRON
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Director
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JUNE 28, 2018
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Peter Supron
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/s/ DAVID B. KENT
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Director
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JUNE 28, 2018
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David B. Kent
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