v3.22.2.2
ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2022
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS
Cyco
On April 28, 2022, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of S.J. Enterprises PTY LTD, d.b.a. Cyco (“Cyco”), an Australia-based provider of premium nutrients, additives and growing media products for indoor growing sold mostly in the United States, for an estimated purchase price of $37.3. The purchase price includes contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with an initial fair value of $3.1 and a maximum payout of $10.0, which will be paid by the Company based on the achievement of certain performance metrics through December 31, 2024. Prior to the transaction, the Company served as the exclusive distributor of Cyco’s products in the United States. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $1.3 of inventory, (ii) $10.5 of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and (iii) $25.6 of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included trade names, customer relationships and non-compete agreements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 25 years. The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows that an asset will generate over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
Luxx Lighting
On December 30, 2021, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Luxx Lighting, Inc., a provider of lighting products for indoor growing. The purchase price was $213.2, a portion of which was paid by the issuance of 0.1 million Common Shares, a non-cash investing and financing activity, with a fair value of $21.0 based on the share price at the time of payment. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $32.8 of inventory and accounts receivable, (ii) $5.7 of other current assets, (iii) $24.2 of current liabilities, (iv) $47.3 of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and (v) $151.6 of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included trade names, customer relationships and non-compete agreements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 25 years. The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows that an asset will generate over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022, the Company decided it would discontinue and exit the market for certain Hawthorne lighting products and brands, including Luxx Lighting. Refer to “NOTE 4. IMPAIRMENT, RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER” for more information.
True Liberty Bags
On December 23, 2021, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of True Liberty Bags, a leading provider of liners and storage solutions to dry and cure plant products, for $10.1. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $1.1 of inventory, (ii) $5.8 of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and (iii) $3.2 of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included trade names and customer relationships with useful lives of 15 years. The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows that an asset will generate over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
Hydro-Logic
On August 27, 2021, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Hydro-Logic Purification Systems, Inc., a leading provider of products, accessories and systems for water filtration and purification, for $65.3. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $4.5 of inventory and accounts receivable, (ii) $1.6 of
non-current assets, (iii) $2.6 of other liabilities, (iv) $23.1 of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and (v) $38.7 of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included trade names, customer relationships and non-compete agreements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 15 years. The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows that an asset will generate over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
The Hawthorne Collective
On August 24, 2021, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, The Hawthorne Collective, Inc. (“THC”), made its initial investment under the Company’s strategic minority non-equity investment initiative in the form of a $150.0 six-year convertible note issued to the Company by Toronto-based RIV Capital Inc. (“RIV Capital”) (CSE: RIV) (OTC: CNPOF), a cannabis investment and acquisition firm listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange. The note bears interest on the principal amount at a rate of approximately 2% for the first two years of the term. No interest will accrue on the note for the remainder of the term. The note is convertible into RIV Capital common shares at a conversion price of CAD $1.90 per share which is based upon the RIV Capital closing stock price on August 9, 2021.
On April 22, 2022, pursuant to its follow-on investment rights, the Company made an additional investment in RIV Capital in the form of a $25.0 convertible note which matures on August 24, 2027. The note bears interest on the principal amount at a rate of approximately 2% for the first two years of the term. No interest will accrue on the note for the remainder of the term. The note is convertible into RIV Capital common shares at a conversion price of CAD $1.65 per share which is based upon the RIV Capital closing stock price on March 29, 2022.
Accrued interest on the initial $150.0 convertible note and the follow-on $25.0 convertible note (collectively, the “RIV Convertible Notes”) will be payable to THC at maturity or will be included in the conversion value of the notes at the time of conversion. Assuming full conversion of the RIV Convertible Notes, including the full amount of the anticipated accrued interest over the life of the notes, THC would be entitled to receive approximately 123.0 million common shares of RIV Capital, representing approximately 42% of RIV Capital’s outstanding shares as of September 30, 2022. The RIV Convertible Notes are convertible into common shares of RIV Capital either (i) at the election of THC or (ii) at the election of RIV Capital after the date on which federal laws in the United States are amended to allow for the general cultivation, distribution, and possession of cannabis.
In connection with issuance of the RIV Convertible Notes, the Company entered into an investor rights agreement with RIV Capital providing for, among other things, customary registration rights, participation rights, as well as certain standstill and transfer restrictions. In addition, THC is entitled to designate three nominees to the RIV Capital board of directors for so long as the board is comprised of seven directors, and shall be entitled to designate four nominees to the RIV Capital board of directors if the size of the board is increased to nine directors.
During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, THC made minority non-equity investments of $43.1 in other entities focused on branded cannabis and high quality genetics. These additional investments also include conversion features that would provide the Company with minority ownership interests if it exercises the conversion features.
The Company or THC will not have control of or an active day-to-day role in any entity in which THC has a convertible debt investment. The convertible notes include restrictions that the funds received from the Company will be used for general corporate and other lawful purposes, which could include acquisitions, and that the funds will not be used in connection with or for any cannabis or cannabis-related operations in the U.S. unless and until such operations comply with all applicable U.S. federal laws.
Rhizoflora
On August 13, 2021, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Rhizoflora, Inc., the manufacturer of terpene enhancing nutrient products Terpinator® and Purpinator®, for $33.7. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $0.6 of inventory, (ii) $10.9 of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and (iii) $22.2 of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included trade names, customer relationships and non-compete agreements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 25 years. The estimated fair values of the identifiable intangible assets were determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows that an asset will generate over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate.
AeroGrow
On November 11, 2020, the Company entered into an agreement and plan of merger to acquire the remaining outstanding shares of AeroGrow for cash consideration of $3.00 per share, or approximately $20.1. The merger closed on February 26, 2021. SMG Growing Media, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro, was the holder of 80.5% of the outstanding shares of AeroGrow prior to the closing and now holds 100% of the outstanding shares of AeroGrow. The closing date carrying value of the noncontrolling interest was $6.7 and the $13.4 difference between the purchase price and carrying value was recognized in the “Common shares and capital in excess of $0.01 stated value per share” line within “Total equity” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.