UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

______________________________________________________________ 

Form 10-K

(Mark One)

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

For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

OR

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file number 1-11593

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The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Ohio	31-1414921
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, Ohio	43041
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:

937-644-0011

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

Title of Each Class	Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Common Shares, without par value	New York Stock Exchange

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

None

______________________________________________________________ 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ    No  o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  o    No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ    No  o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.    o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer	þ	Accelerated filer	o
Non-accelerated filer	o   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company	o
		Emerging growth company	o

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.         o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  o    No  þ

The aggregate market value of Common Shares (the only common equity of the registrant) held by non-affiliates (for this purpose, executive officers and directors of the registrant are considered affiliates) as of March 31, 2017 (the last business day of the most recently completed second quarter) was approximately $4,062,003,467.

There were 57,530,125 Common Shares of the registrant outstanding as of November 24, 2017.

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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the registrant’s 2018 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Such Proxy Statement will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days of the registrant’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

Company Description and Development of the Business

The discussion below provides a brief description of the business conducted by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (“Scotts Miracle-Gro” and, together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “we” or “us”), including general developments in the Company’s business during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 (“fiscal 2017”). For additional information on recent business developments, see “ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We are a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products. Our products are marketed under some of the most recognized brand names in the industry. Our key brands include Scotts^® and Turf Builder^® lawn and grass seed products; Miracle-Gro^®, Nature’s Care^®, Scotts^®, LiquaFeed^® and Osmocote^®1 gardening and landscape products; and Ortho^®, Roundup^®2_, Home Defense^® and Tomcat^® branded insect control, weed control and rodent control products. We are the exclusive agent of the Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) for the marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products within the United States and certain other specified countries. We have a presence in similar branded consumer products in China and Latin America. In addition, with our acquisitions of Gavita Holdings B.V. (“Gavita”), General Hydroponics, Inc. (“General Hydroponics”), Bio-Organic Solutions, Inc. (“Vermicrop”), American Agritech, L.L.C. (“Botanicare”), Agrolux Holding B.V. (“Agrolux”), AeroGrow International, Inc. (“AeroGrow”) and Can-Filters Group Inc. (“Can-Filters”), we are a leading producer of liquid plant food products, growing media, advanced indoor garden, lighting and ventilation systems and accessories for hydroponic gardening.

Prior to August 31, 2017, we operated consumer lawn and garden businesses located in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom (the “International Business”). On April 29, 2017, the Company received a binding and irrevocable conditional offer (the “Offer”) from Exponent Private Equity LLP (“Exponent”) to purchase the International Business. On July 5, 2017, the Company accepted the Offer and entered into the Share and Business Sale Agreement (the “Purchase and Sale Agreement”) contemplated by the Offer. Pursuant to the Purchase and Sale Agreement, Scotts-Sierra Investments LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries entered into separate stock or asset sale transactions with respect to the International Business. The Company’s sale of the International Business to Exponent closed on August 31, 2017.

Prior to April 13, 2016, we operated the Scotts LawnService^® business (the “SLS Business”), which provided residential and commercial lawn care, tree and shrub care and pest control services in the United States. On April 13, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Contribution and Distribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) between the Company and TruGreen Holding Corporation (“TruGreen Holdings”), we completed the contribution of the SLS Business to a newly formed subsidiary of TruGreen Holdings (the “TruGreen Joint Venture”) in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. We now participate in the residential and commercial lawn care, tree and shrub care and pest control services segments in the United States and Canada through our interest in the TruGreen Joint Venture.

Scotts Miracle-Gro, an Ohio corporation, traces its heritage back to a company founded by O.M. Scott in Marysville, Ohio in 1868. In the mid-1900s, we became widely known for the development of quality lawn fertilizers and grass seeds that led to the creation of a new industry-consumer lawn care. In the 1990s, we significantly expanded our product offering with three powerful leading brands in the U.S. home lawn and garden industry. First, in fiscal 1995, through a merger with Stern’s Miracle-Gro Products, Inc., which was founded by Horace Hagedorn and Otto Stern in Long Island, New York in 1951, we acquired the Miracle-Gro^® brand, the industry leader in water-soluble garden plant foods. Second and third, in 1998, we acquired the Ortho^® brand in the United States and obtained exclusive rights to market the consumer Roundup^® brand within the United States and other contractually specified countries, thereby adding industry-leading weed, pest and disease control products to our portfolio. Today, we believe that Scotts^®, Turf Builder^®, Miracle-Gro^®, Ortho^® and Roundup^® are among the most widely recognized brands in the consumer lawn and garden industry in the United States.

Our strategy is focused on (i) growing our core branded business, primarily in North America where we can leverage our competitive advantages in emerging areas of growth including organics, hydroponics, live goods, water positive landscapes, and internet-enabled technology, (ii) maximizing the value of non-core-assets including the divestiture of Scotts LawnService^® and

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¹  Osmocote^® is a registered trademark of Everris International B.V., a subsidiary of Israel Chemicals Ltd.

²  Roundup^® is a registered trademark of Monsanto Technology LLC, a company affiliated with Monsanto Company.

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the International Business, and (iii) cash flow including near-term investments that will drive long-term growth, a natural mid-term shift to integration of acquired businesses, and a long-term plan to return increasing amounts of cash to shareholders.

Business Segments

We divide our business into the following reportable segments:

• U.S. Consumer

• Hawthorne

• Other

This division of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by our Chief Executive Officer (the chief operating decision-maker of the Company). Financial information about these segments for each of the three fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is presented in “NOTE 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

These segments differ from those used in prior periods due to the change in our internal organization structure resulting from our divestiture of the International Business, which closed on August 31, 2017. As a result, effective in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. See “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” for further discussion. Prior to being reported as a discontinued operation, the International Business comprised a substantial proportion of the Europe Consumer and Other reportable segments. Refer to “NOTE 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION” for discussion of our new reportable segments effective in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Principal Products and Services

In our reportable segments, we manufacture, market and sell lawn and garden products in the following categories:

Lawn Care: The lawn care category is designed to help users obtain and enjoy the lawn they want. Products within this category include lawn fertilizer products under the Scotts^® and Turf Builder^® brand names; grass seed products under the Scotts^®, Turf Builder^®, EZ Seed^®, Water Smart^® and PatchMaster^® brand names; and lawn-related weed, pest and disease control products primarily under the Scotts^® brand name, including sub-brands such as GrubEx^®.The lawn care category also includes spreaders and other durables under the Scotts^® brand name, including Turf Builder^® EdgeGuard^® spreaders, Snap^® spreaders and Handy Green^® II handheld spreaders. In addition, we market outdoor cleaners under the Scotts^® OxiClean^TM3 brand name.

Gardening and Landscape: The gardening and landscape category is designed to help consumers grow and enjoy flower and vegetable gardens and beautify landscaped areas. Products within this category include a complete line of water-soluble plant foods under the Miracle-Gro^® brand and sub-brands such as LiquaFeed^®, continuous-release plant foods under the Miracle-Gro^®, Scotts^® and Osmocote^® brands and sub-brands of Miracle-Gro^® such as Shake ‘N Feed^®; potting mixes and garden soils under the Miracle-Gro^®, Scotts^®, Hyponex^®, Earthgro^®, SuperSoil^® and Fafard^® brand names; mulch and decorative groundcover products under the Scotts^® brand, including the sub-brands Nature Scapes^®, Earthgro^® and Hyponex^®; plant-related pest and disease control products under the Ortho^® brand; organic garden products under the Miracle-Gro^® Organic Choice^®, Nature’s Care^®, Scotts^®, Whitney Farms^® and EcoScraps^® brand names; and live goods and seeding solutions under the Miracle-Gro^® brand and Gro-ables^® sub-brand. In the second quarter of fiscal 2016, we entered into a Marketing, R&D and Ancillary Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) and a Term Loan Agreement (the “Term Loan Agreement”) with Bonnie Plants, Inc. (“Bonnie”) and its sole shareholder, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. (“AFC”), pursuant to which we provide financing and certain services to Bonnie’s business of planting, growing, developing, manufacturing, distributing, marketing, and selling to retail stores throughout the United States live plants, plant food, fertilizer and potting soil (the “Bonnie Business”). See “Acquisitions” for further discussion.

Hydroponics: This category is designed to help users grow plants, flowers and vegetables in an indoor or urban environment using little or no soil. Products within this category include nutrients, substrates, systems, growing media, lighting and plastics and are marketed under the General Hydroponics^®, Gavita^®, Botanicare^®, Vermicrop^®, Agrolux^®, Can-Filters^® and AeroGarden^® brand names.

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³OxiClean^TM is a registered trademark of Church & Dwight Co., Inc.

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Controls: The controls category is designed to help consumers protect their homes from pests and maintain external home areas. Insect control products are marketed under the Ortho^® brand name, including Ortho Max^®, Home Defense Max^® and Bug B Gon Max^® sub-brands; rodent control products are marketed under the Tomcat^® and Ortho^® brands; selective weed control products are marketed under the Ortho^® Weed B Gon^® and Roundup^® for Lawns sub-brands; and non-selective weed control products are marketed under the Roundup^® and Groundclear^® brand names.

Marketing Agreement: We are Monsanto’s exclusive marketing agent for consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products in the United States and certain other specified countries. On May 15, 2015, we entered into an amendment to the Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Original Marketing Agreement”) with Monsanto and also entered into a lawn and garden brand extension agreement (the “Brand Extension Agreement”) and a commercialization and technology agreement (the “Commercialization and Technology Agreement”) with Monsanto. On August 31, 2017, in connection with the sale of the International Business, we entered into the Second Amended and Restated Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Restated Marketing Agreement”) and the Amended and Restated Lawn and Garden Brand Extension Agreement - Americas (the “Restated Brand Extension Agreement”) to reflect the Company’s transfer and assignment to Exponent of the Company’s rights and responsibilities under the Original Marketing Agreement, as amended, and the Brand Extension Agreement relating to those countries and territories subject to the sale.

Under the terms of the Restated Marketing Agreement, we are jointly responsible with Monsanto for developing consumer and trade marketing programs for consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products in the countries where we serve as agent. We also provide sales, merchandising, warehousing and other selling and marketing support for these products. The Company performs other services, including manufacturing conversion services, pursuant to ancillary agreements. The Restated Brand Extension Agreement provides the Company an exclusive license in each country throughout the North American continent, South American continent, Central America, the Caribbean, Israel and China to use the Roundup^® brand on additional products offered by the Company outside of the non-selective weedkiller category within the residential lawn and garden market. The application of the Roundup^® brand to these additional products is subject to a product review and approval process developed between the Company and Monsanto. For additional details regarding the Restated Marketing Agreement, the Restated Brand Extension Agreement and the Commercialization and Technology Agreement, see “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS — In the event the Restated Marketing Agreement for consumer Roundup^® products terminates, we would lose a substantial source of future earnings and overhead expense absorption” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “NOTE 6. MARKETING AGREEMENT” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Acquisitions

2018

On October 11, 2017, our Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the United States and Canadian assets of Can-Filters for $72.2 million. Based in Nelson, British Columbia, Can-Filters is a leading wholesaler of ventilation products for indoor and hydroponic gardening and industrial markets worldwide.

2017

On October 3, 2016, our Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of Botanicare, an Arizona-based leading producer of plant nutrients, plant supplements and growing systems used for hydroponic gardening, for $92.6 million.

On November 29, 2016, our wholly-owned subsidiary SMG Growing Media, Inc. fully exercised its outstanding warrants to acquire additional shares of common stock of AeroGrow for $8.1 million, which increased our percentage ownership of AeroGrow’s outstanding shares of common stock (on a fully diluted basis) from 45% to 80%. AeroGrow is a developer, marketer, direct-seller, and wholesaler of advanced indoor garden systems designed for consumer use in gardening, and home and office décor markets. AeroGrow operates primarily in the United States and Canada, as well as select countries in Europe, Asia and Australia.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, our U.S. Consumer segment also completed two acquisitions of companies whose products support our focus on the emerging areas of water positive landscapes and internet-enabled technology for an aggregate purchase price of $3.2 million.

On May 26, 2017, our majority-owned subsidiary Gavita completed the acquisition of Agrolux and its subsidiaries for $21.8 million. Agrolux, based in the Netherlands, is a worldwide supplier of horticultural lighting.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, our Hawthorne segment also completed the acquisition of a company focused on the technology supporting hydroponic growing systems for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 million.

On August 11, 2017, our Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the exclusive manufacturer and formulator of branded Botanicare products for $32.0 million.

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During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we also made a $29.4 million investment in an unconsolidated subsidiary whose products support the professional U.S. industrial, turf and ornamental market.

2016

In the second quarter of fiscal 2016, we entered into the Services Agreement and the Term Loan Agreement with Bonnie and AFC providing for our participation in the Bonnie Business. The Term Loan Agreement provides a loan from us to AFC, with Bonnie as guarantor, in the amount of $72.0 million with a fixed coupon rate of 6.95% (the “Term Loan”). Under the Services Agreement, we provide marketing, research and development and certain ancillary services to the Bonnie Business for a commission fee based on the profits of the Bonnie Business and the reimbursement of certain costs.

On May 26, 2016, our Hawthorne segment acquired majority control and a 75% economic interest in Gavita for $136.2 million. Gavita’s former ownership group retained a 25% noncontrolling interest in Gavita consisting of ownership of 5% of the outstanding shares of Gavita and a loan with interest payable based on distributions by Gavita. Gavita, which is based in the Netherlands, is a leading producer and marketer of indoor lighting used in the greenhouse and hydroponic markets, predominately in the United States and Europe. On October 2, 2017, our Hawthorne segment acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest in Gavita and its subsidiaries, including Agrolux, for $72.2 million.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2016, our Other segment completed an acquisition to expand our Canadian growing media operations for an estimated purchase price of $33.9 million, which was adjusted down by $4.3 million during fiscal 2017 based on resolution of contingent consideration.

2015

On March 30, 2015, our Hawthorne segment acquired the assets of General Hydroponics and Vermicrop for $120.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively. The Vermicrop purchase price was paid in common shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro (“Common Shares”) based on the average share price at the time of payment. General Hydroponics and Vermicrop are leading producers of liquid plant food products, growing media and accessories for hydroponic gardening.

On May 15, 2015, we amended our Marketing Agreement with Monsanto and entered into a lawn and garden brand extension agreement, and a commercialization and technology agreement with Monsanto gaining certain rights and protections pursuant to the agreements. We paid Monsanto $300.0 million in consideration for these agreements on August 14, 2015.

2014

On October 14, 2013, our U.S. Consumer segment acquired the Tomcat^® consumer rodent control business from Bell Laboratories, Inc., located in Madison, Wisconsin, for $60.0 million. The acquisition included the Tomcat^® brand and other intellectual property, as well as a long-term partnership to bring innovative technologies to the consumer rodent control market. Tomcat^® consumer products are sold at home centers, mass retailers, and grocery, drug and general merchandise stores across the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

On September 30, 2014, our Other segment acquired Fafard & Brothers Ltd. (“Fafard”) for $59.8 million. In continuous operation since 1940 and based in Saint-Bonaventure, Quebec, Canada, Fafard is a producer of peat moss and growing media products for consumer and professional markets including peat-based and bark-based mixes, composts and premium soils. Fafard serves customers primarily across Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and the eastern United States.

We have also completed several smaller acquisitions within our controls and growing media businesses over the past five years.

Divestitures

On August 31, 2017, we completed the sale of the International Business to Exponent. This transaction included the sale of our consumer lawn and garden businesses located in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom. On August 31, 2017, in connection with, and as a condition to, the consummation of the sale of the International Business, we entered into the Restated Marketing Agreement and Restated Brand Extension Agreement with Monsanto reflecting our transfer and assignment, to the purchaser of the International Business, of the rights and responsibilities under the Original Marketing Agreement, as amended, and the Brand Extension Agreement relating to those countries and territories subject to the sale.

On April 13, 2016, we contributed the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture, and received a tax-deferred cash distribution of $196.2 million, partially offset by an investment of $18.0 million in second lien term loan financing provided by us to the TruGreen Joint Venture.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2014, we completed the sale of our wild bird food business in the United States and Canada for $4.1 million in cash and $1.0 million in earn-out payments.

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We have classified our results of operations for all periods presented in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to reflect these businesses as discontinued operations during the applicable periods. See “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Principal Markets and Methods of Distribution

We sell our products primarily to home centers, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, large hardware chains, independent hardware stores, nurseries, garden centers, food and drug stores, indoor gardening and hydroponic product distributors and retailers through both a direct sales force and our network of brokers and distributors. In addition, during fiscal 2017, we employed approximately 2,700 full-time and seasonal in-store associates within the United States to help our retail partners merchandise their lawn and garden departments directly to consumers of our products.

The majority of our shipments to customers are made via common carriers or through distributors in the United States. We primarily utilize third parties to manage the key distribution centers for our consumer business in North America, which are strategically located across the United States and Canada. Growing media products are generally shipped direct-to-store without passing through a distribution center.

Raw Materials

We purchase raw materials for our products from various sources. We are subject to market risk as a result of the fluctuating prices of raw materials such as urea and other fertilizer inputs, resins, diesel, gasoline, natural gas, sphagnum peat, bark and grass seed. Our objectives surrounding the procurement of these materials are to ensure continuous supply, minimize costs and improve predictability. We seek to achieve these objectives through negotiation of contracts with favorable terms directly with vendors. When appropriate, we commit to purchase a certain percentage of our needs in advance of the lawn and garden season to secure pre-determined prices. We also hedge certain commodities, particularly diesel, gasoline and urea, to improve cost predictability and control. Sufficient raw materials were available during fiscal 2017.

Trademarks, Patents and Licenses

We consider our trademarks, patents and licenses to be key competitive advantages. We pursue a vigorous trademark protection strategy consisting of registration, renewal and maintenance of key trademarks and proactive monitoring and enforcement activities to protect against infringement. The Scotts^®, Miracle-Gro^®, Ortho^®, Tomcat^®, Hyponex^®, Earthgro^®, General Hydroponics^®, Vermicrop^®, Gavita^®, Botanicare^®, Agrolux^® and Can-Filters^® brand names and logos, as well as a number of product trademarks, including Turf Builder^®, EZ Seed^®, Snap^®, Organic Choice^®, Nature’s Care^®, Home Defense Max^®, Nature Scapes^®, Weed B Gon^® and Roundup^® for Lawns are registered in the United States and/or internationally and are considered material to our business.

In addition, we actively develop and maintain an extensive portfolio of utility and design patents covering subject matters such as fertilizer, chemical and growing media compositions and processes; grass seed varieties; and mechanical dispensing devices such as applicators, spreaders and sprayers. Our utility patents provide protection generally extending to 20 years from the date of filing, and many of our patents will continue well into the next decade. We also hold exclusive and non-exclusive patent licenses and supply arrangements, permitting the use and sale of additional patented fertilizers, pesticides and mechanical devices. Although our portfolio of patents and patent licenses is important to our success, no single patent or group of related patents is considered significant to any of our business segments or the business as a whole.

Seasonality and Backlog

Our business is highly seasonal, with more than 75% of our annual net sales occurring in our second and third fiscal quarters combined. Our annual sales are further concentrated in our second and third fiscal quarters by retailers who rely on our ability to deliver products closer to when consumers buy our products, thereby reducing retailers’ pre-season inventories.

We anticipate significant orders for the upcoming spring season will start to be received late in the winter and continue through the spring season. Historically, substantially all orders have been received and shipped within the same fiscal year with minimal carryover of open orders at the end of the fiscal year.

Significant Customers

We sell our products primarily to home centers, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, large hardware chains, independent hardware stores, nurseries, garden centers, food and drug stores, distributors, indoor gardening and hydroponic product distributors and retailers. Our three largest customers are Home Depot, Lowe’s and Walmart, which are reported within the U.S. Consumer segment and are the only customers that individually represent more than 10% of reported consolidated net sales. For additional

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details regarding significant customers, see “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS — Because of the concentration of our sales to a small number of retail customers, the loss of one or more of, or a significant reduction in orders from, our top customers could adversely affect our financial results” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and “NOTE 20.  CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Competitive Marketplace

The markets in which we sell our products are highly competitive. We compete primarily on the basis of product innovation, product quality, product performance, value, brand strength, supply chain competency, field sales support, in-store sales support, the strength of our relationships with major retailers, distributors and advertising.

In the lawn and garden, pest control and indoor gardening and hydroponic markets, our products compete against private-label as well as branded products. Primary competitors include Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., Bayer AG, Central Garden & Pet Company, Enforcer Products, Inc., Kellogg Garden Products, Oldcastle Retail, Inc., Lebanon Seaboard Corporation, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc, FoxFarm Soil & Fertilizer Company, Nanolux Technology, Inc., Sun Gro Horticulture, Inc. and Advanced Nutrients, Ltd. In addition, we face competition from smaller regional competitors who operate in many of the areas where we compete.

In Canada, we face competition in the lawn and garden market from Premier Tech Ltd. and a variety of local companies including private label brands.

Research and Development

We continually invest in research and development, both in the laboratory and at the consumer level, to improve our products, manufacturing processes, packaging and delivery systems. Spending on research and development was $39.9 million, $36.0 million and $36.5 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively, including product registration costs of $10.6 million, $10.6 million and $10.4 million, respectively. In addition to the benefits of our own research and development, we actively seek ways to leverage the research and development activities of our suppliers and other business partners.

Regulatory Considerations

Local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations affect the manufacture, sale, distribution and application of our products in several ways. For example, in the United States, all products containing pesticides must comply with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act of 1947, as amended (“FIFRA”), and most require registration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (the “U.S. EPA”) and similar state agencies before they can be sold or distributed. Fertilizer and growing media products are subject to state and foreign labeling regulations. In addition to the regulations already described, federal, state and foreign agencies regulate the disposal, transport, handling and storage of waste, remediation of contaminated sites, air and water discharges from our facilities, and workplace health and safety. Our grass seed products are regulated by the Federal Seed Act and various state regulations.

In addition, the use of certain pesticide and fertilizer products is regulated by various local, state, federal and foreign environmental and public health agencies. These regulations may include requirements that only certified or professional users apply the product or that certain products be used only on certain types of locations (such as “not for use on sod farms or golf courses”), may require users to post notices on properties to which products have been or will be applied, may require notification to individuals in the vicinity that products will be applied in the future or may ban the use of certain ingredients.

State, federal and foreign authorities generally require growing media facilities to obtain permits (sometimes on an annual basis) in order to harvest peat and to discharge storm water run-off or water pumped from peat deposits. The permits typically specify the condition in which the property must be left after the peat is fully harvested, with the residual use typically being natural wetland habitats combined with open water areas. We are generally required by these permits to limit our harvesting and to restore the property consistent with the intended residual use. In some locations, these facilities have been required to create water retention ponds to control the sediment content of discharged water.

For more information regarding how compliance with local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations may affect us, see “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS — Compliance with environmental and other public health regulations or changes in such regulations or regulatory enforcement priorities could increase our costs of doing business or limit our ability to market all of our products” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Regulatory Matters

We are subject to various environmental proceedings, the majority of which are for site remediation. At September 30, 2017, $4.8 million was accrued for such environmental matters. During fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, we expensed $1.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for such environmental matters. We had no material capital expenditures during the last three fiscal years related to environmental or regulatory matters.

Employees

As of September 30, 2017, we employed approximately 4,700 employees. During peak sales and production periods, we employ approximately 5,900 employees, including seasonal and temporary labor.

Financial Information About Geographic Areas

For certain information concerning our international revenues and long-lived assets, see “NOTE 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

General Information

We maintain a website at http://investor.scotts.com (this uniform resource locator, or URL, is an inactive textual reference only and is not intended to incorporate our website into this Annual Report on Form 10-K). We file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and make available, free of charge, on or through our website, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as well as our proxy and information statements, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains electronic filings by Scotts Miracle-Gro and other issuers at www.sec.gov. In addition, the public may read and copy any materials Scotts Miracle-Gro files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the exhibits hereto and the information incorporated by reference herein, as well as our 2017 Annual Report to Shareholders (our “2017 Annual Report”), contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. Information regarding activities, events and developments that we expect or anticipate will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, information relating to our future growth and profitability targets and strategies designed to increase total shareholder value, are forward-looking statements based on management’s estimates, assumptions and projections. Forward-looking statements also include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our future economic and financial condition and results of operations, the plans and objectives of management and our assumptions regarding our performance and such plans and objectives, as well as the amount and timing of repurchases of our Common Shares or other uses of cash flows. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified through the use of words such as “guidance,” “outlook,” “projected,” “believe,” “target,” “predict,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “strategy,” “may,” “goal,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “should” and other similar words and variations.

Forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our 2017 Annual Report are predictions only and actual results could differ materially from management’s expectations due to a variety of factors, including those described below. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or persons working on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by such risk factors.

The forward-looking statements that we make in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and our 2017 Annual Report are based on management’s current views and assumptions regarding future events and speak only as of their dates. We disclaim any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements that we make, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments, except as required by the federal securities laws.

Compliance with environmental and other public health regulations or changes in such regulations or regulatory enforcement priorities could increase our costs of doing business or limit our ability to market all of our products.

Local, state, federal and foreign laws and regulations relating to environmental matters affect us in several ways. In the United States, all products containing pesticides must comply with FIFRA and most must be registered with the U.S. EPA and

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similar state agencies before they can be sold or distributed. Our inability to obtain or maintain such compliance, or the cancellation of any such registration of our products, could have an adverse effect on our business, the severity of which would depend on such matters as the products involved, whether another product could be substituted and whether our competitors were similarly affected. We attempt to anticipate regulatory developments and maintain registrations of, and access to, substitute active ingredients, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to avoid or reduce these risks. In addition, in Canada, regulations have been adopted by several provinces that substantially restrict our ability to market and sell certain of our consumer pesticide products.

Under the Food Quality Protection Act, enacted by the U.S. Congress in 1996, food-use pesticides are evaluated to determine whether there is reasonable certainty that no harm will result from the cumulative effects of pesticide exposures. Under this Act, the U.S. EPA is evaluating the cumulative and aggregate risks from dietary and non-dietary exposures to pesticides. The pesticides in our products, certain of which may be used on crops processed into various food products, are typically manufactured by independent third parties and continue to be evaluated by the U.S. EPA as part of this exposure risk assessment. The U.S. EPA or the third-party registrant may decide that a pesticide we use in our products will be limited or made unavailable to us. We cannot predict the outcome or the severity of the effect of these continuing evaluations.

In addition, the use of certain pesticide and fertilizer products is regulated by various local, state, federal and foreign environmental and public health agencies. These regulations may, among other things, ban the use of certain ingredients or require (i) that only certified or professional users apply the product, (ii) that certain products be used only on certain types of locations, (iii) users to post notices on properties to which products have been or will be applied, and (iv) notification to individuals in the vicinity that products will be applied in the future. Even if we are able to comply with all such regulations and obtain all necessary registrations and licenses, we cannot provide assurance that our products, particularly pesticide products, will not cause injury to the environment or to people under all circumstances. The costs of compliance, remediation or products liability have adversely affected operating results in the past and could materially adversely affect future quarterly or annual operating results.

Our products and operations may be subject to increased regulatory and environmental scrutiny in jurisdictions in which we do business. For example, we are subject to regulations relating to our harvesting of peat for our growing media business which has come under increasing regulatory and environmental scrutiny. In the United States, state regulations frequently require us to limit our harvesting and to restore the property to an agreed-upon condition. In some locations, we have been required to create water retention ponds to control the sediment content of discharged water. In Canada, our peat extraction efforts are also the subject of regulation.

In addition to the regulations already described, local, state, federal and foreign agencies regulate the disposal, transport, handling and storage of waste, remediation of contaminated sites, air and water discharges from our facilities, and workplace health and safety.

Under certain environmental laws, we may be liable for the costs of investigation and remediation of the presence of certain regulated materials, as well as related costs of investigation and remediation of damage to natural resources, at various properties, including our current and former properties as well as offsite waste handling or disposal sites that we have used. Liability may be imposed upon us without regard to whether we knew of or caused the presence of such materials and, under certain circumstances, on a joint and several basis. There can be no assurances that the presence of such regulated materials at any such locations, or locations that we may acquire in the future, will not result in liability to us under such laws or expose us to third-party actions such as tort suits based on alleged conduct or environmental conditions.

The adequacy of our current non-FIFRA compliance-related environmental accruals and future provisions depends upon our operating in substantial compliance with applicable environmental and public health laws and regulations, as well as the assumptions that we have both identified all of the significant sites that must be remediated and that there are no significant conditions of potential contamination that are unknown to us. A significant change in the facts and circumstances surrounding these assumptions or in current enforcement policies or requirements, or a finding that we are not in substantial compliance with applicable environmental and public health laws and regulations, could have a material adverse effect on future environmental capital expenditures and other environmental expenses, as well as our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Damage to our reputation could have an adverse effect on our business.

Maintaining our strong reputation with both consumers and our retail customers is a key component in our success. Product recalls, our inability to ship, sell or transport affected products and governmental investigations may harm our reputation and acceptance of our products by consumers and our retail customers, which may materially and adversely affect our business operations, decrease sales and increase costs.

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In addition, perceptions that the products we produce and market are not safe could adversely affect us and contribute to the risk we will be subjected to legal action. We manufacture and market a variety of products, such as fertilizers, growing media, herbicides and pesticides. On occasion, allegations are made that some of these products have failed to perform up to expectations or have caused damage or injury to individuals or property. For example, public commentary by media agencies, non-governmental organizations and/or litigation-related assertions, even if inaccurate, may lead consumers to believe that certain products we manufacture or market may be unsafe. Further, based on reports of contamination at a third-party supplier’s vermiculite mine, the public may perceive that some of our products manufactured in the past using vermiculite are or may be contaminated. Public perception that the products we manufacture or market are not safe, whether justified or not, could impair our reputation, involve us in litigation, damage our brand names and have a material adverse effect on our business.

Certain of our products may be purchased for use in new and emerging industries or segments and/or be subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative practices, enforcement approaches, judicial interpretations, and consumer perceptions.

We sell products, including hydroponic gardening products, that end users may purchase for use in new and emerging industries or segments, including the growing of cannabis, that may not grow or achieve market acceptance in a manner that we can predict. The demand for these products is dependent on the growth of these industries or segments, which is uncertain. 

 In addition, we sell products that end users may purchase for use in industries or segments, including the growing of cannabis, that are subject to varying, inconsistent, and rapidly changing laws, regulations, administrative practices, enforcement approaches, judicial interpretations, and consumer perceptions.  For example, certain countries and 29 U.S. states have adopted frameworks that authorize, regulate, and tax the cultivation, processing, sale, and use of cannabis for medicinal and/or non-medicinal use, while the U.S. Controlled Substances Act and the laws of other U.S. states prohibit growing cannabis.

 Our gardening products, including our hydroponic gardening products, are multi-purpose products designed and intended for growing a wide range of plants and are generally purchased from retailers by end users who may grow any variety of plants, including cannabis.  Although the demand for our products may be negatively impacted depending on how laws, regulations, administrative practices, enforcement approaches, judicial interpretations, and consumer perceptions develop, we cannot reasonably predict the nature of such developments or the effect, if any, that such developments could have on our business.

Our marketing activities may not be successful.

We invest substantial resources in advertising, consumer promotions and other marketing activities to maintain, extend and expand our brand image. There can be no assurances that our marketing strategies will be effective or that the amount we invest in advertising activities will result in a corresponding increase in sales of our products. If our marketing initiatives are not successful, we will have incurred significant expenses without the benefit of higher revenues.

Our success depends upon the retention and availability of key personnel and the effective succession of senior management.

Our success largely depends on the performance of our management team and other key personnel. Our future operations could be harmed if we are unable to attract and retain talented, highly qualified senior executives and other key personnel. In addition, if we are unable to effectively provide for the succession of senior management, including our chief executive officer, our business, prospects, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows may be materially adversely affected.

Disruptions in availability or increases in the prices of raw materials or fuel could adversely affect our results of operations.

We source many of our commodities and other raw materials on a global basis. The general availability and price of those raw materials can be affected by numerous forces beyond our control, including political instability, trade restrictions and other government regulations, duties and tariffs, price controls, changes in currency exchange rates and weather.

A significant disruption in the availability of any of our key raw materials could negatively impact our business. In addition, increases in the prices of key commodities and other raw materials could adversely affect our ability to manage our cost structure. Market conditions may limit our ability to raise selling prices to offset increases in our raw material costs. Our proprietary technologies can limit our ability to locate or utilize alternative inputs for certain products. For certain inputs, new sources of supply may have to be qualified under regulatory standards, which can require additional investment and delay bringing a product to market.

We utilize hedge agreements periodically to fix the prices of a portion of our urea and fuel needs. The hedge agreements are designed to mitigate the earnings and cash flow fluctuations associated with the costs of urea and fuel. In periods of declining urea and fuel prices, utilizing hedge agreements may effectively increase our expenditures for these raw materials.

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Our hedging arrangements expose us to certain counterparty risks.

In addition to commodity hedge agreements, we utilize interest rate swap agreements to manage the net interest rate risk inherent in our sources of borrowing as well as foreign currency forward contracts to hedge the exchange rate risk associated with certain balances denominated in foreign currencies. Utilizing these hedge agreements exposes us to certain counterparty risks. The failure of one or more of the counterparties to fulfill their obligations under the hedge agreements, whether as a result of weakening financial stability or otherwise, could adversely affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Economic conditions could adversely affect our business.

Uncertain global economic conditions could adversely affect our business. Negative global economic trends, such as decreased consumer and business spending, high unemployment levels, reduced rates of home ownership and housing starts, high foreclosure rates and declining consumer and business confidence, pose challenges to our business and could result in declining revenues, profitability and cash flow. Although we continue to devote significant resources to support our brands, unfavorable economic conditions may negatively affect consumer demand for our products. Consumers may reduce discretionary spending during periods of economic uncertainty, which could reduce sales volumes of our products or result in a shift in our product mix from higher margin to lower margin products.

The highly competitive nature of our markets could adversely affect our ability to maintain or grow revenues.

Each of our operating segments participates in markets that are highly competitive. Our products compete against national and regional products and private label products produced by various suppliers. Many of our competitors sell their products at prices lower than ours. Our most price sensitive customers may trade down to lower priced products during challenging economic times or if current economic conditions worsen. We compete primarily on the basis of product innovation, product quality, product performance, value, brand strength, supply chain competency, field sales support, in-store sales support, the strength of our relationships with major retailers and advertising. Some of our competitors have significant financial resources. The strong competition that we face in all of our markets may prevent us from achieving our revenue goals, which may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows. Our inability to continue to develop and grow brands with leading market positions, maintain our relationships with key retailers and deliver high quality products on a reliable basis at competitive prices could have a material adverse effect on our business.

We may not successfully develop new product lines and products or improve existing product lines and products or maintain our effectiveness in reaching consumers through rapidly evolving communication vehicles.

Our future success depends, in part, upon our ability to improve our existing product lines and products and to develop, manufacture and market new product lines and products to meet evolving consumer needs, as well as our ability to leverage new media such as digital media and social networks to reach existing and potential consumers. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in developing, manufacturing and marketing new product lines and products or product innovations which satisfy consumer needs or achieve market acceptance, or that we will develop, manufacture and market new product lines and products or product innovations in a timely manner. If we fail to successfully develop, manufacture and market new product lines and products or product innovations, or if we fail to reach existing and potential consumers, our ability to maintain or grow our market share may be adversely affected, which in turn could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the development and introduction of new product lines and products and product innovations require substantial research, development and marketing expenditures, which we may be unable to recoup if such new product lines, products or innovations do not achieve market acceptance.

Many of the products we manufacture and market contain active ingredients that are subject to regulatory approval. The need to obtain such approval could delay the launch of new products or product innovations that contain active ingredients or otherwise prevent us from developing and manufacturing certain products and product innovations.

Our ongoing investment in new product lines and products and technologies is inherently risky and could disrupt our ongoing businesses.

We have invested and expect to continue to invest in new product lines, products, and technologies. Such endeavors may involve significant risks and uncertainties, including distraction of management from current operations, insufficient revenues to offset liabilities assumed and expenses associated with these new investments, inadequate return of capital on our investments, and unidentified issues not discovered in our due diligence of such strategies and offerings. Because these new ventures are inherently risky, no assurance can be given that such strategies and offerings will be successful and will not adversely affect our reputation, financial condition, and operating results.

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Because of the concentration of our sales to a small number of retail customers, the loss of one or more of, or a significant reduction in orders from, our top customers could adversely affect our financial results.

Our top three retail customers together accounted for 61% of our fiscal 2017 net sales and 60% of our outstanding accounts receivable as of September 30, 2017. The loss of, or reduction in orders from, our top three retail customers, Home Depot, Lowe’s, and Walmart, or any other significant customer could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, as could customer disputes regarding shipments, fees, merchandise condition or related matters. Our inability to collect accounts receivable from one of our major customers, or a significant deterioration in the financial condition of one of these customers, including a bankruptcy filing or a liquidation, could also have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We do not have long-term sales agreements with, or other contractual assurances as to future sales to, any of our major retail customers. In addition, continued consolidation in the retail industry has resulted in an increasingly concentrated retail base, and as a result, we are significantly dependent upon sales to key retailers who have significant bargaining strength. To the extent such concentration continues to occur, our net sales and income from operations may be increasingly sensitive to deterioration in the financial condition of, or other adverse developments involving our relationship with, one or more of our key customers. In addition, our business may be negatively affected by changes in the policies of our retailers, such as inventory destocking, limitations on access to shelf space, price demands and other conditions.

Our reliance on third-party manufacturers could harm our business.

We rely on third-party service providers to manufacture certain of our products. This reliance generates a number of risks, including decreased control over the production process, which could lead to production delays or interruptions and inferior product quality control. In addition, performance problems at these third-party providers could lead to cost overruns, shortages or other problems, which could increase our costs of production or result in delivery delays to our customers.

If one or more of our third-party manufacturers becomes insolvent or unwilling to continue to manufacture products of acceptable quality, at acceptable costs and in a timely manner, our ability to deliver products to our retail customers could be significantly impaired. Substitute manufacturers might not be available or, if available, might be unwilling or unable to manufacture the products we need on acceptable terms. Moreover, if customer demand for our products increases, we may be unable to secure sufficient additional capacity from our current third-party manufacturers, or others, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

Our reliance on a limited base of suppliers may result in disruptions to our business and adversely affect our financial results.

Although we continue to implement risk-mitigation strategies for single-source suppliers, we rely on a limited number of suppliers for certain of our raw materials, product components and other necessary supplies, including certain active ingredients used in our products. If we are unable to maintain supplier arrangements and relationships, if we are unable to contract with suppliers at the quantity and quality levels needed for our business, or if any of our key suppliers becomes insolvent or experience other financial distress, we could experience disruptions in production, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

A significant interruption in the operation of our or our suppliers’ facilities could impact our capacity to produce products and service our customers, which could adversely affect revenues and earnings.

Operations at our and our suppliers’ facilities are subject to disruption for a variety of reasons, including fire, flooding or other natural disasters, disease outbreaks or pandemics, acts of war, terrorism, government shut-downs and work stoppages. A significant interruption in the operation of our or our suppliers’ facilities could significantly impact our capacity to produce products and service our customers in a timely manner, which could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, earnings and financial position. This is especially true for those products that we manufacture at a limited number of facilities, such as our fertilizer and liquid products.

Climate change and unfavorable weather conditions could adversely impact financial results.

The issue of climate change is receiving ever increasing attention worldwide. The possible effects, as described in various public accounts, could include changes in rainfall patterns, water shortages, changing storm patterns and intensities, and changing temperature levels that could adversely impact our costs and business operations and the supply and demand for our fertilizer, garden soils and pesticide products. In addition, fluctuating climatic conditions may result in unpredictable modifications in the manner in which consumers garden or their attitudes towards gardening, making it more difficult for us to provide appropriate products to appropriate markets in time to meet consumer demand.

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Because of the uncertainty of weather volatility related to climate change and any resulting unfavorable weather conditions, we cannot predict its potential impact on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Our indebtedness could limit our flexibility and adversely affect our financial condition.

As of September 30, 2017, we had $1.4 billion of debt and $1.3 billion was available to be borrowed under our credit agreement. Our inability to meet restrictive financial and non-financial covenants associated with that debt, or to generate sufficient cash flow to repay maturing debt, could adversely affect our financial condition.

For example, our debt level could:

• make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our indebtedness;

• make us more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

• require us to dedicate a substantial portion of cash flows from operating activities to payments on our indebtedness, which would reduce the cash flows available to fund working capital, capital expenditures, advertising, research and development efforts and other general corporate requirements;

• limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate;

• limit our ability to borrow additional funds;

• expose us to risks inherent in interest rate fluctuations because some of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest, which could result in higher interest expense in the event of increases in interest rates; and

• place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt.

Our ability to make payments on or refinance our indebtedness, fund planned capital expenditures and acquisitions, pay dividends and make repurchases of our Common Shares will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future. This, to some extent, is subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot provide any assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities or that future borrowings will be available to us under our credit facility in amounts sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs.

In addition, our credit facility and the indentures governing our 6.000% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “6.000% Senior Notes”) and our 5.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “5.250% Senior Notes”) contain restrictive covenants and cross-default provisions. Our credit facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios. Our ability to comply with those covenants and satisfy those financial ratios can be affected by events beyond our control including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. A breach of any of those financial ratio covenants or other covenants could result in a default. In the event of such default, the holders of such indebtedness could elect to declare all the funds borrowed thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest, and could cease making further loans and institute foreclosure proceedings against our assets. We cannot provide any assurance that the holders of such indebtedness would waive a default or that we could pay the indebtedness in full if it were accelerated.

Subject to compliance with certain covenants under our credit facility and the indentures governing the 6.000% Senior Notes and the 5.250% Senior Notes, we may incur additional debt in the future. If we incur additional debt, the risks described above could intensify.

Our lending activities may adversely impact our business and results of operations.

As part of our strategic initiatives, we have provided financing to buyers of certain business assets we have sold and to certain strategic partners. Our exposure to credit losses on these financing balances will depend on the financial condition of these counterparties and macroeconomic factors beyond our control, such as deteriorating conditions in the world economy or in the industries served by the borrowers. While we monitor our exposure, there can be no guarantee we will be able to successfully mitigate all of these risks. Credit losses, if significant, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

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Changes in credit ratings issued by nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (NRSROs) could adversely affect our cost of financing and the market price of our 6.000% Senior Notes and 5.250% Senior Notes.

NRSROs rate the 6.000% Senior Notes, the 5.250% Senior Notes and the Company based on factors that include our operating results, actions that we take, their view of the general outlook for our industry and their view of the general outlook for the economy. Actions taken by the NRSROs can include maintaining, upgrading or downgrading the current rating or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading. Downgrading the credit rating of the 6.000% Senior Notes or the 5.250% Senior Notes or placing us on a watch list for possible future downgrading could increase our cost of financing, limit our access to the capital markets and have an adverse effect on the market price of the 6.000% Senior Notes and the 5.250% Senior Notes.

Our postretirement-related costs and funding requirements could increase as a result of volatility in the financial markets, changes in interest rates and actuarial assumptions.

We sponsor a number of defined benefit pension plans associated with our U.S. and international businesses, as well as a postretirement medical plan in the United States for certain retired associates and their dependents. The performance of the financial markets and changes in interest rates impact the funded status of these plans and cause volatility in our postretirement-related costs and future funding requirements. If the financial markets do not provide the expected long-term returns on invested assets, we could be required to make significant pension contributions. Additionally, changes in interest rates and legislation enacted by governmental authorities can impact the timing and amounts of contribution requirements.

We utilize third-party actuaries to evaluate assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for our pension and other postretirement benefit plans. In the event we determine that our assumptions should be revised, such as the discount rate, the expected long-term rate or expected return on assets, our future pension and postretirement benefit expenses could increase or decrease. The assumptions we use may differ from actual results, which could have a significant impact on our pension and postretirement liabilities and related costs and funding requirements.

Our international operations make us susceptible to the costs and risks associated with operating internationally.

Despite the sale of the International Business in August 2017, we continue to operate manufacturing, sales and service facilities outside of the United States, particularly in Canada, Mexico, China, Norway and The Netherlands. Accordingly, we are subject to risks associated with operating in foreign countries, including:

• fluctuations in currency exchange rates;

• limitations on the remittance of dividends and other payments by foreign subsidiaries;

• additional costs of compliance with local regulations;

• historically, in certain countries, higher rates of inflation than in the United States;

• changes in the economic conditions or consumer preferences or demand for our products in these markets;

• restrictive actions by multi-national governing bodies, foreign governments or subdivisions thereof;

• changes in foreign labor laws and regulations affecting our ability to hire and retain employees;

• changes in U.S. and foreign laws regarding trade and investment;

• less robust protection of our intellectual property under foreign laws; and

• difficulty in obtaining distribution and support for our products.

In addition, our operations outside the United States are subject to the risk of new and different legal and regulatory requirements in local jurisdictions, potential difficulties in staffing and managing local operations and potentially adverse tax consequences. The costs associated with operating our continuing international business could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the future.

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Unanticipated changes in our tax provisions, the adoption of new tax legislation or exposure to additional tax liabilities could affect our profitability and cash flows.

We are subject to income and other taxes in the United States federal jurisdiction and various local, state and foreign jurisdictions. Our effective tax rate in the future could be adversely affected by changes to our operating structure, changes in the mix of earnings in countries with differing statutory tax rates, changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets (such as net operating losses and tax credits) and liabilities, changes in tax laws and the discovery of new information in the course of our tax return preparation process. In particular, the carrying value of deferred tax assets, which are predominantly related to our operations in the United States, is dependent on our ability to generate future taxable income of the appropriate character in the relevant jurisdiction.

From time to time, tax proposals are introduced or considered by the U.S. Congress or the legislative bodies in local, state and foreign jurisdictions that could also affect our tax rate, the carrying value of our deferred tax assets, or our tax liabilities. Our tax liabilities are also affected by the amounts we charge for inventory, services, licenses, funding and other items in intercompany transactions. We are subject to ongoing tax audits in various jurisdictions. In connection with these audits (or future audits), tax authorities may disagree with our intercompany charges, cross-jurisdictional transfer pricing or other matters and assess additional taxes. We regularly assess the likely outcomes of our audits in order to determine the appropriateness of our tax provision. As a result, the ultimate resolution of our tax audits, changes in tax laws or tax rates, and the ability to utilize our deferred tax assets could materially affect our tax provision, net income and cash flows in future periods.

Our operations may be impaired if our information technology systems fail to perform adequately or if we are the subject of a data breach or cyber attack.

We rely on information technology systems in order to conduct business, including communicating with employees and our key retail customers, ordering and managing materials from suppliers, shipping products to retail customers and analyzing and reporting results of operations. While we have taken steps to ensure the security of our information technology systems, our systems may nevertheless be vulnerable to computer viruses, security breaches and other disruptions from unauthorized users. If our information technology systems are damaged or cease to function properly for an extended period of time, whether as a result of a significant cyber incident or otherwise, our ability to communicate internally as well as with our retail customers could be significantly impaired, which may adversely impact our business. Additionally, an operational failure or breach of security from increasingly sophisticated cyber threats could lead to the loss or disclosure of both our and our retail customers’ financial, product, and other confidential information, as well as personally identifiable information about our employees or customers, result in regulatory or other legal proceedings, and have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation.

We may not be able to adequately protect our intellectual property and other proprietary rights that are material to our business.

Our ability to compete effectively depends in part on our rights to service marks, trademarks, tradenames and other intellectual property rights we own or license, particularly our registered brand names and issued patents. We have not sought to register every one of our marks either in the United States or in every country in which such mark is used. Furthermore, because of the differences in foreign trademark, patent and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws, we may not receive the same protection in other countries as we would in the United States with respect to the registered brand names and issued patents we hold. If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, proprietary information and/or brand names, we could suffer a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Litigation may be necessary to enforce our intellectual property rights and protect our proprietary information, or to defend against claims by third parties that our products or services infringe their intellectual property rights. Any litigation or claims brought by or against us could result in substantial costs and diversion of our resources. A successful claim of trademark, patent or other intellectual property infringement against us, or any other successful challenge to the use of our intellectual property, could subject us to damages or prevent us from providing certain products or services, or using certain of our recognized brand names, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In the event the Restated Marketing Agreement for consumer Roundup^® products terminates, we would lose a substantial source of future earnings and overhead expense absorption.

If we (i) become insolvent, (ii) commit a material breach, material fraud or material misconduct under the Restated Marketing Agreement, (iii) experience a change of control of the Company (subject to certain exceptions), or (iv) impermissibly assign our rights or delegate our obligations under the Restated Marketing Agreement, Monsanto may terminate the Restated Marketing Agreement without paying a termination fee to the Company. Monsanto may also terminate the Restated Marketing Agreement in the event of a change of control of Monsanto or a sale of the Roundup^® business effective at the end of the fifth full year after providing notice of termination, but would have to pay a termination fee to the Company. In the event the Restated Marketing

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Agreement terminates, we would lose all, or a substantial portion, of the significant source of earnings and overhead expense absorption the Restated Marketing Agreement provides.

For additional information regarding the Restated Marketing Agreement, see “NOTE 6. MARKETING AGREEMENT” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. beneficially owns approximately 26% of our Common Shares and can significantly influence decisions that require the approval of shareholders.

Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. beneficially owned approximately 26% of our outstanding Common Shares on a fully diluted basis as of November 24, 2017. As a result, it has sufficient voting power to significantly influence the election of directors and the approval of other actions requiring the approval of our shareholders, including the entering into of certain business combination transactions. In addition, because of the percentage of ownership and voting concentration in Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., elections of our board of directors will generally be within the control of Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. While all of our shareholders are entitled to vote on matters submitted to our shareholders for approval, the concentration of our Common Shares and voting control presently lies with Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. As such, it would be difficult for shareholders to propose and have approved proposals not supported by Hagedorn Partnership, L.P. Hagedorn Partnership, L.P.’s interests could differ from, or be in conflict with, the interests of other shareholders.

While we have, over the past few years, increased the rate of cash dividends on, and engaged in repurchases of, our Common Shares, any future decisions to reduce or discontinue paying cash dividends to our shareholders or repurchasing our Common Shares pursuant to our previously announced repurchase program could cause the market price for our Common Shares to decline.

Our payment of quarterly cash dividends on and repurchase of our Common Shares pursuant to our stock repurchase program are subject to, among other things, our financial position and results of operations, available cash and cash flow, capital requirements, and other factors. We have, over the past few years, increased the rate of cash dividends on, and repurchases of, our Common Shares. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we increased the amount of our quarterly cash dividend by 6% to $0.53 per share. The total remaining share repurchase authorization as of September 30, 2017 is $608.5 million.

We may further increase or decrease the rate of cash dividends on, and the amount of repurchases of, our Common Shares in the future. Any reduction or discontinuance by us of the payment of quarterly cash dividends or repurchases of our Common Shares pursuant to our current share repurchase authorization program could cause the market price of our Common Shares to decline. Moreover, in the event our payment of quarterly cash dividends on or repurchases of our Common Shares are reduced or discontinued, our failure or inability to resume paying cash dividends or repurchasing Common Shares at historical levels could result in a lower market valuation of our Common Shares.

Acquisitions, other strategic alliances and investments could result in operating difficulties, dilution, and other harmful consequences that may adversely impact our business and results of operations.

Acquisitions are an important element of our overall corporate strategy and use of capital, and these transactions could be material to our financial condition and results of operations. We expect to continue to evaluate and enter into discussions regarding a wide array of potential strategic transactions. The process of integrating an acquired company, business, or product has created, and will continue to create, unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. The areas where we face risks include:

• Diversion of management time and focus from operating our business to acquisition integration challenges.

• Failure to successfully further develop the acquired business or product lines.

• Implementation or remediation of controls, procedures and policies at the acquired company.

• Integration of the acquired company’s accounting, human resources and other administrative systems, and coordination of product, engineering and sales and marketing functions.

• Transition of operations, users and customers onto our existing platforms.

• Reliance on the expertise of our strategic partners with respect to market development, sales, local regulatory compliance and other operational matters.

• Failure to obtain required approvals on a timely basis, if at all, from governmental authorities, or conditions placed upon approval, under competition and antitrust laws which could, among other things, delay or prevent us from

16

completing a transaction, or otherwise restrict our ability to realize the expected financial or strategic goals of an acquisition.

• In the case of foreign acquisitions, the need to integrate operations across different cultures and languages and to address the particular economic, currency, political and regulatory risks associated with specific countries.

• Cultural challenges associated with integrating employees from the acquired company into our organization, and retention of employees from the businesses we acquire.

• Liability for or reputational harm from activities of the acquired company before the acquisition or from our strategic partners, including patent and trademark infringement claims, violations of laws, commercial disputes, tax liabilities and other known and unknown liabilities.

• Litigation or other claims in connection with the acquired company, including claims from terminated employees, customers, former shareholders or other third parties.

Our failure to address these risks or other problems encountered in connection with our past or future acquisitions and investments or strategic alliances could cause us to fail to realize the anticipated benefits of such acquisitions, investments or alliances, incur unanticipated liabilities, and harm our business generally.

Our acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of our equity securities, the incurrence of debt, contingent liabilities or amortization expenses, or impairment of goodwill and purchased long-lived assets, and restructuring charges, any of which could harm our financial condition or results of operations and cash flows. Also, the anticipated benefits of many of our acquisitions may not materialize.

A failure to dispose of assets or businesses in a timely manner may cause the results of the Company to suffer.

We evaluate as necessary the potential disposition of assets and businesses that may no longer help meet our objectives. When we decide to sell assets or a business, we may encounter difficulty in finding buyers or alternative exit strategies on acceptable terms in a timely manner, which could delay the accomplishment of our strategic objectives. Alternatively, we may dispose of a business at a price or on terms that are less than we had anticipated. After reaching an agreement with a buyer for the disposition of a business, we are subject to the satisfaction of pre-closing conditions, which may prevent us from completing the transaction. Dispositions may also involve continued financial involvement in the divested business, such as through continuing equity ownership, guarantees, indemnities or other financial obligations. Under these arrangements, performance by the divested businesses or other conditions outside our control could affect future financial results.

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings and, while we cannot predict the outcomes of such proceedings and other contingencies with certainty, some of these outcomes could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

We are involved in legal proceedings and are subject to investigations, inspections, audits, inquiries and similar actions by governmental authorities, arising in the course of our business (see the discussion of Legal Proceedings in Part I, Item 3 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K).  Legal proceedings, in general, can be expensive and disruptive.  Some of these suits may purport or may be determined to be class actions and/or involve parties seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts of damages, including punitive or exemplary damages, and may remain unresolved for several years.  For example, product liability claims challenging the safety of our products may also result in a decline in sales for a particular product and could damage the reputation or the value of related brands.

From time to time, we are also involved in legal proceedings as a plaintiff involving contract, intellectual property and other matters.  We cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings and other contingencies, and the costs incurred in litigation can be substantial, regardless of the outcome.  Substantial unanticipated verdicts, fines and rulings do sometimes occur.  As a result, we could from time to time incur judgments, enter into settlements or revise our expectations regarding the outcome of certain matters, and such developments could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations in the period in which the amounts are accrued and/or our cash flows in the period in which the amounts are paid.  The outcome of some of these legal proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take, or refrain from taking, actions which could negatively affect our operations and, depending on the nature of the allegations, could negatively impact our reputation.  Additionally, defending against these legal proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management’s attention and resources.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

Our corporate headquarters are located in Marysville, Ohio, where we own approximately 706 acres of land and lease approximately 24 acres of land. In addition, we own and lease numerous industrial, commercial and office properties located in North America, Europe and Asia that support the management, manufacturing, distribution and research and development of our products and services. We believe our properties are suitable and adequate to serve the needs of our business and that our leased properties are subject to appropriate lease agreements.

The Company has 45 owned properties and 89 leased properties. These properties are located in the following countries:

Location	Owned	Leased
United States	36	65
Mexico	—	1
Canada	9	14
China	—	4
The Netherlands	—	4
Norway	—	1
Total	45	89

We own or lease 76 manufacturing properties, four distribution properties and three research and development properties in the United States. We own or lease twenty manufacturing properties in Canada, one manufacturing property in Norway, one manufacturing property in the Netherlands and one manufacturing property in China. We also lease one distribution property in Mexico and one research and development property in Canada. Most of the manufacturing properties, which include growing media properties and peat harvesting properties, have production lines, warehouses, offices and field processing areas.

ITEM 3.   LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As noted in the discussion in “ITEM 1. BUSINESS — Regulatory Considerations — Regulatory Matters” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are involved in several pending environmental and regulatory matters. We believe that our assessment of contingencies is reasonable and that the related accruals, in the aggregate, are adequate; however, there can be no assurance that the final resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We have been named as a defendant in a number of cases alleging injuries that the lawsuits claim resulted from exposure to asbestos-containing products, apparently based on our historic use of vermiculite in certain of our products. In many of these cases, the complaints are not specific about the plaintiffs’ contacts with us or our products. The cases vary, but complaints in these cases generally seek unspecified monetary damages (actual, compensatory, consequential and punitive) from multiple defendants. We believe that the claims against us are without merit and are vigorously defending against them. It is not currently possible to reasonably estimate a probable loss, if any, associated with the cases and, accordingly, no accruals have been recorded in our consolidated financial statements. We are reviewing agreements and policies that may provide insurance coverage or indemnity as to these claims and are pursuing coverage under some of these agreements and policies, although there can be no assurance of the results of these efforts. There can be no assurance that these cases, whether as a result of adverse outcomes or as a result of significant defense costs, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In connection with the sale of wild bird food products that were the subject of a voluntary recall in 2008, the Company, along with its Chief Executive Officer, have been named as defendants in four actions filed on and after June 27, 2012, which have been consolidated and, on March 31, 2017, certified as a class action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California as In re Morning Song Bird Food Litigation, Lead Case No. 3:12-cv-01592-JAH-AGS. The plaintiffs allege various statutory and common law claims associated with the Company’s sale of wild bird food products and a plea agreement entered into in previously pending government proceedings associated with such sales. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, a class action on behalf of all persons and entities in the United States who purchased certain bird food products. The plaintiffs assert: (i) hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary damages (actual, compensatory, consequential, and restitution); (ii) punitive and treble damages; (iii) injunctive and declaratory relief; (iv) pre-judgment and post-judgment interest; and (v) costs and attorneys’ fees. The Company and its Chief Executive Officer dispute the plaintiffs’ assertions and intend to vigorously defend the consolidated action. At this point in the proceedings, it is not currently possible to reasonably estimate a probable loss, if any, associated with the action and, accordingly, no accruals have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the action. There can be no assurance that this action, whether as a result of an adverse outcome or as a result of significant defense costs, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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We are involved in other lawsuits and claims which arise in the normal course of our business including the initiation and defense of proceedings to protect intellectual property rights, advertising claims and employment disputes. In our opinion, these claims individually and in the aggregate are not expected to have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

ITEM 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE

Not Applicable.

SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM.  EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The executive officers of Scotts Miracle-Gro, their positions and, as of November 24, 2017, their ages and years with Scotts Miracle-Gro (and its predecessors) are set forth below.

Name	Age	Position(s) Held	Years with Company
James Hagedorn	62	Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board	30
Michael C. Lukemire	59	President and Chief Operating Officer	21
Thomas R. Coleman	48	Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer	18
Ivan C. Smith	48	Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Compliance Officer	14
Denise S. Stump	63	Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources and Chief Ethics Officer	17

Executive officers serve at the discretion of the Board of Directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro and pursuant to executive severance agreements or other arrangements. The business experience of each of the individuals listed above during at least the past five years is as follows:

Mr. Hagedorn was named Chairman of the Board of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s predecessor in January 2003 and Chief Executive Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s predecessor in May 2001. He also served as President of Scotts Miracle-Gro (or its predecessor) from October 2015 until February 2016. Mr. Hagedorn serves on Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Board of Directors, a position he has held with Scotts Miracle-Gro (or its predecessor) since 1995. Mr. Hagedorn is the brother of Katherine Hagedorn Littlefield, a director of Scotts Miracle-Gro. Prior to 2012, Mr. Hagedorn held various managerial roles at the Company.

Mr. Lukemire was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro in February 2016. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro from December 2014 until February 2016. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Lukemire had served as Executive Vice President, North American Operations of Scotts Miracle-Gro from April 2014 until December 2014, as Executive Vice President, Business Execution of Scotts Miracle-Gro from May 2013 until April 2014 and as President, U.S. Consumer Regions of Scotts Miracle-Gro from October 2011 until May 2013. Prior to 2012, Mr. Lukemire held various managerial roles at the Company.

Mr. Coleman was named Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro in April 2014. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Coleman had served as Senior Vice President, Global Finance Operations and Enterprise Performance Management Analytics for The Scotts Company LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Scotts Miracle-Gro, since January 2011. Previously, Mr. Coleman served as interim principal financial officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro between February 2013 and March 2013. Prior to 2012, Mr. Coleman held various managerial roles at the Company.

Mr. Smith was namedExecutive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Scotts Miracle-Gro in July 2013 and Chief Compliance Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro in October 2013. Prior to July 2013, he had served as Vice President, Global Consumer Legal and Assistant General Counsel of Scotts LLC since October 2011. Prior to 2012, Mr. Smith held various managerial roles at the Company.

Ms. Stump was named Executive Vice President, Global Human Resources of Scotts Miracle-Gro (or its predecessor) in February 2003 and Chief Ethics Officer of Scotts Miracle-Gro in October 2013. Prior to 2012, Ms. Stump held various managerial roles at the Company.

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Common Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SMG.” The quarterly high and low sale prices for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 were as follows:

	Sale Prices
	High		Low
FISCAL 2017
First quarter	$	98.82	$	82.49
Second quarter	$	96.38	$	88.61
Third quarter	$	97.50	$	81.48
Fourth quarter	$	99.91	$	89.60
FISCAL 2016
First quarter	$	72.26	$	60.25
Second quarter	$	75.13	$	62.20
Third quarter	$	73.16	$	65.80
Fourth quarter	$	83.73	$	68.24

On August 3, 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.47 per Common Share, which was paid in September of fiscal 2015 and December, March and June of fiscal 2016. On August 3, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had further increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.50 per Common Share, which was paid in September of fiscal 2016 and December, March and June of fiscal 2017. On August 1, 2017, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Board of Directors approved an increase in the quarterly cash dividend from $0.50 to $0.53 per Common Share, which was paid in September of fiscal 2017.

The payment of future dividends, if any, on the Common Shares will be determined by the Board of Directors in light of conditions then existing, including the Company’s earnings, financial condition and capital requirements, restrictions in financing agreements, business conditions and other factors. The credit agreement allows the Company to make unlimited restricted payments (as defined in the credit agreement), including increased or one-time dividend payments and Common Share repurchases, as long as the leverage ratio resulting from the making of such restricted payments is 4.00 or less. Otherwise the Company may only make restricted payments in an aggregate amount for each fiscal year not to exceed the amount set forth for such fiscal year ($200.0 million for fiscal 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter). Our leverage ratio was 3.04 at September 30, 2017. See “NOTE 11. DEBT” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion regarding the restrictions on dividend payments.

As of November 24, 2017, there were approximately 87,000 shareholders, including holders of record and our estimate of beneficial holders.

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The following table shows the purchases of Common Shares made by or on behalf of Scotts Miracle-Gro or any “affiliated purchaser” (as defined in Rule 10b-18(a)(3) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of Scotts Miracle-Gro for each of the three fiscal months in the quarter ended September 30, 2017:

Period	Total Number of Common Shares Purchased(1)	Average Price Paid per Common Share(2)		Total Number of Common Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(3)	Approximate Dollar Value of Common Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs(3)
July 2 through July 29, 2017	241,358	$	93.02	240,255	$	656,841,318
July 30 through August 26, 2017	229,054	$	95.57	229,050	$	634,951,420
August 27 through September 30, 2017	280,444	$	95.36	277,650	$	608,450,394
Total	750,856	$	94.67	746,955

(1) All of the Common Shares purchased during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 were purchased in open market transactions. The total number of Common Shares purchased during the quarter includes 3,901 Common Shares purchased by the trustee of the rabbi trust established by the Company as permitted pursuant to the terms of The Scotts Company LLC Executive Retirement Plan (the “ERP”). The ERP is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation plan which, among other things, provides eligible employees the opportunity to defer compensation above specified statutory limits applicable to The Scotts Company LLC Retirement Savings Plan and with respect to any Executive Management Incentive Pay (as defined in the ERP), Performance Award (as defined in the ERP) or other bonus awarded to such eligible employees. Pursuant to the terms of the ERP, each eligible employee has the right to elect an investment fund, including a fund consisting of Common Shares (the “Scotts Miracle-Gro Common Stock Fund”), against which amounts allocated to such employee’s account under the ERP, including employer contributions, will be benchmarked (all ERP accounts are bookkeeping accounts only and do not represent a claim against specific assets of the Company). Amounts allocated to employee accounts under the ERP represent deferred compensation obligations of the Company. The Company established the rabbi trust in order to assist the Company in discharging such deferred compensation obligations. When an eligible employee elects to benchmark some or all of the amounts allocated to such employee’s account against the Scotts Miracle-Gro Common Stock Fund, the trustee of the rabbi trust purchases the number of Common Shares equivalent to the amount so benchmarked. All Common Shares purchased by the trustee are purchased on the open market and are held in the rabbi trust until such time as they are distributed pursuant to the terms of the ERP. All assets of the rabbi trust, including any Common Shares purchased by the trustee, remain, at all times, assets of the Company, subject to the claims of its creditors. The terms of the ERP do not provide for a specified limit on the number of Common Shares that may be purchased by the trustee of the rabbi trust.

(2) The average price paid per Common Share is calculated on a settlement basis and includes commissions.

(3) On August 11, 2014, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500 million of Common Shares over a five-year period (effective November 1, 2014 through September 30, 2019). On August 3, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors increased the then outstanding authorization by an additional $500 million. The amended authorization allows for the repurchases of up to $1.0 billion of Common Shares through September 30, 2019. The dollar amounts in the “Approximate Dollar Value of Common Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs” column reflect the remaining amounts that were available for repurchase under the original $500 million and the incremental $500 million authorized repurchase programs.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following table sets forth selected consolidated financial data for the periods indicated. You should read the following summary consolidated financial data in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The summary consolidated financial data presented below as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013 has been derived from our financial statements.

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Five-Year Summary⁽¹⁾ 

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015			2014			2013
	(In millions, except per share amounts)
GAAP OPERATING RESULTS:
Net sales	$	2,642.1		$	2,506.2		$	2,371.1		$	2,189.3		$	2,166.2
Gross profit	972.6			900.3			810.8			774.2			747.7
Income from operations	433.4			447.6			253.8			263.3			282.0
Income from continuing operations	198.3			246.1			128.7			131.8			142.0
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	20.5			68.7			30.0			34.4			19.1
Net income	218.8			314.8			158.7			166.2			161.1
Net income attributable to controlling interest	218.3			315.3			159.8			166.5			161.1
NON-GAAP ADJUSTED OPERATING RESULTS(2):
Adjusted income from operations	$	438.3		$	402.1		$	334.0		$	310.8		$	293.2
Adjusted income from continuing operations	237.4			230.2			180.4			170.0			148.9
Adjusted net income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations	236.9			230.7			181.5			170.3			148.9
SLS Divestiture adjusted income	236.9			221.7			203.4			190.9			168.1
FINANCIAL POSITION:
Working capital(3)	$	337.2		$	325.8		$	382.8		$	256.3		$	256.9
Current ratio(3)	1.6			1.5			1.8			1.6			1.7
Property, plant and equipment, net	467.7			444.9			413.4			393.5			375.8
Total assets	2,747.0			2,755.8			2,458.3			1,996.0			1,871.2
Total debt to total book capitalization(4)	68.3		%	63.0		%	63.1		%	58.3		%	43.7		%
Total debt	1,401.1			1,215.9			1,061.1			774.9			552.0
Total equity—controlling interest	648.8			715.2			620.7			553.7			710.5
GAAP CASH FLOWS:
Cash flows provided by operating activities	$	354.0		$	237.4		$	246.9		$	240.9		$	342.0
Investments in property, plant and equipment	69.6			58.3			61.7			87.6			60.1
Investment in marketing and license agreement	—			—			300.0			—			—
Investments in loans receivable	29.7			90.0			—			—			—
Net distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	57.4			194.1			—			—			—
Investments in acquired businesses, net of cash acquired and payments on seller notes	150.4			161.2			181.7			114.8			4.0
Dividends paid	120.3			116.6			111.3			230.8			87.8
Purchases of Common Shares	246.0			130.8			14.8			120.0			—
NON-GAAP CASH FLOWS(2):
Free cash flow	284.4			179.1			185.2			153.3			281.9
Free cash flow productivity	130.0		%	56.9		%	116.7		%	92.2		%	175.0		%
PER SHARE DATA:
GAAP earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Basic	$	3.33		$	4.04		$	2.12		$	2.14		$	2.30
Diluted	3.29			3.98			2.09			2.11			2.27
Non-GAAP adjusted earnings per common share from continuing operations:
Adjusted diluted(2)	3.94			3.72			2.92			2.72			2.38
SLS Divestiture adjusted income(2)	3.94			3.58			3.27			3.04			2.69
Dividends per common share(5)	2.030			1.910			1.820			3.763			1.413
Stock price at year-end	97.34			83.27			60.82			55.00			55.03
Stock price range—High	99.91			83.73			68.99			60.30			55.99
Stock price range—Low	81.48			60.25			54.71			50.51			39.64
OTHER:
Adjusted EBITDA(6)	$	560.5		$	517.4		$	471.8		$	412.4		$	390.5
Leverage ratio(6)	3.04			3.10			2.63			2.18			2.05
Interest coverage ratio(6)	7.54			7.88			9.34			9.41			6.59
Weighted average Common Shares outstanding	59.4			61.1			61.1			61.6			61.7
Common shares and dilutive potential common shares used in diluted EPS calculation	60.2			62.0			62.2			62.7			62.6

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(1) The Selected Financial Data has been retrospectively updated to recast activity for the following:

Discontinued Operations

In the second quarter of fiscal 2014, we completed the sale of our wild bird food business. As a result, effective in our second quarter of fiscal 2014, we classified the wild bird food business as a discontinued operation in accordance with GAAP.

On April 13, 2016, we completed the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. As a result, effective in our second quarter of fiscal 2016, we classified the SLS Business as a discontinued operation in accordance with GAAP.

On August 31, 2017, we completed the sale of the International Business. As a result, effective in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we classified the International Business as a discontinued operation in accordance with GAAP.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standard update that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the corresponding debt liability rather than as an asset; however debt issuance costs relating to revolving credit facilities will remain in other assets. We adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis effective October 1, 2016. As a result, debt issuance costs have been presented as a component of the carrying amount of long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts were previously reported within other assets.

In November 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring that deferred income tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. We adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. As a result, deferred tax assets have been presented net within other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. These amounts were previously reported within prepaid and other current assets.

(2) Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

Use of Non-GAAP Measures

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), we use non-GAAP financial measures. The reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below.These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for or superior to, financial measures reported in accordance with GAAP. Moreover, these non-GAAP financial measures have limitations in that they do not reflect all the items associated with the operations of the business as determined in accordance with GAAP. Other companies may calculate similarly titled non-GAAP financial measures differently than us, limiting the usefulness of those measures for comparative purposes.

In addition to GAAP measures, we use these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance, engage in financial and operational planning and determine incentive compensation because we believe that these measures provide additional perspective on and, in some circumstances are more closely correlated to, the performance of our underlying, ongoing business.

We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to investors in their assessment of operating performance and the valuation of the Company. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures address questions routinely received from analysts and investors and, in order to ensure that all investors have access to the same data, we have determined that it is appropriate to make this data available to all investors. Non-GAAP financial measures exclude the impact of certain items (as further described below) and provide supplemental information regarding operating performance. By disclosing these non-GAAP financial measures, we intend to provide investors with a supplemental comparison of operating results and trends for the periods presented. We believe these measures are also useful to investors as such measures allow investors to evaluate performance using the same metrics that we use to evaluate past performance and prospects for future performance. We view free cash flow as an important measure because it is one factor used in determining the amount of cash available for dividends and discretionary investment. We view free cash flow productivity as a useful measure to help investors understand the Company’s ability to generate cash.

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Exclusions from Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Non-GAAP financial measures reflect adjustments based on the following items:

• Impairments, which are excluded because they do not occur in or reflect the ordinary course of our ongoing business operations and their exclusion results in a metric that provides supplemental information about the sustainability of operating performance.

• Restructuring and employee severance costs, which include charges for discrete projects or transactions that fundamentally change our operations and are excluded because they are not part of the ongoing operations of our underlying business, which includes normal levels of reinvestment in the business.

• Costs related to refinancing, which are excluded because they do not typically occur in the normal course of business and may obscure analysis of trends and financial performance. Additionally, the amount and frequency of these types of charges is not consistent and is significantly impacted by the timing and size of debt financing transactions.

• Charges or credits incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture that are apart from and not indicative of the results of its ongoing operations, including transaction related costs, refinancing costs, restructurings and other discrete projects or transactions including a non-cash purchase accounting fair value write down adjustment related to deferred revenue and advertising (“TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments”).

• Discontinued operations and other unusual items, which include costs or gains related to discrete projects or transactions and are excluded because they are not comparable from one period to the next and are not part of the ongoing operations of our underlying business.

The tax effect for each of the items listed above is determined using the tax rate and other tax attributes applicable to the item and the jurisdiction(s) in which the item is recorded.

Definitions of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The reconciliations of non-GAAP disclosure items includes the following financial measures that are not calculated in accordance with GAAP and are utilized by us in evaluating the performance of the business, engaging in financial and operational planning, the determination of incentive compensation, and by investors and analysts in evaluating performance of the business:

Adjusted income (loss) from operations: Income (loss) from operations excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries and product registration and recall matters and other charges.

Adjusted income (loss) from continuing operations: Income (loss) from continuing operations excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries, costs related to refinancing, product registration and recall matters and other charges and TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments, each net of tax.

Adjusted net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations: Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries, costs related to refinancing, product registration and recall matters and other charges, TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments and discontinued operations, each net of tax.

Adjusted diluted income (loss) per common share from continuing operations: Diluted net income (loss) per common share from continuing operations excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries, costs related to refinancing, product registration and recall matters and other charges and TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments, each net of tax.

SLS Divestiture adjusted income (loss): Net income (loss) from continuing operations excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries, costs related to refinancing, product registration and recall matters and other charges and TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments, each net of tax. This measure also includes income (loss) from discontinued operations related to the SLS Business; however, excludes the gain on the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture, each net of tax.

SLS Divestiture adjusted income (loss) per common share: Diluted net income (loss) per common share excluding impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries, costs related to refinancing, product registration and recall matters and other charges and TruGreen Joint Venture non-GAAP adjustments, each net of tax. This measure also includes income (loss) from discontinued operations related to the SLS Business; however, excludes the gain on the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture, each net of tax.

Free cash flow: Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities reduced by investments in property, plant and equipment.

Free cash flow productivity: Ratio of free cash flow to net income (loss).

25

Adjusted EBITDA: Net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as well as certain other items such as the impact of the cumulative effect of changes in accounting, costs associated with debt refinancing and other non-recurring or non-cash items affecting net income (loss). The presentation of adjusted EBITDA is intended to be consistent with the calculation of that measure as required by our borrowing arrangements, and used to calculate a leverage ratio (maximum of 4.50 at September 30, 2017) and an interest coverage ratio (minimum of 3.00 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017).

In addition to our GAAP measures, we use these non-GAAP measures to manage the business because we believe that these measures provide additional perspective on and, in some circumstances are more closely correlated to, the performance of our underlying, ongoing business.  We believe that disclosure of these non-GAAP financial measures therefore provides useful supplemental information to investors or other users of the financial statements, such as lenders. Non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not as an alternative for, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP.

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A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures is presented in the following table:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015			2014			2013
	(In millions, except per share data)
Income from operations (GAAP)	$	433.4		$	447.6		$	253.8		$	263.3		$	282.0
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	4.9			(45.5		)	80.2			47.5			11.2
Adjusted income from operations (Non-GAAP)	$	438.3		$	402.1		$	334.0		$	310.8		$	293.2
Income from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	198.3		$	246.1		$	128.7		$	131.8		$	142.0
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	43.5			(33.8		)	80.2			47.5			11.2
Costs related to refinancing	—			8.8			—			10.7			—
Adjustment to income tax (expense) benefit from continuing operations	(4.4		)	9.1			(28.5		)	(20.0		)	(4.3		)
Adjusted income from continuing operations (Non-GAAP)	$	237.4		$	230.2		$	180.4		$	170.0		$	148.9
Net income attributable to controlling interest (GAAP)	$	218.3		$	315.3		$	159.8		$	166.5		$	161.1
Discontinued operations	20.5			68.7			30.0			34.4			19.1
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	43.5			(33.8		)	80.2			47.5			11.2
Costs related to refinancing	—			8.8			—			10.7			—
Adjustment to income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations	(4.4		)	9.1			(28.5		)	(20.0		)	(4.3		)
Adjusted net income attributable to controlling interest (Non-GAAP)	$	236.9		$	230.7		$	181.5		$	170.3		$	148.9
Income from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	198.3		$	246.1		$	128.7		$	131.8		$	142.0
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.5		)	0.5			1.1			0.3			—
Net income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations	197.8			246.6			129.8			132.1			142.0
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	43.5			(33.8		)	80.2			47.5			11.2
Costs related to refinancing	—			8.8			—			10.7			—
Adjustment to income tax (expense) benefit from continuing operations	(4.4		)	9.1			(28.5		)	(20.0		)	(4.3		)
Adjusted income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations (Non-GAAP)	$	236.9		$	230.7		$	181.5		$	170.3		$	148.9
Income (loss) from discontinued operations from SLS Business	(1.8		)	102.9			32.5			30.9			30.3
Gain on contribution of SLS Business	—			(131.2		)	—			—			—
Adjustment to gain on contribution on SLS Business	1.0			—			—			—			—
Impairment, restructuring and other from SLS Business in discontinued operations	0.8			13.6			1.5			1.0			—
Adjustment to income tax (expense) benefit from discontinued operations	—			5.7			(12.1		)	(11.3		)	(11.1		)
Adjusted income (loss) from SLS Business in discontinued operations, net of tax	—			(9.0		)	21.9			20.6			19.2
SLS Divestiture adjusted income (Non-GAAP)	$	236.9		$	221.7		$	203.4		$	190.9		$	168.1
Diluted income per share from continuing operations (GAAP)	$	3.29		$	3.98		$	2.09		$	2.11		$	2.27
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	0.72			(0.55		)	1.29			0.76			0.18
Costs related to refinancing	—			0.14			—			0.17			—
Adjustment to income tax (expense) benefit from continuing operations	(0.07		)	0.15			(0.46		)	(0.32		)	(0.07		)
Adjusted diluted income per common share from continuing operations (Non-GAAP)	$	3.94		$	3.72		$	2.92		$	2.72		$	2.38
Income (loss) from discontinued operations from SLS Business	$	(0.03	)	$	1.66		$	0.52		$	0.49		$	0.48
Gain on contribution of SLS Business	—			(2.12		)	—			—			—
Adjustment to gain on contribution of SLS Business	0.02			—			—			—			—
Impairment, restructuring and other from SLS Business in discontinued operations	0.01			0.22			0.02			0.02			—
Adjustment to income tax (expense) benefit from discontinued operations	—			0.09			(0.19		)	(0.18		)	(0.18		)
Adjusted diluted income (loss) from SLS Business in discontinued operations, net of tax	—			(0.15		)	0.35			0.33			0.31
SLS Divestiture adjusted income per common share (Non-GAAP)	$	3.94		$	3.58		$	3.27		$	3.04		$	2.69

The sum of the components may not equal the total due to rounding.

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	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015			2014			2013
	(In millions, except per share data)
Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)	$	354.0		$	237.4		$	246.9		$	240.9		$	342.0
Investments in property, plant and equipment	(69.6		)	(58.3		)	(61.7		)	(87.6		)	(60.1		)
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	284.4		$	179.1		$	185.2		$	153.3		$	281.9
Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)	$	284.4		$	179.1		$	185.2		$	153.3		$	281.9
Net income (GAAP)	218.8			314.8			158.7			166.2			161.1
Free cash flow productivity (Non-GAAP)	130.0		%	56.9		%	116.7		%	92.2		%	175.0		%

The sum of the components may not equal the total due to rounding.

(3) Working capital is calculated as current assets minus current liabilities. Current ratio is calculated as current assets divided by current liabilities.

(4) The total debt to total book capitalization percentage is calculated by dividing total debt by total debt plus total equity—controlling interest.

(5) Scotts Miracle-Gro pays a quarterly dividend to the holders of its Common Shares. On August 9, 2012, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.325 per Common Share, which was first paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. On August 6, 2013, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.4375 per Common Share, which was first paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. On August 11, 2014, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had (i) further increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.45 per Common Share, which was first paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 and (ii) declared a special one-time cash dividend of $2.00 per Common Share, which was paid on September 17, 2014. On August 3, 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had further increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.47 per Common Share, which was first paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015. On August 3, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had further increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.50 per Common Share, which was first paid in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. On August 1, 2017, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors had further increased the quarterly cash dividend to $0.53 per Common Share, which was first paid in September 2017.

(6) We view our credit facility as material to our ability to fund operations, particularly in light of our seasonality. Please refer to “ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS — Our indebtedness could limit our flexibility and adversely affect our financial condition” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of the risks associated with our debt and our credit facility and the restrictive covenants therein. Our ability to generate cash flows sufficient to cover our debt service costs is essential to our ability to maintain our borrowing capacity. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information for determining our ability to meet debt service requirements. The presentation of Adjusted EBITDA herein is intended to be consistent with the calculation of that measure as required by our borrowing agreements, and used to calculate a leverage ratio (maximum of 4.50 at September 30, 2017) and an interest coverage ratio (minimum of 3.00 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017). Leverage ratio is calculated as average total indebtedness, as described in our credit facility, divided by Adjusted EBITDA. Interest coverage ratio is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by interest expense, as described in our credit facility, and excludes costs related to refinancings. Our leverage ratio was 3.04 at September 30, 2017 and our interest coverage ratio was 7.54 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. Please refer to “ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS — Liquidity and Capital Resources — Borrowing Agreements” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a discussion of our credit facility.

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In accordance with the terms of our credit facility, Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization as well as certain other items such as the impact of the cumulative effect of changes in accounting, costs associated with debt refinancing and other non-recurring or non-cash items affecting net income. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company changed its calculation of Adjusted EBITDA to reflect the measure as defined in our fourth amended credit agreement. Prior periods have not been adjusted as they reflect the presentation consistent with the calculation as required by our borrowing agreements in place at that time. The revised calculation adds adjustments for share-based compensation expense, expense on certain leases, and impairment, restructuring and other charges (including cash and non-cash charges) and no longer includes an adjustment for mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives. Our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA does not represent and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or cash flows from operating activities as determined by GAAP. We make no representation or assertion that Adjusted EBITDA is indicative of our cash flows from operating activities or results of operations. We have provided a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to income from continuing operations solely for the purpose of complying with SEC regulations and not as an indication that Adjusted EBITDA is a substitute measure for income from continuing operations.

A numeric reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015		2014			2013
	(In millions)
Net income (GAAP)	$	218.8		$	314.8		$	158.7	$	166.2		$	161.1
Income tax expense from continuing operations	116.6			137.6			76.3		74.3			82.7
Income tax expense from discontinued operations	11.9			43.2			9.1		17.8			9.9
Gain on sale / contribution of business	(31.7		)	(131.2		)	—		—			—
Costs related to refinancings	—			8.8			—		10.7			—
Interest expense	76.6			65.6			50.5		47.3			59.2
Depreciation	55.1			53.8			51.4		50.6			54.9
Amortization	25.0			19.7			17.6		13.8			11.2
Gain on investment in unconsolidated affiliate(7)	—			—			—		(3.3		)	—
Impairment, restructuring and other from continuing operations	43.5			(33.8		)	80.2		31.2			2.1
Impairment, restructuring and other from discontinued operations	15.9			19.7			11.3		2.5			9.1
Mark-to-market adjustments on derivatives	—			—			—		1.3			0.3
Expense on certain leases	3.6			3.6			3.5		—			—
Share-based compensation expense	25.2			15.6			13.2		—			—
Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)	$	560.5		$	517.4		$	471.8	$	412.4		$	390.5

(7) Amount represents a gain on our investment in AeroGrow recognized during the fourth quarter of 2014 as a result of our consolidation of the business. Excluded from this amount is $2.4 million of earnings on AeroGrow’s unconsolidated results for fiscal year 2014 recorded within “Other income, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The purpose of this discussion is to provide an understanding of our financial condition and results of operations by focusing on changes in certain key measures from year-to-year. Management’s Discussion and Analysis (“MD&A”) is divided into the following sections:

• Executive summary

• Results of operations

• Segment results

• Liquidity and capital resources

• Regulatory matters

• Critical accounting policies and estimates

Executive Summary

We are dedicated to delivering strong, long-term financial results and outstanding shareholder returns by providing products of superior quality and value to enhance users growing environments. We are a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden products. We are the exclusive agent of Monsanto for the marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products within the United States and certain other specified countries. Through The Hawthorne Gardening Company, our wholly-owned subsidiary, we are a leading producer of liquid plant food products, growing media, advanced indoor garden, lighting and ventilation systems and accessories for hydroponic gardening.

In the first quarter of fiscal 2016, we announced a series of initiatives called Project Focus designed to maximize the value of our non-core assets and focus on emerging categories of the lawn and garden industry in our core U.S. business. On August 31, 2017, we completed the divestiture of our consumer lawn and garden businesses located in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Poland and the United Kingdom (the “International Business”). As a result, effective in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. On April 13, 2016, we completed the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. We now participate in the residential and commercial lawn care, tree and shrub care and pest control services segments in the United States and Canada through our interest in the TruGreen Joint Venture. For additional information, see “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our operations are divided into three reportable segments: U.S. Consumer, Hawthorne and Other. U.S. Consumer consists of our consumer lawn and garden business located in the geographic United States. Hawthorne consists of our indoor, urban and hydroponic gardening business. Other consists of our consumer lawn and garden business in geographies other than the U.S. and our product sales to commercial nurseries, greenhouses and other professional customers. Corporate consists of general and administrative expenses and certain other income/expense items not allocated to the business segments. This division of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by our chief operating decision maker. These segments differ from those used in prior periods due to the change in our internal organization structure resulting from the divestiture of the International Business, which closed on August 31, 2017.

As a leading consumer branded lawn and garden company, our product development and marketing efforts are largely focused on providing innovative and differentiated products and continually increasing brand and product awareness to inspire consumers to create retail demand. We have implemented this model for a number of years by focusing on research and development and investing approximately 4-5% of our annual net sales in advertising to support and promote our products and brands. We continually explore new and innovative ways to communicate with consumers. We believe that we receive a significant benefit from these expenditures and anticipate a similar commitment to research and development, advertising and marketing investments in the future, with the continuing objective of driving category growth and profitably increasing market share.

Our net sales in any one year are susceptible to weather conditions in the markets in which our products are sold and our services are offered. For instance, periods of abnormally wet or dry weather can adversely impact the sale of certain products, while increasing demand for other products, or delay the timing of the provision of certain services. We believe that our diversified product line and our geographic diversification reduce this risk, although to a lesser extent in a year in which unfavorable weather

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is geographically widespread and extends across a significant portion of the lawn and garden season. We also believe that weather conditions in any one year, positive or negative, do not materially impact longer-term category growth trends.

Due to the seasonal nature of the lawn and garden business, significant portions of our products ship to our retail customers during our second and third fiscal quarters, as noted in the chart below. Our annual net sales are further concentrated in the second and third fiscal quarters by retailers who rely on our ability to deliver products closer to when consumers buy our products, thereby reducing retailers’ pre-season inventories.

	Percent of Net Sales from Continuing  Operations by Quarter
	2017		2016		2015
First Quarter	7.8	%	6.1	%	5.2	%
Second Quarter	41.1	%	44.6	%	39.8	%
Third Quarter	36.8	%	35.4	%	41.7	%
Fourth Quarter	14.3	%	13.9	%	13.3	%

We follow a 13-week quarterly accounting cycle pursuant to which the first three fiscal quarters end on a Saturday and the fiscal year always ends on September 30. This fiscal calendar convention requires us to cycle forward the first three fiscal quarter ends every six years. Fiscal 2016 is the most recent year impacted by this process and, as a result, the first quarter of fiscal 2016 had six additional days and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 had five fewer days compared to the corresponding quarters of fiscal 2015.

Management focuses on a variety of key indicators and operating metrics to monitor the financial condition and performance of the continuing operations of our business. These metrics include consumer purchases (point-of-sale data), market share, category growth, net sales (including unit volume, pricing, and foreign exchange movements), gross profit margins, advertising to net sales ratios, income from operations, income from continuing operations, net income and earnings per share. To the extent applicable, these measures are evaluated with and without impairment, restructuring and other charges, which management believes are not indicative of the earnings capabilities of our businesses. We also focus on measures to optimize cash flow and return on invested capital, including the management of working capital and capital expenditures.

In August 2014, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of Common Shares over a five-year period (effective November 1, 2014 through September 30, 2019). On August 3, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $500.0 million increase to the share repurchase authorization ending on September 30, 2019. The amended authorization allows for the repurchases of up to $1.0 billion of Common Shares through September 30, 2019. From the inception of this share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 through September 30, 2017, Scotts Miracle-Gro repurchased approximately 4.8 million Common Shares for $391.5 million. Common Shares held in treasury totaling 0.5 million, 0.6 million and 0.9 million were reissued in support of share-based compensation awards and employee purchases under the employee stock purchase plan during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

On August 3, 2016, we announced that the Scotts Miracle-Gro Board of Directors approved an increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $0.47 to $0.50 per Common Share. On August 1, 2017, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Board of Directors approved an increase in our quarterly cash dividend from $0.50 to $0.53 per Common Share.

Results of Operations

Effective in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation. Effective in our second quarter of fiscal 2016, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation. As a result, and unless specifically stated, all discussions regarding results for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 reflect results from our continuing operations.

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The following table sets forth the components of income and expense as a percentage of net sales:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Net sales	100.0	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of sales	63.2		63.8		65.7
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other	—		0.2		0.1
Gross profit	36.8		35.9		34.2
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	20.9		20.7		20.6
Impairment, restructuring and other	0.2		(2.1	)	3.0
Other income, net	(0.6	)	(0.6	)	(0.1	)
Income from operations	16.4		17.9		10.7
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates	1.1		(0.3	)	—
Costs related to refinancing	—		0.4		—
Interest expense	2.9		2.5		2.1
Other non-operating expense	0.5		—		—
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	11.9		15.3		8.6
Income tax expense from continuing operations	4.4		5.5		3.2
Income from continuing operations	7.5		9.8		5.4
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	0.8		2.7		1.3
Net income	8.3	%	12.6	%	6.7	%

Net Sales

Net sales for fiscal 2017increased5.4% to $2.64 billion from $2.51 billion in fiscal 2016. Net sales for fiscal 2016 increased 5.7% from $2.37 billion in fiscal 2015. The change in net sales was attributable to the following:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016
Acquisitions	5.8	%	3.2	%
Pricing	1.1		0.6
Volume	(1.4	)	2.8
Foreign exchange rates	(0.1	)	(0.9	)
Change in net sales	5.4	%	5.7	%

The increase in net sales for fiscal 2017 was primarily driven by:

• the addition of net sales from acquisitions in our Hawthorne segment, primarily from Gavita, Botanicare and Agrolux, as well as the acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation in our Other segment;

• increased pricing in our U.S. Consumer segment primarily driven by lower volume rebates as a result of year-to-date sales volume decline; and

• increased sales of grass seed and Roundup^® For Lawns products in our U.S. Consumer segment, and increased sales of hydroponic gardening products in our Hawthorne segment;

• partially offset by decreased sales of mulch products in our U.S. Consumer segment;

• decreased net sales associated with the Marketing Agreement Amendment and the Restated Marketing Agreement for consumer Roundup^®; and

• the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, partially offset by the weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro.

The increase in net sales for fiscal 2016 was primarily driven by:

• the addition of net sales from acquisitions within our Hawthorne segment, primarily from General Hydroponics, Vermicrop and Gavita, as well as the acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation in our Other segment;

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• increased sales volume in our Hawthorne segment driven by increased sales of hydroponic gardening products;

• the impact of the Marketing Agreement Amendment for consumer Roundup^®; and

• increased pricing in the U.S. Consumer segment;

• partially offset by the unfavorable impact of foreign exchange rates as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies including the Canadian dollar and the euro.

Cost of Sales

The following table shows the major components of cost of sales:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Materials	$	966.9	$	920.7	$	907.7
Manufacturing labor and overhead	356.7		323.3		286.6
Distribution and warehousing	289.8		300.2		310.4
Roundup® reimbursements	56.1		55.8		52.6
	1,669.5		1,600.0		1,557.3
Impairment, restructuring and other	—		5.9		3.0
	$	1,669.5	$	1,605.9	$	1,560.3

Factors contributing to the change in cost of sales are outlined in the following table:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
Volume and product mix	$	90.6		$	64.5
Roundup® reimbursements	0.3			3.2
Foreign exchange rates	(0.9		)	(4.3		)
Material costs	(20.5		)	(20.7		)
	69.5			42.7
Impairment, restructuring and other	(5.9		)	2.9
Change in cost of sales	$	63.6		$	45.6

The increase in cost of sales for fiscal 2017 was primarily driven by:

• $98.2 million in costs related to sales from acquisitions in our Hawthorne segment, primarily from Gavita, Botanicare and Agrolux, as well as $7.5 million in costs related to sales from the acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation in our Other segment;

• partially offset by lower material costs in our U.S. Consumer segment driven by lower commodity costs primarily related to fertilizer inputs;

• lower sales volume in our U.S. Consumer segment, partially offset by increased sales volume in our Hawthorne segment;

• the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates as a result of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to the Canadian dollar, partially offset by weakening of the U.S. dollar relative to the euro; and

• a decrease in other charges of $5.9 million related to costs incurred during fiscal 2016 to address consumer complaints regarding our reformulated Bonus^® S product sold during fiscal 2015.

The increase in cost of sales for fiscal 2016 was primarily driven by:

• costs related to increased sales volume in our U.S. Consumer and Hawthorne segments;

• $46.1 million in costs related to sales from acquisitions within our Hawthorne segment, primarily from General Hydroponics, Vermicrop and Gavita, as well as $4.6 million in costs related to sales from the acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation in our Other segment;

33

• an increase in net sales attributable to reimbursements under the Marketing Agreement Amendment for consumer Roundup^®; and

• an increase in other charges of $2.9 million related to addressing the consumer complaints regarding our reformulated Bonus^® S product sold during fiscal 2015;

• partially offset by lower material costs in our U.S. Consumer segment driven by lower commodity costs primarily related to fertilizer inputs and resin;

• lower distribution costs within our U.S. Consumer segment due to savings from lower fuel prices and reduced costs from efficiencies in our growing media business; and

• the favorable impact of foreign exchange rates as a result of a strengthening of the U.S. dollar relative to other currencies including the Canadian dollar and the euro.

Gross Profit

As a percentage of net sales, our gross profit rate was 36.8%, 35.9% and 34.2% for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. Factors contributing to the change in gross profit rate are outlined in the following table:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016
Material costs	0.8	%	0.9	%
Pricing	0.7		0.3
Volume and product mix	—		0.3
Roundup® commissions and reimbursements	(0.3	)	0.5
Acquisitions	(0.6	)	(0.1	)
	0.6		1.9
Impairment, restructuring and other	0.3		(0.2	)
Change in gross profit rate	0.9	%	1.7	%

The increase in the gross profit rate for fiscal 2017 was primarily driven by:

• lower material costs in our U.S. Consumer segment driven by lower commodity costs primarily related to fertilizer inputs;

• increased pricing in our U.S. Consumer segment primarily driven by lower volume rebates as a result of year-to-date sales volume decline; and

• a decrease in other charges of $5.9 million related to costs incurred during fiscal 2016 to address consumer complaints regarding our reformulated Bonus^® S product sold during fiscal 2015;

• partially offset by an unfavorable net impact from acquisitions in our Hawthorne segment, primarily from Gavita, Botanicare and Agrolux, as well as the acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation in our Other segment; and

• a decrease in net sales associated with the Marketing Agreement Amendment and the Restated Marketing Agreement for consumer Roundup^®.

The increase in the gross profit rate for fiscal 2016 was primarily driven by:

• lower material costs in our U.S. Consumer segment driven by lower commodity costs primarily related to fertilizer inputs and resin;

• lower distribution costs within our U.S. Consumer segment due to savings from lower fuel prices and reduced costs from efficiencies in our growing media business;

• an increase in net sales attributable to the Marketing Agreement Amendment for consumer Roundup^®; and

• increased pricing in the U.S. Consumer segment;

• partially offset by an unfavorable net impact from acquisitions, primarily from General Hydroponics and Vermicrop within our Hawthorne segment; and

• other charges of $5.9 million primarily related to addressing the consumer complaints regarding our reformulated Bonus^® S product sold during fiscal 2015.

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

The following table sets forth the components of selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”):

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions, except percentage figures)
Advertising	$	123.0		$	122.3		$	121.5
Advertising as a percentage of net sales	4.7		%	4.9		%	5.1		%
Share-based compensation	25.2			15.6			13.2
Research and development	39.9			36.0			36.5
Amortization of intangibles	21.9			13.6			8.6
Other selling, general and administrative	340.9			330.5			309.0
	$	550.9		$	518.0		$	488.8

SG&A increased$32.9 million, or 6.4%, during fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016; and increased$29.2 million, or 6.0% during fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015. Share-based compensation expense increased$9.6 million, or 61.5%, to $25.2 million in fiscal 2017 compared to $15.6 million in fiscal 2016 due to the issuance of equity awards as part of the Project Focus initiative. Share-based compensation expense in fiscal 2016increased$2.4 million, or 18.2%, compared to fiscal 2015, primarily as a result of additional expense associated with fiscal 2016 awards.

Amortization expense increased$8.3 million, or 61.0%, to $21.9 million in fiscal 2017 compared to $13.6 million in fiscal 2016. Amortization expense in fiscal 2016increased$5.0 million, or 58.1%, compared to fiscal 2015. These increases are due to the impact of recent acquisitions.

Other SG&A increased$10.4 million, or 3.1%, in fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016 due to the impact of recent acquisitions of $14.7 million and increased headcount and integration costs for our hydroponic businesses of $6.9 million, partially offset by lower deal costs related to transaction activity of $5.3 million and decreased variable incentive compensation of $7.7 million. In fiscal 2016, other SG&A increased$21.5 million compared to fiscal 2015 driven by increased variable incentive compensation of $13.7 million and the impact of recent acquisitions and deal costs related to transaction activity of $12.2 million, partially offset by foreign exchange rate impact of $1.9 million as the U.S. dollar has strengthened relative to the Canadian dollar.

Impairment, Restructuring and Other

The following table sets forth the components of impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries) recorded within the “Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other,” “Impairment, restructuring and other” and “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016			2015
	(In millions)
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other:
Restructuring and other charges	$	—	$	5.9		$	3.0
Operating expenses:
Restructuring and other charges (recoveries), net	3.9		(51.5		)	70.4
Intangible asset impairment	1.0		—			—
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries) from continuing operations	$	4.9	$	(45.6	)	$	73.4
Restructuring and other charges from discontinued operations	15.9		19.7			11.2
Total impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	$	20.8	$	(25.9	)	$	84.6

In the first quarter of fiscal 2016, we announced a series of initiatives called Project Focus designed to maximize the value of our non-core assets and focus on emerging categories of the lawn and garden industry in our core U.S. business. During fiscal 2017, we recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits and facility closure costs of $8.3 million in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, including $6.7 million for the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.9 million for the Hawthorne segment and $0.7 million for the Other segment. Costs incurred to date since the inception of the

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current Project Focus initiatives are $10.1 million for the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.9 million for the Hawthorne segment and $1.2 million for the Other segment, related to transaction activity, termination benefits and facility closure costs.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we recognized a recovery of $4.4 million related to the reduction of a contingent consideration liability associated with a historical acquisition and recorded a $1.0 million impairment charge on the write-off of a trademark asset due to recent performance and future growth expectations. These items were recorded in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, our U.S. Consumer segment began experiencing an increase in certain consumer complaints related to the reformulated Bonus^® S fertilizer product sold in the southeastern United States during fiscal 2015 indicating customers were experiencing damage to their lawns after application. In fiscal 2016, we incurred $6.4 million in costs related to resolving these consumer complaints and the recognition of costs we expected to incur for consumer claims in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” and the “Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other” lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, we recorded offsetting insurance reimbursement recoveries of $55.9 million in fiscal 2016 in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs incurred to date since the inception of this matter were $73.8 million, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries of $60.8 million.

During fiscal 2016, we recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits of $3.9 million related to Project Focus in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During fiscal 2015, we recognized $67.3 million in costs related to consumer complaints and claims related to the reformulated Bonus^® S fertilizer product sold in the southeastern United States during fiscal 2015, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries recorded of $4.9 million.

During fiscal 2015, we recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits of $11.0 million as part of our restructuring of our U.S. administrative and overhead functions. The restructuring costs for fiscal 2015 included $4.3 million of costs related to the acceleration of equity compensation expense, and were comprised of $3.7 million related to the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.7 million related to the Other Segment and $6.6 million related to Corporate. These costs were recognized in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Other Income, net

Other income is comprised of activities outside our normal business operations, such as royalty income from the licensing of certain of our brand names, income earned from loans receivable, foreign exchange gains/losses and gains/losses from the disposition of non-inventory assets. Other income, net, was $16.6 million, $13.8 million and $2.2 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. The increase in other income for fiscal 2017 was due to an increase in income on loans receivable partially offset by a decrease in royalty income earned from the TruGreen Joint Venture related to its use of brand names. The increase in other income for fiscal 2016 was due to a gain on the sale of a growing media plant whose operations were being relocated, an increase in income on loans receivable and royalty income earned from the TruGreen Joint Venture related to its use of brand names.

Income from Operations

Income from operations in fiscal 2017 was $433.4 million compared to $447.6 million in fiscal 2016, a decrease of $14.2 million, or 3.2%. The decrease was driven by impairment, restructuring and other charges during fiscal 2017 as compared to recoveries during fiscal 2016, and higher SG&A, partially offset by an increase in net sales, gross profit rate and other income.

Income from operations in fiscal 2016 was $447.6 million compared to $253.8 million in fiscal 2015, an increase of $193.8 million, or 76.4%. The increase was driven by impairment, restructuring and other recoveries during fiscal 2016 as compared to charges during fiscal 2015, and an increase in net sales and gross profit rate, partially offset by higher SG&A.

Equity in (Income) Loss of Unconsolidated Affiliates

Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates was $29.0 million and $(7.8) million in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. Included within (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively, is our $25.2 million and $11.7 million share of restructuring and other charges incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture. For fiscal 2017, these charges included $1.3 million for transaction costs, $12.1 million for nonrecurring integration and separation costs, $7.2 million of costs associated with the TruGreen Joint Venture’s August 2017 debt refinancing and $4.6 million for a non-cash purchase accounting fair value write-down adjustment related to deferred revenue and advertising. For fiscal 2016, these charges included $6.0 million for transaction costs, $4.4 million for nonrecurring integration and separation costs and $1.3 million for a non-cash purchase accounting fair value write-down adjustment related to deferred revenue and advertising.

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Costs Related to Refinancing

Costs related to refinancing were $8.8 million for fiscal 2016. The costs incurred were associated with the redemption of our 6.625% Senior Notes on December 15, 2015, and are comprised of $6.6 million of call premium and $2.2 million of unamortized bond discount and issuance costs that were written off.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $76.1 million in fiscal 2017 compared to $62.9 million in fiscal 2016 and $48.8 million in fiscal 2015. The increase in fiscal 2017 was driven by an increase in average borrowings of $239.4 million, as well as an increase in our weighted average interest rate of 16 basis points. The increase in average borrowings was driven by recent acquisition activity and an increase in repurchases of our Common Shares. The increase in weighted average interest rate was primarily due to the issuance of our 5.250% Senior Notes on December 15, 2016.

The increase in fiscal 2016 was driven by an increase in average borrowings of $297.3 million attributable to recent acquisition and investment activity, primarily related to General Hydroponics, Vermicrop, Bonnie, Gavita, the amendment of our Marketing Agreement with Monsanto and repurchases of our Common Shares.

Other Non-Operating Expense

On October 2, 2017, we acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest in Gavita and its subsidiaries, including Agrolux, for $72.2 million. We recorded a charge of $13.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 to write-up the fair value of the loan to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita to the agreed upon buyout value in the “Other non-operating expense” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Tax Expense

A reconciliation of the federal corporate income tax rate and the effective tax rate on income from continuing operations before income taxes is summarized below:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Effect of foreign operations	3.1		0.3		0.9
State taxes, net of federal benefit	2.9		2.9		3.4
Domestic production activities deduction permanent difference	(3.1	)	(2.5	)	(3.1	)
Effect of other permanent differences	0.4		0.4		0.1
Research and experimentation and other federal tax credits	(0.4	)	(0.3	)	(0.3	)
Resolution of prior tax contingencies	0.9		(0.1	)	0.4
Other	(1.8	)	0.2		0.8
Effective income tax rate	37.0	%	35.9	%	37.2	%

In connection with the sale of the International Business during fiscal 2017, we recognized additional tax expense of $7.2 million associated with valuation allowances established in connection with historical foreign tax credits as we do not expect to utilize these prior to their expiration. Through our increased ownership of AeroGrow International, Inc. during fiscal 2017 we may potentially utilize up to $63.2 million in federal net operating losses (NOLs) of AeroGrow International, Inc., subject to limitations under IRC §382 from current and prior ownership changes. We determined that $50.0 million of these NOLs will expire unutilized due to the closing of statutes of limitation and a valuation allowance has been established on these NOLs. We also incurred a $13.4 million charge, which is not tax-deductible, driven by the October 2017 acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interest in Gavita and subsidiaries, to write-up the fair value of the loan to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita to the agreed upon buyout value.

Income from Continuing Operations

Income from continuing operations was $198.3 million, or $3.29 per diluted share, in fiscal 2017 compared to $246.1 million, or $3.98 per diluted share, in fiscal 2016. The decrease was driven by impairment, restructuring and other charges during fiscal 2017 as compared to recoveries during fiscal 2016, as well as higher SG&A, equity in loss of unconsolidated affiliates, interest expense and other non-operating expense, partially offset by an increase in net sales, gross profit rate and other income and a decrease in costs related to refinancing. Diluted average common shares used in the diluted income per common share calculation were 60.2 million for fiscal 2017 compared to 62.0 million for fiscal 2016. The decrease was primarily the result of Common

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Share repurchase activity, partially offset by the exercise and issuance of share-based compensation awards. Dilutive equivalent shares for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 were 0.8 million and 0.9 million, respectively.

Income from continuing operations was $246.1 million, or $3.98 per diluted share, in fiscal 2016 compared to $128.7 million, or $2.09 per diluted share, in fiscal 2015. The increase was driven by impairment, restructuring and other recoveries during fiscal 2016 as compared to charges during fiscal 2015, and an increase in net sales, gross profit rate and equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates, partially offset by increases in interest expense, costs related to refinancing and SG&A. Diluted average common shares used in the diluted income per common share calculation were 62.0 million in fiscal 2016 compared to 62.2 million in fiscal 2015. The decrease was primarily driven by repurchases of Common Shares, partially offset by the exercise of stock options and the issuance of share-based compensation awards and the payment of contingent consideration in Common Shares in connection with the Vermicrop acquisition. Dilutive equivalent shares for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 were 0.9 million and 1.1 million, respectively.

Income from Discontinued Operations

On August 31, 2017, we completed the divestiture of the International Business. As a result, effective in our fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. On April 13, 2016, we completed the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. As a result of this transaction, effective in our second quarter of fiscal 2016, we classified our results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the SLS Business as held for sale.

We recorded a gain on the sale of the International Business of $32.7 million, partially offset by the provision for income taxes of $12.0 million, during fiscal 2017. During fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, we recognized $15.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business as well as termination benefits and facility closure costs of $(0.4) million and $3.6 million, respectively, within the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

We recorded a gain on the contribution of the SLS Business of $131.2 million, partially offset by the provision for deferred income taxes of $51.9 million, during fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2017, we recorded an adjustment to reduce the pre-tax gain by $1.0 million related to post-closing working capital adjustments. During fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, we recognized $0.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During fiscal 2016, we recognized a charge of $9.0 million for the resolution of a prior SLS Business litigation matter within the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Segment Results

We divide our business into three reportable segments: U.S. Consumer, Hawthorne and Other. U.S. Consumer consists of our consumer lawn and garden business located in the geographic United States. Hawthorne consists of our indoor, urban and hydroponic gardening business. Other consists of our consumer lawn and garden business in geographies other than the U.S. and our product sales to commercial nurseries, greenhouses and other professional customers. Corporate consists of general and administrative expenses and certain other income/expense items not allocated to the business segments. This identification of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by our chief operating decision maker. These segments differ from those used in prior periods due to the change in our internal organization structure resulting from the divestiture of the International Business, which closed on August 31, 2017.

Segment performance is evaluated based on several factors, including income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, amortization, impairment, restructuring and other charges (“Segment Profit (Loss)”), which is a non-GAAP financial measure. Senior management uses this measure of profit (loss) to evaluate segment performance because they believe this measure is indicative of performance trends and the overall earnings potential of each segment.

The following table sets forth net sales by segment:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
U.S. Consumer	$	2,160.5	$	2,204.4	$	2,144.8
Hawthorne	287.2		121.2		48.0
Other	194.4		180.6		178.3
Consolidated	$	2,642.1	$	2,506.2	$	2,371.1

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The following table sets forth Segment Profit as well as a reconciliation to the most directly comparable GAAP measure:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
U.S. Consumer	$	521.5		$	493.7		$	436.1
Hawthorne	35.5			11.8			0.1
Other	13.4			10.4			10.8
Total Segment Profit (Non-GAAP)	570.4			515.9			447.0
Corporate	(109.6		)	(98.9		)	(102.5		)
Intangible asset amortization	(22.5		)	(14.9		)	(10.5		)
Impairment, restructuring and other	(4.9		)	33.8			(80.2		)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates (a)	(29.0		)	19.5			—
Costs related to refinancing	—			(8.8		)	—
Interest expense	(76.1		)	(62.9		)	(48.8		)
Other non-operating expense	(13.4		)	—			—
Income from continuing operations before income taxes (GAAP)	$	314.9		$	383.7		$	205.0

(a) Included within equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates for fiscal 2017 are charges of $25.2 million, which represent our share of restructuring and other charges incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture, including a charge of $7.2 million related to costs associated with TruGreen’s August 2017 refinancing. For fiscal 2016, our share of restructuring and other charges incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture of $11.7 million was included within impairment, restructuring and other above.

U.S. Consumer

U.S. Consumer segment net sales were $2.16 billion in fiscal 2017, a decrease of 2.0% from fiscal 2016 net sales of $2.20 billion. The decrease was driven by the unfavorable impact of volume of 3.3%, partially offset by the favorable impact of pricing of 1.2%. Decreased sales volume for fiscal 2017 was driven by decreased sales of mulch products, partially offset by increased sales of grass seed and Roundup^® For Lawns products. Increased pricing for fiscal 2017 was primarily driven by lower volume rebates as a result of year-to-date sales volume decline.

U.S. Consumer Segment Profit increased$27.8 million, or 5.6%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase for fiscal 2017 was primarily due to an increase in gross profit rate, higher other income and lower SG&A, partially offset by decreased net sales.

U.S. Consumer segment net sales were $2.20 billion in fiscal 2016, an increase of 2.8% from fiscal 2015 net sales of $2.14 billion. The increase was driven by the favorable impact of volume, pricing and acquisitions of 1.9%, 0.7% and 0.2%, respectively. Increased sales volume in fiscal 2016 was driven by increased sales of growing media and grass seed products, as well as the favorable impact of net sales attributable to the Marketing Agreement Amendment for consumer Roundup^®, partially offset by decreased sales of fertilizer products.

U.S. Consumer Segment Profit increased$57.6 million, or 13.2%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase was driven by increased sales and improvements in gross profit rate due to lower material costs driven by commodities and lower distribution costs due to savings from lower fuel prices and reduced costs from efficiencies in our growing media business, partially offset by higher SG&A.

Hawthorne

Hawthorne segment net sales were $287.2 million in fiscal 2017, an increase of 137.0% from fiscal 2016 net sales of $121.2 million. The increase was driven by the favorable impacts of acquisitions, volume and changes in foreign exchange rates of 112.4%, 23.2% and 1.5%, respectively.

Hawthorne Segment Profit increased$23.7 million, or 200.8%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase for fiscal 2017 was primarily due to an increase in net sales and a decrease in transaction costs related to acquisition activity, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit rate and higher SG&A from acquired businesses.

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Hawthorne segment net sales were $121.2 million in fiscal 2016, an increase of 152.5% from fiscal 2015 net sales of $48.0 million. The increase was driven by the favorable impacts of acquisitions and volume of 134.5% and 17.8%, respectively.

Hawthorne Segment Profit increased$11.7 million in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase for fiscal 2016 was primarily due to an increase in net sales, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit rate and higher SG&A from acquired businesses and transaction costs related to acquisition activity.

Other

Other segment net sales were $194.4 million in fiscal 2017, an increase of 7.6% from fiscal 2016 net sales of $180.6 million. The increase was driven by the favorable impact of volume and acquisitions of 4.8% and 4.7%, respectively, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of changes in foreign exchange rates of 2.1%.

Other Segment Profit increased$3.0 million, or 28.8%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase was due to an increase in net sales and other income, partially offset by a decrease in gross profit rate and higher SG&A.

Other segment net sales were $180.6 million in fiscal 2016, an increase of 1.3% from fiscal 2015 net sales of $178.3 million. The increase was driven by the favorable impact of volume and acquisitions of 9.5% and 3.7%, respectively, partially offset by the unfavorable impact of changes in foreign exchange rates of 12.1%.

Other Segment Profit decreased$0.4 million, or 3.7%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The decrease was driven by increased SG&A from acquired businesses, transaction costs related to acquisition activity and a decrease in gross profit rate, partially offset by increased sales.

Corporate 

Corporate expenses were $109.6 million in fiscal 2017, an increase of 10.8% from fiscal 2016 expenses of $98.9 million. The change was primarily driven by higher share-based compensation expense due to the issuance of equity awards as part of the Project Focus initiative and a decrease in royalty income earned from the TruGreen Joint Venture related to its use of brand names, partially offset by an increase in income on loans receivable and lower variable incentive compensation.

Corporate expenses were $98.9 million in fiscal 2016, a decrease of 3.5% from fiscal 2015 expenses of $102.5 million. The change was primarily due to an increase in income on loans receivable and royalty income earned from the TruGreen Joint Venture related to its use of brand names, partially offset by increased variable incentive compensation.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $354.0 million for fiscal 2017, an increase of $116.6 million as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $237.4 million for fiscal 2016. This increase was driven by a decrease in cash used for working capital resulting from Company-wide efforts to improve inventory management and reduce inventory levels, improved timing of customer receipts and a decrease in accounts receivable from the TruGreen Joint Venture for expenses incurred pursuant to a short-term transition services agreement and an employee leasing agreement, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries during fiscal 2016 related to the Bonus^® S consumer complaint matter and lower customer volume rebates due to lower sales volume.

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $237.4 million for fiscal 2016, a decrease of $9.5 million as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $246.9 million for fiscal 2015. The change was driven by an increase in cash used for working capital related to increased inventory, timing of customer receipts as compared to payment of current liabilities and an increase in accounts receivable from the TruGreen Joint Venture of $14.9 million for expenses incurred pursuant to a transition services agreement and an employee leasing agreement, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries of $40.9 million related to the Bonus^® S consumer complaint matter.

The seasonal nature of our operations generally requires cash to fund significant increases in inventories during the first half of the fiscal year. Receivables and payables also build substantially in our second quarter of the fiscal year in line with the timing of sales to support our retailers’ spring selling season. These balances liquidate during the June through September period as the lawn and garden season unwinds.

Investing Activities

Cash provided by investing activities totaled $22.4 million for fiscal 2017, a change of $156.8 million as compared to cash used in investing activities of $134.4 million for fiscal 2016.

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On August 31, 2017, we completed the divestiture of the International Business for cash proceeds at closing of $150.6 million, which is net of seller financing provided by us in the form of a $29.7 million loan. We received distributions of $87.1 million from the TruGreen Joint Venture, partially offset by a $29.4 million investment in an unconsolidated subsidiary whose products support the professional U.S. industrial, turf and ornamental market. These net cash inflows were partially offset by cash used for investments in property, plant and equipment during fiscal 2017 of $69.6 million. Additionally, we completed the acquisitions of Botanicare, Agrolux, the exclusive manufacturer and formulator of branded Botanicare products and three other acquisitions which included aggregate cash payments of $121.7 million. Significant capital projects during fiscal 2017 included investments in our growing media production and packaging facilities, additional capital for supply chain optimization projects, investments in information technology, facility improvement and maintenance, and the rebuild of a plant and related equipment after a fire.

Cash used in investing activities totaled $134.4 million for fiscal 2016, a decrease of $402.0 million as compared to cash used in investing activities of $536.4 million for fiscal 2015. During fiscal 2016 we made an investment in Bonnie in the amount of $72.0 million, made an investment in an unconsolidated subsidiary of $2.0 million, provided a working capital contribution of $24.2 million and an $18.0 million investment in second lien term loan financing to the TruGreen Joint Venture and completed the acquisitions of Gavita and a Canadian growing media operation which included aggregate cash payments of $158.4 million. Cash used for investments in property, plant and equipment during fiscal 2016 was $58.3 million. These cash outflows were partially offset by a distribution of $196.2 million from the TruGreen Joint Venture. Significant capital projects during fiscal 2016 included investments in our growing media production and packaging facilities, additional capital for supply chain optimization projects, investments in information technology and facility improvement and maintenance.

For the three fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, our capital spending was allocated as follows: 67% for expansion and maintenance of existing productive assets; 16% for new productive assets; 8% to expand our information technology and transformation and integration capabilities; and 9% for Corporate assets. We expect fiscal 2018 capital expenditures to be consistent with our recent capital spending amounts and allocations.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used cash of $307.6 million and $122.2 million in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. The increase in fiscal 2017 was the result of an increase in repurchases of our Common Shares of $115.2 million, an increase in net repayments under our credit facilities of $87.7 million, an increase in payments on seller notes of $25.9 million, and an $8.1 million distribution paid by AeroGrow to its noncontrolling interest holders, partially offset by the issuance of $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% Senior Notes during fiscal 2017 as compared to a net issuance of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of Senior Notes during fiscal 2016 and a decrease in financing and issuance fees paid of $6.8 million.

Financing activities used cash of $122.2 million in fiscal 2016 and provided cash of $278.9 million in fiscal 2015. This change related to financing activities was the result of the repayment of $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes, net repayments of $81.3 million under our credit facilities in fiscal 2016 compared to net borrowings of $378.0 million in fiscal 2015, payment of financing and issuance fees of $11.2 million related to our credit agreement and the 6.000% Senior Notes, an increase in repurchases of our Common Shares of $116.0 million and a decrease in cash received from the exercise of stock options of $9.6 million, partially offset by the issuance of $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.000% Senior Notes.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Our cash and cash equivalents were held in cash depository accounts with major financial institutions around the world or invested in high quality, short-term liquid investments having original maturities of three months or less. The cash and cash equivalents balances, including cash and cash equivalents classified within assets held for sale, of $120.5 million and $50.1 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, included $39.3 million and $39.9 million, respectively, held by controlled foreign corporations. Our current plans do not demonstrate a need to, nor do we have plans to, repatriate the retained earnings from these foreign corporations as the earnings are indefinitely reinvested. However, in the future, if we determine it is necessary to repatriate these funds, or we sell or liquidate any of these foreign corporations, we may be required to pay associated taxes on the repatriation, sale or liquidation.

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Borrowing Agreements

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated by operations and borrowings under our credit facilities, which are guaranteed by substantially all of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s domestic subsidiaries. On December 20, 2013, we entered into the third amended and restated credit agreement, providing us with a five-year senior secured revolving loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $1.7 billion (the “former credit facility”). On October 29, 2015, we entered into the fourth amended and restated credit agreement (the “credit agreement”), providing us with five-year senior secured loan facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $1.9 billion, comprised of a revolving credit facility of $1.6 billion and a term loan in the original principal amount of $300.0 million (the “credit facilities”). The credit agreement also provides us with the right to seek additional committed credit under the agreement in an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million plus an unlimited additional amount, subject to certain specified financial and other conditions. Under the credit agreement, we have the ability to obtain letters of credit up to $100.0 million. Borrowings on the revolving credit facility may be made in various currencies, including U.S. dollars, euro, British pounds, Australian dollars and Canadian dollars.

At September 30, 2017, we had letters of credit outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $23.5 million, and $1.3 billion of availability under the credit agreement, subject to our continued compliance with the covenants discussed below. The weighted average interest rates on average borrowings under the credit agreement and the former credit facility were 3.9% and 3.5% for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively.

We maintained a Master Accounts Receivable Purchase Agreement (as amended, “MARP Agreement”), which provided for the discretionary sale by us, and the discretionary purchase by the participating banks, on a revolving basis, of accounts receivable generated by sales to three specified debtors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million as of September 30, 2016.

The MARP Agreement terminated effective October 14, 2016 in accordance with its terms upon our repayment of its outstanding obligations thereunder using $133.5 million borrowed under the credit agreement. There were $138.6 million in borrowings or receivables pledged as collateral under the MARP Agreement at September 30, 2016. The carrying value of the receivables pledged as collateral was $174.7 million at September 30, 2016.

On April 7, 2017, we entered into a Master Repurchase Agreement (including the annexes thereto, the “Repurchase Agreement”) and a Master Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement” and, together with the Repurchase Agreement, the “Receivables Facility”). Under the Receivables Facility, we may sell a portfolio of available and eligible outstanding customer accounts receivable to the purchasers and simultaneously agree to repurchase the receivables on a weekly basis. The eligible accounts receivable consist of up to $250.0 million in accounts receivable generated by sales to three specified customers. The Receivables Facility is considered a secured financing with the customer accounts receivable, related contract rights and proceeds thereof (and the collection accounts into which the same are deposited) constituting the collateral therefor. The repurchase price for customer accounts receivable bears interest at LIBOR (with a zero floor) plus 0.90%.

On August 25, 2017, we entered into Amendment No. 1 to Master Framework Agreement (the “Amendment”). The Amendment (i) extends the expiration date of the Receivables Facility from August 25, 2017 to August 24, 2018, (ii) defines the seasonal commitment period of the Receivables Facility as beginning on February 23, 2018 and ending on June 15, 2018, (iii) increases the eligible amount of customer accounts receivable which may be sold from up to $250 million to up to $400 million and (iv) increases the commitment amount of the Receivables Facility during the seasonal commitment period from up to $100 million to up to $160 million. There were $80.0 million in borrowings or receivables pledged as collateral under the Receivables Facility as of September 30, 2017. The carrying value of the receivables pledged as collateral was $88.9 million as of September 30, 2017. As of September 30, 2017, there was $11.1 million of availability under the Receivables Facility.

On December 15, 2016, we issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% senior notes due 2026 (the “5.250% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under our credit facilities. The 5.250% Senior Notes represent general unsecured senior obligations and rank equal in right of payment with our existing and future unsecured senior debt. The 5.250% Senior Notes have interest payment dates of June 15 and December 15 of each year. The 5.250% Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2021 at applicable redemption premiums. The 5.250% Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default and mature on December 15, 2026. Substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries serve as guarantors of the 5.250% Senior Notes.

On December 15, 2015, we used a portion of our available credit facility borrowings to redeem all $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of our outstanding 6.625% senior notes due 2020 (the “6.625% Senior Notes”) paying a redemption price of $213.2 million, comprised of $6.6 million of accrued and unpaid interest, $6.6 million of call premium and $200.0 million for outstanding principal amount. The $6.6 million call premium charge was recognized within the “Costs related to refinancing” line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Additionally, we had $2.2 million in unamortized bond discount and issuance costs associated with the 6.625% Senior Notes that were written off and recognized in the “Costs related to refinancing” line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

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On October 13, 2015, we issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.000% senior notes due 2023 (the “6.000% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under our former credit facility. The 6.000% Senior Notes represent general unsecured senior obligations and rank equal in right of payment with our existing and future unsecured senior debt. The 6.000% Senior Notes have interest payment dates of April 15 and October 15 of each year. The 6.000% Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on or after October 15, 2018 at applicable redemption premiums. The 6.000% Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default and mature on October 15, 2023. Substantially all of our domestic subsidiaries serve as guarantors of the 6.000% Senior Notes.

We were in compliance with all debt covenants as of September 30, 2017. Our credit agreement contains, among other obligations, an affirmative covenant regarding our leverage ratio on the last day of each quarter, calculated as average total indebtedness, divided by the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement (“Adjusted EBITDA”). The maximum leverage ratio was 4.50 as of September 30, 2017. Our leverage ratio was 3.04 at September 30, 2017. Our credit agreement also includes an affirmative covenant regarding our interest coverage ratio, calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by interest expense, as described in the credit agreement, and excludes costs related to refinancings. The minimum interest coverage ratio was 3.00 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. Our interest coverage ratio was 7.54 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. The credit agreement allows us to make unlimited restricted payments (as defined in the credit agreement), including increased or one-time dividend payments and Common Share repurchases, as long as the leverage ratio resulting from the making of such restricted payments is 4.00 or less. Otherwise we may only make restricted payments in an aggregate amount for each fiscal year not to exceed the amount set forth in the credit agreement for such fiscal year ($200.0 million for fiscal 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter). Please see “ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details pertaining to the calculations of the foregoing ratios.

We continue to monitor our compliance with the leverage ratio, interest coverage ratio and other covenants contained in the credit agreement and, based upon our current operating assumptions, we expect to remain in compliance with the permissible leverage ratio and interest coverage ratio throughout fiscal 2018. However, an unanticipated shortfall in earnings, an increase in net indebtedness or other factors could materially affect our ability to remain in compliance with the financial or other covenants of our credit agreement, potentially causing us to have to seek an amendment or waiver from our lending group which could result in repricing of our credit facilities. While we believe we have good relationships with our lending group, we can provide no assurance that such a request would result in a modified or replacement credit agreement on reasonable terms, if at all.

At September 30, 2017, we had outstanding interest rate swap agreements with major financial institutions that effectively converted the LIBOR index portion of variable-rate debt denominated in U.S. dollars to a fixed rate. The swap agreements had a total U.S. dollar notional amount of $1,100.0 million at September 30, 2017. Interest payments made between the effective date and expiration date are hedged by the swap agreements, except as noted below.

The notional amount, effective date, expiration date and rate of each of these swap agreements outstanding at September 30, 2017 are shown in the table below:

Notional Amount (in millions)			Effective Date (a)	Expiration Date	Fixed Rate
$	200		2/7/2014	11/7/2017	1.28	%
300		(b)	11/21/2016	6/20/2018	0.83	%
200		(b)	11/7/2016	8/7/2018	0.84	%
150		(c)	2/7/2017	5/7/2019	2.12	%
50		(c)	2/7/2017	5/7/2019	2.25	%
200		(d)	12/20/2016	6/20/2019	2.12	%

(a) The effective date refers to the date on which interest payments were, or will be, first hedged by the applicable swap agreement.

(b) Notional amount adjusts in accordance with a specified seasonal schedule. This represents the maximum notional amount at any point in time.

(c) Interest payments made during the three-month period of each year that begins with the month and day of the effective date are hedged by the swap agreement.

(d) Interest payments made during the six-month period of each year that begins with the month and day of the effective date are hedged by the swap agreement.

We believe that our cash flows from operations and borrowings under our agreements described herein will be sufficient to meet debt service, capital expenditures and working capital needs for the foreseeable future. However, we cannot ensure that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available under our borrowing agreements in amounts sufficient to pay indebtedness or fund other liquidity needs. Actual results of operations will depend on

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numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control as further discussed in “Item 1A. RISK FACTORS — Our indebtedness could limit our flexibility and adversely affect our financial condition” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Judicial and Administrative Proceedings

We are party to various pending judicial and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business, including, among others, proceedings based on accidents or product liability claims and alleged violations of environmental laws. We have reviewed these pending judicial and administrative proceedings, including the probable outcomes, reasonably anticipated costs and expenses, and the availability and limits of our insurance coverage, and have established what we believe to be appropriate accruals. We believe that our assessment of contingencies is reasonable and that the related accruals, in the aggregate, are adequate; however, there can be no assurance that future quarterly or annual operating results will not be materially affected by these proceedings, whether as a result of adverse outcomes or as a result of significant defense costs.

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our future cash outflows for contractual obligations as of September 30, 2017:

			Payments Due by Period
Contractual Cash Obligations	Total		Less Than 1 Year		1-3 Years		3-5 Years		More Than 5 Years
	(In millions)
Debt obligations	$	1,409.7	$	143.1	$	31.6	$	529.3	$	705.7
Interest expense on debt obligations	359.4		69.4		119.1		75.8		95.1
Operating lease obligations	147.5		40.3		64.4		33.0		9.8
Purchase obligations	307.2		157.2		114.9		33.0		2.1
Other, primarily retirement plan obligations	167.1		9.7		23.3		27.5		106.6
Total contractual cash obligations	$	2,390.9	$	419.7	$	353.3	$	698.6	$	919.3

We have long-term debt obligations and interest payments due primarily under the 5.250% Senior Notes and 6.000% Senior Notes and our credit facilities. Amounts in the table represent scheduled future maturities of long-term debt principal for the periods indicated.

The interest payments for our credit facilities are based on outstanding borrowings as of September 30, 2017. Actual interest expense will likely be higher due to the seasonality of our business and associated higher average borrowings.

Purchase obligations primarily represent commitments for materials used in our manufacturing processes, as well as commitments for warehouse services, grass seed and outsourced information services which comprise the unconditional purchase obligations disclosed in “NOTE 18. COMMITMENTS” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other obligations include actuarially determined retiree benefit payments and pension funding to comply with local funding requirements. Pension funding requirements beyond fiscal 2017 are based on preliminary estimates using actuarial assumptions determined as of September 30, 2017. The above table excludes liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits and insurance accruals as we are unable to estimate the timing of payments for these items.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

At September 30, 2017, we have letters of credit in the aggregate face amount of $23.5 million outstanding. Further, we have a residual value guarantee on our corporate aircraft as disclosed in “NOTE 17. OPERATING LEASES” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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Regulatory Matters

We are subject to local, state, federal and foreign environmental protection laws and regulations with respect to our business operations and believe we are operating in substantial compliance with, or taking actions aimed at ensuring compliance with, such laws and regulations. We are involved in several legal actions with various governmental agencies related to environmental matters. While it is difficult to quantify the potential financial impact of actions involving these environmental matters, particularly remediation costs at waste disposal sites and future capital expenditures for environmental control equipment, in the opinion of management, the ultimate liability arising from such environmental matters, taking into account established accruals, should not have a material effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. However, there can be no assurance that the resolution of these matters will not materially affect our future quarterly or annual results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Additional information on environmental matters affecting us is provided in “ITEM 1. BUSINESS — Regulatory Considerations” and “ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. Certain accounting policies are particularly significant, including those related to revenue recognition, goodwill and intangibles, certain associate benefits and income taxes. We believe these accounting policies, and others set forth in “NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, should be reviewed as they are integral to understanding our results of operations and financial position. Our critical accounting policies are reviewed periodically with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to use judgment and make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to customer programs and incentives, product returns, bad debts, inventories, intangible assets, income taxes, restructuring, environmental matters, contingencies and litigation. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances. Although actual results historically have not deviated significantly from those determined using our estimates, our results of operations or financial condition could differ, perhaps materially, from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue Recognition and Promotional Allowances

Most of our revenue is derived from the sale of inventory, and we recognize revenue when title and risk of loss transfer, generally when products are received by the customer. Provisions for payment discounts, product returns and allowances are recorded as a reduction of sales at the time revenue is recognized based on historical trends and adjusted periodically as circumstances warrant. Similarly, accruals for uncollectible receivables due from customers are established based on management’s judgment as to the ultimate collectability of these balances. We offer sales incentives through various programs, consisting principally of volume rebates, cooperative advertising, consumer coupons and other trade programs. The cost of these programs is recorded as a reduction of sales. The recognition of revenues, receivables and trade programs requires the use of estimates. While we believe these estimates to be reasonable based on the then current facts and circumstances, there can be no assurance that actual amounts realized will not differ materially from estimated amounts recorded.

Income Taxes

Our annual effective tax rate is established based on our pre-tax income (loss), statutory tax rates and the tax impacts of items treated differently for tax purposes than for financial reporting purposes. We record income tax liabilities utilizing known obligations and estimates of potential obligations. A deferred tax asset or liability is recognized whenever there are future tax effects from existing temporary differences and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are used to reduce deferred tax assets to the balances that are more likely than not to be realized. We must make estimates and judgments on future taxable income, considering feasible tax planning strategies and taking into account existing facts and circumstances, to determine the proper valuation allowances. When we determine that deferred tax assets could be realized in greater or lesser amounts than recorded, the asset balance and Consolidated Statements of Operations reflect the change in the period such determination is made. Due to changes in facts and circumstances and the estimates and judgments that are involved in determining the proper valuation allowances, differences between actual future events and prior estimates and judgments could result in adjustments to these valuation allowances. We use an estimate of our annual effective tax rate at each interim period based on the facts and circumstances available at that time, while the actual effective tax rate is calculated at year-end.

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Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, principally determined by the first-in, first-out method of accounting. Inventories include the cost of raw materials, labor, manufacturing overhead and freight and in-bound handling costs incurred to pre-position goods in our warehouse network. Adjustments to net realizable value for excess and obsolete inventory are based on a variety of factors, including product changes and improvements, changes in active ingredient availability and regulatory acceptance, new product introductions and estimated future demand. The adequacy of our adjustments could be materially affected by changes in the demand for our products or regulatory actions.

Long-lived Assets, including Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided on the straight-line method and is based on the estimated useful economic lives of the assets. Intangible assets with finite lives, and therefore subject to amortization, include technology (e.g., patents), customer relationships and certain tradenames. These intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful economic lives typically ranging from 3 to 25 years. We review long-lived assets whenever circumstances change such that the recorded value of an asset may not be recoverable and therefore impaired.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

We have significant investments in intangible assets and goodwill. Our annual goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible asset testing is performed as of the first day of our fiscal fourth quarter or more frequently if circumstances indicate potential impairment. In our evaluation of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets impairment, we perform either an initial qualitative or quantitative evaluation for each of our reporting units and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Factors considered in the qualitative test include operating results as well as new events and circumstances impacting the operations or cash flows of the reporting unit and indefinite-lived intangible assets. For the quantitative test, the review for impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is primarily based on our estimates of discounted future cash flows, which are based upon annual budgets and longer-range strategic plans. These budgets and plans are used for internal purposes and are also the basis for communication with outside parties about future business trends. While we believe the assumptions we use to estimate future cash flows are reasonable, there can be no assurance that the expected future cash flows will be realized. As a result, impairment charges that possibly would have been recognized in earlier periods may not be recognized until later periods if actual results deviate unfavorably from earlier estimates. An asset’s value is deemed impaired if the discounted cash flows or earnings projections generated do not substantiate the carrying value of the asset. The estimation of such amounts requires management to exercise judgment with respect to revenue and expense growth rates, changes in working capital, future capital expenditure requirements and selection of an appropriate discount rate, as applicable. The use of different assumptions would increase or decrease discounted future operating cash flows or earnings projections and could, therefore, change impairment determinations.

Fair value estimates employed in our annual impairment review of indefinite-lived intangible assets and goodwill were determined using discounted cash flow models involving several assumptions. Changes in our assumptions could materially impact our fair value estimates. Assumptions critical to our fair value estimates were: (i) discount rates used in determining the fair value of the reporting units and intangible assets; (ii) royalty rates used in our intangible asset valuations; (iii) projected revenue and operating profit growth rates used in the reporting unit and intangible asset models; and (iv) projected long-term growth rates used in the derivation of terminal year values. These and other assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and expectations of management and may change in the future based on period specific facts and circumstances.

At September 30, 2017, goodwill totaled $441.6 million, with $228.1 million, $202.3 million and $11.2 million of goodwill for the U.S. Consumer, Hawthorne and Other segments, respectively. No goodwill impairment was recognized as a result of the annual evaluation performed as of July 2, 2017. The estimated fair value of each reporting unit with a significant goodwill balance was substantially in excess of its carrying value as of the annual test date. If we were to alter our impairment testing by increasing the discount rate in the discounted cash flow analysis by 100 basis points, there still would not be any impairment indicated for any reporting units. At September 30, 2017, indefinite-lived intangible assets consisted of tradenames of $168.2 million, as well as the Marketing Agreement Amendment of $155.7 million and the Brand Extension Agreement of $111.7 million which were both acquired during fiscal 2015. With the exception of the Ortho^® tradename, each of the tradenames had an estimated fair value substantially in excess of its carrying value as of the annual test date. The fair value of the Ortho^® tradename was calculated based upon the evaluation of historical performance and future growth expectations. As a result of the annual impairment review in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we concluded that the fair value of the Ortho^® tradename exceeded the carrying value of the intangible asset and no impairment was necessary. If we were to increase the discount rate in the Ortho^® brand fair value calculation by 100 basis points, the impairment charge for a non-recurring fair value adjustment would have been $10.2 million.

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Associate Benefits

We sponsor various post-employment benefit plans, including pension plans, both defined contribution plans and defined benefit plans, and other post-employment benefit (“OPEB”) plans, consisting primarily of health care for retirees. For accounting purposes, the defined benefit pension and OPEB plans are dependent on a variety of assumptions to estimate the projected and accumulated benefit obligations and annual expense determined by actuarial valuations. These assumptions include the following: discount rate; expected salary increases; certain employee-related factors, such as turnover, retirement age and mortality; expected return on plan assets; and health care cost trend rates.

Assumptions are reviewed annually for appropriateness and updated as necessary. We base the discount rate assumption on investment yields available at fiscal year-end on high-quality corporate bonds that could be purchased to effectively settle the pension liabilities. The salary growth assumption reflects our long-term actual experience, the near-term outlook and assumed inflation. The expected return on plan assets assumption reflects asset allocation, investment strategy and the views of investment managers regarding the market. Retirement and mortality rates are based primarily on actual and expected plan experience. The effects of actual results that differ from our assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods.

Changes in the discount rate and investment returns can have a significant effect on the funded status of our pension plans and shareholders’ equity. We cannot predict discount rates or investment returns with certainty and, therefore, cannot determine whether adjustments to our shareholders’ equity for pension-related activity in subsequent years will be significant. We also cannot predict future investment returns, and therefore cannot determine whether future pension plan funding requirements could materially affect our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. A 100 basis point change in the discount rate would have an immaterial effect on fiscal 2018 pension expense. A 100 basis point change in the discount rate would have a $52.0 million change in our projected benefit obligations as of September 30, 2017.

Insurance and Self-Insurance

We maintain insurance for certain risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability and vehicle liability, and are self-insured for employee-related health care benefits up to a specified level for individual claims. We establish accruals for losses based on our claims experience and industry actuarial estimates of the ultimate loss amount inherent in the claims, including losses for claims incurred but not reported. Our estimate of self-insured liabilities is subject to change as new events or circumstances develop which might materially impact the ultimate cost to settle these losses.

Derivative Instruments

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to fluctuations in interest rates, the value of foreign currencies and the cost of commodities. A variety of financial instruments, including forward and swap contracts, are used to manage these exposures. Our objective in managing these exposures is to better control these elements of cost and mitigate the earnings and cash flow volatility associated with changes in the applicable rates and prices. We have established policies and procedures that encompass risk-management philosophy and objectives, guidelines for derivative-instrument usage, counterparty credit approval, and the monitoring and reporting of derivative activity. We do not enter into derivative instruments for the purpose of speculation.

Contingencies

As described more fully in “NOTE 19. CONTINGENCIES” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, we are involved in environmental and legal proceedings which have a high degree of uncertainty associated with them. We continually assess the likely outcome of these proceedings and the adequacy of accruals, if any, provided for their resolution. There can be no assurance that the ultimate outcomes of these proceedings will not differ materially from our current assessment of them, nor that all proceedings that may currently be brought against us are known by us at this time.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

Other significant accounting policies, primarily those with lower levels of uncertainty than those discussed above, are also critical to understanding the consolidated financial statements. The Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K contain additional information related to our accounting policies, including recent accounting pronouncements, and should be read in conjunction with this discussion. 

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

As part of our ongoing business, we are exposed to certain market risks, including fluctuations in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. Financial derivative and other instruments are used to manage these risks. These instruments are not used for speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risk

We had variable rate debt instruments outstanding at September 30, 2017 and 2016 that are impacted by changes in interest rates. As a means of managing our interest rate risk on these debt instruments, we entered into interest rate swap agreements with major financial institutions to effectively fix the LIBOR index on certain variable-rate debt obligations.

At September 30, 2017 and 2016, we had outstanding interest rate swap agreements with a total U.S. dollar equivalent notional value of $1,100.0 million and $650.0 million, respectively. The weighted average fixed rate of swap agreements outstanding at September 30, 2017 was 1.6%.

The following table summarizes information about our derivative financial instruments and debt instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates as of September 30, 2017 and 2016. For debt instruments, the table presents principal cash flows and related weighted-average interest rates by expected maturity dates. For interest rate swap agreements, the table presents expected cash flows based on notional amounts and weighted-average interest rates by contractual maturity dates. Weighted-average variable rates are based on rates in effect at September 30, 2017 and 2016. A change in our variable interest rate of 100 basis points for a full twelve-month period would have a $2.5 million impact on interest expense assuming approximately $250 million of our average fiscal 2017 variable-rate debt had not been hedged via an interest rate swap agreement. The information is presented in U.S. dollars (in millions):

	Expected Maturity Date																Total			Fair Value
2017	2018			2019			2020		2021			2022		After
Long-term debt:
Fixed rate debt	$	—		$	—		$	—	$	273.8		$	—	$	650.0		$	923.8		$	965.2
Average rate	—			—			—		3.3		%	—		5.7		%	5.0		%	—
Variable rate debt	$	80.0		$	—		$	—	$	300.5		$	—	$	—		$	380.5		$	380.5
Average rate	2.1		%	—			—		2.9		%	—		—			2.8		%	—
Interest rate derivatives:
Interest rate swaps	$	1.3		$	(1.2	)	$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—		$	0.1		$	0.1
Average rate	0.9		%	2.1		%	—		—			—		—			1.6		%	—

	Expected Maturity Date																	Total			Fair Value
2016	2017			2018			2019			2020		2021			After
Long-term debt:
Fixed rate debt	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	288.8		$	400.0		$	688.8		$	715.8
Average rate	—			—			—			—		2.6		%	6.0		%	4.6		%	—
Variable rate debt	$	138.6		$	—		$	—		$	—	$	323.2		$	—		$	461.8		$	461.8
Average rate	1.4		%	—			—			—		2.2		%	—			2.0		%	—
Interest rate derivatives:
Interest rate swaps	$	(0.8	)	$	(0.9	)	$	(4.8	)	$	—	$	—		$	—		$	(6.5	)	$	(6.5	)
Average rate	3.0		%	1.3		%	2.1		%	—		—			—			1.9		%	—

Excluded from the information provided above are $105.4 million and $71.3 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, of miscellaneous debt instruments.

Other Market Risks

Through fiscal 2017, we had transactions that were denominated in currencies other than the currency of the country of origin. We use currency forward contracts to manage the exchange rate risk associated with intercompany loans and certain other

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balances denominated in foreign currencies. At September 30, 2017, the notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts was $268.3 millionwith a fair value of $1.8 million. At September 30, 2016, the notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts was $165.8 million with a negative fair value of $0.4 million. The outstanding contracts will mature over the next fiscal quarter.

We are subject to market risk from fluctuating prices of certain raw materials, including urea and other fertilizer inputs, resins, diesel, gasoline, natural gas, sphagnum peat, bark and grass seed. Our objectives surrounding the procurement of these materials are to ensure continuous supply and to control costs. We seek to achieve these objectives through negotiation of contracts with favorable terms directly with vendors. In addition, we use derivatives to partially mitigate the effect of fluctuating diesel and gasoline costs on our businesses. We had outstanding derivative contracts for 6,972,000 and 8,106,000 gallons of fuel at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The outstanding derivative contracts had a positive fair value of $0.6 million at September 30, 2017, compared to a negative fair value of $0.1 million at September 30, 2016. We also enter into hedging arrangements designed to fix the price of a portion of our projected future urea requirements of our business. We had outstanding derivative contracts for 76,500 and 40,500 aggregate tons of urea at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The outstanding derivative contracts had a positive fair value of $3.2 million at September 30, 2017, compared to a negative fair value of $0.3 million at September 30, 2016.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The financial statements and other information required by this Item are contained in the Consolidated Financial Statements, Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules Supporting the Consolidated Financial Statements listed in the “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules” on page 55 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

With the participation of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (the “Registrant”), the Registrant’s management has evaluated the effectiveness of the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based upon that evaluation, the Registrant’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The “Annual Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” required by Item 308(a) of SEC Regulation S-K is included on page 56 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” required by Item 308(b) of SEC Regulation S-K is included on page 57 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

No changes in the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) occurred during the Registrant’s fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2017, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

49

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Directors, Executive Officers and Persons Nominated or Chosen to Become Directors or Executive Officers

The information required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K concerning the directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro and the nominees for election or re-election as directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on January 26, 2018 (the “2018 Annual Meeting”) is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “PROPOSAL NUMBER 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2018 Annual Meeting (“Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement”), which will be filed pursuant to SEC Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the end of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

The information required by Item 401 of SEC Regulation S-K concerning the executive officers of Scotts Miracle-Gro is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure included under the caption “SUPPLEMENTAL ITEM. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT” in Part I of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

The information required by Item 405 of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “SECTION 16(a) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

Procedures for Recommending Director Nominees

Information concerning the procedures by which shareholders of Scotts Miracle-Gro may recommend nominees to Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Board of Directors is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included under the captions “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE — Nominations of Directors” and “MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD — Committees of the Board — Nominating and Governance Committee” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement. These procedures have not materially changed from those described in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s definitive Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on January 27, 2017.

Audit Committee

The information required by Items 407(d)(4) and 407(d)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD — Committees of the Board” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

Committee Charters; Code of Business Conduct & Ethics; Corporate Governance Guidelines

The Board of Directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro has adopted charters for each of the Audit Committee, the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Compensation and Organization Committee, the Innovation and Technology Committee and the Finance Committee, as well as Corporate Governance Guidelines, as contemplated by the applicable sections of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

In accordance with the requirements of Section 303A.10 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual and Item 406 of SEC Regulation S-K, the Board of Directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro has adopted a Code of Business Conduct & Ethics covering the members of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Board of Directors and associates (employees) of Scotts Miracle-Gro and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, Scotts Miracle-Gro’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. Scotts Miracle-Gro intends to disclose the following events, if they occur, on its Internet website located at http://investor.scotts.com within four business days following their occurrence: (A) the date and nature of any amendment to a provision of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics that (i) applies to Scotts Miracle-Gro’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, (ii) relates to any element of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of SEC Regulation S-K, and (iii) is not a technical, administrative or other non-substantive amendment; and (B) a description of any waiver (including the nature of the waiver, the name of the person to whom the waiver was granted and the date of the waiver), including an implicit waiver, from a provision of the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics granted to Scotts Miracle-Gro’s principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions, that relates to one or more of the elements of the code of ethics definition enumerated in Item 406(b) of SEC Regulation S-K. In addition, Scotts Miracle-Gro will disclose any waivers from the provisions of the Code of Business Conduct & Ethics granted to an executive officer or a director of Scotts

50

Miracle-Gro on Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Internet website located at http://investor.scotts.com within four business days of the determination to grant any such waiver.

The text of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Code of Business Conduct & Ethics, Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Audit Committee charter, the Nominating and Governance Committee charter, the Compensation and Organization Committee charter, the Innovation and Technology Committee charter and the Finance Committee charter are posted under the “Corporate Governance” link on Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Internet website located at http://investor.scotts.com. Interested persons and shareholders of Scotts Miracle-Gro may also obtain copies of each of these documents without charge by writing to The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 14111 Scottslawn Road, Marysville, Ohio 43041.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information required by Item 402 of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included under the captions “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION,” “NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION,” “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES,” “SEVERANCE AND CHANGE IN CONTROL (CIC) ARRANGEMENTS,” and “PAYMENTS ON TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND/OR CHANGE IN CONTROL” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

The information required by Item 407(e)(4) of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD — Compensation and Organization Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

The information required by Item 407(e)(5) of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

Ownership of Common Shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro

The information required by Item 403 of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The information required by Item 201(d) of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

The information required by Item 404 of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included under the caption “CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

Director Independence

The information required by Item 407(a) of SEC Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included under the captions “CORPORATE GOVERNANCE — Director Independence” and “MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

The information required by this Item 14 is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosures which will be included under the captions “AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS — Fees of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and “AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS — Pre-Approval of Services Performed by the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in Scotts Miracle-Gro’s Definitive Proxy Statement.

51

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a) LIST OF DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THIS REPORT

1 and 2. Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules:

The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Reference is made to the “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules” on page 55 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

(b) EXHIBITS

The exhibits listed on the “Index to Exhibits” beginning on page 129 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K are filed or furnished with this Annual Report on Form 10-K or incorporated herein by reference as noted in the “Index to Exhibits.”

(c) FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

The financial statement schedule filed with this Annual Report on Form 10-K is submitted in a separate section hereof. For a description of such financial statement schedules, see “Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules” on page 55 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

52

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY
By:	/s/    JAMES HAGEDORN
	James Hagedorn, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board

Dated: November 28, 2017

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Signature	Title	Date
/s/ THOMAS RANDAL COLEMAN	Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President	November 28, 2017
Thomas Randal Coleman	(Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
/s/   JAMES HAGEDORN	Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of the Board and Director	November 28, 2017
James Hagedorn	(Principal Executive Officer)
/s/   BRIAN D. FINN*	Director	November 28, 2017
Brian D. Finn
/s/   ADAM HANFT*	Director	November 28, 2017
Adam Hanft
/s/   MICHELLE A. JOHNSON*	Director	November 28, 2017
Michelle A. Johnson
/s/   STEPHEN L. JOHNSON*	Director	November 28, 2017
Stephen L. Johnson
/s/   THOMAS N. KELLY JR.*	Director	November 28, 2017
Thomas N. Kelly Jr.
/s/   KATHERINE HAGEDORN LITTLEFIELD*	Director	November 28, 2017
Katherine Hagedorn Littlefield

53

Signature	Title	Date
/s/   JAMES F. MCCANN*	Director	November 28, 2017
James F. McCann
/s/   NANCY G. MISTRETTA*	Director	November 28, 2017
Nancy G. Mistretta
/s/ PETER E. SHUMLIN*	Director	November 28, 2017
Peter E. Shumlin
/s/   JOHN R. VINES*	Director	November 28, 2017
John R. Vines

* The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Report on behalf of each of the directors of the Registrant identified above pursuant to Powers of Attorney executed by the directors identified above, which Powers of Attorney are filed with this Report as exhibits.

By:	/s/ THOMAS RANDAL COLEMAN
	Thomas Randal Coleman, Attorney-in-Fact

54

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

	Page
Consolidated Financial Statements of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Subsidiaries:
Annual Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	56
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	57
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015	59
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015	60
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015	61
Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 30, 2017 and 2016	62
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015	63
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	64
Schedules Supporting the Consolidated Financial Statements:
Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015	128

All other financial statement schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable, or the required information has been presented in the Consolidated Financial Statements or Notes thereto.

55

ANNUAL REPORT OF MANAGEMENT ON INTERNAL

CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of our financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and our consolidated subsidiaries; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and our consolidated subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and our consolidated subsidiaries, as appropriate; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the assets of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and our consolidated subsidiaries that could have a material effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, the end of our fiscal year. Management based its assessment on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Management’s assessment included evaluation of such elements as the design and operating effectiveness of key financial reporting controls, process documentation, accounting policies and our overall control environment. This assessment is supported by testing and monitoring performed under the direction of management. As allowed by the SEC guidance, management excluded from the assessment the internal control over financial reporting at American Agritech, L.L.C., Natural Science, Inc. and Agrolux Holding B.V. and its subsidiaries, which were acquired in fiscal 2017. These acquisitions constituted 6.8% of total assets, 2.3% and 3.1% of revenues and net income, respectively, included in our consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluations of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Accordingly, even an effective system of internal control over financial reporting will provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation.

Based on our assessment, management has concluded that our internal control over financial reporting was effective as of September 30, 2017, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external reporting purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We reviewed the results of management’s assessment with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte & Touche LLP, independently audited our internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017 and has issued their attestation report which appears herein.

/s/    JAMES HAGEDORN		/s/    THOMAS RANDAL COLEMAN
James Hagedorn		Thomas Randal Coleman
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board		Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Dated:	November 28, 2017	Dated:	November 28, 2017

56

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Marysville, Ohio

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017. Our audits also included the financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at September 30, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended September 30, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated November 28, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Columbus, Ohio

November 28, 2017

57

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Marysville, Ohio

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of September 30, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. As described in Annual Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management excluded from its assessment the internal control over financial reporting at American Agritech, L.L.C., Natural Science, Inc. and Agrolux Holding B.V. and its subsidiaries which were acquired in fiscal 2017. These acquisitions constituted 6.8% of total assets, 2.3% and 3.1% of revenues and net income, respectively, included in the consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017. Accordingly, our audit did not include the internal control over financial reporting at American Agritech, L.L.C., Natural Science, Inc. and Agrolux Holding B.V. and its subsidiaries. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Annual Report of Management on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2017, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules as of and for the year ended September 30, 2017 of the Company and our report dated November 28, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedules.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Columbus, Ohio

November 28, 2017

58

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In millions, except per share data)

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
Net sales	$	2,642.1		$	2,506.2		$	2,371.1
Cost of sales	1,669.5			1,600.0			1,557.3
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other	—			5.9			3.0
Gross profit	972.6			900.3			810.8
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	550.9			518.0			488.8
Impairment, restructuring and other	4.9			(51.5		)	70.4
Other income, net	(16.6		)	(13.8		)	(2.2		)
Income from operations	433.4			447.6			253.8
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates	29.0			(7.8		)	—
Costs related to refinancing	—			8.8			—
Interest expense	76.1			62.9			48.8
Other non-operating expense	13.4			—			—
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	314.9			383.7			205.0
Income tax expense from continuing operations	116.6			137.6			76.3
Income from continuing operations	198.3			246.1			128.7
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	20.5			68.7			30.0
Net income	$	218.8		$	314.8		$	158.7
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.5		)	0.5			1.1
Net income attributable to controlling interest	$	218.3		$	315.3		$	159.8
Basic income per common share:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.33		$	4.04		$	2.12
Income from discontinued operations	0.35			1.12			0.50
Basic net income per common share	$	3.68		$	5.16		$	2.62
Diluted income per common share:
Income from continuing operations	$	3.29		$	3.98		$	2.09
Income from discontinued operations	0.34			1.11			0.48
Diluted net income per common share	$	3.63		$	5.09		$	2.57

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

59

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In millions)

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
Net income	$	218.8		$	314.8		$	158.7
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	28.2			(6.2		)	(14.2		)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on derivative instruments, net of tax of $3.1, $0.9 and $5.3 for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively	4.9			(1.5		)	(8.6		)
Reclassification of net unrealized losses on derivatives to net income, net of tax of $1.1, $3.6 and $4.0 for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively	1.8			5.8			6.5
Net unrealized gain (loss) in pension and other post-retirement benefits, net of tax of $6.0, $6.2 and $4.6 for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively	9.6			(10.0		)	(7.4		)
Reclassification of net pension and post-retirement benefit losses to net income, net of tax of $2.3, $1.1 and $1.9 for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively	3.6			1.8			3.1
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	48.1			(10.1		)	(20.6		)
Comprehensive income	266.9			304.7			138.1
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.9		)	0.5			1.1
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$	266.0		$	305.2		$	139.2

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

60

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In millions)

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net income	$	218.8		$	314.8		$	158.7
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Impairment, restructuring and other	1.2			0.2			4.3
Costs related to refinancing	—			2.2			—
Share-based compensation expense	25.2			15.6			13.2
Depreciation	55.1			53.8			51.4
Amortization	25.0			19.7			17.6
Deferred taxes	(17.4		)	83.6			1.3
Gain on long-lived assets	(3.3		)	(0.8		)	—
Gain on sale / contribution of business	(31.7		)	(131.2		)	—
Equity in (income) loss and distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	32.6			(0.3		)	—
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquired businesses:
Accounts receivable	48.6			(29.8		)	(12.5		)
Inventories	3.6			(29.4		)	(17.5		)
Prepaid and other assets	(12.2		)	(9.3		)	1.8
Accounts payable	9.0			(45.3		)	6.9
Other current liabilities	26.9			22.9			12.9
Restructuring	(8.7		)	(7.3		)	12.1
Other non-current items	(19.6		)	(18.4		)	(3.4		)
Other, net	0.9			(3.6		)	0.1
Net cash provided by operating activities	354.0			237.4			246.9
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Proceeds from sale of long-lived assets	5.7			2.4			5.5
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed of	180.3			—			—
Investments in property, plant and equipment	(69.6		)	(58.3		)	(61.7		)
Investments in loans receivable	(29.7		)	(90.0		)	—
Cash contributed to TruGreen Joint Venture	—			(24.2		)	—
Net distributions from unconsolidated affiliates	57.4			194.1			—
Investment in marketing and license agreement	—			—			(300.0		)
Investments in acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	(121.7		)	(158.4		)	(180.2		)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities	22.4			(134.4		)	(536.4		)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	1,449.3			2,069.1			1,836.0
Repayments under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	(1,618.3		)	(2,150.4		)	(1,458.0		)
Proceeds from issuance of 5.250% Senior Notes	250.0			—			—
Proceeds from issuance of 6.000% Senior Notes	—			400.0			—
Repayment of 6.625% Senior Notes	—			(200.0		)	—
Financing and issuance fees	(4.4		)	(11.2		)	(0.5		)
Dividends paid	(120.3		)	(116.6		)	(111.3		)
Distribution paid by AeroGrow to noncontrolling interest	(8.1		)	—			—
Purchase of Common Shares	(246.0		)	(130.8		)	(14.8		)
Payments on sellers notes	(28.7		)	(2.8		)	(1.5		)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	7.9			5.8			4.7
Cash received from exercise of stock options	11.0			14.7			24.3
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(307.6		)	(122.2		)	278.9
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	1.6			(2.1		)	(7.3		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	70.4			(21.3		)	(17.9		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year excluding cash classified within assets held for sale	28.6			50.8			64.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year classified within assets held for sale	21.5			20.6			24.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	50.1			71.4			89.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	120.5		$	50.1		$	71.4

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In millions, except stated value per share)

	September 30,
	2017			2016
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	120.5		$	28.6
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $3.1 in 2017 and $4.8 in 2016	197.7			127.0
Accounts receivable pledged	88.9			174.7
Inventories	407.5			394.7
Assets held for sale	—			256.2
Prepaid and other current assets	67.1			51.7
Total current assets	881.7			1,032.9
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	31.1			101.0
Property, plant and equipment, net	467.7			444.9
Goodwill	441.6			371.9
Intangible assets, net	748.9			690.0
Other assets	176.0			115.1
Total assets	$	2,747.0		$	2,755.8
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	$	143.1		$	185.0
Accounts payable	153.1			131.2
Liabilities held for sale	—			213.0
Other current liabilities	248.3			177.9
Total current liabilities	544.5			707.1
Long-term debt	1,258.0			1,030.9
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	21.9			—
Other liabilities	260.9			283.5
Total liabilities	2,085.3			2,021.5
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 17, 18 and 19)
Equity:
Common shares and capital in excess of $.01 stated value per share; shares outstanding of 58.1 in 2017 and 60.3 in 2016	407.6			401.7
Retained earnings	978.2			881.8
Treasury shares, at cost; 10.0 shares in 2017 and 7.8 shares in 2016	(667.8		)	(451.4		)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(69.2		)	(116.9		)
Total equity—controlling interest	648.8			715.2
Noncontrolling interest	12.9			19.1
Total equity	661.7			734.3
Total liabilities and equity	$	2,747.0		$	2,755.8

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity

(In millions, except per share data)

	Common Shares			Capital in Excess of Stated Value			Retained Earnings			Treasury Shares					Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)						Non-controlling Interest
	Shares	Amount								Shares		Amount						Total						Total
Balance at September 30, 2014	68.1	$	0.3	$	395.0		$	636.9		7.4		$	(392.3	)	$	(86.2	)	$	553.7		$	13.5		$	567.2
Net income (loss)	—	—		—			159.8			—		—			—			159.8			(1.1		)	158.7
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—			—			—		—			(20.6		)	(20.6		)	—			(20.6		)
Share-based compensation	—	—		17.5			—			—		—			—			17.5			—			17.5
Dividends declared ($1.8200 per share)	—	—		—			(112.5		)	—		—			—			(112.5		)	—			(112.5		)
Treasury share purchases	—	—		—			—			0.2		(14.8		)	—			(14.8		)	—			(14.8		)
Treasury share issuances	—	—		(12.4		)	—			(0.9	)	50.0			—			37.6			—			37.6
Balance at September 30, 2015	68.1	0.3		400.1			684.2			6.7		(357.1		)	(106.8		)	620.7			12.4			633.1
Net income (loss)	—	—		—			315.3			—		—			—			315.3			(0.5		)	314.8
Other comprehensive loss	—	—		—			—			—		—			(10.1		)	(10.1		)	—			(10.1		)
Share-based compensation	—	—		21.6			—			—		—			—			21.6			—			21.6
Dividends declared ($1.9100 per share)	—	—		—			(117.7		)	—		—			—			(117.7		)	—			(117.7		)
Treasury share purchases	—	—		—			—			1.8		(130.8		)	—			(130.8		)	—			(130.8		)
Treasury share issuances	—	—		(20.3		)	—			(0.7	)	36.5			—			16.2			—			16.2
Investment in noncontrolling interest	—	—		—			—			—		—			—			—			7.2			7.2
Balance at September 30, 2016	68.1	0.3		401.4			881.8			7.8		(451.4		)	(116.9		)	715.2			19.1			734.3
Net income	—	—		—			218.3			—		—			—			218.3			0.5			218.8
Other comprehensive income	—	—		—			—			—		—			47.7			47.7			0.4			48.1
Share-based compensation	—	—		33.4			—			—		—			—			33.4			—			33.4
Dividends declared ($2.0300 per share)	—	—		—			(121.9		)	—		—			—			(121.9		)	—			(121.9		)
Treasury share purchases	—	—		—			—			2.7		(245.8		)	—			(245.8		)	—			(245.8		)
Treasury share issuances	—	—		(26.5		)	—			(0.5	)	29.4			—			2.9			—			2.9
Adjustment to noncontrolling interest due to ownership change	—	—		(1.0		)	—			—		—			—			(1.0		)	1.0			—
Distribution declared by AeroGrow	—	—		—			—			—		—			—			—			(8.1		)	(8.1		)
Balance at September 30, 2017	68.1	$	0.3	$	407.3		$	978.2		10.0		$	(667.8	)	$	(69.2	)	$	648.8		$	12.9		$	661.7

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Operations

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (“Scotts Miracle-Gro” or “Parent”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, together with Scotts Miracle-Gro, the “Company”) are engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and sale of branded products for lawn and garden care and indoor and hydroponic gardening. The Company’s primary customers include home centers, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, large hardware chains, independent hardware stores, nurseries, garden centers, food and drug stores, indoor gardening and hydroponic product distributors and retailers. The Company’s products are sold primarily in North America, Europe and Asia.

Prior to August 31, 2017, the Company operated consumer lawn and garden businesses located in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom (the “International Business”). On April 29, 2017, the Company received a binding and irrevocable conditional offer (the “Offer”) from Exponent Private Equity LLP (“Exponent”) to purchase the International Business. On July 5, 2017, the Company accepted the Offer and entered into the Share and Business Sale Agreement (the “Agreement”) contemplated by the Offer. Pursuant to the Agreement, Scotts-Sierra Investments LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Sierra”) and certain of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, entered into separate stock or asset sale transactions with respect to the the International Business. As a result, effective in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. See “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” for further discussion. Refer to “NOTE 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION” for discussion of the Company’s new reportable segments effective in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

Prior to April 13, 2016, the Company operated the Scotts LawnService^® business (the “SLS Business”), which provided residential and commercial lawn care, tree and shrub care and pest control services in the United States. On April 13, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Contribution and Distribution Agreement (the “Contribution Agreement”) between the Company and TruGreen Holding Corporation (“TruGreen Holdings”), the Company completed the contribution of the SLS Business to a newly formed subsidiary of TruGreen Holdings (the “TruGreen Joint Venture”) in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. As a result, effective in its second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the SLS Business as held for sale. See “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” and “NOTE 8. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES” for further discussion. 

Due to the nature of the consumer lawn and garden business, the majority of the Company’s sales to customers occur in the Company’s second and third fiscal quarters. On a combined basis, net sales for the second and third quarters of the last three fiscal years represented in excess of 75% of the Company’s annual net sales.

Organization and Basis of Presentation

The Company’s consolidated financial statements are presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Scotts Miracle-Gro and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated in consolidation. The Company’s consolidation criteria are based on majority ownership (as evidenced by a majority voting interest in the entity) and an objective evaluation and determination of effective management control. AeroGrow International, Inc. (“AeroGrow”) and Gavita Holdings B.V., and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Gavita”), in which the Company has controlling interests, are consolidated, with the equity owned by other shareholders shown as noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and the other shareholders’ portion of net earnings and other comprehensive income shown as net income (loss) or comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss), respectively.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and related disclosures. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions the Company may undertake in the future, actual results ultimately may differ from the estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss transfer, which generally occurs when products or services are received by the customer. Provisions for estimated returns and allowances are recorded at the time revenue is recognized based on historical

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

rates and are periodically adjusted for known changes in return levels. Outbound shipping and handling costs are included in cost of sales.

Under the terms of the Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Original Marketing Agreement”) and the Second Amended and Restated Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Restated Marketing Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company has served, since its 1998 fiscal year, as the exclusive agent of Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) for the marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products in the United States and certain other specified countries, the Company performs certain functions, primarily sales, merchandising, warehousing and other selling and marketing services, on behalf of Monsanto in the conduct of the consumer Roundup^® business. The Company performs other services, including manufacturing conversion services, pursuant to ancillary agreements. The actual costs incurred for these activities are charged to and reimbursed by Monsanto. The Company records costs incurred for which the Company is the primary obligor on a gross basis, recognizing such costs in the “Cost of sales” line and the reimbursement of these costs in the “Net sales” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, with no effect on gross profit dollars or net income.

Under the terms of the Marketing, R&D and Ancillary Services Agreement (the “Services Agreement”) with Bonnie Plants, Inc. (“Bonnie”) and its sole shareholder, Alabama Farmers Cooperative, Inc. (“AFC”), entered into in the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company provides marketing, research and development and certain ancillary services to Bonnie for reimbursement of certain costs and a commission fee earned based on a percentage of the growth in earnings before interest, income taxes and amortization of Bonnie’s business of planting, growing, developing, manufacturing, distributing, marketing, and selling live plants, plant food, fertilizer and potting soil (the “Bonnie Business”). The commission earned under the Services Agreement is included in the “Net sales” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, the Company records costs incurred under the Services Agreement for which the Company is the primary obligor on a gross basis, recognizing such costs in the “Cost of sales” line and the reimbursement of these costs in the “Net sales” line, with no effect on gross profit dollars or net income.

Promotional Allowances

The Company promotes its branded products through, among other things, cooperative advertising programs with retailers. Retailers may also be offered in-store promotional allowances and rebates based on sales volumes. Certain products are promoted with direct consumer rebate programs and special purchasing incentives. Promotion costs (including allowances and rebates) incurred during the year are expensed to interim periods in relation to revenues and are recorded as a reduction of net sales. Accruals for expected payouts under these programs are included in the “Other current liabilities” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Advertising

Advertising costs incurred during the year are expensed to interim periods in relation to revenues. All advertising costs, except for external production costs, are expensed within the fiscal year in which such costs are incurred. External production costs for advertising programs are deferred until the period in which the advertising is first aired. The costs deferred at September 30, 2017 and 2016 were $0.4 million and $0.1 million, respectively.

Advertising expenses were $123.0 million in fiscal 2017, $122.3 million in fiscal 2016 and $121.5 million in fiscal 2015.

Research and Development

All costs associated with research and development are charged to expense as incurred. Expenses for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 were $39.9 million, $36.0 million and $36.5 million, respectively, including product registration costs of $10.6 million, $10.6 million and $10.4 million, respectively.

Environmental Costs

The Company recognizes environmental liabilities when conditions requiring remediation are probable and the amounts can be reasonably estimated. Expenditures which extend the life of the related property or mitigate or prevent future environmental contamination are capitalized. Environmental liabilities are not discounted or reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Share-Based Compensation Awards

The fair value of awards is expensed over the requisite service period which is typically the vesting period, generally three years, except in cases where employees are eligible for accelerated vesting based on having satisfied retirement requirements relating to age and years of service. Performance-based awards are expensed over the requisite service period based on achievement of performance criteria. The Company uses a binomial model to determine the fair value of its option grants. The Company classifies share-based compensation expense within selling, general and administrative expenses to correspond with the same line item as cash compensation paid to employees.

Other Non-Operating Expense

Other non-operating expense includes a $13.4 million non tax-deductible charge, driven by the October 2017 acquisition of the remaining noncontrolling interest in Gavita and its subsidiaries, to write-up the fair value of the loan to the noncontrolling ownership group to the agreed upon buyout value.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per Common Share is computed based on the weighted-average number of Common Shares outstanding each period. Diluted earnings per Common Share is computed based on the weighted-average number of Common Shares and dilutive potential Common Shares (stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance shares and restricted stock unit awards) outstanding each period.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents. The Company maintains cash deposits in banks which from time to time exceed the amount of deposit insurance available. Management periodically assesses the financial condition of the Company’s banks and believes that the risk of any potential credit loss is minimal.

Accounts Receivable and Allowances

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount and do not bear interest. Allowances for doubtful accounts reflect the Company’s estimate of amounts in its existing accounts receivable that may not be collected due to customer claims or customer inability or unwillingness to pay. The allowance is determined based on a combination of factors, including the Company’s risk assessment regarding the credit worthiness of its customers, historical collection experience and length of time the receivables are past due. Account balances are charged off against the allowance when the Company believes it is probable the receivable will not be recovered.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market, principally determined by the first in, first out method of accounting. Inventories include the cost of raw materials, labor, manufacturing overhead and freight and in-bound handling costs incurred to pre-position goods in the Company’s warehouse network. The Company makes provisions for obsolete or slow-moving inventories as necessary to properly reflect inventory at the lower of cost or market value. Adjustments to reflect inventories at net realizable values were $10.5 million and $6.0 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Loans Receivable

Loans receivable are carried at outstanding principal amount, and are recognized in the “Other assets” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Loans receivable are impaired when, based on current information and events, it is probable that the Company will be unable to collect all amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement. If it is determined that an impairment has occurred, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds the present value of expected future cash flows and recorded within “Operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Interest income is recorded on an accrual basis, and is recognized in the “Other income, net” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Interest income was $10.0 million for fiscal 2017, $3.9 million for fiscal 2016 and zero for fiscal 2015.

At September 30, 2017, the carrying value and estimated fair value of loans receivable was $110.4 million and $125.6 million, respectively. The estimated fair value was determined using an income-based approach, which includes market participant expectations of cash flows over the remaining useful life discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate. The estimate requires subjective assumptions to be made, including those related to credit risk and discount rates. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs unobservable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Long-Lived Assets

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Interest capitalized in property, plant and equipment amounted to $0.1 million, $0.3 million and $0.4 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. When properties are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost of the asset and the related accumulated depreciation are removed from the accounts with the resulting gain or loss being reflected in income from operations.

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is provided on the straight-line method and is based on the estimated useful economic lives of the assets as follows:

Land improvements	10 – 25 years
Buildings	10 – 40 years
Machinery and equipment	3 – 15 years
Furniture and fixtures	6 – 10 years
Software	3 – 8 years

Intangible assets subject to amortization include technology, such as patents, customer relationships, non-compete agreements and certain tradenames. These intangible assets are being amortized over their estimated useful economic lives, which typically range from 3 to 25 years. The Company’s fixed assets and intangible assets subject to amortization are required to be tested for recoverability whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that carrying amounts may not be recoverable. If an evaluation of recoverability was required, the estimated undiscounted future cash flows associated with the asset would be compared to the asset’s carrying amount to determine if a write-down is required. If the undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recorded to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds fair value and classified as “Impairment, restructuring and other charges” within “Operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The Company had non-cash investing activities of $16.1 million, $12.4 million and $8.5 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively, representing unpaid liabilities incurred during each fiscal year to acquire property, plant and equipment.

Statements of Cash Flows

Supplemental cash flow information was as follows for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Interest paid	$	(69.8	)	$	(54.1	)	$	(47.6	)
Call premium on 6.625% Senior Notes	—			(6.6		)	—
Property and equipment acquired under capital leases	(0.9		)	—			—
Income taxes paid	(111.9		)	(80.9		)	(108.3		)

During fiscal 2017, the Company paid contingent consideration of $6.7 million, $6.5 million and $15.5 million related to the fiscal 2014 acquisition of Fafard & Brothers Ltd. (“Fafard”), the fiscal 2016 acquisition of a Canadian growing media operation and the fiscal 2017 acquisition of American Agritech, L.L.C., d/b/a Botanicare (“Botanicare”), respectively.

The Company uses the “cumulative earnings” approach for determining cash flow presentation of distributions from unconsolidated affiliates. Distributions received are included in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows as operating activities, unless the cumulative distributions exceed the portion of the cumulative equity in the net earnings of the unconsolidated affiliate, in which case the excess distributions are deemed to be returns of the investment and are classified as investing activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Internal Use Software

The costs of internal use software are expensed or capitalized depending on whether they are incurred in the preliminary project stage, application development stage or the post-implementation/operation stage. As of September 30, 2017 and 2016, the Company had $10.6 million and $10.9 million, respectively, in unamortized capitalized internal use computer software costs. Amortization of these costs was $5.1 million, $6.1 million and $6.4 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Goodwill and Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are not subject to amortization. Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets are reviewed for impairment by applying a fair-value based test on an annual basis, as of the first day of the Company’s fiscal fourth quarter, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred. With respect to goodwill, the Company performs either a qualitative or quantitative evaluation for each of its reporting units. Factors considered in the qualitative test include reporting unit specific operating results as well as new events and circumstances impacting the operations of the reporting units. For the quantitative test, the Company assesses goodwill for impairment by comparing the carrying value of its reporting units to their respective fair values and reviewing the Company’s market value of invested capital. A reporting unit is defined as an operating segment or one level below an operating segment. The Company has identified seven reporting units. The Company determines the fair value of its reporting units under the income-based approach utilizing discounted cash flows and incorporates assumptions it believes marketplace participants would utilize. The Company also uses a comparative market-based approach using market multiples and other factors to corroborate the discounted cash flow results.

With respect to indefinite-lived intangible assets, the Company performs either a qualitative or quantitative evaluation for each of its indefinite-lived intangible assets. Factors considered in the qualitative test include indefinite-lived intangible asset specific operating results as well as new events and circumstances impacting the cash flows of the indefinite-lived intangible assets. For the quantitative test, the value of all indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined under the income-based approach utilizing discounted cash flows and incorporating assumptions the Company believes marketplace participants would utilize. For tradenames, value was determined using a royalty savings methodology similar to that employed when the associated businesses were acquired but using updated estimates of sales, cash flow and profitability. If it is determined that an impairment has occurred, an impairment loss is recognized for the amount by which the carrying value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value and classified as “Impairment, restructuring and other charges” within “Operating expenses” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Insurance and Self-Insurance

The Company maintains insurance for certain risks, including workers’ compensation, general liability and vehicle liability, and is self-insured for employee-related health care benefits up to a specified level for individual claims. The Company accrues for the expected costs associated with these risks by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors and other relevant information. Costs are recognized in the period the claim is incurred, and accruals include an actuarially determined estimate of claims incurred but not yet reported.

Income Taxes

The Company uses the asset and liability method to account for income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the anticipated future tax consequences attributable to differences between financial statement amounts and their respective tax bases. Management reviews the Company’s deferred tax assets to determine whether their value can be realized based upon available evidence. A valuation allowance is established when management believes that it is more likely than not that some portion of its deferred tax assets will not be realized. Changes in valuation allowances from period to period are included in the Company’s tax provision in the period of change.

The Company establishes a liability for tax return positions in which there is uncertainty as to whether or not the position will ultimately be sustained. Amounts for uncertain tax positions are adjusted in quarters when new information becomes available or when positions are effectively settled. The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to these unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense. GAAP provides that a tax benefit from an uncertain tax position may be recognized when it is more likely than not that the position will be sustained upon examination, including resolutions of any related appeals or litigation processes, based on the technical merits of the position. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of tax benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement.

U.S. income tax expense and foreign withholding taxes are provided on unremitted foreign earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested at the time the earnings are generated. Where foreign earnings are indefinitely reinvested, no provision for U.S. income

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

or foreign withholding taxes is made. When circumstances change and the Company determines that some or all of the undistributed earnings will be remitted in the foreseeable future, the Company accrues an expense in the current period for U.S. income taxes and foreign withholding taxes attributable to the anticipated remittance.

Translation of Foreign Currencies

The functional currency for each Scotts Miracle-Gro subsidiary is generally its local currency. Assets and liabilities of these subsidiaries are translated at the exchange rate in effect at each fiscal year-end. Income and expense accounts are translated at the average rate of exchange prevailing during the year. Translation gains and losses arising from the use of differing exchange rates from period to period are included in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the determination of net income and classified as “Other income, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Derivative Instruments

The Company is exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. A variety of financial instruments, including forward and swap contracts, are used to manage these exposures. These financial instruments are recognized at fair value on the Consolidated Balance Sheets, and all changes in fair value are recognized in net income or shareholders’ equity through accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The Company’s objective in managing these exposures is to better control these elements of cost and mitigate the earnings and cash flow volatility associated with changes in the applicable rates and prices.

The Company has established policies and procedures that encompass risk-management philosophy and objectives, guidelines for derivative-instrument usage, counterparty credit approval, and the monitoring and reporting of derivative activity. The Company does not enter into derivative instruments for the purpose of speculation.

The Company formally designates and documents instruments at inception that qualify for hedge accounting of underlying exposures in accordance with GAAP. The Company formally assesses, both at inception and at least quarterly, whether the financial instruments used in hedging transactions are effective at offsetting changes in cash flows of the related underlying exposure. Fluctuations in the value of these instruments generally are offset by changes in the cash flows of the underlying exposures being hedged. This offset is driven by the high degree of effectiveness between the exposure being hedged and the hedging instrument. GAAP requires all derivative instruments to be recognized as either assets or liabilities at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company designates commodity hedges as cash flow hedges of forecasted purchases of commodities and interest rate swap agreements as cash flow hedges of interest payments on variable rate borrowings. Any ineffective portion of a change in the fair value of a qualifying instrument is immediately recognized in earnings.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Debt Issuance Costs

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an accounting standard update that requires debt issuance costs related to a recognized debt liability to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the corresponding debt liability rather than as an asset; however debt issuance costs relating to revolving credit facilities will remain in other assets. The Company adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis effective October 1, 2016. As a result, debt issuance costs totaling $6.0 million have been presented as a component of the carrying amount of long-term debt in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016. This amount was previously reported within other assets.

Income Taxes

In November 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to simplify the presentation of deferred income taxes by requiring that deferred income tax liabilities and assets be classified as noncurrent in a classified statement of financial position. The Company adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017. As a result, deferred tax assets totaling $43.7 million have been presented net within other liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016. This amount was previously reported within prepaid and other current assets.

Going Concern

In April 2014, the FASB issued a new accounting standard that requires management to assess if there is substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern for each annual and interim period. If conditions or events give rise to

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substantial doubt, disclosures are required. The Company adopted this guidance on a prospective basis effective October 1, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s financial statement disclosures.

Cloud Computing Arrangements

In April 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that clarifies how customers in cloud computing arrangements should determine whether the arrangement includes a software license, and requires acquired software licenses to be accounted for as licenses of intangible assets. The Company adopted the provisions effective October 1, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Business Combinations

In September 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update to simplify the accounting for measurement-period adjustments by requiring an acquirer to recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined, and requiring disclosure of the portion of the amount recorded in current period earnings by line item that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustment to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. The Company adopted this guidance on a prospective basis effective October 1, 2016. The adoption of this guidance did not impact the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Share-Based Compensation

In March 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that simplifies several aspects of the accounting for employee share-based payment transactions, including the accounting for income taxes, forfeitures, and statutory tax withholding requirements, as well as classification in the statement of cash flows. The provisions are effective, using a combination of retrospective, modified retrospective and prospective transition methods, for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017. The Company expects to adopt this amended accounting guidance during the first quarter of fiscal 2018, which will result in the prospective recognition of all excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies associated with share-based compensation as income tax benefit or expense in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Excess tax benefits of $7.9 million, $5.8 million and $4.7 million for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively, have been recognized in the “Capital in excess of stated value” line in the Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity.

Revenue Recognition from Contracts with Customers

In May 2014, the FASB issued amended accounting guidance that replaces most existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. This guidance requires companies to recognize revenue in a manner that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the consideration to which a company expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard involves a five-step process that includes identifying the contract with the customer, identifying the performance obligations in the contract, determining the transaction price, allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract and recognizing revenue when the entity satisfies the performance obligations. The new standard also will result in enhanced disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Subsequently, additional guidance was issued on several areas including guidance intended to improve the operability and understandability of the implementation of principal versus agent considerations and clarifications on the identification of performance obligations and implementation of guidance related to licensing.

The Company has made progress on its evaluation of the amended guidance, including identification of revenue streams and customer contract reviews. The Company has begun the process of applying the five-step model to those contracts and revenue streams to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative impacts the new standard will have on its business and reported revenues. The provisions are effective for the Company in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 and permit adoption under either the full retrospective approach (recognize effects of the amended guidance in each prior reporting period presented) or the modified retrospective approach (recognize the cumulative effect of adoption as an adjustment to retained earnings at the date of initial application). The Company is still evaluating its method of adoption and the impact of this standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

Inventory

In July 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that requires inventory to be measured “at the lower of cost and net realizable value,” thereby simplifying the current guidance that requires inventory to be measured at the lower of cost or market (market in this context is defined as one of three different measures, one of which is net realizable value). The provisions

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are effective prospectively for the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2017, and are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which significantly changes the accounting for leases. This guidance requires lessees to recognize a lease liability for the obligation to make lease payments and a right-of-use asset for the right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The provisions are effective for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2019 and require a modified retrospective transition approach for leases that exist as of or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows. The Company has made progress on its evaluation of the amended guidance, including identification of the population of leases affected including the $147.5 million of future minimum lease payments related to various operating lease agreements with third parties for property and equipment (see “NOTE 17. OPERATING LEASES” for further discussion), determining the information required to calculate the lease liability and right-of-use asset and evaluating models to assist in future reporting.

Cash Flow Presentation

In August 2016, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that amends the guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The provisions are effective retrospectively for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018, and are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated cash flows.

Business Combinations

In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that clarifies the definition of a business to provide additional guidance to assist in evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of either an asset or business. The provisions are effective prospectively for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018, and are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Goodwill

In January 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which removes the requirement to compare the implied fair value of goodwill with its carrying amount as part of step 2 of the goodwill impairment test. Goodwill impairment will now be the amount by which a reporting unit’s carrying value exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. The provisions are effective prospectively for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2020, and are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Employee Benefit Plans

In March 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update which requires entities to (1) disaggregate the current-service-cost component from the other components of net benefit cost (the “other components”) and present it with other current compensation costs for related employees in the income statement, (2) present the other components elsewhere in the income statement and outside of income from operations if that subtotal is presented and (3) limit the amount of costs eligible for capitalization (e.g., as part of inventory or property, plant, and equipment) to only the service-cost component of net benefit cost. The provisions are effective for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018, and are required to be applied retrospectively for the presentation of cost components in the income statement and prospectively for the capitalization of cost components. The provisions are not expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Derivatives and Hedging

In August 2017, the FASB issued an accounting standard update that modifies hedge accounting by making more hedge strategies eligible for hedge accounting, amending presentation and disclosure requirements, and changing how companies assess effectiveness. The intent is to simplify application of hedge accounting and increase transparency of information about an entity’s risk management activities. The provisions are effective for the Company’s financial statements no later than the fiscal year

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beginning October 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of this standard on its consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

NOTE 2.  DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

International Business

On August 31, 2017, the Company completed the divestiture of the International Business for cash proceeds at closing of $150.6 million, which is net of seller financing provided by the Company in the form of a $29.7 million loan for 7 years bearing interest at 5% for the first three years, with annual 2.5% increases thereafter. The transaction also includes contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with a maximum payout of $23.8 million and a fair value of $18.2 million, the payment of which will depend on the achievement of certain performance criteria by the International Business following the closing of the transaction through fiscal 2020. The seller financing loan and the contingent consideration receivable are recorded in the “Other assets” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The cash proceeds are subject to post-closing adjustments that are expected to be finalized during the first quarter of fiscal 2018, and the Company has accrued $27.8 million in the “Other current liabilities” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets related to working capital adjustments in respect of the actual closing date financial position of the International Business. The Company recorded a pre-tax gain on the sale of the International Business of $32.7 million, partially offset by the provision for income taxes of $12.0 million, during fiscal 2017. The pre-tax gain included a write-off of accumulated foreign currency translation adjustments of $18.5 million.

In connection with the transaction, the Company entered into certain ancillary agreements including a transition services agreement and a material supply agreement, which are not material, as well as a licensing agreement for the use of certain of the Company’s brand names with a fair value of $14.1 million.

During fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, the Company recognized $15.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business as well as termination benefits and facility closure costs of $(0.4) million and $3.6 million, respectively, in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Scotts LawnService^® 

On April 13, 2016, pursuant to the terms of the Contribution Agreement, the Company completed the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture in exchange for a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. As a result, effective in its second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the SLS Business as held for sale.

The Company recorded a gain on the contribution of $131.2 million, partially offset by the provision for deferred income taxes of $51.9 million, during fiscal 2016. During fiscal 2017, the Company recorded an adjustment to reduce the pre-tax gain by $1.0 million related to post-closing working capital adjustments.

During fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, the Company recognized $0.8 million and $4.6 million, respectively, in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. During fiscal 2016, the Company recognized a charge of $9.0 million for the resolution of a prior SLS Business litigation matter within the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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The following table summarizes the results of the International Business and SLS Business within discontinued operations for each of the periods presented:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net sales	$	294.1		$	431.1		$	645.4
Operating costs	275.9			429.5			597.3
Impairment, restructuring and other	15.9			19.7			11.2
Other (income) expense, net	1.2			(1.5		)	(3.9		)
Gain on sale / contribution of business	(31.7		)	(131.2		)	—
Interest expense	0.4			2.7			1.7
Income from discontinued operations before income taxes	32.4			111.9			39.1
Income tax expense from discontinued operations	11.9			43.2			9.1
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$	20.5		$	68.7		$	30.0

The following table summarizes the major classes of assets and liabilities held for sale:

	September 30,
	2016
	(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	21.5
Accounts receivable, net	69.4
Inventories	53.5
Prepaid and other assets	9.5
Property, plant and equipment, net	25.9
Goodwill and intangible assets, net	62.2
Other assets	14.2
Assets held for sale	$	256.2
Accounts payable	$	34.7
Other current liabilities	64.3
Long-term debt	94.2
Other liabilities	19.8
Liabilities held for sale	$	213.0

The Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows do not present the cash flows from discontinued operations separately from cash flows from continuing operations. Cash provided by (used in) operating activities related to discontinued operations totaled $(11.6) million, $18.8 million and $31.5 million for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. Cash provided by (used in) investing activities related to discontinued operations totaled $148.1 million, $(5.3) million and $(32.5) million for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

NOTE 3.  IMPAIRMENT, RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER

Activity described herein is classified within the “Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other,” “Impairment, restructuring and other” and “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The following table details impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries) during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015:

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	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016			2015
	(In millions)
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other:
Restructuring and other charges	$	—	$	5.9		$	3.0
Operating expenses:
Restructuring and other charges (recoveries), net	3.9		(51.5		)	70.4
Intangible asset impairment	1.0		—			—
Impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries) from continuing operations	$	4.9	$	(45.6	)	$	73.4
Restructuring and other charges from discontinued operations	15.9		19.7			11.2
Total impairment, restructuring and other charges (recoveries)	$	20.8	$	(25.9	)	$	84.6

The following table summarizes the activity related to liabilities associated with restructuring and other, excluding insurance reimbursement recoveries, during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Amounts accrued for restructuring and other at beginning of year	$	20.8		$	28.1		$	16.0
Restructuring and other charges from continuing operations	8.3			10.3			73.4
Restructuring and other charges from discontinued operations	15.9			19.7			11.2
Payments and other	(32.9		)	(37.3		)	(72.5		)
Amounts accrued for restructuring and other at end of year	$	12.1		$	20.8		$	28.1

Included in restructuring accruals, as of September 30, 2017, is $1.7 million that is classified as long-term. Payments against the long-term accruals will be incurred as the employees covered by the restructuring plan retire or through the passage of time. The remaining amounts accrued will continue to be paid out over the course of the next twelve months.

Fiscal 2017

In the first quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company announced a series of initiatives called Project Focus designed to maximize the value of its non-core assets and focus on emerging categories of the lawn and garden industry in its core U.S. business. During fiscal 2017, the Company recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits and facility closure costs of $8.3 million in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, including $6.7 million for the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.9 million for the Hawthorne segment and $0.7 million for the Other segment. Costs incurred to date since the inception of the current Project Focus initiatives are $10.1 million for the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.9 million for the Hawthorne segment and $1.2 million for the Other segment, related to transaction activity, termination benefits and facility closure costs.

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a recovery of $4.4 million related to the reduction of a contingent consideration liability associated with a historical acquisition and recorded a $1.0 million impairment charge on the write-off of a trademark asset due to recent performance and future growth expectations. These items were recorded in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On April 13, 2016, the Company completed the contribution of the SLS Business to the TruGreen Joint Venture. As a result, effective in its second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the SLS Business as held for sale. Refer to “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” for more information. During fiscal 2017, the Company recognized $0.8 million in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On August 31, 2017, the Company completed the sale of the International Business. As a result, effective in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. Refer to “NOTE 2. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS” for more information. During fiscal 2017, the Company recognized $15.5 million in transaction

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related costs associated with the sale of the International Business as well as adjustments to termination benefits of $(0.4) million in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Fiscal 2016

During the third quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company’s U.S. Consumer segment began experiencing an increase in certain consumer complaints related to the reformulated Bonus^® S fertilizer product sold in the southeastern United States during fiscal 2015 indicating customers were experiencing damage to their lawns after application. In fiscal 2016, the Company incurred $6.4 million in costs related to resolving these consumer complaints and the recognition of costs the Company expected to incur for consumer claims in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” and the “Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other” lines in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Additionally, the Company recorded offsetting insurance reimbursement recoveries of $55.9 million in fiscal 2016 in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Costs incurred to date since the inception of this matter were $73.8 million, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries of $60.8 million.

During fiscal 2016, the Company recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits of $3.9 million related to Project Focus in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During fiscal 2016, the Company recognized a charge of $9.0 million for the resolution of a prior SLS Business litigation matter, as well as $4.6 million in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During fiscal 2016, the Company recognized $2.5 million in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business as well as $3.6 million in restructuring costs related to termination benefits and facility closure costs in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Fiscal 2015

During fiscal 2015, the Company recognized $67.3 million in costs related to consumer complaints and claims related to the reformulated Bonus^® S fertilizer product sold in the southeastern United States during fiscal 2015, partially offset by insurance reimbursement recoveries recorded of $4.9 million.

During fiscal 2015, the Company recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits of $11.0 million as part of the Company’s restructuring of its U.S. administrative and overhead functions. The restructuring costs for fiscal 2015 included $4.3 million of costs related to the acceleration of equity compensation expense, and were comprised of $3.7 million related to the U.S. Consumer segment, $0.7 million related to the Other Segment and $6.6 million related to Corporate. These costs were recognized in the “Impairment, restructuring and other” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

During fiscal 2015, the Company recognized restructuring costs related to termination benefits as part of the Company’s restructuring of its administrative and overhead functions, continuation of the international profitability improvement initiative and the liquidation and exit from the U.K. Solus business. Costs of $1.4 million related to the SLS Business and $9.8 million related to the International Business were recognized in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

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NOTE 4.  GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

The following table displays a rollforward of the carrying amount of goodwill by reportable segment:

	U.S. Consumer			Hawthorne			Other			Total
	(In millions)
Goodwill	$	213.1		$	63.4		$	7.8		$	284.3
Accumulated impairment losses	(1.8		)	—			—			(1.8		)
Balance at September 30, 2015	211.3			63.4			7.8			282.5
Acquisitions, net of purchase price adjustments	0.6			83.0			4.7			88.3
Foreign currency translation	—			0.9			0.2			1.1
Goodwill	$	213.7		$	147.3		$	12.7		$	373.7
Accumulated impairment losses	(1.8		)	—			—			(1.8		)
Balance at September 30, 2016	211.9			147.3			12.7			371.9
Acquisitions, net of purchase price adjustments	(1.1		)	67.6			(2.1		)	64.4
Foreign currency translation	—			4.7			0.6			5.3
Reallocation	17.3			(17.3		)	—			—
Goodwill	$	229.9		$	202.3		$	11.2		$	443.4
Accumulated impairment losses	(1.8		)	—			—			(1.8		)
Balance at September 30, 2017	$	228.1		$	202.3		$	11.2		$	441.6

As discussed in “NOTE 22. SEGMENT INFORMATION,” the Company’s reportable segments differ from those used in prior periods due to the change in the Company’s internal organization structure resulting from the Company’s divestiture of the International Business. This change in organization structure resulted in a change in the Company’s operating segments and reporting units. The Company allocated goodwill to the new reporting units using a relative fair value approach, resulting in $17.3 million of goodwill reallocated from the Hawthorne segment to the U.S. Consumer segment during fiscal 2017. In addition, the Company completed an assessment of any potential goodwill impairment immediately prior to the allocation and determined that no impairment existed.

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The following table presents intangible assets, net:

	September 30, 2017							September 30, 2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net Carrying Amount
	(In millions)
Finite-lived intangible assets:
Technology	$	69.7	$	(52.8	)	$	16.9	$	61.1	$	(51.4	)	$	9.7
Customer accounts	157.7		(28.0		)	129.7		113.7		(15.8		)	97.9
Tradenames	176.7		(28.4		)	148.3		145.4		(19.8		)	125.6
Other	59.5		(41.1		)	18.4		59.8		(38.6		)	21.2
Total finite-lived intangible assets, net						313.3							254.4
Indefinite-lived intangible assets:
Indefinite-lived tradenames						168.2							168.2
Marketing Agreement Amendment						155.7							155.7
Brand Extension Agreement						111.7							111.7
Total indefinite-lived intangible assets						435.6							435.6
Total intangible assets, net						$	748.9						$	690.0

Fiscal 2017

As a result of the sale of the International Business during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company included $32.6 million of the carrying amount of the Marketing Agreement Amendment intangible asset with the International Business disposal unit on the basis of the asset’s historical carrying amount, and classified this amount in the “Assets held for sale” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company completed its annual impairment review and recognized an impairment charge for a non-recurring fair value adjustment of $1.0 million within the U.S. Consumer segment related to a trademark asset. The fair vale was calculated based upon the evaluation of the historical performance and future growth expectations of the trademark. The impact of the fair value adjustment was to reduce the carrying value of the definite-lived brand from $1.0 million to zero. No impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets were required.

Fiscal 2016

As a result of the annual impairment review in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company determined that no charges for impairment of goodwill or intangible assets were required.

Fiscal 2015

As a result of the annual impairment review, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company determined that no charges for impairment of goodwill or intangible assets were required.

Total amortization expense for the years ended September 30, 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $23.3 million, $15.7 million and $11.4 million, respectively. Amortization expense is estimated to be as follows for the years ending September 30 (in millions):

2018	$	23.2
2019	21.4
2020	20.2
2021	19.3
2022	18.3

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NOTE 5.  DETAIL OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL STATEMENT ACCOUNTS

The following is detail of certain financial statement accounts:

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
INVENTORIES:
Finished goods	$	210.6	$	221.4
Work-in-progress	57.6		48.9
Raw materials	139.3		124.4
	$	407.5	$	394.7

	September 30,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET:
Land and improvements	$	109.4		$	105.3
Buildings	209.7			227.3
Machinery and equipment	546.8			491.2
Furniture and fixtures	37.2			35.5
Software	106.0			104.2
Aircraft	8.3			6.7
Construction in progress	41.4			28.0
	1,058.8			998.2
Less: accumulated depreciation	(591.1		)	(553.3		)
	$	467.7		$	444.9
OTHER ASSETS:
Unamortized debt issuance costs	$	8.2		$	10.8
Loans receivable	110.4			79.1
Contingent consideration receivable	18.1			—
Bonnie Option	11.8			10.9
Other	27.5			14.3
	$	176.0		$	115.1

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Payroll and other compensation accruals	$	55.9	$	59.9
Accrued restructuring and other	10.4		19.3
Advertising and promotional accruals	23.8		26.8
Accrued interest	16.4		13.8
International Business divestiture accrual	27.8		—
Other	114.0		58.1
	$	248.3	$	177.9
OTHER NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accrued pension, postretirement and executive retirement liabilities	$	78.6	$	93.5
Deferred tax liabilities	157.5		172.0
Deferred licensing revenue	12.6		0.2
Other	12.2		17.8
	$	260.9	$	283.5

	September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS:
Unrecognized loss on derivatives, net of tax of $1.3, $2.8 and $5.6	$	2.0		$	(4.7	)	$	(9.0	)
Pension and other postretirement liabilities, net of tax of $33.4, $41.2 and $39.3	(54.5		)	(66.9		)	(63.7		)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(16.7		)	(45.3		)	(34.1		)
	$	(69.2	)	$	(116.9	)	$	(106.8	)

NOTE 6.  MARKETING AGREEMENT

The Scotts Company LLC (“Scotts LLC”) is the exclusive agent of Monsanto for the marketing and distribution of consumer Roundup^® non-selective weedkiller products in the consumer lawn and garden market in certain countries pursuant to an Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Original Marketing Agreement”). In consideration for the rights granted to the Company under the Original Marketing Agreement in 1998, the Company paid a marketing fee of $32.0 million to Monsanto. The Company deferred this amount on the basis that the payment will provide a future benefit through commissions that will be earned under the Marketing Agreement. The economic useful life over which the marketing fee is being amortized is 20 years, with a remaining unamortized amount of $0.8 million and remaining amortization period of one year. On May 15, 2015, the Company and Monsanto entered into an Amendment to the Original Marketing Agreement (the “Marketing Agreement Amendment”), a Lawn and Garden Brand Extension Agreement (the “Brand Extension Agreement”) and a Commercialization and Technology Agreement (the “Commercialization and Technology Agreement”). In consideration for these agreements, the Company paid $300.0 million to Monsanto and recorded this amount as intangible assets for which the related economic useful life is indefinite.

On August 31, 2017, in connection with and as a condition to the consummation of the Company’s sale of its International Business, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Agency and Marketing Agreement (the “Restated Marketing Agreement”) and the Amended and Restated Lawn and Garden Brand Extension Agreement - Americas (the “Restated Brand Extension Agreement”) to reflect the Company’s transfer and assignment to the purchaser of such business of the Company’s rights and responsibilities under the Original Marketing Agreement, as amended, and the Brand Extension Agreement relating to those countries subject to the sale. The Company included $32.6 million of the carrying amount of the intangible asset associated with the Marketing Agreement Amendment with the International Business disposal unit on the basis of the asset’s historical carrying amount and this amount was disposed of as part of the sale of the International Business.

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From 1998 until May 15, 2015, the Original Marketing Agreement covered the United States and other specified countries, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. The Marketing Agreement Amendment expanded the covered territories and countries to include all countries other than Japan and countries subject to a comprehensive U.S. trade embargo or certain other embargoes and trade restrictions. The Restated Marketing Agreement further revised the covered territories and countries to only include Israel, China and every country throughout the Caribbean and the continents of North America and South America that is not subject to a comprehensive U.S. trade embargo or certain other embargoes and trade restrictions.

Under the terms of the Restated Marketing Agreement, the Company is entitled to receive an annual commission from Monsanto as consideration for the performance of the Company’s duties as agent. The annual commission payable under the Restated Marketing Agreement is equal to (1) 50% of the actual earnings before interest and income taxes of the consumer Roundup^® business in the markets covered by the Restated Marketing Agreement for program years 2017 and 2018 and (2) 50% of the actual earnings before interest and income taxes of the consumer Roundup^® business in the markets covered by the Restated Marketing Agreement in excess of $40 million for program years 2019 and thereafter. The Restated Marketing Agreement also requires the Company to make annual payments of $18.0 million to Monsanto as a contribution against the overall expenses of the consumer Roundup^® business. Unless Monsanto terminates the Restated Marketing Agreement due to an event of default by the Company, the Restated Marketing Agreement requires a termination fee payable to the Company equal to the greater of (1) $175.0 million or (2) four times (A) the average of the program earnings before interest and income taxes for the three trailing program years prior to the year of termination, minus (B) $186.4 million. The term of the Restated Marketing Agreement will continue indefinitely for all included markets unless and until otherwise terminated in accordance therewith.

The Restated Brand Extension Agreement provides the Company an exclusive license in every country throughout the North American continent, South American continent, Central America, the Caribbean, Israel and China (in each case that is not subject to a comprehensive U.S. trade embargo or certain other embargoes and trade restrictions) to use the Roundup^® brand on additional products offered by the Company outside of the non-selective weed category within the residential lawn and garden market. The application of the Roundup^® brand to these additional products is subject to a product review and approval process developed between the Company and Monsanto. Monsanto will maintain oversight of its brand, the handling of brand registrations covering these new products and new territories, as well as primary responsibility for brand enforcement. The Restated Brand Extension Agreement has a term of twenty years, which will automatically renew for additional successive twenty year terms, at the Company’s sole option, for no additional monetary consideration.

The Commercialization and Technology Agreement provides for the Company and Monsanto to further develop and commercialize new products and technology developed at Monsanto and intended for introduction into the residential lawn and garden market. Under the Commercialization and Technology Agreement, the Company receives an exclusive first look at new Monsanto technology and products and an annual review of Monsanto’s developing products and technologies. The Commercialization and Technology Agreement has a term of thirty years (subject to early termination upon a termination event under the Restated Marketing Agreement or the Restated Brand Extension Agreement).

Under the terms of the Restated Marketing Agreement, the Company performs sales, merchandising, warehousing and other selling and marketing services, on behalf of Monsanto in the conduct of the consumer Roundup^® business. The Company performs other services, including manufacturing conversion services, pursuant to ancillary agreements. The actual costs incurred for these activities are charged to and reimbursed by Monsanto. The Company records costs incurred for which the Company is the primary obligor on a gross basis, recognizing such costs in the “Cost of sales” line and the reimbursement of these costs in the “Net sales” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, with no effect on gross profit dollars or net income.

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The gross commission earned under the Restated Marketing Agreement, the contribution payments to Monsanto and the amortization of the initial marketing fee paid to Monsanto in 1998 are included in the calculation of net sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. The elements of the net commission and reimbursements earned under the Marketing Agreement and included in “Net sales” are as follows:

	Year Ended September 30
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Gross commission	$	87.7		$	97.9		$	78.4
Contribution expenses	(18.0		)	(18.0		)	(18.0		)
Amortization of marketing fee	(0.8		)	(0.8		)	(0.8		)
Net commission	68.9			79.1			59.6
Reimbursements associated with Marketing Agreement	56.1			55.8			52.6
Total net sales associated with Marketing Agreement	$	125.0		$	134.9		$	112.2

NOTE 7.  ACQUISITIONS AND INVESTMENTS

Fiscal 2018

On October 2, 2017, the Company’s Hawthorne segment acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest in Gavita and its subsidiaries, including Agrolux, for $72.2 million. The Company recorded a charge of $13.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 to write-up the fair value of the loan to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita to the agreed upon buyout value in the “Other non-operating expense” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

On October 11, 2017, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the United States and Canadian assets of Can-Filters Group Inc. (“Can-Filters”) for $72.2 million. Based in Nelson, British Columbia, Can-Filters is a leading wholesaler of ventilation products for indoor and hydroponic gardening and industrial markets worldwide.

Fiscal 2017

On August 11, 2017, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the exclusive manufacturer and formulator of branded Botanicare products for $32.0 million. The preliminary valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $0.3 million of inventory, (ii) $5.0 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, and (iii) $26.7 million of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included manufacturing know-how and non-compete agreements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 10 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.

On May 26, 2017, the Company’s majority-owned subsidiary Gavita completed the acquisition of Agrolux Holding B.V., and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Agrolux”), for $21.8 million. Based in the Netherlands, Agrolux is a worldwide supplier of horticultural lighting. The purchase price included contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with a maximum payout and estimated fair value of $5.2 million, the payment of which will depend on the performance of the business through calendar year 2017. The preliminary valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $8.0 million of cash, prepaid and other current assets, (ii) $10.1 million of inventory and accounts receivable, (iii) $0.5 million of fixed assets, (iv) $8.6 million of accounts payable and other current liabilities, (v) $6.7 million of short term debt, (vi) $16.1 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, (vii) $6.4 million of non-deductible goodwill, and (viii) $4.0 million of deferred tax liabilities. Identifiable intangible assets included tradenames and customer relationships with useful lives ranging between 10 and 20 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. Net sales for Agrolux included within the Hawthorne segment for fiscal 2017 were $16.4 million.

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On October 3, 2016, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of Botanicare, an Arizona-based leading producer of plant nutrients, plant supplements and growing systems used for hydroponic gardening, for $92.6 million. The purchase price included contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with a maximum payout and estimated fair value of $15.5 million, which was paid during the third quarter of fiscal 2017. The preliminary valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $1.2 million of cash, prepaid and other current assets, (ii) $8.4 million of inventory and accounts receivable, (iii) $1.4 million of fixed assets, (iv) $2.3 million of accounts payable and other current liabilities, (v) $53.0 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, and (vi) $30.9 million of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included tradenames, customer relationships and non-compete arrangements 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. Net sales for Botanicare included within the Hawthorne segment for fiscal year 2017 were $47.6 million.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company’s U.S. Consumer segment completed two acquisitions of companies whose products support the Company’s focus on the emerging areas of water positive landscapes and internet-enabled technology for an aggregate purchase price of $3.2 million. The valuation of the acquired assets for the transactions included finite-lived identifiable intangible assets and goodwill of $2.8 million. During the third quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company’s Hawthorne segment completed the acquisition of a company focused on the technology supporting hydroponic growing systems for an aggregate purchase price of $3.5 million, which included finite-lived identifiable intangible assets of $3.2 million.

Fiscal 2016

On May 26, 2016, the Company’s Hawthorne segment acquired majority control and a 75% economic interest in Gavita for $136.2 million. The remaining 25% interest was retained by Gavita’s former ownership group. This transaction provided the Company’s Hawthorne segment with a presence in the lighting category of indoor and urban gardening, which is a part of the Company’s long-term growth strategy. Gavita, which is based in the Netherlands, is a leading producer and marketer of indoor lighting used in the greenhouse and hydroponic markets, predominately in the United States and Europe. The purchase price included contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with an estimated fair value of $2.5 million. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $6.4 million of cash, prepaid and other current assets, (ii) $37.9 million of inventory and accounts receivable, (iii) $1.3 million of fixed assets, (iv) $18.7 million of accounts payable and other current liabilities, (v) $5.5 million of short term debt, (vi) $102.6 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, (vii) $83.3 million of non-deductible goodwill, and (viii) $25.7 million of deferred tax liabilities. Identifiable intangible assets included tradenames, customer relationships and non-compete arrangements 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. Gavita’s former ownership group initially retained a 25% noncontrolling interest in Gavita consisting of ownership of 5% of the outstanding shares of Gavita and a loan with interest payable based on distributions by Gavita. The loan represented a non-cash financing activity and is recorded at fair value in the “Long-term debt” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The initial valuation of the loan was $37.7 million. The fair value measurement was classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. Net sales for Gavita included within the Hawthorne segment for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 were $122.3 million and $35.7 million, respectively.

During the third quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company completed an acquisition within the Other segment to expand its Canadian growing media operations for an estimated purchase price of $33.9 million. The estimated purchase price included contingent consideration, a non-cash investing activity, with an estimated fair value of $10.8 million, of which $6.5 million was paid during the first quarter of fiscal 2017, and the remaining $4.3 million has been adjusted and reclassified to the acquired assets as the Company does not expect to pay out any additional consideration. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $4.7 million of inventory and accounts receivable, (ii) $18.5 million of fixed assets, (iii) $9.3 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, (iv) $1.2 million of deferred tax liabilities, and (v) an investment in an unconsolidated joint venture of $0.5 million. Identifiable intangible assets included peat bog lease rights, tradenames, customer relationships and non-compete arrangements 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. Net sales related to this acquisition included within the Other segment for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 were $14.6 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2016, the Company entered into definitive agreements with Bonnie and its sole shareholder AFC, providing for the Company’s participation in the Bonnie Business. The Company’s participation includes a Term Loan Agreement from the Company to AFC, with Bonnie as guarantor, in the amount of $72.0 million with a fixed coupon rate of 6.95% (the “Term Loan”) as well as a Services Agreement pursuant to which the Company provides marketing, research and development and certain ancillary services to Bonnie for a commission fee based on the profits of the Bonnie Business and the reimbursement of certain costs. These agreements also include options beginning in fiscal 2020 that provide for either (i) the Company to increase its economic interest in the Bonnie Business (the “Bonnie Option”) or (ii) AFC and Bonnie to repurchase

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the Company’s economic interest in the Bonnie Business. During fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, the Company recognized commission income of $2.2 million and $3.6 million, respectively, and cost reimbursements of $2.6 million and $0.6 million, respectively.

The Bonnie Option is required to be accounted for as a derivative instrument and is recorded at fair value in the “Other assets” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets, with changes in fair value recognized in the “Other income (loss), net” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimated fair value of the Bonnie Option was $11.8 million and $10.9 million as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and the fair value measurement was classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Fiscal 2015

On March 30, 2015, the Company’s Hawthorne segment acquired the assets of General Hydroponics, Inc. (“General Hydroponics”) and Bio-Organic Solutions, Inc. (“Vermicrop”) for $120.0 million and $15.0 million, respectively. This transaction provided the Company’s Hawthorne segment with an additional entry into the indoor and urban gardening market, which is a part of the Company’s long-term growth strategy. General Hydroponics and Vermicrop are leading producers of liquid plant food products, growing media, and accessories for the hydroponic markets. The General Hydroponics purchase price included non-cash investing activity of $1.0 million representing the deferral of a portion of the purchase price, of which $0.5 million was paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2016 and $0.5 million was paid in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The Vermicrop purchase price included $5.0 million of contingent consideration, which was paid during the third quarter of fiscal 2016. The Vermicrop purchase price and contingent consideration were paid in common shares of Scotts Miracle-Gro (“Common Shares”) based on the average share price at the time of payment. The valuation of the acquired assets included (i) $14.2 million of inventory and accounts receivable, (ii) $5.7 million in fixed assets, (iii) $65.0 million of finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, and (iv) $53.9 million of tax-deductible goodwill. Identifiable intangible assets included tradenames, customer relationships and non-compete arrangements with useful lives ranging between 5 and 26 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. Net sales for General Hydroponics and Vermicrop included within the Hawthorne segment for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 were $73.5 million and $64.1 million, respectively.

During fiscal 2015, the Company completed three acquisitions of growing media operations within the U.S. Consumer segment for an aggregate purchase price of $34.0 million. These acquisitions expanded the Company’s growing media operations and distribution capabilities. The valuation of the acquired assets for the transactions included (i) $7.4 million in finite-lived identifiable intangible assets, (ii) $10.7 million in fixed assets, (iii) $9.4 million in tax deductible goodwill, and (iv) $7.5 million of inventory and accounts receivable. Identifiable intangible assets include tradenames and customer relationships with useful lives ranging between 7 and 20 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 consolidated financial statements include the results of operations for these business combinations from the date of each acquisition. The pro forma results of operations and the results of operations for acquired businesses since the acquisition dates have not been separately disclosed because the effects were not significant compared to the consolidated financial statements, individually or in the aggregate.

NOTE 8. INVESTMENT IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES

As of September 30, 2017, the Company held a minority equity interest of approximately 30% in the TruGreen Joint Venture. This interest had an initial fair value of $294.0 million and subsequently is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, with the Company’s proportionate share of the TruGreen Joint Venture earnings reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. In addition, the Company and TruGreen Holdings entered into a limited liability company agreement (the “LLC Agreement”) governing the management of the TruGreen Joint Venture, as well as certain ancillary agreements including a transition services agreement and an employee leasing agreement. The LLC Agreement provides the Company with minority representation on the board of directors of the TruGreen Joint Venture.

In connection with the closing of the transactions contemplated by the Contribution Agreement on April 13, 2016, the TruGreen Joint Venture obtained debt financing and made a distribution of $196.2 million to the Company and the Company invested $18.0 million in second lien term loan financing to the TruGreen Joint Venture. The second lien term loan receivable had a carrying value of $18.1 million and $18.0 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is recorded in the “Other assets” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The Company was reimbursed $40.2 million and $52.6 million during fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively, and had accounts receivable of $0.4 million and $14.9 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, for expenses incurred pursuant to a short-term transition services agreement and an employee leasing agreement. The Company also had an indemnification asset of $4.8 million and $9.6 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively, for future payments on claims associated with insurance programs. The Company received distributions from unconsolidated

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

affiliates intended to cover required tax payments of $3.6 million and $7.5 million million during fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company received an $87.1 million distribution from the TruGreen Joint Venture in connection with its August 2017 debt refinancing. The Company has received cumulative distributions from the TruGreen Joint Venture in excess of our investment balance, which resulted in an amount recorded in the “Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheets of $21.9 million at September 30, 2017. In accordance with the applicable accounting guidance, the Company reclassified the negative balance to the liability section of the Consolidated Balance Sheet. 

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company made a $29.4 million investment in an unconsolidated subsidiary whose products support the professional U.S. industrial, turf and ornamental market.

The following tables present summarized financial information of the Company’s unconsolidated affiliates:

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Cash and cash equivalents	$	26.4	$	92.3
Other current assets	180.9		159.1
Intangible assets, net	860.7		916.8
Goodwill	184.0		165.3
Other assets	229.5		376.0
Total assets	$	1,481.5	$	1,709.5
Current liabilities	$	221.0	$	210.9
Current portion of debt	15.5		6.9
Long-term debt	987.5		726.0
Other liabilities	57.9		80.6
Equity	199.6		685.1
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,481.5	$	1,709.5

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016
	(in millions)
Revenue	$	1,340.2		$	808.4
Gross margin	429.7			287.5
Selling and administrative expenses	316.8			167.8
Amortization expense	72.8			27.1
Interest expense	69.9			30.8
Restructuring and other charges	67.5			34.8
Net (loss) income	$	(97.3	)	$	27.0

The summarized financial information for the TruGreen Joint Venture includes activity from the date of formation of the TruGreen Joint Venture on April 13, 2016 through September 30, 2017. Net income does not include income taxes, which are recognized and paid by the partners of the TruGreen Joint Venture. The income taxes associated with the Company’s share of net income has been recorded in the “Income tax expense from continuing operations” line in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Company recognized equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates of $29.0 million and $(7.8) million in fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively. Included within (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively, is the Company’s $25.2 million and $11.7 million share of restructuring and other charges, refinancing costs and non-cash purchase accounting fair value adjustments related to deferred revenue and advertising incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture. For fiscal 2017, these charges included $1.3 million for transaction costs, $12.1 million for nonrecurring integration and separation costs, $7.2 million of costs associated with the TruGreen Joint Venture’s August 2017 debt refinancing and $4.6 million for a non-cash purchase accounting fair value write-down adjustment related to deferred revenue and advertising. For fiscal 2016, these

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

charges included $6.0 million for transaction costs, $4.4 million for nonrecurring integration and separation costs and $1.3 million for a non-cash purchase accounting fair value write-down adjustment related to deferred revenue and advertising.

NOTE 9.  RETIREMENT PLANS

The Company sponsors a defined contribution 401(k) plan for substantially all U.S. associates. The Company matches 150% of associates’ initial 4% contribution and 50% of their remaining contribution up to 6%. The Company may make additional discretionary profit sharing matching contributions to eligible employees on their initial 4% contribution. The Company recorded charges of $13.9 million, $13.0 million and $11.5 million under the plan in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

The Company sponsors two defined benefit pension plans for certain U.S. associates. Benefits under these plans have been frozen and closed to new associates since 1997. The benefits under the primary plan are based on years of service and the associates’ average final compensation or stated amounts. The Company’s funding policy, consistent with statutory requirements and tax considerations, is based on actuarial computations using the Projected Unit Credit method. The second frozen plan is a non-qualified supplemental pension plan. This plan provides for incremental pension payments so that total pension payments equal amounts that would have been payable from the Company’s pension plan if it were not for limitations imposed by the income tax regulations.

The Company sponsors defined benefit pension plans associated with its former international businesses in the United Kingdom and Germany. These plans provide retirement benefits primarily based on years of service and compensation levels. On July 1, 2010, the Company froze its two U.K. defined benefit pension plans and transferred participants to an amended defined contribution plan. Prior to August 31, 2017, participants were no longer credited for service; however, salary increases continued to be factored into each participant’s final pension benefit. In connection with the sale of the International Business on August 31, 2017, the Company (1) retained all obligations related to the two U.K. defined benefit pension plans provided that future salary increases are no longer factored into each participant’s final pension benefit, (2) retained the Germany defined benefit pension obligations associated with inactive participants and (3) disposed of the Germany defined benefit pension obligations associated with active participants and all obligations associated with the France defined benefit pension plans. These changes resulted in a decrease in the projected benefit obligation of $7.1 million during fiscal 2017. The Company recognized a settlement charge of $1.4 million during fiscal 2017 as part of the gain on the sale of the International Business in the “Income from discontinued operations, net of tax” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations..

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The following tables present information about benefit obligations, plan assets, annual expense, assumptions and other information about the Company’s defined benefit pension plans. The defined benefit pension plans are valued using a September 30 measurement date.

	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans						International Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	(In millions)
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	118.2		$	117.3		$	206.2		$	190.5
Service cost	—			—			0.9			0.9
Interest cost	2.8			4.3			3.7			6.3
Actuarial (gain) loss	(3.8		)	3.8			(13.0		)	44.0
Benefits paid	(7.2		)	(7.2		)	(6.0		)	(7.7		)
Divestiture	—			—			(7.1		)	—
Other	—			—			(0.8		)	(0.9		)
Foreign currency translation	—			—			6.8			(26.9		)
Projected benefit obligation at end of year	$	110.0		$	118.2		$	190.7		$	206.2
Accumulated benefit obligation at end of year	$	110.0		$	118.2		$	190.7		$	201.9
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	89.4		$	83.5		$	173.9		$	166.0
Actual return on plan assets	5.0			9.9			2.2			37.0
Employer contribution	0.3			3.2			5.6			5.9
Benefits paid	(7.2		)	(7.2		)	(6.0		)	(7.7		)
Foreign currency translation	—			—			6.3			(26.4		)
Other	—			—			(0.8		)	(0.9		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	87.5		$	89.4		$	181.2		$	173.9
Underfunded status at end of year	$	(22.5	)	$	(28.8	)	$	(9.5	)	$	(32.3	)
Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
Projected benefit obligation	$	110.0		$	118.2		$	190.7		$	206.2
Accumulated benefit obligation	110.0			118.2			190.7			201.9
Fair value of plan assets	87.5			89.4			181.2			173.9
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:
Noncurrent assets	$	—		$	—		$	9.4		$	0.5
Current liabilities	(0.2		)	(0.2		)	(0.9		)	(0.8		)
Noncurrent liabilities	(22.3		)	(28.6		)	(17.9		)	(32.0		)
Total amount accrued	$	(22.5	)	$	(28.8	)	$	(9.4	)	$	(32.3	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Actuarial loss	$	40.7		$	46.4		$	50.8		$	62.2
Total amount recognized	$	40.7		$	46.4		$	50.8		$	62.2

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans						International Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	2017			2016			2017			2016
	(In millions, except percentage figures)
Total change in other comprehensive loss attributable to:
Pension benefit (loss) gain during the period	$	4.0		$	1.1		$	9.8		$	(14.5	)
Reclassification of pension benefit losses to net income	1.7			1.8			1.9			1.5
Settlement loss during the period	—			—			1.4			—
Foreign currency translation	—			—			(1.7		)	7.8
Total change in other comprehensive loss	$	5.7		$	2.9		$	11.4		$	(5.2	)
Amounts in accumulated other comprehensive loss expected to be recognized as components of net periodic benefit cost in fiscal 2018 are as follows:
Actuarial loss	$	1.5					$	1.1
Amount to be amortized into net periodic benefit cost	$	1.5					$	1.1
Weighted average assumptions used in development of projected benefit obligation:
Discount rate	3.41		%	3.07		%	2.47		%	2.12		%
Rate of compensation increase	n/a			n/a			n/a			3.50		%

	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans									International Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
	(In millions, except percentage figures)
Components of net periodic benefit cost:
Service cost	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	0.9		$	0.9		$	1.0
Interest cost	2.8			4.3			4.0			3.7			6.3			7.1
Expected return on plan assets	(4.9		)	(5.0		)	(5.4		)	(7.7		)	(7.3		)	(8.9		)
Net amortization	1.7			1.8			3.3			1.8			1.5			1.6
Net periodic benefit (income) cost	(0.4		)	1.1			1.9			(1.3		)	1.4			0.8
Settlement	—			—			—			1.4			—			—
Total benefit (income) cost	$	(0.4	)	$	1.1		$	1.9		$	0.1		$	1.4		$	0.8
Weighted average assumptions used in development of net periodic benefit (income) cost:
Weighted average discount rate	n/a			3.81		%	3.81		%	n/a			3.58		%	3.78		%
Weighted average discount rate - service cost	n/a			n/a			n/a			1.37		%	n/a			n/a
Weighted average discount rate - interest cost	2.44		%	n/a			n/a			1.84		%	n/a			n/a
Expected return on plan assets	5.50		%	5.50		%	6.25		%	4.55		%	4.75		%	5.70		%
Rate of compensation increase	n/a			n/a			n/a			3.50		%	3.53		%	3.70		%

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plans			International Defined Benefit Pension Plans
	(In millions, except percentage figures)
Other information:
Plan asset allocations:
Target for September 30, 2018:
Equity securities	25		%	30		%
Debt securities	70		%	67		%
Real estate securities	5		%	—		%
Cash and cash equivalents	—		%	—		%
Insurance contracts	—		%	3		%
September 30, 2017:
Equity securities	26		%	31		%
Debt securities	67		%	66		%
Real estate securities	4		%	—		%
Cash and cash equivalents	3		%	—		%
Insurance contracts	—		%	3		%
September 30, 2016:
Equity securities	23		%	30		%
Debt securities	70		%	70		%
Real estate securities	4		%	—		%
Cash and cash equivalents	3		%	—		%
Insurance contracts	—		%	—		%
Expected company contributions in fiscal 2018	$	0.2		$	6.8
Expected future benefit payments:
2018	$	7.9		$	5.3
2019	7.6			5.5
2020	7.6			5.6
2021	7.6			5.9
2022	7.5			6.3
2023 – 2028	35.4			35.8

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The following tables set forth the fair value of the Company’s pension plan assets, segregated by level within the fair value hierarchy:

	September 30, 2017
	Quoted Prices in  Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	(In millions)
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2.4	$	—	$	—	$	2.4
Mutual funds—real estate	—		3.7		—		3.7
Mutual funds—equities	—		22.5		—		22.5
Mutual funds—fixed income	—		58.9		—		58.9
Total	$	2.4	$	85.1	$	—	$	87.5
International Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0.4	$	—	$	—	$	0.4
Insurance contracts	—		4.7		—		4.7
Mutual funds—equities	—		56.7		—		56.7
Mutual funds—fixed income	—		119.4		—		119.4
Total	$	0.4	$	180.8	$	—	$	181.2

	September 30, 2016
	Quoted Prices in  Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)		Total
	(In millions)
U.S. Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2.2	$	—	$	—	$	2.2
Mutual funds—real estate	—		3.8		—		3.8
Mutual funds—equities	—		20.9		—		20.9
Mutual funds—fixed income	—		62.5		—		62.5
Total	$	2.2	$	87.2	$	—	$	89.4
International Defined Benefit Pension Plan Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	0.7	$	—	$	—	$	0.7
Mutual funds—equities	—		51.8		—		51.8
Mutual funds—fixed income	—		121.4		—		121.4
Total	$	0.7	$	173.2	$	—	$	173.9

The fair value of the mutual funds are valued at the exchange-listed year end closing price or at the net asset value of shares held by the fund at the end of the year. Insurance contracts are valued by discounting the related cash flows using a current year end market rate or at cash surrender value, which is presumed to equal fair value.

Investment Strategy

Target allocation percentages among various asset classes are maintained based on an individual investment policy established for each of the various pension plans. Asset allocations are designed to achieve long-term objectives of return while mitigating against downside risk and considering expected cash requirements necessary to fund benefit payments. However, the Company cannot predict future investment returns and therefore cannot determine whether future pension plan funding requirements could materially and adversely affect its financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Basis for Long-Term Rate of Return on Asset Assumptions

The Company’s expected long-term rate of return on asset assumptions are derived from studies conducted by third parties. The studies include a review of anticipated future long-term performance of individual asset classes and consideration of the appropriate asset allocation strategy given the anticipated requirements of the plans to determine the average rate of earnings expected. While the studies give appropriate consideration to recent fund performance and historical returns, the assumptions primarily represent expectations about future rates of return over the long term.

NOTE 10.  ASSOCIATE MEDICAL BENEFITS

The Company provides comprehensive major medical benefits to certain of its retired associates and their dependents. Substantially all of the Company’s domestic associates who were hired before January 1, 1998 become eligible for these benefits if they retire at age 55 or older with more than 10 years of service. The retiree medical plan requires certain minimum contributions from retired associates and includes provisions to limit the overall cost increases the Company is required to cover. The Company funds its portion of retiree medical benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis.

The following table sets forth information about the retiree medical plan for domestic associates. The retiree medical plan is valued using a September 30 measurement date.

	2017			2016
	(In millions, except percentage figures)
Change in Accumulated Plan Benefit Obligation (APBO):
Benefit obligation at beginning of year	$	26.2		$	26.0
Service cost	0.3			0.2
Interest cost	0.7			1.0
Plan participants’ contributions	0.3			0.5
Actuarial (gain) loss	(1.2		)	1.3
Benefits paid	(2.4		)	(2.8		)
Benefit obligation at end of year	$	23.9		$	26.2
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	—		$	—
Employer contribution	2.1			2.3
Plan participants’ contributions	0.3			0.5
Gross benefits paid	(2.4		)	(2.8		)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	—		$	—
Unfunded status at end of year	$	(23.9	)	$	(26.2	)
Amounts recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheets consist of:
Current liabilities	$	(1.8	)	$	(1.8	)
Noncurrent liabilities	(22.1		)	(24.4		)
Total amount accrued	$	(23.9	)	$	(26.2	)
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of:
Actuarial loss	$	3.2		$	4.7
Unamortized prior service credit	(5.8		)	(6.9		)
Total amount recognized	$	(2.6	)	$	(2.2	)
Total change in other comprehensive loss attributable to:
Benefit (gain) loss during the period	$	(1.1	)	$	1.5
Net amortization of prior service credit and actuarial loss during the year	0.7			1.0
Total change in other comprehensive loss (income)	$	(0.4	)	$	2.5
Discount rate used in development of APBO	3.56		%	3.26		%

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	2017			2016			2015
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$	0.3		$	0.2		$	0.4
Interest cost	0.7			1.0			1.3
Amortization of actuarial loss	0.4			0.1			—
Amortization of prior service credit	(1.1		)	(1.1		)	—
Total postretirement benefit cost	$	0.3		$	0.2		$	1.7
Discount rate used in development of net periodic benefit cost	n/a			4.03		%	4.08		%
Discount rate used in development of service cost	3.44		%	n/a			n/a
Discount rate used in development of interest cost	2.56		%	n/a			n/a

The estimated actuarial loss and prior service credit that will be amortized from accumulated loss into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is $0.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.

For measurement as of September 30, 2017, management has assumed that health care costs will increase at an annual rate of 6.75% in fiscal 2017, and thereafter decreasing 0.25% per year to an ultimate trend rate of 5.00% in 2024. A 1% increase or decrease in health cost trend rate assumptions would not have a material effect on the APBO as of September 30, 2017. A 1% increase or decrease in the health cost trend rate assumptions would not have a material effect on service or interest costs.

The following benefit payments under the plan are expected to be paid by the Company and the retirees for the fiscal years indicated:

	Gross Benefit Payments		Retiree Contributions			Net Company Payments
	(In millions)
2018	$	2.3	$	(0.5	)	$	1.8
2019	2.6		(0.7		)	1.9
2020	2.7		(0.8		)	1.9
2021	2.7		(0.8		)	1.9
2022	2.8		(0.9		)	1.9
2023 – 2027	12.0		(3.9		)	8.1

The Company also provides comprehensive major medical benefits to its associates. The Company is self-insured for certain health benefits up to $0.6 million per occurrence per individual. The cost of such benefits is recognized as expense in the period the claim is incurred. This cost was $33.4 million, $31.8 million and $29.6 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

NOTE 11.  DEBT

The components of debt are as follows:

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Credit Facilities:
Revolving loans	$	300.5	$	323.2
Term loans	273.8		288.8
Senior Notes – 5.250%	250.0		—
Senior Notes – 6.000%	400.0		400.0
Receivables facility	80.0		138.6
Other	105.4		71.3
Total debt	1,409.7		1,221.9
Less current portions	143.1		185.0
Less unamortized debt issuance costs	8.6		6.0
Long-term debt	$	1,258.0	$	1,030.9

The Company’s debt matures as follows for each of the next five fiscal years and thereafter (in millions):

2018	$	143.1
2019	16.2
2020	15.4
2021	529.3
2022	—
Thereafter	705.7
	$	1,409.7

Credit Facilities

On December 20, 2013, the Company entered into the third amended and restated credit agreement, providing the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with a five-year senior secured revolving loan facility in the aggregate principal amount of up to $1.7 billion (the “former credit facility”). On October 29, 2015, the Company entered into the fourth amended and restated credit agreement (the “credit agreement”), providing the Company and certain of its subsidiaries with five-year senior secured loan facilities in the aggregate principal amount of $1.9 billion, comprised of a revolving credit facility of $1.6 billion and a term loan in the original principal amount of $300.0 million (the “credit facilities”). The credit agreement also provides the Company with the right to seek additional committed credit under the agreement in an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million plus an unlimited additional amount, subject to certain specified financial and other conditions. Under the credit agreement, the Company has the ability to obtain letters of credit up to $100.0 million. The credit agreement replaces the former credit facility, and will terminate on October 29, 2020. Borrowings on the revolving credit facility may be made in various currencies, including U.S. dollars, euro, British pounds, Australian dollars and Canadian dollars. The terms of the credit agreement include customary representations and warranties, affirmative and negative covenants, financial covenants and events of default. The proceeds of borrowings on the credit facilities may be used: (i) to finance working capital requirements and other general corporate purposes of the Company and its subsidiaries; and (ii) to refinance the amounts outstanding under the former credit facility.

Under the terms of the credit agreement, loans bear interest, at the Company’s election, at a rate per annum equal to either the ABR or Adjusted LIBO Rate (both as defined in the credit agreement) plus the applicable margin. The credit facilities are guaranteed by substantially all of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries, and are secured by (i) a perfected first priority security interest in all of the accounts receivable, inventory and equipment of the Company and the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors and (ii) the pledge of all of the capital stock of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries that are guarantors.

At September 30, 2017, the Company had letters of credit outstanding in the aggregate principal amount of $23.5 million, and $1.3 billion of availability under the credit agreement, subject to the Company’s continued compliance with the covenants

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THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

discussed below. The weighted average interest rates on average borrowings under the credit agreement and the former credit facility were 3.9% and 3.5% for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively.    

The credit agreement contains, among other obligations, an affirmative covenant regarding the Company’s leverage ratio on the last day of each quarter calculated as average total indebtedness, divided by the Company’s earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”), as adjusted pursuant to the terms of the credit agreement (“Adjusted EBITDA”). The maximum leverage ratio was 4.50 as of September 30, 2017. The Company’s leverage ratio was 3.04 at September 30, 2017. The credit agreement also includes an affirmative covenant regarding its interest coverage ratio. The interest coverage ratio is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA divided by interest expense, as described in the credit agreement, and excludes costs related to refinancings. The minimum interest coverage ratio was 3.00 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. The Company’s interest coverage ratio was 7.54 for the twelve months ended September 30, 2017. The credit agreement allows the Company to make unlimited restricted payments (as defined in the credit agreement), including increased or one-time dividend payments and Common Share repurchases, as long as the leverage ratio resulting from the making of such restricted payments is 4.00 or less. Otherwise the Company may only make restricted payments in an aggregate amount for each fiscal year not to exceed the amount set forth in the credit agreement for such fiscal year ($200.0 million for fiscal 2018 and each fiscal year thereafter).

Senior Notes - 5.250%

On December 15, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro issued $250.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.250% senior notes due 2026 (the “5.250% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the credit facilities. The 5.250% Senior Notes represent general unsecured senior obligations and rank equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior debt. The 5.250% Senior Notes have interest payment dates of June 15 and December 15 of each year. The 5.250% Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on or after December 15, 2021 at applicable redemption premiums. The 5.250% Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default and mature on December 15, 2026. Substantially all of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s domestic subsidiaries serve as guarantors of the 5.250% Senior Notes.

Senior Notes - 6.625%

On December 15, 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro redeemed all $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of its outstanding 6.625% senior notes due 2020 (the “6.625% Senior Notes”) paying a redemption price of $213.2 million, comprised of $6.6 million of accrued and unpaid interest, $6.6 million of call premium and $200.0 million for outstanding principal amount. The $6.6 million call premium charge was recognized within the “Costs related to refinancing” line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Additionally, the Company had $2.2 million in unamortized bond discount and issuance costs associated with the 6.625% Senior Notes that were written off and recognized in the “Costs related to refinancing” line on the Consolidated Statement of Operations in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Senior Notes - 6.000%

On October 13, 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro issued $400.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.000% senior notes due 2023 (the “6.000% Senior Notes”). The net proceeds of the offering were used to repay outstanding borrowings under the former credit facility. The 6.000% Senior Notes represent general unsecured senior obligations and rank equal in right of payment with the Company’s existing and future unsecured senior debt. The 6.000% Senior Notes have interest payment dates of April 15 and October 15 of each year. The 6.000% Senior Notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, on or after October 15, 2018 at applicable redemption premiums. The 6.000% Senior Notes contain customary covenants and events of default and mature on October 15, 2023. Substantially all of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s domestic subsidiaries serve as guarantors of the 6.000% Senior Notes.

Receivables Facility

On September 25, 2015, the Company entered into an amended and restated master accounts receivable purchase agreement (the “MARP Agreement”). The MARP Agreement provided for the discretionary sale by the Company, and the discretionary purchase by the participating banks, on a revolving basis, of accounts receivable generated by sales to three specified debtors in an aggregate amount not to exceed $400.0 million. The MARP Agreement terminated effective October 14, 2016 in accordance with its terms upon the Company’s repayment of its outstanding obligations thereunder using $133.5 million borrowed under the credit agreement. There were $138.6 million in borrowings or receivables pledged as collateral under the MARP Agreement as of September 30, 2016. The carrying value of the receivables pledged as collateral was $174.7 million as of September 30, 2016.

93

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

On April 7, 2017, the Company entered into a Master Repurchase Agreement (including the annexes thereto, the “Repurchase Agreement”) and a Master Framework Agreement (the “Framework Agreement” and, together with the Repurchase Agreement, the “Receivables Facility”). Under the Receivables Facility, the Company may sell a portfolio of available and eligible outstanding customer accounts receivable to the purchasers and simultaneously agrees to repurchase the receivables on a weekly basis. The eligible accounts receivable consist of up to $250.0 million in accounts receivable generated by sales to three specified customers. The Receivables Facility is considered a secured financing with the customer accounts receivable, related contract rights and proceeds thereof (and the collection accounts into which the same are deposited) constituting the collateral therefor. The repurchase price for customer accounts receivable bears interest at LIBOR (with a zero floor), as defined in the Repurchase Agreement, plus 0.90%.

On August 25, 2017, the Company entered into Amendment No. 1 to Master Framework Agreement (“the Amendment”). The Amendment (i) extends the expiration date of the Receivables Facility from August 25, 2017 to August 24, 2018, (ii) defines the seasonal commitment period of the Receivables Facility as beginning on February 23, 2018 and ending on June 15, 2018, (iii) increases the eligible amount of customer accounts receivable which may be sold from up to $250.0 million to up to $400.0 million and (iv) increases the commitment amount of the Receivables Facility during the seasonal commitment period from up to$100.0 million to up to $160.0 million.

The Company accounts for the sale of receivables under the Receivables Facility as short-term debt and continues to carry the receivables on its Consolidated Balance Sheet, primarily as a result of the Company’s requirement to repurchase receivables sold. There were $80.0 million in borrowings or receivables pledged as collateral under the Receivables Facility as of September 30, 2017. The carrying value of the receivables pledged as collateral was $88.9 million as of September 30, 2017. As of September 30, 2017, there was $11.1 million of availability under the Receivables Facility.

Other

In connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in Gavita, the Company recorded a loan to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita. The fair value of the loan was $55.6 million and $38.3 million at September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016, respectively. The Company recorded a charge of $13.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 to write-up the fair value of the loan to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita to the agreed upon buyout value in the “Other non-operating expense” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Interest Rate Swap Agreements

The Company has outstanding interest rate swap agreements with major financial institutions that effectively convert a portion of the Company’s variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. The swap agreements had a total U.S. dollar equivalent notional amount of $1,100.0 million and $650.0 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Interest payments made between the effective date and expiration date are hedged by the swap agreements, except as noted below.

The notional amount, effective date, expiration date and rate of each of these swap agreements outstanding at September 30, 2017 are shown in the table below:

Notional Amount (in millions)			Effective Date (a)	Expiration Date	Fixed Rate
$	200		2/7/2014	11/7/2017	1.28	%
300		(b)	11/21/2016	6/20/2018	0.83	%
200		(b)	11/7/2016	8/7/2018	0.84	%
150		(c)	2/7/2017	5/7/2019	2.12	%
50		(c)	2/7/2017	5/7/2019	2.25	%
200		(d)	12/20/2016	6/20/2019	2.12	%

(a) The effective date refers to the date on which interest payments were first hedged by the applicable swap agreement.

(b) Notional amount adjusts in accordance with a specified seasonal schedule. This represents the maximum notional amount at any point in time.

(c) Interest payments made during the three-month period of each year that begins with the month and day of the effective date are hedged by the swap agreement.

(d) Interest payments made during the six-month period of each year that begins with the month and day of the effective date are hedged by the swap agreement.

94

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Estimated Fair Values

The methods and assumptions used to estimate the fair values of the Company’s debt instruments are described below:

Credit Facilities

The interest rate currently available to the Company fluctuates with the applicable LIBO rate, prime rate or Federal Funds Effective Rate and thus the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The fair value measurement for the credit facilities was classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

5.250% Senior Notes

The fair value of the 5.250% Senior Notes was determined based on the trading of the 5.250%  Senior Notes in the open market. The difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the 5.250%  Senior Notes represents the premium or discount on that date. The fair value measurement for the 5.250% Senior Notes was classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

6.000% Senior Notes

The fair value of the 6.000% Senior Notes was determined based on the trading of the 6.000% Senior Notes in the open market. The difference between the carrying value and the fair value of the 6.000% Senior Notes represents the premium or discount on that date. The fair value measurement for the 6.000% Senior Notes was classified in Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy.

Accounts Receivable Pledged

The interest rate on the short-term debt associated with accounts receivable pledged under the Receivables Facility fluctuated with the applicable LIBOR and thus the carrying value is a reasonable estimate of fair value. The fair value measurement for the Receivables Facility was classified in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The estimated fair values of the Company’s debt instruments are as follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017				2016
	Carrying Amount		Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Fair Value
	(In millions)
Revolving loans	$	300.5	$	300.5	$	323.2	$	323.2
Term loans	273.8		273.8		288.8		288.8
Senior Notes – 5.250%	250.0		264.4		—		—
Senior Notes – 6.000%	400.0		427.0		400.0		427.0
Receivables facility	80.0		80.0		138.6		138.6
Other	105.4		105.4		71.3		71.3

Weighted Average Interest Rate

The weighted average interest rates on the Company’s debt were 4.6% and 4.4% for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively.

95

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

NOTE 12.  EQUITY

Authorized and issued shares consisted of the following:

	September 30,
	2017	2016
	(In millions)
Preferred shares, no par value:
Authorized	0.2 shares	0.2 shares
Issued	0.0 shares	0.0 shares
Common shares, no par value, $.01 stated value per share:
Authorized	100.0 shares	100.0 shares
Issued	68.1 shares	68.1 shares

In fiscal 1995, The Scotts Company merged with Stern’s Miracle-Gro Products, Inc. (“Miracle-Gro”). At September 30, 2017, the former shareholders of Miracle-Gro, including the Hagedorn Partnership L.P., owned approximately 26% of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s outstanding Common Shares on a fully diluted basis and, thus, have the ability to significantly influence the election of directors and other actions requiring the approval of Scotts Miracle-Gro’s shareholders.

Under the terms of the merger agreement with Miracle-Gro, the former shareholders of Miracle-Gro may not collectively acquire, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of Voting Stock (as that term is defined in the Miracle-Gro merger agreement) representing more than 49% of the total voting power of the outstanding Voting Stock, except pursuant to a tender offer for 100% of that total voting power, which tender offer is made at a price per share which is not less than the market price per share on the last trading day before the announcement of the tender offer and is conditioned upon the receipt of at least 50% of the Voting Stock beneficially owned by shareholders of Scotts Miracle-Gro other than the former shareholders of Miracle-Gro and their affiliates and associates.

Share Repurchases

In August 2014, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $500.0 million of Common Shares over a five-year period (effective November 1, 2014 through September 30, 2019). On August 3, 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro announced that its Board of Directors authorized a $500.0 million increase to the share repurchase authorization ending on September 30, 2019. The amended authorization allows for repurchases of Common Shares of up to $1.0 billion through September 30, 2019. The authorization provides the Company with flexibility to purchase Common Shares from time to time in open market purchases or through privately negotiated transactions. All or part of the repurchases may be made under Rule 10b5-1 plans, which the Company may enter into from time to time and which enable the repurchases to occur on a more regular basis, or pursuant to accelerated share repurchases. The share repurchase authorization, which expires September 30, 2019, may be suspended or discontinued at any time, and there can be no guarantee as to the timing or amount of any repurchases. From the inception of this share repurchase program in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014 through September 30, 2017, Scotts Miracle-Gro repurchased approximately 4.8 million Common Shares for $391.5 million.

Exercise of Outstanding Aerogrow Warrants

On November 29, 2016, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary SMG Growing Media, Inc. fully exercised its outstanding warrants to acquire additional shares of common stock of AeroGrow for an aggregate warrant exercise price of $47.8 million in exchange for the issuance of 21.6 million shares of common stock of AeroGrow, which increased the Company’s percentage ownership of AeroGrow’s outstanding shares of common stock (on a fully diluted basis) from 45% to 80%. The financial results of AeroGrow have been consolidated into the Company’s consolidated financial statements since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014, when the Company obtained control of AeroGrow’s operations through increased involvement, influence and a working capital loan provided to AeroGrow. Following the exercise of the warrants, the Board of Directors of AeroGrow declared a $40.5 million distribution ($1.21 per share) payable on January 3, 2017 to shareholders of record on December 20, 2016. On January 3, 2017, AeroGrow paid a distribution of $8.1 million to its noncontrolling interest holders.

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Share-Based Awards

Scotts Miracle-Gro grants share-based awards annually to officers and certain other employees of the Company and non-employee directors of Scotts Miracle-Gro. The share-based awards have consisted of stock options, restricted stock units, deferred stock units and performance-based awards. All of these share-based awards have been made under plans approved by the shareholders. Generally, employee share-based awards provide for three-year cliff vesting. Vesting for non-employee director awards is generally one year from the time of the award. Vesting of performance-based awards is dependent on service and achievement of specified performance targets. Share-based awards are forfeited if a holder terminates employment or service with the Company prior to the vesting date, except in cases where employees are eligible for accelerated vesting based on having satisfied retirement requirements relating to age and years of service. The Company estimates that 15% to 20% of its share-based awards will be forfeited based on an analysis of historical trends. This assumption is re-evaluated on an annual basis and adjusted as appropriate. Stock options have exercise prices equal to the market price of the underlying Common Shares on the date of grant with a term of 10 years. All of these share-based awards have been made under plans approved by the shareholders. If available, Scotts Miracle-Gro will typically use treasury shares, or if not available, newly-issued Common Shares, in satisfaction of its share-based awards.

On January 30, 2017, the Company issued 0.5 million upfront performance-based award units, covering a five-year performance period, with an estimated fair value of $43.3 million on the date of grant to certain senior executives as part of its Project Focus initiative. These awards provide for a five-year vesting period based on achievement of specific performance goals aligned with the strategic objectives of the Company’s Project Focus initiatives. Based on the extent to which the targets are achieved, vested shares may range from 50 to 250 percent of the target award amount. The performance goals include a combination of five year cumulative operating cash flow less capital expenditures; five year average annual non-GAAP diluted EPS growth; and dividend yield. The Company assesses the probability of achievement of performance goals each period and records expense for the awards based on the probable achievement of such metrics. Performance-based award units accrue cash dividend equivalents that are payable upon vesting of the awards.

Subsequent to September 30, 2017, the Company issued 0.2 million upfront performance-based award units, covering a four-year performance period, with an estimated fair value of $20.2 million on the date of grant to certain Hawthorne employees as part of its Project Focus initiative. These awards provide for a vesting period of approximately four years based on achievement of specific performance goals aligned with the strategic objectives of the Company’s Project Focus initiatives. Based on the extent to which the targets are achieved, vested shares may range from 50 to 250 percent of the target award amount. The performance goal is based on cumulative Hawthorne non-GAAP adjusted earnings. Performance-based award units accrue cash dividend equivalents that are payable upon vesting of the awards.

A maximum of 7.3 million Common Shares are available for issuance under share-based award plans. At September 30, 2017, approximately 3.9 million Common Shares were not subject to outstanding awards and were available to underlie the grant of new share-based awards. Common Shares held in treasury totaling 0.5 million and 0.6 million were reissued in support of share-based compensation awards and employee purchases under the employee stock purchase plan during fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively.

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The following is a summary of the share-based awards granted during each of the periods indicated:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Employees
Options	—		444,890		440,690
Restricted stock units	109,708		74,467		78,463
Performance units	487,809		56,315		78,352
Board of Directors
Deferred stock units	24,291		28,621		29,913
Total share-based awards	621,808		604,293		627,418
Aggregate fair value at grant dates (in millions)	$	57.8	$	16.4	$	17.0

Total share-based compensation was as follows for each of the periods indicated: 

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Share-based compensation	$	25.2	$	15.6	$	13.2
Tax benefit recognized	9.8		6.0		5.1

As of September 30, 2017, total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested share-based awards amounted to $41.5 million. This cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.1 years. The tax benefit realized from the tax deductions associated with the exercise of share-based awards and the vesting of restricted stock totaled $20.5 million for fiscal 2017.

During fiscal 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro issued 0.2 million Common Shares, which represented a carrying value of $8.3 million, out of its treasury shares for payment of the acquisition of Vermicrop. During fiscal 2016, Scotts Miracle-Gro issued 0.1 million Common Shares, which represented a carrying value of $4.2 million, out of its treasury shares for payment of contingent consideration related to the acquisition of Vermicrop.

Stock Options

Aggregate stock option activity for fiscal 2017 was as follows: 

	No. of   Options		Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2016	1,801,041		$	51.38
Granted	—		—
Exercised	(268,943	)	40.81
Forfeited	(14,788	)	64.31
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2017	1,517,310		53.05
Exercisable	713,399		38.20

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At September 30, 2017, the Company expects 0.8 million of the remaining unexercisable stock options (after forfeitures), with a weighted-average exercise price of $66.17, intrinsic value of $24.3 million and average remaining term of 7.8 years, to vest in the future. The following summarizes certain information pertaining to stock option awards outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2017 (options in millions): 

	Awards Outstanding				Awards Exercisable
Range of Exercise Price	No. of Options	Wtd. Avg. Remaining Life	Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price		No. of Options	Wtd. Avg. Remaining Life	Wtd. Avg. Exercise Price
$20.59 – $20.59	0.2	1.01	$	20.59	0.2	1.01	$	20.59
$38.81 – $49.19	0.5	3.45	45.17		0.5	3.45	45.17
$63.43 – $68.68	0.8	7.86	66.24		—	0	—
	1.5	5.47	$	53.05	0.7	2.77	$	38.20

The intrinsic values of the stock option awards outstanding and exercisable at September 30, 2017 were as follows (in millions): 

	2017
Outstanding	$	67.2
Exercisable	42.2

The grant date fair value of stock option awards is estimated using a binomial model and the assumptions in the following table. Expected market price volatility is based on implied volatilities from traded options on Common Shares and historical volatility specific to the Common Shares. Historical data, including demographic factors impacting historical exercise behavior, is used to estimate stock option exercises and employee terminations within the valuation model. The risk-free rate for periods within the contractual life (normally ten years) of the stock option is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected life of stock options is based on historical experience and expectations for grants outstanding. No stock options were granted in fiscal 2017. The weighted average assumptions for awards granted in fiscal 2016 and 2015 are as follows: 

	2016			2015
Expected market price volatility	25.5		%	26.6		%
Risk-free interest rates	1.5		%	1.3		%
Expected dividend yield	2.7		%	2.8		%
Expected life of stock options in years	6.0			6.0
Estimated weighted-average fair value per stock option	$	12.33		$	11.51

The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised was $14.5 million, $13.6 million and $16.3 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. Cash received from the exercise of stock options for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 was $11.0 million, $14.7 million and $24.3 million, respectively.

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Restricted share-based awards

Restricted share-based award activity (including restricted stock units and deferred stock units) was as follows:

	No. of Shares		Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value per Share
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2014	433,892		$	52.55
Granted	108,376		63.85
Vested	(135,562	)	47.33
Forfeited	(25,197	)	58.44
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2015	381,509		57.22
Granted	103,088		69.00
Vested	(161,440	)	47.21
Forfeited	(17,494	)	60.18
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2016	305,663		66.31
Granted	133,999		92.70
Vested	(144,029	)	60.66
Forfeited	(4,114	)	72.40
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2017	291,519		81.15

The total fair value of restricted stock units and deferred stock units vested was $8.7 million, $7.6 million and $6.2 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Performance-based awards

Performance-based award activity was as follows (based on target award amounts):

	No. of Units		Wtd. Avg. Grant Date Fair Value per Unit
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2014	311,249		$	51.21
Granted	78,352		63.36
Vested	(49,467	)	47.66
Forfeited	(910	)	47.66
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2015	339,224		54.86
Granted	56,315		68.68
Vested	(128,941	)	45.06
Forfeited	—		—
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2016	266,598		62.52
Granted	487,809		92.95
Vested	(147,696	)	59.82
Forfeited	(9,778	)	65.39
Awards outstanding at September 30, 2017	596,933		88.01

NOTE 13.  EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE

Basic income per Common Share is computed by dividing income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations, income (loss) from discontinued operations or net income attributable to controlling interest by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding. Diluted income per Common Share is computed by dividing income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations, income (loss) from discontinued operations or net income attributable to controlling interest by the weighted average number of Common Shares outstanding plus all potentially dilutive securities outstanding each period. Stock options with exercise prices greater than the average market price of the underlying Common Shares are excluded from the computation of diluted income per Common Share because they are out-of-the-money and the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. There were no Common Shares covered by out-of-the-money options for the year ended September 30,

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2017, and 0.2 million and 0.3 million for the years ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The following table presents information necessary to calculate basic and diluted income per Common Share.

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016		2015
	(In millions, except per share data)
Income from continuing operations	$	198.3		$	246.1	$	128.7
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	(0.5		)	0.5		1.1
Income attributable to controlling interest from continuing operations	197.8			246.6		129.8
Income from discontinued operations	20.5			68.7		30.0
Net income attributable to controlling interest	$	218.3		$	315.3	$	159.8
BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
Weighted-average Common Shares outstanding during the period	59.4			61.1		61.1
Income from continuing operations	$	3.33		$	4.04	$	2.12
Income from discontinued operations	0.35			1.12		0.50
Net income	$	3.68		$	5.16	$	2.62
DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
Weighted-average Common Shares outstanding during the period	59.4			61.1		61.1
Dilutive potential Common Shares	0.8			0.9		1.1
Weighted-average number of Common Shares outstanding and dilutive potential Common Shares	60.2			62.0		62.2
Income from continuing operations	$	3.29		$	3.98	$	2.09
Income from discontinued operations	0.34			1.11		0.48
Net income	$	3.63		$	5.09	$	2.57

NOTE 14.  INCOME TAXES

The provision (benefit) for income taxes allocated to continuing operations consisted of the following:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Current:
Federal	$	104.5		$	89.7		$	66.9
State	12.4			11.8			8.1
Foreign	8.1			4.3			1.7
Total Current	125.0			105.8			76.7
Deferred:
Federal	(7.4		)	30.7			(1.3		)
State	(0.5		)	2.5			1.2
Foreign	(0.5		)	(1.4		)	(0.3		)
Total Deferred	(8.4		)	31.8			(0.4		)
Provision for income taxes	$	116.6		$	137.6		$	76.3

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The domestic and foreign components of income from continuing operations before income taxes were as follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Domestic	$	296.0	$	357.0	$	173.5
Foreign	18.9		26.7		31.5
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	314.9	$	383.7	$	205.0

A reconciliation of the federal corporate income tax rate and the effective tax rate on income from continuing operations before income taxes is summarized below:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Statutory income tax rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
Effect of foreign operations	3.1		0.3		0.9
State taxes, net of federal benefit	2.9		2.9		3.4
Domestic Production Activities Deduction permanent difference	(3.1	)	(2.5	)	(3.1	)
Effect of other permanent differences	0.4		0.4		0.1
Research and Experimentation and other federal tax credits	(0.4	)	(0.3	)	(0.3	)
Resolution of prior tax contingencies	0.9		(0.1	)	0.4
Other	(1.8	)	0.2		0.8
Effective income tax rate	37.0	%	35.9	%	37.2	%

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between financial reporting and tax reporting bases of assets and liabilities, and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards for tax purposes. The components of the deferred income tax assets and liabilities were as follows:

	September 30,
	2017			2016
	(In millions)
DEFERRED TAX ASSETS
Inventories	$	8.0		$	9.2
Accrued liabilities	58.9			41.8
Postretirement benefits	19.9			28.2
Accounts receivable	5.3			5.9
Federal NOL carryovers	20.3			—
State NOL carryovers	1.3			0.4
Foreign NOL carryovers	3.7			4.6
Foreign tax credit carryovers	7.6			7.4
Interest rate swaps	—			2.4
Other	(1.6		)	(0.5		)
Gross deferred tax assets	123.4			99.4
Valuation allowance	(29.7		)	(4.1		)
Total deferred tax assets	93.7			95.3
DEFERRED TAX LIABILITIES
Property, plant and equipment	(68.5		)	(65.5		)
Intangible assets	(127.5		)	(100.9		)
Outside basis difference in equity investments	(47.5		)	(83.5		)
Other	(7.7		)	(17.4		)
Total deferred tax liabilities	(251.2		)	(267.3		)
Net deferred tax liability	$	(157.5	)	$	(172.0	)

During fiscal 2017, the Company adopted accounting guidance that requires all deferred tax assets and liabilities to be classified as noncurrent on the balance sheet. The Company adopted this guidance on a retrospective basis effective September 30, 2017. As a result, deferred tax assets totaling $43.7 million have been presented as noncurrent and are included in other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2016. These amounts were previously reported within prepaid and other current assets.

GAAP requires that a valuation allowance be recorded against a deferred tax asset if it is more likely than not that the tax benefit associated with the asset will not be realized in the future. As shown in the table above, valuation allowances were recorded against $29.7 million and $4.1 million of deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Most of these valuation allowances relate to certain credits and net operating losses, as explained further below.

Foreign net operating losses of certain controlled foreign corporations were $14.4 million as of September 30, 2017, the majority of which have indefinite carryforward periods. Due to a history of losses in many of these entities, a full valuation allowance has also been placed against the statutory tax benefit associated with all but $2.0 million of these losses at September 30, 2017.

Foreign tax credits were $7.6 million and $7.4 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. A valuation allowance in the amount of $7.6 million has been established against those foreign tax credits the Company does not expect to utilize prior to their expiration.

The Company, through increased ownership of AeroGrow International, Inc. during fiscal 2017, may potentially utilize up to $63.2 million in federal net operating losses (NOLs) of AeroGrow International, Inc., subject to limitations under IRC §382 from current and prior ownership changes. The Company determined that $50.0 million of these NOLs will expire unutilized due to the closing of statutes of limitation and a valuation allowance has been established on these NOLs, accordingly. The Company

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

estimates that $11.4 million of the remaining $13.2 million of NOLs will be utilized as of the tax year ending September 30, 2018 with the remainder utilized gradually through the tax year ending September 30, 2032.

Deferred tax assets related to state net operating losses were $2.8 million as of September 30, 2017, with carryforward periods ranging from 5 to 20 years. Any losses not utilized within a specific state’s carryforward period will expire. A valuation allowance was recorded against $1.2 million of deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2017 for state net operating losses that the company does not expect to realize within their respective carryover periods. Tax benefits associated with state tax credits will expire if not utilized and amounted to $1.0 million and $0.7 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. A valuation allowance in the amount of $0.2 million has been established related to state credits the Company does not expect to utilize.

Deferred taxes have not been provided on unremitted earnings of $119.0 million for certain foreign subsidiaries and foreign corporate joint ventures as such earnings have been indefinitely reinvested. These foreign entities held cash and cash equivalents of $39.3 million and $39.9 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Our current plans do not demonstrate a need to, nor do we project we will, repatriate the retained earnings from these subsidiaries as the earnings are indefinitely reinvested. In the future, if we determine it is necessary to repatriate these funds, or we sell or liquidate any of these subsidiaries, we may be required to pay associated taxes on the repatriation. We may also be required to withhold foreign taxes depending on the foreign jurisdiction from which the funds are repatriated. The effective rate of tax on such repatriations may materially differ from the federal statutory tax rate and could have a material impact on tax expense in the year of repatriation. As such, the Company cannot reasonably estimate the amount of such a tax event.

The Company had $10.2 million, $5.1 million and $9.2 million of gross unrecognized tax benefits related to uncertain tax positions at September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Included in the September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 balances were $8.5 million, $3.5 million and $6.6 million, respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would have an impact on the effective tax rate.

A reconciliation of the unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Balance at beginning of year	$	5.1		$	9.2		$	11.2
Additions for tax positions of the current year	1.4			0.3			0.2
Additions for tax positions of prior years	3.9			1.9			4.1
Reductions for tax positions of prior years	(0.2		)	(2.6		)	(3.2		)
Settlements with tax authorities	0.9			(2.7		)	(2.7		)
Expiration of statutes of limitation	(0.9		)	(1.0		)	(0.4		)
Balance at end of year	$	10.2		$	5.1		$	9.2

The Company continues to recognize accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of the provision for income taxes. As of September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, the Company had $1.1 million, $1.1 million and $1.8 million accrued for the payment of interest that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. As of September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, the Company had $0.4 million, $0.5 million and $0.7 million accrued for the payment of penalties that, if recognized, would impact the effective tax rate. For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, the Company recognized a benefit of $1.7 million for tax interest and tax penalties in its Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company or one of its subsidiaries files income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. Subject to the following exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to examination by these tax authorities for fiscal years prior to 2014. The Company is currently under examination by the Internal Revenue Service and certain foreign and U.S. state and local tax authorities. The U.S. federal examination is limited to fiscal years 2011 2012, and 2013. With respect to the foreign jurisdictions, a German audit covering fiscal years 2009 through 2012 closed in the third quarter of fiscal 2017 with no material impact to the financial statements. In regard to the multiple U.S. state and local audits, the tax periods under examination are limited to fiscal years 2011 through 2015. In addition to the aforementioned audits, certain other tax deficiency notices and refund claims for previous years remain unresolved.

The Company currently anticipates that few of its open and active audits will be resolved within the next twelve months. The Company is unable to make a reasonably reliable estimate as to when or if cash settlements with taxing authorities may occur. Although audit outcomes and the timing of audit payments are subject to significant uncertainty, the Company does not anticipate

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

that the resolution of these tax matters or any events related thereto will result in a material change to its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 15.  DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company is exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates, currency exchange rates and commodity prices. To manage a portion of the volatility related to these exposures, the Company enters into various financial transactions. The utilization of these financial transactions is governed by policies covering acceptable counterparty exposure, instrument types and other hedging practices. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for speculative trading purposes.

Exchange Rate Risk Management

The Company uses currency forward contracts to manage the exchange rate risk associated with intercompany loans with foreign subsidiaries that are denominated in local currencies. At September 30, 2017, the notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts was $268.3 million, with a fair value of $1.8 million. At September 30, 2016, the notional amount of outstanding currency forward contracts was $165.8 million, with a fair value of $0.4 million. The fair value of currency forward contracts is determined using forward rates in commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the contracts. The outstanding contracts will mature over the next fiscal quarter.

Interest Rate Risk Management

The Company enters into interest rate swap agreements as a means to hedge its variable interest rate risk on debt instruments. Net amounts to be received or paid under the swap agreements are reflected as adjustments to interest expense. Since the interest rate swap agreements have been designated as hedging instruments, unrealized gains or losses resulting from adjusting these swaps to fair value are recorded as elements of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCI”) within the Consolidated Balance Sheets except for any ineffective portion of the change in fair value, which is immediately recorded in interest expense. The fair value of the swap agreements is determined based on the present value of the estimated future net cash flows using implied rates in the applicable yield curve as of the valuation date.

The Company has outstanding interest rate swap agreements with major financial institutions that effectively convert a portion of the Company’s variable-rate debt to a fixed rate. The swap agreements had a total U.S. dollar equivalent notional amount of $1,100.0 million and $650.0 million at September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Refer to “NOTE 11. DEBT” for the terms of the swap agreements outstanding at September 30, 2017. Included in the AOCI balance at September 30, 2017 was a gain of $0.2 million related to interest rate swap agreements that is expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months, consistent with the timing of the underlying hedged transactions.

Commodity Price Risk Management

The Company enters into hedging arrangements designed to fix the price of a portion of its projected future urea requirements. The contracts are designated as hedges of the Company’s exposure to future cash flow fluctuations associated with the cost of urea. The objective of the hedges is to mitigate the earnings and cash flow volatility attributable to the risk of changing prices. Since the contracts have been designated as hedging instruments, unrealized gains or losses resulting from adjusting these contracts to fair value are recorded as elements of AOCI within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Realized gains or losses remain as a component of AOCI until the related inventory is sold. Upon sale of the underlying inventory, the gain or loss is reclassified to cost of sales. Included in the AOCI balance at September 30, 2017 was a gain of $1.6 million related to urea derivatives that is expected to be reclassified to earnings during the next twelve months, consistent with the timing of the underlying hedged transactions.

The Company also uses derivatives to partially mitigate the effect of fluctuating diesel costs on operating results. These financial instruments are carried at fair value within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Changes in the fair value of derivative contracts that qualify for hedge accounting are recorded in AOCI except for any ineffective portion of the change in fair value, which is immediately recorded in earnings. The effective portion of the change in fair value remains as a component of AOCI until the related fuel is consumed, at which time the accumulated gain or loss on the derivative contract is reclassified to cost of sales. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recorded as an element of cost of sales. At September 30, 2017, there were no amounts included within AOCI.

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The Company had the following outstanding commodity contracts that were entered into to hedge forecasted purchases:

	September 30,
	2017	2016
Commodity
Urea	76,500 tons	40,500 tons
Diesel	5,586,000 gallons	6,384,000 gallons
Heating Oil	1,386,000 gallons	1,722,000 gallons

Fair Values of Derivative Instruments

The fair values of the Company’s derivative instruments were as follows:

		Assets / (Liabilities)
		2017			2016
Derivatives Designated As Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location	Fair Value
		(In millions)
Interest rate swap agreements	Prepaid and other current assets	$	1.3		$	—
	Other current liabilities	(0.8		)	(3.3		)
	Other liabilities	(0.4		)	(3.1		)
Commodity hedging instruments	Prepaid and other assets	3.2			—
	Other current liabilities	—			(0.3		)
Total derivatives designated as hedging instruments		$	3.3		$	(6.7	)
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments	Balance Sheet Location
Currency forward contracts	Prepaid and other current assets	$	2.0		$	1.2
	Other current liabilities	(0.2		)	(0.8		)
Commodity hedging instruments	Prepaid and other current assets	0.6			—
	Other current liabilities	—			(0.1		)
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments		2.4			0.3
Total derivatives		$	5.7		$	(6.4	)

The effect of derivative instruments on AOCI and the Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended September 30 was as follows:

	Amount Of Gain / (Loss) Recognized In AOCI
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Interest rate swap agreements	$	2.2	$	(0.9	)
Commodity hedging instruments	2.7		(0.6		)
Total	$	4.9	$	(1.5	)

	Reclassified From AOCI Into	Amount Of Gain / (Loss)
Derivatives In Cash Flow Hedging Relationships	Statement Of Operations	2017			2016
		(In millions)
Interest rate swap agreements	Interest expense	$	(1.7	)	$	(5.0	)
Commodity hedging instruments	Cost of sales	(0.1		)	(0.8		)
Total		$	(1.8	)	$	(5.8	)

106

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	Recognized In	Amount Of Gain / (Loss)
Derivatives Not Designated As Hedging Instruments	Statement of Operations	2017		2016
		(In millions)
Currency forward contracts	Other income, net	$	0.1	$	(8.0	)
Commodity hedging instruments	Cost of sales	0.7		(2.8		)
Total		$	0.8	$	(10.8	)

NOTE 16.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

Fair value is defined as the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or the most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. A three-level fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The hierarchy requires entities to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The three levels of inputs used to measure fair value are as follows:

Level 1 — Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2 — Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 — Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. This includes pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies and similar techniques that use significant unobservable inputs.

The following describes the valuation methodologies used for financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as the general classification within the valuation hierarchy.

Derivatives

Derivatives consist of currency, interest rate and commodity derivative instruments. Currency forward contracts are valued using observable forward rates in commonly quoted intervals for the full term of the contracts. Interest rate swap agreements are valued based on the present value of the estimated future net cash flows using implied rates in the applicable yield curve as of the valuation date. Commodity contracts are measured using observable commodity exchange prices in active markets.

These derivative instruments are classified within Level 2 of the valuation hierarchy and are included within other assets and other liabilities in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheets, except for derivative instruments expected to be settled within the next 12 months, which are included within prepaid and other current assets and other current liabilities.

Cash Equivalents

Cash equivalents consist of highly liquid financial instruments with original maturities of three months or less. The carrying value of these cash equivalents approximates fair value due to their short-term maturities.

Other

Other consists of investment securities in non-qualified retirement plan assets and the Bonnie Option. Investment securities in non-qualified retirement plan assets are valued using observable market prices in active markets and are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy. The fair value of the Bonnie Option is determined using a simulation approach, whereby the total value of the loan receivable and optional exchange for additional equity was estimated considering a distribution of possible future cash flows discounted to present value using an appropriate discount rate, and is classified in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of a loan provided to the noncontrolling ownership group of Gavita. The Company recorded a charge of $13.4 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 to write-up the fair value of the loan to the agreed upon buyout value in the “Other non-operating expense” line in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. The estimate requires subjective assumptions to be made, including those related to future business results and discount rates. The fair value measurement is based on significant inputs unobservable in the market and thus represents a Level 3 measurement. 

107

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2017:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
	(In millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	26.2	$	—		$	—		$	26.2
Derivatives
Interest rate swap agreements	—		1.3			—			1.3
Currency forward contracts	—		2.0			—			2.0
Commodity hedging instruments	—		3.8			—			3.8
Other	15.7		—			11.8			27.5
Total	$	41.9	$	7.1		$	11.8		$	60.8
Liabilities
Derivatives
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(1.2	)	$	—		$	(1.2	)
Currency forward contracts	—		(0.2		)	—			(0.2		)
Long-term debt	—		—			(55.6		)	(55.6		)
Total	$	—	$	(1.4	)	$	(55.6	)	$	(57.0	)

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis at September 30, 2016:

	Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
	(In millions)
Assets
Cash equivalents	$	11.5	$	—		$	—		$	11.5
Derivatives
Currency forward contracts	—		1.2			—			1.2
Other	11.8		—			10.9			22.7
Total	$	23.3	$	1.2		$	10.9		$	35.4
Liabilities
Derivatives
Interest rate swap agreements	$	—	$	(6.4	)	$	—		$	(6.4	)
Currency forward contracts	—		(0.8		)	—			(0.8		)
Commodity hedging instruments	—		(0.4		)	—			(0.4		)
Long-term debt	—		—			(38.3		)	(38.3		)
Total	$	—	$	(7.6	)	$	(38.3	)	$	(45.9	)

108

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

NOTE 17.  OPERATING LEASES

The Company leases certain property and equipment from third parties under various non-cancelable operating lease agreements. Certain lease agreements contain renewal and purchase options. The lease agreements generally require that the Company pay taxes, insurance and maintenance expenses related to the leased assets. Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases at September 30, 2017, were as follows (in millions):

2018	$	40.3
2019	35.7
2020	28.7
2021	21.2
2022	11.8
Thereafter	9.8
Total future minimum lease payments	$	147.5

The Company also leases certain vehicles (primarily cars and light trucks) under agreements that are cancelable after the first year, but typically continue on a month-to-month basis until canceled by the Company. The vehicle leases and certain other non-cancelable operating leases contain residual value guarantees that create a contingent obligation on the part of the Company to compensate the lessor if the leased asset cannot be sold for an amount in excess of a specified minimum value at the conclusion of the lease term. If all such vehicle leases had been canceled as of September 30, 2017, the Company’s residual value guarantee would have approximated $3.6 million.

Other residual value guarantee amounts that apply at the conclusion of non-cancelable lease terms are as follows:

	Amount of Guarantee		Lease Termination Date
	(In millions)
Corporate aircraft	$	27.0	2019

Rent expense for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 totaled $53.6 million, $51.3 million and $48.3 million, respectively.

NOTE 18.  COMMITMENTS

The Company has the following unconditional purchase obligations due during each of the next five fiscal years that have not been recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2017 (in millions):

2018	$	157.2
2019	83.0
2020	31.9
2021	20.7
2022	12.3
Thereafter	2.1
	$	307.2

Purchase obligations primarily represent commitments for materials used in the Company’s manufacturing processes, as well as commitments for warehouse services, grass seed and out-sourced information services. In addition, the Company leases certain property and equipment from third parties under various non-cancelable operating lease agreements. Future minimum lease payments for non-cancelable operating leases not included above are included in “NOTE 17. OPERATING LEASES.”

109

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

NOTE 19.  CONTINGENCIES

Management regularly evaluates the Company’s contingencies, including various lawsuits and claims which arise in the normal course of business, product and general liabilities, workers’ compensation, property losses and other liabilities for which the Company is self-insured or retains a high exposure limit. Self-insurance accruals are established based on actuarial loss estimates for specific individual claims plus actuarially estimated amounts for incurred but not reported claims and adverse development factors applied to existing claims. Legal costs incurred in connection with the resolution of claims, lawsuits and other contingencies generally are expensed as incurred. In the opinion of management, the assessment of contingencies is reasonable and related accruals, in the aggregate, are adequate; however, there can be no assurance that final resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

Regulatory Matters

At September 30, 2017, $4.8 million was accrued in the “Other liabilities” line in the Consolidated Balance Sheet for environmental actions, the majority of which are for site remediation. The amounts accrued are believed to be adequate to cover such known environmental exposures based on current facts and estimates of likely outcomes. Although it is reasonably possible that the costs to resolve such known environmental exposures will exceed the amounts accrued, any variation from accrued amounts is not expected to be material.

Other

The Company has been named as a defendant in a number of cases alleging injuries that the lawsuits claim resulted from exposure to asbestos-containing products, apparently based on the Company’s historic use of vermiculite in certain of its products. In many of these cases, the complaints are not specific about the plaintiffs’ contacts with the Company or its products. The cases vary, but complaints in these cases generally seek unspecified monetary damages (actual, compensatory, consequential and punitive) from multiple defendants. The Company believes that the claims against it are without merit and is vigorously defending against them. It is not currently possible to reasonably estimate a probable loss, if any, associated with these cases and, accordingly, no accruals have been recorded in the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company is reviewing agreements and policies that may provide insurance coverage or indemnity as to these claims and is pursuing coverage under some of these agreements and policies, although there can be no assurance of the results of these efforts. There can be no assurance that these cases, whether as a result of adverse outcomes or as a result of significant defense costs, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

In connection with the sale of wild bird food products that were the subject of a voluntary recall in 2008, the Company, along with its Chief Executive Officer, have been named as defendants in four actions filed on and after June 27, 2012, which have been consolidated, and, on March 31, 2017, certified as a class action in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California as In re Morning Song Bird Food Litigation, Lead Case No. 3:12-cv-01592-JAH-AGS. The plaintiffs allege various statutory and common law claims associated with the Company’s sale of wild bird food products and a plea agreement entered into in previously pending government proceedings associated with such sales. The plaintiffs allege, among other things, a class action on behalf of all persons and entities in the United States who purchased certain bird food products. The plaintiffs assert: (i) hundreds of millions of dollars in monetary damages (actual, compensatory, consequential, and restitution); (ii) punitive and treble damages; (iii) injunctive and declaratory relief; (iv) pre-judgment and post-judgment interest; and (v) costs and attorneys’ fees. The Company and its Chief Executive Officer dispute the plaintiffs’ assertions and intend to vigorously defend the consolidated action. At this point in the proceedings, it is not currently possible to reasonably estimate a probable loss, if any, associated with the action and, accordingly, no accruals have been recorded in the consolidated financial statements with respect to the action. There can be no assurance that this action, whether as a result of an adverse outcome or as a result of significant defense costs, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

The Company is involved in other lawsuits and claims which arise in the normal course of business. These claims individually and in the aggregate are not expected to result in a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 20.  CONCENTRATIONS OF CREDIT RISK

The Company maintains cash depository accounts with major financial institutions around the world and invests in high quality, short-term liquid investments. Such investments are made only in investments issued by highly rated institutions. These investments mature within three months and have not historically incurred any losses.

110

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Trade accounts receivable are exposed to a concentration of credit risk with customers principally located in the United States. The Company’s customers include home centers, mass merchandisers, warehouse clubs, large hardware chains, independent hardware stores, nurseries, garden centers, food and drug stores, indoor gardening and hydroponic product distributors and retailers. Concentrations of net sales and accounts receivable in the United States as a percentage of consolidated net sales and accounts receivable at September 30 were as follows:

	Percentage of Net Sales						Percentage of Net Accounts Receivable at September 30,
	2017		2016		2015		2017		2016
Concentration in United States	90	%	92	%	93	%	83	%	91	%

The remainder of the Company’s net sales and accounts receivable at September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were generated from customers located outside of the United States, primarily retailers, distributors and nurseries in Europe and Canada. No concentrations of these customers or individual customers within this group accounted for more than 10% of the Company’s net sales or accounts receivable for any period presented above.

The Company’s three largest customers are the only customers that individually represent more than 10% of reported consolidated net sales and accounts receivable for each of the last three fiscal years. These three customers accounted for the following percentages of net sales for the fiscal years ended September 30:

	Percentage of Net Sales
	2017		2016		2015
Home Depot	35	%	38	%	38	%
Lowe’s	17	%	19	%	19	%
Walmart	9	%	12	%	14	%

Accounts receivable for these three largest customers as a percentage of consolidated accounts receivable were 60% and 69% for September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

NOTE 21.  OTHER INCOME, NET

Other (income) expense consisted of the following:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Royalty income, net	$	(4.8	)	$	(5.9	)	$	(1.2	)
Interest on loans receivable	(10.0		)	(3.9		)	—
Foreign currency losses	0.8			0.3			1.3
Other	(2.6		)	(4.3		)	(2.3		)
Total	$	(16.6	)	$	(13.8	)	$	(2.2	)

NOTE 22.  SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company divides its business into three reportable segments: U.S. Consumer, Hawthorne and Other. U.S. Consumer consists of the Company’s consumer lawn and garden business located in the geographic United States. Hawthorne consists of the Company’s indoor, urban and hydroponic gardening business. Other consists of the Company’s consumer lawn and garden business in geographies other than the U.S. and the Company’s product sales to commercial nurseries, greenhouses and other professional customers. Corporate consists of general and administrative expenses and certain other income/expense items not allocated to the business segments. This identification of reportable segments is consistent with how the segments report to and are managed by the chief operating decision maker of the Company. These segments differ from those used in prior periods due to the change in the Company’s internal organization structure resulting from the Company’s divestiture of the International Business, which closed on August 31, 2017. As a result, effective in its fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the International Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities of the International Business as held for sale. The prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the new segments.

111

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

This change in organization structure resulted in a change in the Company’s operating segments and reporting units. The Company allocated goodwill to the new reporting units using a relative fair value approach, resulting in $17.3 million of goodwill reallocated from the Hawthorne segment to the U.S. Consumer segment during fiscal 2017. In addition, the Company completed an assessment of any potential goodwill impairment immediately prior to the allocation and determined that no impairment existed.

Segment performance is evaluated based on several factors, including income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, amortization, impairment, restructuring and other charges (“Segment Profit (Loss)”). Senior management uses this measure of profit (loss) to evaluate segment performance because the Company believes this measure is indicative of performance trends and the overall earnings potential of each segment.

The following tables present summarized financial information concerning the Company’s reportable segments for the periods indicated:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017			2016			2015
	(In millions)
Net sales:
U.S. Consumer	$	2,160.5		$	2,204.4		$	2,144.8
Hawthorne	287.2			121.2			48.0
Other	194.4			180.6			178.3
Consolidated	$	2,642.1		$	2,506.2		$	2,371.1
Segment Profit (Loss):
U.S. Consumer	$	521.5		$	493.7		$	436.1
Hawthorne	35.5			11.8			0.1
Other	13.4			10.4			10.8
Total Segment Profit	570.4			515.9			447.0
Corporate	(109.6		)	(98.9		)	(102.5		)
Intangible asset amortization	(22.5		)	(14.9		)	(10.5		)
Impairment, restructuring and other	(4.9		)	33.8			(80.2		)
Equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates (a)	(29.0		)	19.5			—
Costs related to refinancing	—			(8.8		)	—
Interest expense	(76.1		)	(62.9		)	(48.8		)
Other non-operating expense	(13.4		)	—			—
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	$	314.9		$	383.7		$	205.0
Depreciation and amortization:
U.S. Consumer	$	47.9		$	48.1		$	45.8
Hawthorne	18.4			9.2			3.6
Other	7.5			5.0			4.1
	$	73.8		$	62.3		$	53.5
Capital expenditures:
U.S. Consumer	$	53.4		$	46.3		$	52.5
Hawthorne	7.1			1.2			—
Other	5.0			6.3			2.4
	$	65.5		$	53.8		$	54.9

(a) Included within equity in income (loss) of unconsolidated affiliates for fiscal 2017 are charges of $25.2 million, which represent the Company’s share of restructuring and other charges incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture, including a charge of $7.2 million related to costs associated with TruGreen’s August 2017 refinancing. For fiscal 2016, the Company’s share of restructuring and other charges incurred by the TruGreen Joint Venture of $11.7 million were included within impairment, restructuring and other above.

112

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Total assets:
U.S. Consumer	$	1,650.3	$	1,672.8
Hawthorne	648.0		393.7
Other	150.7		140.6
Corporate	298.0		292.5
Assets held for sale	—		256.2
Consolidated	$	2,747.0	$	2,755.8

The following table presents net sales by product category:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
Net sales:
Lawn care	30	%	31	%	33	%
Growing media	34		38		39
Controls	13		13		14
Indoor, urban and hydroponic gardening	11		5		2
Roundup® Marketing Agreement	5		5		5
Other, primarily gardening and landscape	7		8		7
Segment total product sales	100	%	100	%	100	%

The following table presents net sales by geographic area:

	Year Ended September 30,
	2017		2016		2015
	(In millions)
Net sales:
United States	$	2,385.1	$	2,314.8	$	2,209.4
International	257.0		191.4		161.7
	$	2,642.1	$	2,506.2	$	2,371.1

The following table presents long-lived assets (property, plant and equipment and finite-lived intangibles) by geographic area:

	September 30,
	2017		2016
	(In millions)
Long-lived assets:
United States	$	586.2	$	527.5
International	194.8		171.8
	$	781.0	$	699.3

113

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

NOTE 23.  QUARTERLY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)

The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations:

	First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter		Fourth Quarter			Full Year
	(In millions, except per share data)
FISCAL 2017
Net sales	$	207.4		$	1,084.6		$	973.4	$	376.7		$	2,642.1
Gross profit	36.8			464.3			383.4		88.1			972.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(58.1		)	154.1			144.6		(42.3		)	198.3
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(6.8		)	11.1			7.3		8.9			20.5
Net income (loss)	(64.9		)	165.2			151.9		(33.4		)	218.8
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	(65.3		)	165.1			151.9		(33.4		)	218.3
Basic income (loss) per Common Share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.97	)	$	2.58		$	2.44	$	(0.72	)	$	3.33
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.12		)	0.18			0.13		0.15			0.35
Basic net income (loss) per Common Share	$	(1.09	)	$	2.76		$	2.57	$	(0.57	)	$	3.68
Common Shares used in basic EPS calculation	60.1			59.8			59.2		58.4			59.4
Diluted income (loss) per Common Share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	(0.97	)	$	2.55		$	2.41	$	(0.72	)	$	3.29
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.12		)	0.18			0.12		0.15			0.34
Diluted net income (loss) per Common Share	$	(1.09	)	$	2.73		$	2.53	$	(0.57	)	$	3.63
Common Shares and dilutive potential Common Shares used in diluted EPS calculation	60.1			60.6			60.0		58.4			60.2
FISCAL 2016
Net sales	$	153.0		$	1,117.2		$	887.1	$	348.7		$	2,506.2
Gross profit	7.9			476.1			324.0		92.2			900.3
Income (loss) from continuing operations	(73.4		)	213.2			117.7		(11.3		)	246.1
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(7.4		)	(3.4		)	95.0		(15.6		)	68.7
Net income (loss)	(80.8		)	209.8			212.7		(26.9		)	314.8
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	(81.3		)	210.1			213.1		(26.6		)	315.3
Basic income (loss) per Common Share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.20	)	$	3.48		$	1.93	$	(0.18	)	$	4.04
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.06		)	1.56		(0.26		)	1.12
Basic net income (loss) per Common Share	$	(1.32	)	$	3.42		$	3.49	$	(0.44	)	$	5.16
Common Shares used in basic EPS calculation	61.5			61.4			61.1		60.6			61.1
Diluted income (loss) per Common Share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations	$	(1.20	)	$	3.43		$	1.91	$	(0.18	)	$	3.98
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(0.12		)	(0.05		)	1.53		(0.26		)	1.11
Diluted net income (loss) per Common Share	$	(1.32	)	$	3.38		$	3.44	$	(0.44	)	$	5.09
Common Shares and dilutive potential Common Shares used in diluted EPS calculation	61.5			62.2			61.9		60.6			62.0

The sum of the quarters may not equal full year due to rounding.

114

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

Common share equivalents, such as share-based awards, are excluded from the diluted loss per Common Share calculation in periods where there is a loss from continuing operations because the effect of their inclusion would be anti-dilutive. The Company’s business is highly seasonal, with in excess of 75% of net sales occurring in the second and third fiscal quarters.

Significant impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries reflected in the quarterly financial information during fiscal 2017 are as follows: first quarter restructuring costs of $2.0 million from discontinued operations including $0.6 million in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business and $1.4 million in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business; second quarter restructuring costs of $3.4 million from discontinued operations including $0.1 million in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business and $3.3 million in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business; third quarter restructuring costs of $4.2 million from discontinued operations including $0.1 million in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business and $4.1 million in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business; and fourth quarter restructuring costs of $11.2 million including costs of $8.3 million from continuing operations and recoveries of $0.4 million from discontinued operations related to termination benefits and facility closure costs associated with Project Focus, recovery of $4.4 million from continuing operations related to the reduction of a contingent consideration liability associated with a historical acquisition, an impairment charge of $1.0 million from continuing operations on the write-off of a trademark asset due to recent performance and future growth expectations, and costs of $6.7 million from discontinued operations for transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business.

Significant impairment, restructuring and other charges / recoveries reflected in the quarterly financial information during fiscal 2016 are as follows: first quarter restructuring costs of $9.3 million including costs of $5.4 million from continuing operations related to consumer complaints and claims related to the reformulated Bonus^® S fertilizer product sold in the southeastern United States during fiscal 2015, costs of $3.0 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business and costs of $0.9 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business; second quarter net recoveries of $36.7 million including net insurance reimbursement recoveries of $49.0 million from continuing operations related to Bonus^® S insurance reimbursements, a charge of $9.0 million from discontinued operations for the resolution of a prior SLS Business litigation matter, $1.6 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the divestiture of the SLS Business and costs of $1.7 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business; third quarter net recoveries of $6.0 million including net insurance reimbursement recoveries of $5.4 million from continuing operations related to Bonus^® S insurance reimbursements, recoveries of $0.3 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business, and recoveries of $0.3 million from continuing operations in net recoveries related to termination benefits and facility closure costs associated with Project Focus; and fourth quarter restructuring costs of $7.5 million including net recoveries of $0.5 million from continuing operations related to Bonus^® S insurance reimbursements, costs of $0.2 million from discontinued operations in transaction related costs associated with the sale of the International Business, and costs of $4.2 million from continuing operations and $3.6 million from discontinued operations related to termination benefits and facility closure costs associated with Project Focus.

NOTE 24.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS AND NON-GUARANTORS

The 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes were issued on October 13, 2015 and December 15, 2016, respectively, and are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries and, therefore, the Company reports condensed consolidating financial information in accordance with SEC Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, Financial Statements of Guarantors and Issuers of Guaranteed Securities Registered or Being Registered. On January 15, 2014 and December 15, 2015, Scotts Miracle-Gro redeemed, respectively, all of its outstanding $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes and $200.0 million aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Notes, each of which were previously guaranteed by certain of its domestic subsidiaries. The guarantees are “full and unconditional,” as those terms are used in Regulation S-X Rule 3-10, except that a subsidiary’s guarantee will be released in certain customary circumstances, such as (1) upon any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the subsidiary (including by way of merger or consolidation) to any person other than Scotts Miracle-Gro or any “restricted subsidiary” under the indentures governing the 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes; (2) if the subsidiary merges with and into Scotts Miracle-Gro, with Scotts Miracle-Gro surviving such merger; (3) if the subsidiary is designated an “unrestricted subsidiary” in accordance with the indentures governing the 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes or otherwise ceases to be a “restricted subsidiary” (including by way of liquidation or dissolution) in a transaction permitted by such indenture; (4) upon legal or covenant defeasance; (5) at the election of Scotts Miracle-Gro following the subsidiary’s release as a guarantor under the new credit agreement, except a release by or as a result of the repayment of the new credit agreement; or (6) if the subsidiary ceases to be a “restricted subsidiary” and the subsidiary is not otherwise required to provide a guarantee of the 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes pursuant to the indentures governing the 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes.

115

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)

The following 100% directly or indirectly owned subsidiaries fully and unconditionally guarantee at September 30, 2017 the 6.000% and 5.250% Senior Notes on a joint and several basis: Gutwein & Co., Inc.; Hyponex Corporation; Miracle-Gro Lawn Products, Inc.; OMS Investments, Inc.; Rod McLellan Company; Sanford Scientific, Inc.; Scotts Temecula Operations, LLC; Scotts Manufacturing Company; Scotts Products Co.; Scotts Professional Products Co.; Scotts-Sierra Investments LLC; SMG Growing Media, Inc.; Swiss Farms Products, Inc.; SMGM LLC; The Scotts Company LLC; The Hawthorne Gardening Company; Hawthorne Hydroponics LLC; HGCI, Inc.; GenSource, Inc.; and SLS Holdings, Inc. (collectively, the “Guarantors”). Effective in the three-month period ending July 1, 2017, American Agritech, L.L.C. was merged into Hawthorne Hydroponics LLC, and has been classified as a Guarantor for all periods presented. Effective in the three-month period ending July 2, 2016, the SLS Business was contributed to the TruGreen Joint Venture and the Company classified its results of operations for all periods presented to reflect the SLS Business as a discontinued operation and classified the assets and liabilities as held for sale within the financial information of the Guarantors. Subsequent to their contribution to the TruGreen Joint Venture, EG Systems, LLC (formerly known as EG Systems, Inc.) and SLS Franchise Systems LLC are no longer Guarantors of the 6.000% Senior Notes. SLS Holdings, Inc. was added as a Guarantor effective in the three-month period ending July 2, 2016, and HGCI, Inc. and GenSource, Inc. were added as Guarantors effective in the three-month period ending January 2, 2016, and have been classified as Guarantors for all periods presented. SLS Holdings, Inc., HGCI, Inc. and GenSource, Inc. did not have any activity for fiscal 2016.

The following information presents Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations for each of the three years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for each of the three years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three years ended September 30, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2017 and 2016. The condensed consolidating financial information presents, in separate columns, financial information for: Scotts Miracle-Gro on a Parent-only basis, carrying its investment in subsidiaries under the equity method; Guarantors on a combined basis, carrying their investments in subsidiaries which do not guarantee the debt (collectively, the “Non-Guarantors”) under the equity method; Non-Guarantors on a combined basis; and eliminating entries. The eliminating entries primarily reflect intercompany transactions, such as interest expense, accounts receivable and payable, short and long-term debt, and the elimination of equity investments, return on investments and income in subsidiaries. Because the Parent is obligated to pay the unpaid principal amount and interest on all amounts borrowed by the Guarantors or Non-Guarantors under the credit facility (and was obligated to pay the unpaid principal amount and interest on all amounts borrowed by the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors under the previous senior secured five-year revolving loan facility), the borrowings and related interest expense for the loans outstanding of the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors are also presented in the accompanying Parent-only financial information, and are then eliminated. Included in the Parent Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016 are $909.4 million and $934.4 million, respectively, of dividends paid by the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors to the Parent representing return of investments and as such are classified within cash flows from investing activities. Included in the Parent Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows for fiscal 2015 are $255.5 million of dividends paid by the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors to the Parent representing return on investments and as such are classified within cash flows from operating activities.

116

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	—		$	2,308.4		$	333.7		$	—		$	2,642.1
Cost of sales	—			1,415.8			253.7			—			1,669.5
Gross profit	—			892.6			80.0			—			972.6
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	—			480.4			69.1			1.4			550.9
Impairment, restructuring and other	—			4.5			0.4			—			4.9
Other (income) loss, net	(0.8		)	(14.2		)	(1.6		)	—			(16.6		)
Income (loss) from operations	0.8			421.9			12.1			(1.4		)	433.4
Equity (income) loss in subsidiaries	(250.4		)	(15.5		)	—			265.9			—
Other non-operating (income) loss	(20.7		)	—			(21.4		)	42.1			—
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates	—			29.8			(0.8		)	—			29.0
Interest expense	70.1			43.8			4.3			(42.1		)	76.1
Other non-operating expense	—			—			13.4			—			13.4
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	201.8			363.8			16.6			(267.3		)	314.9
Income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations	(18.0		)	128.5			6.1			—			116.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations	219.8			235.3			10.5			(267.3		)	198.3
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			(0.7		)	21.2			—			20.5
Net income (loss)	$	219.8		$	234.6		$	31.7		$	(267.3	)	$	218.8
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			(0.5		)	(0.5		)
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$	219.8		$	234.6		$	31.7		$	(267.8	)	$	218.3

117

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

for the twelve months endedSeptember 30, 2017

(In millions)

	Parent		Subsidiary Guarantors		Non- Guarantors		Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	219.8	$	234.6	$	31.7	$	(267.3	)	$	218.8
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	28.2		—		28.2		(28.2		)	28.2
Net change in derivatives	6.7		2.8		—		(2.8		)	6.7
Net change in pension and other post-retirement benefits	13.2		3.7		9.5		(13.2		)	13.2
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	48.1		6.5		37.7		(44.2		)	48.1
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	267.9	$	241.1	$	69.4	$	(311.5	)	$	266.9
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		(0.9		)	(0.9		)
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$	267.9	$	241.1	$	69.4	$	(312.4	)	$	266.0

118

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES(a)	$	(48.3	)	$	462.2		$	(16.1	)	$	(43.8	)	$	354.0
INVESTING ACTIVITIES(a)
Proceeds from sale of long-lived assets	—			5.6			0.1			—			5.7
Proceeds from sale of business, net of cash disposed of	—			178.6			1.7			—			180.3
Investments in property, plant and equipment	—			(59.5		)	(10.1		)	—			(69.6		)
Investments in loans receivable	—			(29.7		)	—			—			(29.7		)
Net distributions from (investments in) unconsolidated affiliates	—			87.1			(29.7		)	—			57.4
Investments in acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	—			(112.5		)	(9.2		)	—			(121.7		)
Return of investments from affiliates	909.4			32.4			—			(941.8		)	—
Investing cash flows from (to) affiliates	(759.9		)	(208.6		)	—			968.5			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	149.5			(106.6		)	(47.2		)	26.7			22.4
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			1,196.1			253.2			—			1,449.3
Repayments under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			(1,319.6		)	(298.7		)	—			(1,618.3		)
Proceeds from issuance of 5.250% Senior Notes	250.0			—			—			—			250.0
Financing and issuance fees	(3.8		)	(0.6		)	—			—			(4.4		)
Dividends paid	(120.3		)	(909.4		)	(43.8		)	953.2			(120.3		)
Distribution paid by AeroGrow to noncontrolling interest	—			—			(40.5		)	32.4			(8.1		)
Purchase of Common Shares	(246.0		)	—			—			—			(246.0		)
Payments on seller notes	—			(15.5		)	(13.2		)	—			(28.7		)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	7.9			—			—			—			7.9
Cash received from exercise of stock options	11.0			—			—			—			11.0
Financing cash flows from (to) affiliates	—			730.5			238.0			(968.5		)	—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(101.2		)	(318.5		)	95.0			17.1			(307.6		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			1.6			—			1.6
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	—			37.1			33.3			—			70.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year excluding cash classified within assets held for sale	—			2.7			25.9			—			28.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year classified within assets held for sale	—			—			21.5			—			21.5
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	—			2.7			47.4			—			50.1
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	—		$	39.8		$	80.7		$	—		$	120.5

(a) Cash received by the Parent from the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $909.4 million represent return of investments and are included in cash flows from investing activities. Cash received by the Parent from the Guarantors and Non-Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $28.8 million represent return on investments and are included in cash flows from operating activities. Cash received by the Guarantors from the Non-Guarantors in the form of distributions in the amount of $32.4 million represent return of investments and are included in cash flows from investing activities. Cash received by the Guarantors from the Non-Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $15.0 million represent return on investments and are included in cash flows from operating activities.

119

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2017

(in millions)

	Parent		Subsidiary Guarantors		Non- Guarantors		Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	39.8	$	80.7	$	—		$	120.5
Accounts receivable, net	—		137.6		60.1		—			197.7
Accounts receivable pledged	—		88.9		—		—			88.9
Inventories	—		314.0		93.5		—			407.5
Prepaid and other current assets	1.3		43.4		22.4		—			67.1
Total current assets	1.3		623.7		256.7		—			881.7
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—		—		31.1		—			31.1
Property, plant and equipment, net	—		406.4		61.3		—			467.7
Goodwill	—		320.7		109.3		11.6			441.6
Intangible assets, net	—		606.3		133.8		8.8			748.9
Other assets	8.1		158.3		9.6		—			176.0
Equity investment in subsidiaries	1,112.8		—		—		(1,112.8		)	—
Intercompany assets	759.7		—		—		(759.7		)	—
Total assets	$	1,881.9	$	2,115.4	$	601.8	$	(1,852.1	)	$	2,747.0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	$	15.0	$	97.8	$	45.3	$	(15.0	)	$	143.1
Accounts payable	—		124.9		28.2		—			153.1
Other current liabilities	17.1		191.5		39.7		—			248.3
Total current liabilities	32.1		414.2		113.2		(15.0		)	544.5
Long-term debt	1,200.7		508.6		108.0		(559.3		)	1,258.0
Distributions in excess of investment in unconsolidated affiliate	—		21.9		—		—			21.9
Other liabilities	0.3		197.4		58.2		5.0			260.9
Equity investment in subsidiaries	—		82.6		—		(82.6		)	—
Intercompany liabilities	—		17.1		152.7		(169.8		)	—
Total liabilities	1,233.1		1,241.8		432.1		(821.7		)	2,085.3
Total equity—controlling interest	648.8		873.6		169.7		(1,043.3		)	648.8
Noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		12.9			12.9
Total equity	648.8		873.6		169.7		(1,030.4		)	661.7
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,881.9	$	2,115.4	$	601.8	$	(1,852.1	)	$	2,747.0

120

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	—		$	2,285.6		$	220.6		$	—		$	2,506.2
Cost of sales	—			1,434.7			165.3			—			1,600.0
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other	—			5.9			—			—			5.9
Gross profit	—			845.0			55.3			—			900.3
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	—			461.8			54.7			1.5			518.0
Impairment, restructuring and other	—			(49.8		)	(1.7		)	—			(51.5		)
Other (income) loss, net	(0.5		)	(12.8		)	(0.5		)	—			(13.8		)
Income (loss) from operations	0.5			445.8			2.8			(1.5		)	447.6
Equity (income) loss in subsidiaries	(348.2		)	(8.4		)	—			356.6			—
Other non-operating (income) loss	(22.0		)	—			(22.4		)	44.4			—
Equity in (income) loss of unconsolidated affiliates	—			(7.9		)	0.1			—			(7.8		)
Costs related to refinancing	8.8			—			—			—			8.8
Interest expense	62.1			43.6			1.6			(44.4		)	62.9
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	299.8			418.5			23.5			(358.1		)	383.7
Income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations	(17.2		)	146.1			8.7			—			137.6
Income (loss) from continuing operations	317.0			272.4			14.8			(358.1		)	246.1
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			66.3			2.4			—			68.7
Net income (loss)	$	317.0		$	338.7		$	17.2		$	(358.1	)	$	314.8
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			0.5			0.5
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$	317.0		$	338.7		$	17.2		$	(357.6	)	$	315.3

121

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

for the twelve months endedSeptember 30, 2016

(In millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors		Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	317.0		$	338.7	$	17.2		$	(358.1	)	$	314.8
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	(6.2		)	—		(6.2		)	6.2			(6.2		)
Net change in derivatives	4.3			0.3		—			(0.3		)	4.3
Net change in pension and other post-retirement benefits	(8.2		)	0.4		(8.6		)	8.2			(8.2		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(10.1		)	0.7		(14.8		)	14.1			(10.1		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	306.9		$	339.4	$	2.4		$	(344.0	)	$	304.7
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—			0.5			0.5
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$	306.9		$	339.4	$	2.4		$	(343.5	)	$	305.2

122

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES(a)	$	18.0		$	212.8		$	10.2		$	(3.6	)	$	237.4
INVESTING ACTIVITIES(a)
Proceeds from sale of long-lived assets	—			2.4			—			—			2.4
Investments in property, plant and equipment	—			(49.0		)	(9.3		)	—			(58.3		)
Investments in loans receivable	—			(90.0		)	—			—			(90.0		)
Cash contributed to TruGreen Joint Venture	—			(24.2		)	—			—			(24.2		)
Net distributions from (investments in) unconsolidated affiliates	—			194.1			—			—			194.1
Investments in acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	—			—			(158.4		)	—			(158.4		)
Return of investments from affiliates	934.3			—			—			(934.3		)	—
Investing cash flows from (to) affiliates	(914.2		)	(29.1		)	—			943.3			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	20.1			4.2			(167.7		)	9.0			(134.4		)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			1,819.5			249.6			—			2,069.1
Repayments under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			(1,937.7		)	(212.7		)	—			(2,150.4		)
Proceeds from issuance of 6.000% Senior Notes	400.0			—			—			—			400.0
Repayment of 6.625% Senior Notes	(200.0		)	—			—			—			(200.0		)
Financing and issuance fees	(11.2		)	—			—			—			(11.2		)
Dividends paid	(116.6		)	(909.4		)	(26.5		)	935.9			(116.6		)
Purchase of Common Shares	(130.8		)	—			—			—			(130.8		)
Payments on seller notes	—			(2.3		)	(0.5		)	—			(2.8		)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	5.8			—			—			—			5.8
Cash received from exercise of stock options	14.7			—			—			—			14.7
Financing cash flows from (to) affiliates	—			808.2			133.1			(941.3		)	—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(38.1		)	(221.7		)	143.0			(5.4		)	(122.2		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(2.1		)	—			(2.1		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	—			(4.7		)	(16.6		)	—			(21.3		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year excluding cash classified within assets held for sale	—			7.4			43.4			—			50.8
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year classified within assets held for sale	—			—			20.6			—			20.6
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	—			7.4			64.0			—			71.4
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	—		$	2.7		$	47.4		$	—		$	50.1

(a) Cash received by the Parent from the Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors in the form of distributions in the amount of $934.4 million represent return of investments and are included in cash flows from investing activities. Cash received by the Guarantors from the Non-Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $1.5 million represent return on investments and are included in the cash flows from operating activities.

123

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Balance Sheet

As of September 30, 2016

(in millions)

	Parent		Subsidiary Guarantors		Non- Guarantors		Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	—	$	2.7	$	25.9	$	—		$	28.6
Accounts receivable, net	—		92.4		34.6		—			127.0
Accounts receivable, pledged	—		174.7		—		—			174.7
Inventories	—		327.8		66.9		—			394.7
Assets held for sale	—		—		256.2		—			256.2
Prepaid and other current assets	0.1		23.1		28.5		—			51.7
Total current assets	0.1		620.7		412.1		—			1,032.9
Investment in unconsolidated affiliates	—		100.3		0.7		—			101.0
Property, plant and equipment, net	—		392.1		52.8		—			444.9
Goodwill	—		260.4		99.9		11.6			371.9
Intangible assets, net	—		560.2		119.6		10.2			690.0
Other assets	13.2		103.8		0.6		(2.5		)	115.1
Equity investment in subsidiaries	808.8		—		—		(808.8		)	—
Intercompany assets	1,013.0		—		—		(1,013.0		)	—
Total assets	$	1,835.1	$	2,037.5	$	685.7	$	(1,802.5	)	$	2,755.8
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Current portion of debt	$	15.0	$	154.2	$	30.8	$	(15.0	)	$	185.0
Accounts payable	—		108.8		22.4		—			131.2
Liabilities held for sale	—		—		213.0		—			213.0
Other current liabilities	16.6		143.3		18.0		—			177.9
Total current liabilities	31.6		406.3		284.2		(15.0		)	707.1
Long-term debt	1,085.1		575.7		23.0		(652.9		)	1,030.9
Other liabilities	3.2		221.9		56.0		2.4			283.5
Equity investment in subsidiaries	—		161.0		—		(161.0		)	—
Intercompany liabilities	—		100.2		234.1		(334.3		)	—
Total liabilities	1,119.9		1,465.1		597.3		(1,160.8		)	2,021.5
Total equity—controlling interest	715.2		572.4		88.4		(660.8		)	715.2
Noncontrolling interest	—		—		—		19.1			19.1
Total equity	715.2		572.4		88.4		(641.7		)	734.3
Total liabilities and equity	$	1,835.1	$	2,037.5	$	685.7	$	(1,802.5	)	$	2,755.8

124

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Operations

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	—		$	2,192.1		$	179.0		$	—		$	2,371.1
Cost of sales	—			1,427.0			130.3			—			1,557.3
Cost of sales—impairment, restructuring and other	—			3.1			(0.1		)				3.0
Gross profit	—			762.0			48.8			—			810.8
Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative	—			435.0			52.1			1.7			488.8
Impairment, restructuring and other	—			69.6			0.8			—			70.4
Other (income) loss, net	—			(3.2		)	1.0			—			(2.2		)
Income (loss) from operations	—			260.6			(5.1		)	(1.7		)	253.8
Equity (income) loss in subsidiaries	(179.2		)	(6.1		)	—			185.3			—
Other non-operating (income) loss	(27.9		)	—			(23.5		)	51.4			—
Interest expense	55.2			44.1			0.9			(51.4		)	48.8
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes	151.9			222.6			17.5			(187.0		)	205.0
Income tax (benefit) expense from continuing operations	(9.6		)	79.3			6.6			—			76.3
Income (loss) from continuing operations	161.5			143.3			10.9			(187.0		)	128.7
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	—			29.1			0.9			—			30.0
Net income (loss)	$	161.5		$	172.4		$	11.8		$	(187.0	)	$	158.7
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			1.1			1.1
Net income (loss) attributable to controlling interest	$	161.5		$	172.4		$	11.8		$	(185.9	)	$	159.8

125

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

for the twelve months endedSeptember 30, 2015

(In millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	161.5		$	172.4		$	11.8		$	(187.0	)	$	158.7
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Net foreign currency translation adjustment	(14.2		)	—			(14.2		)	14.2			(14.2		)
Net change in derivatives	(2.1		)	(0.8		)	—			0.8			(2.1		)
Net change in pension and other post-retirement benefits	(4.3		)	(5.4		)	1.1			4.3			(4.3		)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)	(20.6		)	(6.2		)	(13.1		)	19.3			(20.6		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	140.9		$	166.2		$	(1.3	)	$	(167.7	)	$	138.1
Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			1.1			1.1
Comprehensive income attributable to controlling interest	$	140.9		$	166.2		$	(1.3	)	$	(166.6	)	$	139.2

126

THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY

Condensed, Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015

(in millions)

	Parent			Subsidiary Guarantors			Non- Guarantors			Eliminations/ Consolidations			Consolidated
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES(a)	$	239.4		$	249.3		$	39.5		$	(281.3	)	$	246.9
INVESTING ACTIVITIES(a)
Proceeds from sale of long-lived assets	—			5.5			—			—			5.5
Proceeds from sale of business, net of transaction costs	—			—			—			—			—
Investments in property, plant and equipment	—			(56.6		)	(5.1		)	—			(61.7		)
Investment in marketing and license agreement	—			(300.0		)	—			—			(300.0		)
Investments in acquired businesses, net of cash acquired	—			(170.8		)	(9.4		)	—			(180.2		)
Investing cash flows from (to) affiliates	(141.9		)	—			—			141.9			—
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(141.9		)	(521.9		)	(14.5		)	141.9			(536.4		)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Borrowings under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			1,568.1			267.9			—			1,836.0
Repayments under revolving and bank lines of credit and term loans	—			(1,284.1		)	(173.9		)	—			(1,458.0		)
Financing and issuance fees	(0.4		)	(0.1		)	—			—			(0.5		)
Dividends paid	(111.3		)	(255.5		)	(25.8		)	281.3			(111.3		)
Purchase of Common Shares	(14.8		)	—			—			—			(14.8		)
Payments on seller notes	—			(1.5		)	—			—			(1.5		)
Excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements	4.7			—			—			—			4.7
Cash received from exercise of stock options	24.3			—			—			—			24.3
Financing cash flows from (to) affiliates	—			230.0			(88.1		)	(141.9		)	—
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(97.5		)	256.9			(19.9		)	139.4			278.9
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	—			—			(7.3		)	—			(7.3		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	—			(15.7		)	(2.2		)	—			(17.9		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year excluding cash classified within assets held for sale	—			23.1			41.8			—			64.9
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year classified within assets held for sale	—			—			24.4			—			24.4
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	—			23.1			66.2			—			89.3
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	—		$	7.4		$	64.0		$	—		$	71.4

(a) Cash received by the Parent from the Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $255.5 million represent return on investments and are included in cash flows from operating activities. Cash received by the Guarantors from the Non-Guarantors in the form of dividends in the amount of $25.8 million represent return on investments and are included in the cash flows from operating activities.

127

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017

Column A	Column B		Column C		Column D		Column E			Column F
Classification	Balance at Beginning of Period		Reserves Acquired		Additions Charged to Expense		Deductions Credited and Write-Offs			Balance at End of Period
	(In millions)
Valuation and qualifying accounts deducted from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	4.8	$	—	$	1.0	$	(2.7	)	$	3.1
Income tax valuation allowance	4.1		—		25.6		—			29.7

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2016

Column A	Column B		Column C		Column D		Column E			Column F
Classification	Balance at Beginning of Period		Reserves Acquired		Additions Charged to Expense		Deductions Credited and Write-Offs			Balance at End of Period
	(In millions)
Valuation and qualifying accounts deducted from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	5.1	$	—	$	0.1	$	(0.4	)	$	4.8
Income tax valuation allowance	4.3		—		0.3		(0.5		)	4.1

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015

Column A	Column B		Column C		Column D		Column E			Column F
Classification	Balance at Beginning of Period		Reserves Acquired		Additions Charged to Expense		Deductions Credited and Write-Offs			Balance at End of Period
	(In millions)
Valuation and qualifying accounts deducted from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$	4.4	$	—	$	0.7	$	—		$	5.1
Income tax valuation allowance	4.0		—		0.8		(0.5		)	4.3

128

The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company

Index to Exhibits

Exhibit No.	Description	Location
3.1(a)	Initial Articles of Incorporation of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on November 22, 2004	Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (the “Registrant”) filed March 24, 2005 [Exhibit 3.1]
3.1(b)	Certificate of Amendment by Shareholders to Articles of Incorporation of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company as filed with the Ohio Secretary of State on March 18, 2005	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2005 [Exhibit 3.2]
3.2	Code of Regulations of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 24, 2005 [Exhibit 3.3]
4.1(a)	Indenture, dated as of October 13, 2015, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the Guarantors (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 14, 2015 [Exhibit 4.1]
4.1(b)	First Supplemental Indenture, dated May 26, 2016, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the Guarantors (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 2, 2016 filed August 10, 2016 [Exhibit 4]
4.1(c)	Form of 6.000% Senior Notes due 2023	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 14, 2015 [Exhibit 4.2]
4.2(a)	Indenture, dated as of December 15, 2016, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the Guarantors (as defined therein) and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2016 [Exhibit 4.1]
4.2(b)	Form of 5.250% Senior Notes due 2026	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2016 [Exhibit 4.2]
4.3	Agreement to furnish copies of instruments and agreements defining rights of holders of long-term debt	*
10.1(a)	Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 19, 1995, among Stern’s Miracle-Gro Products, Inc., Stern’s Nurseries, Inc., Miracle-Gro Lawn Products Inc., Miracle-Gro Products Limited, Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., the general partners of Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., Horace Hagedorn, Community Funds, Inc., and John Kenlon, The Scotts Company and ZYX Corporation	Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K of The Scotts Company, a Delaware corporation, filed June 2, 1995 [Exhibit 2(b)]
10.1(b)	First Amendment to Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, made and entered into as of October 1, 1999, among The Scotts Company, Scotts’ Miracle-Gro Products, Inc. (as successor to ZYX Corporation and Stern’s Miracle-Gro Products, Inc.), Miracle-Gro Lawn Products Inc., Miracle-Gro Products Limited, Hagedorn Partnership, L.P., Community Funds, Inc., Horace Hagedorn and John Kenlon, and James Hagedorn, Katherine Hagedorn Littlefield, Paul Hagedorn, Peter Hagedorn, Robert Hagedorn and Susan Hagedorn	Incorporated herein by reference to the Current Report on Form 8-K of The Scotts Company, an Ohio corporation, filed October 5, 1999 [Exhibit 2]

129

10.2(a)	Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2015, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, as a Borrower; the Subsidiary Borrowers (as defined therein); JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co- Syndication Agents; CoBank, ACB, Mizuho Bank, LTD., Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch, TD Bank N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents; and the several other banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 3, 2015 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.2(b)	Amendment No. 1, dated as of February 8, 2016, to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 29, 2015, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, as a Borrower; the Subsidiary Borrowers (as defined therein); JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co- Syndication Agents; CoBank, ACB, Mizuho Bank, LTD., Coöperatieve Rabobank U.S., New York Branch (formerly known as Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch), TD Bank N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents; and the several other banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended January 2, 2016 filed February 11, 2016 [Exhibit 10.3]
10.2(c)	Amendment No. 2, dated as of June 28, 2017, to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated October 29, 2015, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, as a Borrower; the Subsidiary Borrowers (as defined therein); JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent; Bank of America, N.A. and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Co-Syndication Agents; CoBank, ACB, Mizuho Bank, LTD., Coöperatieve Rabobank U.S., New York Branch (formerly known as Coöperatieve Centrale Raiffeisen-Boerenleenbank B.A. “Rabobank Nederland”, New York Branch), TD Bank N.A. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Co-Documentation Agents; and the several other banks and other financial institutions from time to time parties thereto	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 1, 2017 filed August 10, 2017 [Exhibit 10.5]
10.2(d)	Fourth Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2015, made by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, each domestic Subsidiary Borrower under the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, and certain of its and their domestic subsidiaries, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed November 3, 2015 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.2(e)	Amendment No. 1, dated July 29, 2016, to Fourth Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of October 29, 2015, made by The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, each domestic Subsidiary Borrower under the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, and certain of its and their domestic subsidiaries, in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 2, 2016 filed August 10, 2016 [Exhibit 10]
10.3(a)†	The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (reflects amendment and restatement of plan formerly known as The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan) [effective as of January 17, 2013] [pre-January 27, 2017 version]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 24, 2013 [Exhibit 10.1]

130

10.3(b)†	Specimen form of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement for Nonemployee Directors (with Related Dividend Equivalents) used to evidence grants under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.3]
10.3(c)†	Specimen form of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement for Nonemployee Directors Retainer Deferrals (with Related Dividend Equivalents) used to evidence grants which may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.4]
10.3(d)(i)†	Specimen form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Third Party Service-Providers (with Related Dividend Equivalents) used to evidence grants which may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.5]
10.3(d)(ii)†	Specimen form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement for Employees (with Related Dividend Equivalents) used to evidence grants which may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.8]
10.3(e)†	Specimen form of Performance Unit Award Agreement for Employees (with Related Dividend Equivalents) used to evidence grants which may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.6]
10.3(f)(i)†	Specimen form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Employees used to evidence grants of Nonqualified Stock Options made under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (now known as The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan) [October 30, 2007 through October 8, 2008 version]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2007 filed November 29, 2007 [Exhibit 10(t)(3)]
10.3(f)(ii)†	Specimen form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Employees used to evidence grants of Nonqualified Stock Options made under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Amended and Restated 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (now known as The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan) [January 20, 2010 through January 19, 2012 version]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended January 2, 2010 filed February 11, 2010 [Exhibit 10.4]
10.3(f)(iii)†	Specimen form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Employees used to evidence grants of Nonqualified Stock Options made under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Amended and Restated 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (now known as The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan) [January 20, 2012 through January 17, 2013 version]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2011 filed February 8, 2012 [Exhibit 10.3]
10.3(f)(iv)†	Specimen form of Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement for Employees used to evidence grants which may be made under the Long-Term Incentive Plan [post-January 17, 2013 version]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 28, 2015 filed May 7, 2015 [Exhibit 10.7]
10.4(a)†	The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (effective as of January 27, 2017)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.4(b)†	Form of Project Focus Performance Unit Award Agreement under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (effective as of January 30, 2017)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.4(c)†	Form of Standard Performance Unit Award Agreement under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (effective as of January 30, 2017)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017 [Exhibit 10.3]

131

10.4(d)†	Form of Standard Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (effective as of January 30, 2017)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017 [Exhibit 10.4]
10.4(e)†	Form of Standard Non-Qualified Stock Option Award Agreement under The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Long-Term Incentive Plan (effective as of January 30, 2017)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed January 30, 2017 [Exhibit 10.5]
10.5(a)†	The Scotts Company LLC Amended and Restated Executive Incentive Plan (effective as of January 30, 2014)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 5, 2014 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.5(b)(i)†	Specimen form of Employee Confidentiality, Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation Agreement for employees participating in The Scotts Company LLC Executive/Management Incentive Plan (now known as The Scotts Company LLC Amended and Restated Executive Incentive Plan)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended July 1, 2006 filed August 10, 2006 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.5(b)(ii)†	Employee Confidentiality, Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation Agreement, dated as of December 12, 2013, by and between The Scotts Company LLC, all companies controlled by, controlling or under common control with The Scotts Company LLC, and James Hagedorn	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2013 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.6†	The Scotts Company LLC Executive Retirement Plan, as Amended and Restated as of January 1, 2015 (executed December 31, 2014)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 27, 2014 filed February 5, 2015 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.7†	Summary of Compensation for Nonemployee Directors of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (effective as of May 1, 2014)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed November 25, 2014 [Exhibit 10.9]
10.8†	Executive Severance Agreement, dated as of December 11, 2013, by and between The Scotts Company LLC and James Hagedorn	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 17, 2013 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.9(a)†	Consulting Agreement, dated February 12, 2016, between The Scotts Company LLC and Hanft Projects LLC [expired January 31, 2017]	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 2, 2016 filed May 11, 2016 [Exhibit 10.3]
10.9(b)†	Consulting Agreement, dated January 31, 2017, between The Scotts Company LLC and Hanft Projects LLC	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 1, 2017 filed May 10, 2017 [Exhibit 10.6]
10.10†	Incentive Compensation/Retention Award Agreement, dated February 11, 2016, between The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and Michael C. Lukemire	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 2, 2016 filed May 11, 2016 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.11(a)†	The Scotts Company LLC Executive Severance Plan, adopted on May 4, 2011	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2011 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.11(b)†	Form of Tier 1 Participation Agreement under The Scotts Company LLC Executive Severance Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 10, 2011 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.12(a)†	The Scotts Company LLC Executive Severance Plan, adopted on April 25, 2017	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 1, 2017 filed May 10, 2017 [Exhibit 10.9]
10.12.(b)†	Form of Tier 1 Participation Agreement under The Scotts Company LLC Executive Severance Plan	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 1, 2017 filed May 10, 2017 [Exhibit 10.10]

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10.13(a)	Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement, effective as of September 30, 1998, and amended and restated as of November 11, 1998, by and between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC (as successor to The Scotts Company, an Ohio corporation)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2005 filed December 15, 2005 [Exhibit 10(x)]
10.13(b)	Letter Agreement, dated March 10, 2005, amending the Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1998, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC (as successor to The Scotts Company, an Ohio corporation)	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 filed November 24, 2009 [Exhibit 10.17(b)]
10.13(c)	Letter Agreement, dated March 28, 2008, amending the Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement, dated as of September 30, 1998, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008 filed November 25, 2008 [Exhibit 10.18(b)]
10.13(d)	Amendment to Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2015, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 20, 2015 [Exhibit 10.2]
10.13(e)	Lawn and Garden Brand Extension Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2015, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 20, 2015 [Exhibit 10.3]
10.13(f)	Commercialization and Technology Agreement, dated as of May 15, 2015, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed May 20, 2015 [Exhibit 10.4]
10.14(a)	Second Amended and Restated Exclusive Agency and Marketing Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2017, by and between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	*
10.14(b)	Amended and Restated Lawn and Garden Brand Extension Agreement - Americas, dated as of August 31, 2017, between Monsanto Company and The Scotts Company LLC	*
10.15	Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 2015, among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed October 14, 2015 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.16	Purchase Agreement, dated December 12, 2016, among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, the subsidiary guarantors named therein and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, as representative of the several initial purchasers named therein	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed December 16, 2016 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.17(a)	Master Repurchase Agreement, and Annex I thereto, with Cooperatieve Rabobank, U.A. (New York Branch), as agent and purchaser, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (New York Branch), as purchaser, dated as of April 7, 2017	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2017 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.17(b)(i)	Master Framework Agreement with Cooperatieve Rabobank, U.A. (New York Branch), as agent and purchaser, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (New York Branch), as purchaser, dated as of April 7, 2017	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 13, 2017 [Exhibit 10.2]

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10.17(b)(ii)	Amendment No. 1 to Master Framework Agreement with Cooperatieve Rabobank, U.A. (New York Branch), as agent and purchaser, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (New York Branch), as purchaser, dated as of August 25, 2017	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 31, 2017 [Exhibit 10.1]
10.18	Contribution and Distribution Agreement, dated as of December 10, 2015, by and among The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company and TruGreen Holdings Corporation	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended January 2, 2016 filed February 11, 2016 [Exhibit 10.5]
10.19	Form of Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement for Executive Officers	Incorporated herein by reference to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended April 2, 2016 filed May 11, 2016 [Exhibit 10.4]
10.20	Binding and Irrevocable Conditional Offer, dated April 29, 2017, from Garden Care Bidco Limited to Scotts-Sierra Investments LLC	*
12	Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges	*
21	Subsidiaries of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company	*
23	Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm — Deloitte & Touche LLP	*
24	Powers of Attorney of Executive Officers and Directors of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company	*
31.1	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications (Principal Executive Officer)	*
31.2	Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certifications (Principal Financial Officer)	*
32	Section 1350 Certifications (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer)	*
101.INS	XBRL Instance Document	*
101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema	*
101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase	*
101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase	*
101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase	*
101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase	*

*	Filed or furnished herewith.
†	Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement.

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