---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001443984-23-000294"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "SMG"
cik: "0000825542"
company_name: "SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO"
filed_at: "2023-10-10T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-10T03:06:14.869638+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.65
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# President Michael Lukemire departs Scotts; separation agreement provides severance and equity vesting

## Summary
- Michael C. Lukemire, former President, left October 1, 2023; separation agreement executed October 6, 2023.
- Severance includes 24 months base salary, 2x target bonus ($30,000 outplacement), and COBRA offset payments.
- Stock options (13,742 and 66,836) vested on termination; restricted stock units (3,700 and 7,527) vest per schedule.
- Performance units totalling 50,826 subject to predefined performance criteria, vesting in 2024-2026.
- Post-employment restrictive covenants (noncompete, nonsolicit, confidentiality) remain in effect.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001443984-23-000294
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: SMG
- cik: 0000825542
- company_name: SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO
- filed_at: 2023-10-10T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.65
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.65
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000294/0001443984-23-000294-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000294/smg-20231010.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000294
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000294.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001443984-23-000294.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Michael C. Lukemire departed as President at SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO CO.
  - Action: departed
  - Role: President
  source text: On September 27, 2023, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (the “Company”) reported that Michael C. Lukemire, the Company’s former President, would be departing the Company on October 1, 2023 (the “Termination Date”).
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/825542/000144398423000294/0001443984-23-000294-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.