EX-99.1 2 ex99-1.htm ex99-1.htm
 
 
AeroGrow Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Year Ending March 31, 2009
 
·  
Revenue of $5.9 million for the quarter
·  
Revenue of $37.4 million for the full year
·  
$7.6 million recapitalization completed June 30, 2009

Boulder, CO - June 30, 2009 - AeroGrow International, Inc. (OTCBB:AERO - News) ("AeroGrow" or the "Company"), makers of the AeroGarden® line of indoor gardening products, announced results for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2009.

For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, AeroGrow reported revenue of $37.4 million, down 2.4% from the year ended March 31, 2008. Overall, the decline reflected the impact of the slowdown in economic activity in the United States that began in the calendar fourth quarter. AeroGrow reported a net loss for the year of $10.3 million, or an $0.82 loss per share, from a loss of $9.8 million, or an $0.84 loss per share, for the year ended March 31, 2008.

AeroGrow also announced that on Tuesday, June 30, 2009, it completed a $7.6 million recapitalization including the conversion of $1.4 million in accounts payable to long-term debt, the amendment of terms of its senior secured revolving credit facility, and other fundraising, as detailed in concurrent releases today. 

“Our financial results mirrored that of the overall economy as our high-growth strategy ran into the sudden, severe and unforeseen market contraction,” said AeroGrow CEO Jerry Perkins.  “The speed of the contraction left us with far too much product on the shelves both at retail and in inventory, and this has dramatically impacted our wholesale shipments, marketing spend and overall sales for the last two quarters.  The rate of deceleration was significant – we went from a 60% year-over-year increase in sales in the first two quarters of the year, to finishing the fiscal year about flat versus the previous year.

“The economic crisis forced us to quickly shift from targeting double digit growth to targeting the cost containment, overhead reduction and recapitalization needed to survive the downturn and preserve the long-term equity in the products and brand that we’ve built. In the last few months we’ve executed initiatives that reduce our costs by about $10 million annually, and we’ve just completed a major restructuring of our balance sheet. Our lenders, vendors and shareholders have supported this transition because consumer demand for AeroGardens has remained strong, validating the consumer proposition for the product category we’ve defined and built. We saw a better than 20% increase in the recurring revenue side of our business, and home vegetable gardening has seen double-digit increases this year. This burgeoning interest in home growing leaves us uniquely positioned to benefit in the coming months and years.”

The year ended March 31, 2009, represented AeroGrow's third full fiscal year of operations. The following table sets forth our quarterly financial results for the last 12 months of operations:
 
QUARTERLY CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
 
   
FISCAL YEAR ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
   
Quarter Ended
       
   
30-Jun-08
   
30-Sep-08
   
31-Dec-08
   
31-Mar-09
   
Fiscal Year
 
                               
Total Revenue
  $ 6,720,081     $ 13,854,930     $ 11,010,885     $ 5,863,972     $ 37,449,868  
                                         
Operating expenses
                                       
Cost of revenue
    3,686,823       8,026,325       7,558,322       4,439,317       23,710,787  
Research and development
    725,415       416,778       703,133       301,167       2,146,493  
Sales and marketing
    3,449,883       2,875,729       4,704,912       2,742,298       13,772,822  
General and administrative
    1,518,712       1,902,113       2,037,797       1,584,769       7,043,391  
Total operating expenses
    9,380,833       13,220,945       15,004,164       9,067,551       46,673,493  
                                         
Total other (income) expense, net
    156,597       215,615       408,943       308,734       1,089,889  
                                         
Net profit (loss)
  $ (2,817,349 )   $ 418,370     $ (4,402,222 )   $ (3,512,313 )   $ (10,313,514 )
                                         
Net profit (loss) per share, basic and diluted
  $ (0.23 )   $ 0.03     $ (0.35 )   $ (0.26 )   $ (0.82 )



For the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, our net sales totaled $37,449,868, a decrease of 2.4% from the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008.  The sales decrease reflected the impact of the sudden disruptions in the global credit markets, the decline in general economic activity, and the consequent decline in consumer spending that occurred in the second half of our fiscal year.  In the first half of the fiscal year (the six month period ended September 30, 2008), our sales increased almost 64%, reflecting our greatly expanded distribution through our retailer customers; however, the sudden change in the economic environment resulted in our sales declining 35% in the second half of the fiscal year.  The impact of the economic downturn on sales was experienced in both our sales to retailer customers and in our direct-to-consumer business.

In our international business sales increased 214% year-over-year, principally reflecting the comparison to a partial year of operations in the prior fiscal year.

Our sales to retailers were also adversely impacted during the second half of the fiscal year by an unusually high level of sales allowances, totaling $2,077,622, that we recognized to reflect our cost of supporting discounting programs executed by some of our largest retailer customers.

Our gross margin for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, was 37%, down from 40% in the prior year.  The reduction in margin reflected a number of factors including the unusual sales allowances (which reduced sales and gross profit), inventory reserves we established during the year, and the increased percentage mix of our sales that came from our lower-margin international operations.  Partially offsetting these negative impacts were cost reductions we achieved in our manufacturing and distribution operations, most notably resulting from the opening of a company-operated distribution facility in Indianapolis, Indiana, in July 2008.

Operating expenses other than cost of revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, decreased $1,811,487, or 7%, reflecting reduced spending in our sales and marketing operations and in our research and development operations.   In both cases, the declines reflected cost saving actions, including headcount reductions, taken in the second half of the fiscal year in response to the sudden decline in sales volume we experienced.  Offsetting the decline in sales and marketing and research and development expense was a year-over-year $958,563 increase in general and administrative expense.  This increase principally reflected severance expense of $362,271, amortization of debt issuance costs of $243,937, and a $414,831 increase in depreciation and amortization, partially offset by the net impact of cost reduction actions taken during the year.

Other expense for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, principally interest expense, increased $646,870 to $1,089,889 from the prior fiscal year, reflecting the higher proportion of debt in our capital structure during the year.  Our net loss totaled $10,313,514 for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2009, $477,593 higher than the prior year, as the increase in other expense more than offset the decline in our loss from operations.


 
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

   
Three months ended March 31,
   
Twelve Months ended March 31,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Revenue
                                   
Product sales
  $ 5,863,972     $ 11,156,855     $ 6,434,179     $ 37,449,868     $ 38,356,676     $ 13,144,037  
                                                 
Operating expenses
                                               
Cost of revenue
    4,439,317       6,688,734       3,619,356       23,710,787       22,975,385       8,404,507  
Research and development
    301,167       764,671       568,760       2,146,493       2,605,112       2,113,255  
Sales and marketing
    2,742,298       4,995,015       2,831,764       13,772,822       16,084,353       7,117,613  
General and administrative
    1,584,769       2,405,331       1,378,373       7,043,391       6,084,728       4,050,312  
Total operating expenses
    9,067,551       14,853,751       8,398,253       46,673,493       47,749,578       21,685,687  
                                                 
Profit (loss) from operations
    (3,203,579 )     (3,696,896 )     (1,964,074 )     (9,223,625 )     (9,392,902 )     (8,541,650 )
                                                 
Other (income) expense, net
                                               
Interest (income)
    (3,842 )     (13,191 )     (18,665 )     (6,285 )     (115,070 )     (176,173 )
Interest expense
    312,576       131,408       51,149       900,213       558,089       356,594  
Interest expense - related party
    -       -       -       195,961       -       -  
Other income
    -       2,929       -       -       -       -  
Registration rights penalty
    -       -       -       -       -       1,664,380  
Total other (income) expense, net
    308,734       121,146       32,484       1,089,889       443,019       1,844,801  
                                                 
Net profit (loss)
  $ (3,512,313 )   $ (3,818,042 )   $ (1,996,558 )   $ (10,313,514 )   $ (9,835,921 )   $ (10,386,451 )
                                                 
Net profit (loss) per share, basic and diluted
  $ (0.26 )   $ (0.32 )   $ (0.19 )   $ (0.82 )   $ (0.84 )   $ (1.09 )
                                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic and diluted
    13,342,877       12,066,080       10,121,762       12,519,999       11,662,891       9,505,926  
 
 

 
CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
 
   
3/31/2009
   
3/31/2008
 
ASSETS
           
     Cash
  $ 332,698     $ 1,559,792  
     Restricted Cash
    438,331       86,676  
     Accounts Receivable
    2,278,052       2,412,101  
     Other Receivables
    332,059       422,530  
     Inventory
    8,350,135       4,688,444  
     Prepaid Expenses and Other
    565,454       762,013  
Total Current Assets
    12,296,729       9,931,556  
                 
Property and Equipment
    1,768,369       1,830,646  
Other Assets
               
     Intangible Assets
    231,590       56,263  
     Deposits
    110,776       101,164  
     Prepaid Loan Issuance Costs
    201,726       -  
Total Other Assets
    544,092       157,427  
Total Assets
  $ 14,609,190     $ 11,919,629  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current Liabilities
               
     Current Portion - Long Term Debt
  $ 1,099,060     $ 128,927  
     Due to Factor
    -       1,480,150  
     Accounts Payable
    8,338,559       3,023,366  
     Accrued Expenses
    2,318,670       2,452,025  
     Customer Deposits
    246,728       232,200  
     Deferred Rent
    57,283       65,037  
Total Current Liabilities
    12,060,300       7,381,705  
Long Term Debt
    5,547,144       129,373  
Long Term Debt - Related Party
    1,233,371       -  
Stockholder's Equity
               
     Preferred Stock
    -       -  
     Common Stock
    13,343       12,076  
     Additional Paid-In Capital
    45,696,630       44,024,559  
     Accumulated (Deficit)
    (49,941,598 )     (39,628,084 )
Total Stockholder's Equity
    (4,231,625 )     4,408,551  
                 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
  $ 14,609,190     $ 11,919,629  



 
SALES BY CHANNEL (UNAUDITED)
 
   
Three months ended March 31,
   
Twelve Months ended March 31,
 
Product Revenues
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
Sales- Retail
  $ 3,048,651     $ 5,785,314     $ 4,189,871     $ 22,820,944     $ 23,910,782     $ 8,949,042  
Sales- Direct to Consumer
    2,731,362       5,013,133       2,244,308       12,304,018       13,704,717       4,194,995  
Sales - International
    83,959       358,157       -       2,324,906       741,177       -  
Total
  $ 5,863,972     $ 11,156,604     $ 6,434,179     $ 37,449,868     $ 38,356,676     $ 13,144,037  
                                                 
% of Revenues
                                               
Sales- Retail
    51.99 %     51.86 %     65.12 %     60.94 %     62.34 %     68.08 %
Sales- Direct to Consumer
    46.58 %     44.93 %     34.88 %     32.85 %     35.73 %     31.92 %
Sales - International
    1.43 %     3.21 %     0.00 %     6.21 %     1.93 %     0.00 %
Total sales
    100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %

 
SALES BY PRODUCT CATEGORY (UNAUDITED)
 
 
 
Three months ended March 31,
   
Twelve Months ended March 31,
 
Product Revenues
 
2009
   
2008
   
2007
   
2009
   
2008
   
2007
 
AeroGardens
  $ 4,189,614     $ 8,934,285     $ 5,464,416     $ 29,134,960     $ 31,540,407     $ 11,520,202  
Seed Kits and Accessories
    1,674,358       2,222,319       969,763       8,314,908       6,816,269       1,623,835  
Total
  $ 5,863,972     $ 11,156,604     $ 6,434,179     $ 37,449,868     $ 38,356,676     $ 13,144,037  
                                                 
% of Revenues
                                               
AeroGardens
    71.45 %     80.08 %     84.93 %     77.80 %     82.23 %     87.65 %
Seed Kits and Accessories
    28.55 %     19.92 %     15.07 %     22.20 %     17.77 %     12.35 %
Total
    100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %     100.00 %
 
About AeroGrow International, Inc.
 
Founded in 2002 in Boulder, Colorado, AeroGrow International, Inc. is dedicated to the research, development and marketing of the AeroGarden line of foolproof, dirt-free indoor gardens. AeroGardens allow anyone to grow farmer's market fresh herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, chili peppers, flowers and more, indoors, year-round, so simply and easily that no green thumb is required. See www.aerogrow.com.
 
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
 
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements by Jerry Perkins, and/or the Company, statements regarding growth of the AeroGarden product line, optimism related to the business, expanding sales, and other statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Company's business. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, sees, estimates and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results could vary materially from the description contained herein due to many factors including continued market acceptance of the Company's products or the need to raise additional capital. In addition, actual results could vary materially based on changes or slower growth in the indoor garden market; the potential inability to realize expected benefits and synergies; domestic and international business and economic conditions; changes in customer demand or ordering patterns; changes in the competitive environment including pricing pressures or technological changes; technological advances; shortages of manufacturing capacity; future production variables impacting excess inventory and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings under "risk factors" and elsewhere. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.