EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE SCOTTS COMPANY NEWS
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SCOTTS REPORTS RECORD FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FISCAL 2003;
Fourth Quarter Adjusted Profit is First for Company Since 1994,
Reported Fourth Quarter EPS Improves by $0.33
- 2003 Adjusted earnings per share: $3.57; Reported earnings per share:
$3.23
- 4th quarter adjusted earnings per share: $0.02; Reported loss per
share: $0.10
- North American consumer sales up 14% in quarter, 6% for full year
- Company expects adjusted net income growth of at least 10 percent in
2004
MARYSVILLE, Ohio (October 30, 2003) - The Scotts Company (NYSE: SMG), the
world's largest marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products, today
announced record sales and net income for fiscal 2003. Sales in the fourth
quarter also set a record for the period and the Company recorded its first
profitable fourth quarter since 1994 on an adjusted basis.
The Company also announced that it expects to improve adjusted net
income in fiscal 2004 by at least another 10 percent.
For fiscal 2003, which ended September 30, Scotts reported net sales of
$1.91 billion, up 9 percent from $1.75 billion a year earlier. Excluding the
impact of foreign exchange rates, sales for the year increased by 6 percent over
the prior year. Adjusted net income for the year increased to $114.7 million, or
$3.57 per diluted share, up 10 percent from $104.3 million, or $3.29 per diluted
share, for the same period last year.
Adjusted earnings exclude restructuring and other charges of $10.9
million, net of tax. Including these restructuring and other charges, net income
for the year was $103.8 million or $3.23 per diluted share compared with $82.5
million, or $2.61 per diluted share, for the same period last year. Those
charges are related primarily to restructuring of the North American
distribution model and the Company's international growth and integration
efforts.
Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
(EBITDA) was $301.8 million, compared with $289.5 million for the same period
last year. Including
1
restructuring and other charges, EBITDA was $284.7 million in 2003 compared with
$282.7 million in 2002.
"The ability to grow adjusted net income by 10 percent in a year
plagued by a late winter and cool, wet spring is a great accomplishment and
speaks to the overall health of the lawn and garden category," said Jim
Hagedorn, chairman and chief executive officer.
"Our success in 2003 went beyond our financial statements. We were
named `supplier of the year' at four major accounts across the United States and
Europe. We also made significant strides to expand our brands in new categories
like pottery and improve our overall presence with the independent nursery and
hardware trade. Entering the year, we said we didn't believe there was a better
business to be in than ours and I think we demonstrated why we believe this is
true."
Consumer purchases of the company's branded products in the U.S.
increased 8 percent at the company's largest retail accounts. Customer fill
rates, an important aspect of overall customer service, improved to 97.4 percent
in fiscal 2003.
Twelve Month Results
- --------------------
North American consumer sales were $1.32 billion for the year, up 6
percent from last year. Lawns was up 11 percent to $582 million, Gardening
Products was flat at $473 million and Ortho increased 2 percent to $226 million.
Scotts LawnService, the company's fastest growing business, had
revenues of $110 million, a 46 percent increase from 2002.
International Consumer sales were $281 million, up 14 percent from
$247 million in 2002. Excluding the impact of foreign exchange rates and
non-recurring sales from previous supply agreements, sales in this business
increased about 2 percent. Global Professional sales were $200 million compared
with $183 million last year and were flat excluding foreign exchange rates.
Consolidated gross margins declined 10 basis points to 36.2 percent,
but gross margins excluding restructuring and other charges increased 20 basis
points year-over-year. The Company had anticipated significant margin
improvement in 2003 associated with the outsourcing of some distribution efforts
as well as margin improvements in Scotts LawnService - neither of which
materialized as expected.
2
Net Roundup commission for the year was $17.6 million, compared with
$16.2 million a year earlier. The net commission includes a $5 million increase
in the contribution payment to Monsanto in accordance with the Roundup marketing
agreement.
Fourth Quarter Results
- ----------------------
The Company reported record sales in the period of $343 million, up 15
percent from $300 million last year. On an adjusted basis, Scotts reported net
income in the quarter of $700,000, or $0.02 per diluted share, compared with a
loss of $9.7 million, or $0.33 per share, for the same period last year. It was
the first time since 1994 that Scotts reported an adjusted fourth quarter
profit.
Fourth quarter adjusted earnings exclude restructuring and other
charges of $3.8 million, net of tax. Including these restructuring and other
charges, the net loss in the quarter was $3.1 million, or $0.10 per share.
Adjusted EBITDA was $31.4 million, compared with $11.3 million for the
same period last year. Including restructuring and other charges, EBITDA was
$25.5 million in 2003 compared with $6.5 million in 2002.
The Company's North American consumer business reported a 14 percent
increase in sales in the quarter to $217 million. Within that business, Lawns
reported a 16 percent increase in sales to $106 million, Gardening Products grew
7 percent to $63 million and Ortho sales increased by 17 percent to $43 million.
"Our entire North American business had an outstanding fourth quarter
and finished the year with a great deal of momentum to build upon as we enter
2004," Hagedorn said. "The growth we saw in every category speaks to the
continued strength of our industry-leading brands, innovative marketing and
other consumer outreach efforts."
Scotts LawnService(R) reported sales in the quarter of $43 million, an
increase of 40 percent from the same period last year.
International Consumer sales were $40 million, compared with $38
million for the same period last year. Excluding foreign exchange rates, sales
decreased 8 percent in the quarter. Global Professional sales were $44 million
in the quarter, or $41 million when excluding the impact of foreign exchange
rates, flat with the same period last year.
3
Consolidated gross margin increased 240 basis points to 33.5 percent in
the quarter, but gross margins excluding restructuring and other charges
increased by 330 basis points year-over-year. The improvement was due to higher
volumes, the sale of higher margin products in the North American consumer
business and gross margin improvements in the Global Professional business.
Net Roundup commission was $4.0 million, compared with $3.0 million a
year earlier.
"The return to profitability in the fourth quarter is a major milestone
and stems from an ongoing shift in the timing of shipments as well as the
continued growth in Scotts LawnService and overall expense control," Hagedorn
said. "While the profit this quarter was small, it was a major improvement from
last year and it gives us great confidence in our ability to report three
profitable quarters each year going forward."
The company will host a live audio webcast today at 10:00 a.m. EST at
www.scotts.com to discuss second quarter results and the outlook for the balance
of the year.
About Scotts
- ------------
The Scotts Company is the world's largest marketer of branded consumer lawn and
garden products, 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 the
U.K., Scotts' brands include Weedol(R) and Pathclear(R), the top-selling
consumer herbicides; Evergreen(R), the leading lawn fertilizer line; the
Levington(R) line of lawn and garden products; and Miracle-Gro(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;
- 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
937-578-5622 937-578-5622
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THE SCOTTS COMPANY
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 AND 2002
(in millions, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
Note: See Accompanying Footnotes on Page 9
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
-------------------------------- ------------------------------
September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
Footnotes 2003 2002 2003 2002
---------- ---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net sales $ 343.1 $ 299.7 $ 1,910.1 $ 1,748.7
Cost of sales 224.9 206.2 1,210.2 1,112.1
Cost of sales - restructuring and other 3.4 0.2 9.1 1.7
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Gross profit 114.8 93.3 690.8 634.9
% of sales 33.5% 31.1% 36.2% 36.3%
Gross commission from marketing agreement 11.1 8.8 45.9 39.6
Contribution expenses under marketing agreement 6.3 5.0 25.0 20.0
Amortization of marketing fee 0.8 0.8 3.3 3.4
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net commission from marketing agreement 4.0 3.0 17.6 16.2
Operating expenses:
Advertising 16.1 13.7 97.7 82.2
S,G&A - excluding lawn service business
and stock-based compensation 77.6 76.6 321.4 298.8
Stock-based compensation 1.6 - 4.8 -
S,G&A - lawn service business 11.3 7.1 46.2 30.8
S,G&A - restructuring and other 2.5 4.6 8.0 6.4
Amortization of intangibles 2.3 1.9 8.6 5.7
Other (income) expense (3.5) (3.0) (10.8) (12.0)
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Total operating expenses 107.9 100.9 475.9 411.9
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Income (loss) from operations 10.9 (4.6) 232.5 239.2
% of sales 3.2% -1.5% 12.2% 13.7%
Interest expense 15.8 17.4 69.2 76.3
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Income (loss) before taxes (4.9) (22.0) 163.3 162.9
Income tax expense (benefit) (1.8) (9.3) 59.5 61.9
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net income (loss) before cumulative effect
of accounting change (3.1) (12.7) 103.8 101.0
Cumulative effect of change in accounting
for intangible assets (non-cash), net of tax - - - (18.5)
---------------------------------- ------------------------------
Net income (loss) (3.1) (12.7) 103.8 82.5
================================== ==============================
Basic earnings (loss) per share (1) (0.10) (0.43) 3.36 2.81
================================== ==============================
Diluted earnings (loss) per share (2) (0.10) (0.43) 3.23 2.61
================================== ==============================
Common shares used in basic earnings (loss)
per share calculation 31.6 29.8 30.9 29.3
================================== ==============================
Common shares and potential common
shares used in diluted earnings (loss) per
share calculation 31.6 29.8 32.1 31.7
================================== ==============================
EBITDA (3) $ 25.5 $ 6.5 $ 284.7 $ 282.7
================================== ==============================
Results of operations excluding restructuring and other
charges, one-time additions to income and
cumulative effect of accounting change:
Adjusted net income (loss) 0.7 (9.7) 114.7 104.3
================================== ==============================
Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share (2) 0.02 (0.33) 3.57 3.29
================================== ==============================
Adjusted EBITDA (3) $ 31.4 $ 11.3 $ 301.8 $ 289.5
================================== ==============================
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THE SCOTTS COMPANY
NET SALES BY BUSINESS UNIT - THREE AND TWELVE MONTHS
ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 AND 2002
(in millions)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended % Change
---------------------------------------- ----------------
September 30, September 30,
2003 2002 Actual
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Lawns $ 105.5 $ 90.7 16.3%
Gardening Products 62.6 58.8 6.5%
Ortho 42.9 36.8 16.6%
Canada 3.6 2.9 24.1%
Pottery and other 2.1 0.4 nm
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North America Consumer 216.7 189.6 14.3%
-------------------- -------------------
Lawn Service 43.1 30.8 39.9%
International Consumer 39.7 38.2 3.9%
Global Professional 43.6 41.1 6.1%
-------------------- -------------------
Consolidated $ 343.1 $ 299.7 14.5%
==================== ===================
Twelve Months Ended % Change
---------------------------------------- ----------------
September 30, September 30,
2003 2002 Actual
-------------------- ------------------- ----------------
Lawns $ 581.7 $ 523.3 11.2%
Gardening Products 472.5 471.7 0.2%
Ortho 225.6 220.9 2.1%
Canada 35.3 26.7 32.2%
Pottery and other 3.6 0.3 nm
-------------------- -------------------
North America Consumer 1,318.7 1,242.9 6.1%
-------------------- -------------------
Lawn Service 110.4 75.6 46.0%
International Consumer 281.3 246.8 14.0%
Global Professional 199.7 183.4 8.9%
-------------------- -------------------
Consolidated $ 1,910.1 $ 1,748.7 9.2%
==================== ===================
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THE SCOTTS COMPANY
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 AND 2002
(UNAUDITED)
(IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT SHARE PRICES)
Sept 30, Sept 30,
2003 2002
----------------- ------------------
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents 155.9 99.7
Accounts receivable, net 284.7 249.9
Inventories, net 276.1 269.1
Current deferred tax asset 56.9 74.6
Prepaid and other current assets 36.6 36.8
----------------- ------------------
Total current assets 810.2 730.1
----------------- ------------------
Property, plant and equipment, net 338.2 329.2
Goodwill and other intangible assets, net 835.5 791.7
Other assets 44.0 50.4
----------------- ------------------
Total assets $ 2,027.9 $ 1,901.4
================= ==================
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Current portion of debt 55.4 98.2
Accounts payable 177.8 134.0
Other current liabilities 212.6 219.6
----------------- ------------------
Total current liabilities 445.8 451.8
----------------- ------------------
Long-term debt 702.2 731.2
Other liabilities 151.7 124.5
----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities 1,299.7 1,307.5
Shareholders' equity 728.2 593.9
----------------- ------------------
Total liabilities and equity $ 2,027.9 $ 1,901.4
======================================
KEY STATISTICS:
Debt to book capitalization 51.0% 58.3%
Market capitalization:
Common shares outstanding and
dilutive common share equivalents 32.1 31.7
Share price on balance sheet date 54.70 41.69
----------------- ------------------
Total market capitalization $ 1,757.6 $ 1,319.9
================= ==================
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THE SCOTTS COMPANY
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP DISCLOSURE ITEMS FOR THE THREE AND TWELVE
MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 AND 2002
(in millions, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
September 30, September 30, September 30, September 30,
2003 2002 2003 2002
------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Net income (loss) $ (3.1) $ (12.7) $ 103.8 $ 82.5
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax 3.8 3.0 10.9 4.9
Peat bog income, net of tax - - - (3.5)
Environmental charge, net of tax - - - 1.9
Impairment write-off, net of tax - - - 18.5
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted net income (loss) $ 0.7 $ (9.7) $ 114.7 $ 104.3
================= ================= ================= ==================
Income (loss) from operations $ 10.9 $ (4.6) $ 232.5 $ 239.2
Depreciation per cash flow 11.5 8.4 40.3 34.4
Amortization, including marketing fee 3.1 2.7 11.9 9.1
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
EBITDA 25.5 6.5 284.7 # 282.7
================= ================= ================= ==================
Restructuring and other charges, gross 5.9 4.8 17.1 8.1
Peat bog income, gross - - - (5.8)
Environmental charge, gross - - - 3.0
Other, gross - - - 1.5
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted EBITDA $ 31.4 $ 11.3 $ 301.8 $ 289.5
================= ================= ================= ==================
Diluted earnings (loss) per share $ (0.10) $ (0.43) $ 3.23 $ 2.61
Restructuring and other charges, net of tax 0.12 0.10 0.34 0.15
Peat bog income, net of tax - - - (0.11)
Environmental charge, net of tax - - - 0.06
Impairment write-off, net of tax - - - 0.58
----------------- ----------------- ----------------- ------------------
Adjusted diluted earnings (loss) per share $ 0.02 $ (0.33) $ 3.57 $ 3.29
================= ================= ================= ==================
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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.
9