7. Related Parties

VML Company L.L.C. (VML), a Delaware Limited Liability Company, was formed in April 2001, at which time the Company acquired a 30% membership interest. Since formation, VML has served as the Company’s contract manufacturer for certain household products and acts as a warehouse distributor for other product lines of the Company. Although VML has begun to expand its business to other customers, the Company continues to be its largest customer. VML makes profit distributions to the Company and the 70% owner on a discretionary basis in proportion to each party’s respective interest.

The Company has a put option to sell its interest in VML to the 70% owner, and the 70% owner has a call option to purchase the Company’s interest. The sale price in each case is established pursuant to formulas based on VML’s operating results.

Under Financial Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51,” VML qualifies as a variable interest entity, and it has been determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investment in VML is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and its equity in VML earnings or losses is recorded as a component of cost of products sold, as VML acts primarily as a contract manufacturer to the Company. The Company recorded equity earnings related to its investment in VML of $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2007, equity losses of $0.1 million for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006 and equity earnings of $0.4 million for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2005.

The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with VML was $1.0 million as of August 31, 2007. This amount represents the balance of the Company’s equity investment in VML, which is presented as investment in related party on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s investment in VML as of August 31, 2006 was $1.0 million.

Cost of products sold which were purchased from VML, net of rebates and equity earnings or losses, was approximately $19.1 million, $41.0 million and $38.4 million during the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company had product payables to VML of $1.5 million and $0.5 million at August 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives rental income from VML, which is recorded as a component of other (expense) income, net. Rental income from VML was $0.2 million for each of the fiscal years ended August 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2006, the Company acquired $2.0 million of inventory from VML. The inventory purchased from VML consisted of certain finished goods that had been acquired from other manufacturers on behalf of the Company. As the Company transitioned to direct acquisition of these finished goods, it acquired the remaining inventory at VML.