Trade accounts receivable are carried at net realizable value. The Company extends credit to its customers based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and credit history, but generally does not require collateral. The Company monitors its customers’ credit and financial condition based on changing economic conditions and will make adjustments to credit policies as required. Provisions for losses on uncollectible trade receivables are determined based on ongoing evaluations of the Company’s receivables, principally on the basis of historical collection experience and evaluations of the risks of nonpayment or return for a given customer. See Note 8 - Receivables for further detail.

Long-lived fixed assets held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a product or product line, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, a history of operating or cash flow losses or an adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review. If such indicators are present, the Company performs undiscounted cash flow analyses to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows generated did not exceed the carrying value of the respective asset group. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. See Note 10 - Property, plant and equipment for further detail.

The costs incurred towards internal-use software development in the preliminary stages of development are expensed as incurred. Once an application has reached the development stage, internal and external costs incurred to develop internal-use software are capitalized and recognized as Property Plant and Equipment on the Company's Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Other costs associated with training and data conversion are generally expensed as incurred. Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software. Maintenance and enhancement costs, including those costs in the post-implementation stages, are typically expensed as incurred, unless such costs relate to substantial upgrades and enhancements to the software that result in added functionality, in which case the costs are capitalized and depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software.

Costs incurred towards the implementation of cloud computing arrangements, including software-as-a-service ("SaaS"), or other similar SaaS type services, such as platform as a service, infrastructure as a service and other hosting arrangements where we do not take possession of the software and instead gain access to the software remotely, are accounted for consistent with internal-use software development. Unlike internal-use software development costs, the amounts capitalized are recognized as a deferred balance similar to a prepayment or other deferred assets. Amortization of such costs are calculated on a straight-line basis over the applicable term of such arrangements, recognized as operating expense and not considered depreciation or amortization expense. If there is no software license provided by the contract, then the arrangement is considered a service contract and expensed as incurred.

Goodwill reflects the excess of acquisition cost over the aggregate fair value assigned to identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is assessed for impairment at least annually and as triggering events or indicators of potential impairment are identified. Goodwill has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing based upon the relative fair value of the asset to each reporting unit. Our reporting units are consistent with our reportable segments. See Note 21 - Segment Information for further discussion.

Goodwill is tested for impairment in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year by either performing a qualitative assessment or a quantitative test for some, or all reporting units. The Company evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. In performing a qualitative assessment, the Company considers events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market considerations, cost factors, overall financial performance, changes in management or key personnel, changes in strategy, changes in customers, changes in market value, composition or carrying amount of a reporting unit’s net assets, and considering any changes in the market price of the Company’s common stock. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not the carrying value is greater than the fair value of a reporting unit after assessing the totality of facts and circumstances, a quantitative assessment is performed to determine the reporting unit fair value and measure the impairment. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not the fair value is greater than the carrying amount, then a quantitative assessment is not required.

In estimating the fair value of our reporting units for a quantitative impairment assessment, we use both an income approach and a market approach. The income approach is a discounted cash flow methodology, which requires us to estimate future revenues, expenses, and capital expenditures and make assumptions about our weighted average cost of capital and perpetuity growth rate, among other variables. The market approach is a guideline public company method that assesses value of our reporting unit based upon market multiples derived from financial results of selected comparable companies. We test the aggregate estimated fair value of our reporting units by comparison to our total market capitalization, including both equity and debt capital. The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized equal to that excess; however the loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. See Note 11 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further detail.

Definite-lived intangible assets held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. If indicators of potential impairment are identified, the Company performs an undiscounted cash flow analysis to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset did not exceed the carrying value of the respective asset group. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value.

Certain trade name intangible assets have an indefinite life and are not amortized, but instead are assessed for impairment at least annually, in the fourth quarter of our fiscal year by either performing a qualitative assessment or a quantitative test for some or all indefinite lived intangible assets. The Company evaluates qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite lived intangible assets is less than its carrying amount. In performing a qualitative assessment, the Company considers events and circumstances, including, but not limited to, macroeconomic conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, changes in strategy and overall financial performance. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not the carrying value is greater than the fair value of an indefinite lived intangible asset, a quantitative assessment is performed to determine the fair value and measure the impairment. If the Company determines that it is more likely than not the fair value is greater than the carrying amount, then a quantitative assessment is not required.

The quantitative impairment analysis of indefinite lived intangible assets compares the estimated fair value of the identified trade names to their carrying value to determine if impairment exists. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded for the excess. The fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined using an income approach, the relief-from-royalty methodology, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future revenues, royalty rates, and the discount rate, among others. See Note 11 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further detail.

Assets and liabilities of a qualifying business are excluded from the net assets of continuing operations, separated in a disposal group and classified as held for sale in the period in which the held for sale criteria was met. Corporate debt is not included as a component of the disposal group, regardless of repayment provisions, and only debt directly attributable to the divested operations may be included as held for sale. Assets and liabilities held for sale are recorded at the lower of its carrying amount or estimated fair value less expected cost to sell and any unrecognized other comprehensive loss. Assets held for sale do not experience any subsequent depreciation or amortization after being classified as held for sale. Assets held for sale are reviewed for impairment at least quarterly, and if the carrying amount of the disposal group exceeds the estimated fair value less cost to sell, a loss is recognized. If a business is classified as held for sale after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued, the business continues to be classified as held and used in those financial statements when issued or when available to be issued.

The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results when the business is sold and meets the criteria for being classified as held for sale. Assets and liabilities of a disposal group classified as held for sale and related to discontinued operations are presented as held for sale for all current and prior periods presented within the statement of a financial position. The results of discontinued operations are reported in Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income for the current and prior periods commencing in the period in which the business meets the held for sale criteria, and includes any gain or loss recognized on closing, or adjustment of the carrying amount to fair value less cost to sell while being held for sale. Loss realized upon change of classification to held for sale is recognized as a loss to continuing operations. Income from discontinued operations includes only direct costs attributable to the divested business and excludes any indirect cost allocation associated with any shared or corporate led functions unless otherwise dedicated to the divested business. Transactions between the businesses held for sale and businesses held for use that are expected to continue to exist after the disposal are not eliminated to appropriately reflect the continuing operations and balances held for sale. Interest costs from corporate debt, excluding premium payments or loss on extinguishment of debt, may be included as a component of income from discontinued operations specifically attributable to interest from corporate debt that is obligated to be repaid following the completion of a divestiture; plus the allocation of interest cost from corporate debt not directly attributable to or related to other operations based on the ratio of net assets of the disposal group held for sale to the consolidated net assets plus consolidated debt, excluding debt assumed in transaction, required to be repaid, or directly attributable to other operations of the Company. Adjustments to discontinued operations subsequent to the completion of a transaction or disposition are generally attributable to contingencies and indemnifications directly related to the disposal transaction, operations of the discontinued operations, or settlement of obligations directly related to the disposal. Amounts within accumulated other comprehensive income directly associated with a divested business are not realized as a component of Income from Discontinued Operations until completion of the sale or disposition. See Note 3 - Divestitures for further detail.

Derivative financial instruments are used by the Company principally in the management of its foreign currency exposures. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivative assets and liabilities are reported at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. When hedge accounting is elected at inception, the Company formally designates the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure and documents both the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge. Depending on the nature of derivatives designated as hedging instruments, changes in fair value are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets or liability through earnings, or recognized in equity through other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized. Derivative instruments that hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows and are designated as cash flow hedges, and the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument is recorded as a component of Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income (“AOCI”) in Shareholders’ Equity. Those amounts are subsequently reclassified to earnings in the same line item in the Consolidated Statement of Income as impacted by the hedge item when the hedged item affects earnings. To receive hedge accounting treatment, cash flow hedges must be highly effective in offsetting changes to expected future cash flows on hedged transactions. For derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the change in the fair value is recognized in earnings. See Note 14 - Derivatives for further detail.

The Company accounts for acquisitions by applying the acquisition method of accounting when the transaction or event is considered a business combination, which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed constitute a business. A defined business is generally an acquired group of assets with inputs and processes that make it capable of generating a return or economic benefit for the acquirer. The acquisition method of accounting requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination be measured at their fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. See Note 4 – Acquisitions for further detail.

Our customers mostly consist of retailers, wholesalers and distributors with the intention to sell and distribute to an end consumer. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of products upon transfer of control to the customer. A portion of our business is also sold direct-to-consumer through direct response television, brand websites, and other online marketplaces. For the majority of our product sales, the transfer of control is recognized when we ship the product from our facilities to the customer unless we retain title and risk of loss upon shipment and we arrange and paid for freight such that we retain physical possession and control during delivery.

The Company also sells licenses of its brands to third-party sellers and manufacturers for the development, production, sales & distribution of products that are not directly managed or offered by the Company. The Company maintains all right of ownership of the intellectual property and contracts with its customer for the use of the intellectual property in their operations. Revenue derived from the right-to-access licenses is recognized using the over time revenue recognition method, applying the ‘as-invoiced’ practical expedient method at the amount we are able to bill using a time-elapsed measure of progress, taking into consideration any minimum guarantee provisions under the contract, as it appropriately depicts its performance of providing access to the Company’s brands, trade names, logos, etc.

Other revenue consists primarily of installation or maintenance services that are provided to certain customers in the GPC segment and extended warranty coverage for certain HPC products sold directly to consumers. The GPC services are often associated with the sale of product but are also provided separately and are considered a distinct performance obligation separate from product sales. The HPC extended warranty coverage is sold as a separate contract and is recognized as a separate performance obligation that is distinct from the product. The extended warranty is initially recognized as deferred revenue and amortized to Net Sales over the anticipated term of the performance of obligation. The HPC extended warranties' term is anywhere between 1 and 7 years, with the majority of the warranties realized within the first year of the term.

The Company measures revenue as the amount of consideration for which it expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Certain retailers and/or end customers may receive cash or non-cash incentives such as rebates, volume or trade discounts, cooperative advertising, price protection, coupons, and other customer-related programs, including service level penalties, which are accounted for as variable consideration. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of the anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available. The estimated liability for sales discounts and other programs and allowances is calculated using the expected value method or most likely amount and recorded at the time of sale as a reduction of net sales and trade receivables.

The Company may also enter into various arrangements, primarily with retail customers, which require the Company to make upfront cash payments to secure the right to distribute through such customers. The Company defers the cost of these payments, provided they are supported by a volume-based arrangement with the retailer with a period of 12 months or longer, and amortizes the associated payment over the appropriate time or volume-based term of the arrangement. Deferred payments are recognized as a contract asset and are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as Deferred Charges and Other Assets with related amortization treated as a reduction in Net Sales.

In the normal course of business, the Company may allow customers to return product per the provisions in a sale agreement. Estimated product returns are recorded as a reduction in reported revenues at the time of sale based upon historical product return experience, adjusted for known trends, to arrive at the amount of consideration expected to be received. For the anticipated value of the returns, the Company will recognize a return liability in Other Current Liabilities and a separate return asset included in the Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets, when applicable. See Note 6 - Revenue Recognition for further discussion on product returns. Product returns do not include provisions for standard warranties provided to end-consumers of the Company's products, which are recognized as a component of the Cost of Goods Sold. See Note 20 - Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion on standard product warranty.

Shipping and handling costs include costs incurred with third-party carriers to transport products to customers and salaries and overhead costs related to activities to prepare the Company’s products for shipment at the Company’s distribution facilities. Shipping and handling costs were $272.6 million, $274.2 million and $216.3 million during the years ended September 30, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities, which occur after control of the related goods transfers, as fulfillment activities instead of assessing such activities as performance obligations. Shipping and handling costs are included in Selling Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations or to conditions caused by past operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. The Company determines its liability for environmental matters on a site-by-site basis and records a liability at the time when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and such liability can be reasonably estimated. The estimated liability is not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers. Environmental costs include initial site surveys, costs for remediation and restoration and ongoing monitoring costs, as well as fines, damages and other costs, when applicable and estimable. Adjustments to initial estimates are recorded, from time to time, to reflect changing circumstances and estimates based upon additional information developed in subsequent periods. Estimated environmental remediation expenditures are included in the determination of the net realizable value recorded for assets held for sale. See Note 20 - Commitments and Contingencies for further discussion.

The Company regularly enters into various restructuring initiatives, optimization projects, strategic transactions, and other business development activities that may include the recognition of exit or disposal costs. Exit or disposal costs include, but are not limited to, the costs of termination benefits, such as a one-time involuntary severance or retention bonuses, one-time contract termination costs (excluding leases), and other costs associated with non-termination type costs related to restructuring initiatives such as incremental costs for the sale or termination of a line of business, closure or consolidation of operating facilities or business locations in a country or region, relocation of business activities and employees from one location to another, change in management structure, significant third-party provider or a fundamental reorganization that affects the nature and focus of operations, among others. Restructuring charges associated with manufacturing are recorded as Cost of Goods Sold. Restructuring charges associated with administrative functions are recorded as operating expenses, such as initiatives impacting sales, marketing, distribution or other non-manufacturing related functions.

Liabilities from restructuring charges are recorded for estimated costs of facility closures, significant organizational adjustments and measures undertaken by management to exit certain activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by management after evaluating detailed analyses of the costs to be incurred. Such liabilities or asset reductions could include amounts for items such as severance costs and related benefits, and other items directly related to the exit activities. Impairment of property and equipment and other assets as a result of a such initiatives is recognized as a reduction of the appropriate asset. See Note 5 - Restructuring Charges for further detail.

The Company determines if an arrangement is a lease at inception, considering whether the contract conveys a right to control the use of the identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases are classified as operating or finance leases at the commencement date of the lease. Operating leases are included in Operating Lease Assets, Other Current Liabilities and Long-Term Operating Lease Liabilities on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Finance leases are included in Property, Plant and Equipment, Current Portion of Long-Term Debt, and Long-Term Debt, Net of Current Portion on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Right of use ("ROU") lease assets and liabilities are recognized based on the present value of future minimum lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. ROU lease liabilities are classified between current and long-term liabilities based on their payment terms. The ROU operating lease asset includes prepaid rent and reflects the unamortized balance of lease incentives. Our leases may include renewal options, and we include the renewal option in the lease term if we conclude that it is reasonably certain that we will exercise that option. The Company’s lease agreements do not contain any material residual value guarantees or material restrictive covenants. Lease expense for operating leases is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate, such as the Company’s proportionate share of actual costs for utilities, common area maintenance, insurance, and property taxes, are excluded from the measurement of the lease liability, unless subject to fixed minimum requirements, and are recognized as variable lease cost when the obligation for that payment is incurred.

As most of the Company’s leases do not provide the lease implicit rates, the Company uses its incremental borrowing rates as the discount rate, adjusted as applicable, based on the information available at the lease commencement dates to determine the present value of lease payments. The incremental borrowing rate represents an estimate of the interest rate the Company would incur to borrow, on a collateralized basis and in a similar economic environment, over the term of a lease. The Company may use the lease implicit rate, if readily determinable, as the discount rate to determine the present value of lease payments.

We review the impairment of our ROU lease assets consistent with the approach applied for our other long-lived assets. ROU lease assets are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a product or product line, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, early termination or exit of a lease agreement, a history of operating or cash flow losses or an adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review. If such indicators are present, the Company performs an undiscounted cash flow analysis to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows generated did not exceed the carrying value of the respective asset group. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. See Note 13 – Leases for additional information.

As part of ongoing efforts to maximize working capital, the Company works with its suppliers to optimize the terms and conditions, which may include the extension of payment terms. There is an agreement with a third-party administrator to provide an accounts payable tracking system and facilitate a supplier financing program, which allows participating suppliers the ability to monitor and voluntarily elect to sell the Company's payment obligations to a designated third-party financial institution. Participating suppliers can sell one or more of the payment obligations at their sole discretion, and the Company's rights and obligations to its suppliers are not impacted. The Company has no economic interest in a supplier’s decision to enter into these agreements. The Company's rights and obligations to its suppliers, including amounts due and scheduled payment terms, are not impacted by suppliers’ decisions to sell amounts under these arrangements. As of September 30, 2023, the Company had $17.9 million in outstanding payment obligations that were sold to a financial institution by participating suppliers and are included in Accounts Payable in the Company's Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. During the year ended September 30, 2023, the Company paid $91.0 million to a financial institution for payment obligations that were settled through the supplier financing program.

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

Local currencies are considered the functional currencies for most of the Company’s operations outside the United States. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the rate of exchange existing at year-end, with revenues, expenses and cash flows translated at the average of the monthly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation of the financial statements are recorded as a component of equity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), including the effects of exchange rate changes on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting. This ASU provides optional expedients and exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions affected by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. In response to the concerns about structural risks of interbank offered rates (“IBORs”) and, particularly, the risk of cessation of the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), regulators in several jurisdictions around the world have undertaken reference rate reform initiatives to identify alternative reference rates that are more observable or transaction based and less susceptible to manipulation. The ASU provides companies with optional guidance to ease the potential accounting burden associated with transitioning away from reference rates that are expected to be discontinued. In January 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-01, which adds implementation guidance to clarify certain optional expedients in Topic 848. The adoptions did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2022, the FASB issued ASU 2022-04, Supplier Finance Programs (Subtopic 405-50): Disclosure of Supplier Finance Program Obligations to enhance transparency about the use of supplier finance programs. Under the ASU, an entity that provide for a supplier finance program in connection with the purchase of goods and services is required to disclose information about the key terms of the program, outstanding confirmed amounts as of the end of the period, a rollforward of such amounts during each annual period, and a description of where in the financial statements outstanding amounts are presented. The amendments in ASU 2022-04 are effective for all entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, including interim periods within those financial years, except for the disclosure of rollforward information, which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023. The Company has adopted the general disclosures of ASU 2022-04 in the current fiscal year and will adopt the rollforward disclosure in the next fiscal year.

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers. This ASU requires that an acquirer recognize, and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with ASC 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” (Topic 606) as if it had originated the contracts. Generally, this would result in an acquirer recognizing and measuring the acquired contract assets and contract liabilities consistent with how they were recognized and measured in the acquiree’s financial statements if the acquiree prepared financial statements in accordance with US GAAP. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 including interim periods within the fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. The standard is applied prospectively to business combinations occurring on or after the effective date of the amendments. The impact will be based on future business combinations after the Company adopts the standard.