LONG-TERM DEBT

9 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2011

Long-term Debt [Text Block]

NOTE 8 – LONG-TERM DEBT

		At June 30, 2011														At September 30, 2010
		Outstanding Balance			Original Issuer Discount			Balance Sheet			Capitalized Fees & Expenses		Coupon Interest Rate			Outstanding Balance			Original Issuer Discount			Balance Sheet			Capitalized Fees & Expenses		Coupon Interest Rate
Senior notes due 2018	(a)	$	550,000		$	—		$	550,000		$	11,337		7.125	%	$	—		$	—		$	—		$	—		n/a
Revolver due 2016	(a)		—			—			—			2,937		n/a			—			—			—			—		n/a
Convert. debt due 2017	(b)		100,000			(20,426	)		79,574			2,474		4.000	%		100,000			(22,525	)		77,475			2,807		4.000	%
Real estate mortgages	(c)		18,491			—			18,491			379		n/a			7,287			—			7,287			159		n/a
ESOP Loans	(d)		20,204			—			20,204			17		n/a			5,000			—			5,000			—		n/a
Capital lease - real estate	(e)		11,553			—			11,553			264		5.000	%		12,182			—			12,182			282		5.000	%
Convert. debt due 2023	(f)		532			—			532			—		4.000	%		532			—			532			—		4.000	%
Term loan due 2013	(g)		—			—			—			242		n/a			—			—			—			—		n/a
Revolver due 2011	(g)		10,876			—			10,876			71		n/a			—			—			—			—		n/a
Foreign line of credit	(g)		2,000			—			2,000			—		n/a			—			—			—			—		n/a
Term loan due 2016	(h)		—			—			—			—		n/a			375,000			(7,500	)		367,500			9,782		7.800	%
Asset based lending	(h)		—			—			—			—		n/a			25,000			(625	)		24,375			3,361		4.500	%
Revolver due 2013	(i)		—			—			—			—		n/a			30,000			—			30,000			476		1.800	%
Other long term debt	(j)		607			—			607			—					485			—			485			—
Totals			714,263			(20,426	)		693,837		$	17,721					555,486			(30,650	)		524,836		$	16,867
less: Current portion			(19,307	)		—			(19,307	)							(20,901	)		—			(20,901	)
Long-term debt		$	694,956		$	(20,426	)	$	674,530							$	534,585		$	(30,650	)	$	503,935

		Three Months Ended June 30, 2011													Three Months Ended June 30, 2010
		Effective Interest Rate			Cash Interest			Amort. Debt Discount		Amort. Deferred Cost & Other Fees		Total Interest Expense			Effective Interest Rate			Cash Interest			Amort. Debt Discount		Amort. Deferred Cost & Other Fees		Total Interest Expense
Senior notes due 2018	(a)		7.1	%	$	9,780		$	—	$	412	$	10,192			n/a		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Revolver due 2016	(a)		n/a			—			—		149		149			n/a			—			—		—		—
Convert. debt due 2017	(b)		9.2	%		1,000			713		111		1,824			9.2	%		1,000			650		111		1,761
Real estate mortgages	(c)		5.2	%		208			—		36		244			6.4	%		121			—		5		126
ESOP Loans	(d)		2.9	%		123			—		17		140			1.6	%		21			—		—		21
Capital lease - real estate	(e)		5.3	%		147			—		6		153			5.3	%		158			—		6		164
Convert. debt due 2023	(f)		4.0	%		5			—		—		5			8.8	%		500			650		37		1,187
Term loan due 2013	(g)		n/a			—			—		72		72			n/a			—			—		—		—
Revolver due 2011	(g)		n/a			44			—		9		53			n/a			—			—		—		—
Foreign line of credit	(g)		3.7	%		34			—		—		34			n/a			—			—		—		—
Term loan due 2016	(h)		n/a			—			—		—		—			n/a			—			—		—		—
Asset based lending	(h)		n/a			—			—		—		—			7.2	%		273			—		101		374
Revolver due 2013	(i)		n/a			—			—		—		—			3.7	%		140			—		46		186
Other long term debt	(j)					20			—		—		20						—			—		—		—
Capitalized interest						(317	)		—		—		(317	)					(59	)		—		—		(59	)
Totals					$	11,044		$	713	$	812	$	12,569					$	2,154		$	1,300	$	306	$	3,760

		Nine Months Ended June 30, 2011													Nine Months Ended June 30, 2010
		Effective Interest Rate			Cash Interest			Amort. Debt Discount		Amort. Deferred Cost & Other Fees		Total Interest Expense			Effective Interest Rate			Cash Interest			Amort. Debt Discount		Amort. Deferred Cost & Other Fees		Total Interest Expense
Senior notes due 2018	(a)		7.5	%	$	11,436		$	—	$	458	$	11,894			n/a		$	—		$	—	$	—	$	—
Revolver due 2016	(a)		n/a			—			—		172		172			n/a			—			—		—		—
Convert. debt due 2017	(b)		9.3	%		3,000			2,099		332		5,431			9.2	%		2,100			1,365		221		3,686
Real estate mortgages	(c)		5.6	%		552			—		64		616			6.4	%		368			—		14		382
ESOP Loans	(d)		2.5	%		170			—		50		220			1.5	%		63			—		—		63
Capital lease - real estate	(e)		5.4	%		457			—		19		476			5.2	%		478			—		19		497
Convert. debt due 2023	(f)		4.0	%		16			—		—		16			9.0	%		1,912			2,109		143		4,164
Term loan due 2013	(g)		n/a			—			—		73		73			n/a			—			—		—		—
Revolver due 2011	(g)		n/a			54			—		48		102			n/a			—			—		—		—
Foreign line of credit	(g)		3.8	%		42			—		—		42			n/a			—			—		—		—
Term loan due 2016	(h)		9.5	%		13,405			572		838		14,815			n/a			—			—		—		—
Asset based lending	(h)		6.2	%		1,076			58		341		1,475			5.4	%		862			—		303		1,165
Revolver due 2013	(i)		1.6	%		160			—		79		239			3.0	%		554			—		143		697
Other long term debt	(j)					91			—		—		91						—			—		—		—
Capitalized interest						(551	)		—		—		(551	)					(195	)		—		—		(195	)
Totals					$	29,908		$	2,729	$	2,474	$	35,111					$	6,142		$	3,474	$	843	$	10,459

(a)	On March 17, 2011, in an unregistered offering through a private placement under Rule 144A, Griffon issued, at par, $550,000 of 7.125% Senior Notes due in 2018 (“Senior Notes”); interest on the Senior Notes is payable semi-annually. The Senior Notes can be redeemed prior to April 1, 2014 at a price of 100% of principal plus a make-whole premium and accrued interest; on or after April 1, 2014, the Senior Notes can be redeemed at a certain price (declining from 105.344% of principal on or after April 1, 2014 to 100% of principal on or after April 1, 2017), plus accrued interest. Proceeds from the Senior Notes were used to pay down the outstanding borrowings under a senior secured term loan facility and two senior secured revolving credit facilities of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries. The Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of Griffon guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries, and are subject to certain covenants, limitations and restrictions.
	On June 24, 2011, Griffon commenced an exchange offer to exchange the original Senior Notes for new 7.125% Senior Notes due in 2018 that will be identical in all material respects to the original Senior Notes, except that the new Senior Notes will be registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The exchange offer will remain open until 5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on August 9, 2011, unless extended.
	On March 18, 2011, Griffon entered into a five-year $200,000 Revolving Credit Facility (“Credit Agreement”), which includes a letter of credit sub-facility with a limit of $50,000, a multi-currency sub-facility of $50,000 and a swingline sub-facility with a limit of $30,000. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be repaid and re-borrowed at any time, subject to final maturity of the facility or the occurrence of a default or event of default under the Credit Agreement. Interest is payable on borrowings at either a LIBOR or base rate benchmark rate plus an applicable margin, which will decrease based on financial performance. The margins are 1.75% for base rate loans and 2.75% for LIBOR loans, in each case without a floor. The Credit Agreement has certain financial maintenance tests including a maximum total leverage ratio, a maximum senior secured leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio as well as customary affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. The Credit Agreement also includes certain restrictions, such as limitations on the incurrence of indebtedness and liens and the making of restricted payments and investments. Borrowings under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries and are secured, on a first priority basis, by substantially all assets of the Company and the guarantors. There was no outstanding balance as of June 30, 2011, and as of such date the Company was in compliance with the terms and covenants of the Credit Agreement.
	At June 30, 2011, there were $20,477 of standby letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement; $179,523 was available for borrowing at that date.
(b)	On December 21, 2009, Griffon issued $100,000 principal of 4% convertible subordinated notes due 2017 (the “2017 Notes”). The initial conversion rate of the 2017 Notes was 67.0799 shares of Griffon’s common stock per $1,000 principal amount of notes, corresponding to an initial conversion price of $14.91 per share, a 23% conversion premium over the $12.12 closing price on December 15, 2009. Griffon used 8.75% as the nonconvertible debt-borrowing rate to discount the 2017 Notes and will amortize the debt discount through January 2017. At issuance, the debt component of the 2017 Notes was $75,437 and debt discount was $24,563. At September 30, 2010 and June 30, 2011, the 2017 Notes had a capital in excess of par component, net of tax, of $15,720.
(c)	On December 20, 2010, Griffon entered into two second lien real estate mortgages to secure new loans totaling $11,834. The loans mature in February 2016, are collateralized by the related properties and are guaranteed by Griffon. The loans bear interest at a rate of LIBOR plus 3% with the option to swap to a fixed rate.
	Griffon has other real estate mortgages, collateralized by real property, that bear interest at rates from 6.3% to 6.6% with maturities extending through 2016.
(d)	Griffon’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) entered into a loan agreement in August 2010 to borrow $20,000 over a one-year period, to be used to purchase Griffon common stock in the open market. The loan bears interest at a) LIBOR plus 2.5% or b) the lender’s prime rate. After the first year, Griffon has the option to convert all or a portion of the outstanding loan to a five-year term. If converted, principal is payable in quarterly installments of $250, beginning September 2011, with the remainder due at maturity. The loan is secured by shares purchased with the proceeds of the loan, and repayment is guaranteed by Griffon. At June 30, 2011, 1,398,677 shares have been purchased (some of which were purchased pursuant to a 10b5-1 repurchase plan); the outstanding balance was $15,673 and $4,327 was available for borrowing under the agreement. The Company expects to enter into an amendment to this loan agreement shortly that would (i) extend the end date for drawing down the $20,000 borrowing availability from August 2011 to November 2011, (ii) change the starting date for quarterly amortization payments from September 2011 to December 2011, and extend the maturity date of the loan from August 2016 to November 2016.
	In addition, the ESOP has a loan agreement, guaranteed by Griffon, which requires quarterly principal payments of $156 and interest through the expiration date of September 2012 at which time the $3,900 balance of the loan, and any outstanding interest, will be payable. The primary purpose of this loan was to purchase 547,605 shares of Griffon’s common stock in October 2008. The loan is secured by shares purchased with the proceeds of the loan, and repayment is guaranteed by Griffon. The loan bears interest at rates based upon the prime rate or LIBOR. At June 30, 2011, $4,532 was outstanding.
(e)	In October 2006, CBP entered into a capital lease totaling $14,290 for real estate in Troy, Ohio. Approximately $10,000 was used to acquire the building and the remaining amount was restricted for improvements. The lease matures in 2021, bears interest at a fixed rate of 5.1%, is secured by a mortgage on the real estate and is guaranteed by Griffon.
(f)	At June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, Griffon had $532 of 4% convertible subordinated notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”) outstanding. Holders of the 2023 Notes may require Griffon to repurchase all or a portion of their 2023 Notes on July 18, 2013 and 2018, if Griffon’s common stock price is below the conversion price of the 2023 Notes, as well as upon a change in control. At June 30, 2011 and September 30, 2010, the 2023 Notes had no capital in excess of par value component as substantially all of these notes were put to Griffon at par and settled in July 2010.
	In January 2010, Griffon purchased $10,100 face value of the 2023 Notes for $10,200 which, after proportionate reduction in related deferred financing costs, resulted in a net pre-tax gain from debt extinguishment of $12. Capital in excess of par was reduced by $300 for the equity portion of the extinguished 2023 Notes, and debt discount was reduced by $200.
	In December 2009, Griffon purchased $19,200 face value of the 2023 Notes for $19,400. Including a proportionate reduction in the related deferred financing costs, Griffon recorded an immaterial net pre-tax loss on the extinguishment. Capital in excess of par value was reduced by $700 related to the equity portion of the extinguished 2023 Notes and the debt discount was reduced by $500.
(g)	In November 2010, Clopay Europe GMBH (“Clopay Europe”) entered into a €10,000 revolving credit facility and a €20,000 term loan. The facility accrues interest at Euribor plus 2.35% per annum, and the term loan accrues interest at Euribor plus 2.45% per annum. The revolving facility matures in November 2011, but is renewable upon mutual agreement with the bank. The term loan can be drawn until August 2011 and, if drawn, repayment will be in ten equal installments beginning September 2011 with maturity in December 2013. Under the term loan, Clopay Europe is required to maintain a certain minimum equity to assets ratio and keep leverage below a certain level, defined as the ratio of total debt to EBITDA. There were no borrowings under the term loan at June 30, 2011. Borrowings under the revolving facility at June 30, 2011 were €7,500 and €2,500 was available for borrowing. In July 2011, the full €20,000 was drawn on the Term Loan, with a portion of the proceeds used to repay borrowings under the revolving credit facility.
	Clopay do Brazil, a subsidiary of Plastics, maintains lines of credit of approximately $4,500. Interest on borrowings accrue at a rate of LIBOR plus 3.8% or CDI plus 5.6%. $2,000 was borrowed under the lines and $2,500 was available as of as of June 30, 2011.
(h)	In connection with the ATT acquisition, Clopay Ames True Temper Holding Corp. (“Clopay Ames”), a subsidiary of Griffon, entered into the $375,000 secured term Loan (“Term Loan”) and a $125,000 asset based lending agreement (“ABL”). The acquisition, including all related transaction costs, was funded by proceeds of the Term Loan, $25,000 drawn under the New ABL, and $168,000 of Griffon cash. ATT’s previous outstanding debt was repaid in connection with the acquisition.
	On November 30, 2010, Clopay Ames, as required under the Term Loan agreement, entered into an interest rate swap on a notional amount of $200,000 of the Term Loan. The agreement fixed the LIBOR component of the Term Loan interest rate at 2.085% for the notional amount of the swap.
	On March 17, 2011, the Term Loan, and swap were terminated, and on March 18, 2011 the ABL was terminated, in connection with the issuance of the Senior Notes and Credit Agreement.
(i)	In March 2008, Telephonics entered into a credit agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, and the lenders party thereto, pursuant to which the lenders agreed to provide a five-year, revolving credit facility of $100,000 (the “TCA”). The TCA terminated in connection with the Credit Agreement.
(j)	Primarily capital leases.

At June 30, 2011, Griffon and its subsidiaries were in compliance with the terms and covenants of its credit agreements and loan agreements.

During the second quarter, in connection with the termination of the Term Loan, ABL and Telephonics credit agreement, Griffon recorded a $26,164 loss on extinguishment of debt consisting of $21,617 of deferred financing charges and original issuer discounts, a call premium of $3,703 on the Term Loan, and $844 of swap and other breakage costs.

As part of the acquisition of ATT, Griffon acquired interest rate swaps that had fair values totaling $3,845 at September 30, 2010. These swaps were terminated in October 2010 for $4,303, including accrued interest of $458.