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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OF 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) January 4, 1999
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CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 0-20242 68-0275553
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer
of incorporation) Number) Identification No.)
3697 MT. DIABLO BOULEVARD, LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA 94549
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (925) 283-4573
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INAPPLICABLE
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(Former name or former address if changed since last report)
Exhibit Index located on page 3
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
On January 4, 1999, Central Garden & Pet Company (the "Company")
issued a press release announcing that the Company has acquired Norcal
Pottery Products, Inc., one of the country's leading importers and
distributors of pottery products for the home and garden.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS
(a) Not applicable
(b) Not applicable
(c) See attached Exhibit Index.
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Number Exhibit Page Number
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99.1 Press Release dated January 4, 1999. 5
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET COMPANY
By: /s/ Robert B. Jones
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Robert B. Jones, Vice President, Chief
Financial Officer and Secretary
Dated: January 6, 1999
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EXHIBIT 99.1
[LOGO OF CENTRAL GARDEN & PET]
Corporate Office
3697 Mt. Diablo Blvd., Suite 310
Lafayette, CA 94549
(925) 283-4573
Fax (925) 283-4984
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Gregory Reams
Central Garden & Pet
(925) 283-4573
Paul Verbinnen/Debbie Miller
Sard Verbinnen & Co.
(212) 687-8080
CENTRAL GARDEN & PET ACQUIRES NORCAL POTTERY PRODUCTS, INC.
AND PATIO PRODUCTS SALES ASSOCIATES, INC.
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LAFAYETTE, CALIFORNIA, JANUARY 4, 1999--Central Garden & Pet Company
(NASDAQ: CENT), the nation's leading distributor of lawn and garden and pet
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supplies, today announced that it has acquired Norcal Pottery Products, Inc.,
one of the country's leading importers and distributors of pottery products for
the home and garden. Based in Northern California, Norcal, and its affiliate
Patio Products Sales Associates, have annual sales of approximately $25 million
and approximately 90 employees. Terms were not disclosed.
"Norcal is an excellent strategic fit with Central as it offers products
appealing to our target demographic in lawn and garden," said William E. Brown,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Central. "We believe that we can grow
the business substantially by leveraging our nationwide distribution
capabilities."
Noting that Norcal's Chief Executive Officer and sole stockholder, Neil
Pincus, would be joining Central and heading up its pottery group on a national
basis, Brown added: "We are delighted that Neil Pincus and his customer-focused
management group will be joining the Central team. They share our vision of the
opportunities that joining forces with Central will create, and we are confident
that they will be important contributors to Central's future success."
Said Neil Pincus: "Norcal and Central will make a great combination. We are
very excited about the prospect of combining forces to better serve our
customers and our market."
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Central Garden & Pet Company is the leading national distributor of lawn
and garden and pet supply products. Central offers customers a wide array of
value-added services designed to increase the sales and profitability of both
manufacturers and retailers, including inventory management, advertising and
promotional programs, in-store service and display building and sales program
development. Central also offers lines of proprietary branded products which
include Pennington(R), Kaytee(R), TFH(R), Zodiac(R), and Four Paws(R) pet
products, Island(R) aquariums, Matthews(R) redwood products and Grant's(R) ant
control products.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995: The statements contained in this release which are not historical facts
are forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in or
implied by forward-looking statements. These risks are described in the
Company's Securities and Exchange Commission filings.
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