GlobeNewswire Inc | Aug 11, 2020 05:00PM EDT

August 11, 2020

-- Revenue Increases 267% to $16.4M -- Operating Profit Rises to $2.7M the Companys First Ever Q1 Profit -- Gross Margin Improves 1,200+ basis points to 45% -- Favorable Sales Trends Continue Accelerated by COVID-19 -- Grow Anything Appliance Set to Launch in Q2

BOULDER, Colo., Aug. 11, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- AeroGrow International, Inc. (OTCQB:AERO) ("AeroGrow" or the "Company"), the manufacturer and distributor of AeroGardens - the worlds leading family of In-Home Garden Systems announced today its results for the Quarter ended June 30, 2020.

For the 1st quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 ended June 30, 2020 the Company recorded net revenue of $16.4 million, an increase of 267% from $4.5M in the same period in the prior year. Income from Operations was $2.7M, up from a loss of $1.1M in the prior year period.

Our 1st Quarter results were exceptional by every measure, said President and CEO J. Michael Wolfe.Sales across all three of our distribution channels Amazon, Direct-to-Consumer and Retail were extremely strong throughout the quarter. This is our third consecutive quarter with record sales and profitability, and we saw further acceleration of our results due to the Covid-19 pandemic beginning in March. This was driven by increased interest in gardening, at-home meal preparation and access to fresh, safe food sources...and the AeroGarden certainly meets all of these needs. We experienced an increase in sales across all product types, including gardens, seed pod kits and accessories.

During the quarter we were able to refine our pricing model, which primarily drove our gross margin up to 44.8%, an increase of 1,230 bps from 32.5% in the same period last year. Our gross margin also benefited from a larger portion of our sales coming through our Direct-to-Consumer channel (AeroGarden.com), which affords us better margins. In addition, we continued to see very good results and improved efficiencies in our digital marketing programs which played an important role in our sales growth. We believe these programs are further scalable as we enter what is traditionally our peak sales periods. These factors, in addition to increased sales, drove the significant improvement in our operating profit and demonstrate the leverage in our business as it continues to scale.

We have also successfully expanded capacity with all of our critical suppliers to keep up with what appears to be continued strong demand for our products. Our July sales while having moderated from the original surge we experienced during the early days of the pandemic have remained at a considerably higher level on a YOY basis. If this sales trend continues, we believe our expanded supply chain and distribution infrastructure will be prepared to meet it.

Looking ahead, we have three new product introductions planned for the coming months. We will be introducing a new Farm model and an all new Sprout into our AeroGarden product line, as well as launching the Grow Anything Appliance, our most ambitious product to date. To be known as the Bloom by Botanicare, we believe this refrigerator-sized, large-plant growing system is the most advanced in the world. Bloom monitors and dynamically adjusts key environmental factors for each stage of a plants development maximizing the speed of growth, yields, flavor and consistency of thousands of potential plant varieties. Bloom will launch later in our 2nd Quarter with an initial release designed to begin cultivating our community of growers, followed by distribution ramping throughout the fall. Apply to be a part our initial release program at Launch.BloomGrows.com.

Our balance sheet as of June 30 had $10.3 million in cash on hand and $3.8 million in receivables. In addition, on August 3rd we secured a $7.5 million working capital line of credit from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company. We believe the combination of our strong balance sheet and working capital line will support our efforts to have sufficient inventory for the upcoming season and take full advantage of additional upside opportunities that may present themselves. Finally, I want to recognize our incredible team here at AeroGrow, all of whom have worked tirelessly to deliver these results while preparing for our upcoming holiday season.

Thank you for your interest in AeroGrow and I look forward to updating you on our progress.

Forward-Looking Statements

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements by J. Michael Wolfe and/or the Company, statements regarding growth of the AeroGarden product line, ability to raise capital, optimism related to the business, expanding sales, market acceptance of developments and enhancements to our product line, improved margins and profitability, and other statements in this press release are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Companys business. Words such as expects, anticipates, intends, plans, believes, sees, estimates and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Actual results could vary materially from the description contained herein due to many factors including continued market acceptance of the Companys products or the need to raise additional capital. In addition, actual results could vary materially based on changes or slower growth in the indoor garden market; the potential inability to realize expected benefits and synergies; domestic and international business and economic conditions; changes in customer demand or ordering patterns; changes in the competitive environment including pricing pressures or technological changes; technological advances; shortages of manufacturing capacity; future production variables impacting excess inventory and other risk factors listed from time to time in the Companys Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, including in Item 1A Risk Factors of the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release.

Additional detailed information concerning a number of the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information contained in this release is readily available in the Companys publicly filed quarterly, annual and other reports. The Company disclaims any obligation to update developments of these risk factors or to announce publicly any revision to any of the forward-looking statements contained in this release, or to make corrections to reflect future events or developments.

AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.BALANCE SHEETS

June 30, March 31, 2020 2020 (Derived(in thousands, except share and per share (Unaudited) from data) Audited Statements)ASSETS Current assets Cash $ 10,304 $ 9,046 Restricted cash 15 15 Accounts receivable, net of allowance fordoubtful accounts of$540 and $376 3,869 3,422 atJune 30, 2020 and March 31,2020,respectivelyOther receivables 334 257 Inventory, net 6,328 4,788 Prepaid expenses and other 2,684 1,392 Total current assets 23,534 18,920 Property and equipment and intangible assets,net of accumulated depreciation of$5,624 and 1,219 1,229 $5,467 atJune 30, 2020 and March 31, 2020,respectivelyOperating leaseright of use 1,193 1,229 Deposits 655 669 Total assets $ 26,601 $ 22,047 LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Current liabilities Accounts payable $ 2,962 $ 2,332 Accounts payable related party 3,019 2,396 Accrued expenses 3,234 2,308 Debt associated with sale of intellectual 19 17 propertyFinance lease liability 18 29 Operating lease liability-current portion 126 58 Total current liabilities 9,378 7,140 Long term liabilities Notes payable related party 900 900 Operating lease liability 1,166 1,201 Other liability - 297 Total liabilities 11,444 9,538 Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity Common stock, $.001 par value, 750,000,000shares authorized,34,328,036 sharesissued 34 34 and outstanding atJune 30, 2020 and March31, 2020Additional paid-in capital 140,817 140,817 Accumulated deficit (125,694 ) (128,342 )Total stockholders' equity 15,157 12,509 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 26,601 $ 22,047

AEROGROW INTERNATIONAL, INC.STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

Three Months ended June 30, 2020 2019 (in thousands, except per share data) Net revenue $ 16,411 $ 4,475 Cost of revenue 9,054 3,020 Gross profit 7,357 1,455 Operating expenses Research and development 301 210 Sales and marketing 2,815 1,404 General and administrative 1,574 894 Total operating expenses 4,690 2,508 Income (loss) from operations 2,667 (1,053 ) Other (expense) income, net Interest expense-related party (23 ) (2 )Other (expense) income, net 4 (3 )Total other (expense) income, net (19 ) (5 ) Net income (loss) $ 2,648 $ (1,058 ) Net income (loss) per common share, basic and $ 0.08 $ (0.03 )diluted Weighted average number of common 34,328 34,328 sharesoutstanding, basic Weighted average number of common 34,339 34,328 sharesoutstanding, diluted

About AeroGrow International, Inc.

Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, AeroGrow International, Inc. is the leader in the rapidly growing indoor gardening category. AeroGardens allow anyone to grow farmers market fresh herbs, salad greens, tomatoes, chili peppers, flowers and more, indoors, year-round, so simply and easily that no green thumb is required. With an AeroGardenyou can grow anything!In April 2013, AeroGrow entered into a strategic partnership with Scotts Miracle-Gro to continue to expand the indoor gardening market.For more information, visit http://www.aerogrow.com.

Investor Relations: Grey GibbsSenior Vice President of Finance and Accountinggrey@aerogrow.com303-444-7755