Exhibit 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SCOTTS COMPANY NEWS
THE SCOTTS COMPANY REPORTS THIRD QUARTER RESULTS
COMPANY CONTINUES TO EXPECT DOUBLE-DIGIT ADJUSTED NET INCOME GROWTH FOR 2003
- Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $2.85; Reported Earnings Per Share of
$2.81
- North American consumer sales up 5% on year-to-date basis
- International Consumer, Global Professional see strong earnings
improvement
MARYSVILLE, Ohio (July 31, 2003) - The Scotts Company (NYSE: SMG), the global
leader in the consumer lawn and garden industry, today announced adjusted
earnings per share of $2.85 in the third quarter, in line with its previous
estimates. On a reported basis, earnings per share for the quarter were $2.81.
The Company also reaffirmed its outlook for double-digit adjusted net income
growth for fiscal 2003.
"Our third quarter and year-to-date results demonstrate the continued
strength of our business," said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive
officer. "While this gardening season was clearly impacted by cool, wet weather,
we remained focused and overcame serious challenges in our busiest time of the
year. Our confidence in producing earnings growth of at least 10 percent for
2003 speaks to the fundamental strength of this business, especially in a year
in which we also are making significant long-term investments in the business
and expensing stock options for the first time."
Third Quarter Results
- ---------------------
For the period ended June 28, 2003, the Company reported sales of $710
million, up 3 percent from $689 million last year. Excluding the impact of
foreign exchange rates, sales were flat to the prior year. Adjusted earnings in
the quarter were $92.3 million, or $2.85 per diluted share, compared with $95.6
million, or $3.01 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Current
period adjusted earnings exclude restructuring and other non-recurring
1
charges of $1.1 million, net of tax. Including these restructuring and
non-recurring items, net income in the quarter was $91.2 million, or $2.81 per
diluted share.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) were $175.8 million, compared with $185.4 million for the same period
last year.
Sales in the quarter were impacted by weaker than expected results in
April caused by cool, wet weather in many key markets in North America. Those
weather conditions also impacted consumer purchases, which were down in April,
but finished up 4 percent in the quarter compared to last year. On a
year-to-date basis, consumer purchases of Scotts' products at the Company's
largest retailers are up 7 percent compared to last year.
The impact of April conditions caused the Company's North American
consumer business to report sales in the quarter down 1 percent to $524 million.
Within that business, Lawns was up 1 percent to $184 million, Gardening Products
was down 4 percent to $226 million and Ortho declined 4 percent to $97 million.
Scotts LawnService(R) reported sales of $41 million in the quarter, up
41 percent from last year, reflecting the continued organic growth of the
business as well as the integration of several acquisitions, partially offset by
the negative impact of the unfavorable early spring weather.
International Consumer sales increased 11 percent to $90 million
compared to $81 million for the same period last year. Excluding the impact of
foreign exchange rates and non-recurring sales last year, sales increased 2
percent in the quarter. Global Professional sales were $55 million in the
quarter, up nearly 10 percent. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates,
Global Professional sales were flat to last year's levels.
Gross margin rose to 39.5 percent in the quarter from 39.3 percent for
the same period last year driven by the growth of Scotts LawnService, which has
a higher gross margin than the Company's other business segments, and improved
product mix in North America, particularly in the Gardening Products and Ortho
lines.
Operating expenses increased in the quarter to $136.3 million from
$112.7 million in the same period last year. The increase was due to planned
investment in areas such as advertising, new business development, a doubling of
the number of in-store counselors, and Scotts LawnService, as well as an
increase in costs associated with the expensing of stock options, rising
healthcare and pension costs and foreign exchange rates.
2
Net Roundup commission was $16.5 million, flat with last year. Improved
earnings in the business offset a $1.3 million increase in the contribution
expense paid during the quarter to Monsanto.
"Solid growth in May and June helped us address challenges caused by
unfavorable weather in April," Hagedorn said. "It's evident that the consumer
remains enthusiastic about the lawn and garden category - even with the
challenges presented by this season. We still expect the overall category to
grow this year and we believe we are growing market shares this year in both the
U.S. and Europe."
Nine Month Results
- ------------------
For the first nine months, Scotts reported global sales of $1.57
billion, up 8 percent from $1.45 billion the same period last year. Excluding
the impact of foreign exchange rates, year-to-date sales were up 5 percent from
last year. Adjusted earnings were $114.0 million, or $3.55 per diluted share,
compared with $115.1 million, or $3.64 per diluted share, for the same period
last year. Adjusted earnings for the first nine months of fiscal 2003 exclude
restructuring and other charges of $7.1 million, net of tax. Those charges
include $4.2 million related primarily to restructuring of the North American
distribution model and $2.9 million related to the Company's international
growth and integration efforts. Including restructuring and non-recurring items,
year-to-date net income was $106.9 million, or $3.33 per share, compared with
$95.2 million, or $3.01 per diluted share, for the same period last year.
Results for 2002 include an after-tax impairment charge of $18.5 million.
Adjusted EBITDA was $270.2 million, compared with $278.2 million for
the same period last year. Including restructuring and non-recurring items,
EBITDA was $259 million on a year-to-date basis.
North American consumer sales were $1.1 billion during the first nine
months of 2002, up nearly 5 percent from last year. Scotts LawnService had
revenue growth of 50 percent in the first nine months to $67 million.
International Consumer sales were $242 million compared with $209
million last year. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates and
non-recurring sales last year, sales increased 2 percent. Global Professional
year-to-date sales were $156
3
million compared with $142 million last year and flat when excluding the impact
of foreign exchange rates.
"Both International Consumer and Global Professional are making
significant bottom line improvements this year," Hagedorn said. "We continue to
believe both of these businesses will benefit from our International growth and
integration efforts and will continue to be increasingly important contributors
to both earnings and improvement in return on invested capital."
Gross margin through the first nine months was 36.8 percent compared
with 37.4 percent for the same period last year. Unfavorable North American
warehousing and logistics costs, due in part to higher than planned inventory
levels earlier in the quarter arising from the sales shortfall in April, as well
as planned upgrades in warehousing facilities, contributed to the margin
decline. Increased restructuring charges included in cost of goods sold in
fiscal 2003 also added to the decline in gross margin percent.
Operating expenses were $368.0 million, up from $311.2 million in 2002.
The increase, which was significantly less than expected, was driven by the same
investments and costs described for the third quarter.
On a year-to-date basis, Net Roundup commission was $13.5 million, up
slightly from $13.3 million a year earlier. Increased global sales and improved
earnings helped offset a $3.8 million increase in the contribution payment to
Monsanto.
The company will host a live audio webcast today at 10:00 a.m. EDT at
www.scotts.com to discuss third quarter results and the outlook for the balance
of the year.
About Scotts
- ------------
The Scotts Company is the world's leading supplier of consumer products for lawn
and garden care, with a full range of products for professional horticulture as
well. The company owns the industry's most recognized brands. In the U.S., the
company's Scotts(R), Miracle-Gro(R) and Ortho(R) brands are market leading in
their categories, as is the consumer Roundup(R) brand which is marketed in North
America and most of Europe exclusively by Scotts and owned by Monsanto. In
Europe, Scotts' brands include Weedol(R) Pathclear(R), Evergreen(R),
Levington(R) Miracle-Gro(R), KB(R), Fertiligene(R) and Substral(R).
STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION ACT OF 1995: Certain of the
statements contained in this press release, including, but not limited to,
information regarding the future economic performance and financial condition of
the company, the plans and objectives of the company's management, and the
company's assumptions regarding such performance and plans are forward looking
in nature. Actual results could differ materially from the forward looking
information in this release, due to a variety of factors, including, but not
limited to:
- Adverse weather conditions could adversely affect the Company's sales
and financial results;
4
- The Company's historical seasonality could impair the Company's
ability to pay obligations as they come due and operating expenses;
- The Company's substantial indebtedness could adversely affect the
Company's financial health;
- Public perceptions regarding the safety of the Company's products
could adversely affect the Company;
- The loss of one or more of the Company's top customers could adversely
affect the Company's financial results because of the concentration of
the Company's sales to a small number of retail customers;
- The expiration of certain patents could substantially increase the
Company's competition in the United States;
- Compliance with environmental and other public health regulations
could increase the Company's cost of doing business; and
- The Company's significant international operations make the Company
more susceptible to fluctuations in currency exchange rates and to the
costs of international regulation.
Additional detailed information concerning a number of the important factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward looking
information contained in this release is readily available in the company's
publicly filed quarterly, annual, and other reports.
Contact:
Rebecca J. Bruening Jim King
Vice President, Corporate Treasurer Director, Investor Relations/
937-578-5607 Corporate Communications
937-578-5622
5
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 28, 2003 AND JUNE 29, 2002
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Note: See Accompanying Footnotes on Page 10
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
--------------------------------- ------------------------------
June 28, June 29, June 28, June 29,
Footnotes 2003 2002 2003 2002
---------- --------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net sales $ 710.0 $ 689.0 $ 1,567.0 $ 1,449.0
Cost of sales 428.6 418.0 985.3 905.9
Cost of sales - restructuring and other 0.6 0.4 5.7 1.5
--------------------------------- ------------------------------
Gross profit 280.8 270.6 576.0 541.6
% of sales 39.5% 39.3% 36.8% 37.4%
Gross commission from marketing agreement 23.6 22.4 34.8 30.8
Contribution expenses under marketing agreement 6.3 5.0 18.8 15.0
Amortization of marketing fee 0.8 0.8 2.5 2.5
--------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net commission from marketing agreement 16.5 16.6 13.5 13.3
Operating expenses:
Advertising 38.1 30.6 81.7 68.6
S,G&A - excluding lawn service business
and stock-based compensation 85.0 77.4 243.8 222.2
Stock-based compensation 1.6 - 3.1 -
S,G&A - lawn service business 11.8 9.0 34.9 23.7
S,G&A - restructuring and other 1.2 0.6 5.5 1.8
Amortization of intangibles 2.2 0.2 6.3 3.8
Other (income) expense (3.6) (5.1) (7.3) (8.9)
--------------------------------- -------------------------------
Total operating expenses 136.3 112.7 368.0 311.2
--------------------------------- -------------------------------
Income from operations 161.0 174.5 221.5 243.7
% of sales 22.7% 25.3% 14.1% 16.8%
Interest expense 18.2 18.7 53.4 58.8
--------------------------------- -------------------------------
Income before taxes 142.8 155.8 168.1 184.9
Income tax expense 51.6 60.0 61.2 71.2
--------------------------------- -------------------------------
Net income before cumulative effect
of accounting change 91.2 95.8 106.9 113.7
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
for intangible assets (non-cash), net of tax - - - (18.5)
--------------------------------- -------------------------------
Net income 91.2 95.8 106.9 95.2
================================= ===============================
Basic earnings per share (1) 2.93 3.25 3.48 3.27
================================= ===============================
Diluted earnings per share (2) 2.81 3.02 3.33 3.01
================================= ===============================
Common shares used in basic earnings
per share calculation 31.1 29.5 30.7 29.1
================================= ===============================
Common shares and potential common
shares used in diluted earnings per
share calculation 32.4 31.8 32.1 31.6
================================= ===============================
EBITDA (3) $ 174.0 $ 185.5 $ 259.0 $ 276.0
================================= ===============================
Results of operations excluding restructuring and
other charges, one-time additions to income and
cumulative effect of accounting change:
Adjusted net income 92.3 95.6 114.0 115.1
================================= ===============================
Adjusted diluted earnings per share (2) 2.85 3.01 3.55 3.64
================================= ===============================
Adjusted EBITDA (3) $ 175.8 $ 185.4 $ 270.2 $ 278.2
================================= ===============================
Page 6
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
NET SALES BY BUSINESS UNIT - THREE AND NINE MONTHS
ENDED JUNE 28, 2003 AND JUNE 29, 2002
(in millions)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended % Change
---------------------------------------- ----------------
June 28, June 29,
2003 2002 Actual
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Lawns $ 183.5 $ 181.8 0.9%
Gardening Products 225.7 234.8 -3.9%
Ortho 96.6 100.7 -4.1%
Canada 16.4 11.2 46.4%
Pottery and other 1.8 0.1
-------------------- -------------------
North America Consumer 524.0 528.6 -0.9%
-------------------- -------------------
Lawn Service 40.5 28.7 41.1%
International Consumer 90.2 81.2 11.1%
Global Professional 55.3 50.5 9.5%
-------------------- -------------------
Consolidated $ 710.0 $ 689.0 3.0%
==================== ===================
Nine Months Ended % Change
---------------------------------------- ----------------
June 28, June 29,
2003 2002 Actual
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Lawns $ 476.2 $ 432.5 10.1%
Gardening Products 409.9 413.0 -0.8%
Ortho 182.6 184.1 -0.8%
Canada 31.7 23.7 33.8%
Pottery and other 1.5 0.1
-------------------- -------------------
North America Consumer 1,101.9 1,053.4 4.6%
-------------------- -------------------
Lawn Service 67.3 44.8 50.2%
International Consumer 241.6 208.6 15.8%
Global Professional 156.2 142.2 9.8%
-------------------- -------------------
Consolidated $1,567.0 $1,449.0 8.1%
==================== ===================
Page 7
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
JUNE 28, 2003, JUNE 29, 2002 AND SEPTEMBER 30, 2002
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARES & SHARE PRICES)
June 28, June 29, Sept 30,
2003 2002 2002
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 56.6 76.4 99.7
Accounts receivable, net 521.5 435.1 249.9
Inventories, net 323.3 301.9 269.1
Current deferred tax asset 77.7 52.1 74.6
Prepaid and other current assets 44.0 45.2 36.8
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Total current assets 1,023.1 910.7 730.1
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Property, plant and equipment, net 341.4 317.1 329.2
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 819.2 765.3 791.7
Other assets 45.4 77.0 50.4
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Total assets $ 2,229.1 $ 2,070.1 $ 1,901.4
================= ===================== ===================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current portion of debt 60.7 68.8 98.2
Accounts payable 255.3 197.4 134.0
Other current liabilities 309.9 323.3 219.6
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Total current liabilities 625.9 589.5 451.8
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Long-term debt 754.9 767.2 731.2
Other liabilities 131.0 91.6 124.5
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Total liabilities 1,511.8 1,448.3 1,307.5
Shareholders' equity 717.3 621.8 593.9
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
Total liabilities and equity $ 2,229.1 $ 2,070.1 $ 1,901.4
======================================== ===================
KEY STATISTICS:
Debt to book capitalization 53.2% 57.3% 58.3%
Market capitalization:
Common shares outstanding and
dilutive common share equivalents 32.1 31.6 31.7
Share price on balance sheet date 49.35 45.40 41.69
----------------- --------------------- -------------------
$ 1,584.1 $ 1,434.6 $ 1,319.9
================= ===================== ===================
Page 8
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP DISCLOSURE ITEMS FOR THE THREE AND NINE
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 28, 2003 AND JUNE 29, 2002
(in millions, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
June 28, June 29, June 28, June 29,
2003 2002 2003 2002
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Net income (loss) $ 91.2 $ 95.8 $ 106.9 $ 95.2
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax 1.1 1.4 7.1 3.0
Peat bog income - (3.5) - (3.5)
Environmental charge - 1.9 - 1.9
Impairment write-off, net of tax - - - 18.5
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted net income $ 92.3 $ 95.6 $ 114.0 $ 115.1
================= ================= ================= ==================
Income from operations $ 161.0 $ 174.5 $ 221.5 $ 243.7
Depreciation per cash flow 10.0 10.0 28.7 26.0
Amortization, including marketing fee 3.0 1.0 8.8 6.3
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
EBITDA 174.0 185.5 259.0 # 276.0
================= ================= ================= ==================
Restructuring and other charges, gross 1.8 1.0 11.2 3.3
Peat bog income - (5.6) - (5.6)
Environmental charge - 3.0 - 3.0
Other - 1.5 - 1.5
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 175.8 $ 185.4 $ 270.2 $ 278.2
================= ================= ================= ==================
Diluted earnings per share $ 2.81 $ 3.02 $ 3.33 $ 3.01
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax 0.04 0.04 0.22 0.09
Peat bog income - (0.11) - (0.11)
Environmental charge - 0.06 - 0.06
Impairment write-off, net of tax - - - 0.59
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted diluted earnings per share $ 2.85 $ 3.01 $ 3.55 $ 3.64
================= ================= ================= ==================
Page 9
THE SCOTTS COMPANY
Footnotes to Preceding Financial Statements
(in millions, except per share data)
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------
(1) Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing income applicable
to common shareholders by average common shares outstanding during the
period.
(2) Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income by
the average common shares and dilutive potential common shares (common
stock warrants and options) outstanding during the period.
(3) "EBITDA" is defined as income from operations, plus depreciation and
amortization. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from operations
as defined by generally accepted accounting principles and should not be
used as an alternative to net income as an indicator of operating
performance or to cash flow as a measure of liquidity.
Page 10