8-K

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): May 3, 2021

Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-39773	81-4895761
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(Commission File Number)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
	290 Canal Road Fairless Hills, PA 19030
	(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (707) 765-9990

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share	HYFM	NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Item 2.01 Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

On May 3, 2021, Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (the “Company”) completed the previously announced acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Field 16, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“HEAVY 16”), pursuant to the terms of the unit purchase and contribution agreement, dated as of April 26, 2021 (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, HEAVY 16, F16 Holding LLC, a California limited liability company (the “Seller”), and the members of the Seller, for a purchase price of up to $78.1 million, consisting of $63.1 million in cash and $15 million of its common stock (the “Equity Consideration”), subject to customary adjustments at closing for cash, working capital, transaction expenses and indebtedness of HEAVY 16 (the “Acquisition”). The purchase price includes a potential earn out payment of up to $2.5 million based on achievement of certain performance metrics. In connection with the Acquisition, the Company intends to enter into employment agreements with certain key employees of HEAVY 16.

HEAVY 16 is a leading manufacturer and supplier of branded plant nutritional products, with nine core products that are currently sold to approximately 300 retail stores across the U.S. The HEAVY 16 products feature a full line of premium nutrients with nine core products used in all stages of plant growth, helping to increase the yield and quality of crops. The Company believes that the strategic combination of its leading distribution capabilities and HEAVY 16’s branded nutrient capabilities will enable the HEAVY 16 brand to rapidly grow across the Company’s existing customer base. In addition, the Company believes there will be an opportunity to use its distribution platform outside the U.S. to offer the HEAVY 16 products internationally. Moreover, by broadening the Company’s proprietary branded offerings into the plant nutrients category, the Company anticipates that the Acquisition will also enable it to further serve the needs of its retail partners and commercial growers as it continues to penetrate the market. The Company has acquired approximately 70 SKUs in the nutrient category and a new 25,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Paramount, California with cutting edge blending, bottling and filling equipment. Approximately 15 employees from HEAVY 16 have joined the Company.

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 10.38 to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-255510).

Item 3.02 Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities

The information regarding the Purchase Agreement and the issuance of the Equity Consideration contemplated thereunder set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference. The Equity Consideration was issued in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof, which exempts transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 4, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit No.	Description
99.1	Press Release, dated May 4, 2021.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.
Date: May 5, 2021	By:	/s/ William Toler
		Name:	William Toler
		Title:	Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1 

 

Hydrofarm Completes Acquisition of

Premium Nutrient Maker HEAVY 16

Fairless Hills, Pa. - Monday, May 4, 2021– Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (“Hydrofarm”) (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading distributor and manufacturer of hydroponics equipment and supplies, today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Field 16, LLC, the manufacturer and distributor of HEAVY 16, a line of premium plant nutrients (collectively “HEAVY 16”). The transaction enhances Hydrofarm’s already robust portfolio of high-performance, innovative and proprietary branded products in the lighting, climate control, nutrients and growing media categories.

First Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call

The Company plans to release full financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2021 on May 13, 2021 at 5:00 PM ET. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 201-389-0879. A replay will be available after the call until Thursday, May 20, 2021 and can be accessed by dialing 412-317-6671. The passcode is 13718921. The conference call will also be webcast live and archived on the corporate website at www.hydrofarm.com, under the “Investors” section.

About Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

Hydrofarm is a leading distributor and manufacturer of controlled environment agriculture equipment and supplies, including high-intensity grow lights, climate control solutions, and growing media, as well as a broad portfolio of innovative and proprietary branded products. For more than 40 years, Hydrofarm has helped growers in the U.S. and Canadian markets make growing easier and more productive.  The Company’s mission is to empower growers, farmers and cultivators with products that enable greater quality, efficiency, consistency and speed in their grow projects.  For additional information, please visit: www.hydrofarm.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Statements contained in this press release, other than statements of historical fact, which address activities, events and developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, 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 statements” within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws that are subject to risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified as statements that include phrases such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “projected,” “believe,” “target,” “predict,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “may,” “goal,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other similar words or phrases. Actual results could differ materially from the forward-looking information in this release due to a variety of factors, including, but not limited to:

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operation, financial condition and/or cash flows; Interruptions in the Company's supply chain, whether due to COVID-19 or otherwise could adversely impact expected sales growth and operations; The highly competitive nature of the Company’s markets could adversely affect its ability to maintain or grow revenues; Certain of the Company’s products may be purchased for use in new or emerging industries or segments, including the cannabis industry, and/or be subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative and enforcement approaches, and consumer perceptions and, among other things, such laws, regulations, approaches and perceptions may adversely impact the market for the Company’s products; Compliance with environmental and other public health regulations or changes in such regulations or regulatory enforcement priorities could increase the Company’s costs of doing business or limit the Company’s ability to market all of its products; Damage to the Company’s reputation or the reputation of its products or products it markets on behalf of third parties could have an adverse effect on its business; If the Company is unable to effectively execute its e-commerce business, its reputation and operating results may be harmed; The Company’s operations may be impaired if its information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if it is the subject of a data breach or cyber-attack; The Company may not be able to adequately protect its intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to the Company’s business; Acquisitions, other strategic alliances and investments could result in operating and integration difficulties, dilution and other harmful consequences that may adversely impact the Company’s business and results of operations. 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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 and in the Company’s other filings with the SEC. The Company disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.

Investor Relations:

ICR

Fitzhugh Taylor

ir@hydrofarm.com

Media Contacts:

The LAKPR Group

Hannah Arnold, 202-559-9171, harnold@lakpr.com

Lynn Trono, 323-672-8226, ltrono@lakpr.com

-or-

Hydrofarm

Lisa Gallagher, 513-505-2334, lgallagher@hydrofarm.com