8-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORTPURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THESECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): July 1, 2021

Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

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

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§ 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§ 240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company x

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

On July 1, 2021, Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (the “Company”) completed the previously announced acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding membership interests of Gotham Properties LLC, an Oregon limited liability company (“Gotham Properties”), Aurora Innovations Inc., an Oregon corporation (“Aurora Innovations”), Aurora International, Inc., an Oregon corporation (“Aurora International” and, together with Gotham Properties and Aurora Innovations, “Aurora”), pursuant to the terms of the securities purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”), by and among the Company, Aurora and certain equityholders party thereto, for a purchase price of up to $161 million, consisting of $135 million in cash and $26 million of its common stock (the “Equity Consideration”), subject to customary adjustments at closing for cash, working capital, transaction expenses and indebtedness of Aurora (the “Acquisition”). The purchase price excludes a potential earn out payment estimated at approximately $21 million based on achievement of certain performance metrics.

Founded in 2000, Aurora is a family-owned business with a strong vertically integrated manufacturing base with three locations across North America. The company is dedicated to ethical and sustainable practices and offers comprehensive plant fertility product lines free from harmful chemical residues and pesticides. Aurora will add to the Company’s growing proprietary brand nutrient and grow media line-ups, including its first organic nutrient and premium soil brands. The Company will also gain new domestic manufacturing and distribution capabilities on the east and west coasts along with a peat moss harvesting operation in Canada.

The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Purchase Agreement, a copy of which was filed as Exhibit 2.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on June 21, 2021.

The information regarding the Purchase Agreement and the issuance of the Equity Consideration contemplated thereunder set forth in Item 2.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated into this Item 3.02 by reference. The Equity Consideration was issued in reliance upon an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 4(a)(2) thereof, which exempts transactions by an issuer not involving any public offering.

On July 1, 2021, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the Acquisition. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.

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.

Exhibit 99.1

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Hydrofarm CompletesAcquisition of Aurora Innovations and its Organic Nutrients and Grow Media Operations

FairlessHills, Pa. (July 1, 2021) – Hydrofarm Holdings Group, Inc. (“Hydrofarm”) (Nasdaq: HYFM), a leading distributor and manufacturer of hydroponics equipment and supplies, today announced that it has completed its previously announced acquisition of Aurora Innovations, Inc., Aurora International, Inc., and Gotham Properties LLC , a Eugene, Oregon-based manufacturer and supplier of organic hydroponic products. The announcement follows Hydrofarm’s recent acquisitions of hydroponic nutrient brands HEAVY 16, House & Garden, and Mad Farmer.

About HydrofarmHoldings Group, Inc.

Hydrofarm is a leading distributor and manufacturer of controlled environment agriculture equipment and supplies, including high-intensity grow lights, climate control solutions, and growing media, as well as a broad portfolio of innovative and proprietary branded products. For more than 40 years, Hydrofarm has helped growers in the U.S. and Canadian markets make growing easier and more productive.  The Company’s mission is to empower growers, farmers and cultivators with products that enable greater quality, efficiency, consistency and speed in their grow projects. For additional information, please visit: www.hydrofarm.com

Investor Relations:

ICR

Fitzhugh Taylor

ir@hydrofarm.com

Media Contacts:

The LAKPR Group

Hannah Arnold, 202-559-9171, harnold@lakpr.com

Lynn Trono, 323-672-8226, ltrono@lakpr.com

-or-

Hydrofarm

Lisa Gallagher, 513-505-2334, lgallagher@hydrofarm.com