IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO EASTERN DIVISION

GARY THOMAS CARONE, derivatively on behalf of SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY, : : Case No. 2:24-cv-04180 Plaintiffs, : : Judge Algenon L. Marbley v. : : Magistrate Judge Chelsey M. Vascura JAMES HAGEDORN, et al., : : Defendants, : : and : : SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO COMPANY, : : Nominal Defendant. : _______________________________________ IN RE THE SCOTTS MIRACLE-GRO : COMPANY DERIVATIVE LITIGATION, : : Case No. 2:24-cv-03636 : : Judge Algenon L. Marbley : : Magistrate Judge Chelsey M. Vascura

OPINION & ORDER This matter is before this Court on Plaintiff Gary Carone’s Unopposed Motion to Consolidate Related Stockholder Derivative Actions. (ECF No. 24). Specifically, the Motion moves to consolidate this matter (the “Carone Action”) with the lawsuit captioned In re Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Derivative, Case No. 2:24-cv-03636 (S.D. Ohio) (“the Related Action”). For the reasons set forth below, this Court GRANTS the Motion. I. BACKGROUND The actions Plaintiff seeks to consolidate are presently pending before this Court. The Carone Action Complaint was filed on November 19, 2024, derivatively and on behalf of nominal defendant, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (“Scotts”). (2:24-cv-04180, ECF No. 1). It is a shareholder derivative action seeking to remedy allegations of breaches of fiduciary duties as officers and/or directors of Scotts, unjust enrichment, and violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. (Id.). On March 3, 2025, this Court consolidated two other

shareholder derivative actions captioned Scott v. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-03636-ALM-CMV (filed July 8, 2024) and Ayers v. Hagedorn, et al., Case No. 1:24- cv-00402-JPH (filed July 30, 2024) that ultimately became the Related Action. This Court ordered that the Consolidation Order shall apply to “each shareholder derivative action arising out of the same, or substantially the same, transactions or events as these cases, which is subsequently filed in, removed to, reassigned to, or transferred to this Court.” (ECF No. 24 at 3). Like the Carone Action, the Related Action seeks to remedy certain alleged wrongdoings by certain current and former members of its Board of Directors and executive officers for breaches of fiduciary duties and unjust enrichment. Plaintiff’s Motion is unopposed. II. STANDARD OF REVIEW

Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a), if actions before a court involve a common question of law or fact, the court has the discretion to: (1) join for hearing or trial any or all matters at issue in the actions; (2) consolidate the actions; or (3) issue any other orders to avoid unnecessary cost or delay. The underlying objective of consolidation “is to administer the court’s business with expedition and economy while providing justice to the parties.” Advey v. Celotex Corp.,

, 1180 (6th Cir. 1992) (internal quotation marks and citation omitted). The Court must take care “that consolidation does not result in unavoidable prejudice or unfair advantage.” Cantrell v. GAF Corp.,

, 1011 (6th Cir. 1993). III. LAW & ANALYSIS For purposes of Rule 42 consolidation, questions of law and fact need not be identical. MacLean v. Evans, Mechwart, Hambleton & Tilton, Inc., No. 2:09-CV-521,

, at *2 (S.D. Ohio Sept. 14, 2009) (“[T]hese cases involve many of the same facts and

legal issues . . . and that is enough to justify consolidation.”) (internal quotation marks and citations omitted). Rule 42 gives the Court discretion to consolidate as long as there are some common questions of law or fact.

The Carone Action and Related Action involve some of the same parties. Specifically, both actions are on behalf of Scotts, and the cases contain overlapping named defendants. Overall, this Court finds there is significant overlap in law and fact between the cases, which strongly supports consolidation. The Court next turns to the question of whether specific risks of prejudice and possible confusion are overborne by the savings of litigant and judicial resources achieved by consolidation. Factors that may cause prejudice and confusion include complex legal theories and factual

proof. See Choi v. Stevenson Co., No. 3:08–CV–0057–S,

(W.D. Ky. Apr. 28, 2011). Absent prejudice, consolidation is usually the most efficient method of adjudicating cases arising from common law or fact. MacLean,

, at *1. Efficiency is determined by the need to analyze issues common to all parties, overlap in discovery, witnesses, and evidence. Id. at *2. Here, consolidation was unopposed, and both cases are already pending before this Court. This Court finds that consolidation of the Carone Action and Related Action will be the most efficient method of adjudicating these related matters and will not unfairly prejudice any parties or cause any significant confusion. Therefore, this Court GRANTS the Motion to Consolidate. (2:24-cv-04180, ECF No. 24). IV. CONCLUSION For the reasons set forth above, this Court GRANTS the Motion to Consolidate. (2:24-cv- 04180, ECF No. 24). Accordingly, the Carone Action (2:24-cv-04180), and Related Action (2:24- cv-03636) are CONSOLIDATED (the “Consolidated Action”). This Court hereby orders:

e The Consolidated Action will be captioned: In re The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Derivative Litigation, Case No. 2:24-cv-03636-ALM-CMV. e The Clerk of the Court is directed to administratively close Carone v. Hagedorn, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-04180-ALM-CMV. This administrative closure is solely for administrative purposes and shall not operate as a dismissal on the merits of any claims or defenses. e All future filings shall be made only in the Consolidated Action, /n re The Scotts Miracle- Gro Company Derivative Litigation, Case No. 2:24-cv-03636-ALM-CMV. e All papers and documents previously filed and/or served in the Carone Action shall be deemed a part of the record in the Consolidated Action.

IT IS SO ORDERED. ALGENOML. MARBL UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE DATED: December 10, 2025