Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock at a price of $0.20 per share, and contains customary anti-dilution rights (for stock splits, stock dividends and sales of substantially all the Company’s assets) and piggyback registration rights. The Warrants expire May 6, 2015.
In September 2006, the FASB issued ASC 740 (prior authoritative guidance: FASB issued FASB Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes and SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes). ASC 740 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements. This interpretation defines the minimum recognition threshold a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. The Company adopted ASC 740 on April 1, 2007. As a result of the implementation, the Company recognized no material adjustment in the liability of unrecognized income tax benefits. At the adoption date, the Company had no unrecognized tax benefits, which would affect the Company’s effective tax rate. It is possible that the Company’s unrecognized tax benefit could change; however, the Company does not expect any such change to be material.
Deferred income taxes are recognized for the tax consequences in future years of differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their financial reporting amounts at the end of each period, based on enacted laws and statutory rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Any liability for actual taxes to taxing authorities is recorded as income tax liability. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established against such assets where management is unable to conclude more likely than not that such asset will be realized. As of June 30, 2010 and March 31, 2010, the Company recognized a valuation allowance equal to 100% of the net deferred tax asset balance.
|
7.
|
Related Party Transactions
|
See Note 4. Long Term Debt and Current Portion – Long Term Debt for disclosure of related party transactions.
As noted above in Note 4 “Long Term Debt and Current Portion – Long Term Debt”, on May 6, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of Units comprising an aggregate of $4,200,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 42,000,000 Warrants. The Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. Consideration for the Units sold comprised $3,265,000 in cash and $935,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
As noted above in Note 4 “Long Term Debt and Current Portion – Long term Debt”, on June 24, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of Additional Units comprising an aggregate of $2,600,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 26,000,000 Warrants. The Additional Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. The Company also received a commitment to purchase an additional $200,000 face value of Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes under the same terms and conditions as the Additional Units. Consideration for the Additional Units sold comprised $2,300,000 in cash and $300,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
Each Warrant issued as part of the Units or the Additional Units entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock at a price of $0.20 per share, and contains customary anti-dilution rights (for stock splits, stock dividends and sales of substantially all the Company’s assets) and piggyback registration rights. The Warrants expire May 6, 2015.
The Company granted warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock to the placement agent for its Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Company granted 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.10 per common share and 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.20 per common share. The Placement Agent Warrants have a five year term and contain a cashless exercise provision. The value of the Placement Agent Warrants has been recognized as $1,412,000 in deferred financing cost on the Company’s balance sheet, which will be amortized to expense over the three-year term of the Subordinated Convertible Notes. For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the amortized deferred financing costs relating to the Subordinated Convertible Notes totaled $62,458.
A summary of the Company’s warrant activity for the period from April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2010 is presented below:
| |
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Warrants
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
| |
|
Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Intrinsic Value
|
|
|
Outstanding, April 1, 2010
|
|
|
6,273,390 |
|
|
$ |
4.88 |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
81,600,000 |
|
|
|
0.19 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding, June 30, 2010
|
|
|
87,873,390 |
|
|
$ |
0.53 |
|
|
$ |
340,000 |
|
As of June 30, 2010, the Company had the following outstanding warrants to purchase its common stock:
| |
|
|
Weighted Average
|
|
|
Warrants Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Remaining Life (Yrs)
|
|
| |
6,800,000 |
|
|
$ |
0.10 |
|
|
|
4.90 |
|
| |
74,800,000 |
|
|
$ |
0.20 |
|
|
|
4.90 |
|
| |
1,320,000 |
|
|
$ |
0.25 |
|
|
|
4.31 |
|
| |
3,200 |
|
|
$ |
0.66 |
|
|
|
0.21 |
|
| |
325,000 |
|
|
$ |
1.00 |
|
|
|
3.63 |
|
| |
132,639 |
|
|
$ |
2.00 |
|
|
|
1.07 |
|
| |
16,000 |
|
|
$ |
2.07 |
|
|
|
3.00 |
|
| |
450,000 |
|
|
$ |
5.00 |
|
|
|
0.21 |
|
| |
505,796 |
|
|
$ |
6.00 |
|
|
|
0.78 |
|
| |
1,937,299 |
|
|
$ |
6.25 |
|
|
|
0.66 |
|
| |
50,000 |
|
|
$ |
6.96 |
|
|
|
2.09 |
|
| |
746,956 |
|
|
$ |
7.50 |
|
|
|
1.70 |
|
| |
720,000 |
|
|
$ |
8.00 |
|
|
|
4.18 |
|
| |
66,500 |
|
|
$ |
8.25 |
|
|
|
4.18 |
|
| |
87,873,390 |
|
|
$ |
0.53 |
|
|
|
4.70 |
|
A summary of the Company’s preferred stock warrant activity for the period from April 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010, is presented below:
| |
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Average
|
|
| |
Warrants Outstanding
|
|
|
Exercise Price
|
|
|
Outstanding, April 1, 2010
|
|
|
4,164 |
|
|
$ |
1,250 |
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
Exercised
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
Expired
|
|
|
-- |
|
|
$ |
-- |
|
|
Outstanding, June 30, 2010
|
|
|
4,164 |
|
|
$ |
1,250 |
|
The warrants granted expire five years from issuance.
The discussion contained herein is for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009. The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of AeroGrow International, Inc. (the “Company,” “we,” or “our”) and the notes to the financial statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2010 (this “Quarterly Report”). The following discussion contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), including statements that include words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “may,” “will,” or similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding our intent, belief, or current expectations regarding our strategies, plans, and objectives, our product release schedules, our ability to design, develop, manufacture, and market products, the ability of our products to achieve or maintain commercial acceptance, and our ability to obtain financing necessary to fund our future operations. Such statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, the Company’s actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Factors that could cause or contribute to the differences are discussed in this Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2010. Except as required by applicable law or regulation, we undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report. The information contained in this Quarterly Report is not a complete description of our business or the risks associated with an investment in our common stock. Each reader should carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by the Company in this Quarterly Report and in our other filings with the SEC.
Overview
AeroGrow International, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in the State of Nevada on March 25, 2002. We are in the business of developing, marketing, and distributing advanced indoor aeroponic and hydroponic garden systems. After several years of initial research and product development, we began sales activities in March 2006. Since that time we have expanded all aspects of our operations in order to take advantage of what we believe to be an attractive market opportunity. We currently offer more than 15 different indoor garden models, more than 50 seed kits, and various gardening and kitchen accessories. Although our business is focused on the United States and Canada, our products are available in nine other countries.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010 (“Fiscal 2010”), and continuing in the quarter ended June 30, 2010, we scaled back our operations as a result of the general economic downturn and the resulting decline in consumer confidence and spending. We also determined that broad distribution through retail channels was not appropriate for a company at our stage of development because of relatively low profit margins, high capital requirements, and the operational requirements of our retailer customers. As of June 30, 2010, our products were offered in approximately 1,290 storefronts in North America, as compared to approximately 6,400 stores as of June 30, 2009. Although we expect to further reduce the number of retailer storefronts carrying our products during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, we plan to maintain relationships with retailers, both traditional and non-traditional, that have historically proven to be good business partners for AeroGrow. In this regard, we plan to continue selling through our largest retailer customers, including three customers that comprised approximately 59% of our retailer sales during Fiscal 2010.
In Fiscal 2010, we re-focused our efforts towards building our direct-to-consumer business, which carries higher margin opportunity. To position our business for the future, we have increased the depth and breadth of our direct sales distribution channels to include a direct mail catalogue business with approximately 3.7 million catalogues mailed in Fiscal 2010, web sales, infomercials, and 60 and 120 second television commercials. Our products are also sold through television home shopping channels and by online retailers. In Fiscal 2010, approximately 57.5% of our total sales were to direct customers.
Results of Operations
Three Months Ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009
Summary Overview
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, sales totaled $1,818,019, a 39.0% decrease from the same period in the prior year. The decline in sales principally reflected a 77.9% reduction in sales to retailers, a result of our strategic decision to reduce our exposure to the retail channel because of its low margins and high capital requirements. Our direct-to-consumer sales also declined, by 23.0% from the prior year, reflecting a 49.8% reduction in the amount of revenue-generating media spending during the period. This reduction in media spending primarily reflected the cash constraints we experienced during the current year quarter. Overall, the effectiveness of our media improved by 53.4%, however, as we generated $6.81 of direct-to-consumer revenue for every dollar of revenue-generating media spent in the 2010 period, as compared to $4.44 of direct-to-consumer revenue per media dollar in 2009. In addition, our sales were adversely impacted during the 2010 period by inventory stock-outs resulting from our inability to purchase inventory because of cash constraints. The decline in overall revenue was reflected in lower sales of AeroGardens, which declined by 30.0% from the prior year. Recurring revenue from seed kit and accessories also declined, by 49.2%, and represented 39.0% percent of total revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2010, down from 46.8% in the prior year period.
Gross margin for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was 27.3%, as compared to 37.2% for the year earlier period. The decrease reflected a variety of factors, including a shift in our pricing strategy to an everyday low pricing policy in response to research indicating that unit volumes, sales and profit contribution could be increased through lower price points. In addition, the adverse impact on our operations from cash constraints experienced during the quarter, fixed manufacturing and distribution facility costs on a lower revenue base, and a higher mix of lower margin AeroGarden sales relative to the prior year had adverse impacts on gross margin. Operating expenses other than cost of revenue decreased $983,027, or 36.0%, from the prior year reflecting cost saving initiatives, reductions in media spending, and staffing reductions.
Our loss from operations totaled $1,253,859 for the three months ended June 30, 2010, as compared to a loss of $1,623,314 in the prior year period. The decreased loss reflected the significant decrease in operating expenses other than cost of revenue, partially offset by the impact of the lower sales and gross margin.
Other income and expense for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled to a net other expense of $475,190, as compared to net other income of $561,582 in the prior year period. The net other expense in the current year period included $311,408 in non-cash expense related to the combined effect of the amortization of (i) $1,919,119 in related financing costs (the majority of which was made up of the value of warrants granted to the placement agent), and (ii) a $6,800,000 bond discount on our convertible notes issued during the quarter. These notes were considered to have been issued at a discount because they had a conversion price lower than the market price of our stock at the time of issuance, and because the notes were issued with warrants to purchase our common stock. The resulting discount is being amortized to expense over the three-year life of the notes, as are the related financing costs. The prior year net other income amount included $807,310 in gains related to accounts payable balance reduction agreements negotiated with certain vendors.
The year-over-year increase in other expense more than offset the reduction in the operating loss, and, as a result, the net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased to $1,729,049 from a net loss of $1,061,732 in the same period a year earlier.
The following table sets forth, as a percentage of sales, our financial results for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and the three months ended June 30, 2009:
| |
|
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
|
| |
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product sales – retail, net
|
|
10.5
|
%
|
|
|
29.1
|
%
|
|
Product sales – direct to consumer, net
|
|
85.1
|
%
|
|
|
67.5
|
%
|
|
Product sales – international
|
|
4.4
|
%
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
Total sales
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of revenue
|
|
72.8
|
%
|
|
|
62.8
|
%
|
|
Research and development
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
4.0
|
%
|
|
Sales and marketing
|
|
44.9
|
%
|
|
|
38.9
|
%
|
|
General and administrative
|
|
49.3
|
%
|
|
|
48.8
|
%
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
169.0
|
%
|
|
|
154.5
|
%
|
|
Profit/(loss) from operations
|
|
-69.0
|
%
|
|
|
-54.5
|
%
|
Revenue
For the three months ended June 30, 2010, revenue totaled $1,818,019 a year-over-year decrease of 39.0% or $1,161,674 from the three months ended June 30, 2009.
| |
|
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
|
|
Product Revenue
|
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Retail, net
|
|
$ |
191,578 |
|
|
$ |
868,263 |
|
|
Direct to consumer, net
|
|
|
1,546,935 |
|
|
|
2,010,243 |
|
|
International
|
|
|
79,506 |
|
|
|
101,187 |
|
|
Total
|
|
$ |
1,818,019 |
|
|
$ |
2,979,693 |
|
Sales to retailer customers for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $191,578, down $676,685 or 77.9%, from the same period a year earlier. The decline principally reflected our strategic decision to reduce our exposure to the retail channel because of the low margins and high capital requirements associated with sales into this channel. As a result of this decision we discontinued our relationships with a number of retailers that had previously carried our products. As of June 30, 2010, our products were carried in approximately 1,290 traditional “brick and mortar” storefronts in the United States and Canada, as compared to approximately 6,400 as of June 30, 2009. Because of the impact of non-“brick and mortar” retailers, including online retailers and television shopping channels which do not have storefronts, on our retail sales, we do not believe “sales per store” is a meaningful metric for assessing our retail business.
Direct-to-consumer sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $1,546,935, down $463,308 or 23.0%, from the prior year period. The decrease reflected a combination of factors, including a 49.8% year-over-year reduction in the amount of revenue-generating media spent during the period because of cash constraints experienced during the quarter. Cash constraints also impacted our ability to purchase inventory, resulting in stock-outs that we believe had a significant impact on revenue during the current year period. Overall, there was a 53.4% increase in media effectiveness as sales per dollar of advertising expense totaled $6.81 in the quarter ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $4.44 per dollar of advertising expense in the prior year period.
International sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $79,506, down $21,681 from the same period in the prior fiscal year. Inventory levels at our international distributors remained sufficient to meet local demand for our products, limiting re-orders from these customers in the 2010 period.
Our products consist of AeroGardens and seed kits and accessories. A summary of the sales of these two product categories for the three months ended June 30, 2010 and June 30, 2009 is as follows:
| |
|
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
|
| |
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Product Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
$
|
1,108,992
|
|
|
$
|
1,584,308
|
|
|
Seed kits and accessories
|
|
|
709,027
|
|
|
|
1,395,385
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,818,019
|
|
|
$
|
2,979,693
|
|
|
% of Total Revenue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AeroGardens
|
|
|
61.0
|
%
|
|
|
53.2
|
%
|
|
Seed kits and accessories
|
|
|
39.0
|
%
|
|
|
46.8
|
%
|
|
Total
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
AeroGarden sales declined $475,316 or 30.0%, from the year earlier period, reflecting the overall decline in aggregate sales in each of our distribution channels. Sales of seed kits and accessories, which represent a recurring revenue stream that is generated by the 964,984 AeroGardens sold to-date, declined $686,358, or 49.2%. Seed kit and accessory revenue was down more than AeroGarden revenue during the quarter because the decline in media spending had a disproportionate effect on these products, which tend to be a greater part of our sales during the late spring and summer months. In addition, our strategic decision to de-emphasize the retail channel had an adverse impact on the year-over-year comparison of seed kit and accessory sales. Also, the decline in AeroGarden revenue during Fiscal 2010 resulted in fewer new gardens being put into operation, which is now having a corresponding effect on the recurring revenue side of our business. For the three months ended June 30, 2010, sales of seed kits and accessories represented 39.0% of total revenue, as compared to 46.8% in the prior year period.
Cost of Revenue
Cost of revenue for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $1,321,703, a decrease of 29.3% from the three months ended June 30, 2009. Cost of revenue includes product costs for purchased and manufactured products, freight costs for inbound freight from manufacturers and outbound freight to customers, costs related to warehousing and the shipping of products to customers, credit card processing fees for direct sales, and duties and customs applicable to products imported. The dollar amount of cost of revenue decreased primarily because of the decline in revenue discussed above. As a percent of total revenue, these costs represented 72.7% of revenue as compared to 62.8% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The increase in costs as a percent of revenue reflects actions we took to lower price points on our product line in response to market research showing that our unit volumes were being constrained because of price points that were too high. During the quarter ended June 30, 2010 we had insufficient inventory to fully take advantage of the potential volume lift afforded by the lower prices. In addition, there were a number of changes in channel, customer, and product mix, particularly a decrease in the percentage mix represented by higher margin seed kit and accessory sales that resulted in cost of revenue increasing as a percent of net revenue. Finally, the increase reflects significant inefficiencies in our operations caused by the cash constraints we faced during the current year period, as well as the impact of fixed facility costs at our Indianapolis manufacturing and distribution facility on a lower revenue base.
Gross Margin
Our gross margin varies based upon the factors impacting net revenue and cost of revenue as discussed above, as well as the mix of our revenue that comes from the retail, direct-to-consumer, and international channels. In a direct-to-consumer sale, we recognize as revenue the full consumer purchase price for the product; in retail and international sales, by comparison, we recognize as revenue the wholesale price for the product which we charge to the retailer or international distributor. Media costs associated with direct sales are included in sales and marketing expenses. For international sales, margins are structured based on the distributor purchasing products by letter of credit or cash in advance terms with the distributor bearing all of the marketing and distribution costs within their territory. As a result, international sales have lower margins than domestic retail sales. The gross margin for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 was 27.3% as compared to 37.2% for the quarter ended June 30, 2009.
Sales and Marketing
Sales and marketing costs for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $816,977, as compared to $1,159,796 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of 29.6% or $342,819. Sales and marketing costs include all costs associated with the marketing, sales, operations, customer support, and sales order processing for our products, and consist of the following:
| |
|
Three Months Ended June 30,
|
|
| |
|
2010
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
Advertising
|
|
$ |
227,065 |
|
|
$ |
452,582 |
|
|
Personnel
|
|
|
385,284 |
|
|
|
613,108 |
|
|
Sales commissions
|
|
|
5,408 |
|
|
|
50,573 |
|
|
Trade Shows
|
|
|
- |
|
|
|
(6,590 |
) |
|
Other
|
|
|
199,220 |
|
|
|
50,123 |
|
| |
|
$ |
816,977 |
|
|
$ |
1,159,796 |
|
Advertising expense is principally comprised of the costs of developing and airing our infomercials and short-form television commercials, the costs of development, production, printing, and postage for our catalogues, and mailing and web media costs for search and affiliate web marketing programs. Each of these are key components of our integrated marketing strategy because they help build awareness of, and consumer demand for, our products for all our channels of distribution, in addition to generating direct-to-consumer sales. Advertising expense totaled $227,065 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010, a year-over-year decrease of 49.8%, or $225,517, principally reflecting a 53.0% reduction in the number of catalogs mailed. The lower number of catalogs mailed during the quarter resulted from cash constraints experienced during the quarter.
Sales and marketing personnel costs include salaries, payroll taxes, employee benefits and other payroll costs for our sales, operations, customer service, graphics and marketing departments. For the three months ended June 30, 2010, personnel costs for sales and marketing were $385,284, down from $613,108 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of 37.2%. The decrease principally reflects staff reductions undertaken throughout the prior fiscal year.
Sales commissions, ranging from 2.5% to 7% of net cash collections from our retailer customers, are paid to sales representative organizations that assist us in developing and maintaining our relationships with retailers. These commissions totaled $5,408 during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, down 89.3% from the prior year. The year-over-year decline in sales commissions resulted from the combined effects of the decline in sales to retailers during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, as discussed above, and the termination of our agreements with the majority of our sales representative organizations, reflecting our strategic decision to de-emphasize the retail channel.
Other marketing expense increased year-over-year because of higher payments to third party vendors, which was partially offset by lower inventory storage fees during the three months ended June 30, 2010 for use of third party warehouses.
General and Administrative
General and administrative costs for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $896,184, as compared to $1,454,208 for the three months ended June 30, 2009, a decrease of 38.4%, or $558,024. The decrease reflected a $318,803 reduction in personnel costs, resulting from a year-over-year decline in management headcount and from additional expenses incurred in 2009 that were attributable to modifications to certain outstanding option grants. Also, there were reductions across a variety of expense categories, including legal costs which declined $81,442 reflecting a comparison to the prior year that included costs related to our issuance of preferred stock.
Research and Development
Research and development costs for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 totaled $37,014, a decrease of 68.9% from the quarter ended June 30, 2009. The lower cost principally reflected lower headcount costs related to staffing reductions and a reduction in new product development activities.
Operating Loss
Our loss from operations for the three months ended June 30, 2010 was $1,253,859, as compared to a loss of $1,623,314 for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The lower loss resulted from reductions in non-cost of sales operating expenses, partially offset by the impact of lower revenue and gross margin.
Other Income and Expense
Other income and expense for the quarter ended June 30, 2010 totaled to a net other expense of $475,190, as compared to net other income of $561,582 in the prior year period. The net other expense in the current year period included $311,408 in non-cash expense related to: (i) the amortization of deferred financing costs on our convertible notes, and (ii) the amortization of a calculated bond discount on our convertible notes issued during the quarter. These notes were considered to have been issued at a discount because they had a conversion price lower than the market price of our stock at the time of issuance, and because the notes were issued with warrants to purchase our common stock. The resulting discount will be amortized to expense over the three-year life of the notes, as will the related financing costs. The prior year net other income amount included $807,310 in gains related to accounts payable balance reduction agreements negotiated with certain vendors.
Net Loss
For the three months ended June 30, 2010 the net loss totaled $1,729,049 as compared to a net loss of $1,061,732 for the three months ended June 30, 2009. The year-over-year increase in the net loss reflects the reduced operating loss, which was more than offset by the impact of the non-cash interest expense and the comparison to the prior year that included $807,310 in gains on negotiated reductions in accounts payable balances.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
After adjusting the net loss for non-cash items and changes in assets and liabilities, the net cash used by operating activities totaled $1,955,190 for the three months ended June 30, 2010 as compared to $19,340 net cash gain from operating activities in the prior year.
Non-cash items, comprising depreciation, amortization, bad debt allowances, issuances of common stock and options, change in allowances for bad debt, and interest expense from warrants issued with convertible debentures, totaled to a net cash gain of $596,877 for the three months ended June 30, 2010.
Changes in current assets contributed cash of $606,249 during the three months ended June 30, 2010, principally from the collection of accounts receivable and reductions in inventory. As of June 30, 2010, the inventory balance was $3,178,636, representing approximately 103 days of sales activity, and 216 days of sales activity, at the average daily rate of product cost expensed during the 12 months and three months ended June 30, 2010, respectively. Net accounts receivable totaled $204,118 as of June 30, 2010, representing approximately 12 days of net retail sales activity, and 96 days of net retail sales activity, at the average daily rate of sales recognized during the 12 months and three months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.
Current operating liabilities decreased $1,481,282 during the three months ended June 30, 2010. The reduction included the impact of approximately $1,149,576 in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. Accounts payable as of June 30, 2010 totaled $2,381,586, representing approximately 40 days of daily expense activity, and 70 days of daily expense activity, at the average daily rate of expenses incurred during the 12 months and three months ended June 30, 2010, respectively.
Financing activity, including the issuance of convertible debt, the impact of the conversions of various short-term obligations to convertible debt, as well as the net reduction in other debt obligations, provided net cash of $3,808,193 during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, as compared to $2,660,238 in the prior year.
As of June 30, 2010, we had a cash balance of $2,504,491, of which $444,803 was restricted as collateral for letters of credit and other corporate obligations. This compares to a cash balance of $693,444 as of March 31, 2010, of which $443,862 was restricted.
We use, or have used, a variety of debt funding sources to meet our liquidity requirements:
First National Loan
On May 19, 2008, the Company and Jack J. Walker, then one of the Company’s directors and now the Company’s Chairman and CEO, acting as co-borrowers, entered into a Business Loan Agreement with First National Bank for a loan to the Company in a principal amount of up to $1,000,000 (the “FNB Loan”). The FNB Loan had an initial maturity date of May 19, 2009, which was extended by various agreements between the Company and FNB.
Principal payments totaling $408,439 were made by Mr. Walker against the FNB Loan during the loan term. The first $150,000 of payments made by Mr. Walker was recorded by the Company as an offset to a $150,000 receivable due from Mr. Walker. The remaining $258,439was recorded by the Company as promissory notes due to Mr. Walker, which carried an interest rate of 20% per annum. On May 7, 2010, the Company paid $50,000 in principal and $4,603 in interest to Mr. Walker. On June 24, 2010, Mr. Walker converted $206,406 of principal and accrued interest on the promissory notes into three year convertible promissory notes (the “Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes”) issued by the Company, as further described below under the caption “Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.” On June 28, 2010, the Company paid $17,109 in remaining principal and interest to Mr. Walker.
On May 24, 2010, the Company paid the remaining balance on the FNB Loan of $511,647, including accrued interest, and the FNB Loan was terminated.
Revolving Credit Facility
On June 23, 2008, the Company entered into a Loan and Security Agreement with FCC, LLC d/b/a First Capital (“FCC”) for a revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) to fund working capital requirements. The Revolving Credit Facility had an initial termination date of June 23, 2010. As collateral for the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company granted FCC a first priority security interest over all of the Company’s assets, including, but not limited to, accounts receivable, inventory, and equipment. From time to time, Jack J. Walker, then one of the Company’s directors and now the Company’s Chairman and CEO, provided guarantees of up to a maximum of $1.5 million of the Company’s obligations under the Revolving Credit Facility. Through the term of the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company, FCC and Mr. Walker, as guarantor, entered into various agreements to amend the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility.
On May 3, 2010, the Company, FCC, and Jack J. Walker, as guarantor, executed a Forbearance Agreement and Fifth Amendment (the “Fifth Amendment”) effective as of April 30, 2010. Under the Fifth Amendment, FCC agreed to forbear from exercising its rights and remedies with regard to the Company’s non-compliance with financial covenants until May 21, 2010, if no other defaults occur. The Fifth Amendment enabled the Company to borrow up to $600,000 more than would otherwise be permitted by the applicable borrowing base calculation under the Revolving Credit Facility until the earlier of (i) the Company closing on a sale of subordinated secured convertible promissory notes, or (ii) the termination date of the forbearance period. In addition, the Fifth Amendment set the maximum borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility at $2,000,000 until such time as the Company closed on a sale of subordinated secured convertible promissory notes, at which time the maximum borrowing amount was required to be reduced to $1,000,000. The Fifth Amendment provided for a continuation of the $500 per day forbearance fee set forth in the Fourth Amendment, with such fees related to both the Fourth Amendment and Fifth Amendment to be payable on the earlier of (i) May 21, 2010 or (ii) the date on which loans under the Revolving Credit Facility were repaid in full.
On May 24, 2010, the Company paid $673,600 to FCC to repay, in full, amounts due under the Revolving Credit Facility, and the Revolving Credit Facility was terminated.
Main Power Promissory Note
On June 30, 2009, the Company entered into a Letter Agreement (“Letter Agreement”) with Main Power Electrical Factory, Ltd. (“Main Power”) and executed a Promissory Note. Pursuant to the terms of the Letter Agreement, Main Power agreed to release the Company from $1,386,041 of existing accounts payable obligations owed by the Company to Main Power in return for the Company executing the Promissory Note for the same amount. In addition, the Letter Agreement included other provisions relating to the terms and conditions under which AeroGrow must purchase AeroGarden products from Main Power. The Promissory Note has a final maturity of June 30, 2011, and carries an interest rate of 8% per annum, with interest accrued and added to the principal amount of the Promissory Note for the first year. During the second year of the Promissory Note, interest is due and payable quarterly. Principal payments of $150,000 are due and payable monthly beginning January 31, 2011, with a final payment of all principal and accrued but unpaid interest due on June 30, 2011. As of June 30, 2010, the outstanding balance under the Promissory Note totaled $1,500,481, including accrued interest.
Bridge Financing
On August 28 through September 1, 2009, the Company entered into bridge financing arrangements totaling $500,000 (the “Bridge Loans”) with six lenders who were directors or officers, or who had greater than a 10% beneficial ownership in the Company. The Bridge Loans were unsecured, subordinated to loans made to the Company by FCC, and accrued interest at 15% per annum. The Company issued 500,000 warrants to purchase common shares of the Company to the Lenders. Each of the warrants has a five-year term and an exercise price of $0.25 per common share.
On May 6, 2010, $430,466 of the Bridge Loans, inclusive of accrued interest, was converted into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes issued by the Company, as further described below. In addition, on May 6, 2010, $25,000 of the Bridge Loans was extended to a new maturity date of February 1, 2011. On June 24, 2010, an additional $43,594 of the Bridge Loans, inclusive of accrued interest, was converted into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes issued by the Company, as described below under the caption “Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. As of June 30, 2010, there was $53,719 in Bridge Loans outstanding, including accrued interest.
Between October 30 and November 9, 2009, the Company entered into additional bridge financing arrangements totaling $580,000 (the “Additional Bridge Loans”) with five lenders. Directors, officers, and shareholders with greater than a 10% beneficial ownership in the Company extended $400,000 of the Additional Bridge Loans. The remaining $180,000 in Additional Bridge Loans was guaranteed by Jack J. Walker, then one of the Company’s directors and now the Company’s Chairman and CEO. The Additional Bridge Loans were unsecured, subordinated to loans made to the Company by FCC, and accrued interest at 20% per annum. The Company issued 580,000 warrants to purchase common shares of the Company to the Additional Lenders. Each of the warrants has a five-year term and an exercise price of $0.25 per common share.
On May 6, 2010, $504,534 of the Additional Bridge Loans, inclusive of accrued interest, was converted into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes issued by the Company, as described below under the caption “Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.” Of this amount, $379,534 was converted by directors, officers, and shareholders with greater than a 10% beneficial ownership in the Company. In addition, on May 6, 2010, $50,000 of the Additional Bridge Loans was extended to a new maturity date of February 1, 2011. On June 1, 2010, a payment of principal and interest totaling $74,390 was made against the Additional Bridge Loans. As of June 30, 2010, there was $61,644 in Additional Bridge Loans outstanding, including accrued interest.
First Western Trust Credit Facilities
On May 21, 2010, the Company and First Western Trust Bank (“FWTB”) executed a business loan agreement and related promissory note (the “FWTB Line of Credit”). The FWTB Line of Credit provides for loans by FWTB to the Company of up to a maximum of $2 million at any given time, subject to the Company maintaining an equivalent amount of cash on deposit in a restricted account at FWTB. Loans under the FWTB Line of Credit bear interest at a fixed rate of 2.0% per annum. In addition, the Company paid FWTB an origination fee of $2,500. The terms and conditions of the FWTB Line of Credit include limitations on the Company incurring additional debt and paying dividends on the Company’s stock without the consent of FWTB. In the event of a default under the FWTB Line of Credit, FWTB has the option to declare any loans outstanding immediately due and payable. The FWTB Line of Credit has a maturity date of May 20, 2011. As of June 30, 3010 there were no loans outstanding under the FWTB Line of Credit.
On May 21, 2010, the Company, FWTB and Jack J. Walker, the Company’s Chairman and CEO, as guarantor, executed a business loan agreement and related promissory note (the “FWTB Term Loan”) for a four-year loan in an initial principal amount of $1 million. The FWTB Term Loan is secured by a lien on the Company’s assets. In addition, Mr. Walker provided a guaranty of all Company obligations relating to the FWTB Term Loan. The Company paid Mr. Walker $50,000 as compensation for guaranteeing the FWTB Term Loan. The FWTB Term Loan bears interest at a fixed rate of 7.25% per annum and the Company paid a $12,500 origination fee to FWTB. The Company will make equal monthly payments of principal/interest over the four-year term of the FWTB Term Loan, which has a final maturity date of May 21, 2014. The terms and conditions of the FWTB Term Loan include limitations on the Company incurring additional debt and paying dividends on the Company’s stock without the consent of FWTB. In the event of a default under the FWTB Term Loan, FWTB has the option to declare the loan immediately due and payable. As of June 30, 2010, there was $981,523 outstanding under the FWTB Term Loan, including accrued interest.
Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes
Beginning in March 2010, the Company began a private offering of units comprising an aggregate of up to $8.4 million of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Notes and warrants to purchase 84,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”). The Company expects the private offering to remain open through September 30, 2010. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the private offering to invest in advertising and marketing programs to support its direct-to-consumer business, provide general working capital, pay commissions and expenses related to the private offering, and repay certain outstanding obligations. The issuance of the Units (as defined below) and the Additional Units (as defined below) was conducted in reliance upon exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, those under Rule 506 of Regulation D (as promulgated under the Securities Act). The Units and Additional Units were offered and sold only to investors who are “accredited investors,” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Because the units have not been registered under the Securities Act, investors will not be able to sell their Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (or the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes or conversion of the Warrants) in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration.
On May 6, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of units (the “Units”) comprising an aggregate of $4,200,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 42,000,000 Warrants. The Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. Consideration for the Units sold comprised $3,265,000 in cash and $935,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
On June 24, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of additional units (the “Additional Units”) comprising an aggregate of $2,600,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 26,000,000 Warrants. The Additional Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. The Company also received a commitment to purchase an additional $200,000 face value of Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes under the same terms and conditions as the Additional Units. Consideration for the Additional Units sold comprised $2,300,000 in cash and $300,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per year, payable quarterly in cash, additional Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes, or in registered common stock of the Company, at the option of the Company, and mature on May 6, 2013. The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes can be converted into shares of the Company's common stock at any time, initially at a conversion price of $0.10 per share (the “Conversion Price”). The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s common stock in the event (i) there is an effective registration statement registering the resale under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) of the underlying stock (“Conversion Shares”) or the Conversion Shares are eligible to be resold without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or other principal trading market is at least $0.25 per share for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days with an average daily trading volume of at least one million shares. The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes are secured by a subordinated lien on all assets of the Company.
Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock at a price of $0.20 per share, and contains customary anti-dilution rights (for stock splits, stock dividends and sales of substantially all the Company’s assets) and piggyback registration rights. The Warrants expire May 6, 2015.
In accordance with applicable accounting guidance, the Company recorded a $6.8 million debt discount on the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes because the combined value of the Warrants and the beneficial conversion feature (resulting because the market price of the Company’s shares on the date of issuance was greater than the Conversion Price of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes) exceeded the amount of Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes issued. The amortization of the $6.8 million debt discount will be reported as additional interest expense and increases in long-term debt over the three-year term of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
Amortization of the debt discount on the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes amounted to $224,932 for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. In addition, during the quarter ended June 30, 2010, $25,000 of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes was converted into common stock. The remaining unamortized debt discount of $24,018 related to the amount converted was charged to interest expense. As of June 30, 2010, the remaining unamortized discount on the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes was $6,551,050.
The Company paid $507,119 in fees in connection with the issuance of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. This amount was recognized as deferred financing costs on the Company’s balance sheet. These costs will be amortized to expense over the three-year term of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. In addition, the Company granted warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock to the placement agent for its Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Company granted 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.10 per common share and 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.20 per common share. The Placement Agent Warrants have a five year term and contain a cashless exercise provision. The value of the Placement Agent Warrants has been recognized as $1,412,000 in deferred financing cost on the Company’s balance sheet, which will be amortized to expense over the three-year term of the Subordinated Convertible Notes. For the quarter ended June 30, 2010, the amortized deferred financing costs relating to the Subordinated Convertible Notes totaled $62,458.
In conjunction with the private offering, the Company also provided investors with certain legal notices, as disclosed in “Part II, Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.”
Cash Requirements
The Company generally requires cash to:
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fund our operations and working capital requirements,
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develop and execute our product development and market introduction plans,
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execute our sales and marketing plans,
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fund research and development efforts, and
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pay for debt obligations as they come due.
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We expect to fund these and other cash requirements with cash provided by operations, debt facilities, and with existing cash. We are seeking to put in place a new line of credit to help support our seasonal working capital requirements, and we may raise new long-term capital in the form of Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes, depending on market conditions. At this time, based on a variety of assumptions including, but not limited to, our anticipated operating cash flow, the level of customer and consumer demand, our access to funding, the impact of cost reduction programs, and the state of the general economic environment in which we operate, we believe our internal and external sources of funding will be sufficient to support our operations for the next twelve months.
We cannot predict with certainty the cash requirements for our operations as market conditions, competitive pressures, regulatory requirements, credit and capital markets, and customer requirements can change rapidly. If the assumptions regarding these and other factors do not prove to be accurate in all material respects, there could be a material adverse impact on our operations and liquidity position, and on our ability to support the operating requirements of our business.
At this time, we do not expect to enter into additional capital leases to finance major purchases. In addition, we do not currently have any binding commitments with third parties to obtain any material amount of equity or debt financing other than the financing arrangements described in this report.
Assessment of Future Liquidity and Results of Operations
Liquidity
To assess our ability to fund ongoing operating requirements, we developed assumptions regarding our business plan, projected operating cash flow, anticipated capital expenditures, and availability under our various existing credit facilities. Critical sources of funding, and key assumptions and areas of uncertainty include:
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our cash of $2,504,491 ($444,803 of which was restricted as collateral for letters of credit and other corporate obligations) as of June 30, 2010,
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our cash of $1,584,573 ($87,874 of which is restricted as collateral for letters of credit and other corporate obligations) as of August 10, 2010,
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continued support of, and extensions of credit by, our suppliers and lenders,
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our historical pattern of increased sales between September and March, and lower sales volume from April through August,
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the level of spending necessary to support our planned initiatives, and
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our sales to consumers, retailers, and international distributors, and the resulting cash flow from operations, which will depend in great measure on the success of our direct-to-consumer initiatives.
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Based on these assumptions, we believe that we have sufficient liquidity to support our operations over the next twelve months.
There are several factors that could affect our future results of operations. These factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
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the effectiveness of our consumer-focused marketing efforts in generating both direct-to-consumer sales, and sales to consumers by our retailer customers,
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uncertainty regarding the impact of macroeconomic conditions on consumer spending,
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uncertainty regarding the capital markets and on our access to sufficient capital to support our current and projected scale of operations,
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the seasonality of our business, in which we have historically experienced higher sales volume during the fall and winter months (September through March), and
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a timely, uninterrupted supply of product from our third-party manufacturing suppliers in China.
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During Fiscal 2010, we took a number of actions to address our liquidity issues. Specifically, we re-focused our efforts on building our direct-to-consumer business, which we believe carries higher margin opportunities than our retailer business. We also reduced the number of retailers that carry our products in order to focus on those retailers that have proven to be the best and most profitable business partners. We issued approximately $6.7 million of convertible preferred stock to re-capitalize the Company, restructured the amounts and payment timing of certain of our accounts payable, and reduced the amount of interest-bearing debt outstanding. Furthermore, in the first quarter of Fiscal 2011, we issued $6,800,000 in Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (as described above). Although we cannot assure with certainty that these efforts to address our liquidity issues will be successful, we believe, based on the assumptions and factors noted above, and subject to the contingencies noted above, that we have sufficient liquidity to support our operations through the next twelve months.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We have certain current commitments under capital leases and have not entered into any contracts for financial derivative such as futures, swaps, and options. We do not believe that these arrangements are material to our current or future financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital resources or capital expenditures.
Interest Rate Risk
Our interest income is most sensitive to fluctuations in the general level of U.S. interest rates. As such, changes in U.S. interest rates affect the interest earned on our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments, and the value of those investments. Due to the short-term nature of our cash equivalents and investments, we have concluded that a change in interest rates does not pose a material market risk to us with respect to our interest income. Our debt carries fixed interest rates and therefore changes in the general level of market interest rates will not impact our interest expense during the terms of our existing debt arrangements.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We transact business in primarily in U.S. currency. Although we purchase our products in U.S. dollars, the prices charged by our China factories are predicated upon their cost for components, labor and overhead. Therefore, changes in the valuation of the U.S. dollar in relation to the Chinese currency may cause our manufacturers to raise prices of our products which could reduce our profit margins.
In future periods, it is possible that we could be exposed to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates on accounts receivable from sales and net monetary assets denominated in foreign currencies and liabilities. To date, however, virtually all of our transactions have been denominated in U.S. dollars.
(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted by the Company under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon and as of the date of that evaluation, the Company’s principal executive officer and financial officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports the Company files and submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.
(b) Changes in Internal Controls
There were no changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could have significantly affected those controls during the three months ended June 30, 2010.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
None.
None.
Beginning in March 2010, the Company began a private offering of units comprising an aggregate of up to $8.4 million of 8% Senior Secured Convertible Notes and warrants to purchase 84,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock (the “Warrants”). The Company expects the private offering to remain open through September 30, 2010. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the private offering to invest in advertising and marketing programs to support its direct-to-consumer business, provide general working capital, pay commissions and expenses related to the private offering, and repay certain outstanding obligations. The issuance of the Units (as defined below) and the Additional Units (as defined below) was conducted in reliance upon exemptions from registration requirements under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, those under Rule 506 of Regulation D (as promulgated under the Securities Act). The Units and Additional Units were offered and sold only to investors who are “accredited investors,” as defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D under the Securities Act. Because the units have not been registered under the Securities Act, investors will not be able to sell their Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (or the shares of the Company’s common stock issuable upon conversion of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes or conversion of the Warrants) in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration.
On May 6, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of units (the “Units”) comprising an aggregate of $4,200,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 42,000,000 Warrants. The Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. Consideration for the Units sold comprised $3,265,000 in cash and $935,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes.
On June 24, 2010, the Company closed on the private sale of units (the “Additional Units”) comprising an aggregate of $2,600,000 in 8% Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes and an aggregate of 26,000,000 Warrants. The Company also received a commitment to purchase an additional $200,000 face value of Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes under the same terms and conditions as the Additional Units. The Additional Units were sold at a price equal to the face value of the Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes. Consideration for the Additional Units sold comprised $2,300,000 in cash and $300,000 from the conversion of existing obligations of the Company into the Notes.
The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes bear interest at 8% per year, payable quarterly in cash, additional Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes, or in registered common stock of the Company, at the option of the Company, and mature on May 6, 2013. The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes can be converted into shares of the Company's common stock at any time, initially at a conversion price of $0.10 per share. The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes will automatically convert into shares of the Company’s common stock in the event (i) there is an effective registration statement registering the resale under the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”) of the underlying stock (“Conversion Shares”) or the Conversion Shares are eligible to be resold without restriction or limitation under Rule 144 under the Securities Act, and (ii) the closing bid price of the Company’s common stock as quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board or other principal trading market is at least $0.25 per share for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days with an average daily trading volume of at least one million shares. The Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes are secured by a subordinated lien on all assets of the Company.
Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Company's common stock at a price of $0.20 per share, and contains customary anti-dilution rights (for stock splits, stock dividends and sales of substantially all the Company’s assets) and piggyback registration rights. The Warrants expire May 6, 2015.
In addition, the Company granted warrants to purchase the Company’s common stock to the placement agent for its Subordinated Secured Convertible Notes (the “Placement Agent Warrants”). The Company granted 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.10 per common share and 6,800,000 Placement Agent Warrants with an exercise price of $0.20 per common share. The Placement Agent Warrants have a five year term and contain a cashless exercise provision.
In conjunction with the private offering, the Company provided the following legal notices:
NOTICES
This Confidential Private Placement Memorandum, including all exhibits hereto (the “Memorandum”) is being furnished by the Placement Agent as agent solely for the use by prospective purchasers of the securities offered hereby. The Company has retained the Placement Agent as agent in connection with this private placement (the “Offering”).
The Company has prepared this Memorandum and no representation or warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. Prospective investors will be given the opportunity to meet with management and conduct their own due diligence investigations, upon which they must rely solely in making their investment decision.
This Memorandum is submitted in connection with the private placement of the securities described herein and may not be reproduced or used for any other purpose. The recipient agrees by accepting this Memorandum that all information regarding this Offering and the information contained herein and in all related and ancillary documents is not to be used for any purpose other than in connection with its consideration of a purchase of the Securities and that such information is of a confidential nature and that the recipient will treat it in a confidential manner, and that it will not, directly or indirectly, disclose or permit its affiliates or representatives to disclose any of such information to any other person or reproduce this Memorandum in whole or in part without the prior written consent of the Company. Each recipient of this Memorandum further agrees that this confidentiality and other obligations shall apply to any non-public information relating to the Company or the Securities which is provided to such recipient subsequent to the delivery of this Memorandum.
Each recipient of this Memorandum understands that the fact the Company is undertaking this Offering as well as certain information contained in this Memorandum, may be considered to be material, non-public information. We draw your attention to the anti-fraud provisions of the federal and state securities laws, particularly Rule 10b-5 promulgated under the Exchange Act, which prohibits the purchase or sale of securities on the basis of material non-public information. If a person is in possession of material information relating to the Company which he knows or has reason to know is non-public, he should not purchase or sell or cause to be purchased or sold any of the Company’s securities. In addition, none of such information should be disclosed unless and until such information has been publicly disclosed.
If the recipient does not participate in the Offering, the recipient agrees to either promptly return this Memorandum and any accompanying documentation to the Company, if requested, or to destroy all such documents.
WE ARE OFFERING THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGISTERING THEM UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. WE BELIEVE WE ARE EXEMPT FROM REGISTERING THEM UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT BASED UPON THE EXEMPTION UNDER SECTIONS 4(2) AND 3(B) OF THE SECURITIES ACT AND THE PROVISIONS OF REGULATION D OF THE SECURITIES ACT. NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS MEMORANDUM IS ACCURATE OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
We may withdraw, cancel or modify this Offering without notice. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to reject any subscription in whole or in part for any reason or to allot to any subscriber less than the amount of Securities subscribed for.
Our officers, directors, shareholders and their affiliates may purchase Securities pursuant to this Offering, although they have made no commitment to do so.
The sale, transfer or other disposition of any securities purchased in this Offering is restricted by applicable federal and state securities law.
We have determined the offering price of the securities to which this Memorandum relates by negotiation with the Placement Agent. That price does not necessarily bear any relationship to the assets, book value or potential earnings of the Company or any other recognized criteria of value.
You should only rely on the information contained in this Memorandum. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this Memorandum. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this Memorandum is accurate only as of the date of this Memorandum, regardless of the time of delivery of this Memorandum or of any sale of the Securities.
This Memorandum is not an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any security other than the securities offered. It is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy our Securities by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized, or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so.
This Offering is made, and sales of the Securities will be made, only to purchasers who qualify as “Accredited Investors” under Regulation D of the Act.
You are not to consider the contents of this Memorandum as legal, investment or tax advice. You should consult your own advisors as to legal, investment, tax and related matters concerning an investment by you in AeroGrow International, Inc.
It is the responsibility of any individual or entity wishing to purchase the Securities to satisfy itself as to the full observance of the laws of any relevant territory outside the United States in connection with any such purchase, including obtaining any required governmental or other consents or observing any other applicable formalities.
JURISDICTIONAL NOTICES
Residents of All States:
THE SECURITIES OFFERED IN THIS MEMORANDUM HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, OR THE SECURITIES LAWS OF CERTAIN STATES AND ARE BEING OFFERED AND SOLD IN RELIANCE ON EXEMPTIONS FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT AND CERTAIN STATE LAWS. THE SECURITIES ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY AND RESALE AND MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED OR RESOLD EXCEPT AS PERMITTED UNDER SAID ACT AND SUCH LAWS PURSUANT TO REGISTRATION OR EXEMPTION THEREFROM. INVESTORS SHOULD BE AWARE THAT THEY WILL BE REQUIRED TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL RISKS OF THIS INVESTMENT FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD OF TIME. THE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR ANY OTHER REGULATORY AUTHORITY, NOR HAVE ANY OF THE FOREGOING AUTHORITIES PASSED UPON OR ENDORSED THE MERITS OF THIS OFFERING OR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THE MEMORANDUM. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS UNLAWFUL.
IN MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, INVESTORS MUST RELY ON THEIR OWN EXAMINATION OF THE COMPANY AND THE TERMS OF THE OFFERING, INCLUDING THE MERITS AND RISKS INVOLVED. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN RECOMMENDED BY ANY FEDERAL OR STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION OR REGULATORY AUTHORITY. FURTHERMORE, THESE AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE ACCURACY OR DETERMINED THE ADEQUACY OF THIS DOCUMENT. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
Residents of Florida:
PURSUANT TO SECTION 517.061(11)(A) OF FLORIDA STATUTES, 1987, AS AMENDED, IF SALES OF SECURITIES ARE MADE TO FIVE OR MORE PERSONS IN FLORIDA, EACH FLORIDA PURCHASER MAY VOIDS HIS, HER OR ITS PURCHASE OF SECURITIES WITHIN THREE (3) DAYS AFTER THE FIRST TENDER OF CONSIDERATION IS MADE BY SUCH PURCHASER TO THE COMPANY.
Residents of New Hampshire:
NEITHER THE FACT THAT A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AN APPLICATION FOR A LICENSE HAS BEEN FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE REVISED STATUTE WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NOR THE FACT THAT A SECURITY IS EFFECTIVELY REGISTERED OR A PERSON IS LICENSED IN THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTES A FINDING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT ANY DOCUMENT FILED UNDER CHAPTER 421-B IS TRUE, COMPLETE AND NOT MISLEADING. NEITHER ANY SUCH FACT NOR THE FACT THAT AN EXEMPTION OR EXCEPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR A SECURITY OR A TRANSACTION MEANS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE HAS PASSED IN ANY WAY UPON THE MERITS OR QUALIFICATIONS OF, OR RECOMMENDED OR GIVEN APPROVAL TO, ANY PERSON, SECURITY OR TRANSACTION. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE, OR CAUSE TO BE MADE, TO ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER, CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ANY REPRESENTATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
ABOUT THIS MEMORANDUM
You should rely only on the information contained in this Memorandum. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this Memorandum is accurate as of the date of the front cover of this Memorandum only.
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