REVENUE

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2020

Revenue from Contract with Customer [Abstract]

REVENUE

REVENUE

The Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations identified under the terms of contracts with its customers are satisfied. A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service, or a bundle of goods or services, to the customer, and is the unit of accounting. A contract with a customer is an agreement which both parties have approved, that creates enforceable rights and obligations, has commercial substance and with respect to which payment terms are identified and collectability is probable. Once the Company has entered into a contract or purchase order, it is evaluated to identify performance obligations. For each performance obligation, revenue is recognized when control of the promised products is transferred to the customer, or services are satisfied under the contract or purchase order, in an amount that reflects the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those products or services (the transaction price).

A contract's transaction price is allocated to each distinct performance obligation and recognized as revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. A majority of the Company’s contracts have a single performance obligation which represents, in most cases, the product being sold to the customer. To a lesser extent, some contracts include multiple performance obligations such as a product, the related installation, and extended warranty services. These contracts require judgment in determining the number of performance obligations. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, judgment is required to determine whether

performance obligations specified in these contacts are distinct and should be accounted for as separate revenue transactions for recognition purposes. In these types of contracts, the Company allocates the total transaction price to each performance obligation in an amount based on the estimated relative standalone selling prices of the promised goods or services underlying each performance obligation. The Company uses an observable price to determine the stand-alone selling price for separate performance obligations or a cost plus margin approach when one is not available. The transaction price includes variable consideration, such as discounts and volume rebates, when it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized will not occur. Variable consideration is determined using either the expected value or the most likely amount of consideration to be received based on historical experience and the specific facts and circumstances at the time of evaluation.

See Note 19 - Business Segments for revenue from contracts with customers disaggregated by end markets, segments and geographic location.

Revenue from CPP and HBP Segments

Approximately 86% of the Company’s performance obligations are recognized at a point in time related to the manufacture and sale of a broad range of products and components primarily within the CPP and HBP Segments, and revenue is recognized when title, and risk and rewards of ownership, have transferred to the customer, which is generally upon shipment.

A majority of CPP's and HBP's revenue is short cycle in nature with shipments occurring within one year from order and does not include a material long-term financing component, implicitly or explicitly. Payment terms generally range between 15 to 90 days and vary by the location of the business, the type of products manufactured to be sold and the volume of products sold, among other factors.

The Company’s CPP and HBP Segments recognize revenue from product sales when all factors are met, including when control of a product transfers to the customer upon its shipment, completion of installation, testing, certification or other substantive acceptance required under the contract. Other than standard product warranty provisions, sales arrangements provide for no other significant post-shipment obligations on the Company. From time-to-time and for certain customers, rebates and other sales incentives, promotional allowances or discounts are offered, typically related to customer purchase volumes, all of which are fixed or determinable and are classified as a reduction of revenue and recorded at the time of sale. Griffon provides for sales returns and allowances based upon historical returns experience. The Company includes shipping costs billed to customers in revenue and the related shipping costs in Cost of Goods and Services.

The majority of the Company’s contracts in the CPP and HBP Segments offer assurance-type warranties in connection with the sale of a product to a customer. Assurance-type warranties provide a customer with assurance that the related product will function as the parties intended because it complies with agreed-upon specifications. Such warranties do not represent a separate performance obligation.

Payment terms in the CPP and HBP Segments vary depending on the type and location of the customer and the products or services offered. Generally, the period between the time revenue is recognized and the time payment is due is not significant. Shipping and handling charges are not considered a separate performance obligation. Additionally, all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are both imposed on and concurrent with a specific revenue-producing transaction and collected from a customer (e.g., sales, use, value added, and some excise taxes) are excluded from revenue.

Revenue from Defense Electronics Segment

Approximately 14% of the Company’s performance obligations are recognized over time and relate to prime or subcontractors from contract awards with the U.S. Government, as well as foreign governments and other commercial customers within our DE Segment. Revenue recognized over time is generally accounted for using an input measure to determine progress completed at the end of the period. We believe that cumulative costs incurred to date as a percentage of estimated total contract costs at completion (cost-to-cost method) is an appropriate measure of progress towards satisfaction of performance obligations recognized over time, as it most accurately depicts the progress of our work and transfer of control to our customers.

The Company’s DE Segment earns a substantial portion of its revenue as either a prime contractor or subcontractor from contract awards with the U.S. Government, as well as foreign governments and other commercial customers to design, develop and manufacture highly sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions. These contracts are typically long-term in nature, usually greater than one year, and do not include a material long-term financing component, either implicitly or explicitly. Revenue and profits from such contracts are recognized over time as work is performed because control of the work in process transfers continuously to the customer. For U.S. Government contracts, the continuous transfer of control to the customer

is supported by contract clauses that provide for: (i) progress or performance-based payments or (ii) the unilateral right of the customer to terminate the contract for convenience, in which case we have the right to receive payment for costs incurred plus a reasonable profit for products and services that do not have alternative use to us. Foreign government and certain commercial contracts contain similar termination for convenience clauses, or we have a legally enforceable right to receive payment for costs incurred and a reasonable profit for product or services that do not have alternative use to us. Revenue and profits on fixed-price and cost-plus contracts that include performance obligations satisfied over time are recorded at amounts equal to the ratio of actual cumulative costs incurred divided by total estimated costs at completion, multiplied by the total estimated contract revenue, less the cumulative revenue recognized in prior periods. The profit recorded on a contract using this method is equal to the current estimated total profit margin multiplied by the cumulative revenue recognized, less the amount of cumulative profit previously recorded for the contract in prior periods.

Accounting for the sales and profits on performance obligations for which progress is measured using the cost-to-cost method relies on the substantial use of estimates, these projections may be revised throughout the life of a contract. Components of this formula and ratio that may be estimated include gross profit margin and total costs at completion. The cost performance and estimates to complete long-term contracts are reviewed, at a minimum, on a quarterly basis, as well as when information becomes available that would necessitate a review of the current estimate. Adjustments to estimates for a contract's estimated costs at completion and estimated profit or loss are often required as experience is gained, more information is obtained (even though the scope of work required under the contract may or may not change) and contract modifications occur. The impact of such adjustments to estimates is made on a cumulative basis in the period when such information has become known. The 2020, 2019, and 2018 income from operations included net favorable/(unfavorable) catch-up adjustments approximating $(10,650), $(4,500) and $1,400, respectively. Gross profit is impacted by a variety of factors, including the mix of products, systems and services, production efficiencies, price competition and general economic conditions.

Under fixed-price contracts, the Company agrees to perform the specified work for a pre-determined price. To the extent actual costs vary from the estimates upon which the price was negotiated, more or less profit will be generated, or a loss could be incurred.

Cost-reimbursable type contracts provide for the payment of allowable costs incurred on the contract plus the estimated profit on those costs. The estimated profit on a cost-reimbursable contract may be fixed or variable based on the contractual fee arrangement. We provide our products and services under cost-plus-fixed-fee arrangements. The fixed fee is negotiated at the inception of the contract and that fixed-fee does not vary with actual costs.

For contracts in which anticipated total costs exceed the total expected revenue, an estimated loss is recognized in the period when identifiable. A provision for the entire amount of the estimated loss is recorded on a cumulative basis. The estimated remaining costs to complete loss contracts as of September 30, 2020 was $10,800 and is recorded as a reduction to gross margin on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). This loss had an immaterial impact on Griffon's Consolidated Financial Statements.

Contract modifications routinely occur to account for changes in contract specifications or requirements. Depending on the nature of the modification, we consider whether to account for the modification as an adjustment to the existing contract or as a separate contract. Contract modifications for goods or services that are not distinct are accounted for as part of the existing contract on a cumulative catch-up basis.

From time to time, Telephonics may combine contracts if they are negotiated together, have specific requirements to combine, or are otherwise closely related.

Transaction Price Allocated to the Remaining Performance Obligations

On September 30, 2020, we had $380,000 of remaining performance obligations, which we also refer to as total backlog. We expect to recognize approximately 67% of our remaining performance obligations as revenue within one year, with the balance to be completed thereafter.

Backlog represents the dollar value of funded orders for which work has not been performed. Backlog generally increases with bookings, and converts into revenue as we incur costs related to contractual commitments or the shipment of product. Given the nature of our business and a larger dependency on international customers, our bookings, and therefore our backlog, is impacted by the longer maturation cycles resulting in delays in the timing and amounts of such awards, which are subject to numerous factors, including fiscal constraints placed on customer budgets; political uncertainty; the timing of customer negotiations; and the timing of governmental approvals.

Contract Balances

Contract assets were $84,426 as of September 30, 2020 compared to $105,111 as of September 30, 2019. The $20,685 decrease in our contract assets balance was primarily due to the timing of billings and work performed on various radar and surveillance programs. Contract assets primarily relate to the Company's right to consideration for work completed but not billed at the reporting date and are recorded in Contract assets, net of progress payments in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract assets are transferred to receivables when the right to consideration becomes unconditional. Contract costs and recognized income not yet billed consists of amounts accounted for under the percentage of completion method of accounting, recoverable costs and accrued profit that cannot yet be invoiced under the terms of certain long-term contracts. Amounts will be invoiced when applicable contract terms, such as the achievement of specified milestones or product delivery, are met. At September 30, 2020 and 2019, approximately $7,500 and $13,100, respectively, of contract assets were expected to be collected after one year.

Contract liabilities were $24,386 as of September 30, 2020 compared to $26,259 as of September 30, 2019. The $1,873 decrease in the contract liabilities balance was primarily due to the recognition of revenue primarily from surveillance and airborne maritime surveillance radar programs. Contract liabilities relate to advance consideration received from customers for which revenue has not been recognized. The Company often receives cash payments from customers in advance of the Company’s performance resulting in contract liabilities. These contract liabilities are classified as current on the Consolidated Balance Sheets based on the timing of when the Company expects to recognize revenue. Current contract liabilities are recorded in Accounts payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract liabilities are reduced when the associated revenue from the contract is recognized.