CENTRAL GARDEN & PET CO - Quarter Report: 2019 March (Form 10-Q)

Large accelerated filer

Accelerated filer

Non-accelerated filer

Smaller reporting company

Emerging growth company

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)



ý	QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 30, 2019



¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT OF SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to

Commission File Number: 001-33268



Delaware		68-0275553
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

1340 Treat Blvd., Suite 600, Walnut Creek, California 94597

(Address of principal executive offices)

(925) 948-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

_______________________________________________________________________

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

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. ý Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files). ý Yes ¨ No

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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.

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. ¨

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

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



Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock	CENT	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC
Class A Common Stock	CENTA	The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.



	Common Stock Outstanding as of April 29, 2019	12,145,135
	Class A Common Stock Outstanding as of April 29, 2019	44,476,424
	Class B Stock Outstanding as of April 29, 2019	1,652,262

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	PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements (Unaudited):
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations Three and Six Months Ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income Three and Six Months Ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018	6
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Six Months Ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018	7
	Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	8
Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	32
Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	45
Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	45

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	45
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	46
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	46
Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities	46
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	46
Item 5.	Other Information	46
Item 6.	Exhibits	47

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements.” Forward-looking statements include statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures, plans or intentions relating to acquisitions, our competitive strengths and weaknesses, our business strategy and the trends we anticipate in the industries in which we operate and other information that is not historical information. When used in this Form 10-Q, the words “estimates,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “projects,” “plans,” “intends,” “believes” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, our future earnings expectations, are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. Our expectations, beliefs and projections are expressed in good faith, and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them, but we cannot assure you that our expectations, beliefs and projections will be realized.

There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this Form 10-Q are set forth in the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018, including the factors described in the section entitled “Item 1A – Risk Factors.” If any of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or if any of our underlying assumptions are incorrect, our actual results may differ significantly from the results that we express in, or imply by, any of our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to revise these forward-looking statements to reflect future events or circumstances, except as required by law. Presently known risk factors include, but are not limited to, the following factors:


•	seasonality and fluctuations in our operating results and cash flow;

•fluctuations in market prices for seeds and grains and other raw materials;

•our inability to pass through cost increases in a timely manner;

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•	the impending retirement of our CEO, the transition to a successor, our dependence upon our key executives and the ability to execute on our succession plan;


•	risks associated with new product introductions, including the risk that our new products will not produce sufficient sales to recoup our investment;


•	fluctuations in energy prices, fuel and related petrochemical costs;

•declines in consumer spending during economic downturns;

•inflation, deflation and other adverse macro-economic conditions;

•supply shortages in pet birds, small animals and fish;

•adverse weather conditions;

•risks associated with our acquisition strategy;

•access to and cost of additional capital;

•dependence on a small number of customers for a significant portion of our business;

•potential impacts of tariffs or trade war;

•consolidation trends in the retail industry;

•competition in our industries;

•potential goodwill or intangible asset impairment;

•continuing implementation of an enterprise resource planning information technology system;

•our inability to protect our trademarks and other proprietary rights;

•potential environmental liabilities;

•risk associated with international sourcing;

•litigation and product liability claims;

•regulatory issues;

•the impact of product recalls;

•potential costs and risks associated with actual or potential cyber attacks;

•the impact of new accounting regulations and the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act on the Company's tax rate;

•the voting power associated with our Class B stock; and

•potential dilution from issuance of authorized shares.

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION


Item 1.	Financial Statements

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

(Unaudited)



	March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018			September 29, 2018
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	329,724		$	132,265		$	482,106
Restricted cash	16,115			13,948			10,899
Accounts receivable (less allowance for doubtful accounts of $16,818, $20,976 and $24,125)	456,129			395,151			275,908
Inventories, net	517,158			465,522			427,823
Prepaid expenses and other	33,161			26,677			20,562
Total current assets	1,352,287			1,033,563			1,217,298
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment—net	217,538			210,563			217,647
Goodwill	281,177			268,243			281,177
Other intangible assets—net	142,798			141,530			152,265
Other assets	52,340			50,064			38,822
Total	$	2,046,140		$	1,703,963		$	1,907,209
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	157,596		$	150,975		$	110,259
Accrued expenses	136,413			116,414			102,583
Current portion of long-term debt	5,119			20			122
Total current liabilities	299,128			267,409			212,964
Long-term debt	692,646			691,084			692,031
Deferred taxes and other long-term obligations	55,064			40,368			49,380
Equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 12,145,135 shares outstanding at March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018	121			121			121
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value: 44,386,792, 38,171,595 and 43,953,265 shares outstanding at March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018	444			382			439
Class B stock, $0.01 par value: 1,652,262 shares outstanding	16			16			16
Additional paid-in capital	592,331			393,852			590,168
Accumulated earnings	407,117			310,810			362,923
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1,280		)	(673		)	(1,218		)
Total Central Garden & Pet Company shareholders’ equity	998,749			704,508			952,449
Noncontrolling interest	553			594			385
Total equity	999,302			705,102			952,834
Total	$	2,046,140		$	1,703,963		$	1,907,209

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018			March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
Net sales	$	673,701		$	613,094		$	1,135,691		$	1,055,105
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	467,650			418,637			799,458			728,811
Gross profit	206,051			194,457			336,233			326,294
Selling, general and administrative expenses	143,898			128,671			263,899			237,987
Operating income	62,153			65,786			72,334			88,307
Interest expense	(10,640		)	(10,575		)	(21,254		)	(17,980		)
Interest income	2,255			693			4,792			880
Other income (expense)	500			1,505			308			(1,584		)
Income before income taxes and noncontrolling interest	54,268			57,409			56,180			69,623
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,546			11,643			11,819			(2,593		)
Income including noncontrolling interest	42,722			45,766			44,361			72,216
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	331			532			167			735
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	42,391		$	45,234		$	44,194		$	71,481
Net income per share attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company:
Basic	$	0.74		$	0.89		$	0.78		$	1.41
Diluted	$	0.73		$	0.86		$	0.76		$	1.36
Weighted average shares used in the computation of net income per share:
Basic	57,050			50,871			56,976			50,816
Diluted	58,026			52,658			58,013			52,693

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)



	Three Months Ended				Six Months Ended
	March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
Income including noncontrolling interest	$	42,722	$	45,766	$	44,361		$	72,216
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	212		234		(62		)	278
Total comprehensive income	42,934		46,000		44,299			72,494
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest	331		532		167			735
Comprehensive income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	42,603	$	45,468	$	44,132		$	71,759

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(in thousands, unaudited)



	Six Months Ended
	March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$	44,361		$	72,216
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash used by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	24,229			22,285
Amortization of deferred financing costs	916			833
Stock-based compensation	5,907			5,536
Deferred income taxes	6,044			(14,763		)
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(16		)	(11		)
Other	(710		)	2,984
Change in assets and liabilities (excluding businesses acquired):
Accounts receivable	(159,933		)	(154,712		)
Inventories	(59,630		)	(57,965		)
Prepaid expenses and other assets	(2,772		)	(10,273		)
Accounts payable	41,332			40,712
Accrued expenses	20,818			(1,848		)
Other long-term obligations	135			1,048
Net cash used by operating activities	(79,319		)	(93,958		)
Cash flows from investing activities:
Additions to property and equipment	(14,302		)	(17,566		)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(11,137		)	(63,372		)
Investments	(1,749		)	(6,555		)
Other investing activities	(368		)	(2,180		)
Net cash used in investing activities	(27,556		)	(89,673		)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of long-term debt	(36,466		)	(360		)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	—			300,000
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	—			23,000
Repayments under revolving line of credit	—			(23,000		)
Repurchase of common stock, including shares surrendered for tax withholding	(3,739		)	(8,473		)
Payment of contingent consideration liability	(66		)	(123		)
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			(1,597		)
Payment of financing costs	—			(4,765		)
Net cash (used) provided by financing activities	(40,271		)	284,682
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(20		)	120
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(147,166		)	101,171
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	493,005			45,042
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	345,839		$	146,213
Supplemental information:
Cash paid for interest	$	21,298		$	13,397

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Three and Six Months Ended March 30, 2019

(Unaudited)


1.	Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated balance sheets of Central Garden & Pet Company and subsidiaries (the “Company” or “Central”) as of March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018, the condensed consolidated statements of operations and the condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018 and the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows for the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018 have been prepared by the Company, without audit. In the opinion of management, the interim financial statements include all normal recurring adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented.

For the Company’s foreign business in the UK, the local currency is the functional currency. Assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date. Income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rate for the period. Deferred taxes are not provided on translation gains and losses because the Company expects earnings of its foreign subsidiary to be permanently reinvested. Transaction gains and losses are included in results of operations.

Due to the seasonal nature of the Company’s garden business, the results of operations for the three and six months ended March 30, 2019 are not indicative of the operating results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year. These interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the annual audited financial statements, accounting policies and financial notes thereto, included in the Company’s 2018 Annual Report on Form 10-K, which has previously been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The September 29, 2018 balance sheet presented herein was derived from the audited financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements represents the 20% interest not owned by Central in a consolidated subsidiary. Since the Company controls this subsidiary, its financial statements are consolidated with those of the Company, and the noncontrolling owner’s 20% share of the subsidiary’s net assets and results of operations is deducted and reported as noncontrolling interest on the consolidated balance sheets and as net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 8, Supplemental Equity Information, for additional information.

Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash

The Company considers cash and all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less at date of purchase to be cash and cash equivalents. Restricted cash includes cash and highly liquid instruments that are used as collateral for stand-alone letter of credit agreements related to normal business transactions. These agreements require the Company to maintain specified amounts of cash as collateral in segregated accounts to support the letters of credit issued thereunder, which will affect the amount of cash the Company has available for other uses. The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows as of March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018, respectively (in thousands).



	March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018		September 29, 2018
Cash and cash equivalents	$	329,724	$	132,265	$	482,106
Restricted cash	16,115		13,948		10,899
Total Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	$	345,839	$	146,213	$	493,005

Revenue Recognition

Revenue Recognition and Nature of Products and Services

The Company manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of branded, private label and third-party pet and garden products to wholesalers, distributors and retailers, primarily in the United States. The majority of the Company’s revenue is generated from the sale of finished pet and garden products. The Company also recognizes a minor amount of non-product revenue (less than one percent of consolidated net sales) comprising third-party logistics services, merchandising services and royalty income from sales-based licensing arrangements. Product and non-product revenue is recognized when performance obligations under the terms of the contracts with customers are satisfied. The Company recognizes product revenue when control over the finished goods transfers to its customers, which

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generally occurs upon shipment to, or receipt at, customers’ locations, as determined by the specific terms of the contract. These revenue contracts generally have single performance obligations. Non-product revenue is recognized as the services are provided to the customer in the case of third-party logistics services and merchandising services or as third-party licensee sales occur for royalty income. Revenue, which includes shipping and handling charges billed to the customer, is reported net of variable consideration and consideration payable to our customers, including applicable discounts, returns, allowances, trade promotion, unsaleable product, consumer coupon redemption and rebates. Shipping and handling costs that occur before the customer obtains control of the goods are deemed to be fulfillment activities and are accounted for as fulfillment costs.

Key sales terms are established on a frequent basis such that most customer arrangements and related incentives have a one year or shorter duration. As such, the Company does not capitalize contract inception costs. Product fulfillment costs are capitalized as a part of inventoriable costs in accordance with US GAAP and our inventory policies. The Company generally does not have unbilled receivables at the end of a period. Deferred revenues are not material and primarily include advance payments for services that have yet to be rendered. The Company does not receive noncash consideration for the sale of goods. Amounts billed and due from our customers are classified as receivables and require payment on a short-term basis; therefore, the Company does not have any significant financing components.

Sales Incentives and Other Promotional Programs

The Company routinely offers sales incentives and discounts through various regional and national programs to our customers and consumers. These programs include product discounts or allowances, product rebates, product returns, one-time or ongoing trade-promotion programs with customers and consumer coupon programs that require the Company to estimate and accrue the expected costs of such programs. The costs associated with these activities are accounted for as reductions to the transaction price of the Company’s products and are, therefore, recorded as reductions to gross sales at the time of sale. The Company bases its estimates of incentive costs on historical trend experience with similar programs, actual incentive terms per customer contractual obligations and expected levels of performance of trade promotions, utilizing customer and sales organization inputs. The Company maintains liabilities at the end of each period for the estimated incentive costs incurred but unpaid for these programs. Differences between estimated and actual incentive costs are generally not material and are recognized in earnings in the period such differences are determined. Reserves for product returns, accrued rebates and promotional accruals are included in the condensed consolidated balance sheets as part of accrued expenses, and the value of inventory associated with reserves for sales returns is included within prepaid and other current assets on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.

Practical Expedients

The Company elected the following practical expedients upon its adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (ASC Topic 606).

•Significant financing component - The Company elected not to adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component as the Company expects, at contract inception, that the period between the transfer of a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that good or service will be one year or less.

•Shipping and handling costs - The Company elected to account for shipping and handling activities that occur before the customer has obtained control of a good as fulfillment activities rather than as a promised service.

•Measurement of transaction price - The Company has elected to exclude from the measurement of transaction price all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on, and concurrent with, a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected by the Company from a customer for sales taxes.

Income Taxes

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Government enacted the 2017 Tax Act, which was comprehensive new tax legislation. The SEC Staff issued guidance on income tax accounting for the 2017 Tax Act on December 22, 2017, which allows companies to record provisional amounts during a measurement period not to extend beyond one year of the enactment date. During the first quarter of fiscal 2019, the Company has not made any measurement period adjustments. The Company's accounting for the impact of the 2017 Tax Act has now been completed as of the period ending December 29, 2018.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

Revenue Recognition

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") ASC Topic 606, which replaces numerous requirements in U.S. GAAP, including industry-specific requirements, and provides companies with a single revenue recognition model for recognizing revenue

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from contracts with customers. On September 30, 2018, the beginning of the Company’s fiscal year 2019, the Company adopted the requirements of ASC Topic 606 using the modified retrospective method. Upon completing its implementation assessment of Topic ASC 606, the Company concluded that no adjustment was required to the opening balance of retained earnings at the date of initial application. The comparative information has also not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. Additional disclosures required by ASC Topic 606 are presented within the Revenue Recognition policy disclosure and in Note 11 Segment Information.

On the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets, reserves for customer product returns and return allowances are now included as part of accrued expenses, rather than accounts receivable, net, and the value of inventory associated with reserves for sales returns is included within prepaid and other current assets

Had the Company not adopted the provisions under this ASU, its condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2019 would have been presented as follows (in thousands):



	As Presented March 31, 2019		Adjustments			Balances without Adoption of ASC 606 March 31, 2019
Current assets
Receivables, less allowance for doubtful accounts	$	456,129	$	(8,280	)	$	447,849
Prepaid expenses and other	$	33,161	$	(4,980	)	$	28,181
Total current assets	$	1,352,287	$	(13,260	)	$	1,339,027

Current liabilities
Accrued expenses	$	136,413	$	(13,260	)	$	123,153
Total current liabilities	$	299,128	$	(13,260	)	$	285,868

Statement of Cash Flows

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (ASU 2016-15). The ASU provides additional clarification guidance on the classification of certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance as of September 30, 2018 on a retrospective basis. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force) (ASU 2016-18). This ASU clarifies the presentation of restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. Amounts generally described as restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents should be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning and ending cash balances on the statement of cash flows. The Company adopted the provisions under this ASU on September 30, 2018, on a retrospective basis. This resulted in an increase in beginning of period and end of period cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $12.6 million and $13.9 million, respectively, and a decrease of $1.3 million of cash used in investing activities to the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the six months ended March 31, 2018.

Business Combinations

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business (ASU 2017-01), which requires an evaluation of whether substantially all of the fair value of assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If so, the transaction does not qualify as a business. The guidance also requires an acquired business to include at least one substantive process and narrows the definition of outputs. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance as of September 30, 2018. The adoption of this ASU had no impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements for the period ended March 30, 2019, but may have an impact on accounting for any future acquisitions the Company may have.

Income Taxes

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory (Topic 740). ASU 2016-16 amends accounting guidance for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory to require the recognition of taxes when the transfer occurs. The amendment was effective for us September 30, 2018. A modified retrospective approach

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is required for transition to the new guidance, with a cumulative-effect adjustment consisting of the net impact from (1) the write-off of any unamortized expense previously deferred and (2) recognition of any previously unrecognized deferred tax assets, net of any valuation allowance. The new guidance does not include any specific new disclosure requirements. Adoption of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2019 did not have an impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Financial Instruments

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The updated guidance enhances the reporting model for financial instruments, which includes amendments to address aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure. The guidance requires equity investments, excluding equity method investments or investees that are consolidated, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income and enhanced disclosures about those investments. The guidance also simplifies the impairment assessments of equity investments without readily determinable fair value. The Company adopted the ASU in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, and the adoption of the new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02 (ASU 2016-02), Leases (Topic 842). ASU 2016-02 requires companies to generally recognize on the balance sheet operating and financing lease liabilities and corresponding right-of-use assets. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 on September 29, 2019 and expects to elect certain practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. The Company will elect the optional transition method that allows for a cumulative-effect adjustment in the period of adoption and will not restate prior periods. The Company is implementing a new lease system in connection with the adoption of this standard and is currently in the implementation phase. The Company currently expects that most of its operating lease commitments will be subject to the new standard, and the Company will record significant long-term operating lease liabilities and long-term right-of-use assets upon the adoption of ASU 2016-02.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment. The new guidance simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by removing the second step of the two-step impairment test. The amendment requires an entity to perform its annual or interim goodwill impairment test by comparing the fair value of a reporting unit with its carrying amount. An entity still has the option to perform the qualitative assessment for a reporting unit to determine if the quantitative impairment test is necessary. The new guidance is effective for annual periods or any interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, or the Company's first quarter of fiscal 2021. The amendment should be applied on a prospective basis. Based on the Company's most recent annual goodwill impairment test performed as of July 1, 2018, there were no reporting units for which the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value; therefore, this ASU would not currently have an impact on the Company's condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. However, if upon adoption the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the Company would be impacted by the amount of impairment recognized.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. This ASU aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license). ASU 2018-15 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted, and is effective for the Company in fiscal 2021. The amendments in this ASU should be applied either retrospectively or prospectively to all implementation costs incurred after the date of adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2018-15 will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

Table of Contents

Fair Value Disclosures

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820), Disclosure Framework-Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement. This ASU modifies the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements by removing, modifying or adding certain disclosures. ASU 2018-13 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those annual periods, with early adoption permitted and is effective for the Company in fiscal 2021. The amendments on changes in unrealized gains and losses, the range and weighted average of significant unobservable inputs used to develop Level 3 fair value measurements, and the narrative description of measurement uncertainty should be applied prospectively for only the most recent interim or annual period presented in the initial fiscal year of adoption. All other amendments should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented upon their effective date. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that ASU 2018-13 will have on its condensed consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.


2.	Fair Value Measurements

ASC 820 establishes a single authoritative definition of fair value, a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure of fair value measurements. ASC 820 requires financial assets and liabilities to be categorized based on the inputs used to calculate their fair values as follows:

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

Level 2 - Inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs for the asset or liability, which reflect the Company’s own assumptions about the assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability (including assumptions about risk).

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and equivalents, short term investments consisting of bank certificates of deposit, accounts receivable and payable, derivative instruments, short-term borrowings, and accrued liabilities. The carrying amount of these instruments approximates fair value because of their short-term nature.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of March 30, 2019 (in thousands):



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Liability for contingent consideration (a)	$	—	$	—	$	7,729	$	7,729
Total liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	7,729	$	7,729



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Liability for contingent consideration (a)	$	—	$	—	$	9,148	$	9,148
Total liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	9,148	$	9,148

The following table presents our financial assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis based upon the level within the fair value hierarchy in which the fair value measurements fall, as of September 29, 2018:



	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total
Liabilities:
Liability for contingent consideration (b)	$	—	$	—	$	8,224	$	8,224
Total liabilities	$	—	$	—	$	8,224	$	8,224


(a)	The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012, future performance-based contingent payments for Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc., acquired in October 2015 and future performance-based contingent payment for Segrest, Inc., acquired in October 2016. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration arrangement is determined based

on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

(b)

The liability for contingent consideration relates to an earn-out for B2E, acquired in December 2012, future performance-based contingent payments for Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc., acquired in October 2015, future performance-based contingent payment for Segrest, Inc., acquired in October 2016, and future performance-based contingent payments for Bell Nursery, acquired in March 2018. The contingent period for Bell Nursery expired in December 2018. Performance thresholds that would have necessitated payment were not met, and accordingly, no payment was made. The fair value of the estimated contingent consideration arrangement is determined based on the Company’s evaluation as to the probability and amount of any earn-out that will be achieved based on expected future performance by the acquired entity. This is presented as part of long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

The following table provides a summary of the changes in fair value of the Company's Level 3 financial instruments for the periods ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018 (in thousands):



	Amount
Balance September 29, 2018	$	8,224
Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition	—
Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition	(429		)
Performance-based payments	(66		)
Balance March 30, 2019	$	7,729

	Amount
Balance September 30, 2017	$	9,343
Estimated contingent performance-based consideration established at the time of acquisition	—
Changes in the fair value of contingent performance-based payments established at the time of acquisition	(72		)
Performance-based payments	(123		)
Balance March 31, 2018	$	9,148

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis

The Company measures certain non-financial assets and liabilities, including long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, at fair value on a non-recurring basis. Fair value measurements of non- assets and non-financial liabilities are used primarily in the impairment analyses of long-lived assets, goodwill and other intangible assets. During the period ended March 31, 2018, the Company was not required to measure any significant non-financial assets and liabilities at fair value. As a result of one of our retail customers exiting the live fish business, the carrying value of $2.5 million of amortizable intangible assets were written down to their estimated fair value, resulting in impairment charges of $2.5 million, which were included in selling, general and administrative expenses during the period ended March 30, 2019.

Fair Value of Other Financial Instruments

In December 2017, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). The estimated fair value of the Company's 2028 Notes as of March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018 was $278.2 million, $285.4 million and $285.5 million, respectively, compared to a carrying value of $295.9 million, $295.3 million and $295.6 million, respectively.

In November 2015, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the “2023 Notes”). The estimated fair value of the Company’s 2023 Notes as of March 30, 2019, March 31, 2018 and September 29, 2018 was $417.7 million, $419.0 million and $414.4 million, respectively, compared to a carrying value of $396.3 million, $395.6 million and $396 million, respectively.


3.	Acquisitions

Arden Companies

In February 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 55% interest in Arden Companies, a manufacturer of outdoor cushions and pillows, for $13.4 million. Accordingly, the Company remeasured its previously held investment at its acquisition-date fair value and recorded a provisional gain of approximately $3 million as part of selling, general and administrative expenses in the Company's condensed consolidated statements of operations. The purchase price exceeded the estimated fair value of the net tangible assets acquired by approximately $19 million, which is included in other assets on the Company's condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 30, 2019. Subsequent to the acquisition, approximately $36 million of cash was used to eliminate most of the acquired long-term debt. The Company has not yet finalized the allocation of the purchase price to the fair value of the tangible assets, intangible assets and liabilities acquired. Once the purchase price valuation work is complete, the provisional gain on the Company's previously held interest will be finalized. Financial results of Arden have been included in the results of operations within the Garden segment since the date of acquisition of the remaining 55% interest.


4.	Inventories, net

Inventories, net of allowance for obsolescence, consist of the following (in thousands):



	March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018		September 29, 2018
Raw materials	$	136,879	$	117,370	$	117,539
Work in progress	58,529		40,491		35,691
Finished goods	305,569		293,988		263,845
Supplies	16,181		13,673		10,748
Total inventories, net	$	517,158	$	465,522	$	427,823


5.	Goodwill

The Company tests goodwill for impairment annually (as of the first day of the fourth fiscal quarter), or whenever events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount, by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If it is determined that it is more likely than not the fair value of the reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, it is unnecessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test. If it is determined that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the two-step test is performed to identify potential goodwill impairment. Based on certain circumstances, the Company may elect to bypass the qualitative assessment and proceed directly to performing the first step of the two-step goodwill impairment test, which compares the fair value of the Company’s reporting units to their related carrying values, including goodwill. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company performs an additional step to determine the implied fair value of goodwill associated with that reporting unit. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by first allocating the fair value of the reporting unit to all of its assets and liabilities and then computing the excess of the reporting unit’s fair value over the amounts assigned to the assets and liabilities. If the carrying value of goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill, such excess represents the amount of goodwill impairment, and, accordingly, the Company recognizes such impairment. The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis also includes a comparison of the aggregate estimated fair value of its two reporting units to the Company’s total market capitalization. No impairment of goodwill was recorded for the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018.


6.	Other Intangible Assets

The following table summarizes the components of gross and net acquired intangible assets:



	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Accumulated Impairment			Net Carrying Value
						(in millions)
March 30, 2019
Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable	$	18.6	$	(15.2	)	$	—		$	3.4
Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable	70.6		—			(26.0		)	44.6
Total	89.2		(15.2		)	(26.0		)	48.0
Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable	128.3		(47.5		)	(2.5		)	78.3
Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable	26.0		(15.5		)	—			10.5
Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable	7.2		—			(1.2		)	6.0
Total	33.2		(15.5		)	(1.2		)	16.5
Total other intangible assets	$	250.7	$	(78.2	)	$	(29.7	)	$	142.8
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Accumulated Impairment			Net Carrying Value
						(in millions)
March 31, 2018
Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable	$	16.9	$	(13.4	)	$	—		$	3.5
Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable	70.6		—			(26.0		)	44.6
Total	87.5		(13.4		)	(26.0		)	48.1
Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable	115.7		(37.5		)	—			78.2
Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable	22.1		(13.5		)	—			8.6
Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable	7.8		—			(1.2		)	6.6
Total	29.9		(13.5		)	(1.2		)	15.2
Total other intangible assets	$	233.1	$	(64.4	)	$	(27.2	)	$	141.5
	Gross		Accumulated Amortization			Accumulated Impairment			Net Carrying Value
						(in millions)
September 29, 2018
Marketing-related intangible assets – amortizable	$	18.6	$	(14.2	)	$	—		$	4.4
Marketing-related intangible assets – nonamortizable	70.6		—			(26.0		)	44.6
Total	89.2		(14.2		)	(26.0		)	49.0
Customer-related intangible assets – amortizable	128.3		(42.5		)	—			85.8
Other acquired intangible assets – amortizable	25.4		(14.5		)	—			10.9
Other acquired intangible assets – nonamortizable	7.8		—			(1.2		)	6.6
Total	33.2		(14.5		)	(1.2		)	17.5
Total other intangible assets	$	250.7	$	(71.2	)	$	(27.2	)	$	152.3

Other acquired intangible assets include contract-based and technology-based intangible assets.

The Company evaluates long-lived assets, including amortizable and indefinite-lived intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. The Company evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets on an annual basis. Factors indicating the carrying value of the Company’s amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable were not present in fiscal 2018, and accordingly, no impairment testing was performed on these assets. As a result of one of our retail customers exiting the live fish business, factors indicating the carrying value of certain amortizable intangible assets may not be recoverable were present during the quarter ended March 30, 2019. The Company performed impairment testing on these assets, found the carrying value was not recoverable and accordingly, recorded an impairment charge in its Pet segment of approximately $2.5 million as part of selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.

The Company amortizes its acquired intangible assets with definite lives over periods ranging from 3 to 25 years; over weighted average remaining lives of 4 years for marketing-related intangibles, 10 years for customer-related intangibles and 11 years for other acquired intangibles. Amortization expense for intangibles subject to amortization was approximately $3.4 million and $2.9 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively, and $6.9 million and $5.7 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively, and is classified within selling, general and administrative expenses in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Estimated annual amortization expense related to acquired intangible assets in each of the succeeding five years is estimated to be approximately $10 million per year from fiscal 2019 through fiscal 2023.


7.	Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt consists of the following:



	March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018			September 29, 2018
	(in thousands)
Senior notes, interest at 6.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due November 2023	$	400,000		$	400,000		$	400,000
Senior notes, interest at 5.125%, payable semi-annually, principal due February 2028	300,000			300,000			300,000
Unamortized debt issuance costs	(7,791		)	(9,053		)	(8,425		)
Net carrying value	692,209			690,947			691,575
Asset-based revolving credit facility, interest at LIBOR plus a margin of 1.25% to 1.50% or Base Rate plus a margin of 0.25% to 0.50%, final maturity April 2021	—			—			—
Other notes payable	5,556			157			578
Total	697,765			691,104			692,153
Less current portion	(5,119		)	(20		)	(122		)
Long-term portion	$	692,646		$	691,084		$	692,031

Senior Notes

$300 Million 5.125% Senior Notes

On December 14, 2017, the Company issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). The Company will use the net proceeds from the offering to finance future acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

The Company incurred approximately $4.8 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2028 Notes.

The 2028 Notes require semiannual interest payments on February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2018. The 2028 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the Company's existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries who are borrowers under or guarantors of Central's senior secured revolving credit facility or who guarantee the 2023 Notes.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes at any time, at its option, prior to January 1, 2023 at the principal amount plus a “make whole” premium. At any time prior to January 1, 2021, the Company may also redeem, at its option, up to 35% of the original

aggregate principal amount of the notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 105.125% of the principal amount of the notes. The Company may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes, at its option, at any time on or after January 1, 2023 for 102.563%, on or after January 1, 2024 for 101.708%, on or after January 1, 2025 for 100.854%, and on or after January 1, 2026 for 100.0%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The holders of the 2028 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2028 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a change of control.

The 2028 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 30, 2019.

$400 Million 6.125% Senior Notes

On November 9, 2015, the Company issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the "2023 Notes"). In December 2015, the Company used the net proceeds from the offering, together with available cash, to redeem its $400 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior subordinated notes due March 1, 2018 ("2018 Notes") at a price of 102.063% of the principal amount and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering. The 2023 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured debt, including the Company’s Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The Company incurred approximately $6.3 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with these transactions, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2023 Notes.

The 2023 Notes require semiannual interest payments on May 15 and November 15. The 2023 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by each of the Company’s existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries which are borrowers under or guarantors of Central’s senior secured revolving credit facility. The 2023 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured debt, including the Company’s Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

The Company may redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes at any time, at its option, at any time on or after November 15, 2018 for 104.594%, at any time on or after November 15, 2019 for 103.063%, on or after November 15, 2020 for 101.531% and on or after November 15, 2021 for 100%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The holders of the 2023 Notes have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a change of control.

The 2023 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 30, 2019.

Asset-Based Loan Facility Amendment

On April 22, 2016, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement which provides up to a $400 million principal amount senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, with up to an additional $200 million principal amount available with the consent of the Lenders if the Company exercises the accordion feature set forth therein (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility matures on April 22, 2021. The Company may borrow, repay and reborrow amounts under the Credit Facility until its maturity date, at which time all amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility must be repaid in full. As of March 30, 2019, there were no borrowings outstanding and no letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility. There were other letters of credit of $8.2 million outstanding as of March 30, 2019.

The Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base, calculated using a formula based upon eligible receivables and inventory, minus certain reserves and subject to restrictions. As of March 30, 2019, the borrowing base and remaining borrowing availability was $374.0 million. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at an index based on LIBOR or, at the option of the Company, the Base Rate (defined as the highest of (a) the SunTrust prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%), plus, in either case, an applicable margin based on the Company’s consolidated senior leverage ratio. Such applicable margin for LIBOR-based borrowings fluctuates between 1.25% - 1.50%, and was 1.25% as of March 30, 2019, and such applicable margin for Base Rate borrowings fluctuates between 0.25%-0.5%, and was 0.25% as of March 30, 2019. As of March 30, 2019, the applicable interest rate related to Base Rate borrowings was 5.8%, and the applicable interest rate related to LIBOR-based borrowings was 3.8%.

The Company incurred approximately $1.2 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees, legal and accounting expenses. The unamortized debt issuance costs are included in other assets in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and are being amortized over the term of the Credit Facility.

The Credit Facility contains customary covenants, including financial covenants which require the Company to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00:1.00 upon reaching certain borrowing levels. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all assets of the Company. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility during the quarter ended March 30, 2019.


8.	Supplemental Equity Information

The following table provides a summary of the changes in the carrying amounts of equity attributable to controlling interest and noncontrolling interest through the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018.



	Controlling Interest
(in thousands)	Common Stock		Class A Common Stock		Class B Stock		Additional Paid In Capital			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total			Noncontrolling Interest			Total
September 29, 2018	$	121	$	439	$	16	$	590,168		$	362,923	$	(1,218	)	$	952,449		$	385		$	952,834
Comprehensive income	—		—		—		—			1,803		(274		)	1,529			(164		)	1,365
Amortization of share-based awards	—		—		—		2,261			—		—			2,261			—			2,261
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement	—		—		—		(386		)	—		—			(386		)	—			(386		)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options	—		1		—		408			—		—			409			—			409
Balance December 29, 2018	$	121	$	441	$	16	$	592,451		$	364,726	$	(1,492	)	$	956,263		$	221		$	956,484
Comprehensive income	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—		42,391		212			42,603			331			$	42,934
Amortization of share-based awards	—		—		—		2,473			—		—			2,473			—			2,473
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement	—		2		—		(1,773		)	—		—			(1,771		)	—			(1,771		)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options	—		1		—		(820		)	—		—			(819		)	—			(819		)
Other	—		—		—		—			—		—			—			1			1
Balance March 30, 2019	$	121	$	444	$	16	$	592,331		$	407,117	$	(1,280	)	$	998,749		$	553		$	999,302



	Controlling Interest
(in thousands)	Common Stock			Class A Common Stock		Class B Stock		Additional Paid In Capital			Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Total			Noncontrolling Interest			Total
Balance September 30, 2017	$	122		$	380	$	16	$	396,790		$	239,329	$	(951	)	$	635,686		$	1,456		$	637,142
Comprehensive income	—			—		—		—			26,247		44			26,291			203			26,494
Amortization of share-based awards	—			—		—		2,143			—		—			2,143			—			2,143
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement	—			—		—		(2,397		)	—		—			(2,397		)	—			(2,397		)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options	—			—		—		166			—		—			166			—			166
Distribution to Noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—			—		—			—			(1,597		)	(1,597		)
Balance December 30, 2017	$	122		$	380	$	16	$	396,702		$	265,576	$	(907	)	$	661,889		$	62		$	661,951
Comprehensive income	$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—		45,234		234			45,468			532			46,000
Amortization of share-based awards	—			—		—		2,321			—		—			2,321			—			2,321
Restricted share activity, including net share settlement	(1		)	—		—		(3,873		)	—		—			(3,874		)	—			(3,874		)
Issuance of common stock, including net share settlement of stock options	—			2		—		(1,298		)	—		—			(1,296		)	—			(1,296		)
Distribution to Noncontrolling interest	—			—		—		—			—		—			—			—			—
Balance March 31, 2018	$	121		$	382	$	16	$	393,852		$	310,810	$	(673	)	$	704,508		$	594		$	705,102


9.	Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognized share-based compensation expense of $5.9 million and $5.5 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018, respectively, as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. The tax benefit associated with share-based compensation expense for the six months ended March 30, 2019 and March 31, 2018 was $1.4 million and $1.5 million, respectively.


10.	Earnings Per Share

The following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations for income from continuing operations (in thousands except share and per share amounts).



	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 30, 2019						March 30, 2019
	Income		Shares	Per Share			Income		Shares	Per Share
Basic EPS:
Net income available to common shareholders	$	42,391	57,050	$	0.74		$	44,194	56,976	$	0.78
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options to purchase common stock			609	(0.01		)			639	(0.01		)
Restricted shares			367	—					398	(0.01		)
Diluted EPS:
Net income available to common shareholders	$	42,391	58,026	$	0.73		$	44,194	58,013	$	0.76



	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 31, 2018						March 31, 2018
	Income		Shares	Per Share			Income		Shares	Per Share
Basic EPS:
Net income available to common shareholders	$	45,234	50,871	$	0.89		$	71,481	50,816	$	1.41
Effect of dilutive securities:
Options to purchase common stock			1,092	(0.02		)			1,120	(0.03		)
Restricted shares			695	(0.01		)			757	(0.02		)
Diluted EPS:
Net income available to common shareholders	$	45,234	52,658	$	0.86		$	71,481	52,693	$	1.36

Options to purchase 2.8 million shares of common stock at prices ranging from $8.56 to $38.10 per share were outstanding at March 30, 2019, and options to purchase 2.7 million shares of common stock at prices ranging from $6.43 to $36.94 per share were outstanding at March 31, 2018.

For the three months ended March 30, 2019, 1.8 million options outstanding were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and therefore, the effect of including these options would be antidilutive. For the three months ended March 31, 2018, all options outstanding were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.

For the six months ended March 30, 2019, 1.8 million options outstanding were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the option exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares and therefore, the effect of including these options would be antidilutive. For the six months ended March 31, 2018, all options outstanding were included in the computation of diluted earnings per share.


11.	Segment Information

Management has determined that the Company has two operating segments, which are also reportable segments based on the level at which the Chief Operating Decision Maker reviews the results of operations to make decisions regarding performance assessment and resource allocation. These operating segments are Pet segment and Garden segment and are presented in the table below (in thousands).



	Three Months Ended						Six Months Ended
	March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018			March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
Net sales:
Pet segment	$	338,183		$	321,653		$	678,599		$	646,737
Garden segment	335,518			291,441			457,092			408,368
Total net sales	$	673,701		$	613,094		$	1,135,691		$	1,055,105
Operating Income
Pet segment	26,984			32,784			56,739			68,960
Garden segment	53,355			50,746			48,718			53,046
Corporate	(18,186		)	(17,744		)	(33,123		)	(33,699		)
Total operating income	62,153			65,786			72,334			88,307
Interest expense - net	(8,385		)	(9,882		)	(16,462		)	(17,100		)
Other income (expense)	500			1,505			308			(1,584		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	11,546			11,643			11,819			(2,593		)
Income including noncontrolling interest	42,722			45,766			44,361			72,216
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	331			532			167			735
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	42,391		$	45,234		$	44,194		$	71,481
Depreciation and amortization:
Pet segment	$	8,039		$	6,944		$	16,095		$	14,089
Garden segment	2,312			1,707			5,138			3,276
Corporate	1,526			2,471			2,996			4,920
Total depreciation and amortization	$	11,877		$	11,122		$	24,229		$	22,285



	March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018		September 29, 2018
Assets:
Pet segment	$	700,638	$	660,344	$	683,938
Garden segment	687,951		581,105		407,483
Corporate	657,551		462,514		815,788
Total assets	$	2,046,140	$	1,703,963	$	1,907,209
Goodwill (included in corporate assets above):
Pet segment	$	268,289	$	262,770	$	268,289
Garden segment	12,888		5,473		12,888
Total goodwill	$	281,177	$	268,243	$	281,177

The tables below present the Company's disaggregated revenues by segment (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended March 30, 2019						Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	Pet Segment		Garden Segment		Total		Pet Segment		Garden Segment		Total

Other pet products	$	233.0	$	—	$	233.0	$	442.3	$	—	$	442.3
Dog and cat products	105.2		—		105.2		236.3		—		236.3
Garden controls and fertilizer products	—		113.8		113.8		—		138.1		138.1
Other garden supplies	—		221.7		221.7		—		319.0		319.0
Total	$	338.2	$	335.5	$	673.7	$	678.6	$	457.1	$	1,135.7



	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018						Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Pet Segment		Garden Segment		Total		Pet Segment		Garden Segment		Total

Other pet products	$	218.8	$	—	$	218.8	$	413.9	$	—	$	413.9
Dog and cat products	102.9		—		102.9		232.8		—		232.8
Garden controls and fertilizer products	—		112.9		112.9		—		142.5		142.5
Other garden supplies	—		178.5		178.5		—		265.9		265.9
Total	$	321.7	$	291.4	$	613.1	$	646.7	$	408.4	$	1,055.1


12.	Consolidating Condensed Financial Information of Guarantor Subsidiaries

Certain 100% wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company (as listed below, collectively the “Guarantor Subsidiaries”) have guaranteed fully and unconditionally, on a joint and several basis, the obligation to pay principal and interest on the Company’s 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes. Certain subsidiaries and operating divisions are not guarantors of the 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes. Those subsidiaries that are guarantors and co-obligors of the 2023 Notes and 2028 Notes are as follows:

Arden Companies, LLC

Farnam Companies, Inc.

Four Paws Products Ltd.

Gulfstream Home & Garden, Inc.

Hydro-Organics Wholesale, Inc.

IMS Trading, LLC

IMS Southern, LLC

K&H Manufacturing, LLC

Kaytee Products, Inc.

Matson, LLC

New England Pottery, LLC

Pennington Seed, Inc. (including Gro Tec, Inc., NEXGEN Turf Research, LLC and All-Glass Aquarium Co., Inc.)

Pets International, Ltd.

Segrest, Inc. (including Blue Springs Hatchery, Inc., Segrest Farms, Inc., Florida Tropical Distributors International, Inc., Sun Pet, Ltd, Aquatica Tropicals, Inc., Quality Pets, LLC and Midwest Tropicals, LLC)

T.F.H. Publications, Inc.

Wellmark International (including B2E Corporation, B2E Microbials, LLC, B2E Manufacturing, LLC, Four Star Microbial Products, LLC and B2E Biotech LLC)

In lieu of providing separate audited financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, the Company has included the accompanying consolidating condensed financial statements based on the Company’s understanding of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s interpretation and application of Rule 3-10 of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Regulation S-X.



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	214,042		$	35,191		$	449,810		$	(25,342	)	$	673,701
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	163,133			30,343			297,864			(23,690		)	467,650
Gross profit	50,909			4,848			151,946			(1,652		)	206,051
Selling, general and administrative expenses	47,135			10,485			87,930			(1,652		)	143,898
Operating income (loss)	3,774			(5,637		)	64,016			—			62,153
Interest expense	(10,482		)	(141		)	(17		)	—			(10,640		)
Interest income	2,250			5			—			—			2,255
Other (expense) income	305			243			(48		)	—			500
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(4,153		)	(5,530		)	63,951			—			54,268
Income tax expense (benefit)	(1,748		)	(55		)	13,349			—			11,546
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	44,796			—			(101		)	(44,695		)	—
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	42,391			(5,475		)	50,501			(44,695		)	42,722
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			331			—			—			331
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	42,391		$	(5,806	)	$	50,501		$	(44,695	)	$	42,391



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	195,464		$	32,433		$	412,348		$	(27,151	)	$	613,094
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	151,868			24,192			268,072			(25,495		)	418,637
Gross profit	43,596			8,241			144,276			(1,656		)	194,457
Selling, general and administrative expenses	41,677			6,532			82,118			(1,656		)	128,671
Operating income (loss)	1,919			1,709			62,158			—			65,786
Interest expense	(10,510		)	(62		)	(3		)	—			(10,575		)
Interest income	692			1			—			—			693
Other income	1,108			200			197			—			1,505
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	(6,791		)	1,848			62,352			—			57,409
Income tax expense (benefit)	(13,753		)	(1,549		)	26,945			—			11,643
Equity in earnings of affiliates	38,272			—			3,841			(42,113		)	—
Net income including noncontrolling interest	45,234			3,397			39,248			(42,113		)	45,766
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			532			—			—			532
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	45,234		$	2,865		$	39,248		$	(42,113	)	$	45,234



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	387,448		$	58,820		$	729,644		$	(40,221	)	$	1,135,691
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	299,146			52,346			485,547			(37,581		)	799,458
Gross profit	88,302			6,474			244,097			(2,640		)	336,233
Selling, general and administrative expenses	90,800			17,836			157,903			(2,640		)	263,899
Operating income (loss)	(2,498		)	(11,362		)	86,194			—			72,334
Interest expense	(20,979		)	(255		)	(20		)	—			(21,254		)
Interest income	4,783			9			—			—			4,792
Other income (expense)	342			27			(61		)	—			308
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(18,352		)	(11,581		)	86,113			—			56,180
Income tax expense (benefit)	(3,836		)	(311		)	15,966			—			11,819
Equity in earnings (losses) of affiliates	58,710			—			(1,213		)	(57,497		)	—
Net income (loss) including noncontrolling interest	44,194			(11,270		)	68,934			(57,497		)	44,361
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			167			—			—			167
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	44,194		$	(11,437	)	$	68,934		$	(57,497	)	$	44,194



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net sales	$	354,525		$	46,176		$	698,772		$	(44,368	)	$	1,055,105
Cost of goods sold and occupancy	277,347			36,008			457,123			(41,667		)	728,811
Gross profit	77,178			10,168			241,649			(2,701		)	326,294
Selling, general and administrative expenses	78,316			10,437			151,935			(2,701		)	237,987
Operating income (loss)	(1,138		)	(269		)	89,714			—			88,307
Interest expense	(17,895		)	(78		)	(7		)	—			(17,980		)
Interest income	878			2			—			—			880
Other income (expense)	(1,810		)	254			(28		)	—			(1,584		)
Income (loss) before taxes and equity in earnings of affiliates	(19,965		)	(91		)	89,679			—			69,623
Income tax expense (benefit)	672			(267		)	(2,998		)	—			(2,593		)
Equity in earnings of affiliates	92,118			—			941			(93,059		)	—
Net income including noncontrolling interest	71,481			176			93,618			(93,059		)	72,216
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			735			—			—			735
Net income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	71,481		$	(559	)	$	93,618		$	(93,059	)	$	71,481



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	Three Months Ended March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	42,391	$	(5,475	)	$	50,501	$	(44,695	)	$	42,722
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation	212		127			35		(162		)	212
Total comprehensive income (loss)	42,603		(5,348		)	50,536		(44,857		)	42,934
Comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	—		331			—		—			331
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	42,603	$	(5,679	)	$	50,536	$	(44,857	)	$	42,603



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income	$	45,234	$	3,397	$	39,248		$	(42,113	)	$	45,766
Other comprehensive income (loss):
Foreign currency translation	234		206		(48		)	(158		)	234
Total comprehensive income (loss)	45,468		3,603		39,200			(42,271		)	46,000
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—		532		—			—			532
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	45,468	$	3,071	$	39,200		$	(42,271	)	$	45,468



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income (loss)	$	44,194		$	(11,270	)	$	68,934		$	(57,497	)	$	44,361
Other comprehensive loss:	—			—			—			—
Foreign currency translation	(62		)	(2		)	(60		)	62			(62		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	44,132			(11,272		)	68,874			(57,435		)	44,299
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—			167			—			—			167
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	44,132		$	(11,439	)	$	68,874		$	(57,435	)	$	44,132



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net income	$	71,481	$	176		$	93,618		$	(93,059	)	$	72,216
Other comprehensive loss:
Foreign currency translation	278		249			(64		)	(185		)	278
Total comprehensive income	71,759		425			93,554			(93,244		)	72,494
Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	—		735			—			—			735
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Central Garden & Pet Company	$	71,759	$	(310	)	$	93,554		$	(93,244	)	$	71,759



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
	March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	322,149	$	6,354	$	1,221	$	—		$	329,724
Restricted cash	10,888		—		5,227		—			16,115
Accounts receivable, net	134,251		22,844		299,034		—			456,129
Inventories	138,778		46,035		332,345		—			517,158
Prepaid expenses and other	8,355		1,386		23,420		—			33,161
Total current assets	614,421		76,619		661,247		—			1,352,287
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	29,701		36,180		151,657		—			217,538
Goodwill	20,578		7,414		253,185		—			281,177
Other long-term assets	47,512		6,273		147,035		(5,682		)	195,138
Intercompany receivable	59,152		—		680,937		(740,089		)	—
Investment in subsidiaries	1,688,163		—		—		(1,688,163		)	—
Total	$	2,459,527	$	126,486	$	1,894,061	$	(2,433,934	)	$	2,046,140
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	41,488	$	21,833	$	94,275	$	—		$	157,596
Accrued expenses	55,181		6,200		75,032		—			136,413
Current portion of long-term debt	119		—		5,000		—			5,119
Total current liabilities	96,788		28,033		174,307		—			299,128
Long-term debt	692,459		—		187		—			692,646
Intercompany payable	662,927		77,163		—		(740,090		)	—
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	—		—		26,248		(26,248		)	—
Other long-term obligations	8,604		—		52,142		(5,682		)	55,064
Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity	998,749		20,737		1,641,177		(1,661,914		)	998,749
Noncontrolling interest			553		—					553
Total equity	998,749		21,290		1,641,177		(1,661,914		)	999,302
Total	$	2,459,527	$	126,486	$	1,894,061	$	(2,433,934	)	$	2,046,140



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
	March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	123,840	$	7,170	$	1,255	$	—		$	132,265
Restricted cash	13,948		—		—		—			13,948
Accounts receivable, net	132,218		19,938		242,995		—			395,151
Inventories	137,108		43,438		284,976		—			465,522
Prepaid expenses and other	6,157		2,086		18,434		—			26,677
Total current assets	413,271		72,632		547,660		—			1,033,563
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	35,314		34,632		140,617		—			210,563
Goodwill	15,058		—		253,185		—			268,243
Other long-term assets	56,612		14,642		132,916		(12,576		)	191,594
Intercompany receivable	54,117		—		610,760		(664,877		)	—
Investment in subsidiaries	1,539,309		—		—		(1,539,309		)	—
Total	$	2,113,681	$	121,906	$	1,685,138	$	(2,216,762	)	$	1,703,963
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	48,659	$	19,752	$	82,564	$	—		$	150,975
Accrued expenses	63,951		5,303		47,160		—			116,414
Current portion of long-term debt	—		—		20		—			20
Total current liabilities	112,610		25,055		129,744		—			267,409
Long-term debt	690,947		—		137					691,084
Intercompany payable	597,619		67,258		—		(664,877		)	—
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	—		—		25,228		(25,228		)	—
Other long-term obligations	7,997		—		44,947		(12,576		)	40,368
Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit)	704,508		28,999		1,485,082		(1,514,081		)	704,508
Noncontrolling interest	—		594		—		—			594
Total equity	704,508		29,593		1,485,082		(1,514,081		)	705,102
Total	$	2,113,681	$	121,906	$	1,685,138	$	(2,216,762	)	$	1,703,963



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED BALANCE SHEET
	September 29, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent		Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries		Guarantor Subsidiaries		Eliminations			Consolidated
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents	$	474,210	$	6,005	$	1,891	$	—		$	482,106
Restricted cash	10,899		—		—		—			10,899
Accounts receivable, net	94,657		9,647		171,604		—			275,908
Inventories	123,178		32,556		272,089		—			427,823
Prepaid expenses and other assets	6,304		1,455		12,803		—			20,562
Total current assets	709,248		49,663		458,387		—			1,217,298
Land, buildings, improvements and equipment, net	33,484		33,840		150,323		—			217,647
Goodwill	20,578		7,414		253,185		—			281,177
Other long-term assets	62,199		7,469		133,145		(11,726		)	191,087
Intercompany receivable	40,365		—		769,886		(810,251		)	—
Investment in subsidiaries	1,618,378		—		—		(1,618,378		)	—
Total	$	2,484,252	$	98,386	$	1,764,926	$	(2,440,355	)	$	1,907,209
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Accounts payable	$	33,122	$	4,759	$	72,378	$	—		$	110,259
Accrued expenses and other liabilities	44,142		4,746		53,695		—			102,583
Current portion of long term debt	116		—		6		—			122
Total current liabilities	77,380		9,505		126,079		—			212,964
Long-term debt	691,869		—		162		—			692,031
Intercompany payable	753,933		56,318		—		(810,251		)	—
Losses in excess of investment in subsidiaries	—		—		25,036		(25,036		)	—
Other long-term obligations	8,621		—		52,485		(11,726		)	49,380
Total Central Garden & Pet shareholders’ equity (deficit)	952,449		32,178		1,561,164		(1,593,342		)	952,449
Noncontrolling interest	—		385		—		—			385
Total equity	952,449		32,563		1,561,164		(1,593,342		)	952,834
Total	$	2,484,252	$	98,386	$	1,764,926	$	(2,440,355	)	$	1,907,209



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non- Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net cash used by operating activities	$	(23,565	)	$	(17,128	)	$	(38,626	)	$	—		$	(79,319	)
Additions to property and equipment	(1,716		)	(3,350		)	(9,236		)	—			(14,302		)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(11,137		)	—			—			—			(11,137		)
Investments	(1,749		)	—			—			—			(1,749		)
Other investing activities	(368		)	—			—			—			(368		)
Intercompany investing activities	(18,788		)	—			88,949			(70,161		)	—
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities	(33,758		)	(3,350		)	79,713			(70,161		)	(27,556		)
Repayments of long-term debt	(3		)	—			(36,463		)	—			(36,466		)
Repurchase of common stock	(3,739		)	—			—			—			(3,739		)
Payment of contingent consideration liability	—			—			(66		)	—			(66		)
Intercompany financing activities	(91,005		)	20,844			—			70,161			—
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	(94,747		)	20,844			(36,529		)	70,161			(40,271		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(2		)	(17		)	(1		)	—			(20		)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(152,072		)	349			4,557			—			(147,166		)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	485,109			6,005			1,891			—			493,005
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	333,037		$	6,354		$	6,448		$	—		$	345,839



	CONSOLIDATING CONDENSED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
	Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	(in thousands)
	Parent			Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries			Guarantor Subsidiaries			Eliminations			Consolidated
Net cash used by operating activities	$	(36,868	)	$	(11,840	)	$	(38,863	)	$	(6,387	)	$	(93,958	)
Additions to property, plant and equipment	(4,923		)	(494		)	(12,149		)	—			(17,566		)
Payments to acquire companies, net of cash acquired	(63,372		)	—			—			—			(63,372		)
Investments	(6,555		)	—			—			—			(6,555		)
Other investing activities	(2,180		)	—			—			—			(2,180		)
Intercompany investing activities	(17,512		)	—			51,377			(33,865		)	—
Net cash (used) provided by investing activities	(94,542		)	(494		)	39,228			(33,865		)	(89,673		)
Repayments under revolving line of credit	(23,000		)	—			—			—			(23,000		)
Borrowings under revolving line of credit	23,000			—			—			—			23,000
Repayments of long-term debt	—			—			(360		)	—			(360		)
Issuance of long-term debt	300,000			—			—			—			300,000
Payment of financing costs	(4,765		)	—			—			—			(4,765		)
Repurchase of common stock	(8,473		)	—			—			—			(8,473		)
Distribution to parent	—			(6,387		)	—			6,387			—
Distribution to noncontrolling interest	—			(1,597		)	—			—			(1,597		)
Payment of contingent consideration	—			—			(123		)	—			(123		)
Intercompany financing activities	(49,789		)	15,924			—			33,865			—
Net cash provided (used) by financing activities	236,973			7,940			(483		)	40,252			284,682
Effect of exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	342			(129		)	(93		)	—			120
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	105,905			(4,523		)	(211		)	—			101,171
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	31,883			11,693			1,466			—			45,042
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	$	137,788		$	7,170		$	1,255		$	—		$	146,213


13.	Contingencies

The Company may from time to time become involved in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Currently, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings that management believes would have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations with the exception of the proceeding below.

In 2012, Nite Glow Industries, Inc and its owner, Marni Markell, (“Nite Glow”) filed suit in the United States District Court for New Jersey against the Company alleging that the applicator developed and used by the Company for certain of its branded topical flea and tick products infringes a patent held by Nite Glow and asserted related claims for breach of contract and misappropriation of confidential information based on the terms of a Non-Disclosure Agreement. On June 27, 2018, a jury returned a verdict in favor of Nite Glow on each of the three claims and awarded damages of approximately $12.6 million. The case is currently in the post-trial motion phase of proceedings and is expected to proceed to appeal once all such motions have been resolved. Unless the verdicts are over-turned in the post-trial proceedings, the Company intends to vigorously pursue its rights on appeal and believes that it will prevail on the merits. While the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of this matter will not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements, the outcome of litigation is inherently uncertain and the final resolution of this matter may result in expense to the Company in excess of management's expectations.

During fiscal 2013, the Company received notices from several states stating that they have appointed an agent to conduct an examination of the books and records of the Company to determine whether it has complied with state unclaimed property laws. In addition to seeking unclaimed property subject to escheat laws, the states may seek interest, penalties and other relief. The examinations are at an early stage and, as such, management is unable to determine the impact, if any, on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

The Company has experienced, and may in the future experience, issues with products that may lead to product liability, recalls, withdrawals, replacements of products, or regulatory actions by governmental authorities. The Company has not experienced recent issues with products, the resolution of which management believes would have a material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.


Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Our Company

Central Garden & Pet Company (“Central”) is a leading innovator, producer and distributor of branded and private label products for the lawn & garden and pet supplies markets in the United States. The total annual retail sales of the pet food, treats & chews, supplies and live animal industry in 2017 was estimated by Packaged Facts and the pet industry to have been approximately $58.3 billion. We estimate the annual retail sales of the pet supplies, live animal, and treats & chews and natural pet food markets in the categories in which we participate to be approximately $27.3 billion. The total lawn and garden consumables, decorative products and live plant industry in the United States is estimated by Packaged Facts and IBISWorld to be approximately $33.2 billion in annual retail sales in 2017, including fertilizer, pesticides, growing media, seeds, mulch, other consumables, decorative products and live plants. We estimate the annual retail sales of the lawn and garden consumables, decorative products and live plant markets in the categories in which we participate to be approximately $19.7 billion.

Our pet supplies products include products for dogs and cats, including edible bones, premium healthy edible and non-edible chews, natural dog and cat food and treats, toys, pet carriers, grooming supplies and other accessories; products for birds, small animals and specialty pets, including food, cages and habitats, toys, chews and related accessories; animal and household health and insect control products; live fish and products for fish, reptiles and other aquarium-based pets, including aquariums, furniture and lighting fixtures, pumps, filters, water conditioners, food and supplements, and information and knowledge resources; and products for horses and livestock. These products are sold under the brands Adams^™, Aqueon^®, Avoderm^®, Cadet^®, Farnam^®, Four Paws^®, Kaytee^®, K&H Pet Products^®, Nylabone^®, Pinnacle^®, TFH^™, Zilla^® as well as a number of other brands including Altosid^®, Comfort Zone^®, Coralife^®, Interpet^®, Kent Marine^®, Pet Select^®and Zodiac^®.

Our lawn and garden supplies products include proprietary and non-proprietary grass seed; wild bird feed, bird feeders, bird houses and other birding accessories; weed, grass, and other herbicides, insecticide and pesticide products; fertilizers; and decorative outdoor lifestyle products including pottery and wood products as well as live plants. These products are sold under the brands AMDRO^®, Ironite^®, Pennington^®, and Sevin^®, as well as a number of other brand names including Lilly Miller^®, Over-N-Out^®, Smart Seed^® and The Rebels^®.

In fiscal 2018, our consolidated net sales were $2,215 million, of which our Pet segment, or Pet, accounted for approximately $1,341 million and our Garden segment, or Garden, accounted for approximately $874 million. In fiscal 2018, our operating income was $167 million consisting of income from our Pet segment of $140 million, income from our Garden segment of $96 million and corporate expenses of $69 million.

We were incorporated in Delaware in May 1992 as the successor to a California corporation that was formed in 1955. Our executive offices are located at 1340 Treat Boulevard, Suite 600, Walnut Creek, California 94597, and our telephone number is (925) 948-4000. Our website is www.central.com. The information on our website is not incorporated by reference in this annual report.

Recent Developments

Fiscal 2019 Second Quarter Financial Performance:


•	Net sales increased $60.6 million, or 9.9%, from the prior year quarter to $673.7 million due primarily to the inclusion of three acquisitions that were not part of the second quarter fiscal 2018 results. Pet segment sales increased $16.5 million, and Garden segment sales increased $44.1 million.


•	Organic net sales increased 2.1%. Organic net sales were relatively flat in our Pet segment and increased 4.4% in our Garden segment.


•	Gross profit increased $11.6 million, although gross margin declined 110 basis points to 30.6%, due primarily to the three acquisitions.


•	Selling, general & administrative expense increased $15.2 million to $143.9 million.


•	Operating income declined $3.6 million, from the prior year quarter, to $62.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2019.


•	Our net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $42.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to $45.2 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $0.72 compared to $0.86 per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2018.

Arden Companies

In February 2019, the Company purchased the remaining 55% interest in Arden Companies, a manufacturer of outdoor cushions and pillows, for approximately $13.4 million. The Company remeasured its previously held investment interest at the acquisition date fair value and recorded a provisional non-cash gain of approximately $3.2 million as part of selling, general and administrative expense. Subsequent to the acquisition, approximately $36 million was used to eliminate most of the acquired long-term debt.

Intangible Asset Impairment

As a result of one of our retail customers exiting the live fish business, we recorded a non-cash $2.5 million intangible asset impairment within our live fish business, acquired in 2016, as part of selling, general and administrative expense.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 30, 2019

Compared with Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended March 30, 2019 increased $60.6 million, or 9.9%, to $673.7 million from $613.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Organic net sales, which excludes the impact of acquisitions and divestitures in the last 12 months, increased $13.0 million, or 2.1%, as compared to the fiscal 2018 quarter. Our branded product sales increased $45.6 million, and sales of other manufacturers’ products increased $15.0 million.

Pet net sales increased $16.5 million, or 5.1%, to $338.2 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $321.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net sales was due primarily to sales from our acquisition of General Pet Supply in fiscal 2018. Organic net sales were relatively flat, increasing $0.2 million. Increased sales in our live fish and our dog and cat businesses were partially offset by a decline in animal health sales. The increases were primarily volume-based but price increases effective in 2019 were also a contributing factor. One of our retail customers is exiting the live fish category, and we expect our live fish business to have lower sales for the remainder of fiscal 2019. The decline in our animal health sales was due primarily to lower sales of pet behavior modification products, impacted by a new market entrant and product performance issues, and professional products, impacted by weather and inventory challenges. Pet branded product sales increased $2.6 million, and sales of other manufacturers' products increased $13.9 million.

Garden net sales increased $44.1 million, or 15.1%, to $335.5 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $291.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net sales was due to sales from recent acquisitions of $31.3 million and higher organic sales, which increased $12.8 million, or 4.4%. We acquired Bell Nursery in fiscal 2018 and Arden in fiscal 2019. The increase in organic sales was due primarily to increased sales in grass seed, which benefited from the launch of a new product, and wild bird feed. The increased sales were primarily volume-based but were also positively impacted by price increases in 2019. Garden branded sales increased $43.0 million, due to acquisitions and organic growth, and sales of other manufacturers' products increased $1.1 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three months ended March 30, 2019 increased $11.6 million, or 6.0%, to $206.1 million from $194.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Both the Pet and Garden segments contributed to the increase in gross profit. Gross margin declined 110 basis points to 30.6% for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from 31.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2018, due primarily to the impact of our three recent acquisitions.

The gross profit increase in Pet was due primarily to the acquisition of General Pet supply in fiscal 2018 and the price increases taken in 2019 to offset increased costs. The Pet gross margin improvement was due primarily to the pricing actions taken to offset increased costs and increased sales in our dog and cat business, partially offset by the lower gross margin of the General Pet supply distribution business acquired in the third quarter of fiscal 2018.

The gross profit increase in Garden was due to the organic sales increase and the acquisition of Arden in February 2019. Gross margin decreased due primarily to our acquisitions of Bell Nursery and Arden and increased grass seed commodity costs. The second quarter is unprofitable for our live-plant business, Bell Nursery, which only earns a profit in our third fiscal quarter. The Arden gross margin was negatively impacted by the mark-up of the acquired inventory resulting from purchase price accounting.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $15.2 million, or 11.8%, to $143.9 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $128.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased in both operating segments, due primarily to businesses acquired in the last 12 months. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 21.4% for the three months ended March 30, 2019, compared to 21.0% in the comparable prior year quarter.

Selling and delivery expense increased $2.3 million, or 3.3%, to $71.9 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $69.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Selling and delivery expense increased due primarily to our three recent acquisitions and increased delivery expenses due to higher transportation costs.

Warehouse and administrative expense increased $12.9 million, or 21.8%, to $72.0 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $59.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 primarily due to our three recent acquisitions. Corporate expenses increased due primarily to expenses to implement the new GAAP lease standard we will adopt beginning fiscal 2020. Corporate expenses are included within administrative expense and relate to the costs of unallocated executive, administrative, finance, legal, human resources, and information technology functions.

Operating Income

Operating income decreased $3.6 million to $62.2 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $65.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decreased operating income and lower operating margin were attributable to a lower gross margin and increased selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales. Excluding the impact of our three recent acquisitions and the intangible asset impairment charge, operating income increased for the quarter ended March 30, 2019. Operating margin decreased to 9.2% for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from 10.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due to a 110 basis point decline in gross margin, and a 40 basis point increase in selling, general and administrative expense as a percentage of net sales, both impacted by our three recent acquisitions, in the current year quarter.

Pet operating income decreased $5.8 million, or 17.7%, to $27.0 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $32.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Increased sales of $16.5 million were more than offset by a lower gross margin and increased selling, general and administrative expense, which includes a $2.5 million non-cash intangible asset impairment charge. Pet operating margin decreased to 8.0% for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from 10.2% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 due to the impact of our acquisition of General Pet Supply, a distribution business with lower operating margins than our manufacturing businesses, a less favorable mix of organic sales due primarily to the animal health sales decrease, higher transportation costs and a $2.5 million non-cash intangible asset impairment charge within our live fish business.

Garden operating income increased $2.7 million, or 5.1%, to $53.4 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from income of $50.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. Garden non-GAAP operating income decreased $0.6 million, or 1.2%, to $50.1 million for the three months ended March 30, 2019 from $50.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, as increased sales were offset by a lower gross margin and increased selling, general and administrative expenses. The decrease in Garden operating income was due to our recent acquisition of Bell Nursery. Bell Nursery is in the live garden goods business and is subject to extreme seasonality, only generating income in the third quarter while typically incurring losses in the other three quarters.

Corporate operating expense increased $0.5 million to $18.2 million in the current year quarter from $17.7 million in the fiscal 2018 quarter due primarily to expenses incurred to implement the new GAAP lease standard.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense for the three months ended March 30, 2019 decreased $1.5 million, or 15.1%, to $8.4 million from $9.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in net interest expense was due to increased interest income from earnings on excess cash due to our higher cash balance during the quarter.

Debt outstanding on March 30, 2019 was $697.8 million compared to $691.1 million at March 31, 2018.

Other Income

Other income is comprised of income or losses from investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting and foreign currency exchange gains and losses. Other income decreased $1.0 million to $0.5 million for the quarter ended March 30, 2019, from $1.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in other income was due primarily to our purchase of the remaining 55% ownership interest in Arden in February 2019. Consequently, the second quarter of fiscal 2019 includes only one month of equity method earnings for Arden compared to three months included in the fiscal 2018 quarter.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 21.3% for the quarter ended March 30, 2019 compared 20.3% for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. The higher effective income tax rate in the current year quarter was due primarily to lower excess tax benefits from stock compensation in the current year quarter. We believe this will continue for the remainder of fiscal 2019 resulting in a higher effective income tax rate for the remaining quarters as compared to the prior year quarters, excluding the impact of the Tax Reform Act on our deferred tax accounts in fiscal 2018.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Our net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $42.4 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared to $45.2 million, or $0.86 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. Adjusting for the non-cash gain from the fair value remeasurement of our previously held investment interest upon our acquisition of the remaining 55% interest of Arden and for the non-cash charge for the intangible asset impairment in our Pet segment, our non-GAAP net income in the second quarter of fiscal 2019 was $41.9 million, or $0.72 per diluted share, compared to $0.86 per diluted share in the prior year quarter.

Six Months Ended March 30, 2019

Compared with Six Months Ended March 31, 2018

Net Sales

Net sales for the six months ended March 30, 2019 increased $80.6 million, or 7.6%, to $1,135.7 million from $1,055.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Organic net sales increased $5.7 million, or 0.5%, as compared to the prior year six month period. Our branded product sales increased $50.1 million, and sales of other manufacturers’ products increased $30.5 million.

Pet net sales increased $31.9 million, or 4.9%, to $678.6 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $646.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net sales was due to sales from our acquisition of General Pet Supply in fiscal 2018. Organic net sales declined $1.6 million, or 0.2%, due primarily to lower sales in our animal health business due to lower sales of pet behavior modification products, impacted by a new market entrant and product performance issues, and a soft flea and tick season and lower sales into the professional channel due to weather and inventory challenges. The decrease in animal health was partially offset by increased sales in our live fish and dog and cat businesses. Pet branded sales increased $1.6 million, and sales of other manufacturer's products increased $30.3 million.

Garden net sales increased $48.7 million, or 11.9%, to $457.1 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $408.4 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The increase in net sales was due to both sales of $41.4 million from our recent acquisitions, Bell Nursery in fiscal 2018 and Arden in fiscal 2019, and a $7.3 million increase in organic net sales. The increase in organic sales was due primarily to increased sales in grass seed, which benefited from the launch of a new product, 2019 price increases, and volume-based increases in wild bird feed sales. These increases were partially offset by decreased sales in our controls and fertilizer products due to the timing of orders. Garden branded sales increased $48.5 million, and sales of other manufacturers’ products increased $0.2 million.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the six months ended March 30, 2019 increased $9.9 million, or 3.0%, to $336.2 million from $326.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The Pet segment was the primary driver of the gross profit increase, although both operating segments contributed to the increased gross profit. Gross margin decreased 130 basis points to 29.6% for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from 30.9% for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The gross margin decrease was primarily attributable to Garden although Pet had a minor decline in gross margin. The gross margin for the six month period was negatively impacted by the lack of price increases in our fiscal first quarter as the price increases predominantly did not go into effect until our fiscal second quarter of 2019.

In the Pet segment, the acquisition of General Pet Supply positively impacted Pet’s gross profit due to the increase in net sales but negatively impacted Pet’s gross margin as it is a distribution business and operates with lower margins. The decline in our animal health sales also had an adverse impact on Pet’s gross margin due to the lower sales volume and its impact on Pet’s sales mix.

In the Garden segment, the acquisition of Arden positively impacted Garden’s gross profit due to the increase in net sales. The Garden gross margin was negatively impacted by the acquisitions of Bell Nursery and Arden, as well as the impact of the lower sales volume in our controls and fertilizer business.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $25.9 million, or 10.9%, to $263.9 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $238.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 23.2% for the six months ended March 30, 2019, from 22.6% for the comparable prior year six month period. Both operating segments reflected increased selling, general and administrative expenses in the current year six month period as compared to the prior year six month period.

Selling and delivery expense increased $9.1 million, or 7.4%, to $132.6 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $123.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. The increase was due primarily to recent acquisitions and secondarily to increased delivery expenses resulting from increased freight costs.

Warehouse and administrative expense increased $16.8 million, or 14.7%, to $131.3 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $114.5 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Increased expense in both operating segments was due primarily to our three recent acquisitions. The decrease at Corporate was due primarily to lower medical insurance costs partially offset by expenses incurred to implement the new GAAP lease standard we will adopt beginning fiscal 2020. Corporate expenses are included within administrative expense and relate to the costs of unallocated executive, administrative, finance, legal, human resource, and information technology functions.

Operating Income

Operating income decreased $16.0 million to $72.3 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $88.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Our operating margin declined to 6.4% for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from 8.4% for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Increased sales of $80.6 million, were more than offset by a 130 basis point decline in gross margin and a 60 basis point increase in selling, general and administrative expense as a percent of net sales. Adjusting for the non-cash gain from the fair value remeasurement of our previously held investment interest upon our acquisition of the remaining 55% interest of Arden and for the non-cash charge for the intangible asset impairment in our Pet segment, our non-GAAP operating income decreased $16.6 million to $71.7 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $88.3 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018.

Pet operating income declined $12.3 million, or 17.8%, to $56.7 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $69.0 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Adjusting for the $2.5 million intangible asset impairment in fiscal 2019, operating income decreased $9.7 million and the operating margin was 8.7% for the six months ended March 30, 2019. The decrease was due to a lower gross margin and higher selling, general and administrative expense due primarily to our acquisition of General Pet Supply and the decreased sales and its impact on margin and mix in our animal health business.

Garden operating income declined $4.3 million, or 8.1%, to $48.7 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019 from $53.0 million in the six months ended March 31, 2018. Adjusting for the non-cash gain from the fair value remeasurement of our previously held investment interest upon our acquisition of the remaining 55% interest of Arden, operating income decreased $7.5 million to $45.5 million in the six month period ended March 30, 2019 compared to $53.0 million in the six month period ended March 31, 2018. The decrease in operating income was due primarily to our Bell Nursery acquisition and the decrease in operating margin due to both of our recent acquisitions.

Corporate operating expenses decreased $0.6 million to $33.1 million in the current six month period from $33.7 million in the comparable fiscal 2018 period due primarily to decreased medical insurance expense.

Net Interest Expense

Net interest expense for the six months ended March 30, 2019 decreased $0.6 million, or 3.7%, to $16.5 million from $17.1 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Increased interest expense incurred in our fiscal 2019 first quarter, due to higher average debt outstanding, was more than offset by increased interest income in our fiscal 2019 second quarter. In December 2017, we issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028.

Debt outstanding on March 30, 2019 was $697.8 million compared to $691.1 million as of March 31, 2018. Our average borrowing rate for the current six month period was 5.8% compared to from 5.7% for the prior year six month period.

Other Income

Other income increased $1.9 million to income of $0.3 million for the six months ended March 30, 2019, from an expense of $1.6 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018. Lower losses from one of our start-up business investments were partially offset by lower income from Arden due to our purchase of the remaining 55% ownership interest in February 2019. Other expense is comprised of income or losses from investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting and foreign currency exchange gains and losses.

Income Taxes

Our effective income tax rate was 21.0% for the six month period ended March 30, 2019 compared to an income tax benefit for the six month period ended March 31, 2018. The prior year six month period included a provisional tax benefit of $16.3 million, due to the remeasurement of our deferred tax accounts upon the enactment of the Tax Reform Act.

In the prior year six month period, after adjusting for the provisional tax benefit of $16.3 million, our effective income tax rate was 19.7% compared to our effective income tax rate of 21.0% in the current year six month period. The higher effective income tax rate in the current year quarter was due primarily to lower excess tax benefits from stock compensation in the current year quarter.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Our net income for the six months ended March 30, 2019 was $44.2 million, or $0.76 per diluted share, compared to $71.5 million, or $1.36 per diluted share, for the six months ended March 31, 2018.

In the prior year six month period, the provisional impact of the Tax Reform Act on our deferred tax accounts was significant. Adjusting the six month period ended March 30, 2019 for the non-cash gain from the fair value remeasurement of our previously held investment interest upon our acquisition of the remaining 55% interest of Arden and for the non-cash charge for the intangible asset impairment in our Pet segment and the six month period ended March 31, 2018 for the provisional impact of the Tax Reform Act on our deferred tax accounts, non-GAAP net income for the fiscal 2019 six month period was $43.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted share, compared to $55.1 million, or $1.05 per diluted share in the fiscal 2018 six month period. The decline in the six month period in net income and earnings per share were due primarily to our acquisition of Bell Nursery, which is highly seasonal and incurred losses in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2019, which were not part of our prior year period, and increased shares outstanding due to our prior year equity offering.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We report our financial results in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, to supplement the financial results prepared in accordance with GAAP, we use non-GAAP financial measures including non-GAAP net sales and operating income on a consolidated and segment basis, and non-GAAP net income and diluted net income per share. Management believes these non-GAAP financial measures that exclude the impact of specific items (described below) may be useful to investors in their assessment of our ongoing operating performance and provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods.

EBITDA is defined by us as income before income tax, net other expense, net interest expense and depreciation and amortization. We present EBITDA because we believe that EBITDA is a useful supplemental measure in evaluating the cash flows and performance of our business and provides greater transparency into our results of operations. EBITDA is used by our management to perform such evaluation. EBITDA should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for cash flow from operations, income from operations or other income statement measure prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe that EBITDA is frequently used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies, many of which present EBITDA when reporting their results. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently, it may not be comparable.

We have also provided organic net sales, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the impact of businesses purchased or exited in the prior 12 months, because we believe it permits investors to better understand the performance of our historical business without the impact of recent acquisitions or dispositions.

The reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP are shown in the tables below. We believe that the non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and other users of our financial statements, by allowing for greater transparency in the review of our financial and operating performance. Management also uses these non-GAAP financial measures in making financial, operating and planning decisions and in evaluating our performance, and we believe these measures similarly may be useful to investors in evaluating our financial and operating performance and the trends in our business from management's point of view. While our management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace our GAAP financial results and should be read in conjunction with those GAAP results.

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

•

Gains from the fair value remeasurement of previously held investment interests: we have excluded the impact of the fair value remeasurement of a previously held investment interest as it represents an infrequent transaction that occurs in limited circumstances that impacts the comparability between operating periods. We believe the adjustment of these gains supplements the GAAP information with a measure that may be used to assess the sustainability of our operating performance.


•	Asset impairment charges: we have excluded the impact of asset impairments on intangible assets as such non-cash amounts are inconsistent in amount and frequency. We believe that the adjustment of these charges supplements the GAAP information with a measure that can be used to assess the sustainability of our operating performance.


•	The U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Job Act (the "Tax Reform Act") in December 2017. We have excluded the transitional impact of the Tax Reform Act as the remeasurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities does not reflect the ongoing impact of the lower U.S. statutory rate on our current year or future year earnings.

From time to time in the future, there may be other items that we may exclude if we believe that doing so is consistent with the goal of providing useful information to investors and management.

The non-GAAP adjustments reflect the following:

(1)

During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, we recorded a preliminary, pending the finalization of the related purchase accounting, non-cash $3.2 million gain in our Garden segment from the fair value remeasurement of our previously held 45% interest in Arden upon our acquisition of the remaining 55% interest. The gain was recorded as part of selling, general and administrative costs in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.


(2)	During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, we recognized a non-cash impairment charge in our Pet segment of $2.5 million related to the impairment of intangible assets caused by a retail customer exiting the live fish business. The adjustment was recorded as part of selling, general and administrative costs.

(3)

Transitional impact of U.S. Tax Reform: As a result of the Tax Reform Act, the Company recorded a provisional tax benefit of $16.3 million in the quarter ended December 30, 2017, due to the remeasurement of its deferred tax assets and liabilities. We have excluded only this transitional impact and have not included in the adjustment the ongoing impact of the lower U.S. statutory rate on our current or future year earnings.



Operating Income Reconciliation		GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Three Months Ended					GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Six Months Ended
		Consolidated					Consolidated
		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
GAAP operating income		$	62,153		$	65,786	$	72,334		$	88,307
Previously held investment interest fair value remeasurement	⁽¹⁾	(3,215		)	—		(3,215		)	—
Intangible asset impairment	⁽²⁾	2,540			—		2,540			—
Non-GAAP operating income		$	61,478		$	65,786	$	71,659		$	88,307



Pet Segment Operating Income Reconciliation		GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Three Months Ended				GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Six Months Ended
		Pet				Pet
		March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018		March 30, 2019		March 31, 2018
GAAP operating income		$	26,984	$	32,784	$	56,739	$	68,960
Intangible asset impairment	⁽²⁾	2,540		—		2,540		—
Non-GAAP operating income		$	29,524	$	32,784	$	59,279	$	68,960



Garden Segment Operating Income Reconciliation		GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Three Months Ended					GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands) For the Six Months Ended
		Garden					Garden
		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
GAAP operating income		$	53,355		$	50,746	$	48,718		$	53,046
Previously held investment interest fair value remeasurement	⁽¹⁾	(3,215		)	—		(3,215		)	—
Non-GAAP operating income		$	50,140		$	50,746	$	45,503		$	53,046



		GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Three Months Ended
Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Reconciliation		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
GAAP net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet		$	42,391		$	45,234
Previously held investment interest fair value remeasurement	⁽¹⁾	(3,215		)	—
Intangible asset impairment	⁽²⁾	2,540			—
Tax effect of remeasurement and impairment		144			—
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet		41,860			45,234
GAAP diluted net income per share		$	0.73		$	0.86
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share		$	0.72		$	0.86
Shares used in GAAP and non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share calculation		58,026			52,658



		GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Six Months Ended
Net Income and Diluted Net Income Per Share Reconciliation		March 30, 2019			March 31, 2018
GAAP net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet		$	44,194		$	71,481
Previously held investment interest fair value remeasurement	⁽¹⁾	(3,215		)	—
Intangible asset impairment	⁽²⁾	2,540			—
Tax effect of remeasurement and impairment		142			—
Tax effect of revaluation of deferred tax amounts	⁽³⁾	—			16,343
Non-GAAP net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet		$	43,661		$	55,138
GAAP diluted net income per share		$	0.76		$	1.36
Non-GAAP diluted net income per share		$	0.75		$	1.05
Shares used in GAAP and non-GAAP diluted net earnings per share calculation		58,013			52,693

Organic Net Sales Reconciliation

We have provided organic net sales, a non-GAAP measure that excludes the impact of recent acquisitions and dispositions, because we believe it permits investors to better understand the performance of our historical business. We define organic net sales as net sales from our historical business derived by excluding the net sales from businesses acquired or exited in the preceding 12 months. After an acquired business has been part of our consolidated results for 12 months, the change in net sales thereafter is considered part of the increase or decrease in organic net sales.



	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in millions) For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2019
	Consolidated				Pet Segment				Garden Segment
			Percent change				Percent change				Percent change

Reported net sales - Q2 FY19 (GAAP)	$	673.7			$	338.2			$	335.5
Reported net sales - Q2 FY18 (GAAP)	613.1				321.7				291.4
Increase in net sales	60.6		9.9	%	16.5		5.1	%	44.1		15.1	%
Effect of acquisition and divestitures on increase in net sales	47.6				16.3				31.3
Increase in organic net sales - Q2 2019	$	13.0	2.1	%	$	0.2	0.1	%	$	12.8	4.4	%



	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in millions) For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	Consolidated				Pet Segment					Garden Segment
			Percent change					Percent change				Percent change
Reported net sales - Q2 FY19 YTD (GAAP)	$	1,135.7			$	678.6				$	457.1
Reported net sales - Q2 FY18 YTD (GAAP)	1,055.1				646.7					408.4
Increase in net sales	80.6		7.6	%	31.9			4.9	%	48.7		11.9	%
Effect of acquisition and divestitures on increase in net sales	74.9				33.5					41.4
Increase (decrease) in organic net sales - Q2 2019 YTD	$	5.7	0.5	%	$	(1.6	)	(0.2	)%	$	7.3	1.8	%



EBITDA Reconciliation	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Three Months Ended March 30, 2019
	Garden		Pet		Corp			Total
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet	—		—		—			$	42,391
Interest expense, net	—		—		—			8,385
Other income	—		—		—			(500		)
Income tax expense	—		—		—			11,546
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—			331
Sum of items below operating income	—		—		—			19,762
Income (loss) from operations	$	53,355	$	26,984	$	(18,186	)	$	62,153
Depreciation & amortization	2,312		8,039		1,526			11,877
EBITDA	$	55,667	$	35,023	$	(16,660	)	$	74,030



EBITDA Reconciliation	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Garden		Pet		Corp			Total
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet	—		—		—			$	45,234
Interest expense, net	—		—		—			9,882
Other income	—		—		—			(1,505		)
Income tax expense	—		—		—			11,643
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—			532
Sum of items below operating income	—		—		—			20,552
Income (loss) from operations	$	50,746	$	32,784	$	(17,744	)	$	65,786
Depreciation & amortization	1,707		6,944		2,471			11,122
EBITDA	$	52,453	$	39,728	$	(15,273	)	$	76,908



EBITDA Reconciliation	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Six Months Ended March 30, 2019
	Garden		Pet		Corp			Total
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet	—		—		—			$	44,194
Interest expense, net	—		—		—			16,462
Other income	—		—		—			(308		)
Income tax benefit	—		—		—			11,819
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—			167
Sum of items below operating income	—		—		—			28,140
Income (loss) from operations	$	48,718	$	56,739	$	(33,123	)	$	72,334
Depreciation & amortization	5,138		16,095		2,996			24,229
EBITDA	$	53,856	$	72,834	$	(30,127	)	$	96,563



EBITDA Reconciliation	GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation (in thousands, except per share amounts) For the Six Months Ended March 31, 2018
	Garden		Pet		Corp			Total
Net income attributable to Central Garden & Pet	—		—		—			$	71,481
Interest expense, net	—		—		—			17,100
Other income (expense)	—		—		—			1,584
Income tax benefit	—		—		—			(2,593		)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—		—		—			735
Sum of items below operating income	—		—		—			16,826
Income (loss) from operations	$	53,046	$	68,960	$	(33,699	)	$	88,307
Depreciation & amortization	3,276		14,089		4,920			22,285
EBITDA	$	56,322	$	83,049	$	(28,779	)	$	110,592

Inflation

Our revenues and margins are dependent on various economic factors, including rates of inflation, energy costs, consumer attitudes toward discretionary spending, currency fluctuations, and other macro-economic factors which may impact levels of consumer spending. In certain fiscal periods, we have been adversely impacted by rising input costs related to domestic inflation, particularly relating to grain and seed prices, fuel prices and the ingredients used in our garden controls and fertilizer. Rising costs in those periods have made it difficult for us to increase prices to our retail customers at a pace sufficient to enable us to maintain margins.

During fiscal 2018, costs increased in a number of areas, including raw materials, freight and labor. We took certain pricing actions, which generally became effective in January 2019, to offset the impact of these inflationary pressures and plan to do so in the year ahead as well.

Weather and Seasonality

Our sales of lawn and garden products are influenced by weather and climate conditions in the different markets we serve. Additionally, our Garden segment’s business is highly seasonal. In fiscal 2018, approximately 68% of our Garden segment’s net sales and 57% of our total net sales occurred during our second and third fiscal quarters. Substantially all of the Garden segment’s operating income is typically generated in this period, which has historically offset the operating loss incurred during the first fiscal quarter of the year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have financed our growth through a combination of internally generated funds, bank borrowings, supplier credit, and sales of equity and debt securities to the public.

Our business is seasonal and our working capital requirements and capital resources track closely to this seasonal pattern. Generally, during the first fiscal quarter, accounts receivable reach their lowest level while inventory, accounts payable and short-term borrowings begin to increase. During the second fiscal quarter, receivables, accounts payable and short-term borrowings increase, reflecting the build-up of inventory and related payables in anticipation of the peak lawn and garden selling season. During the third fiscal quarter, inventory levels remain relatively constant while accounts receivable peak and short-term borrowings start to decline as cash collections are received during the peak selling season. During the fourth fiscal quarter, inventory levels are at their lowest, and accounts receivable and payables are substantially reduced through conversion of receivables to cash.

We service two broad markets: pet supplies and lawn and garden supplies. Our pet supplies businesses involve products that have a year round selling cycle with a slight degree of seasonality. As a result, it is not necessary to maintain large quantities of inventory to meet peak demands. Our lawn and garden businesses are highly seasonal with approximately 68% of our Garden segment’s net sales occurring during the second and third fiscal quarters. This seasonality requires the shipment of large quantities of product well ahead of the peak consumer buying periods. To encourage retailers and distributors to stock large quantities of inventory, industry practice has been for manufacturers to give extended credit terms and/or promotional discounts.

Operating Activities

Net cash used by operating activities decreased by $14.7 million, from $94.0 million of cash used for the six months ended March 31, 2018, to $79.3 million of cash used for the six months ended March 30, 2019. The decrease in cash used was due primarily to changes in our working capital accounts for the period ended March 30, 2019, as compared to the prior year period.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities decreased $62.1 million, from $89.7 million for the six months ended March 31, 2018 to $27.6 million during the six months ended March 30, 2019. The decrease in cash used in investing activities was due primarily to decreased investment and acquisition activity as well as lower capital expenditures in the current year compared to the prior year. During the second quarter of fiscal 2019, we acquired the remaining 55% interest in Arden Companies for approximately $11 million. During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we acquired Bell Nurseries for approximately $62 million. Furthermore, during the six months ended March 30, 2019, we made fewer investments and capital expenditures than in the comparable prior year period.

Financing Activities

Net cash provided by financing activities decreased $325.0 million, from $284.7 million of cash provided for the six months ended March 31, 2018, to $40.3 million of cash used for the six months ended March 30, 2019. The decrease in cash provided by financing activities during the current year was due primarily to our December 2017 issuance of $300 million aggregate principal amount 5.125% senior notes due February 2028, partially offset by deferred financing costs of approximately $4.8 million associated with this issuance. Additionally, we repaid approximately $36 million of acquired long-term debt subsequent to our acquisition of Arden Companies during the six months ended March 30, 2019.

We expect that our principal sources of funds will be cash generated from our operations and, if necessary, borrowings under our $400 million asset backed revolving credit facility. Based on our anticipated cash needs, availability under our asset backed revolving credit facility and the scheduled maturity of our debt, we believe that our sources of liquidity should be adequate to meet our working capital, capital spending and other cash needs for at least the next 12 months. However, we cannot assure you that these sources will continue to provide us with sufficient liquidity and, should we require it, that we will be able to obtain financing on terms satisfactory to us, or at all.

We believe that cash flows from operating activities, funds available under our asset backed loan facility, and arrangements with suppliers will be adequate to fund our presently anticipated working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the foreseeable future. We anticipate that our capital expenditures, which are related primarily to replacements and expansion of and upgrades to plant and equipment and also investment in our continued implementation of a scalable enterprise-wide information technology platform, will be approximately $40 million in fiscal 2019.

As part of our growth strategy, we have acquired a number of companies in the past, and we anticipate that we will continue to evaluate potential acquisition candidates in the future. If one or more potential acquisition opportunities, including those that would be material, become available in the near future, we may require additional external capital. In addition, such acquisitions would subject us to the general risks associated with acquiring companies, particularly if the acquisitions are relatively large.

At March 30, 2019, our total debt outstanding was $697.8 million, as compared with $691.1 million at March 31, 2018.

Senior Notes

$300 Million 5.125% Senior Notes

On December 14, 2017, we issued $300 million aggregate principal amount of 5.125% senior notes due February 2028 (the "2028 Notes"). We expect to use the net proceeds from the offering to finance future acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

We incurred approximately $4.8 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2028 Notes.

The 2028 Notes require semiannual interest payments on February 1 and August 1, commencing August 1, 2018. The 2028 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries who are borrowers under or guarantors of our senior secured revolving credit facility or who guarantee the 2023 Notes.

We may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes at any time, at our option, prior to January 1, 2023 at the principal amount plus a “make whole” premium. At any time prior to January 1, 2021, we may also redeem, at our option, up to 35% of the original aggregate principal

amount of the notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 105.125% of the principal amount of the notes. We may redeem some or all of the 2028 Notes, at our option, at any time on or after January 1, 2023 for 102.563%, on or after January 1, 2024 for 101.708%, on or after January 1, 2025 for 100.854% and on or after January 1, 2026 for 100.0%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The 2028 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 30, 2019.

$400 Million 6.125% Senior Notes

In November 2015, we issued $400 million aggregate principal amount of 6.125% senior notes due November 2023 (the "2023 Notes"). In December 2015, we used the net proceeds from the offering, together with available cash, to redeem our $400 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% senior subordinated notes due March 1, 2018 (the "2018 Notes") at a price of 102.063% of the principal amount and to pay fees and expenses related to the offering.

We incurred approximately $6.3 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with these transactions, which included underwriter fees and legal, accounting and rating agency expenses. The debt issuance costs are being amortized over the term of the 2028 Notes.

The 2023 Notes require semiannual interest payments on May 15 and November 15. The 2023 Notes are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by each of our existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries which are borrowers under or guarantors of our senior secured revolving credit facility. The 2023 Notes are unsecured senior obligations and are subordinated to all of our existing and future secured debt, including our Credit Facility, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing such indebtedness.

We may redeem some or all of the 2023 Notes at any time, at our option, on or after November 15, 2018 for 104.594%, on or after November 15, 2019 for 103.063%, on or after November 15, 2020 for 101.531% and on or after November 15, 2021 for 100%, plus accrued and unpaid interest.

The holders of the 2023 Notes have the right to require us to repurchase all or a portion of the 2023 Notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest upon the occurrence of a change of control.

The 2023 Notes contain customary high yield covenants, including covenants limiting debt incurrence and restricted payments, subject to certain baskets and exceptions. We were in compliance with all financial covenants as of March 30, 2019.

Asset-Based Loan Facility Amendment

In April 2016, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement which provides up to a $400 million principal amount senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility, with up to an additional $200 million principal amount available with the consent of the Lenders if we exercise the accordion feature set forth therein (collectively, the “Credit Facility”). The Credit Facility matures on April 22, 2021. We may borrow, repay and reborrow amounts under the Credit Facility until its maturity date, at which time all amounts outstanding under the Credit Facility must be repaid in full. As of March 30, 2019, there were no borrowings outstanding and no letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Facility. There were other letters of credit of $8.2 million outstanding as of March 30, 2019.

The Credit Facility is subject to a borrowing base, calculated using a formula based upon eligible receivables and inventory, minus certain reserves and subject to restrictions. As of March 30, 2019, the borrowing base and remaining borrowing availability was $374.0 million. Borrowings under the Credit Facility bear interest at an index based on LIBOR or, at the option of the Company, the Base Rate (defined as the highest of (a) the SunTrust prime rate, (b) the Federal Funds Rate plus 0.5% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1.00%), plus, in either case, an applicable margin based on our consolidated senior leverage ratio. Such applicable margin for LIBOR-based borrowings fluctuates between 1.25% - 1.5%, and was 1.25% as of March 30, 2019, and such applicable margin for Base Rate borrowings fluctuates between 0.25% - 0.5%, and was 0.25% as of March 30, 2019. As of March 30, 2019, the applicable interest rate related to Base Rate borrowings was 5.8%, and the applicable interest rate related to LIBOR-based borrowings was 3.8%.

We incurred approximately $1.2 million of debt issuance costs in conjunction with this transaction, which included underwriter fees, legal and accounting expenses. The debt issuance costs will be amortized over the term of the Credit Facility.

The Credit Facility contains customary covenants, including financial covenants which require us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00:1.00 upon reaching certain borrowing levels. The Credit Facility is secured by substantially all of our assets. We were in compliance with all financial covenants under the Credit Facility during the period ended March 30, 2019.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

There have been no material changes to the information provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018 regarding off-balance sheet arrangements.

Contractual Obligations

There have been no material changes outside the ordinary course of business in our contractual obligations set forth in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018.

New Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Footnote 1 in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements for new accounting pronouncements.

Critical Accounting Policies, Estimates and Judgments

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies, estimates and assumptions or the judgments affecting the application of those accounting policies since our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018.


Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There has been no material change in our exposure to market risk from that discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018.


Item 4.	Controls and Procedures

(a) Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer have reviewed, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) that ensure that information relating to the Company required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported in a timely and proper manner and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based upon this review, such officers concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 30, 2019.

(b) Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our management, with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and our principal financial officer have evaluated whether any change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the second quarter of fiscal 2019. Based on that evaluation, management concluded that there has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during the second quarter of fiscal 2019 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1.	Legal Proceedings

From time to time, we are involved in certain legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business. Except as discussed above, we are not currently a party to any other legal proceedings that management believes would have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.


Item 1A.	Risk Factors

There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed in Item 1A to Part I of our Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 29, 2018, except as set forth below.

Our success depends upon our retaining and recruiting key personnel.

Our performance is substantially dependent upon the continued services of our senior management team. The loss of the services of these persons could have a material adverse effect on our business. In February 2019, George C. Roeth, our President and Chief Executive Officer, announced his intent to retire in September 2019. Our future performance depends on our ability to attract and retain skilled employees, including a new Chief Executive Officer. We cannot assure you that we will be able to retain our existing personnel or attract additional qualified employees in the future.


Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table sets forth the repurchases of any equity securities during the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 2019 and the dollar amount of authorized share repurchases remaining under our stock repurchase program.



Period	Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased		Average Price Paid per Share (or Units)		Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs	Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1)
December 30, 2018 - February 2, 2019	17,610	⁽²⁾	$	35.84	—	$	34,968,000
February 3, 2019 - March 2, 2019	31,703	⁽²⁾	$	27.38	—	$	34,968,000
March 3, 2019 - March 30, 2019	10,690	⁽²⁾	$	25.38	—	$	34,968,000
Total	60,003		$	29.51	—	$	34,968,000

(1)

During the third quarter of fiscal 2011, our Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program. The program has no expiration date and expires when the amount authorized has been used or the Board withdraws its authorization. The repurchase of shares may be limited by certain financial covenants in our credit facility and indenture that restrict our ability to repurchase our stock.


(2)	Shares purchased during the period indicated represent withholding of a portion of shares to cover taxes in connection with the vesting of restricted stock.


Item 3.	Defaults Upon Senior Securities

Not applicable


Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures

Not applicable


Item 5.	Other Information

Not applicable



Item 6.	Exhibits

4.1	Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated effective as of March 30, 2019, by Arden Companies, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the “Subsidiary Guarantor”), a direct subsidiary of Central Garden & Pet Company, aDelaware corporation (the “Company”), the Company, the other Guarantors (as defined in theIndenture referred to herein) and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.

10.1*	Amended and Restated Post Employment Consulting Agreement as of February 13, 2019 by and between the Company and George Roeth.

31.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

31.2	Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

32.1	Certification of Principal Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

32.2	Certification of Principal Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.

101.INS	XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

101.CAL	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

101.DEF	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

101.LAB	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

101.PRE	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

*	Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement

SIGNATURES

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



	CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
	Registrant

	Dated: May 7, 2019

	/s/ GEORGE C. ROETH
	George C. Roeth
	President and Chief Executive Officer
	(Principal Executive Officer)

	/s/ NICHOLAS LAHANAS
	Nicholas Lahanas
	Chief Financial Officer
	(Principal Financial Officer)