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ACQUISITIONS
12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
ACQUISITIONS ACQUISITIONS

Griffon accounts for acquisitions under the acquisition method, in which assets acquired and liabilities assumed are recorded at fair value as of the date of acquisition using a method substantially similar to the goodwill impairment test methodology (level 3 inputs). The operating results of the acquired companies are included in Griffon’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition in each instance.

On June 4, 2018, Clopay completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding stock of CornellCookson, a leading US manufacturer and marketer of rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional and retail use, for approximately $180,000, excluding the estimated present value of tax benefits, and $12,426 of post-closing adjustments, primarily consisting of a working capital adjustment, of which $9,219 was paid in October 2018. CornellCookson revenue in 2018 was $66,654. The acquisition of CornellCookson substantially expanded Clopay’s non-residential product offerings, and added an established professional dealer network focused on rolling steel door and grille products for commercial, industrial, institutional and retail use. There is no other contingent consideration arrangement relative to the acquisition of CornellCookson.

CornellCookson’s accounts, affected for adjustments to reflect fair market values assigned to assets purchased and liabilities assumed, and results of operations are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Company has recorded an allocation of the purchase price to the Company’s tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair market values (level 3 inputs) at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets was recorded as goodwill and is deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill recognized at the acquisition date represents the other intangible benefits that the Company will derive from the ownership of CornellCookson, however, such intangible benefits do not meet the criteria for recognition of separately identifiable intangible assets.


The calculation of the purchase price allocation is as follows:
 
 
Accounts receivable (1)
$
30,400

Inventories(2)
12,336

Property, plant and equipment
49,426

Goodwill
43,183

Intangible assets
67,600

Other current and non-current assets
2,648

Total assets acquired
205,593

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
12,507

Long-term liabilities
660

Total liabilities assumed
13,167

Total
$
192,426

(1) Includes $30,818 of gross accounts receivable of which $418 was not expected to be collected. The fair value of accounts receivable approximated book value acquired.
(2) Includes $13,434 of gross inventory of which $1,098 was reserved for obsolete items.

The amounts assigned to goodwill and major intangible asset classifications, all of which are tax deductible, for the CornellCookson acquisition are as follows:
 
 
 
 
Average
Life
(Years)
Goodwill
 
$
43,183

 
N/A
Indefinite-lived intangibles
 
53,500

 
N/A
Definite-lived intangibles
 
14,100

 
12
Total goodwill and intangible assets
 
$
110,783

 
 


On February 13, 2018, AMES acquired 100% of the outstanding stock of Kelkay Limited ("Kelkay"), a leading United Kingdom manufacturer and distributor of decorative outdoor landscaping products sold to garden centers, retailers and grocers in the UK and Ireland for $56,118 (GBP 40,452), subject to contingent consideration of up to GBP 7,000. In 2019, GBP 1,300 thousand was reversed into income as it was highly probable a portion of the contingent consideration would not be earned. This acquisition broadened AMES' product offerings in the market and increased its in-country operational footprint. The purchase price was primarily allocated to tradenames of GBP 19,000, customer related intangibles of GBP 6,640, accounts receivable and inventory of GBP 8,894 and fixed assets and land of GBP 8,241.

On November 6, 2017, AMES acquired substantially all of the assets of Harper Brush Works ("Harper"), a division of Horizon Global, for $4,383, inclusive of post-closing adjustments. Harper is a leading U.S. manufacturer of cleaning products for professional, home, and industrial use. The acquisition expanded AMES’ long-handled tool offering in North America to include brooms, brushes, and other cleaning tools and accessories. The purchase price was primarily allocated to intangible assets of $2,300, inventory and accounts receivable of $3,900 and fixed assets of $900.

On October 2, 2017, Griffon Corporation completed the acquisition of 100% of the outstanding equity interests of ClosetMaid, a market leader of home storage and organization products, for approximately $185,700, inclusive of certain post-closing adjustments and excluding the present value of net tax benefits resulting from the transaction. The acquisition of ClosetMaid expanded Griffon’s Home and Building Products segment into the highly complementary home storage and organization category with a leading brand and product portfolio.


ClosetMaid's accounts, affected for adjustments to reflect fair market values assigned to assets purchased and liabilities assumed, and results of operations, are included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements from the date of acquisition. The Company has recorded an allocation of the purchase price to the Company’s tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair market values (level 3 inputs) at the acquisition date. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the net tangible and intangible assets was recorded as goodwill and is deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill recognized at the acquisition date represents the other intangible benefits that the Company will derive from the ownership of ClosetMaid, however, such intangible benefits do not meet the criteria for recognition of separately identifiable intangible assets.

The following unaudited proforma summary from continuing operations presents consolidated information as if the Company acquired ClosetMaid on October 1, 2016:
 
Proforma
For the year ended September 30, 2017
(unaudited)
Revenue
$
1,823,497

Income from continuing operations
15,070



Griffon did not include any material, nonrecurring proforma adjustments directly attributable to the business combination in the proforma revenue and earnings. These proforma amounts have been compiled by adding the historical results from continuing operations of Griffon, restated for classifying the results of operations of the Plastics business as a discontinued operation, to the historical results of ClosetMaid after applying Griffon’s accounting policies and the following proforma adjustments:

Additional depreciation and amortization that would have been charged assuming the preliminary fair value adjustments to property, plant, and equipment, and intangible assets had been applied from October 1, 2016.
Elimination of intercompany interest income recorded on ClosetMaid’s financial statements earned on an intercompany receivable due from ClosetMaid’s former parent.
Additional interest and related expenses from the add-on offering of $275,000 for the aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2022 that Griffon used to acquire ClosetMaid.
Removal of $900 of restructuring costs from ClosetMaid's historical results for 2017.
The consequential tax effects of the above adjustments using a 39.7% tax rate for 2017.

The calculation of the purchase price allocation is as follows:
Accounts receivable (1) 
$
32,234

Inventories (2) 
28,411

Property, plant and equipment
47,464

Goodwill
70,159

Intangible assets
74,580

Other current and non-current assets
3,852

Total assets acquired
256,700

 
 
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
68,251

Long-term liabilities
2,720

Total liabilities assumed
70,971

Total
$
185,729


(1) Includes $32,956 of gross accounts receivable of which $722 was not expected to be collected. The fair value of accounts receivable approximated book value acquired.
(2) Includes $1,500 in inventory basis step-up, which was charged to cost of goods sold over the inventory turns of the acquired entity.

The amounts assigned to goodwill and major intangible asset classifications, all of which are tax deductible, for the ClosetMaid acquisition are as follows:
 
 
 
 
Average
Life
(Years)
Goodwill
 
$
70,159

 
N/A
Indefinite-lived intangibles
 
47,740

 
N/A
Definite-lived intangibles
 
26,840

 
21
Total goodwill and intangible assets
 
$
144,739

 
 


On September 29, 2017, AMES Australia completed the acquisition of Tuscan Landscape Group Pty, Ltd. ("Tuscan Path") for approximately $18,000 (AUD 22,250). Tuscan Path is a leading Australian provider of pots, planters, pavers, decorative stone, and garden decor products. The acquisition of Tuscan Path broadens AMES' outdoor living and lawn and garden business, and will strengthen AMES' industry leading position in Australia. The purchase price was primarily allocated to intangible assets of AUD 3,900 and inventory and accounts receivable of AUD 7,900.
   
On July 31, 2017, The AMES Companies, Inc. acquired La Hacienda Limited, a leading United Kingdom outdoor living brand of unique heating and garden decor products, for approximately $11,400 (GBP 9,175), including an approximate contingent earn out payment of $790 (GBP 600). The acquisition of La Hacienda broadens AMES' global outdoor living and lawn and garden business and supports AMES' UK expansion strategy. The purchase price allocation was primarily allocated to intangible assets of approximately GBP 3,100 and inventory and accounts receivable of GBP 4,200.
On December 30, 2016, AMES Australia acquired Home Living ("Hills") for approximately $6,051 (AUD 8,400). The purchase price has been allocated to acquired assets and assumed liabilities and primarily consists of inventory, tooling and identifiable intangible assets, including trademarks, intellectual property and customer relationships. Hills, founded in 1946, is a market leader in the supply of clothesline, laundry and garden products. The Hills acquisition adds to AMES' existing broad category of products and enhances its lawn and garden product offerings in Australia. The purchase price was primarily allocated to intangible assets of approximately AUD 6,400 with the remainder primarily inventory.

SG&A and Cost of goods and services included $6,097 and $1,500 of acquisition-related costs, respectively, in 2018. SG&A included $9,617 acquisition-related costs in 2017. There were no acquisition-related costs in 2019.