Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-K

 

 

 

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

For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2011.

OR

 

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

For the transition period from                      to                     

Commission file No. 001-34757

 

 

SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   27-2166630

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

601 Rayovac Drive, Madison, Wisconsin   53711
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (608) 275-3340

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

None

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

 

Title of each class

Common Stock, Par Value $.01

 

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)  ¨

Smaller reporting company  ¨

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

The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $451,587,629 based upon the closing price on the last business day of the registrant’s (or its predecessor’s) most recently completed second fiscal quarter (April 1, 2011).* As of December 5, 2011, there were outstanding 52,288,811 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed within 120 days of September 30, 2011 are incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K in response to Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

 

* For purposes of this calculation only, shares of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, held by directors and executive officers and by Harbinger Group Inc., Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd., Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Global Opportunities Breakaway Ltd. have been treated as owned by affiliates.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  
   PART I   

ITEM 1.

  

BUSINESS

     1   

ITEM 1A.

  

RISK FACTORS

     12   

ITEM 1B.

  

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

     31   

ITEM 2.

  

PROPERTIES

     32   

ITEM 3.

  

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     33   
ITEM 4.   

(REMOVED AND RESERVED)

     33   
   PART II   

ITEM 5.

  

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

     34   

ITEM 6.

  

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     36   

ITEM 7.

  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     39   

ITEM 7A.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     78   

ITEM 8.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     79   

ITEM 9.

  

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     79   

ITEM 9A.

  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     80   

ITEM 9B.

  

OTHER INFORMATION

     80   
   PART III   

ITEM 10.

  

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

     81   

ITEM 11.

  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     81   

ITEM 12.

  

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     82   

ITEM 13.

  

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

     82   

ITEM 14.

  

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

     82   
   PART IV   

ITEM 15.

  

EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

     83   
  

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

     84   
  

SIGNATURES

     148   
  

EXHIBIT INDEX

     149   


Table of Contents

PART I

 

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SB Holdings”), is a diversified global branded consumer products company and was created in connection with the combination of Spectrum Brands, Inc. (“Spectrum Brands”), a global branded consumer products company and Russell Hobbs, Inc. (“Russell Hobbs”), a global branded small appliance company, to form a new combined company (the “Merger”). The Merger was consummated on June 16, 2010. As a result of the Merger, both Spectrum Brands and Russell Hobbs became wholly-owned subsidiaries of SB Holdings. Russell Hobbs was subsequently merged into Spectrum Brands. SB Holdings’ common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “SPB.”

As further described below, on February 3, 2009, Spectrum Brands and its wholly owned U.S. subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”) in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On August 28, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), the Debtors emerged from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Effective as of the Effective Date and pursuant to the Debtors’ confirmed plan of reorganization, we converted from a Wisconsin corporation to a Delaware corporation.

Financial information included in our financial statements prepared after August 30, 2009 will not be comparable to financial information from prior periods. See Item 1A. Risk Factors—“Risks Related To Our Emergence From Bankruptcy” for more information.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms the “Company,” “Spectrum,” “we,” “our” or “us” are used to refer to SB Holdings and its subsidiaries subsequent to the Merger and Spectrum Brands prior to the Merger, as well as before, on and after the Effective Date. The term “Old Spectrum” refers only to Spectrum Brands, our Wisconsin predecessor, and its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Date.

We manufacture and market alkaline, zinc carbon and hearing aid batteries, herbicides, insecticides and repellants and specialty pet supplies. We design and market rechargeable batteries, battery-powered lighting products, electric shavers and accessories, grooming products and hair care appliances. With the addition of Russell Hobbs we design, market and distribute a broad range of branded small household appliances and personal care products. Our manufacturing and product development facilities are located in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Substantially all of our rechargeable batteries and chargers, shaving and grooming products, small household appliances, personal care products and portable lighting products are manufactured by third-party suppliers, primarily located in Asia.

We sell our products in approximately 130 countries through a variety of trade channels, including retailers, wholesalers and distributors, hearing aid professionals, industrial distributors and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and enjoy strong name recognition in our markets under the Rayovac, VARTA and Remington brands, each of which has been in existence for more than 80 years, and under the Tetra, 8-in-1, Spectracide, Cutter, Black & Decker, George Foreman, Russell Hobbs, Farberware and various other brands.

Our diversified global branded consumer products have positions in seven major product categories: consumer batteries; pet supplies; home and garden control products; electric shaving and grooming products; small appliances; electric personal care products; and portable lighting. Our chief operating decision-maker manages the businesses in three vertically integrated, product-focused reporting segments: (i) Global Batteries & Appliances, which consists of our worldwide battery, electric shaving and grooming, electric personal care, portable lighting business and small appliances primarily in the kitchen and home product categories (“Global Batteries & Appliances”); (ii) Global Pet Supplies, which consists of our worldwide pet supplies business (“Global Pet Supplies”); and (iii) Home and Garden Business, which consists of our home and garden and insect control business (the “Home and Garden Business”). Management reviews our performance based on these segments. For information pertaining to our business segments, see Note 11, “Segment Information”.

 

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Global and geographic strategic initiatives and financial objectives are determined at the corporate level. Each business segment is responsible for implementing defined strategic initiatives and achieving certain financial objectives and has a general manager responsible for sales and marketing initiatives and the financial results for all product lines within that business segment.

Our operating performance is influenced by a number of factors including: general economic conditions; foreign exchange fluctuations; trends in consumer markets; consumer confidence and preferences; our overall product line mix, including pricing and gross margin, which vary by product line and geographic market; pricing of certain raw materials and commodities; energy and fuel prices; and our general competitive position, especially as impacted by our competitors’ advertising and promotional activities and pricing strategies.

On June 28, 2011 we filed a Form S-3 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under which 1.2 million shares of our common stock and 6.3 million shares of our common stock held by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (the “Selling Stockholder”) were offered to the public. The registration statement was declared effective on July 14, 2011, and at the closing of the offering, we received net proceeds from the sale of the 1.2 million shares, after underwriting discounts and offering expenses, of approximately $30 million. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the Selling Stockholder. We expect to use the net proceeds of the sale of common shares for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital needs, the refinancing of existing indebtedness, the expansion of our business and acquisitions.

On November 2, 2011, we offered $200 million aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Notes; these notes are in addition to the $750 million aggregative principal amount of 9.5% Notes already outstanding. The additional notes are guaranteed by Spectrum Brands’ parent company, SB/RH Holdings, LLC, as well as by existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries and secured by liens on substantially all of the Spectrum Brands’ and the guarantors assets. The additional notes will vote together with the existing 9.5% Notes.

Chapter 11 Proceedings

On February 2, 2009, we did not make a $25.8 million interest payment due February 2, 2009 on our then existing 7  3/8 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “7 3/8 Notes”), triggering a default with respect to the notes. On February 3, 2009, we announced that we had reached agreements with certain noteholders, representing, in the aggregate, approximately 70% of the face value of our then outstanding senior subordinated notes, to pursue a refinancing that, if implemented as proposed, would significantly reduce our outstanding debt. As a result of our substantial leverage, we determined that, absent a financial restructuring, we would be unable to achieve future profitability or positive cash flows on a consolidated basis solely from cash generated from operating activities or to satisfy certain of our payment obligations as they became due, and could be at risk of not satisfying the leverage ratios to which we were subject under its then existing senior secured term loan facility, which ratios became more restrictive in future periods. Accordingly, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, in the Bankruptcy Court (the “Bankruptcy Filing”) and filed with the Bankruptcy Court a proposed plan of reorganization (the “Proposed Plan”) that detailed the Debtors’ proposed terms for the refinancing. The Chapter 11 cases were jointly administered by the Bankruptcy Court as Case No. 09-50455 (the “Bankruptcy Cases”). The Bankruptcy Court entered a written order (the “Confirmation Order”) on July 15, 2009 confirming the Proposed Plan (as so confirmed, the “Plan”).

The Plan became effective on the Effective Date, and the Debtors emerged from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Pursuant to and by operation of the Plan, on the Effective Date, all of Old Spectrum’s existing equity securities, including the existing common stock and stock options, were extinguished and deemed cancelled. Reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. filed a certificate of incorporation authorizing new shares of common stock. Pursuant to and in accordance with the Plan, on the Effective Date, reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. issued a total of 27,030,000 shares of common stock and approximately $218 million in aggregate principal amount of the 12% Notes to holders of allowed claims with respect to Old Spectrum’s 8 1/2% Senior

 

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Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “8 1/2  Notes”), the 7 3/8% Notes and Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Variable Rate Notes”) (collectively, the “Senior Subordinated Notes”). For a further discussion of the 12% Notes see “Debt Financing Activities—12% Notes.” Also on the Effective Date, reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. issued a total of 2,970,000 shares of common stock to supplemental and sub-supplemental debtor-in-possession credit facility participants in respect of the equity fee earned under the Debtors’ debtor-in-possession credit facility.

Our Products

We compete in seven major product categories: consumer batteries; pet supplies; electric shaving and grooming; electric personal care products; home and garden control products; small appliances and portable lighting. Our broad line of products includes:

 

   

consumer batteries, including alkaline and zinc carbon batteries, rechargeable batteries and chargers and hearing aid batteries and other specialty batteries;

 

   

pet supplies, including aquatic equipment and supplies, dog and cat treats, small animal foods, clean up and training aids, health and grooming products and bedding;

 

   

home and garden control products including household insect controls, insect repellents and herbicides;

 

   

electric shaving and grooming devices;

 

   

small appliances, including small kitchen appliances and home product appliances;

 

   

electric personal care and styling devices; and

 

   

portable lighting.

Net sales of each product category sold, as a percentage of net sales of our consolidated operations, is set forth below.

 

     Percentage of Total Company
Net Sales for the Fiscal Year  Ended
September 30,
 
     2011     2010     2009  

Consumer batteries

     27     34     37

Small appliances

     24        9        —     

Pet supplies

     18        22        26   

Home and garden control products

     11        13        14   

Electric shaving and grooming

     9        10        10   

Electric personal care products

     8        8        9   

Portable lighting

     3        4        4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
     100     100     100
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Consumer Batteries

We market and sell a full line of alkaline batteries (AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt sizes) to both retail and industrial customers. Our alkaline batteries are marketed and sold primarily under the Rayovac and VARTA brands. We also manufacture alkaline batteries for third parties who sell the batteries under their own private labels. Our zinc carbon batteries are also marketed and sold primarily under the Rayovac and VARTA brands and are designed for low- and medium-drain battery-powered devices.

We believe that we are currently the largest worldwide marketer and distributor of hearing aid batteries. We sell our hearing aid batteries through retail trade channels and directly to professional audiologists under several brand names and private labels, including Beltone, Miracle Ear and Starkey.

 

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We also sell Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) rechargeable batteries and a variety of battery chargers under the Rayovac and VARTA brands.

Our other specialty battery products include camera batteries, lithium batteries, silver oxide batteries, keyless entry batteries and coin cells for use in watches, cameras, calculators, communications equipment and medical instruments.

Pet Supplies

In the pet supplies product category we market and sell a variety of leading branded pet supplies for fish, dogs, cats, birds and other small domestic animals. We have a broad line of consumer and commercial aquatics products, including integrated aquarium kits, standalone tanks and stands, filtration systems, heaters, pumps, and other equipment, fish food and water treatment products. Our largest aquatics brands are Tetra, Marineland, Whisper, Jungle and Instant Ocean. We also sell a variety of specialty pet products, including dog and cat treats, small animal food and treats, clean up and training aid products, health and grooming aids, bedding products, and consumable accessories including privacy tents, litter carpets, crystal litter cartridges, charcoal filters, corn-based litter and replaceable waste receptacles. Our largest specialty pet brands include 8-in-1, Dingo, Firstrax, Nature’s Miracle, Wild Harvest and Littermaid.

Home and Garden Control Products

In the home and garden control products category we currently sell and market several leading home and garden care products, including household insecticides, insect repellent, herbicides, garden and indoor plant foods and plant care treatments. We offer a broad array of household insecticides such as spider, roach and ant killer, flying insect killer, insect foggers, wasp and hornet killer, flea and tick control products and roach and ant baits. We also manufacture and market a complete line of insect repellent products that provide protection from insects, especially mosquitoes. These products include both personal repellents, such as aerosols, pump sprays and wipes as well as area repellents, such as yard sprays, citronella candles and torches. Our largest brands in the insect control category include Hot Shot, Cutter and Repel. Our herbicides, garden and indoor plant foods and plant care treatment brands include Spectracide, Real-Kill and Garden Safe. We have positioned ourselves as the value alternative for consumers who want products that are comparable to, but sold at lower prices than, premium-priced brands.

Electric Shaving and Grooming

We market and sell a broad line of electric shaving and grooming products under the Remington brand name, including men’s rotary and foil shavers, beard and mustache trimmers, body trimmers and nose and ear trimmers, women’s shavers and haircut kits.

Small Appliances

We market and sell a broad range of products in the branded small household appliances category under the George Foreman, Black &Decker, Russell Hobbs, Farberware, Juiceman, Breadman and Toastmaster brands, including grills, bread makers, sandwich makers, kettles, toaster ovens, toasters, blenders, juicers, can openers, coffee grinders, coffeemakers, electric knives, deep fryers, food choppers, food processors, hand mixers, rice cookers and steamers. We also market small home product appliances, including hand-held irons, vacuum cleaners, air purifiers, clothes shavers and heaters, primarily under the Black & Decker and Russell Hobbs brands. Russell Hobbs’ personal care products in the small appliances category include hand-held dryers, curling irons, straightening irons, brush irons, air brushes, hair setters, facial brushes, skin appliances and electric toothbrushes, which are primarily marketed under the Russell Hobbs, Carmen and Andrew Collinge brands.

Electric Personal Care Products

Our electric personal care products, marketed and sold under the Remington, Russell Hobbs, Carmen and Andrew Collinge brand names, include hair dryers, straightening irons, styling irons and hair setters.

 

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Portable Lighting

We offer a broad line of battery-powered, portable lighting products, including flashlights and lanterns for both retail and industrial markets. We sell our portable lighting products under the Rayovac and VARTA brand names, under other proprietary brand names and pursuant to licensing arrangements with third parties.

Sales and Distribution

We sell our products through a variety of trade channels, including retailers, wholesalers and distributors, hearing aid professionals, industrial distributors and OEMs. Our sales generally are made through the use of individual purchase orders, consistent with industry practice. Retail sales of the consumer products we market have been increasingly consolidated into a small number of regional and national mass merchandisers. This trend towards consolidation is occurring on a worldwide basis. As a result of this consolidation, a significant percentage of our sales are attributable to a very limited group of retailer customers, including Wal-Mart, The Home Depot, Carrefour, Target, Lowe’s, PetSmart, Canadian Tire, PetCo and Gigante. Our sales to Wal-Mart represented approximately 24% of our consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. No other customer accounted for more than 10% of our consolidated net sales in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

Segment information as to revenues, profit and total assets as well as information concerning our revenues and long-lived assets by geographic location for the last three fiscal years is set forth in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 11, Segment Results, in Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Sales and distribution practices in each of our reportable segments are as set forth below.

Global Batteries & Appliances

We manage our Global Batteries & Appliances sales force by geographic region and product group. Our sales team is divided into three major geographic territories, North America, Latin America and Europe and the rest of the world (“Europe/ROW”). Within each major geographic territory, we have additional subdivisions designed to meet our customers’ needs.

We manage our sales force in North America by distribution channel. We maintain separate sales groups to service (i) our retail sales and distribution channel, (ii) our hearing aid professionals channel and (iii) our industrial distributors and OEM sales and distribution channel. In addition, we utilize a network of independent brokers to service participants in selected distribution channels.

We manage our sales force in Latin America by distribution channel and geographic territory. We sell primarily to large retailers, wholesalers, distributors, food and drug chains and retail outlets. In countries where we do not maintain a sales force, we sell to distributors who market our products through all channels in the market.

The sales force serving our customers in Europe/ROW is supplemented by an international network of distributors to promote the sale of our products. Our sales operations throughout Europe/ROW are organized by geographic territory and the following sales channels: (i) food/retail, which includes mass merchandisers, discounters and drug and food stores; (ii) specialty trade, which includes clubs, consumer electronics stores, department stores, photography stores and wholesalers/distributors; and (iii) industrial, government, hearing aid professionals and OEMs.

Global Pet Supplies

Our Global Pet Supplies sales force is aligned by customer, geographic region and product group. We sell pet supply products to mass merchandisers, grocery and drug chains, pet superstores, independent pet stores and other retailers.

 

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Home and Garden Business

The sales force of the Home and Garden Business is aligned by customer. We sell primarily to home improvement centers, mass merchandisers, hardware stores, home and garden distributors, and food and drug retailers in the U.S.

Manufacturing, Raw Materials and Suppliers

The principal raw materials used in manufacturing our products—zinc powder, electrolytic manganese dioxide powder and steel—are sourced either on a global or regional basis. The prices of these raw materials are susceptible to price fluctuations due to supply and demand trends, energy costs, transportation costs, government regulations and tariffs, changes in currency exchange rates, price controls, general economic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. We have regularly engaged in forward purchase and hedging derivative transactions in an attempt to effectively manage the raw material costs we expect to incur over the next 12 to 24 months.

Substantially all of our rechargeable batteries and chargers, portable lighting products, hair care and other personal care products and our electric shaving and grooming products and small appliances are manufactured by third party suppliers that are primarily located in the Asia/Pacific region. We maintain ownership of most of the tooling and molds used by our suppliers.

We continually evaluate our manufacturing facilities’ capacity and related utilization. As a result of such analyses, we have closed a number of manufacturing facilities during the past five years. In general, we believe our existing facilities are adequate for our present and foreseeable needs.

Research and Development

Our research and development strategy is focused on new product development and performance enhancements of our existing products. We plan to continue to use our strong brand names, established customer relationships and significant research and development efforts to introduce innovative products that offer enhanced value to consumers through new designs and improved functionality.

In our fiscal years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009, we invested $32.9 million, $31.0 million and $24.4 million, respectively, in product research and development.

Patents and Trademarks

We own or license from third parties a significant number of patents and patent applications throughout the world relating to products we sell and manufacturing equipment we use. We hold a license that expires in March 2022 for certain alkaline battery designs, technology and manufacturing equipment from Matsushita Electrical Industrial Co., Ltd. (“Matsushita”), to whom we pay a royalty.

We also use and maintain a number of trademarks in our business, including DINGO, JUNGLETALK, MARINELAND, RAYOVAC, REMINGTON, TETRA, VARTA, 8IN1, CUTTER, HOT SHOT, GARDEN SAFE, NATURE’S MIRACLE, REPEL, SPECTRACIDE, SPECTRACIDE TERMINATE, GEORGE FOREMAN, RUSSELL HOBBS and BLACK & DECKER. We seek trademark protection in the U.S. and in foreign countries by all available means, including registration.

As a result of the October 2002 sale by VARTA AG of substantially all of its consumer battery business to us and VARTA AG’s subsequent sale of its automotive battery business to Johnson Controls, Inc. (“Johnson Controls”), we acquired rights to the VARTA trademark in the consumer battery category and Johnson Controls acquired rights to the trademark in the automotive battery category. VARTA AG continues to have rights to use the trademark with travel guides and industrial batteries and VARTA Microbattery GmbH has the right to use the trade mark with micro batteries. We are party to a Trademark and Domain Names Protection and Delimitation Agreement that governs ownership and usage rights and obligations of the parties relative to the VARTA trademark.

 

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As a result of the common origins of the Remington Products, L.L.C. (“Remington Products”) business we acquired in September 2003 and the Remington Arms Company, Inc. (“Remington Arms”), the REMINGTON trademark is owned by us and by Remington Arms each with respect to its principal products as well as associated products. Accordingly, we own the rights to use the REMINGTON trademark for electric shavers, shaver accessories, grooming products and personal care products, while Remington Arms owns the rights to use the trademark for firearms, sporting goods and products for industrial use, including industrial hand tools. In addition, the terms of a 1986 agreement between Remington Products and Remington Arms provides for the shared rights to use the REMINGTON trademark on products which are not considered “principal products of interest” for either company. We retain the REMINGTON trademark for nearly all products which we believe can benefit from the use of the brand name in our distribution channels.

We license the Black & Decker brand in North America, Latin America (excluding Brazil) and the Caribbean for four core categories of household appliances: beverage products, food preparation products, garment care products and cooking products. Russell Hobbs has licensed the Black & Decker brand since 1998 for use in marketing various household small appliances. In July 2011, Russell Hobbs and The Black & Decker Corporation (“BDC”) extended the trademark license agreement for a fourth time through December 2015. Under the agreement as extended, Russell Hobbs agreed to pay BDC royalties based on a percentage of sales, with minimum annual royalty payments of $15.0 million from calendar year 2011 through calendar year 2015. The agreement also requires us to comply with maximum annual return rates for products.

If BDC does not agree to renew the license agreement, we have 18 months to transition out of the brand name. No minimum royalty payments will be due during such transition period. BDC has agreed not to compete in the four core product categories for a period of five years after the termination of the license agreement. Upon request, BDC may elect to extend the license to use the Black & Decker brand to certain additional product categories. BDC has approved several extensions of the license to additional categories and geographies.

Competition

In our retail markets, we compete for limited shelf space and consumer acceptance. Factors influencing product sales include brand name recognition, perceived quality, price, performance, product packaging, design innovation, and consumer confidence and preferences as well as creative marketing, promotion and distribution strategies.

The battery product category is highly competitive. Most consumer batteries manufactured throughout the world are sold by one of four global companies: Spectrum Brands (manufacturer/seller of Rayovac and VARTA brands); Energizer Holdings, Inc. (“Energizer”) (manufacturer/seller of the Energizer brand); The Procter & Gamble Company (“Procter & Gamble”) (manufacturer/seller of the Duracell brand); and Matsushita (manufacturer/seller of the Panasonic brand). We also face competition from the private label brands of major retailers, particularly in Europe. The offering of private-label batteries by retailers may create pricing pressure in the consumer battery market. Typically, private-label brands are not supported by advertising or promotion, and retailers sell these private label offerings at prices below competing name-brands. The main barriers to entry for new competitors are investment in technology research, cost of building manufacturing capacity and the expense of building retail distribution channels and consumer brands.

In the U.S. alkaline battery category, the Rayovac brand is positioned as a value brand, which is typically defined as a product that offers comparable performance at a lower price. In Europe, the VARTA brand is competitively priced with other premium brands. In Latin America, where zinc carbon batteries outsell alkaline batteries, the Rayovac brand is competitively priced.

The pet supply product category is highly fragmented with over 500 manufacturers in the U.S. alone, consisting primarily of small companies with limited product lines. Our largest competitors in this product category are Mars Corporation (“Mars”), The Hartz Mountain Corporation (“Hartz”) and Central Garden & Pet Company (“Central Garden & Pet”). Both Hartz and Central Garden & Pet sell a comprehensive line of pet supplies and compete with a majority of the products we offer. Mars sells primarily aquatics products.

 

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Products we sell in the home and garden product category through the Home and Garden Business face competition from The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (“Scotts Company”), which markets home and garden products under the Scotts, Ortho, Roundup and Miracle-Gro brand names; Central Garden & Pet, which markets garden products under the AMDRO and Sevin brand names; and Bayer A.G., which markets home and garden products under the Bayer Advanced brand name.

Products we sell in the household insect control product category through the Home and Garden Business face competition from S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (“S.C. Johnson”), which markets insecticide and repellent products under the Raid and OFF! brands; Scotts Company, which markets household insect control products under the Ortho brand; and Henkel KGaA, which markets insect control products under the Combat brand.

Our primary competitors in the electric shaving and grooming product category are Norelco, a division of Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV (“Philips”), which sells and markets rotary shavers, and Braun, a division of Procter & Gamble, which sells and markets foil shavers. Through our Remington brand, we sell both foil and rotary shavers.

Primary competitive brands in the small appliance category include Hamilton Beach, Proctor Silex, Sunbeam, Mr. Coffee, Oster, General Electric, Rowenta, DeLonghi, Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Krups, Braun, Rival, Europro, Kenwood, Philips, Morphy Richards, Breville and Tefal. The key competitors of Russell Hobbs in this market in the U.S. and Canada include Jarden Corporation, DeLonghi America, Euro-Pro Operating LLC, Metro Thebe, Inc., d/b/a HWI Breville, NACCO Industries, Inc. (Hamilton Beach) and SEB S.A. In addition, Russell Hobbs competes with retailers who use their own private label brands for household appliances (for example, Wal-Mart).

Our major competitors in the electric personal care product category are Conair Corporation, Wahl Clipper Corporation and Helen of Troy Limited (“Helen of Troy”).

Our primary competitors in the portable lighting product category are Energizer and Mag Instrument, Inc.

Some of our major competitors have greater resources and greater overall market share than we do. They have committed significant resources to protect their market shares or to capture market share from us and may continue to do so in the future. In some key product lines, our competitors may have lower production costs and higher profit margins than we do, which may enable them to compete more aggressively in advertising and in offering retail discounts and other promotional incentives to retailers, distributors, wholesalers and, ultimately, consumers.

Seasonality

On a consolidated basis our financial results are approximately equally weighted between quarters, however, sales of certain product categories tend to be seasonal. Sales in the consumer battery, electric shaving and grooming and electric personal care product categories, particularly in North America, tend to be concentrated in the December holiday season (Spectrum’s first fiscal quarter). Demand for pet supplies products remains fairly constant throughout the year. Demand for home and garden control products sold though the Home and Garden Business typically peaks during the first six months of the calendar year (Spectrum’s second and third fiscal quarters). Small Appliances peaks from July through December primarily due to the increased demand by customers in the late summer for “back-to-school” sales and in the fall for the holiday season. For a more detailed discussion of the seasonality of our product sales, see Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—“Seasonal Product Sales.”

Governmental Regulations and Environmental Matters

Due to the nature of our operations, our facilities are subject to a broad range of federal, state, local and foreign legal and regulatory provisions relating to the environment, including those regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes and the

 

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remediation of contamination associated with the releases of hazardous substances at our facilities. We believe that compliance with the federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations to which we are subject will not have a material effect upon our capital expenditures, financial condition, earnings or competitive position.

From time to time, we have been required to address the effect of historic activities on the environmental condition of our properties. We have not conducted invasive testing at all facilities to identify all potential environmental liability risks. Given the age of our facilities and the nature of our operations, it is possible that material liabilities may arise in the future in connection with our current or former facilities. If previously unknown contamination of property underlying or in the vicinity of our manufacturing facilities is discovered, we could incur material unforeseen expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, capital expenditures, earnings and competitive position. Although we are currently engaged in investigative or remedial projects at some of our facilities, we do not expect that such projects, taking into account established accruals, will cause us to incur expenditures that are material to our business, financial condition or results of operations; however, it is possible that our future liability could be material.

We have been, and in the future may be, subject to proceedings related to our disposal of industrial and hazardous material at off-site disposal locations or similar disposals made by other parties for which we are held responsible as a result of our relationships with such other parties. In the U.S., these proceedings are under the Federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”) or similar state laws that hold persons who “arranged for” the disposal or treatment of such substances strictly liable for costs incurred in responding to the release or threatened release of hazardous substances from such sites, regardless of fault or the lawfulness of the original disposal. Liability under CERCLA is typically joint and several, meaning that a liable party may be responsible for all costs incurred in investigating and remediating contamination at a site. As a practical matter, liability at CERCLA sites is shared by all of the viable responsible parties. We occasionally are identified by federal or state governmental agencies as being a potentially responsible party for response actions contemplated at an off-site facility. At the existing sites where we have been notified of our status as a potentially responsible party, it is either premature to determine whether our potential liability, if any, will be material or we do not believe that our liability, if any, will be material. We may be named as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or similar state laws for other sites not currently known to us, and the costs and liabilities associated with these sites may be material.

It is difficult to quantify with certainty the potential financial impact of actions regarding expenditures for environmental matters, particularly remediation, and future capital expenditures for environmental control equipment. Nevertheless, based upon the information currently available, we believe that our ultimate liability arising from such environmental matters, taking into account established accruals of $7.3 million for estimated liabilities at September 30, 2011 should not be material to our business or financial condition.

Electronic and electrical products that we sell in Europe, particularly products sold under the Remington brand name, VARTA battery chargers, certain portable lighting and all of our batteries, are subject to regulation in European Union (“EU”) markets under three key EU directives. The first directive is the Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (“RoHS”) which took effect in EU member states beginning July 1, 2006. RoHS prohibits companies from selling products which contain certain specified hazardous materials in EU member states. We believe that compliance with RoHS will not have a material effect on our capital expenditures, financial condition, earnings or competitive position. The second directive is entitled the Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (“WEEE”). WEEE makes producers or importers of particular classes of electrical goods financially responsible for specified collection, recycling, treatment and disposal of past and future covered products. WEEE assigns levels of responsibility to companies doing business in EU markets based on their relative market share. WEEE calls on each EU member state to enact enabling legislation to implement the directive. To comply with WEEE requirements, we have partnered with other companies to create a comprehensive collection, treatment, disposal and recycling program. As EU member states pass enabling legislation we currently expect our compliance system to be sufficient to meet such requirements. Our current estimated costs associated with compliance with WEEE are not significant based on our current market share. However, we continue to evaluate the impact of the WEEE legislation as EU member states implement

 

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guidance and as our market share changes and, as a result, actual costs to our company could differ from our current estimates and may be material to our business, financial condition or results of operations. The third directive is the Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries, which was adopted in September 2006 and went into effect in September 2008 (the “Battery Directive”). The Battery Directive bans heavy metals in batteries by establishing maximum quantities of those heavy metals in batteries and mandates waste management of batteries, including collection, recycling and disposal systems. The Battery Directive places the costs of such waste management systems on producers and importers of batteries. The Battery Directive calls on each EU member state to enact enabling legislation to implement the directive. We currently believe that compliance with the Battery Directive will not have a material effect on our capital expenditures, financial condition, earnings or competitive position. However, until such time as the EU member states adopt enabling legislation, a full evaluation of these costs cannot be completed. We will continue to evaluate the impact of the Battery Directive and its enabling legislation as EU member states implement guidance.

Certain of our products and facilities in each of our business segments are regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (the “EPA”) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or other federal consumer protection and product safety agencies and are subject to the regulations such agencies enforce, as well as by similar state, foreign and multinational agencies and regulations. For example, in the U.S., all products containing pesticides must be registered with the EPA and, in many cases, similar state and foreign agencies before they can be manufactured or sold. Our inability to obtain or the cancellation of any registration could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The severity of the effect would depend on which products were involved, whether another product could be substituted and whether our competitors were similarly affected. We attempt to anticipate regulatory developments and maintain registrations of, and access to, substitute chemicals and other ingredients. We may not always be able to avoid or minimize these risks.

The Food Quality Protection Act (“FQPA”) established a standard for food-use pesticides, which is that a reasonable certainty of no harm will result from the cumulative effect of pesticide exposures. Under the FQPA, the EPA is evaluating the cumulative effects from dietary and non-dietary exposures to pesticides. The pesticides in certain of our products continue to be evaluated by the EPA as part of this program. It is possible that the EPA or a third party active ingredient registrant may decide that a pesticide we use in our products will be limited or made unavailable to us. We cannot predict the outcome or the severity of the effect of the EPA’s continuing evaluations of active ingredients used in our products.

Certain of our products and packaging materials are subject to regulations administered by the FDA. Among other things, the FDA enforces statutory prohibitions against misbranded and adulterated products, establishes ingredients and manufacturing procedures for certain products, establishes standards of identity for certain products, determines the safety of products and establishes labeling standards and requirements. In addition, various states regulate these products by enforcing federal and state standards of identity for selected products, grading products, inspecting production facilities and imposing their own labeling requirements.

Employees

We had approximately 5,900 full-time employees worldwide as of September 30, 2011. Approximately 31% of our total labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. There are five collective bargaining agreements that will expire during our fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, which cover approximately 78% of the labor force under collective bargaining agreements, or approximately 24% of our total labor force. We believe that our overall relationship with our employees is good.

Available Information

Our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), are made available free of charge on or through our website at www.spectrumbrands.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed with, or furnished to, the

 

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United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains our reports, proxy statements and other information at www.sec.gov . In addition, copies of our (i) Corporate Governance Guidelines, (ii) charters for the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, (iii) Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and (iv) Code of Ethics for the Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers are available at our Internet site at www.spectrumbrands.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance.” Copies will also be provided to any stockholder upon written request to the Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. at 601 Rayovac Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53711 or via electronic mail at investorrelations@spectrumbrands.com, or by contacting the Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications by telephone at (608) 275-3340.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

Forward-Looking Statements

We have made or implied certain forward-looking statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this Annual Report, including the statements under Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations regarding our business strategy, future operations, financial condition, estimated revenues, projected costs, projected synergies, prospects, plans and objectives of management, as well as information concerning expected actions of third parties, are forward-looking statements. When used in this Annual Report, the words “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate,” “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “could,” “will,” “should,” “may” and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.

Since these forward-looking statements are based upon our current expectations of future events and projections and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and some of which may change rapidly, actual results or outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied herein, and you should not place undue reliance on these statements. Important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied herein include, without limitation:

 

   

the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our business, financial condition and results of operations;

 

   

the impact of restrictions in our debt instruments on our ability to operate our business, finance our capital needs or pursue or expand business strategies;

 

   

any failure to comply with financial covenants and other provisions and restrictions of our debt instruments;

 

   

our ability to successfully integrate the business acquired in connection with the combination with Russell Hobbs and achieve the expected synergies from that integration at the expected costs;

 

   

the impact of expenses resulting from the implementation of new business strategies, divestitures or current and proposed restructuring activities;

 

   

the impact of fluctuations in commodity prices, costs or availability of raw materials or terms and conditions available from suppliers, including suppliers’ willingness to advance credit;

 

   

interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations;

 

   

the loss of, or a significant reduction in, sales to a significant retail customer(s);

 

   

competitive promotional activity or spending by competitors or price reductions by competitors;

 

   

the introduction of new product features or technological developments by competitors and/or the development of new competitors or competitive brands;

 

   

the effects of general economic conditions, including inflation, recession or fears of a recession, depression or fears of a depression, labor costs and stock market volatility or changes in trade, monetary or fiscal policies in the countries where we do business;

 

   

changes in consumer spending preferences and demand for our products;

 

   

our ability to develop and successfully introduce new products, protect our intellectual property and avoid infringing the intellectual property of third parties;

 

   

our ability to successfully implement, achieve and sustain manufacturing and distribution cost efficiencies and improvements, and fully realize anticipated cost savings;

 

   

the cost and effect of unanticipated legal, tax or regulatory proceedings or new laws or regulations (including environmental, public health and consumer protection regulations);

 

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public perception regarding the safety of our products, including the potential for environmental liabilities, product liability claims, litigation and other claims;

 

   

the impact of pending or threatened litigation;

 

   

changes in accounting policies applicable to our business;

 

   

government regulations;

 

   

the seasonal nature of sales of certain of our products;

 

   

the effects of climate change and unusual weather activity; and

 

   

the effects of political or economic conditions, terrorist attacks, acts of war or other unrest in international markets.

Some of the above-mentioned factors are described in further detail in the section entitled “Risk Factors” set forth below. You should assume the information appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is accurate only as of September 30, 2011 or as otherwise specified, as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the U.S. and the rules and regulations of the SEC, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise to reflect actual results or changes in factors or assumptions affecting such forward-looking statements.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Any of the following factors could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations and the risks described below are not the only risks that we may face. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently view as immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Risks Related to the Merger

We may not realize the anticipated benefits of the Merger.

The Merger involved the integration of two companies that previously operated independently. The integration of our operations with those of Russell Hobbs is expected to result in financial and operational benefits, including increased revenues and cost savings. There can be no assurance, however, regarding when or the extent to which we will be able to realize these increased revenues, cost savings or other benefits. Integration may also be difficult, unpredictable, and subject to delay because of possible company culture conflicts and different opinions on technical decisions and product roadmaps. We must integrate or, in some cases, replace, numerous systems, including those involving management information, purchasing, accounting and finance, sales, billing, employee benefits, payroll and regulatory compliance, many of which are dissimilar. In some instances, we and Russell Hobbs have served the same customers, and some customers may decide that it is desirable to have additional or different suppliers. Difficulties associated with integration could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

Integrating our business with that of Russell Hobbs may divert our management’s attention away from operations.

Successful integration of our and Russell Hobbs’ operations, products and personnel may place a significant burden on our management and other internal resources. The diversion of management’s attention, and any difficulties encountered in the transition and integration process, could harm our business, financial conditions and operating results.

Risks Related To Our Emergence From Bankruptcy

Because our consolidated financial statements are required to reflect fresh-start reporting adjustments to be made upon emergence from bankruptcy, financial information in our financial statements prepared after August 30, 2009 will not be comparable to our financial information from prior periods.

All conditions required for the adoption of fresh-start reporting were met upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code on the Effective Date. However, in light of the proximity of that date to our accounting period close immediately following the Effective Date, which was August 30, 2009, we elected to adopt a convenience date of August 30, 2009 for recording fresh-start reporting. We adopted fresh-start reporting in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 852: “Reorganizations,” pursuant to which our reorganization value, which is intended to reflect the fair value of the entity before considering liabilities and approximate the amount a willing buyer would pay for the assets of the entity immediately after the reorganization, was allocated to the fair value of assets in conformity with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations,” using the purchase method of accounting for business combinations. We stated liabilities, other than deferred taxes, at a present value of amounts expected to be paid. The amount remaining after allocation of the reorganization value to the fair value of identified tangible and intangible assets was reflected as goodwill, which is subject to periodic evaluation for impairment. In addition, under fresh-start reporting the accumulated deficit was eliminated. Thus, the data derived from our consolidated statements of financial position and operations as of dates and for the periods after August 30, 2009 will not be comparable in many respects to that derived from the consolidated statements of financial position and operations as of dates and for periods prior to the adoption of fresh-start reporting. The lack of comparable historical information may discourage investors from purchasing our securities. Additionally, the financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K may not be indicative of future financial information.

 

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Risks Related To Our Business

We are a parent company and our primary source of cash is and will be distributions from our subsidiaries.

We are a parent company with limited business operations of our own. Our main asset is the capital stock of our subsidiaries. We conduct most of our business operations through our direct and indirect subsidiaries. Accordingly, our primary sources of cash are dividends and distributions with respect to our ownership interests in our subsidiaries that are derived from their earnings and cash flow. Our subsidiaries might not generate sufficient earnings and cash flow to pay dividends or distributions in the future. Our subsidiaries’ payments to us will be contingent upon their earnings and upon other business considerations. In addition, our senior credit facilities, the indentures governing our notes and other agreements limit or prohibit certain payments of dividends or other distributions to us. We expect that future credit facilities will contain similar restrictions.

Our substantial indebtedness may limit our financial and operating flexibility, and we may incur additional debt, which could increase the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.

We have, and we expect to continue to have, a significant amount of indebtedness. As of September 30, 2011, we had total indebtedness under our Senior Secured Facilities, the 12% Notes and other debt of approximately $1.6 billion. Our substantial indebtedness has had, and could continue to have, material adverse consequences for our business, and may:

 

   

require us to dedicate a large portion of our cash flow to pay principal and interest on our indebtedness, which will reduce the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures, research and development expenditures and other business activities;

 

   

increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

   

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

 

   

restrict our ability to make strategic acquisitions, dispositions or to exploit business opportunities;

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors that have less debt; and

 

   

limit our ability to borrow additional funds (even when necessary to maintain adequate liquidity) or dispose of assets.

Under the Senior Secured Facilities and the indenture governing the 12% Notes (the “2019 Indenture”), we may incur additional indebtedness. If new debt is added to our existing debt levels, the related risks that we now face would increase.

Furthermore, a substantial portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates. If market interest rates increase, the interest rate on our variable rate debt will increase and will create higher debt service requirements, which would adversely affect our cash flow and could adversely impact our results of operations. While we may enter into agreements limiting our exposure to higher debt service requirements, any such agreements may not offer complete protection from this risk.

Restrictive covenants in the Senior Secured Facilities and the 2019 Indenture may restrict our ability to pursue our business strategies.

The Senior Secured Facilities and the 2019 Indenture each restrict, among other things, asset dispositions, mergers and acquisitions, dividends, stock repurchases and redemptions, other restricted payments, indebtedness and preferred stock, loans and investments, liens and affiliate transactions. The Senior Secured Facilities and the 2019 Indenture also contain customary events of default. These covenants, among other things, limit our ability to fund future working capital and capital expenditures, engage in future acquisitions or development activities, or otherwise realize the value of our assets and opportunities fully because of the need to dedicate a portion of

 

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cash flow from operations to payments on debt. In addition, the Senior Secured Facilities contain financial covenants relating to maximum leverage and minimum interest coverage. Such covenants could limit the flexibility of our restricted entities in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the industries in which they operate. Our ability to comply with these covenants is subject to certain events outside of our control. If we are unable to comply with these covenants, the lenders under our Senior Secured Facilities or 12% Notes could terminate their commitments and the lenders under our Senior Secured Facilities or 12% Notes could accelerate repayment of our outstanding borrowings and, in either case, we may be unable to obtain adequate refinancing of outstanding borrowings on favorable terms. If we are unable to repay outstanding borrowings when due, the lenders under the Senior Secured Facilities or 12% Notes will also have the right to proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure the indebtedness owed to them. If our obligations under the Senior Secured Facilities and the 12% Notes are accelerated, we cannot assure you that our assets would be sufficient to repay in full such indebtedness.

The sale or other disposition by Harbinger Group Inc., the holder of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock, to non-affiliates of a sufficient amount of the common stock of SB Holdings would constitute a change of control under the agreements governing Spectrum Brands’ debt.

Harbinger Group Inc. (“HRG”) owns a majority of the outstanding shares of the common stock of SB Holdings. The sale or other disposition by HRG to non-affiliates of a sufficient amount of the common stock of SB Holdings could constitute a change of control under the agreements governing Spectrum Brands’ debt, including any foreclosure on or sale of SB Holdings’ common stock pledged as collateral by HRG pursuant to the indenture governing HRG’s 10.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2015. Under the Term Loan and the ABL Revolving Credit Facility, a change of control is an event of default and, if a change of control were to occur, Spectrum Brands would be required to get an amendment to these agreements to avoid a default. If Spectrum Brands was unable to get such an amendment, the lenders could accelerate the maturity of each of the Spectrum Brands Term Loan and the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, under the indentures governing the 9.5% Notes and the 12% Notes, upon a change of control of SB Holdings, Spectrum Brands is required to offer to repurchase such notes from the holders at a price equal to 101% of principal amount of the notes plus accrued interest or obtain a waiver of default from the holders of such notes. If Spectrum Brands was unable to make the change of control offer, or to obtain a waiver of default, it would be an event of default under the indentures that could allow holders of such notes to accelerate the maturity of the notes. See “Risks Related to SB Holdings’ Common Stock—The Harbinger Parties and HRG will exercise significant influence over us and their interests in our business may be different from the interests of our stockholders.”

We face risks related to the current economic environment.

The current economic environment and related turmoil in the global financial system has had and may continue to have an impact on our business and financial condition. Global economic conditions have significantly impacted economic markets within certain sectors, with financial services and retail businesses being particularly impacted. Our ability to generate revenue depends significantly on discretionary consumer spending. It is difficult to predict new general economic conditions that could impact consumer and customer demand for our products or our ability to manage normal commercial relationships with our customers, suppliers and creditors. The recent continuation of a number of negative economic factors, including constraints on the supply of credit to households, uncertainty and weakness in the labor market and general consumer fears of a continuing economic downturn could have a negative impact on discretionary consumer spending. If the economy continues to deteriorate or fails to improve, our business could be negatively impacted, including as a result of reduced demand for our products or supplier or customer disruptions. Any weakness in discretionary consumer spending could have a material adverse effect on our revenues, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, our ability to access the capital markets may be restricted at a time when it could be necessary or beneficial to do so, which could have an impact on our flexibility to react to changing economic and business conditions.

In 2011, concern over sovereign debt in Greece, Ireland and certain other European Union countries caused significant fluctuations of the Euro relative to other currencies, such as the U.S. Dollar. Destabilization of the

 

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European economy could lead to a decrease in consumer confidence, which could cause reductions in discretionary spending and demand for our products. Furthermore, sovereign debt issues could also lead to further significant, and potentially longer-term, economic issues such as reduced economic growth and devaluation of the Euro against the U.S. Dollar, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial conditions and operating results.

We may not be able to retain key personnel or recruit additional qualified personnel whether as a result of the Merger or otherwise, which could materially affect our business and require us to incur substantial additional costs to recruit replacement personnel.

We are highly dependent on the continuing efforts of our senior management team and other key personnel. As a result of the Merger, our current and prospective employees could experience uncertainty about their future roles. This uncertainty may adversely affect our ability to attract and retain key management, sales, marketing and technical personnel. Any failure to attract and retain key personnel, whether as a result of the Merger or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business. In addition, we currently do not maintain “key person” insurance covering any member of our management team.

We participate in very competitive markets and we may not be able to compete successfully, causing us to lose market share and sales.

The markets in which we participate are very competitive. In the consumer battery market, our primary competitors are Duracell (a brand of Procter & Gamble), Energizer and Panasonic (a brand of Matsushita). In the electric shaving and grooming and electric personal care product markets, our primary competitors are Braun (a brand of Procter & Gamble), Norelco (a brand of Philips), and Vidal Sassoon and Revlon (brands of Helen of Troy). In the pet supplies market, our primary competitors are Mars, Hartz and Central Garden & Pet. In the Home and Garden Business, our principal national competitors are Scotts, Central Garden & Pet and S.C. Johnson. Our principal national competitors within our Small Appliances segment include Jarden Corporation, DeLonghi America, Euro-Pro Operating LLC, Metro Thebe, Inc., d/b/a HWI Breville, NACCO Industries, Inc. (Hamilton Beach) and SEB S.A. In each of these markets, we also face competition from numerous other companies. In addition, in a number of our product lines, we compete with our retail customers, who use their own private label brands, and with distributors and foreign manufacturers of unbranded products. Significant new competitors or increased competition from existing competitors may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of our operations.

We compete with our competitors for consumer acceptance and limited shelf space based upon brand name recognition, perceived product quality, price, performance, product features and enhancements, product packaging and design innovation, as well as creative marketing, promotion and distribution strategies, and new product introductions. Our ability to compete in these consumer product markets may be adversely affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

   

We compete against many well-established companies that may have substantially greater financial and other resources, including personnel and research and development, and greater overall market share than us.

 

   

In some key product lines, our competitors may have lower production costs and higher profit margins than us, which may enable them to compete more aggressively in offering retail discounts, rebates and other promotional incentives.

 

   

Product improvements or effective advertising campaigns by competitors may weaken consumer demand for our products.

 

   

Consumer purchasing behavior may shift to distribution channels where we do not have a strong presence.

 

   

Consumer preferences may change to lower margin products or products other than those we market.

 

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We may not be successful in the introduction, marketing and manufacture of any new products or product innovations or be able to develop and introduce, in a timely manner, innovations to our existing products that satisfy customer needs or achieve market acceptance.

Some competitors may be willing to reduce prices and accept lower profit margins to compete with us. As a result of this competition, we could lose market share and sales, or be forced to reduce our prices to meet competition. If our product offerings are unable to compete successfully, our sales, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

We may not be able to realize expected benefits and synergies from future acquisitions of businesses or product lines.

We may acquire partial or full ownership in businesses or may acquire rights to market and distribute particular products or lines of products. The acquisition of a business or the rights to market specific products or use specific product names may involve a financial commitment by us, either in the form of cash or equity consideration. In the case of a new license, such commitments are usually in the form of prepaid royalties and future minimum royalty payments. There is no guarantee that we will acquire businesses or product distribution rights that will contribute positively to our earnings. Anticipated synergies may not materialize, cost savings may be less than expected, sales of products may not meet expectations, and acquired businesses may carry unexpected liabilities.

Sales of certain of our products are seasonal and may cause our operating results and working capital requirements to fluctuate.

On a consolidated basis our financial results are approximately equally weighted between quarters, however, sales of certain product categories tend to be seasonal. Sales in the consumer battery, electric shaving and grooming and electric personal care product categories, particularly in North America, tend to be concentrated in the December holiday season (Spectrum’s first fiscal quarter). Demand for pet supplies products remains fairly constant throughout the year. Demand for home and garden control products sold though the Home and Garden Business typically peaks during the first six months of the calendar year (Spectrum’s second and third fiscal quarters). Small Appliances peaks from July through December primarily due to the increased demand by customers in the late summer for “back-to-school” sales and in the fall for the holiday season. As a result of this seasonality, our inventory and working capital needs fluctuate significantly during the year. In addition, orders from retailers are often made late in the period preceding the applicable peak season, making forecasting of production schedules and inventory purchases difficult. If we are unable to accurately forecast and prepare for customer orders or our working capital needs, or there is a general downturn in business or economic conditions during these periods, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We are subject to significant international business risks that could hurt our business and cause our results of operations to fluctuate.

Approximately 44% of our net sales for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011 were from customers outside of the U.S. Our pursuit of international growth opportunities may require significant investments for an extended period before returns on these investments, if any, are realized. Our international operations are subject to risks including, among others:

 

   

currency fluctuations, including, without limitation, fluctuations in the foreign exchange rate of the Euro;

 

   

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

 

   

the risk that because our brand names may not be locally recognized, we must spend significant amounts of time and money to build brand recognition without certainty that we will be successful;

 

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labor unrest;

 

   

political and economic instability, as a result of terrorist attacks, natural disasters or otherwise;

 

   

lack of developed infrastructure;

 

   

longer payment cycles and greater difficulty in collecting accounts;

 

   

restrictions on transfers of funds;

 

   

import and export duties and quotas, as well as general transportation costs;

 

   

changes in domestic and international customs and tariffs;

 

   

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

 

   

inadequate protection of intellectual property in foreign countries;

 

   

unexpected changes in regulatory environments;

 

   

difficulty in complying with foreign law;

 

   

difficulty in obtaining distribution and support; and

 

   

adverse tax consequences.

The foregoing factors may have a material adverse effect on our ability to increase or maintain our supply of products, financial condition or results of operations.

Adverse weather conditions during our peak selling season for our home and garden control products could have a material adverse effect on our Home and Garden Business.

Weather conditions in the U.S. have a significant impact on the timing and volume of sales of certain of our lawn and garden and household insecticide and repellent products. Periods of dry, hot weather can decrease insecticide sales, while periods of cold and wet weather can slow sales of herbicides.

Our products utilize certain key raw materials; any increase in the price of, or change in supply and demand for, these raw materials could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and profits.

The principal raw materials used to produce our products—including zinc powder, electrolytic manganese dioxide powder, petroleum-based plastic materials, steel, aluminum, copper and corrugated materials (for packaging)—are sourced either on a global or regional basis by us or our suppliers, and the prices of those raw materials are susceptible to price fluctuations due to supply and demand trends, energy costs, transportation costs, government regulations, duties and tariffs, changes in currency exchange rates, price controls, general economic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances. In particular, during 2008 and 2010, and to date in 2011, we experienced extraordinary price increases for raw materials, particularly as a result of strong demand from China. Although we may increase the prices of certain of our goods to our customers, we may not be able to pass all of these cost increases on to our customers. As a result, our margins may be adversely impacted by such cost increases. We cannot provide any assurance that our sources of supply will not be interrupted due to changes in worldwide supply of or demand for raw materials or other events that interrupt material flow, which may have an adverse effect on our profitability and results of operations.

We regularly engage in forward purchase and hedging derivative transactions in an attempt to effectively manage and stabilize some of the raw material costs we expect to incur over the next 12 to 24 months; however, our hedging positions may not be effective, or may not anticipate beneficial trends, in a particular raw material market or may, as a result of changes in our business, no longer be useful for us. In addition, for certain of the principal raw materials we use to produce our products, such as electrolytic manganese dioxide powder, there are

 

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no available effective hedging markets. If these efforts are not effective or expose us to above average costs for an extended period of time, and we are unable to pass our raw materials costs on to our customers, our future profitability may be materially and adversely affected. Furthermore, with respect to transportation costs, certain modes of delivery are subject to fuel surcharges which are determined based upon the current cost of diesel fuel in relation to pre-established agreed upon costs. We may be unable to pass these fuel surcharges on to our customers, which may have an adverse effect on our profitability and results of operations.

In addition, we have exclusivity arrangements and minimum purchase requirements with certain of our suppliers for the Home and Garden Business, which increase our dependence upon and exposure to those suppliers. Some of those agreements include caps on the price we pay for our supplies and in certain instances, these caps have allowed us to purchase materials at below market prices. When we attempt to renew those contracts, the other parties to the contracts may not be willing to include or may limit the effect of those caps and could even attempt to impose above market prices in an effort to make up for any below market prices paid by us prior to the renewal of the agreement. Any failure to timely obtain suitable supplies at competitive prices could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may not be able to fully utilize our U.S. net operating loss carryforwards.

As of September 30, 2011, Spectrum Brands has U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1,163 million and $1,197 million, respectively. These net operating loss carryforwards expire through years ending in 2032. As of September 30, 2011, our management determined that it continues to be more likely than not that the U.S. net deferred tax asset, excluding certain indefinite-lived assets, will not be realized in the future and as such recorded a full valuation allowance to offset the net U.S. deferred tax asset, including Spectrum Brands’ net operating loss carryforwards. In addition, Spectrum Brands has had changes of ownership, as defined under Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), that continue to subject a significant amount of Spectrum Brands’ U.S. net operating losses and other tax attributes to certain limitations.

As a consequence of the Salton-Applica merger, as well as earlier business combinations and issuances of common stock consummated by both companies, use of the tax benefits of Russell Hobbs’ U.S. loss carryforwards is also subject to limitations imposed by Section 382 of the IRC. We expect that a significant portion of these carryforwards will not be available to offset future taxable income, if any. In addition, use of Russell Hobbs’ net operating loss and credit carryforwards is dependent upon both Russell Hobbs and us achieving profitable results in the future. The Russell Hobbs’ U.S. net operating loss carryforwards are subject to a full valuation allowance at September 30, 2010.

We estimate that approximately $302 million of the Spectrum and Russell Hobbs U.S. federal net operating losses and $385 million of the Spectrum and Russell Hobbs state net operating losses would expire unused even if the Company generates sufficient income to otherwise use all its net operating losses, due to the limitation in Section 382 of the IRC.

If we are unable to fully utilize our net operating losses, other than those restricted under Section 382 of the IRC, as discussed above, to offset taxable income generated in the future, our results of operations could be materially and negatively impacted.

Consolidation of retailers and our dependence on a small number of key customers for a significant percentage of our sales may negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

As a result of consolidation of retailers and consumer trends toward national mass merchandisers, a significant percentage of our sales are attributable to a very limited group of customers. Our largest customer accounted for approximately 24% of our consolidated net sales for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. As these mass merchandisers and retailers grow larger and become more sophisticated, they may demand lower pricing, special packaging, or impose other requirements on product suppliers. These business demands may

 

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relate to inventory practices, logistics, or other aspects of the customer-supplier relationship. Because of the importance of these key customers, demands for price reductions or promotions, reductions in their purchases, changes in their financial condition or loss of their accounts could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Although we have long-established relationships with many of our customers, we do not have long-term agreements with them and purchases are generally made through the use of individual purchase orders. Any significant reduction in purchases, failure to obtain anticipated orders or delays or cancellations of orders by any of these major customers, or significant pressure to reduce prices from any of these major customers, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Additionally, a significant deterioration in the financial condition of the retail industry in general could have a material adverse effect on our sales and profitability.

In addition, as a result of the desire of retailers to more closely manage inventory levels, there is a growing trend among them to purchase products on a “just-in-time” basis. Due to a number of factors, including (i) manufacturing lead-times, (ii) seasonal purchasing patterns and (iii) the potential for material price increases, we may be required to shorten our lead-time for production and more closely anticipate our retailers’ and customers’ demands, which could in the future require us to carry additional inventories and increase our working capital and related financing requirements. This may increase the cost of warehousing inventory or result in excess inventory becoming difficult to manage, unusable or obsolete. In addition, if our retailers significantly change their inventory management strategies, we may encounter difficulties in filling customer orders or in liquidating excess inventories, or may find that customers are cancelling orders or returning products, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.

Furthermore, we primarily sell branded products and a move by one or more of our large customers to sell significant quantities of private label products, which we do not produce on their behalf and which directly compete with our products, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

As a result of our international operations, we face a number of risks related to exchange rates and foreign currencies.

Our international sales and certain of our expenses are transacted in foreign currencies. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011, approximately 44% of our net sales and 45% of our operating expenses were denominated in foreign currencies. We expect that the amount of our revenues and expenses transacted in foreign currencies will increase as our Latin American, European and Asian operations grow and, as a result, our exposure to risks associated with foreign currencies could increase accordingly. Significant changes in the value of the U.S. dollar in relation to foreign currencies will affect our cost of goods sold and our operating margins and could result in exchange losses or otherwise have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Changes in currency exchange rates may also affect our sales to, purchases from and loans to our subsidiaries as well as sales to, purchases from and bank lines of credit with our customers, suppliers and creditors that are denominated in foreign currencies.

We source many products from China and other Asian countries. To the extent the Chinese Renminbi (“RMB”) or other currencies appreciate with respect to the U.S. dollar, we may experience fluctuations in our results of operations. Since 2005, the RMB has no longer been pegged to the U.S. dollar at a constant exchange rate and instead fluctuates versus a basket of currencies. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate within a flexible peg range against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future Chinese authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.

 

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While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure to currency fluctuations. Further, we may not be successful in implementing customer pricing or other actions in an effort to mitigate the impact of currency fluctuations and, thus, our results of operations may be adversely impacted.

A deterioration in trade relations with China could lead to a substantial increase in tariffs imposed on goods of Chinese origin, which potentially could reduce demand for and sales of our products.

We purchase a number of our products and supplies from suppliers located in China. China gained Permanent Normal Trade Relations (“PNTR”) with the U.S. when it acceded to the World Trade Organization (“WTO”), effective January 2002. The U.S. imposes the lowest applicable tariffs on exports from PNTR countries to the U.S. In order to maintain its WTO membership, China has agreed to several requirements, including the elimination of caps on foreign ownership of Chinese companies, lowering tariffs and publicizing its laws. China may not meet these requirements and, as a result, it may not remain a member of the WTO, and its PNTR trading status may not be maintained. If China’s WTO membership is withdrawn or if PNTR status for goods produced in China were removed, there could be a substantial increase in tariffs imposed on goods of Chinese origin entering the U.S. which could have a material negative adverse effect on our sales and gross margin. Furthermore, on October 11, 2011, the U.S. Senate approved a bill to impose sanctions against China for its currency valuation, although the future status of this bill is uncertain. If this bill is enacted into law, the U.S. government may impose duties on products from China and other countries found to be subsidizing their exports by undervaluing their currencies, which may increase the costs of goods produced in China, or prompt China to retaliate with other tariffs or other actions. Any such series of events could have a material negative adverse effect on our sales and gross margin.

Our international operations may expose us to risks related to compliance with the laws and regulations of foreign countries.

We are subject to three EU Directives that may have a material impact on our business: Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries, discussed below. Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment requires us to eliminate specified hazardous materials from products we sell in EU member states. Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment requires us to collect and treat, dispose of or recycle certain products we manufacture or import into the EU at our own expense. The EU Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries bans heavy metals in batteries by establishing maximum quantities of heavy metals in batteries and mandates waste management of these batteries, including collection, recycling and disposal systems, with the costs imposed upon producers and importers such as us. The costs associated with maintaining compliance or failing to comply with the EU Directives may harm our business. For example:

 

   

Although contracts with our suppliers address related compliance issues, we may be unable to procure appropriate Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment compliant material in sufficient quantity and quality and/or be able to incorporate it into our product procurement processes without compromising quality and/or harming our cost structure.

 

   

We may face excess and obsolete inventory risk related to non-compliant inventory that we may continue to hold in fiscal 2011 for which there is reduced demand, and we may need to write down the carrying value of such inventories.

 

   

We may be unable to sell certain existing inventories of our batteries in Europe.

Many of the developing countries in which we operate do not have significant governmental regulation relating to environmental safety, occupational safety, employment practices or other business matters routinely regulated in the U.S. or may not rigorously enforce such regulation. As these countries and their economies develop, it is possible that new regulations or increased enforcement of existing regulations may increase the expense of doing

 

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business in these countries. In addition, social legislation in many countries in which we operate may result in significantly higher expenses associated with labor costs, terminating employees or distributors and closing manufacturing facilities. Increases in our costs as a result of increased regulation, legislation or enforcement could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We may not be able to adequately establish and protect our intellectual property rights, and the infringement or loss of our intellectual property rights could harm our business.

To establish and protect our intellectual property rights, we rely upon a combination of national, foreign and multi-national patent, trademark and trade secret laws, together with licenses, confidentiality agreements and other contractual arrangements. The measures that we take to protect our intellectual property rights may prove inadequate to prevent third parties from infringing or misappropriating our intellectual property. We may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend our intellectual property rights. If a competitor or collaborator files a patent application claiming technology also claimed by us, or a trademark application claiming a trademark, service mark or trade dress also used by us, in order to protect our rights, we may have to participate in expensive and time consuming opposition or interference proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office or a similar foreign agency. Similarly, our intellectual property rights may be challenged by third parties or invalidated through administrative process or litigation. The costs associated with protecting intellectual property rights, including litigation costs, may be material. For example, our Small Appliances segment has spent several million dollars on protecting its patented automatic litter box business over the last few years. Furthermore, even if our intellectual property rights are not directly challenged, disputes among third parties could lead to the weakening or invalidation of our intellectual property rights, or our competitors may independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our technology. Obtaining, protecting and defending intellectual property rights can be time consuming and expensive, and may require us to incur substantial costs, including the diversion of the time and resources of management and technical personnel.

Moreover, the laws of certain foreign countries in which we operate or may operate in the future do not protect, and the governments of certain foreign countries do not enforce, intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws and government of the U.S., which may negate our competitive or technological advantages in such markets. Also, some of the technology underlying our products is the subject of nonexclusive licenses from third parties. As a result, this technology could be made available to our competitors at any time. If we are unable to establish and then adequately protect our intellectual property rights, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

We license various trademarks, trade names and patents from third parties for certain of our products. These licenses generally place marketing obligations on us and require us to pay fees and royalties based on net sales or profits. Typically, these licenses may be terminated if we fail to satisfy certain minimum sales obligations or if we breach the terms of the license. The termination of these licensing arrangements could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

In our Global Batteries & Appliances segment, we license the use of the Black & Decker brand for marketing in certain small household appliances in North America, South America (excluding Brazil) and the Caribbean. Sales of Black & Decker branded products represented approximately 14% of the total consolidated revenue in Fiscal 2011. In July 2011, BDC extended the license agreement through December 2015. The failure to renew the license agreement with BDC or to enter into a new agreement on acceptable terms could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, liquidity and results of operations.

Claims by third parties that we are infringing their intellectual property and other litigation could adversely affect our business.

From time to time in the past we have been subject to claims that we are infringing the intellectual property of others. We currently are the subject of such claims and it is possible that third parties will assert infringement claims against us in the future. An adverse finding against us in these or similar trademark or other intellectual

 

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property litigations may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Any such claims, with or without merit, could be time consuming and expensive, and may require us to incur substantial costs, including the diversion of the resources of management and technical personnel, cause product delays or require us to enter into licensing or other agreements in order to secure continued access to necessary or desirable intellectual property. If we are deemed to be infringing a third party’s intellectual property and are unable to continue using that intellectual property as we had been, our business and results of operations could be harmed if we are unable to successfully develop non-infringing alternative intellectual property on a timely basis or license non-infringing alternatives or substitutes, if any exist, on commercially reasonable terms. In addition, an unfavorable ruling in intellectual property litigation could subject us to significant liability, as well as require us to cease developing, manufacturing or selling the affected products or using the affected processes or trademarks. Any significant restriction on our proprietary or licensed intellectual property that impedes our ability to develop and commercialize our products could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our dependence on a few suppliers and one of our U.S. facilities for certain of our products makes us vulnerable to a disruption in the supply of our products.

Although we have long-standing relationships with many of our suppliers, we generally do not have long-term contracts with them. An adverse change in any of the following could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations:

 

   

our ability to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers;

 

   

the terms and conditions upon which we purchase products from our suppliers, including applicable exchange rates, transport costs and other costs, our suppliers’ willingness to extend credit to us to finance our inventory purchases and other factors beyond our control;

 

   

the financial condition of our suppliers;

 

   

political instability in the countries in which our suppliers are located;

 

   

our ability to import outsourced products;

 

   

our suppliers’ noncompliance with applicable laws, trade restrictions and tariffs; or

 

   

our suppliers’ ability to manufacture and deliver outsourced products according to our standards of quality on a timely and efficient basis.

If our relationship with one of our key suppliers is adversely affected, we may not be able to quickly or effectively replace such supplier and may not be able to retrieve tooling, molds or other specialized production equipment or processes used by such supplier in the manufacture of our products.

In addition, we manufacture the majority of our foil cutting systems for our shaving product lines, using specially designed machines and proprietary cutting technology, at our Portage, Wisconsin facility. Damage to this facility, or prolonged interruption in the operations of this facility for repairs, as a result of labor difficulties or for other reasons, could have a material adverse effect on our ability to manufacture and sell our foil shaving products which could in turn harm our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We face risks related to our sales of products obtained from third-party suppliers.

We sell a significant number of products that are manufactured by third party suppliers over which we have no direct control. While we have implemented processes and procedures to try to ensure that the suppliers we use are complying with all applicable regulations, there can be no assurances that such suppliers in all instances will comply with such processes and procedures or otherwise with applicable regulations. Noncompliance could result in our marketing and distribution of contaminated, defective or dangerous products which could subject us

 

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to liabilities and could result in the imposition by governmental authorities of procedures or penalties that could restrict or eliminate our ability to purchase products from non-compliant suppliers. Any or all of these effects could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Class action and derivative action lawsuits and other investigations, regardless of their merits, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We and certain of our officers and directors have been named in the past, and may be named in the future, as defendants of class action and derivative action lawsuits. In the past, we have also received requests for information from government authorities. Regardless of their subject matter or merits, class action lawsuits and other government investigations may result in significant cost to us, which may not be covered by insurance, may divert the attention of management or may otherwise have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We may be exposed to significant product liability claims which our insurance may not cover and which could harm our reputation.

In the ordinary course of our business, we may be named as a defendant in lawsuits involving product liability claims. In any such proceeding, plaintiffs may seek to recover large and sometimes unspecified amounts of damages and the matters may remain unresolved for several years. Any such matters could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition if we are unable to successfully defend against or settle these matters or if our insurance coverage is insufficient to satisfy any judgments against us or settlements relating to these matters. Although we have product liability insurance coverage and an excess umbrella policy, our insurance policies may not provide coverage for certain, or any, claims against us or may not be sufficient to cover all possible liabilities. Additionally, we do not maintain product recall insurance. We may not be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future. Moreover, any adverse publicity arising from claims made against us, even if the claims were not successful, could adversely affect the reputation and sales of our products. In particular, product recalls or product liability claims challenging the safety of our products may result in a decline in sales for a particular product. This could be true even if the claims themselves are ultimately settled for immaterial amounts. This type of adverse publicity could occur and product liability claims could be made in the future.

We may incur material capital and other costs due to environmental liabilities.

We are subject to a broad range of federal, state, local, foreign and multi-national laws and regulations relating to the environment. These include laws and regulations that govern:

 

   

discharges to the air, water and land;

 

   

the handling and disposal of solid and hazardous substances and wastes; and

 

   

remediation of contamination associated with release of hazardous substances at our facilities and at off-site disposal locations.

Risk of environmental liability is inherent in our business. As a result, material environmental costs may arise in the future. In particular, we may incur capital and other costs to comply with increasingly stringent environmental laws and enforcement policies, such as the EU Directives: Restriction of the Use of Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment, Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment and the Directive on Batteries and Accumulators and Waste Batteries, discussed above. Moreover, there are proposed international accords and treaties, as well as federal, state and local laws and regulations, that would attempt to control or limit the causes of climate change, including the effect of greenhouse gas emissions on the environment. In the event that the U.S. government or foreign governments enact new climate change laws or regulations or make changes to existing laws or regulations, compliance with applicable laws or regulations may

 

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result in increased manufacturing costs for our products, such as by requiring investment in new pollution control equipment or changing the ways in which certain of our products are made. We may incur some of these costs directly and others may be passed on to us from our third-party suppliers. Although we believe that we are substantially in compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations at our facilities, we may not always be in compliance with such laws and regulations or any new laws and regulations in the future, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

From time to time, we have been required to address the effect of historic activities on the environmental condition of our properties or former properties. We have not conducted invasive testing at all of our facilities to identify all potential environmental liability risks. Given the age of our facilities and the nature of our operations, material liabilities may arise in the future in connection with our current or former facilities. If previously unknown contamination of property underlying or in the vicinity of our manufacturing facilities is discovered, we could be required to incur material unforeseen expenses. If this occurs, it may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. We are currently engaged in investigative or remedial projects at a few of our facilities and any liabilities arising from such investigative or remedial projects at such facilities may have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are also subject to proceedings related to our disposal of industrial and hazardous material at off-site disposal locations or similar disposals made by other parties for which we are responsible as a result of our relationship with such other parties. These proceedings are under CERCLA or similar state or foreign jurisdiction laws that hold persons who “arranged for” the disposal or treatment of such substances strictly liable for costs incurred in responding to the release or threatened release of hazardous substances from such sites, regardless of fault or the lawfulness of the original disposal. Liability under CERCLA is typically joint and several, meaning that a liable party may be responsible for all of the costs incurred in investigating and remediating contamination at a site. We occasionally are identified by federal or state governmental agencies as being a potentially responsible party for response actions contemplated at an off-site facility. At the existing sites where we have been notified of our status as a potentially responsible party, it is either premature to determine if our potential liability, if any, will be material or we do not believe that our liability, if any, will be material. We may be named as a potentially responsible party under CERCLA or similar state or foreign jurisdiction laws in the future for other sites not currently known to us, and the costs and liabilities associated with these sites may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Compliance with various public health, consumer protection and other regulations applicable to our products and facilities could increase our cost of doing business and expose us to additional requirements with which we may be unable to comply.

Certain of our products sold through, and facilities operated under, each of our business segments are regulated by the EPA, the FDA or other federal consumer protection and product safety agencies and are subject to the regulations such agencies enforce, as well as by similar state, foreign and multinational agencies and regulations. For example, in the U.S., all products containing pesticides must be registered with the EPA and, in many cases, similar state and foreign agencies before they can be manufactured or sold. Our inability to obtain, or the cancellation of, any registration could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The severity of the effect would depend on which products were involved, whether another product could be substituted and whether our competitors were similarly affected. We attempt to anticipate regulatory developments and maintain registrations of, and access to, substitute chemicals and other ingredients, but we may not always be able to avoid or minimize these risks.

As a distributor of consumer products in the U.S., certain of our products are also subject to the Consumer Product Safety Act, which empowers the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (the “Consumer Commission”) to exclude from the market products that are found to be unsafe or hazardous. Under certain circumstances, the Consumer Commission could require us to repair, replace or refund the purchase price of one or more of our products, or we may voluntarily do so. For example, Russell Hobbs, in cooperation with the Consumer Commission, voluntarily recalled approximately 9,800 units of a thermal coffeemaker sold under the

 

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Black & Decker brand in August 2009 and approximately 584,000 coffeemakers in June 2009. Any additional repurchases or recalls of our products could be costly to us and could damage the reputation or the value of our brands. If we are required to remove, or we voluntarily remove our products from the market, our reputation or brands could be tarnished and we may have large quantities of finished products that could not be sold. Furthermore, failure to timely notify the Consumer Commission of a potential safety hazard can result in significant fines being assessed against us. Additionally, laws regulating certain consumer products exist in some states, as well as in other countries in which we sell our products, and more restrictive laws and regulations may be adopted in the future.

The FQPA established a standard for food-use pesticides, which is that a reasonable certainty of no harm will result from the cumulative effect of pesticide exposures. Under the FQPA, the EPA is evaluating the cumulative effects from dietary and non-dietary exposures to pesticides. The pesticides in certain of our products that are sold through the Home and Garden Business continue to be evaluated by the EPA as part of this program. It is possible that the EPA or a third party active ingredient registrant may decide that a pesticide we use in our products will be limited or made unavailable to us. We cannot predict the outcome or the severity of the effect of the EPA’s continuing evaluations of active ingredients used in our products.

In addition, the use of certain pesticide products that are sold through our Home and Garden Business may, among other things, be regulated by various local, state, federal and foreign environmental and public health agencies. These regulations may require that only certified or professional users apply the product, that users post notices on properties where products have been or will be applied or that certain ingredients may not be used. Compliance with such public health regulations could increase our cost of doing business and expose us to additional requirements with which we may be unable to comply.

Any failure to comply with these laws or regulations, or the terms of applicable environmental permits, could result in us incurring substantial costs, including fines, penalties and other civil and criminal sanctions or the prohibition of sales of our pest control products. Environmental law requirements, and the enforcement thereof, change frequently, have tended to become more stringent over time and could require us to incur significant expenses.

Most federal, state and local authorities require certification by Underwriters Laboratory, Inc. (“UL”), an independent, not-for-profit corporation engaged in the testing of products for compliance with certain public safety standards, or other safety regulation certification prior to marketing electrical appliances. Foreign jurisdictions also have regulatory authorities overseeing the safety of consumer products. Our products may not meet the specifications required by these authorities. A determination that any of our products are not in compliance with these rules and regulations could result in the imposition of fines or an award of damages to private litigants.

Public perceptions that some of the products we produce and market are not safe could adversely affect us.

On occasion, customers and some current or former employees have alleged that some products failed to perform up to expectations or have caused damage or injury to individuals or property. Public perception that any of our products are not safe, whether justified or not, could impair our reputation, damage our brand names and have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

If we are unable to negotiate satisfactory terms to continue existing or enter into additional collective bargaining agreements, we may experience an increased risk of labor disruptions and our results of operations and financial condition may suffer.

Approximately 31% of our total labor force is covered by collective bargaining agreements. There are five collective bargaining agreements that will expire during our fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, which cover approximately 78% of the labor force under collective bargaining agreements, or approximately 24% of our total

 

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labor force. While we currently expect to negotiate continuations to the terms of these agreements, there can be no assurances that we will be able to obtain terms that are satisfactory to us or otherwise to reach agreement at all with the applicable parties. In addition, in the course of our business, we may also become subject to additional collective bargaining agreements. These agreements may be on terms that are less favorable than those under our current collective bargaining agreements. Increased exposure to collective bargaining agreements, whether on terms more or less favorable than our existing collective bargaining agreements, could adversely affect the operation of our business, including through increased labor expenses. While we intend to comply with all collective bargaining agreements to which we are subject, there can be no assurances that we will be able to do so and any noncompliance could subject us to disruptions in our operations and materially and adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition.

Significant changes in actual investment return on pension assets, discount rates and other factors could affect our results of operations, equity and pension contributions in future periods.

Our results of operations may be positively or negatively affected by the amount of income or expense we record for our defined benefit pension plans. U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) requires that we calculate income or expense for the plans using actuarial valuations. These valuations reflect assumptions about financial market and other economic conditions, which may change based on changes in key economic indicators. The most significant year-end assumptions we used to estimate pension income or expense are the discount rate and the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In addition, we are required to make an annual measurement of plan assets and liabilities, which may result in a significant change to equity. Although pension expense and pension funding contributions are not directly related, key economic factors that affect pension expense would also likely affect the amount of cash we would contribute to pension plans as required under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

If our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets or other long-term assets become impaired, we will be required to record additional impairment charges, which may be significant.

A significant portion of our long-term assets consist of goodwill, other indefinite-lived intangible assets and finite-lived intangible assets recorded as a result of past acquisitions as well as through fresh start reporting. We do not amortize goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, but rather review them for impairment on a periodic basis or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable. We consider whether circumstances or conditions exist which suggest that the carrying value of our goodwill and other long-lived intangible assets might be impaired. If such circumstances or conditions exist, further steps are required in order to determine whether the carrying value of each of the individual assets exceeds its fair value. If analysis indicates that an individual asset’s carrying value does exceed its fair value, the next step is to record a loss equal to the excess of the individual asset’s carrying value over its fair value.

The steps required by GAAP entail significant amounts of judgment and subjectivity. Events and changes in circumstances that may indicate that there may be an impairment and which may indicate that interim impairment testing is necessary include, but are not limited to: strategic decisions to exit a business or dispose of an asset made in response to changes in economic, political and competitive conditions; the impact of the economic environment on the customer base and on broad market conditions that drive valuation considerations by market participants; our internal expectations with regard to future revenue growth and the assumptions we make when performing impairment reviews; a significant decrease in the market price of our assets; a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which our assets are used; a significant adverse change in legal factors or the business climate that could affect our assets; an accumulation of costs significantly in excess of the amount originally expected for the acquisition of an asset; and significant changes in the cash flows associated with an asset. As a result of such circumstances, we may be required to record a significant charge to earnings in our financial statements during the period in which any impairment of our goodwill, indefinite-lived intangible assets or other long-term assets is determined. Any such impairment charges could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

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Risks Related to SB Holdings’ Common Stock

The Harbinger Parties and, following the Share Exchange, HRG, exercise significant influence over us and their interests in our business may be different from the interests of our stockholders.

On January 7, 2011, Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd., Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. and Global Opportunities Breakaway Ltd. (together the “Harbinger Parties”) contributed 27,757 shares of SB Holdings common stock to Harbinger Group Inc. (“HRG”) and received in exchange for such shares an aggregate of 119,910 shares of HRG common stock (such transaction, the “Share Exchange”), pursuant to a Contribution and Exchange Agreement (the “Exchange Agreement”). Immediately following the Share Exchange, (i) HRG owned approximately 54.4% of the outstanding shares of SB Holding’s common stock and the Harbinger Parties owned approximately 12.7% of the outstanding shares of SB Holdings common stock, and (ii) the Harbinger Parties owned 129,860 shares of HRG common stock, or approximately 93.3% of the outstanding HRG common stock.

The Harbinger Parties and HRG, both separately and together, will have the ability to influence the outcome of any corporate action by us, that requires stockholder approval, including, but not limited to, the election of directors, approval of merger transactions and the sale of all or substantially all of our assets. In addition, we are a party to a stockholder agreement with HRG and the Harbinger Parties.

This influence and actual control may have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire SB Holdings because any such consummation would likely require the consent of HRG and perhaps HRG and the Harbinger Parties. HRG and the Harbinger Parties may also delay or prevent a change in control of SB Holdings. See “Risks Related to our Business—The sale or other disposition by Harbinger Group Inc., the holder of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock, to non-affiliates of a sufficient amount of the common stock of SB Holdings would constitute a change of control under the agreements governing Spectrum Brands’ debt.”

In addition, because, as of the date HRG and the Harbinger Parties own more than 50% of the voting power of SB Holdings, SB Holdings is considered a controlled company under the NYSE listing standards. As such, the NYSE corporate governance rules requiring that a majority of SB Holdings’ board of directors and SB Holdings’ entire compensation committee be independent do not apply. As a result, the ability of SB Holdings’ independent directors to influence its business policies and affairs may be reduced.

If HRG and/or the Harbinger Parties sell substantial amounts of SB Holdings’ common stock in the public market, or investors perceive that these sales could occur, the market price of SB Holdings’ common stock could be adversely affected. SB Holdings has entered into a registration rights agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”) with HRG, the Harbinger Parties and certain other stockholders. If requested properly under the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, these stockholders have the right to require SB Holdings to register all or some of such shares for sale under the Securities Act in certain circumstances, and also have the right to include those shares in a registration initiated by SB Holdings. If SB Holdings is required to include the shares of its common stock held by these stockholders pursuant to these registration rights in a registration initiated by SB Holdings, sales made by such stockholders may adversely affect the price of SB Holdings’ common stock and SB Holdings’ ability to raise needed capital. In addition, if these stockholders exercise their demand registration rights and cause a large number of shares to be registered and sold in the public market or demand that SB Holdings register their shares on a shelf registration statement, such sales or shelf registration may have an adverse effect on the market price of SB Holdings’ common stock.

The interests of HRG and the Harbinger Parties, which have investments in other companies, may from time to time diverge from the interests of other SB Holdings stockholders and from each other, particularly with regard to new investment opportunities. Neither HRG nor the Harbinger Parties are restricted from investing in other businesses involving or related to the marketing or distribution of household products, pet and pest products and personal care products. Both HRG and the Harbinger Parties may also engage in other businesses that compete or may in the future compete with SB Holdings.

 

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Even though SB Holdings’ common stock is currently traded on the NYSE, it has less liquidity than many other stocks quoted on a national securities exchange.

The trading volume in SB Holdings’ common stock on the NYSE has been relatively low when compared with larger companies listed on the NYSE or other stock exchanges. Because of this, it may be more difficult for stockholders to sell a substantial number of shares for the same price at which stockholders could sell a smaller number of shares. We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future sales of SB Holdings’ common stock in the market, or the availability of shares of its common stock for sale in the market, will have on the market price of SB Holdings’ common stock. We can give no assurance that sales of substantial amounts of SB Holdings’ common stock in the market, or the potential for large amounts of sales in the market, would not cause the price of SB Holdings’ common stock to decline or impair SB Holdings’ future ability to raise capital through sales of its common stock. Furthermore, because of the limited market and generally low volume of trading in SB Holdings’ common stock that could occur, the share price of its common stock could be more likely to be affected by broad market fluctuations, general market conditions, fluctuations in our operating results, changes in the market’s perception of our business, and announcements made by SB Holdings, its competitors or parties with whom SB Holdings has business relationships. The lack of liquidity in SB Holdings’ common stock may also make it difficult for us to issue additional securities for financing or other purposes, or to otherwise arrange for any financing we may need in the future. In addition, we may experience other adverse effects, including, without limitation, the loss of confidence in us by current and prospective suppliers, customers, employees and others with whom we have or may seek to initiate business relationships.

The market price of SB Holdings’ common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could fluctuate widely in price in response to various factors, many of which are beyond our control.

Factors that may influence the price of the common stock include, without limitation, the following:

 

   

loss of any of our key customers or suppliers;

 

   

additions or departures of key personnel;

 

   

sales of the common stock;

 

   

our ability to execute our business plan;

 

   

operating results that fall below expectations;

 

   

additional issuances of the common stock;

 

   

low volume of sales due to concentrated ownership of the common stock;

 

   

intellectual property disputes;

 

   

industry developments;

 

   

economic and other external factors;

 

   

period-to-period fluctuations in our financial results; and

 

   

market concerns with respect to the potential indirect impact of matters not directly involving SB Holdings but impacting HRG or the Harbinger Parties.

In addition, the securities markets have from time to time experienced significant price and volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may also materially and adversely affect the market price of the common stock. You should also be aware that price volatility might be worse if the trading volume of shares of the common stock is low.

Additional issuances of SB Holdings’ common stock may result in dilution to its existing stockholders.

As of September 30, 2010, we had two active equity incentive plans under which shares of the Company could be issued, the 2009 Spectrum Brands Inc. Incentive Plan (the “2009 Plan”) and the Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. 2007 Omnibus Equity Award Plan (the “RH Plan”). On October 21, 2010, the Company’s Board

 

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of Directors adopted the Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. 2011 Omnibus Equity Award Plan (“2011 Plan”), which was approved at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders on March 1, 2011. As a result of shareholder approval of the 2011 Plan, no further awards will be granted under the 2009 Plan and the 2007 RH Plan. Up to 4,625,676 shares of common stock of the Company, net of cancellations, may be issued under the 2011 Plan. As of December 5, 2011, we have issued 667,933 restricted shares and 2,701,198 restricted stock units under the 2009 Plan, the RH Plan and the 2011 Plan and are authorized to issue up to a total of 3,202,590 shares of our common stock, or options or restricted stock units exercisable for shares of common stock.

In addition, our board of directors has the authority to issue additional shares of capital stock to provide additional financing or for other purposes in the future. The issuance of any such shares or exercise of any such options may result in a reduction of the book value or market price of the outstanding shares of common stock. If we do issue any such additional shares or any such options are exercised, such issuance or exercise also will cause a reduction in the proportionate ownership and voting power of all other stockholders. As a result of such dilution, the proportionate ownership interest and voting power of a holder of shares of common stock could be decreased. Further, any such issuance or exercise could result in a change of control. Under our certificate of incorporation, holders of 5% or more of the outstanding common stock or capital stock into which any shares of common stock may be converted have certain rights to purchase their pro rata share of certain future issuances of securities.

Spectrum Brands has historically not paid dividends on its public common stock and we do not anticipate paying dividends on our public common stock in the foreseeable future and, therefore, any return on investment may be limited to the value of the common stock.

Spectrum Brands, prior to the Merger had not declared or paid dividends on its common stock since the stock commenced public trading in 1997, we have not declared or paid dividends on our common stock since the stock commenced public trading in 2010, and while we continue to evaluate the potential payment of dividends, we do not currently anticipate paying dividends in the foreseeable future. The payment of dividends on outstanding common stock will depend on earnings, financial condition and other business and economic factors affecting us at such time as our board of directors may consider relevant, including the ability to do so under our credit and other debt agreements. If we do not pay dividends, returns on an investment in our common stock will only occur if the stock price appreciates.

 

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

 

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The following table lists our principal owned or leased manufacturing, packaging, and distribution facilities at September 30, 2011:

 

Facility

  

Function

Global Batteries & Appliances

  

Fennimore, Wisconsin(1)

   Alkaline Battery Manufacturing

Portage, Wisconsin(1)

   Zinc Air Button Cell and Lithium Coin Cell Battery, Foil Shaver Component Manufacturing

Dischingen, Germany(1)

   Alkaline Battery Manufacturing

Washington, UK(2)

   Zinc Air Button Cell Battery Manufacturing & Distribution

Guatemala City, Guatemala(1)

   Zinc Carbon Battery Manufacturing

Jaboatao, Brazil(1)

   Zinc Carbon Battery Manufacturing

Manizales, Colombia(3)

   Zinc Carbon Battery Manufacturing

Dixon, Illinois(2)

   Battery & Lighting Device Packaging & Distribution

Ellwangen-Neunheim, Germany(2)

   Battery & Lighting Device, Electric Shaver & Personal Care Product Distribution

Redlands, California(2)

   Warehouse, Electric Shaver & Personal Care Product Distribution

Manchester, England(1)

   Warehouse and Sales and administrative office

Wolverhampton, England(1)

   Warehouse

Wolverhampton, England(2)

   Warehouse

Global Pet Supplies

  

Noblesville, Indiana(1)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing & Distribution

Moorpark, California(2)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing

Bridgeton, Missouri(2)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing

Blacksburg, Virginia(1)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing & Distribution

Melle, Germany(1)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing

Melle, Germany(2)

   Pet Supply Distribution

Edwardsville, Illinois(2)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing & Distribution

Grand Rapids, Michigan(2)

   Pet Supply Manufacturing & Distribution

Roanoke, Virginia(2)

   Pet Supply Distribution

Home and Garden Business

  

Vinita Park, Missouri(2)

   Household & Controls and Contract Manufacturing

Earth City, Missouri(2)

   Household & Controls Manufacturing

 

(1) Facility is owned.
(2) Facility is leased.
(3) Facility was shut down in November 2011.

We also own, operate or contract with third parties to operate distribution centers, sales offices and administrative offices throughout the world in support of our business. We lease our administrative headquarters and primary research and development facility located in Madison, Wisconsin.

We believe that our existing facilities are suitable and adequate for our present purposes and that the productive capacity in such facilities is substantially being utilized or we have plans to utilize it.

 

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Litigation

We are a defendant in various other matters of litigation generally arising out of the ordinary course of business.

We do not believe that any other matters or proceedings presently pending will have a material adverse effect on its results of operations, financial condition, liquidity or cash flows.

Environmental

We have provided for the estimated costs associated with environmental remediation activities at some of our current and former manufacturing sites. We believe that any additional liability in excess of the amounts provided of approximately $7 million, which may result from resolution of these matters, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

We are subject to various federal, state and local environmental laws and regulations. We believe we are in substantial compliance with all such environmental laws that are applicable to our operations. See also the discussion captioned “Governmental Regulations and Environmental Matters” under Item 1 above.

 

ITEM 4. (REMOVED AND RESERVED)

 

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PART II

 

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

SB Holdings is a global consumer products company and was created in connection with the combination of Spectrum Brands and Russell Hobbs to form a new combined company, on June 16, 2010. SB Holdings’ common stock (the “SBH Common Stock”) is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “SPB.” Prior to June 16, 2010, Spectrum Brands’ common stock was traded on the NYSE under the symbol “SPB.” The SBH Common Stock has a par value of $0.01 per share.

The common stock of reorganized Spectrum Brands (the “New Common Stock”) began quotation on the OTC Bulletin Board and the Pink Sheet Electronic Quotation Service under the symbol “SPEB” on September 2, 2009. The New Common Stock began trading on the NYSE under the new ticker symbol “SPB” on March 18, 2010. In connection with the consummation of the Merger, the New Common Stock was delisted from the NYSE and the SBH Common Stock succeeded to its listing status under the symbol “SPB.”

As of December 5, 2011, there were approximately 4 holders of record based upon data provided by the transfer agent for the SBH Common Stock. We believe the number of beneficial holders of our New Common Stock is significantly in excess of this amount. The transfer agent for the SBH Common Stock is Mellon Investor Services LLC.

The following table sets forth the reported high and low bid prices per share of (i) for the period from October 1, 2009 through March 17, 2010, the New Common Stock as reported on the Pink Sheet Electronic Quotation Service; (ii) for the period from March 18, 2010 through June 15, 2010, the New Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transaction Tape; and (iii) for the period from June 16, 2010 and thereafter, the SBH Common Stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Transaction Tape, for the fiscal period indicated:

 

     High      Low  

Fiscal 2011

     

Quarter ended September 30, 2011

   $ 32.25       $ 20.11   

Quarter ended July 3, 2011

   $ 36.38       $ 27.51   

Quarter ended April 3, 2011

   $ 36.61       $ 25.51   

Quarter ended January 2, 2011

   $ 32.79       $ 25.86   

Fiscal 2010

     

Quarter ended September 30, 2010

   $ 29.88       $ 22.86   

Quarter ended July 4, 2010

   $ 30.95       $ 23.70   

Quarter ended April 4, 2010

   $ 33.00       $ 22.00   

Quarter ended January 3, 2010

   $ 23.50       $ 21.05   

The OTC bid prices represent prices between dealers and do not include retail markup, markdown or commission.

The historical prices of Spectrum Brands common stock prior to the New Common Stock (the “Old Common Stock”) or the New Common Stock may not be indicative of the anticipated or prospective value or future trading price of or trading market for the SBH Common Stock.

Spectrum Brands did not declare or pay any cash dividends on its Old Common Stock or its New Common Stock at any time since it commenced public trading in 1997 through its delisting in connection with the Merger on June 16, 2010, and it did not declare or pay cash dividends on the SB Holdings Common Stock at any time since it commenced public trading on June 16, 2010. While SB Holdings continues to evaluate the potential payment of dividends, it does not currently anticipate paying cash dividends on the SB Holdings Common Stock

 

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in the foreseeable future, but currently intends to retain any future earnings for reinvestment in its business or use such future earnings to pay down its outstanding indebtedness. In addition, the terms of SB Holdings Senior Secured Facilities and the 2019 Indenture restrict its ability to pay dividends to stockholders. Any future determination to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of the SB Holdings board of directors and will be dependent upon its financial condition, results of operations, capital requirements, contractual restrictions and such other factors the board of directors deems relevant.

Information regarding our equity compensation plans is set forth in Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters-Equity Compensation Plan Information.

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

We did not repurchase any of our own securities during the last quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2011. On October 18, 2011 the Board of Directors approved a new $30 million common stock repurchase program. As of December 5, 2011, we have purchased 175,100 shares of our common stock pursuant to this plan.

 

Period

  Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
    Average
Price Paid
Per Share
    Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
    Maximum Number
of Shares that may
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs
 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2011

       

July 4, 2011—July 31, 2011

    —          —          —          —     

August 1, 2011—August 28, 2011

    —          —          —          —     

August 29, 2011—September 30, 2011

    —          —          —          —     
 

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total

    —          —          —          —     

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following selected historical financial data is derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. Only our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 and our Consolidated Statements of Operations, Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive Income (Loss) and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009 are included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The information presented below as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2011 and 2010 also includes that of Russell Hobbs since the Merger on June 16, 2010.

On November 5, 2008, Spectrum Brands’ board of directors committed to the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business, which includes the manufacturing and marketing of fertilizers, enriched soils, mulch and grass seed, following an evaluation of the historical lack of profitability and the projected input costs and significant working capital demands for the growing product portion of the Home and Garden Business during Fiscal 2009. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2009, we completed the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business and, accordingly, began reporting the results of operations of this business as discontinued operations. Therefore, the presentation of all historical continuing operations has been changed to exclude the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business. The following selected financial data, which may not be indicative of future performance, should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and the information contained in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included elsewhere herein.

 

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    Successor
Company
    Predecessor
Company
 
    2011     2010     Period from
August 31, 2009
through
September 30,
2009
    Period from
October 1, 2008
through
August 30,
2009
    2008     2007  

Statement of Operations Data:

           

Net sales

  $ 3,186.9      $ 2,567.0      $ 219.9      $ 2,010.6      $ 2,426.6      $ 2,332.7   

Gross profit

    1,128.9        921.4        64.4        751.8        920.1        876.7   

Operating income (loss)(1)

    227.9        168.7        0.1        156.8        (684.6     (251.8

Interest expense(12)

  $ 208.3      $ 277.0      $ 17.0      $ 172.9      $ 229.0      $ 255.8   

Other expense (income), net

    2.5        12.3        (0.8     3.3        1.2        (0.3

Reorganization items expense (income), net

    —          4        4        (1,143     —          —     

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

    17.1        (124.2     (20.0     1,123.4        (914.8     (507.2

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax(2)

    —          (2.7     0.4        (86.8     (26.2     (33.7

Net (loss) income(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)

    (75.2     (190.1     (70.8     1,013.9        (931.5     (596.7

Restructuring and related charges—cost of goods sold(8)

  $ 7.8      $ 7.1      $ 0.2      $ 13.2      $ 16.5      $ 31.3   

Restructuring and related charges—operating expenses(8)

    20.8        17.0        1.6        30.9        22.8        66.7   

Per Share Data:

           

Net (loss) income per common share:

           

Basic

  $ (1.47   $ (5.28   $ (2.36   $ 19.76      $ (18.29   $ (11.72

Diluted

    (1.47     (5.28   $ (2.36     19.76        (18.29     (11.72

Average shares outstanding:

           

Basic

    51.1        36.0        30.0        51.3        50.9        50.9   

Diluted(9)

    51.1        36.0        30.0        51.3        50.9        50.9   

Cash Flow and Related Data:

           

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

  $ 227.4      $ 57.3      $ 75.0      $ 1.6      $ (10.2   $ (32.6

Capital expenditures(10)

    36.2        40.3        2.7        8.1        18.9        23.2   

Depreciation and amortization (excluding amortization of debt issuance costs)(10)

    135.1        117.4        8.6        58.5        85.0        77.4   

Statement of Financial Position Data (at period end):

           

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 142.4      $ 170.6      $ 97.8        $ 104.8      $ 69.9   

Working capital(11)

    441.4        536.9        323.7          371.5        370.2   

Total assets

    3,626.7        3,873.6        3,020.7          2,247.5        3,211.4   

Total long-term debt, net of current maturities

    1,535.5        1,723.1        1,530.0          2,474.8        2,416.9   

Total debt

    1,551.6        1,743.8        1,583.5          2,523.4        2,460.4   

Total shareholders’ equity (deficit)

    1,018.5        1,046.4        660.9          (1,027.2     (103.8

 

(1) Pursuant to the guidance in Financial Accounting Standards Board Codification Topic 350: “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other,” we conduct annual impairment testing of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. As a result of these analyses we recorded non-cash pretax impairment charges of approximately $32 million, $34 million, $861 million and $362 million in Fiscal 2011, the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009, Fiscal 2008 and Fiscal 2007, respectively. No non-cash impairment charges were recorded during Fiscal 2010 and the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009. See the “Critical Accounting Policies—Valuation of Assets and Asset Impairment section of Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as well as Note 2(i), Significant Accounting Policies—Intangible Assets, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on impairment charges.

 

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(2) Fiscal 2007 loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, includes a non-cash pretax impairment charge of approximately $45 million to reduce the carrying value of certain assets, principally consisting of goodwill and intangible assets, relating to the Canadian Division of our Home and Garden Business in order to reflect the estimated fair value of this business. Fiscal 2008 loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, includes a non-cash pretax impairment charge of approximately $8 million to reduce the carrying value of intangible assets relating to the growing products portion of our Home and Garden Business in order to reflect the estimated fair value of this business.
(3) Fiscal 2011 income tax expense of $92 million includes a non-cash charge of approximately $65 million resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets.
(4) Fiscal 2010 income tax expense of $63 million includes a non-cash charge of approximately $92 million resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets.
(5) Included in the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009 for the Successor Company is a non-cash tax charge of $58 million related to the residual U.S. and foreign taxes on approximately $166 million of actual and deemed distributions of foreign earnings. Income tax expense for the Predecessor Company for the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009 includes a non-cash adjustment of approximately $52 million resulting from a reduction in the valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets. Included in income tax expense for the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009 for the Predecessor Company is a non-cash charge of $104 million related to the tax effects of the fresh start adjustments. In addition, income tax expense for the Predecessor Company for this period includes the tax effect of the gain on the cancellation of debt from the extinguishment of the senior subordinated notes as well as the modification of the senior term credit facility. The tax effect of these gains increased the Company’s U.S. net deferred tax asset exclusive of indefinite lived intangibles by approximately $124 million. However, due to the Company’s full valuation allowance on the U.S. net deferred tax asset exclusive of indefinite lived intangibles as of August 30, 2009, the tax effect of the gain on the cancellation of debt and the modification of the senior secured credit facility was offset by a corresponding adjustment to increase the valuation allowance for deferred tax assets by$124 million. The tax effect of the fresh start adjustments, the gain on the cancellation of debt and the modification of the senior secured credit facility, net of corresponding adjustments to the valuation allowance, are netted against reorganization items.
(6) Fiscal 2008 income tax benefit of $10 million includes a non-cash charge of approximately $222 million resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets.
(7) Fiscal 2007 income tax expense of $56 million includes a non-cash charge of approximately $180 million resulting from an increase in the valuation allowance against certain net deferred tax assets.
(8) See Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further discussion.
(9) Diluted average shares outstanding for each of Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010, the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009, the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009, Fiscal 2008 and Fiscal 2007 does not assume the exercise of common stock equivalents as the impact would be antidilutive.
(10) Amounts reflect the results of continuing operations only.
(11) Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.
(12) Fiscal 2011 includes a non-cash charge of $24 million related to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discounts in conjunction with the refinancing of the Company’s Term Debt facility. Fiscal 2010 includes a non-cash charge of $83 million related to the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and unamortized discounts and premiums related to the extinguishment and refinancing of debt that was completed in conjunction with the Merger.

 

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

Introduction

The following is management’s discussion of the financial results, liquidity and other key items related to our performance and should be read in conjunction with Item 6. Selected Financial Data and our Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation. All references to Fiscal 2011, 2010 and 2009 refer to fiscal year periods ended September 30, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“SB Holdings”), is a global branded consumer products company and was created in connection with the combination of Spectrum Brands, Inc. (“Spectrum Brands”), a global branded consumer products company and Russell Hobbs, Inc. (“Russell Hobbs”), a global branded small appliance company, to form a new combined company (the “Merger”). The Merger was consummated on June 16, 2010. As a result of the Merger, both Spectrum Brands and Russell Hobbs became wholly-owned subsidiaries of SB Holdings. Russell Hobbs was subsequently merged into Spectrum Brands. SB Holdings’ common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) under the symbol “SPB.”

As further described below, on February 3, 2009 (the “Petition Date”), we and our wholly owned United States (“U.S.”) subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”), in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas (the “Bankruptcy Court”). On August 28, 2009 (the “Effective Date”), the Debtors emerged from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Effective as of the Effective Date and pursuant to the Debtors’ confirmed plan of reorganization, we converted from a Wisconsin corporation to a Delaware corporation.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, the terms the “Company,” “Spectrum,” “we,” “our” or “us” are used to refer to SB Holdings and its subsidiaries subsequent to the Merger and Spectrum Brands prior to the Merger, as well as before, on and after the Effective Date. The term “Old Spectrum” refers only to Spectrum Brands, our Wisconsin predecessor, and its subsidiaries prior to the Effective Date.

On June 28, 2011 we filed a Form S-3 registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under which 1.2 million shares of our common stock and 6.3 million shares of our common stock held by Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (the “Selling Stockholder”) were offered to the public. The registration statement was declared effective on July 14, 2011, and at the closing of the offering, we received net proceeds from the sale of the 1.2 million shares, after underwriting discounts and offering expenses, of approximately $30 million. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of our common stock by the Selling Stockholder. We expect to use the net proceeds of the sale of common shares for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital needs, the refinancing of existing indebtedness, the expansion of our business and acquisitions.

On November 1, 2011, we completed a cash acquisition of certain trade name brands from The Homax Group, Inc., a portfolio company of Olympus Partners. This acquisition was not significant individually. In accordance with ASC Topic 805, “Business Combinations” (“ASC 805”), we will account for the acquisition by applying the acquisition method of accounting and include the fair value of acquired assets within the Company’s Home and Garden Business segment. We are in process of preparing the preliminary purchase price allocation.

On November 2, 2011, we offered $200 million aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Notes; these notes are in addition to the $750 million aggregative principal amount of 9.5% Notes already outstanding. The additional notes are guaranteed by Spectrum Brands’ parent company, SB/RH Holdings, LLC, as well as by existing and future domestic restricted subsidiaries and secured by liens on substantially all of the Spectrum Brands’ and the guarantors assets. The additional notes will vote together with the existing 9.5% Notes.

 

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Business Overview

We manufacture and market alkaline, zinc carbon and hearing aid batteries, herbicides, insecticides and repellants and specialty pet supplies. We design and market rechargeable batteries, battery-powered lighting products, electric shavers and accessories, grooming products and hair care appliances. With the addition of Russell Hobbs we design, market and distribute a broad range of branded small household appliances and personal care products. Our manufacturing and product development facilities are located in the United States, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Substantially all of our rechargeable batteries and chargers, shaving and grooming products, small household appliances, personal care products and portable lighting products are manufactured by third-party suppliers, primarily located in Asia.

We sell our products in approximately 130 countries through a variety of trade channels, including retailers, wholesalers and distributors, hearing aid professionals, industrial distributors and original equipment manufacturers (“OEMs”) and enjoy strong name recognition in our markets under the Rayovac, VARTA and Remington brands, each of which has been in existence for more than 80 years, and under the Tetra, 8-in-1, Spectracide, Cutter, Black & Decker, George Foreman, Russell Hobbs, Farberware and various other brands.

Our diversified global branded consumer products have positions in seven major product categories: consumer batteries; pet supplies; home and garden control products; electric shaving and grooming products; small appliances; electric personal care products; and portable lighting. Our chief operating decision-maker manages the businesses in three vertically integrated, product-focused reporting segments: (i) Global Batteries & Appliances, which consists of our worldwide battery, electric shaving and grooming, electric personal care, portable lighting business and small appliances primarily in the kitchen and home product categories (“Global Batteries & Appliances”); (ii) Global Pet Supplies, which consists of our worldwide pet supplies business (“Global Pet Supplies”); and (iii) Home and Garden Business, which consists of our home and garden and insect control business (the “Home and Garden Business”). Management reviews our performance based on these segments. For information pertaining to our business segments, see Note 11, “Segment Information” of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information on our operating segments.

Global and geographic strategic initiatives and financial objectives are determined at the corporate level. Each business segment is responsible for implementing defined strategic initiatives and achieving certain financial objectives and has a general manager responsible for sales and marketing initiatives and the financial results for all product lines within that business segment.

Our operating performance is influenced by a number of factors including: general economic conditions; foreign exchange fluctuations; trends in consumer markets; consumer confidence and preferences; our overall product line mix, including pricing and gross margin, which vary by product line and geographic market; pricing of certain raw materials and commodities; energy and fuel prices; and our general competitive position, especially as impacted by our competitors’ advertising and promotional activities and pricing strategies.

In November 2008, our board of directors committed to the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business, which includes the manufacturing and marketing of fertilizers, enriched soils, mulch and grass seed, following an evaluation of the historical lack of profitability and the projected input costs and significant working capital demands for the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business for Fiscal 2009. We believe the shutdown was consistent with what we have done in other areas of our business to eliminate unprofitable products from our portfolio. As of March 29, 2009, we completed the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business. Accordingly, the presentation herein of the results of continuing operations excludes the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business for all periods presented. See Note 16, Discontinued Operations, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on the disposal of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business.

 

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As a result of our Bankruptcy Filing, we were able to significantly reduce our indebtedness. As a result of the Merger, we were able to further reduce our outstanding debt leverage ratio. However, we continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness relative to our competitors and paying down outstanding indebtedness continues to be a priority for us. The Bankruptcy Filing is discussed in more detail under “Chapter 11 Proceedings.”

Chapter 11 Proceedings and Related Reporting Impacts

As a result of our substantial leverage, we determined that, absent a financial restructuring, we would be unable to achieve future profitability or positive cash flows on a consolidated basis solely from cash generated from operating activities or to satisfy certain payment obligations as they became due and could be at risk of not satisfying the leverage ratios to which we were subject under our then existing senior secured term loan facility, which ratios became more restrictive in future periods. Accordingly, on February 3, 2009, we announced that we had reached agreements with certain noteholders, representing, in the aggregate, approximately 70% of the face value of our then outstanding senior subordinated notes, to pursue a refinancing that, if implemented as proposed, would significantly reduce our outstanding debt. On the same day, the Debtors filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, in the Bankruptcy Court (the “Bankruptcy Filing”) and filed with the Bankruptcy Court a proposed plan of reorganization (the “Proposed Plan”) that detailed the Debtors’ proposed terms for the refinancing. The Chapter 11 cases were jointly administered by the Bankruptcy Court as Case No. 09-50455 (the “Bankruptcy Cases”). The Bankruptcy Court entered a written order (the “Confirmation Order”) on July 15, 2009 confirming the Proposed Plan (as so confirmed, the “Plan”).

The Plan became effective on the Effective Date, and the Debtors emerged from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Pursuant to and by operation of the Plan, on the Effective Date, all of Old Spectrum’s existing equity securities, including the existing common stock and stock options, were extinguished and deemed cancelled. Reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. filed a certificate of incorporation authorizing new shares of common stock. Pursuant to and in accordance with the Plan, on the Effective Date, reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. issued a total of 27,030,000 shares of common stock and approximately $218 million in aggregate principal amount of 12% Senior Subordinated Toggle Notes due 2019 (the “12% Notes”) to holders of allowed claims with respect to Old Spectrum’s 8 1/2% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “8 1/2 Notes”), 7 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2015 (the “7 3/8 Notes”) and Variable Rate Toggle Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the “Variable Rate Notes”) (collectively, the “Senior Subordinated Notes”). For a further discussion of the 12% Notes see “Debt Financing Activities—12% Notes.” Also on the Effective Date, reorganized Spectrum Brands, Inc. issued a total of 2,970,000 shares of common stock to supplemental and sub-supplemental debtor-in-possession credit facility participants in respect of the equity fee earned under the Debtors’ debtor-in-possession credit facility.

Accounting for Reorganization

Subsequent to the Petition Date, our financial statements are prepared in accordance with ASC Topic 852: “Reorganizations,” (“ASC 852”). ASC 852 does not change the application of GAAP in the preparation of our financial statements. However, ASC 852 does require that financial statements for periods including and subsequent to the filing of a Chapter 11 petition, distinguish transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business. In accordance with ASC 852 we have distinguished transactions and events that are directly associated with the reorganization from the ongoing operations of the business in our consolidated Statements of Operations and Cash Flows included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K., and have applied fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code as further described below.

Fresh-Start Reporting

As required by ASC 852 we adopted fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. We applied fresh-start reporting as of the close of our monthly period ended August 30, 2009,

 

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which we determined would be an appropriate fresh-start reporting date given that the Effective Date was August 28, 2009; the transactions that occurred during the two-day period from August 29, 2009 through August 30, 2009 were not material individually or in the aggregate; and August 30, 2009 coincided with our normal financial period close for August 2009. Upon adoption of fresh-start reporting, the recorded amounts of assets and liabilities were adjusted to reflect their estimated fair values. Accordingly, the financial information of Old Spectrum prior to the adoption of fresh-start reporting (i.e., for periods ended prior to August 30, 2009) are not comparable to the financial information for periods subsequent to August 30, 2009.

Since the reorganization value of the assets of Old Spectrum immediately before the date of confirmation of the Plan was less than the total of all post-petition liabilities and allowed claims and the holders of Old Spectrum’s voting shares immediately before confirmation of the Plan received less than 50 percent of the voting shares of the emerging entity, the Company adopted fresh-start reporting as of the close of business on August 30, 2009 in accordance with ASC 852. The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of August 30, 2009 was adjusted to give effect to allocations to the carrying value of assets or amounts and classifications of liabilities that were necessary when adopting fresh-start reporting.

Cost Reduction Initiatives

We continually seek to improve our operational efficiency, match our manufacturing capacity and product costs to market demand and better utilize our manufacturing resources. We have undertaken various initiatives to reduce manufacturing and operating costs.

Fiscal 2009. In connection with our announcement of a plan to reduce headcount within each of our segments and to exit certain facilities in the U.S. related to the Global Pet Supplies segment, we implemented a number of cost reduction initiatives (the “Global Cost Reduction Initiatives”). These initiatives also included consultation, legal and accounting fees related to the evaluation of our capital structure.

Fiscal 2008. In connection with our decision to exit our zinc carbon and alkaline battery manufacturing and distribution facility in Ninghai, China, we undertook cost reduction initiatives (the “Ningbo Exit Plan”). These initiatives include fixed cost savings by integrating production equipment into our remaining production facilities and headcount reductions.

Fiscal 2007. In connection with our announcement that we would manage our business in three vertically integrated, product-focused reporting segments we undertook a number of cost reduction initiatives, primarily headcount reductions, at the corporate and operating segment levels (the “Global Realignment Initiatives”), including a headcount reduction of approximately 200 employees.

Meeting Consumer Needs through Technology and Development

We continue to focus our efforts on meeting consumer needs for our products through new product development and technology innovations. Research and development efforts associated with our electric shaving and grooming products allow us to deliver to the market unique cutting systems. Research and development efforts associated with our electric personal care products allow us to deliver to our customers products that save them time, provide salon alternatives and enhance their in-home personal care options. We are continuously pursuing new innovations for our shaving, grooming and hair care products including foil and rotary shaver improvements, trimmer enhancements and technologies that deliver skin and hair care benefits.

During Fiscal 2011, we introduced the new Spectracide Easy Action Pump delivery system, which makes application over larger areas quick and easy by providing consumers up to five minutes of continuous spray. We also launched the Cutter Natural and Repel Natural insect repellents that offer highly effective, DEET-free protection and are priced like other repellents. Additionally, under the Remington brand we introduced the Mb Touch, a precision beard trimmer with LED touch screen controls, expanded into a pearl line of hair care

 

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accessories and began marketing the i-Light IPL device in the United States which uses cutting edge intense pulsed light technology to remove hair for up to six months and has been approved by the FDA. Furthermore, we launched coffee machines using new fast brew technology under the Farberware tradename. For the North American Aquatic business we launched energy efficient Marineland LED reef capable lights. These LEDs produce a high quality, natural-looking light that shimmers, adding depth and dimension to the aquarium. In the Companion Animal business we launched Dingo Grill House™, the longer lasting combo treat made with real chicken and expanded the popular Nature’s Miracle product line to include: litter and accessories, shampoo, waste management and pet crates.

During Fiscal 2010, we launched our Rayovac Platinum Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries. These batteries are ready to use directly out of the package, and stay charged up to 3 times longer than other rechargeable batteries. We also introduced Instant Ocean aquatic food and chemical products and additional products under the Dingo and Nature’s Miracle brands.

During Fiscal 2009, we introduced the Roughneck Flex 360 flashlight. We also launched a long lasting zero-mercury hearing aid battery. This product provides the same long lasting performance as conventional hearing aid batteries, but with an environmentally friendly formula. During Fiscal 2009, we also introduced a line of Tetra marine aquatic products, new dog treat items and enhanced Nature’s Miracle Stain & Odor products.

During Fiscal 2008, we introduced longer lasting alkaline batteries in cell sizes AA and AAA. We also launched several new products targeted at specific niche markets such as Hot Shot Spider Trap, Cutter Mosquito Stakes, Spectracide Destroyer Wasp & Hornet and Spectracide Weed Stop. We also introduced a new line of men’s rotary shavers with “360° Flex & Pivot Technology.” The flex and pivot technology allows the cutting blades to follow the contour of a person’s face and neck. In addition, we added Teflon® coated heads to our blades to reduce redness and irritation from shaving. We also introduced “The Short Cut Clipper.” The product is positioned as the world’s first clipper with exclusive curved cutting technology. We also launched “Shine Therapy,” a hair straightener with vitamin conditioning technology: Vitamin E, Avocado Oil and conditioners infused into the ceramic plates.

During Fiscal 2007, advancements in shaver blade coatings continued to be significant with further introductions of Titanium, Nano-Diamond, Nano-Silver and Tourmaline on a variety of products, which allowed us to continue to launch new products or product enhancements into the market place.

Competitive Landscape

We compete in seven major product categories: consumer batteries, pet supplies, home and garden control products, electric shaving and grooming products, small appliances, electric personal care products, and portable lighting.

The consumer battery product category consists of non-rechargeable alkaline or zinc carbon batteries in cell sizes of AA, AAA, C, D and 9-volt, and specialty batteries, which include rechargeable batteries, hearing aid batteries, photo batteries and watch/calculator batteries. Most consumer batteries are marketed under one of the following brands: Rayovac/VARTA, Duracell, Energizer or Panasonic. In addition, some retailers market private label batteries, particularly in Europe. The majority of consumers in North America and Europe purchase alkaline batteries. The Latin America market consists primarily of zinc carbon batteries but is gradually converting to higher-priced alkaline batteries as household disposable income grows.

We believe that we are the largest worldwide marketer of hearing aid batteries and that we continue to maintain a leading global market position. We believe that our close relationship with hearing aid manufacturers and other customers, as well as our product performance improvements and packaging innovations, position us for continued success in this category.

 

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Our global pet supplies business comprises aquatics equipment (aquariums, filters, pumps, etc.), aquatics consumables (fish food, water treatments and conditioners, etc.) and specialty pet products for dogs, cats, birds and other small domestic animals. The pet supply market is extremely fragmented, with no competitor holding a market share greater than twenty percent. We believe that our brand positioning, including the leading global aquatics brand in Tetra, our diverse array of innovative and attractive products and our strong retail relationships and global infrastructure will allow us to remain competitive in this fast growing industry.

Products in our home and garden category are sold through the Home and Garden Business. The Home and Garden Business manufactures and markets outdoor and indoor insect control products, rodenticides, herbicides and plant foods. The Home and Garden Business operates in the U.S. market under the brand names Spectracide, Cutter and Garden Safe. The Home and Garden Business’ marketing position is primarily that of a value brand, enhanced and supported by innovative products and packaging to drive sales at the point of purchase. The Home and Garden Business’ primary competitors include The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Central Garden & Pet Company and S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.

We also operate in the shaving and grooming and personal care product category, consisting of electric shavers and accessories, electric grooming products and hair care appliances. Electric shavers include men’s and women’s shavers (both rotary and foil design) and electric shaver accessories consisting of shaver replacement parts (primarily foils and cutters), pre-shave products and cleaning agents. Electric shavers are marketed primarily under one of the following global brands: our Remington brand, Braun and Norelco. Electric grooming products include beard and mustache trimmers, nose and ear trimmers, body groomers and haircut kits and related accessories. Hair care appliances include hair dryers, straightening irons, styling irons and hair-setters. Europe and North America account for the majority of our worldwide product category sales. Our major competitors in the electric personal care product category are Conair Corporation, Wahl Clipper Corporation and Helen of Troy Limited.

Products in our small appliances category consist of small electrical appliances primarily in the kitchen and home product categories. Primary competitor brands in the small appliance category include Hamilton Beach, Procter Silex, Sunbeam, Mr. Coffee, Oster, General Electric, Rowenta, DeLonghi, Kitchen Aid, Cuisinart, Krups, Braun, Rival, Europro, Kenwood, Philips, Morphy Richards, Breville and Tefal.

The following factors contribute to our ability to succeed in these highly competitive product categories:

 

   

Strong Diversified Global Brand Portfolio. We have a global portfolio of well-recognized consumer product brands. We believe that the strength of our brands positions us to extend our product lines and provide our retail customers with strong sell-through to consumers.

 

   

Strong Global Retail Relationships. We have well-established business relationships with many of the top global retailers, distributors and wholesalers, which have assisted us in our efforts to expand our overall market penetration and promote sales.

 

   

Expansive Distribution Network. We distribute our products in approximately 130 countries through a variety of trade channels, including retailers, wholesalers and distributors, hearing aid professionals, industrial distributors and OEMs.

 

   

Innovative New Products, Packaging and Technologies. We have a long history of product and packaging innovations in each of our seven product categories and continually seek to introduce new products both as extensions of existing product lines and as new product categories.

 

   

Experienced Management Team. Our management team has substantial consumer products experience. On average, each senior management team member has more than 20 years of experience at Spectrum, VARTA, Remington, Russell Hobbs or other branded consumer product companies such as Newell Rubbermaid, H.J. Heinz and Schering-Plough.

 

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Seasonal Product Sales

On a consolidated basis our financial results are approximately equally weighted between quarters, however, sales of certain product categories tend to be seasonal. Sales in the consumer battery, electric shaving and grooming and electric personal care product categories, particularly in North America, tend to be concentrated in the December holiday season (Spectrum’s first fiscal quarter). Demand for pet supplies products remains fairly constant throughout the year. Demand for home and garden control products sold though the Home and Garden Business typically peaks during the first six months of the calendar year (Spectrum’s second and third fiscal quarters). Small Appliances peaks from July through December primarily due to the increased demand by customers in the late summer for “back-to-school” sales and in the fall for the holiday season.

The seasonality of our sales during the last three fiscal years is as follows:

Percentage of Annual Sales

 

     Fiscal Year Ended
September 30,
 

Fiscal Quarter Ended

   2011     2010     2009  

December

     27     23     25

March

     22     21     23

June

     25     25     26

September

     26     31     26

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2011 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2010

Highlights of Consolidated Operating Results

Year over year historical comparisons are influenced by the acquisition of Russell Hobbs, which is included in our Fiscal 2010 Consolidated Statements of Operations from June 16, 2010, the date of the Merger, through the end of the period. See Note 15, Acquisitions, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for supplemental pro forma information providing additional year over year comparisons of the impact of the acquisition.

Net Sales. Net sales for Fiscal 2011 increased to $3,187 million from $2,567 million in Fiscal 2010, a 24.2% increase. The following table details the principal components of the change in net sales from Fiscal 2010 to Fiscal 2011 (in millions):

 

     Net Sales  

Fiscal 2010 Net Sales

   $ 2,567   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—small appliances

     548   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—pet supplies

     7   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—home and garden control products

     4   

Increase in electric personal care products

     28   

Increase in electric shaving and grooming products

     13   

Increase in home and garden control products

     7   

Increase in lighting products

     3   

Decrease in pet supplies

     (3

Decrease in consumer batteries

     (15

Foreign currency impact, net

     28   
  

 

 

 

Fiscal 2011 Net Sales

   $ 3,187   
  

 

 

 

 

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Consolidated net sales by product line for Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010 are as follows (in millions):

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2011      2010  

Product line net sales

     

Consumer batteries

   $ 862       $ 866   

Small appliances

     778         231   

Pet supplies

     579         566   

Home and garden control products

     354         343   

Electric shaving and grooming products

     274         257   

Electric personal care products

     248         216   

Portable lighting products

     92         88   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales to external customers

   $ 3,187       $ 2,567   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Global consumer battery sales during Fiscal 2011 decreased $4 million, or less than 1%, compared to Fiscal 2010, primarily driven by decreased sales in Latin America of $37 million, which were tempered by increased sales in North America and Europe of $17 million and $5 million, respectively, coupled with favorable foreign exchange impacts of $11 million. Sales decreases in Latin America were driven by decreased alkaline battery sales of $11 million and zinc carbon battery sales of $26 million primarily due to decreased volumes in Brazil as a result of competitive pressures in the region. North American sales increased as a result of strong holiday sales during our first fiscal quarter, distribution gains throughout the year and incremental sales due to strong weather patterns during Fiscal 2011. The sales increases in Europe were primarily attributable to the successful promotion of our Varta value sub-brands as well as customer gains.

Pet product sales during Fiscal 2011 increased $13 million, or 2%, compared to Fiscal 2010. The increase of $13 million is attributable to increased companion animal product sales of $15 million, $7 million of which was a direct result of the Merger, with the remaining $8 million being driven by the Birdola acquisition, successful product launches and continued expansion in Europe. Favorable foreign exchange impacted sales by $8 million. These gains were partially offset by decreased aquatics sales of $10 million resulting from overall global macroeconomic conditions.

Sales of home and garden control products during Fiscal 2011 versus Fiscal 2010 increased $11 million, or 3%. This increase is a result of increased household insect controls sales of $14 million, of which $4 million related to the Merger. The remaining growth in household insect control sales was driven by increased distribution and product placements with major customers. These gains were partially offset by a $3 million decrease in lawn and garden control sales due to unseasonable weather conditions in the U.S. which negatively impacted the lawn and garden season.

Electric shaving and grooming product sales during Fiscal 2011 increased $17 million, or 7%, compared to Fiscal 2010 due to increased sales within North America, Europe and Latin America of $6 million, $4 million and $3 million, respectively, coupled with favorable foreign exchange translation of $4 million. North American and European sales increases were driven by distribution and customer gains and increased online sales. Latin American sales increases were driven by distribution gains.

Electric personal care product sales during Fiscal 2011 increased $32 million, or 15%, when compared to Fiscal 2010. The increase of $32 million during Fiscal 2011 was attributable to increases in North America, Europe and Latin America of $12 million, $14 million and $2 million, respectively, coupled with favorable foreign exchange impacts of $4. The increases in North American and European sales were a result of successful new product launches, distribution and customer gains and increased online sales, while increases in Latin American sales were driven by distribution gains.

 

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Sales of portable lighting products in Fiscal 2011 increased $4 million, or 4%, compared to Fiscal 2010 as a result of increases in North America of $7 million coupled with favorable foreign exchange translation of $1 million, tempered by a decrease in Latin American sales of $4 million. The increased sales in North America were primarily attributable to distribution gains, including successful launches with multiple online retailers, as well as a successful new product line launch at a major customer, whereas the sales decrease in Latin America was driven by competitive pressures in the region.

Small appliances contributed $778 million or 24% of total net sales for Fiscal 2011 compared to $231 million or 9% of sales in Fiscal 2010. This represents a full year of sales related to Russell Hobbs during Fiscal 2011 as compared to Fiscal 2010 in which we realized sales of the acquired business from the date of the Merger, June 16, 2010, through September 30, 2010, the close of our Fiscal 2010.

Gross Profit. Gross profit for Fiscal 2011 was $1,129 million versus $921 million during Fiscal 2010, representing a $208 million increase. Our gross profit margin for Fiscal 2011 decreased slightly to 35.4% from 35.9% in Fiscal 2010. The increase in gross profit is primarily attributable to increased sales coupled with the non-recurrence of a $34 million increase in cost of goods sold that resulted from the sale of inventory that was revalued in connection with our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, that we recognized during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. The increased sales due to the Merger accounted for a gross profit increase of $152 million during Fiscal 2011 as compared to Fiscal 2010. The decrease in gross profit margin is attributable to the change in overall product mix as a result of the Merger as well as increasing commodity prices during Fiscal 2011.

Operating Expense. Operating expenses for Fiscal 2011 totaled $901 million versus $753 million during Fiscal 2010. The $148 million increase in operating expenses for Fiscal 2011 versus Fiscal 2010 was driven by the Merger, which accounted for $111 million of the increase, coupled with the Fiscal 2011 impairment charge of $32 million and increased stock compensation expense of $14 million. These increases were tempered by savings from our integration and global cost reduction initiatives. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Operating Income. Operating income of approximately $228 million was recognized in Fiscal 2011 compared to $169 million recognized in Fiscal 2010, representing an increase of $59 million. The Merger accounted for a $41 million increase in operating income. Additionally, savings from our integration efforts, our global cost reduction initiatives and favorable foreign exchange translation impacted operating income by $17 million, $16 million and $11 million, respectively. These profit improvements were partially offset by a $32 million impairment charge, $14 million increase in stock compensation expense and increased commodity costs during Fiscal 2011.

Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in certain instances to provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community. Adjusted EBITDA provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA can also be a useful measure of a company’s ability to service debt and is one of the measures used for determining our debt covenant compliance. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period. While management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace the Company’s GAAP financial results.

Adjusted EBITDA, which includes the results of Russell Hobbs’ businesses as if it was combined with Spectrum for all periods presented (see reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBIT and to Adjusted EBITDA by .segment below) was $457 million for Fiscal 2011 compared with $432 million for Fiscal 2010.

 

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Segment Results. As discussed under “Business Overview” above we manage our business in three reportable segments: (i) Global Batteries & Appliances, (ii) Global Pet Supplies; and (iii) Home and Garden Business.

Operating segment profits do not include restructuring and related charges, acquisition and integration related charges, interest expense, interest income, impairment charges, reorganization items and income tax expense. Expenses associated with global operations, consisting of research and development, manufacturing management, global purchasing, quality operations and inbound supply chain are included in the determination of operating segment profits. In connection with the realignment of reportable segments discussed above, expenses associated with certain general and administrative functions necessary to reflect the operating segments on a standalone basis, have been excluded in the determination of reportable segment profits. The costs associated with these functions were previously reflected in operating segment profits. Accordingly, corporate expenses primarily include general and administrative expenses and the costs of global long-term incentive compensation plans which are evaluated on a consolidated basis and not allocated to our operating segments.

All depreciation and amortization included in income from operations is related to operating segments or corporate expense. Costs are allocated to operating segments or corporate expense according to the function of each cost center. All capital expenditures are related to operating segments. Variable allocations of assets are not made for segment reporting.

Global strategic initiatives and financial objectives for each reportable segment are determined at the corporate level. Each reportable segment is responsible for implementing defined strategic initiatives and achieving certain financial objectives and has a general manager responsible for the sales and marketing initiatives and financial results for product lines within that segment. Financial information pertaining to our reportable segments is contained in Note 11, Segment Information, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further information relating to our operating segments.

Below are reconciliations of GAAP Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA by segment and for Consolidated SB Holdings for Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010:

 

     Fiscal 2011  
     Global
Batteries &
Appliances
    Global Pet
Supplies
     Home and
Garden
Business
     Corporate /
Unallocated
Items(a)
    Consolidated
SB Holdings
 
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ 180      $ 50       $ 62       $ (367   $ (75

Income tax expense

     —          —           —           92        92   

Interest expense

     —          —           —           184        184   

Write-off unamortized discounts and financing fees(b)

     —          —           —           24        24   

Restructuring and related charges

     6        17         2         4        29   

Acquisition and integration related charges

     31        —           —           6        37   

Intangible asset impairment

     23        8         1         —          32   

Accelerated depreciation and amortization(c)

     (1     —           —           —          (1
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

   $ 239      $ 75       $ 65       $ (57   $ 322   

Depreciation and amortization(d)

     68        24         12         31        135   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 307      $ 99       $ 77       $ (26   $ 457   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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     Fiscal 2010  
     Global
Batteries &
Appliances
    Global Pet
Supplies
     Home and
Garden
Business
    Corporate /
Unallocated
Items(a)
    Consolidated
SB Holdings
 
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ 143      $ 51       $ 40      $ (424   $ (190

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          —           3        —          3   

Income tax expense

     —          —           —          63        63   

Interest expense

     —          —           —          195        195   

Write-off unamortized discounts and financing fees(e)

     —          —           —          82        82   

Pre-acquisition earnings

     61        4         1        —          66   

Restructuring and related charges

     4        7         8        5        24   

Acquisition and integration related charges

     15        —           —          24        39   

Reorganization items

     —          —           —          3        3   

Accelerated depreciation and amortization(c)

     —          —           (1     (2     (3

Fresh-start inventory fair value adjustment

     18        14         2        —          34   

Russell Hobbs inventory fair value adjustment

     3        —           —          —          3   

Brazilian IPI credit/other

     (5     —           —          —          (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

   $ 239      $ 76       $ 53      $ (54   $ 314   

Depreciation and amortization(d)

     58        28         15        17        118   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 297      $ 104       $ 68      $ (37   $ 432   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(a) It is our policy to record income tax expense and interest expense on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, such amounts are not reflected in the operating results of the operating segments.
(b) Adjustment reflects the write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and discounts related to the refinancing of our Term loan facility.
(c) Adjustment reflects restricted stock amortization and accelerated depreciation associated with certain restructuring initiatives. Inasmuch as this amount is included within Restructuring and related charges, this adjustment negates the impact of reflecting the add-back of depreciation and amortization.
(d) Included within depreciation and amortization is amortization of unearned restricted stock compensation.
(e) Adjustment reflects the following: (i) $61 million write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and discounts associated with our restructured capital structure, refinanced on June 16, 2010; (ii) $17 million related to the termination of interest rate swaps and commitment fees; and (iii) $4 million related to pre-payment premiums associated with the paydown of our old asset based revolving credit facility and supplemental loan extinguished on June 16, 2010.

Global Batteries & Appliances

 

     2011     2010  
     (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 2,254      $ 1,658   

Segment profit

   $ 239      $ 171   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     10.6     10.3

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 307      $ 297   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 2,275      $ 2,477   

Segment sales to external customers in Fiscal 2011 increased $596 million to $2,254 million from $1,658 million during Fiscal 2010, representing a 36% increase. The Merger accounted for $547 million of the increase

 

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due to a full year of small appliances sales of $778 million in Fiscal 2011 compared to $231 million during Fiscal 2010, which only includes sales after the Merger. Favorable foreign currency exchange translation impacted sales in Fiscal 2011 by approximately $37 million when compared to Fiscal 2010.

Consumer battery sales for Fiscal 2011 decreased slightly to $862 million when compared to Fiscal 2010 sales of $866 million. The decrease is attributable to a decline in specialty battery sales of $24 million, which was tempered by increased alkaline battery sales of $9 million and favorable foreign exchange translation of $11 million. The $24 million decrease in specialty battery sales was driven by a decrease in Latin American sales of $26 million, primarily due to decreased volume in Brazil as a result of competitive pressures in the region tempered by increased sales of $3 million in North America, predominantly driven by distribution gains. The $9 million increase in alkaline sales is primarily attributable to increased sales in North America of $14 million resulting from distribution gains, strong holiday sales in the first quarter of Fiscal 2011 and incremental sales due to severe weather during the year coupled with increased European sales of $6 million driven by successful promotions and customer gains in the region. The alkaline battery sales growth in these regions was tempered by a decline of $11 million in Latin America due to decreased volumes in Brazil as a result of competitive pressures.

Sales of electric shaving and grooming products in Fiscal 2011 increased by $17 million, a 7% increase, compared to Fiscal 2010. This increase was driven by increases of $6 million in North America, $4 million in Europe, $3 million in Latin America and favorable foreign exchange translation of $4 million. The increases Latin America resulted from distribution gains, whereas the increases in European and North American sales were driven by increased online sales and distribution gains.

Electric personal care sales increased by $32 million to $248 million an increase of 15% over Fiscal 2010 sales. The $32 million Fiscal 2011 sales growth was attributable to increased North American and European sales of $12 million and $14 million, respectively, as well as modest sales increases in Latin America coupled with favorable foreign exchange impacts of $4 million. The sales increases in North America and Europe were both due to a combination of successful new product launches, distribution gains in each region and increased online sales.

Sales of portable lighting products for Fiscal 2011 increased to $92 million compared to sales of $88 million for Fiscal 2010, an increase of 4%. The portable lighting product sales increase was primarily driven by increased sales in North America of $7 million, which were attributable to distribution gains, including multiple online retailers, and a successful new product line launch at a major customer, coupled with favorable foreign exchange of $1 million. These gains were tempered by decreased sales in Latin America of $4 million driven by competitive pressures in the region.

Segment profitability during Fiscal 2011 increased $68 million to $239 million from $171 million in Fiscal 2010. The Merger accounted for a $42 million increase in segment profit. The remaining increase in segment profitability during Fiscal 2011 was attributable to increased sales which contributed $12 million of profit, cost saving from integration and cost reduction initiatives of $12 million, favorable foreign exchange of $11 million and the non-recurrence of a $18 million increase in cost of goods sold that resulted from the sale of inventory that was revalued in connection with our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, that we recognized during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. Partially offsetting these increases to segment profitability was a $29 million decrease in margins resulting from higher commodity costs and product mix. Segment profitability as a percentage of sales increased slightly to 10.6% in Fiscal 2011 compared to 10.3% in Fiscal 2010. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2011 was $307 million compared to $297 million in Fiscal 2010, an increase of $10 million. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is mainly driven the increased sales, cost savings and foreign exchange impacts mentioned above, tempered by the decreased margins mentioned above.

 

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Segment assets at September 30, 2011 increased to $2,275 million from $2,477 million at September 30, 2010. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are directly a result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and subsequent acquisitions, decreased to $1,295 million at September 30, 2011 from $1,355 million at September 30, 2010. The decrease is due to a $23 million intangible impairment as well as amortization of definite lived intangible assets of $33 million and foreign exchange impacts of $3 million.

Foreign Currency Translation—Venezuela Impacts

The Global Batteries & Appliances segment does business in Venezuela through a Venezuelan subsidiary. At January 4, 2010, the beginning of our second quarter of Fiscal 2010, we determined that Venezuela met the definition of a highly inflationary economy under GAAP. As a result, beginning January 4, 2010, the U.S. dollar became the functional currency for our Venezuelan subsidiary. Accordingly, going forward, currency remeasurement adjustments for this subsidiary’s financial statements and other transactional foreign exchange gains and losses are reflected in earnings. Through January 3, 2010, prior to being designated as highly inflationary, translation adjustments related to the Venezuelan subsidiary were reflected in Shareholders’ equity as a component of AOCI.

The designation of our Venezuela entity as a highly inflationary economy and the devaluation of the Bolivar fuerte resulted in a $1 million reduction to our operating income during Fiscal 2010. We also reported a foreign exchange loss in Other expense (income), net, of $10 million during Fiscal 2010.

As of September 30, 2011, we are no longer exchanging our Bolivar Fuertes for U.S. dollars through the SITME mechanism and the SITME is no longer the most likely method of exchanging our Bolivar fuertes for U.S. dollars. Therefore, we changed the rate used to remeasure Bolivar fuerte denominated transactions as of September 30, 2011 from the 5.3 SITME rate to the 4.3 official exchange rate as it is the expected rate at which exchanges of our Bolivar fuertes to U.S. dollars will be settled. We reported a foreign exchange gain in Other expense (income), net, of $(1) million during Fiscal 2011 related to the change to the official exchange rate.

Global Pet Supplies

 

     2011     2010  
   (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 579      $ 566   

Segment profit

   $ 75      $ 58   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     13.0     10.2

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 99      $ 104   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 828      $ 839   

Segment sales to external customers in Fiscal 2011 increased to $579 million from $566 million in Fiscal 2010, representing an increase of $13 million or 2%. The increase of $13 million is attributable to increased companion animal product sales of $15 million, $7 million of which was a direct result of the Merger, with the remaining $8 million being driven by successful product launches and continued expansion in Europe, coupled with $8 million of favorable foreign exchange. These gains were partially offset by decreased aquatics sales of $10 million resulting from overall global macroeconomic conditions.

Segment profitability in Fiscal 2011 increased to $75 million from $58 million in Fiscal 2010. Segment profitability as a percentage of sales in Fiscal 2011 also increased to 13.0% from 10.2% during Fiscal 2010. The increase in segment profitability and profitability margin was primarily attributable to cost savings of $12 million related to integration and cost reduction initiatives, in addition to the non-recurrence of a $14 million increase in cost of goods sold that resulted from the sale of inventory that was revalued in connection with our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, that we recognized during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. These gains were slightly offset by decreased margins primarily due to closeout sales

 

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during the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2011. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2011 was $99 million compared to $104 million in Fiscal 2010. The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was driven by a lower EBITDA realized from products acquired in the Merger, as Fiscal 2010 Adjusted EBITDA includes preacquisition earnings.

Segment assets as of September 30, 2011 decreased to $828 million from $839 million at September 30, 2010. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are directly a result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and subsequent acquisitions, decreased to $595 million at September 30, 2011 from $602 million at September 30, 2010. The decrease is due to a $9 million intangible impairment as well as amortization of definite lived intangible assets of $16 million, slightly offset by increases due to acquisitions that resulted in increased goodwill and intangible assets of $17 million.

Home and Garden Business

 

     2011     2010  
   (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 354      $ 343   

Segment profit

   $ 65      $ 51   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     18.4     14.9

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 77      $ 68   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 476      $ 496   

Segment sales to external customers of home and garden control products during Fiscal 2011 increased $11 million, or 3% versus Fiscal 2010, driven by increased household insect controls sales of $14 million, of which $4 million related to the Merger. The remaining growth in household insect control sales was driven by increased distribution and product placements with major customers. These gains were partially offset by a $3 million decrease in lawn and garden control sales due to unseasonable weather conditions in the U.S., which negatively impacted the lawn and garden season.

Segment profitability in Fiscal 2011 increased to $65 million compared to $51 million in Fiscal 2010. This increase in segment profitability was attributable to increased sales as well as savings from our global cost reduction initiatives announced in Fiscal 2009 in addition to the non-recurrence of a $2 million increase in cost of goods sold that resulted from the sale of inventory that was revalued in connection with our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, that we recognized during the first quarter of Fiscal 2010. Segment profitability as a percentage of sales in Fiscal 2011 increased to 18.4% from 14.9% in Fiscal 2010. The increase in segment profitability was also due to the factors mentioned above, as well as margin improvements as a result of expense management. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2011 was $77 million compared to $68 million in Fiscal 2010. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA during Fiscal 2011 was mainly driven by product distribution gains, cost improvement initiatives and expense management as mentioned above.

Segment assets as of September 30, 2011 decreased to $476 million from $496 million at September 30, 2010. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are directly a result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and subsequent acquisitions, decreased to $404 million at September 30, 2011 from $413 million at September 30, 2010. The decrease of $9 million is driven by amortization associated with definite lived intangible assets of $9 million and an intangible asset impairment of $1 million slightly tempered by additions due to acquisitions.

 

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Corporate Expense. Our corporate expense in Fiscal 2011 increased to $54 million from $49 million in Fiscal 2010. This increase is attributable to a $14 million increase in stock based compensation expense during Fiscal 2011 compared to Fiscal 2010, partially offset by savings resulting from the relocation of the corporate office back to Madison, Wisconsin, as well as synergies realized from the Merger. Corporate expense as a percentage of consolidated net sales for Fiscal 2011 was 1.7% compared to 1.9% during Fiscal 2010.

Restructuring and Related Charges. See Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

The following table summarizes all restructuring and related charges we incurred in Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010 (in millions):

 

     2011     2010  

Costs included in cost of goods sold:

    

Global Realignment Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

   $ —        $ 0.2   

Other associated costs

     —          (0.1

Ningbo Exit Plan:

    

Other associated costs

     0.3        2.1   

Global Cost Reduction Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     1.6        2.6   

Other associated costs

     5.9        2.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in cost of goods sold

   $ 7.8      $ 7.1   

Costs included in operating expenses:

    

European Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

   $ (0.3   $ (0.1

Global Realignment Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     1.2        5.4   

Other associated costs

     1.9        (1.9

Global Cost Reduction Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     10.2        4.3   

Other associated costs

     7.8        9.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in operating expenses

   $ 20.8      $ 17.0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total restructuring and related charges

   $ 28.6      $ 24.1   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

We have implemented a series of initiatives in the Global Batteries & Personal Care segment in Europe to reduce operating costs and rationalize our manufacturing structure (the “European Initiatives”). In connection with the European Initiatives, which are substantially complete, we implemented a series of initiatives within the Global Batteries & Personal Care segment in Europe to reduce operating costs and rationalize our manufacturing structure. These initiatives included the relocation of certain operations at our Ellwangen, Germany packaging center to our Dischingen, Germany battery plant, transferring private label battery production at our Dischingen, Germany battery plant to our manufacturing facility in China and restructuring Europe’s sales, marketing and support functions. In connection with the European Initiatives, we recorded de minimis pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010, representing the true-up of reserve balances.

In Fiscal 2007, we began managing our business in three vertically integrated, product-focused reporting segments; Global Batteries & Personal Care, Global Pet Supplies and the Home and Garden Business. As part of this realignment, our global operations organization, consisting of research and development, manufacturing management, global purchasing, quality operations and inbound supply chain, was transferred to the operating

 

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segments. In connection with these changes we undertook a number of cost reduction initiatives, primarily headcount reductions at the corporate and operating segment levels (the “Global Realignment Initiatives”). We recorded approximately $3 million and $4 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010, respectively, in connection with the Global Realignment Initiatives. Costs associated with these initiatives, which are expected to be incurred through June 30, 2013, relate primarily to severance and are projected at approximately $92 million.

During Fiscal 2008, we implemented an initiative within the Global Batteries & Personal Care segment to reduce operating costs and rationalize our manufacturing structure. These initiatives, which are substantially complete, include the exit of our battery manufacturing facility in Ningbo Baowang China (“Ningbo”) (the “Ningbo Exit Plan”). We recorded de minimis pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2011 and $2 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2010, in connection with the Ningbo Exit Plan. We have recorded pretax restructuring and related charges of approximately $30 million since the inception of the Ningbo Exit Plan.

During Fiscal 2009, we implemented a series of initiatives within the Global Batteries & Personal Care segment and the Global Pet Supplies segment to reduce operating costs as well as evaluate our opportunities to improve our capital structure (the “Global Cost Reduction Initiatives”). These initiatives included headcount reductions within all our segments and the exit of certain facilities in the U.S. related to the Global Pet Supplies segment. These initiatives also included expenditures for banking and legal and accounting consultation fees related to the evaluation of our capital structure. We recorded $25 million and $18 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2011 and Fiscal 2010, respectively, related to the Global Cost Reduction Initiatives. Costs associated with these initiatives, which are expected to be incurred through January 31, 2015, are projected at approximately $78 million.

Acquisition and integration related charges. Acquisition and integration related charges reflected in Operating expenses include, but are not limited to, transaction costs such as banking, legal and accounting professional fees directly related to acquisitions, employee termination charges, integration related professional fees and other post business combination related expenses.

We incurred $37 million of Acquisition and integration related charges during Fiscal 2011 primarily in connection with the Merger, which consisted of: (i) $23 million of integration costs; (ii) $8 million of employee termination charges; and (iii) $6 million of legal and professional fees. We incurred $38 million of Acquisition and integration related charges during Fiscal 2010, which consisted of the following: (i) $25 million of legal and professional fees; (ii) $10 million of employee termination charges; and (iii) $4 million of integration costs.

Goodwill and Intangibles Impairment. Current accounting standards require companies to test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. In Fiscal 2011 and 2010, we tested our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as required. As a result of this testing, we recorded a non-cash pretax impairment charge of $32 million in Fiscal 2011. The $32 million non-cash pretax impairment charge incurred in Fiscal 2011 reflects trade name intangible asset impairments of the following: $23 million related to the Global Batteries and Appliances segment; $8 million related to Global Pet Supplies; and $1 million related to the Home and Garden Business. See Note 2(i), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Intangible Assets, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on this impairment charge.

Interest Expense. Interest expense in Fiscal 2011 decreased to $208 million from $277 million in Fiscal 2010. The decrease was driven primarily by lower unusual items in Fiscal 2011 of $29 million compared to $78 million in Fiscal 2010, and lower effective interest rates on outstanding debt. Unusual items in Fiscal 2011 included (i) $15 million related to the write off of unamortized debt issuance costs related to our former term loan that was refinanced on February 1, 2011, a non-cash charge; (ii) a $9 million write off of unamortized original issue discount related to the refinanced term loan facility, a non-cash charge; and (iii) a prepayment

 

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premium of $5 million related to the refinanced term loan facility. Unusual items for Fiscal 2010 included (i) $55 million representing the write-off of the unamortized portion of discounts and premiums related to debt that was paid off in conjunction with our refinancing on June 16, 2010, a non-cash charge; (ii) a $9 million cash charge related to bridge commitment fees we paid while we were refinancing our debt; (iii) $6 million representing the write-off of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to debt that was paid off, a non-cash charge; (iv) $4 million cash charge related to a prepayment premium; and (v) $3 million of cash charges related to the termination of a Euro-denominated interest rate swap.

Reorganization Items. During Fiscal 2010, we, in connection with our reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, recorded Reorganization items expense (income), net of approximately $4 million, which primarily consisted of legal and professional fees. See Note 2(x), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Reorganization Items, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information related to our reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Income Taxes. In Fiscal 2011, we recorded income tax expense of $92 million on pretax income from continuing operations of $17 million, and in Fiscal 2010, we recorded income tax expense of $63 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $124 million. Our effective tax rate on income from continuing operations was approximately 539% for Fiscal 2011. Our effective tax rate on our loss from continuing operations was approximately (50.9)% for Fiscal 2010. There are four significant factors impacting our book income tax rate. First, we are profitable in the foreign jurisdictions in which we operate and therefore must provide foreign income taxes even while we have a book loss in the United States. Our book loss in the U.S. is the result of substantially all of our debt and restructuring costs being incurred in our U.S. entities. Second, since there is a valuation allowance against US deferred tax assets, we are unable to book any financial statement benefit related to our U.S. domestic losses. This impact is further exacerbated by the tax amortization of certain domestic indefinite lived intangible assets. The deferred tax liabilities created by the tax amortization of these intangibles cannot be used to offset corresponding increases in net operating loss deferred tax assets in determining the Company’s domestic valuation allowance. This results in additional net domestic tax expense despite the US domestic book losses. Third, we recorded a valuation allowance against NOLs in Brazil during fiscal 2011 of $26 million. Fourth, the closer we are to break even, the higher the effective tax rate becomes as the taxes are divided by a lower book income. In addition to these recurring factors, our income tax provision for the year ended September 30, 2011 reflects the correction of a prior period error which increases our income tax provision by approximately $5 million. Our income tax provision for the year ended September 30, 2010 reflected the correction of a prior period error which increased our income tax provision by approximately $6 million.

As of September 30, 2011, we have U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1,163 million and $1,197 million, respectively. These net operating loss carryforwards expire through years ending in 2032. We also have foreign loss carryforwards of approximately $140 million, which will expire beginning in 2012. Certain of the foreign net operating losses have indefinite carryforward periods. We have had multiple changes of ownership, as defined under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 382, that subject our U.S. federal and state net operating losses and other tax attributes to certain limitations. The annual limitation on our use of these carryforwards is based on a number of factors including the value of our stock (as defined for tax purposes) on the date of the ownership change, our net unrealized built in gain position on that date, the occurrence of realized built in gains in years subsequent to the ownership change, and the effects of subsequent ownership changes (as defined for tax purposes), if any. In addition, separate return year limitations apply to limit our utilization of the acquired Russell Hobbs U.S. federal and state net operating losses to future income of the Russell Hobbs subgroup. Based on these factors, we estimate that $302 million of the total U.S. federal and $385 million of the state net operating loss would expire unused even if the Company generates sufficient income to otherwise use all its NOLs. In addition, we project that $35 million of the total foreign net operating loss carryforwards will expire unused. We have provided a full valuation allowance against these deferred tax assets as well.

The ultimate realization of our deferred tax assets depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in the future and in the appropriate taxing jurisdictions. We establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when we estimate it is more likely than not that the tax assets will

 

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not be realized. We base these estimates on projections of future income, including tax planning strategies, in certain jurisdictions. Changes in industry conditions and other economic conditions may impact our ability to project future income. ASC Topic 740: “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) requires the establishment of a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, we periodically assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized and determine if adjustments to the valuation allowance are required.

Our total valuation allowance for the tax benefit of deferred tax assets that may not be realized is approximately $374 million at September 30, 2011. Of this amount, approximately $339 million relates to U.S. net deferred tax assets and approximately $35 million relates to foreign net deferred tax assets. During Fiscal 2011, we also determined that a valuation allowance is required against deferred tax assets related to net operating losses in Brazil and thus recorded a $26 million charge. Our total valuation allowance was approximately $331 million at September 30, 2010. Of this amount, approximately $300 million related to U.S. net deferred tax assets and approximately $31 million related to foreign net deferred tax assets.

ASC 740, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions, requires that we recognize in our financial statements the impact of a tax position, if that position is more likely than not to be sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. As of September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective income tax rate in future periods was $9 million and $13 million, respectively. See Note 9, Income Taxes, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2010 Compared to Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2009

Fiscal 2009, when referenced within this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, includes the combined results of Old Spectrum for the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009 and New Spectrum for the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009.

Highlights of Consolidated Operating Results

We have presented the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business as discontinued operations. The board of directors of Old Spectrum committed to the shutdown of this business in November 2008 and the shutdown was completed during the second quarter of our Fiscal 2009. See Note 16, Discontinued Operations of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business. As a result, and unless specifically stated, all discussions regarding Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 only reflect results from our continuing operations.

Year over year historical comparisons are influenced by the acquisition of Russell Hobbs, which is included in our Fiscal 2010 Consolidated Financial Statements of Operations from June 16, 2010, the date of the Merger, through the end of the period. The results of Russell Hobbs are not included in our Fiscal 2009 Consolidated Financial Statement of Operations. See Note 15, Acquisitions of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for supplemental pro forma information providing additional year over year comparisons of the impact of the acquisition.

 

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Net Sales. Net sales for Fiscal 2010 increased to $2,567 million from $2,231 million in Fiscal 2009, a 15.1% increase. The following table details the principal components of the change in net sales from Fiscal 2009 to Fiscal 2010 (in millions):

 

     Net Sales  

Fiscal 2009 Net Sales

   $ 2,231   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—small appliances

     231   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—pet supplies

     6   

Addition of Russell Hobbs—home and garden control products

     1   

Increase in consumer batteries

     33   

Increase in electric shaving and grooming products

     27   

Increase in home and garden control products

     19   

Increase in lighting products

     6   

Increase in electric personal care products

     2   

Decrease in pet supplies

     (16

Foreign currency impact, net

     27   
  

 

 

 

Fiscal 2010 Net Sales

   $ 2,567   
  

 

 

 

Consolidated net sales by product line for Fiscal 2010 and 2009 are as follows (in millions):

 

     Fiscal Year  
     2010      2009  

Product line net sales

     

Consumer batteries

   $ 866       $ 819   

Pet supplies

     566         574   

Home and garden control products

     343         322   

Electric shaving and grooming products

     257         225   

Small appliances

     231         —     

Electric personal care products

     216         211   

Portable lighting products

     88         80   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales to external customers

   $ 2,567       $ 2,231   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Global consumer battery sales during Fiscal 2010 increased $47 million, or 6%, compared to Fiscal 2009, primarily driven by favorable foreign exchange impacts of $15 million coupled with increased sales in North America and Latin America. The sales increase in North America was driven by increased volume with a major customer and the increased sales in Latin America were a result of increased specialty battery sales, driven by successfully leveraging our value proposition, that is, products that work as well as or better than our competitors, at a lower price. These gains were partially offset by decreased consumer battery sales of $22 million in Europe, primarily due to our continued exit of low margin private label battery sales.

Pet product sales during Fiscal 2010 decreased $8 million, or 1%, compared to Fiscal 2009. The decrease of $8 million is attributable to decreased aquatics sales of $11 million and decreased specialty pet products sales of $6 million; these decreases were partially offset by the Merger as it accounted for a Net sales increase of $6 million during Fiscal 2010. Also offsetting the decreases was favorable foreign exchange impacts of $3 million. The $11 million decrease in aquatic sales is due to decreases within the United States and Pacific Rim of $6 million and $5 million, respectively, as a result of reduced demand in this product category due to the macroeconomic slowdown as we maintained our market share in the category. The $6 million decrease in companion animal sales is due to a $9 million decline in the United States, primarily driven by a distribution loss at a major retailer of certain dog shampoo products and the impact of a product recall, which was tempered by increases of $3 million in Europe.

 

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Sales of home and garden control products during Fiscal 2010 increased $21 million, or 6% versus Fiscal 2009. This increase is a result of additional sales to major customers that were driven by incentives to retailers and promotional campaigns during the year in both home and garden control products and household control products.

Electric shaving and grooming product sales during Fiscal 2010 increased $32 million, or 14%, compared to Fiscal 2009 primarily due to increased sales within Europe of $25 million coupled with favorable foreign exchange translation of $5 million. The increase in Europe sales is a result of new product launches, pricing and promotions.

Electric personal care product sales during Fiscal 2010 increased $5 million, or 2%, when compared to Fiscal 2009. The increase of $5 million during Fiscal 2010 was attributable to favorable foreign exchange impacts of $2 million coupled with modest sales increases within Latin America and North America of $3 million and $1 million, respectively. These sales increases were partially offset by modest declines in Europe of $2 million.

Sales of portable lighting products in Fiscal 2010 increased $8 million, or 10%, compared to Fiscal 2009 as a result of increases in North America of $3 million coupled with favorable foreign exchange translation of $2 million. Sales of portable lighting products also increased modestly in both Europe and Latin America.

Small appliances contributed $231 million or 9% of total net sales for Fiscal 2010. This represents sales related to Russell Hobbs from the date of the consummation of the Merger, June 16, 2010, through the close of the Fiscal 2010.

Gross Profit. Gross profit for Fiscal 2010 was $921 million versus $816 million for Fiscal 2009. Our gross profit margin for Fiscal 2010 decreased to 35.9% from 36.6% in Fiscal 2009. The decrease in our gross profit margin is primarily a result of our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Upon the adoption of fresh-start reporting, inventory balances were revalued to fair value at August 30, 2009 resulting in an increase in such inventory balances of $49 million. As a result of the inventory revaluation, we recognized additional cost of goods sold as these inventory items were sold in Fiscal 2009 and 2010, which increased cost of goods sold by $34 million during Fiscal 2010 compared to $15 million of additional cost of goods sold recognized in Fiscal 2009. The impact of the inventory revaluation was offset by lower Restructuring and related charges in Cost of goods sold during Fiscal 2010 of $7 million whereas Fiscal 2009 included $13 million of Restructuring and related charges. The Restructuring and related charges incurred in Fiscal 2010 were primarily associated with cost reduction initiatives announced in 2009. The $13 million of Restructuring and related charges incurred in Fiscal 2009 primarily related to the shutdown of our Ningbo, China battery manufacturing facility. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Operating Expense. Operating expenses for Fiscal 2010 totaled $753 million versus $659 million for Fiscal 2009. The $94 million increase in operating expenses for Fiscal 2010 versus Fiscal 2009 was partially driven by $38 million of Acquisition and integration related charges as a result of our combination with Russell Hobbs pursuant to the Merger. During Fiscal 2010, we also incurred $36 million of additional selling expense and $16 million of additional general and administrative expense related to Russell Hobbs subsequent to the acquisition on June 16, 2010. Also included in Operating expenses for Fiscal 2010 was additional depreciation and amortization as a result of the revaluation of our long lived assets in connection with our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and unfavorable foreign exchange translation of $7 million. These increases were partially offset by the non-recurrence of the non-cash impairment charge related to certain long lived intangible assets of $34 million in Fiscal 2009 and lower Restructuring and related charges of approximately $15 million as $17 million of such charges were incurred in Fiscal 2010 compared to $32 million in Fiscal 2009. See “ Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

 

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Operating Income. Operating income of approximately $169 million was recognized in Fiscal 2010 compared to Fiscal 2009 operating income of $157 million. The increase in operating income is attributable to Russell Hobbs income of $13 million, increased sales in our remaining segments and the non-reoccurrence of the previously discussed non-cash Fiscal 2009 impairment charge of $34 million. This was partially offset by $39 million of Acquisition and integration related charges incurred in Fiscal 2010 related to the Merger.

Adjusted EBITDA. Management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures may be useful in certain instances to provide additional meaningful comparisons between current results and results in prior operating periods. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is a metric used by management and frequently used by the financial community. Adjusted EBITDA provides insight into an organization’s operating trends and facilitates comparisons between peer companies, since interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization can differ greatly between organizations as a result of differing capital structures and tax strategies. Adjusted EBITDA can also be a useful measure of a company’s ability to service debt and is one of the measures used for determining the Company’s debt covenant compliance. Adjusted EBITDA excludes certain items that are unusual in nature or not comparable from period to period. While the Company’s management believes that non-GAAP measurements are useful supplemental information, such adjusted results are not intended to replace the Company’s GAAP financial results.

Adjusted EBITDA, which includes the results of Russell Hobbs’ businesses as if it was combined with Spectrum for all periods presented (see reconciliation of GAAP Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBITDA by segment below) was $432 million for Fiscal 2010 compared with $391 million for Fiscal 2009.

Segment Results. As discussed under “Business Overview” above we manage our business in three reportable segments: (i) Global Batteries & Appliances, (ii) Global Pet Supplies; and (iii) Home and Garden Business.

Operating segment profits do not include restructuring and related charges, acquisition and integration related charges, interest expense, interest income, impairment charges, reorganization items and income tax expense. Expenses associated with global operations, consisting of research and development, manufacturing management, global purchasing, quality operations and inbound supply chain are included in the determination of operating segment profits. In connection with the realignment of reportable segments discussed above, expenses associated with certain general and administrative functions necessary to reflect the operating segments on a standalone basis have been excluded in the determination of reportable segment profits. The costs associated with these functions were previously reflected in operating segment profits. Accordingly, corporate expenses primarily include general and administrative expenses and the costs of global long-term incentive compensation plans which are evaluated on a consolidated basis and not allocated to our operating segments.

All depreciation and amortization included in income from operations is related to operating segments or corporate expense. Costs are allocated to operating segments or corporate expense according to the function of each cost center. All capital expenditures are related to operating segments. Variable allocations of assets are not made for segment reporting.

Global strategic initiatives and financial objectives for each reportable segment are determined at the corporate level. Each reportable segment is responsible for implementing defined strategic initiatives and achieving certain financial objectives and has a general manager responsible for the sales and marketing initiatives and financial results for product lines within that segment. Financial information pertaining to our reportable segments is contained in Note 11, Segment Information, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Below are reconciliations of GAAP Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations to Adjusted EBIT and Adjusted EBITDA by segment and for Consolidated SB Holdings for Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009:

 

     Fiscal 2010  
     Global
Batteries &
Appliances
    Global Pet
Supplies
     Home and
Garden
Business
    Corporate /
Unallocated
Items(a)
    Consolidated
SB Holdings
 
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ 143      $ 51       $ 40      $ (424   $ (190

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          —           3        —          3   

Income tax expense

     —          —           —          63        63   

Interest expense

     —          —           —          195        195   

Write-off unamortized discounts and financing fees(b)

     —          —           —          82        82   

Pre-acquisition earnings

     61        4         1        —          66   

Restructuring and related charges

     4        7         8        5        24   

Acquisition and integration related charges

     15        —           —          24        39   

Reorganization items

     —          —           —          3        3   

Accelerated depreciation and amortization(c)

     —          —           (1     (2     (3

Fresh-start inventory fair value adjustment

     18        14         2        —          34   

Russell Hobbs inventory fair value adjustment

     3        —           —          —          3   

Brazilian IPI credit/other

     (5     —           —          —          (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

   $ 239      $ 76       $ 53      $ (54   $ 314   

Depreciation and amortization(d)

     58        28         15        17        118   

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 297      $ 104       $ 68      $ (37   $ 432   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     Fiscal 2009  
     Global
Batteries &
Appliances
    Global Pet
Supplies
     Home and
Garden
Business
    Corporate /
Unallocated
Items(a)
    Consolidated
SB Holdings
 
     (in millions)  

Net income (loss)

   $ 132      $ 42       $ (51   $ 820      $ 943   

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —          —           87        —          87   

Income tax expense

     —          —           —          74        74   

Interest expense

     —          —           —          190        190   

Pre-acquisition earnings

     75        3         3        —          81   

Restructuring and related charges

     21        6         6        13        46   

Reorganization items

     —          —           —          (1,139     (1,139

Intangibles impairment

     15        19         —          —          34   

Fresh-start inventory and other fair value adjustment

     10        5         1        1        17   

Accelerated depreciation and amortization(c)

     (3     —           (1     —          (4

Brazilian IPI credit/other

     (5     —           —          —          (5
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBIT

   $ 245      $ 75       $ 45      $ (41   $ 324   

Depreciation and amortization(d)

     29        22         13        3        67   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 274      $ 97       $ 58      $ (38   $ 391   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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(a) It is our policy to record Income tax expense (benefit) and interest expense on a consolidated basis. Accordingly, such amounts are not reflected in the operating results of the operating segments.
(b) Adjustment reflects the following: (i) $61 million write-off of unamortized deferred financing fees and discounts associated with our restructured capital structure, refinanced on June 16, 2010; (ii) $4 million related to pre-payment premiums associated with the paydown of our old asset based revolving credit facility and supplemental loan extinguished on June 16, 2010; and (iii) $17 million related to the termination of interest rate swaps and commitment fees.
(c) Adjustment reflects restricted stock amortization and accelerated depreciation associated with certain restructuring initiatives. Inasmuch as this amount is included within Restructuring and related charges, this adjustment negates the impact of reflecting the add-back of depreciation and amortization.
(d) Included within depreciation and amortization is amortization of unearned restricted stock compensation.

Global Batteries & Appliances

 

     2010     2009  
     (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 1,658      $ 1,335   

Segment profit

   $ 171      $ 172   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     10.3     12.8

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 297      $ 274   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 2,477      $ 1,608   

Segment net sales to external customers in Fiscal 2010 increased $323 million to $1,658 million from $1,335 million during Fiscal 2009, representing a 24% increase. The Merger accounted for a Net sales increase of $231 million in the small appliances product category during Fiscal 2010. Favorable foreign currency translation impacted net sales in Fiscal 2010 by approximately $24 million in comparison to Fiscal 2009.

Consumer battery sales for Fiscal 2010 increased to $866 million when compared to Fiscal 2009 sales of $819 million, primarily due to increased specialty battery sales of $26 million and increased alkaline battery sales of $6 million, coupled with favorable foreign currency translation of $15 million. The $26 million increase in specialty battery sales is driven by growth in Latin America, principally reflecting our success in leveraging our value proposition, that is, products that work as well as or better than our competitors, at a lower price. The $6 million increase in alkaline sales is driven by the increased sales in North America, attributable to an increase in market share, as consumers opt for our value proposition during the weakening economic conditions in the U.S, which was tempered by a decline in alkaline battery sales in Europe as we continued efforts to exit from unprofitable or marginally profitable private label battery sales, as well as certain second tier branded battery sales. We are continuing our efforts to promote profitable growth and therefore, expect to continue to exit certain low margin business as appropriate to create a more favorable mix of branded versus private label products.

Net sales of electric shaving and grooming products increased by $32 million, or 14% in Fiscal 2010, compared to Fiscal 2009. This increase was primarily due to an increase of $25 million in Europe, excluding foreign currency translation, as a result of successful promotions and operational execution. Positive foreign exchange translation impacted net sales of electric shaving and grooming products in Fiscal 2010 by $5 million. Electric personal care sales increased by $5 million, or 3%, over Fiscal 2009. Favorable foreign currency translation impacted net sales by approximately $3 million. Excluding favorable foreign exchange, we experienced modest electric personal care product sales increases within all geographic regions.

Net sales of portable lighting products for Fiscal 2010 increased to $88 million as compared to sales of $80 million for Fiscal 2009, an increase of 10%. The portable lighting product sales increase was primarily driven by a favorable foreign exchange impact of $2 million, coupled with increased sales in North America of $3 million, driven by increased sales with a major customer as a result of new product introductions.

 

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Segment profitability during Fiscal 2010 decreased slightly to $171 million from $172 million in Fiscal 2009. Segment profitability as a percentage of net sales decreased to 10.3% in Fiscal 2010 compared to 12.8% in Fiscal 2009. The decrease in segment profitability during Fiscal 2010 was mainly attributable to a $19 million increase in cost of goods sold due to the sale of inventory that was revalued in fresh-start accounting coupled with approximately a $16 million increase in intangible asset amortization also due to our adoption of fresh-start reporting upon our emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. Offsetting these decreases to segment profitability was additional segment profit realized from the Merger of $11 million, higher sales, as discussed above, and savings from our restructuring and related initiatives announced in Fiscal 2009. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2010 was $297 million compared to $274 million in Fiscal 2009. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA is mainly driven by the efficient cost structure now in place from our cost reduction initiatives announced in Fiscal 2009 coupled with increases in market share in certain of our product categories.

Segment assets increased to $2,477 million at September 30, 2010 from $1,608 million at September 30, 2009. The increase in assets is directly related to the Merger. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are directly a result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and the Merger, increased to $1,355 million at September 30, 2010 from $909 million at September 30, 2009. The increase is mainly due to goodwill and intangible assets of $468 million related to the Merger, which was partially offset by amortization of definite lived intangible assets of $22 million.

Foreign Currency Translation—Venezuela Impacts

The Global Batteries & Appliances segment does business in Venezuela through a Venezuelan subsidiary. At January 4, 2010, the beginning of our second quarter of Fiscal 2010, we determined that Venezuela meets the definition of a highly inflationary economy under GAAP. As a result, beginning January 4, 2010, the U.S. dollar is the functional currency for our Venezuelan subsidiary. Accordingly, going forward, currency remeasurement adjustments for this subsidiary’s financial statements and other transactional foreign exchange gains and losses are reflected in earnings. Through January 3, 2010, prior to being designated as highly inflationary, translation adjustments related to the Venezuelan subsidiary were reflected in Shareholders’ equity as a component of AOCI.

The designation of our Venezuela entity as a highly inflationary economy and the devaluation of the Bolivar fuerte resulted in a $1 million reduction to our operating income during Fiscal 2010. We also reported a foreign exchange loss in Other expense (income), net, of $10 million during Fiscal 2010 related to transactions in the Bolivar fuerte.

Global Pet Supplies

 

     2010     2009  
   (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 566      $ 574   

Segment profit

   $ 58      $ 66   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     10.2     11.5

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 104      $ 97   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 839      $ 867   

Segment net sales to external customers in Fiscal 2010 decreased to $566 million from $574 million in Fiscal 2009, representing a decrease of $8 million or 1%. The $8 million decrease was attributable to lower aquatics sales of $11 million and lower specialty pet product sales of $6 million, which were offset by favorable foreign exchange impacts of $3 million. The decrease in aquatics sales was primarily due to general softness in

 

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this category. The decrease in specialty pet product sales was driven by a distribution loss at a major retailer of certain dog shampoo products and the impact of a product recall. The Merger accounted for a Net sales increase of $6 million during Fiscal 2010.

Segment profitability in Fiscal 2010 decreased to $58 million from $66 million in Fiscal 2009. Segment profitability as a percentage of sales in Fiscal 2010 also decreased to 10.2% from 11.5% during Fiscal 2009. This decrease in segment profitability and profitability margin was primarily attributable to increases in cost of goods sold and in intangible asset amortization because we revalued the related inventory and intangible assets when we adopted fresh-start reporting upon our emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The decrease in Fiscal 2010 segment profitability was tempered by improved pricing and lower manufacturing and operating costs as a result of our global cost reduction initiatives announced in Fiscal 2009. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2010 was $104 million compared to $97 million in Fiscal 2009. Despite decreased net sales during Fiscal 2010 of $8 million, our successful efforts to create a lower cost structure including the closure and consolidation of some of our pet facilities, and improved product mix, resulted in Adjusted EBITDA increase of $7 million. See “ Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, for further detail on our Fiscal 2009 initiatives.

Segment assets decreased to $839 million as of September 30, 2010 from $867 million at September 30, 2009. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are a direct result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and the Merger, decreased to $602 million at September 30, 2010 from $618 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease is mainly due to amortization of definite lived intangible assets of $15 million and foreign exchange impacts of $14 million, which were partially offset by the increase of goodwill and intangible assets of $13 million related to the Merger.

Home and Garden Business

 

     2010     2009  
   (in millions)  

Net sales to external customers

   $ 343      $ 322   

Segment profit

   $ 51      $ 42   

Segment profit as a % of net sales

     14.9     13.0

Segment Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 68      $ 58   

Assets as of September 30,

   $ 496      $ 504   

Segment net sales to external customers of home and garden control products during Fiscal 2010 increased $21 million, or 7% versus Fiscal 2009, driven by incentives to retailers and promotional campaigns during the year in both home and garden control products and household control products.

Segment profitability in Fiscal 2010 increased to $51 million compared to $42 million in Fiscal 2009. Segment profitability as a percentage of sales in Fiscal 2010 increased to 14.9% from 13.0% in Fiscal 2009. This increase in segment profitability was attributable to savings from our global cost reduction initiatives announced in Fiscal 2009. See “Restructuring and Related Charges” below, as well as Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges. The increase in profitability during Fiscal 2010 was tempered by a $2 million increase in cost of goods sold due to our revaluation of inventory and intangible assets when we adopted fresh-start reporting upon our emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. These valuation increases resulted in higher cost of goods sold and increased intangible asset amortization of our customer relationships in Fiscal 2010.

 

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Segment Adjusted EBITDA in Fiscal 2010 was $68 million compared to $58 million in Fiscal 2009. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA during Fiscal 2010 was mainly driven by expanded promotions at our top retailers and strong sales growth.

Segment assets as of September 30, 2010 decreased to $496 million from $504 million at September 30, 2009. Goodwill and intangible assets, which are a direct result of the revaluation impacts of fresh-start reporting and the Merger, decreased to $410 million at September 30, 2010 from $419 million at September 30, 2009. The decrease of $9 million is primarily driven by amortization associated with definite lived intangible assets.

Corporate Expense. Our corporate expense in Fiscal 2010 increased to $49 million from $42 million in Fiscal 2009. The increase is primarily due to additional stock compensation expense of $17 million in Fiscal 2010 compared to $3 million of stock compensation expense in Fiscal 2009. Our corporate expense as a percentage of consolidated net sales in both Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 was 1.9%.

Restructuring and Related Charges. See Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our restructuring and related charges.

The following table summarizes all restructuring and related charges we incurred in Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009 (in millions):

 

     2010     2009  

Costs included in cost of goods sold:

    

Latin America Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

   $ —        $ 0.2   

Global Realignment Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     0.2        0.3   

Other associated costs

     (0.1     0.9   

Ningbo Exit Plan:

    

Termination benefits

     —          0.9   

Other associated costs

     2.1        8.6   

Global Cost Reduction Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     2.6        0.2   

Other associated costs

     2.3        2.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in cost of goods sold

   $ 7.1      $ 13.4   

Costs included in operating expenses:

    

United & Tetra integration:

    

Termination benefits

   $ —        $ 2.3   

Other associated costs

     —          0.3   

European Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     (0.1     —     

Global Realignment Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     5.4        7.1   

Other associated costs

     (1.9     3.5   

Ningbo Exit Plan:

    

Other associated costs

     —          1.3   

Global Cost Reduction Initiatives:

    

Termination benefits

     4.3        6.6   

Other associated costs

     9.3        11.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total included in operating expenses

   $ 17.0      $ 32.4   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total restructuring and related charges

   $ 24.1      $ 45.8   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

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In Fiscal 2007, we began managing our business in three vertically integrated, product-focused reporting segments; Global Batteries & Personal Care (which, effective October 1, 2010, includes the appliance portion of Russell Hobbs, collectively, Global Batteries & Appliances), Global Pet Supplies and the Home and Garden Business. As part of this realignment, our global operations organization, consisting of research and development, manufacturing management, global purchasing, quality operations and inbound supply chain, was transferred to the operating segments in order to move these important activities closer to the customer. In connection with these changes we undertook a number of cost reduction initiatives, primarily headcount reductions at the corporate and operating segment levels (the “Global Realignment Initiatives”). We recorded approximately $4 million and $11 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009, respectively, in connection with the Global Realignment Initiatives. Costs associated with these initiatives, which are expected to be incurred through June 30, 2011, relate primarily to severance and are projected at approximately $89 million.

During Fiscal 2008, we implemented an initiative within the Global Batteries & Appliances segment to reduce operating costs and rationalize our manufacturing structure. These initiatives, which are substantially complete, include the exit of our battery manufacturing facility in Ningbo Baowang China (“Ningbo”) (the “Ningbo Exit Plan”). We recorded approximately $2 million and $11 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009, respectively, in connection with the Ningbo Exit Plan. We have recorded pretax and restructuring and related charges of approximately $29 million since the inception of the Ningbo Exit Plan.

During Fiscal 2009, we implemented a series of initiatives within the Global Batteries & Appliances segment and the Global Pet Supplies segment to reduce operating costs as well as evaluate our opportunities to improve our capital structure (the “Global Cost Reduction Initiatives”). These initiatives included headcount reductions within all our segments and the exit of certain facilities in the U.S. related to the Global Pet Supplies segment. These initiatives also included expenditures for banking and legal and accounting consultation fees related to the evaluation of our capital structure. We recorded $18 million and $20 million of pretax restructuring and related charges during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009, respectively, related to the Global Cost Reduction Initiatives. Costs associated with these initiatives, which are expected to be incurred through March 31, 2014, are projected at approximately $65 million.

Acquisition and integration related charges. Acquisition and integration related charges reflected in Operating expenses include, but are not limited to, transaction costs such as banking, legal and accounting professional fees directly related to the acquisition, termination and related costs for transitional and certain other employees, integration related professional fees and other post business combination related expenses associated with the Merger with Russell Hobbs. We incurred $38 million of Acquisition and integration related charges during Fiscal 2010, which consisted of the following: (i) $25 million of legal and professional fees; (ii) $10 million of employee termination charges; and (iii) $4 million of integration costs.

Goodwill and Intangibles Impairment. Current accounting standards require companies to test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. In Fiscal 2010 and 2009, we tested our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as required. As a result of this testing, we recorded a non-cash pretax impairment charge of $34 million in Fiscal 2009. The $34 million non-cash pretax impairment charge incurred in Fiscal 2009 reflects trade name intangible asset impairments of the following: $18 million related to Global Pet Supplies; $15 million related to the Global Batteries and Appliances segment; and $1 million related to the Home and Garden Business. See Note 2(i), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Intangible Assets, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on this impairment charge.

Interest Expense. Interest expense in Fiscal 2010 increased to $277 million from $190 million in Fiscal 2009. The increase was driven primarily by the following unusual items: (i) $55 million representing the write-off of the unamortized portion of discounts and premiums related to debt that was paid off in conjunction

 

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with our refinancing, a non-cash charge; (ii) $9 million related to bridge commitment fees we paid while we were refinancing our debt; (iii) $6 million representing the write-off of the unamortized debt issuance costs related to debt that was paid off, a non-cash charge; (iv) $4 million related to a prepayment premium; and (v) $3 million related to the termination of a Euro-denominated interest rate swap.

Reorganization Items. During Fiscal 2010, we, in connection with our reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code, recorded Reorganization items expense (income), net of approximately $4 million, which primarily consisted of legal and professional fees. During Fiscal 2009 Old Spectrum recorded Reorganization items expense (income), net, which represents a gain of approximately $(1,143) million. Reorganization items expense (income), net included the following: (i) gain on cancellation of debt of $(147) million; (ii) gains in connection with fresh-start reporting adjustments of $(1,088) million; (iii) legal and professional fees of $75 million; (iv) write off deferred financing costs related to the Senior Subordinated Notes of $11 million; and (v) a provision for rejected leases of $6 million. During Fiscal 2009, New Spectrum recorded Reorganization items expense (income), net which represents expense of $4 million related to professional fees. See Note 2(x) Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Reorganization items, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information related to our reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code.

Income Taxes. In Fiscal 2010, we recorded income tax expense of $63 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $124 million, and in Fiscal 2009, New Spectrum recorded income tax expense of $51 million on a pretax loss from continuing operations of $20 million for the period from August 31, 2009 through September 30, 2009, and Old Spectrum recorded income tax expense of $23 million on pretax income from continuing operations of $1,123 million for the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009. Our effective tax rate on our loss from continuing operations was approximately (50.9)% for Fiscal 2010. Our effective tax rate on our income (loss) from continuing operations was approximately 2.0% for Old Spectrum and (256)% for New Spectrum during Fiscal 2009. The primary drivers of the effective rate as compared to the U.S. statutory rate of 35% for Fiscal 2010 include tax expense recorded for an increase in the valuation allowance associated with our net U.S. deferred tax asset and the tax consequences of the reorganization items that we recognized in connection with our emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. In addition, our income tax provision for the year ended September 30, 2010 reflects the correction of a prior period error which increases our income tax provision by approximately $6 million.

As of September 30, 2010, we had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $1,087 million and $936 million, respectively. These net operating loss carryforwards expire through years ending in 2031. We also have foreign loss carryforwards of approximately $195 million, which will expire beginning in 2011. Certain of the foreign net operating losses have indefinite carryforward periods. We are subject to an annual limitation on the use of our U.S. net operating losses that arose prior to our emergence from bankruptcy. We have had multiple changes of ownership, as defined under Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) Section 382, that subject our U.S. federal and state net operating losses and other tax attributes to certain limitations. The annual limitation on our use of these carryforwards is based on a number of factors including the value of our stock (as defined for tax purposes) on the date of the ownership change, our net unrealized built in gain position on that date, the occurrence of realized built in gains in years subsequent to the ownership change, and the effects of subsequent ownership changes (as defined for tax purposes) if any. In addition, separate return year limitations apply to limit our utilization of the acquired Russell Hobbs U.S. federal and state net operating losses to future income of the Russell Hobbs subgroup. Based on these factors, we project that $296 million of the total U.S. federal and $463 million of the state net operating loss will expire unused. In addition, we project that $38 million of the total foreign net operating loss carryforwards will expire unused. We have provided a full valuation allowance against these deferred tax assets.

We recognized income tax expense of approximately $124 million related to the gain on the settlement of liabilities subject to compromise and the modification of the senior secured credit facility in the period from October 1, 2008 through August 30, 2009. This adjustment, net of a change in valuation allowance, is embedded

 

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in Reorganization items expense (income), net. We have, in accordance with the IRC Section 108, reduced our net operating loss carryforwards for cancellation of debt income that arose from our emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code under IRC Section 382 (1)(6).

The ultimate realization of our deferred tax assets depends on our ability to generate sufficient taxable income of the appropriate character in the future and in the appropriate taxing jurisdictions. We establish valuation allowances for deferred tax assets when we estimate it is more likely than not that the tax assets will not be realized. We base these estimates on projections of future income, including tax planning strategies, in certain jurisdictions. Changes in industry conditions and other economic conditions may impact our ability to project future income. ASC Topic 740: “Income Taxes” (“ASC 740”) requires the establishment of a valuation allowance when it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In accordance with ASC 740, we periodically assess the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized and determine if adjustments to the valuation allowance are required.

Our total valuation allowance for the tax benefit of deferred tax assets that may not be realized was approximately $331 million at September 30, 2010. Of this amount, approximately $300 million relates to U.S. net deferred tax assets and approximately $31 million relates to foreign net deferred tax assets. In connection with the Merger, we established an additional valuation allowance of approximately $104 million related to acquired net deferred tax assets as part of acquisition accounting. In 2009, Old Spectrum recorded a reduction in the valuation allowance against the U.S. net deferred tax asset exclusive of indefinite lived intangible assets primarily as a result of utilizing net operating losses to offset the gain on settlement of liabilities subject to compromise and the impact of the fresh start reporting adjustments. New Spectrum recorded a reduction in the domestic valuation allowance of $47 million as a reduction to goodwill as a result of New Spectrum income. Our total valuation allowance established for the tax benefit of deferred tax assets that may not be realized is approximately $133 million at September 30, 2009. Of this amount, approximately $109 million relates to U.S. net deferred tax assets and approximately $24 million relates to foreign net deferred tax assets.

ASC 740, which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in tax positions, requires that we recognize in our financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. As of September 30, 2010 and September 30, 2009, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective income tax rate in future periods was $13 million and $8 million, respectively. See Note 9, Income Taxes, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information.

 

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Discontinued Operations. On November 5, 2008, the board of directors of Old Spectrum committed to the shutdown of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business, which included the manufacturing and marketing of fertilizers, enriched soils, mulch and grass seed, following an evaluation of the historical lack of profitability and the projected input costs and significant working capital demands for the growing product portion of the Home and Garden Business during Fiscal 2009. We believe the shutdown is consistent with what we have done in other areas of our business to eliminate unprofitable products from our portfolio. We completed this business during the second quarter of Fiscal 2009. Accordingly, the presentation herein of the results of continuing operations excludes the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business for all periods presented. See Note 16, Discontinued Operations, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on the disposal of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business. The following amounts related to the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business have been segregated from continuing operations and are reflected as discontinued operations during Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009, respectively (in millions):

 

     2010     2009  

Net sales

   $ —        $ 31.3   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations before income taxes

   $ (2.5   $ (90.9

Provision for income tax benefit

     0.2        (4.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

   $ (2.7   $ (86.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operating activities was $227 million during Fiscal 2011 compared to $57 million during Fiscal 2010. Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $227 million during Fiscal 2011 compared to $68 million during Fiscal 2010. The $159 million increase in cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was primarily due to:

 

   

Higher income from continuing operations of $105 million before income tax expense, interest expense and non-cash impairments and;

 

   

The non-recurrence in Fiscal 2011 of $47 million of administrative related reorganization items which were paid in Fiscal 2010 in connection with our voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 that were filed during Fiscal 2009 and;

 

   

A $53 million generation of cash from working capital and other items driven by lower inventories partially offset by lower accounts payable, partially offset by;

 

   

Higher cash payments for interest of $29 million related primarily to interest on our 12% Notes which was paid-in-kind during Fiscal 2010. See “Financing Activities-Senior Term Credit Facility” below, as well as Note 7, Debt, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information regarding our outstanding debt and;

 

   

Higher cash acquisition and restructuring costs of $6 million including payments related to the integration of the Russell Hobbs business and;

 

   

Other items totaling a use of $11 million

Cash used by operating activities from discontinued operations was de minimis in Fiscal 2011 compared to a use of $11 million in Fiscal 2010. The operating activities of discontinued operations were related to the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business. See “Discontinued Operations,” above, as well as Note 16, Discontinued Operations, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for further details on the disposal of the growing products portion of the Home and Garden Business.

We expect to fund our cash requirements, including capital expenditures, interest and principal payments due in Fiscal 2012 through a combination of cash on hand and cash flows from operations and available borrowings under our ABL Revolving Credit Facility. Going forward, our ability to satisfy financial and other

 

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covenants in our senior credit agreements and senior subordinated indenture and to make scheduled payments or prepayments on our debt and other financial obligations will depend on our future financial and operating performance. There can be no assurances that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operations or that future borrowings under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility will be available in an amount sufficient to satisfy our debt maturities or to fund our other liquidity needs. In addition, the current economic crisis could have a further negative impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Item 1A. Risk Factors, for further discussion of the risks associated with our ability to service all of our existing indebtedness, our ability to maintain compliance with financial and other covenants related to our indebtedness and the impact of the current economic crisis.

Investing Activities. Net cash used by investing activities was $46 million during Fiscal 2011 compared to a net cash use of $43 million during Fiscal 2010. This increase in cash used was a result of an $8 million increase in cash used for acquisitions and $6 million of cash used for other investing activity during Fiscal 2011, which consisted primarily of cash used to acquire proprietary technology. These increases were partially offset by $7 million of cash proceeds related to the sale of our Ningbo manufacturing facility and a $4 million decrease in capital expenditures during Fiscal 2011.

Financing Activities

Debt Financing

In connection with the Merger, we (i) entered into a new senior secured term loan pursuant to a new senior credit agreement (the “Senior Credit Agreement”) consisting of a $750 million term loan facility, (ii) issued $750 million in aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Notes and (iii) entered into a $300 million ABL Revolving Credit Facility. The proceeds from the Senior Secured Facilities were used to repay our then-existing senior term credit facility that existed at the time of emergence from Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code (the “Prior Term Facility”) and our then-existing asset based revolving loan facility, to pay fees and expenses in connection with the refinancing and for general corporate purposes.

The 9.5% Notes and 12% Notes were issued by Spectrum Brands. SB/RH Holdings, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SB Holdings, and the wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Spectrum Brands are the guarantors under the 9.5% Notes. The wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Spectrum Brands are the guarantors under the 12% Notes. SB Holdings is not an issuer or guarantor of the 9.5% Notes or the 12% Notes. SB Holdings is also not a borrower or guarantor under the Company’s Term Loan or the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. Spectrum Brands is the borrower under the Term Loan and its wholly owned domestic subsidiaries along with SB/RH Holdings, LLC are the guarantors under that facility. Spectrum Brands and its wholly owned domestic subsidiaries are the borrowers under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility and SB/RH Holdings, LLC is a guarantor of that facility.

On November 2, 2011, we announced the offering of $200 million aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Notes; these notes are in addition to the $750 million aggregative principal amount of 9.5% Notes already outstanding. The additional notes will vote together with the existing 9.5% Notes.

Senior Term Credit Facility

On February 1, 2011, we completed the refinancing of our term loan facility established in connection with the Merger, which, at that time, had an aggregate amount outstanding of $680 million, with a new amended and restated credit agreement, together with the amended ABL Revolving Credit Facility, (the “Secured Credit Facilities”) at a lower interest rate. The Term Loan reduces scheduled principal amortizations to approximately $7 million per year, contains a one-year soft call protection of 1% on refinancing but none on other voluntary prepayments, and has the same financial, negative (other than a more favorable ability to repurchase other indebtedness) and affirmative covenants and events of default as the former term loan facility.

 

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The Term Loan was issued at par with a maturity date of June 17, 2016. Subject to certain mandatory prepayment events, the Term Loan is subject to repayment according to a scheduled amortization, with the final payment of all amounts outstanding, plus accrued and unpaid interest, due at maturity. Among other things, the Term Loan provides for interest on the Term Loan at a rate per annum equal to, at our option, the LIBO rate (adjusted for statutory reserves) subject to a 1.00% floor plus a margin equal to 4.00%, or an alternate base rate plus a margin equal to 3.00%.

The Term Loan contains financial covenants with respect to debt, including, but not limited to, a maximum leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio, which covenants, pursuant to their terms, become more restrictive over time. In addition, the Term Loan contains customary restrictive covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to incur additional indebtedness, create liens, make investments or specified payments, give guarantees, pay dividends, make capital expenditures and merge or acquire or sell assets. Pursuant to a guarantee and collateral agreement, we and our domestic subsidiaries have guaranteed our respective obligations under the Term Loan and related loan documents and have pledged substantially all of our respective assets to secure such obligations. The Term Loan also provides for customary events of default, including payment defaults and cross-defaults on other material indebtedness.

We incurred approximately $11 million of fees during Fiscal 2011 in connection with the Term Loan. The fees are classified as Debt issuance costs within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the remaining life of the Term Loan. In connection with the refinancing, included in Fiscal 2011 Interest expense are cash charges of approximately $5 million and accelerated amortization of portions of the unamortized discount and unamortized Debt issuance costs totaling approximately $24 million. In connection with voluntary prepayments of $220 million of the Term Loan during Fiscal 2011, we recorded cash charges of approximately $1 million and accelerated amortization of portions of the unamortized discount and unamortized Debt issuance costs totaling approximately $8 million as an adjustment to increase interest expense.

At September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the Senior Credit Agreement.

9.5% Notes

At both September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, we had outstanding principal of $750 million under the 9.5% Notes maturing June 15, 2018. Subsequent to September 30, 2011 we issued an additional $200 million under the 9.5% Notes.

We may redeem all or a part of the 9.5% Notes, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice at specified redemption prices. Further, the indenture governing the 9.5% Notes (the “2018 Indenture”) requires us to make an offer, in cash, to repurchase all or a portion of the applicable outstanding notes for a specified redemption price, including a redemption premium, upon the occurrence of a change of control of the Company, as defined in such indenture.

The 2018 Indenture contains customary covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness, payment of dividends on or redemption or repurchase of equity interests, the making of certain investments, expansion into unrelated businesses, creation of liens on assets, merger or consolidation with another company, transfer or sale of all or substantially all assets, and transactions with affiliates.

In addition, the 2018 Indenture provides for customary events of default, including failure to make required payments, failure to comply with certain agreements or covenants, failure to make payments on or acceleration of certain other indebtedness, and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. Events of default under the 2018 Indenture arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency will automatically cause the acceleration of the amounts due under the 9.5% Notes. If any other event of default under the 2018 Indenture occurs and is continuing, the trustee for the 2018 Indenture or the registered holders of at least 25% in the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 9.5% Notes may declare the acceleration of the amounts due under those notes.

 

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The 9.5% Notes were issued at a 1.37% discount and were recorded net of the $10 million amount incurred. The discount is being amortized as an adjustment to the carrying value of principal with a corresponding charge to interest expense over the remaining life of the 9.5% Notes. During Fiscal 2010, we recorded $21 million of fees in connection with the issuance of the 9.5% Notes. The fees are classified as Debt issuance costs within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the remaining life of the 9.5% Notes.

At September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the 9.5% Notes and the 2018 Indenture.

12% Notes

On August 28, 2009, in connection with emergence from the voluntary reorganization under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code and pursuant to the Debtors’ confirmed plan of reorganization, we issued $218 million in aggregate principal amount of 12% Notes maturing August 28, 2019. Semiannually, at our option, we may elect to pay interest on the 12% Notes in cash or as payment in kind, (“PIK”). PIK interest is added to principal upon the relevant semi-annual interest payment date. Under the Prior Term Facility, we agreed to make interest payments on the 12% Notes through PIK for the first three semi-annual interest payment periods following the Effective Date. As a result of the refinancing of the Prior Term Facility, we are no longer required to make interest payments as payment in kind after the semi-annual interest payment date of August 28, 2010.

We may redeem all or a part of the 12% Notes, upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice, beginning August 28, 2012 at specified redemption prices. Further, the indenture governing the 12% Notes (the “2019 Indenture”) requires us to make an offer, in cash, to repurchase all or a portion of the applicable outstanding notes for a specified redemption price, including a redemption premium, upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined in such indenture.

At September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, we had outstanding principal of $245 million under the 12% Notes, including PIK interest of $27 million that was added during Fiscal 2010.

The 2019 Indenture, contains customary covenants that limit, among other things, the incurrence of additional indebtedness, payment of dividends on or redemption or repurchase of equity interests, the making of certain investments, expansion into unrelated businesses, creation of liens on assets, merger or consolidation with another company, transfer or sale of all or substantially all assets, and transactions with affiliates.

In addition, the 2019 Indenture provides for customary events of default, including failure to make required payments, failure to comply with certain agreements or covenants, failure to make payments on or acceleration of certain other indebtedness, and certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency. Events of default under the 2019 Indenture arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency will automatically cause the acceleration of the amounts due under the 12% Notes. If any other event of default under the 2019 Indenture occurs and is continuing, the trustee for the indenture or the registered holders of at least 25% in the then aggregate outstanding principal amount of the 12% Notes may declare the acceleration of the amounts due under those notes.

In connection with the Merger, we obtained the consent of the note holders to certain amendments to the 2019 Indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”). The Supplemental Indenture became effective upon the closing of the Merger. Among other things, the Supplemental Indenture amended the definition of change in control to exclude the Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd. (“Harbinger Master Fund”), Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P. (“Harbinger Special Fund”) and, together with Harbinger Master Fund, the “HCP Funds”), Global Opportunities Breakaway Ltd. (together with the HCP Funds, the “Harbinger Parties”) and their respective affiliates, and increased the Company’s ability to incur indebtedness up to $1,850 million.

 

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During Fiscal 2010 we recorded $3 million of fees in connection with the consent. The fees are classified as Debt issuance costs within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the remaining life of the 12% Notes effective with the closing of the Merger.

At September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the 12% Notes and the 2019 Indenture.

ABL Revolving Credit Facility

On April 21, 2011 we amended our ABL Revolving Credit Facility. The amended facility carries an interest rate, at our option, which is subject to change based on availability under the facility, of either: (a) the base rate plus currently 1.25% per annum or (b) the reserve-adjusted LIBO rate (the “Eurodollar Rate”) plus currently 2.25% per annum. No amortization is required with respect to the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. The ABL Revolving Credit Facility is scheduled to mature on April 21, 2016.

The ABL Revolving Credit Facility is governed by a credit agreement (the “ABL Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America as administrative agent (the “Agent”). The ABL Revolving Credit Facility consists of revolving loans (the “Revolving Loans”), with a portion available for letters of credit and a portion available as swing line loans, in each case subject to the terms and limits described therein.

The Revolving Loans may be drawn, repaid and re-borrowed without premium or penalty. The proceeds of borrowings under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility are to be used for costs, expenses and fees in connection with the ABL Revolving Credit Facility, for working capital requirements, restructuring costs, and other general corporate purposes.

The ABL Credit Agreement contains various representations and warranties and covenants, including, without limitation, enhanced collateral reporting, and a maximum fixed charge coverage ratio. The ABL Credit Agreement also provides for customary events of default, including payment defaults and cross-defaults on other material indebtedness. Pursuant to the credit and security agreement, the obligations under the ABL credit agreement are secured by certain current assets of the guarantors, including, but not limited to, deposit accounts, trade receivables and inventory.

During Fiscal 2010 we recorded $10 million of fees in connection with the ABL Revolving Credit Facility. During Fiscal 2011, we recorded $2 million of fees in connection with the amendment. The fees are classified as Debt issuance costs within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and are amortized as an adjustment to interest expense over the remaining life of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility.

As a result of borrowings and payments under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility at September 30, 2011, we had aggregate borrowing availability of approximately $177 million, net of lender reserves of $49 million and outstanding letters of credit of $33 million.

At September 30, 2011, we were in compliance with all covenants under the ABL Credit Agreement.

Interest Payments and Fees

In addition to principal payments on our Senior Credit Facilities, we have annual interest payment obligations of approximately $71 million in the aggregate under our 9.5% Notes as of September 30, 2011 and annual interest payment obligations of approximately $29 million in the aggregate under our 12% Notes as of September 30, 2011. We also incur interest on our borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities and such interest would increase borrowings under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility if cash were not otherwise available for such payments. Interest on the 9.5% Notes and interest on the 12% Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears and

 

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interest under the Senior Credit Facilities is payable on various interest payment dates as provided in the Senior Credit Agreement and the ABL Credit Agreement. Interest is payable in cash, except that interest under the 12% Notes is required to be paid by increasing the aggregate principal amount due under the subject notes unless we elect to make such payments in cash. Effective with the payment date of August 28, 2010, we elected to make the semi-annual interest payment scheduled for February 28, 2011 in cash. Thereafter, we may make the semi-annual interest payments for the 12% Notes either in cash or by further increasing the aggregate principal amount due under the notes subject to certain conditions. Based on amounts currently outstanding under the Senior Credit Facilities, and using market interest rates and foreign exchange rates in effect at September 30, 2011, we estimate annual interest payments of approximately $27 million in the aggregate under our Senior Credit Facilities would be required assuming no further principal payments were to occur and excluding any payments associated with outstanding interest rate swaps. We are required to pay certain fees in connection with the Senior Credit Facilities. Such fees include a quarterly commitment fee of up to 0.50% on the unused portion of the ABL Revolving Credit Facility and certain additional fees with respect to the letter of credit subfacility under the ABL Revolving Credit Facility.

Equity Financing Activities.

During Fiscal 2011, we granted approximately 1.7 million shares of restricted stock units to our employees and our directors. All vesting dates are subject to the recipient’s continued employment with us, except as otherwise permitted by our Board of Directors or in certain cases if the employee is terminated without cause. The total market value of the restricted shares on the date of grant was approximately $49 million, which represented unearned restricted stock compensation. Unearned compensation is amortized to expense over the appropriate vesting period.

During Fiscal 2011, we filed a registration statement related to approximately 1.2 million additional shares of our common stock to be sold to the public. We received net proceeds of approximately $30 million after underwriting discounts and offering expenses. We expect to use the net proceeds of the sale of these common shares for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, working capital needs, the refinancing of existing indebtedness, the expansion of our business and acquisitions.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, changes in financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that are material to investors.

 

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Contractual Obligations & Other Commercial Commitments

Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2011 and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flow in future periods. The table excludes other obligations we have reflected on our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, such as pension obligations. See Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of our employee benefit plans (in millions):

 

     Contractual Obligations  
   Payments due by Fiscal Year  
   2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total  

Debt:

                    

Debt, excluding capital lease obligations(1)

   $ 14       $ 12       $ 7       $ 7       $ 505       $ 995       $ 1,540   

Capital lease obligations(2)

     4         4         3         2         2         23         38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
     18         16         10         9         507         1,018         1,578   

Operating lease obligations

     31         24         18         12         11         28         124   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Contractual Obligations(3)

   $ 49       $ 40       $ 28       $ 21       $ 518       $ 1,046       $ 1,702   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) On November 2, 2011, we offered $200 million aggregate principal amount of 9.5% Notes as additional notes to the already outstanding $750 million aggregative principal amount of existing notes. The additional notes will vote together with the 9.5% Notes.
(2) Capital lease payments due by fiscal year include executory costs and imputed interest not reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
(3) At September 30, 2011, our balance sheet includes tax reserves for uncertain tax positions. However, it is not possible to predict or estimate the timing of payments for these obligations. The Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome of income tax audits currently in progress for certain of our companies; however, it is reasonably possible that during the next 12 months some portion of our unrecognized tax benefits could be recognized.

Other Commercial Commitments

The following table summarizes our other commercial commitments as of September 30, 2011, consisting entirely of standby letters of credit that back the performance of certain of our entities under various credit facilities, insurance policies and lease arrangements (in millions):

 

     Other Commercial Commitments  
   Amount of Commitment Expiration by Fiscal Year  
   2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      Thereafter      Total  

Letters of credit

   $ 28       $ 7       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 3       $ 38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Other Commercial Commitments

   $ 28       $ 7       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 3       $ 38   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Critical Accounting Policies

Our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and fairly present our financial position and results of operations. We believe the following accounting policies are critical to an understanding of our financial statements. The application of these policies requires management’s judgment and estimates in areas that are inherently uncertain.

 

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Valuation of Assets and Asset Impairment

We evaluate certain long-lived assets to be held and used, such as property, plant and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets for impairment based on the expected future cash flows or earnings projections associated with such assets. Impairment reviews are conducted at the judgment of management when it believes that a change in circumstances in the business or external factors warrants a review. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a product or product line, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, a history of operating or cash flow losses or an adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review. An asset’s value is deemed impaired if the discounted cash flows or earnings projections generated do not support the carrying value of the asset. The estimation of such amounts requires management’s judgment with respect to revenue and expense growth rates, changes in working capital and selection of an appropriate discount rate, as applicable. The use of different assumptions would increase or decrease discounted future operating cash flows or earnings projections and could, therefore, change impairment determinations.

ASC 350 requires companies to test goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more often if an event or circumstance indicates that an impairment loss may have been incurred. In Fiscal 2011, Fiscal 2010 and Fiscal 2009, we tested our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets as required. As a result of this testing, we recorded non-cash pretax impairment charges of approximately $32 million in Fiscal 2011, no impairment charges in Fiscal 2010 and non-cash pretax impairment charges of approximately $34 million in Fiscal 2009. The $32 million impairment charge incurred in Fiscal 2011 reflects an impairment of trade name intangible assets consisting of the following: (i) $23 million related to Global Batteries and Appliances; (ii) $8 million related to Global Pet Supplies; and (iii) $1 million related to the Home and Garden Business. The $34 million impairment charge incurred in Fiscal 2009 reflects an impairment of trade name intangible assets consisting of the following: (i) $18 million related to the Global Pet Supplies Business; (ii) $15 million related to the Global Batteries and Appliances segment; and (iii) $1 million related to the Home and Garden Business. Future cash expenditures will not result from these impairment charges.

We used a discounted estimated future cash flows methodology, third party valuations and negotiated sales prices to determine the fair value of our reporting units (goodwill). Fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, which represent trade names, was determined using a relief from royalty methodology. Assumptions critical to our fair value estimates were: (i) the present value factors used in determining the fair value of the reporting units and trade names or third party indicated fair values for assets expected to be disposed; (ii) royalty rates used in our trade name valuations; (iii) projected average revenue growth rates used in the reporting unit and trade name models; and (iv) projected long-term growth rates used in the derivation of terminal year values. We also tested the aggregate estimated fair value of our reporting unites for reasonableness by comparison to our total market capitalization, which includes both our equity and debt securities. These and other assumptions are impacted by economic conditions and expectations of management and will change in the future based on period specific facts and circumstances.

As of September 30, 2011 the fair value of our Global Batteries & Appliances, Global Pet Supplies and Home and Garden Business reporting units, which are also our segments, exceeded their carry values by 39%, 50% and 27%, respectively, as of the date of our latest annual impairment testing.

See Note 2(h), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Property, Plant and Equipment, Note 2(i), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Intangible Assets; Note 4, Property, Plant and Equipment; Note 5, Goodwill and Intangible Assets; and Note 16, Discontinued Operations, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about these assets.

Revenue Recognition and Concentration of Credit Risk

We recognize revenue from product sales generally upon delivery to the customer or the shipping point in situations where the customer picks up the product or where delivery terms so stipulate. This represents the point at which title and all risks and rewards of ownership of the product are passed, provided that: there are no

 

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uncertainties regarding customer acceptance; there is persuasive evidence that an arrangement exists; the price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and collectibility is deemed reasonably assured. We are generally not obligated to allow for, and our general policy is not to accept, product returns for battery sales. We do accept returns in specific instances related to our electric shaving and grooming, electric personal care, home and garden, small appliances and pet supply products. The provision for customer returns is based on historical sales and returns and other relevant information. We estimate and accrue the cost of returns, which are treated as a reduction of net sales.

We enter into various promotional arrangements, primarily with retail customers, including arrangements entitling such retailers to cash rebates from us based on the level of their purchases, which require us to estimate and accrue the costs of the promotional programs. These costs are generally treated as a reduction of net sales.

We also enter into promotional arrangements that target the ultimate consumer. Such arrangements are treated as either a reduction of net sales or an increase in cost of sales, based on the type of promotional program. The income statement presentation of our promotional arrangements complies with ASC Topic 605: “Revenue Recognition.” Cash consideration, or an equivalent thereto, given to a customer is generally classified as a reduction of net sales. If we provide a customer anything other than cash, the cost of the consideration is classified as an expense and included in cost of sales.

For all types of promotional arrangements and programs, we monitor our commitments and use statistical measures and past experience to determine the amounts to be recorded for the estimate of the earned, but unpaid, promotional costs. The terms of our customer-related promotional arrangements and programs are tailored to each customer and are generally documented through written contracts, correspondence or other communications with the individual customers.

We also enter into various arrangements, primarily with retail customers, which require us to make an upfront cash, or “slotting” payment, to secure the right to distribute through such customer. We capitalize slotting payments, provided the payments are supported by a time or volume based arrangement with the retailer, and amortize the associated payment over the appropriate time or volume based term of the arrangement. The amortization of slotting payments is treated as a reduction in net sales and a corresponding asset is reported in Deferred charges and other in our Consolidated Statements of Financial Position included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Our trade receivables subject us to credit risk which is evaluated based on changing economic, political and specific customer conditions. We assess these risks and make provisions for collectibility based on our best estimate of the risks presented and information available at the date of the financial statements. The use of different assumptions may change our estimate of collectibility. We extend credit to our customers based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and credit history and generally do not require collateral. Our credit terms generally range between 30 and 90 days from invoice date, depending upon the evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and history. We monitor our customers’ credit and financial condition in order to assess whether the economic conditions have changed and adjust our credit policies with respect to any individual customer as we determine appropriate. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to, restricting shipments to customers, reducing credit limits, shortening credit terms, requiring cash payments in advance of shipment or securing credit insurance.

See Note 2(b), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Revenue Recognition; Note 2(c), Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Use of Estimates and Note 2(e); Significant Accounting Policies and Practices—Concentrations of Credit Risk and Major Customers and Employees; of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for more information about our revenue recognition and credit policies.

 

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Pensions

Our accounting for pension benefits is primarily based on a discount rate, expected and actual return on plan assets and other assumptions made by management, and is impacted by outside factors such as equity and fixed income market performance. Our pension liability is principally the estimated present value of future benefits, net of plan assets. In calculating the estimated present value of future benefits, net of plan assets, we used discount rates of 4.2% to 13.6% in Fiscal 2011 and of 4.2% to 13.6% in Fiscal 2010. In adjusting the discount rates from Fiscal 2010 to 2011, we considered the change in the general market interest rates of debt and solicited the advice of our actuary. We believe the discount rates used are reflective of the rates at which the pension benefits could be effectively settled.

Pension expense is principally the sum of interest and service cost of the plan, less the expected return on plan assets and the amortization of the difference between our assumptions and actual experience. The expected return on plan assets is calculated by applying an assumed rate of return to the fair value of plan assets. We used expected returns on plan assets of 3.0% to 7.8% in Fiscal 2011 and 4.5% to 7.8% in Fiscal 2010. Based on the advice of our independent actuary, we believe the expected rates of return are reflective of the long-term average rate of earnings expected on the funds invested. If such expected returns were overstated, it would ultimately increase future pension expense and required funding contributions. Similarly, an understatement of the expected return would ultimately decrease future pension expense and required funding contributions. If plan assets decline due to poor performance by the markets and/or interest rates decline resulting in a lower discount rate, our pension liability will increase, ultimately increasing future pension expense and required funding contributions.

See Note 10, Employee Benefit Plans, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of our employee benefit plans.

Restructuring and Related Charges

Restructuring charges are recognized and measured according to the provisions of ASC Topic 420: “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations,” (“ASC 420”). Under ASC 420, restructuring charges include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs consisting primarily of severance costs and retention bonuses, and contract termination costs consisting primarily of lease termination costs. Related charges, as defined by us, include, but are not limited to, other costs directly associated with exit and integration activities, including impairment of property and other assets, departmental costs of full-time incremental integration employees, and any other items related to the exit or integration activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by us after evaluating detailed analyses of the cost to be incurred. We present restructuring and related charges on a combined basis.

Liabilities from restructuring and related charges are recorded for estimated costs of facility closures, significant organizational adjustments and measures undertaken by management to exit certain activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by management after evaluating detailed analyses of the costs to be incurred. Such liabilities could include amounts for items such as severance costs and related benefits (including settlements of pension plans), impairment of property and equipment and other current or long term assets, lease termination payments and any other items directly related to the exit activities. While the actions are carried out as expeditiously as possible, restructuring and related charges are estimates. Changes in estimates resulting in an increase to or a reversal of a previously recorded liability may be required as management executes a restructuring plan.

We report restructuring and related charges associated with manufacturing and related initiatives in cost of goods sold. Restructuring and related charges reflected in cost of goods sold include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs associated with manufacturing employees, asset impairments relating to manufacturing initiatives and other costs directly related to the restructuring initiatives implemented.

We report restructuring and related charges associated with administrative functions in operating expenses, such as initiatives impacting sales, marketing, distribution or other non-manufacturing related functions.

 

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Restructuring and related charges reflected in operating expenses include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs, any asset impairments relating to the administrative functions and other costs directly related to the initiatives implemented.

See Note 14, Restructuring and Related Charges, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more complete discussion of our restructuring initiatives and related costs.

Acquisition and Integration Related Charges

The costs of plans to (i) exit an activity of an acquired company, (ii) involuntarily terminate employees of an acquired company or (iii) relocate employees of an acquired company are measured and recorded in accordance with the provisions of the ASC 805. Under ASC 805, if certain conditions are met, such costs are recognized as a liability assumed as of the consummation date of the purchase business combination and included in the allocation of the acquisition cost. Costs related to terminated activities or employees of the acquired company that do not meet the conditions prescribed in ASC 805 are treated as acquisition and integration related charges and expensed as incurred.

Loss Contingencies

Loss contingencies are recorded as liabilities when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. The outcome of existing litigation, the impact of environmental matters and pending or potential examinations by various taxing authorities are examples of situations evaluated as loss contingencies. Estimating the probability and magnitude of losses is often dependent upon management’s judgment of potential actions by third parties and regulators. It is possible that changes in estimates or an increased probability of an unfavorable outcome could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

See further discussion in Item 3, Legal Proceedings, and Note 12, Commitments and Contingencies, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Other Significant Accounting Policies

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

 

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk Factors

We have market risk exposure from changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and commodity prices. We use derivative financial instruments for purposes other than trading to mitigate the risk from such exposures.

A discussion of our accounting policies for derivative financial instruments is included in Note 7, Derivative Financial Instruments, of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Interest Rate Risk

We have bank lines of credit at variable interest rates. The general level of U.S. interest rates, LIBOR and EURIBOR affect interest expense. We use interest rate swaps to manage such risk. The net amounts to be paid or received under interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates change, and are recognized over the life

 

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of the swap agreements as an adjustment to interest expense from the underlying debt to which the swap is designated. The related amounts payable to, or receivable from, the contract counter-parties are included in accrued liabilities or accounts receivable.

Foreign Exchange Risk

We are subject to risk from sales and loans to and from our subsidiaries as well as sales to, purchases from and bank lines of credit with, third-party customers, suppliers and creditors, respectively, denominated in foreign currencies. Foreign currency sales and purchases are made primarily in Euro, Pounds Sterling, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars and Brazilian Reals. We manage our foreign exchange exposure from anticipated sales, accounts receivable, intercompany loans, firm purchase commitments, accounts payable and credit obligations through the use of naturally occurring offsetting positions (borrowing in local currency), forward foreign exchange contracts, foreign exchange rate swaps and foreign exchange options. The related amounts payable to, or receivable from, the contract counter-parties are included in accounts payable or accounts receivable.

Commodity Price Risk

We are exposed to fluctuations in market prices for purchases of zinc used in the manufacturing process. We use commodity swaps and calls to manage such risk. The maturity of, and the quantities covered by, the contracts are closely correlated to our anticipated purchases of the commodities. The cost of calls are amortized over the life of the contracts and are recorded in cost of goods sold, along with the effects of the swap and call contracts. The related amounts payable to, or receivable from, the counter-parties are included in accounts payable or accounts receivable.

Sensitivity Analysis

The analysis below is hypothetical and should not be considered a projection of future risks. Earnings projections are before tax.

As of September 30, 2011, the potential change in fair value of outstanding interest rate derivative instruments, assuming a 1 percentage point unfavorable shift in the underlying interest rates would be immaterial. The net impact on reported earnings, after also including the reduction in one year’s interest expense on the related debt due to the same shift in interest rates, would be immaterial.

As of September 30, 2011, the potential change in fair value of outstanding foreign exchange derivative instruments, assuming a 10% unfavorable change in the underlying exchange rates, would be a loss of $45.4 million. The net impact on reported earnings, after also including the effect of the change in the underlying foreign currency-denominated exposures, would be a net gain of $16.5 million.

As of September 30, 2011, the potential change in fair value of outstanding commodity price derivative instruments, assuming a 10% unfavorable change in the underlying commodity prices, would be a loss of $1.8 million. The net impact on reported earnings, after also including the reduction in cost of one year’s purchases of the related commodities due to the same change in commodity prices, would be a net gain of $0.6 million.

 

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

The information required for this Item is included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K within Item 15, Exhibits, Financial Statements and Schedules, inclusive and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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

None.

 

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) pursuant to Rule 13a-15(b) under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable SEC rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act). The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2011. In making this assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”) in Internal Control-Integrated Framework. The Company’s management has concluded that, as of September 30, 2011, its internal control over financial reporting is effective based on these criteria. The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has issued an audit report on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, which is included herein.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) that occurred during our fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls. The Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, does not expect that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures or the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting will prevent all errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control issues and instances of fraud, if any, within the Company have been detected.

 

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

 

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PART III

 

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The information required by Item 401 of Regulation S-K concerning the directors of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. (“SB Holdings”) and the nominees for re-election as directors of SB Holdings at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on February 1, 2012 (the “2012 Annual Meeting”) is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “PROPOSAL NUMBER 1—ELECTION OF DIRECTORS” in SB Holdings’ definitive Proxy Statement relating to the 2012 Annual Meeting (the “SB Holdings Definitive Proxy Statement”), which will be filed not later than 120 days after the end of SB Holdings’ fiscal year ended September 30, 2011.

Audit Committee Financial Expert and Audit Committee

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

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

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

Code of Ethics

We have adopted the Code of Ethics for the Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, a code of ethics that applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other senior finance organization employees. The Code of Ethics for the Principal Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers is publicly available on our website at www.spectrumbrands.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance.” We intend to disclose amendments to, and, if applicable, waivers of, this code of ethics on that section of our website.

We have also adopted the Spectrum Brands Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, a code of ethics that applies to all of our directors, officers and employees. The Spectrum Brands Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is publicly available on our website at www.spectrumbrands.com under “Investor Relations—Corporate Governance.” Any amendments to this code of ethics or any waiver of this code of ethics for executive officers or directors may be made only by our Board of Directors as a whole or our Audit Committee and will be promptly disclosed to our shareholders via that section of our website.

 

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Report of the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors

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

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

The information required by Item 402 of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from disclosures which will be included under the captions “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION” and “NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION” in SB Holdings Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

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Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The information required by Item 407(e)(4) of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” in SB Holdings Definitive Proxy Statement.

 

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

Ownership of Common Shares of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

The information required by Item 403 of Regulation S-K is incorporated herein by reference from the disclosure which will be included under the caption “BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY” in the SB Holdings Definitive Proxy Statement.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

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

 

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Certain Relationships and Related Person Transactions

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

Director Independence

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

 

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

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

 

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PART IV

 

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

 

  (a) The following documents are filed as part of or are included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K:

1. The financial statements listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule, filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

2. The financial statement schedule listed in the Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedule, filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

3. The exhibits listed in the Exhibit Index filed as part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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SPECTRUM BRANDS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

     Page  

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     85   

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

     87   

Consolidated Statements of Operations

     88   

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

     89   

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

     91   

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     92   

Schedule II Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

     147   

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Successor Company), and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the period August 31, 2009 to September 30, 2009 (Successor Company) and the period October 1, 2008 to August 30, 2009 (Predecessor Company). In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we have also audited the financial statement schedule II. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

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

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Successor Company), and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the period August 31, 2009 to September 30, 2009 (Successor Company) and the period October 1, 2008 to August 30, 2009 (Predecessor Company) in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated December 8, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Predecessor Company filed a petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code on February 3, 2009. The Company’s plan of reorganization became effective and the Company emerged from bankruptcy protection on August 28, 2009. In connection with its emergence from bankruptcy, Spectrum Brands, Inc. adopted fresh-start reporting in conformity with ASC Topic 852, “Reorganizations” effective as of August 30, 2009. Accordingly, the consolidated financial information for periods beginning on or after August 30, 2009 is presented on a different basis than that for the periods prior to that date and, therefore, is not comparable.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

December 8, 2011

 

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Board of Directors and Stockholders

Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.:

We have audited Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

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

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

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2011, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited the accompanying consolidated statements of financial position of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries as of September 30, 2011 and 2010 (Successor Company), and the related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders’ equity (deficit) and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for the years ended September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the period August 31, 2009 to September 30, 2009 (Successor Company) and the period October 1, 2008 to August 30, 2009 (Predecessor Company), along with the financial statement schedule II, and our report dated December 8, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule.

/s/ KPMG LLP

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

December 8, 2011

 

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SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Financial Position

September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Successor
Company
 
     2011     2010  
Assets     

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 142,414      $ 170,614   

Receivables:

    

Trade accounts receivable, net of allowances of $14,128 and $4,351, respectively

     356,605        365,002   

Other

     37,678        41,445   

Inventories

     434,630        530,342   

Deferred income taxes

     28,170        35,735   

Prepaid expenses and other

     48,792        56,574   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     1,048,289        1,199,712   

Property, plant and equipment, net

     206,389        201,164   

Deferred charges and other

     36,824        46,352   

Goodwill

     610,338        600,055   

Intangible assets, net

     1,683,909        1,769,360   

Debt issuance costs

     40,957        56,961   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 3,626,706      $ 3,873,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity     

Current liabilities:

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 16,090      $ 20,710   

Accounts payable

     323,171        332,231   

Accrued liabilities:

    

Wages and benefits

     70,945        93,971   

Income taxes payable

     31,606        37,118   

Restructuring and related charges

     16,187        23,793   

Accrued interest

     30,467        31,652   

Other

     118,446        123,297   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     606,912        662,772   

Long-term debt, net of current maturities

     1,535,522        1,723,057   

Employee benefit obligations, net of current portion

     83,802        92,725   

Deferred income taxes

     337,336        277,843   

Other

     44,637        70,828   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     2,608,209        2,827,225   

Commitments and contingencies

    

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $.01 par value, authorized 200,000 shares; issued 52,431 and 51,101 shares; outstanding 52,226 and 51,020 shares at September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, respectively

     525        514   

Additional paid-in capital

     1,374,097        1,316,461   

Accumulated deficit

     (336,063     (260,892

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (14,446     (7,497
  

 

 

   

 

 

 
     1,024,113        1,048,586   

Less treasury stock, at cost, 205 and 81 shares, respectively

     (5,616     (2,207
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,018,497        1,046,379   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 3,626,706      $ 3,873,604   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

    Successor
Company
         Predecessor
Company
 
    Year Ended
September 30,
2011
    Year Ended
September 30,
2010
    Period from
August 31,  2009
through
September  30,
2009
         Period from
October 1, 2008

through
August 30,
2009
 

Net sales

  $ 3,186,916      $ 2,567,011      $ 219,888          $ 2,010,648   

Cost of goods sold

    2,050,208        1,638,451        155,310            1,245,640   

Restructuring and related charges

    7,841        7,150        178            13,189   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Gross profit

    1,128,867        921,410        64,400            751,819   

Operating expenses:

           

Selling

    536,535        466,813        39,136            363,106   

General and administrative

    241,631        199,386        20,578            145,235   

Research and development

    32,901        31,013        3,027            21,391   

Acquisition and integration related charges

    36,603        38,452        —              —     

Restructuring and related charges

    20,803        16,968        1,551            30,891   

Intangible asset impairment

    32,450        —          —              34,391   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 
    900,923        752,632        64,292            595,014   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Operating income

    227,944        168,778        108            156,805   

Interest expense

    208,329        277,015        16,962            172,940   

Other expense (income), net

    2,491        12,300        (816         3,320   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before reorganization items and income taxes

    17,124        (120,537     (16,038         (19,455

Reorganization items expense (income), net

    —          3,646        3,962            (1,142,809
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes

    17,124        (124,183     (20,000         1,123,354   

Income tax expense

    92,295        63,189        51,193            22,611   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

(Loss) income from continuing operations

    (75,171     (187,372     (71,193         1,100,743   

(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax

    —          (2,735     408            (86,802
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (75,171   $ (190,107   $ (70,785       $ 1,013,941   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Basic net (loss) income per common share:

           

(Loss) income from continuing operations

  $ (1.47   $ (5.20   $ (2.37       $ 21.45   

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

    —          (0.08     0.01            (1.69
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (1.47   $ (5.28   $ (2.36       $ 19.76   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

    51,092        36,000        30,000            51,306   

Diluted net (loss) income per common share:

           

(Loss) income from continuing operations

  $ (1.47   $ (5.20   $ (2.37       $ 21.45   

(Loss) income from discontinued operations

    —          (0.08     0.01            (1.69
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (1.47   $ (5.28   $ (2.36       $ 19.76   
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Weighted average shares of common stock and equivalents outstanding

    51,092        36,000        30,000            51,306   

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

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SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(In thousands)

 

    Common Stock     Additional
Paid-In
Capital
    Accumulated
Deficit
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss),
net of tax
    Treasury
Stock
    Total
Shareholders’
Equity
(Deficit)
 
    Shares     Amount            

Balances at September 30, 2008, Predecessor Company

    52,775      $ 692      $ 674,370      $ (1,694,915   $ 69,445      $ (76,830   $ (1,027,238

Net income

    —          —          —          1,013,941        —          —          1,013,941   

Adjustment of additional minimum pension liability

    —          —          —