On Dec. 13, 2006, Standard&Poor's Ratings Services placed its ratings for lawn and garden care products supplier The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., including the 'BB' corporate credit rating, on CreditWatch with negative implications, indicating that the ratings could be lowered or affirmed following the completion of our review. Marysville, Ohio-based Scotts had about $481.2 million of total debt outstanding as of Sept. 30, 2006. The CreditWatch listing reflects the company's increasingly aggressive financial policy following its announcement that it plans to return $750 million to its shareholders through a $500 million special one-time cash dividend and fund share repurchases of up to $250 million via a "Dutch auction" tender offer, expected to be launched in January 2007. The proposed
