GRIFFON CORP - Quarter Report: 2013 December (Form 10-Q)

(Unaudited)

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of these statements.

GRIFFON CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(US dollars and non US currencies in thousands, except share and per share data)

(Unaudited)

(Unless otherwise indicated, references to years or year-end refer to Griffon’s fiscal period ending September 30)

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

About Griffon Corporation

Griffon Corporation (the “Company” or “Griffon”) is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as in connection with divestitures. Griffon, to further diversify, also seeks out, evaluates and, when appropriate, will acquire additional businesses that offer potentially attractive returns on capital.

Griffon currently conducts its operations through three segments:

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, these financial statements do not include all the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. As such, they should be read with reference to Griffon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013, which provides a more complete explanation of Griffon’s accounting policies, financial position, operating results, business properties and other matters. In the opinion of management, these financial statements reflect all adjustments considered necessary for a fair statement of interim results. Griffon’s HBP operations are seasonal; for this and other reasons, the financial results of the Company for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results for the full year.

The condensed consolidated balance sheet information at September 30, 2013 was derived from the audited financial statements included in Griffon’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2013.

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Griffon and all subsidiaries. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates may be adjusted due to changes in economic, industry or customer financial conditions, as well as changes in technology or demand. Significant estimates include allowances for doubtful accounts receivable and returns, net realizable value of inventories, restructuring reserves, valuation of goodwill and intangible assets, percentage of completion method of accounting, pension assumptions, useful lives associated with depreciation and amortization of intangible and fixed assets, warranty reserves, sales incentive accruals, stock based compensation assumptions, income taxes and tax valuation reserves, environmental reserves, legal reserves, insurance reserves and the valuation of discontinued assets and liabilities, and the accompanying disclosures. These estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of current events and actions Griffon may undertake in the future. Actual results may ultimately differ from these estimates.

Certain amounts in the prior year have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

NOTE 2 – FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The carrying values of cash and equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts and notes payable and revolving credit debt approximate fair value due to either the short-term nature of such instruments or the fact that the interest rate of the revolving credit debt is based upon current market rates.

The fair values of Griffon’s 2018 senior notes and 2017 4% convertible notes approximated $583,000 and $115,440, respectively, on December 31, 2013. Fair values were based upon quoted market prices (level 1 inputs).

Items Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

Insurance contracts and trading securities with values of $3,756 and $1,306 at December 31, 2013, respectively, are measured and recorded at fair value based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (level 2 inputs).

At December 31, 2013, Griffon had $3,450 of Australian dollar contracts at a weighted average rate of $1.09. The contracts, which protect Australia operations from currency fluctuations for U.S. dollar based purchases, do not qualify for hedge accounting and a fair value gain of $51 was recorded in Other assets and to Other income for the outstanding contracts, based on similar contract values (level 2 inputs), for the quarter ended December 31, 2013. All contracts expire in 15 to 60 days.

NOTE 3 – ACQUISITION

On December 31, 2013, Griffon’s subsidiary, ATT acquired Northcote Pottery (“Northcote”), founded in 1897 and a leading brand in the Australian outdoor planter and decor market, for approximately $24,000. The acquisition of Northcote complements Southern Patio, acquired in 2011, and adds to ATT’s existing lawn and garden operations in Australia. Northcote, which will be integrated with ATT, is expected to generate approximately $28,000 of annualized revenue. Included in selling, general and administrative expenses are $798 of acquisition costs, incurred by Griffon, related to this transaction in the first quarter of 2014.

The accounts of the acquired company, after adjustment to reflect preliminary fair market values assigned to assets purchased, have been included in the consolidated financial statements from date of acquisition; acquired inventory was not significant. Griffon is in the process of finalizing the adjustment to the purchase price, if any, primarily related to working capital, and gathering data as of the closing date to complete the purchase price allocation; accordingly, management has used their best estimates in the initial purchase price allocation as of the date of these financial statements.

The following table summarizes the preliminary fair values of the Northcote assets and liabilities as of the date of acquisition:

The amounts assigned to major intangible asset classifications, none of which are tax deductible, for the Northcote acquisition are as follows:

NOTE 4 – INVENTORIES

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out or average) or market.

The following table details the components of inventory:

NOTE 5 – PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

The following table details the components of property, plant and equipment, net:

Depreciation and amortization expense for property, plant and equipment was $14,905 and $15,371 for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

No event or indicator of impairment occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2013, which would require additional impairment testing of property, plant and equipment.

NOTE 6 – GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

The following table provides changes in the carrying value of goodwill by segment during the quarter ended December 31, 2013:

The following table provides the gross carrying value and accumulated amortization for each major class of intangible assets:

Amortization expense for intangible assets was $1,888 and $1,986 for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively.

No event or indicator of impairment occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2013, which would require impairment testing of long-lived intangible assets including goodwill.

NOTE 7 – INCOME TAXES

The effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 was 32.4% compared to 68.1% in the prior year quarter. The rates include discrete benefits in the current and prior year quarter of $289 and $55, respectively, primarily resulting from the release of previously established reserves for uncertain tax positions on conclusion of certain tax audits, and benefits arising on the filing of tax returns in various jurisdictions.

Excluding discrete items, the effective tax rate for the quarter ended December 31, 2013 was 38.4% compared to 71.3% in the prior year quarter. Rates in both quarters reflect the impact of permanent differences not deductible in determining taxable income, mainly limited deductibility of restricted stock, tax reserves and of changes in earnings mix between domestic and non-domestic operations, all of which are material relative to the level of pretax result; the impact of the permanent differences diminished in the current quarter primarily as a result of the improved pretax result.

NOTE 8 – LONG-TERM DEBT

At December 31, 2013, Griffon and its subsidiaries were in compliance with the terms and covenants of its credit and loan agreements.

NOTE 9 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

During 2013, the Company declared and paid quarterly dividends of $0.025 per share, totaling $0.10 per share for the year. During the first quarter of 2014, the Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share, paid on December 24, 2013 to shareholders of record as of close of business on December 5, 2013. Dividends paid on allocated shares in the ESOP were used to pay down the ESOP loan and recorded as a reduction in expense. A dividend payable was established for the holders of restricted shares; such dividends will be released upon vesting of the underlying restricted shares.

On January 30, 2014, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share, payable on March 27, 2014 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on February 27, 2014.

Compensation expense for restricted stock is recognized ratably over the required service period based on the fair value of the grant calculated as the number of shares granted multiplied by the stock price on the date of grant, and for performance shares, the likelihood of achieving the performance criteria. Compensation cost related to stock-based awards with graded vesting is amortized using the straight-line attribution method.

In February 2011, shareholders approved the Griffon Corporation 2011 Equity Incentive Plan under which awards of performance shares, performance units, stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, deferred shares and other stock-based awards may be granted. On January 30, 2014, shareholders approved an amendment and restatement of the Incentive Plan (as amended, the “Incentive Plan”), which, among other things, added 1,200,000 shares to the Incentive Plan. Options granted under the Incentive Plan may be either “incentive stock options” or nonqualified stock options, generally expire ten years after the date of grant and are granted at an exercise price of not less than 100% of the fair market value at the date of grant. The maximum number of shares of common stock available for award under the Incentive Plan is 4,200,000 (600,000 of which may be issued as incentive stock options), plus any shares underlying awards outstanding on the effective date of the Incentive Plan under the 2006 Incentive Plan that are subsequently cancelled or forfeited. As of December 31, 2013, after giving effect to the 1,200,000 shares added to the plan on January 30, 2014, 1,296,468 shares were available for grant.

All grants outstanding under the Griffon Corporation 2001 Stock Option Plan, 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and Outside Director Stock Award Plan will continue under their terms; no additional awards will be granted under such plans.

During the first quarter of 2014, Griffon granted 599,328 restricted stock awards with vesting periods up to four years, 554,498 of which are also subject to certain performance conditions, with a total fair value of $7,426, or a weighted average fair value of $12.39 per share.

For the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, stock based compensation expense totaled $1,675 and $2,960, respectively.

In August 2011, Griffon’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $50,000 of Griffon’s outstanding common stock. Under this repurchase program, the Company may purchase shares, depending upon market conditions, in open market or privately negotiated transactions, including pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan. During the first quarter of 2014, Griffon repurchased 65,700 shares, for a total of $822, or $12.52 per shares. To date, under this program, Griffon has repurchased 3,787,931 shares, for a total of $38,796 or $10.24 per share. As of December 31, 2013, $11,204 remains under the $50,000 authorization.

During the quarter, 288,012 shares, with a market value of $3,764, or $13.07 per share, were withheld to settle employee taxes due upon the vesting of restricted stock.

On December 10, 2013, Griffon repurchased 4,444,444 shares of its common stock for $50,000 from GS Direct, L.L.C. (“GS Direct”), an affiliate of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. The repurchase was effected in a private transaction at a per share price of $11.25, an approximate 9.2% discount to the stock’s closing price on November 12, 2013, the day before announcement of the transaction. The transaction was exclusive of the Company’s current $50,000 authorized share repurchase program. After closing the transaction, GS Direct continued to hold approximately 5.56 million shares (approximately 10%) of Griffon’s common stock. GS Direct also agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, if it intends to sell its remaining shares of Griffon common stock at any time prior to December 31, 2014, it will first negotiate in good faith to sell the shares to the Company.

In December 2013, Griffon’s Board of Directors authorized the ESOP to purchase up to $10,000 of Griffon’s outstanding common stock, depending upon market conditions, in open market or privately negotiated transactions, including pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan. During the first quarter of 2014, the ESOP purchased 120,000 shares of common stock, for a total of $1,591 or $13.26 per share. As of December 31, 2013, $8,409 remains under the $10,000 authorization.

NOTE 10 – EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS)

Basic EPS was calculated by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS was calculated by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus additional common shares that could be issued in connection with stock based compensation. The 2017 Notes were anti-dilutive due to the conversion price being greater than the weighted-average stock price during the periods presented.

The following table is a reconciliation of the share amounts (in thousands) used in computing earnings per share:

Griffon has the intent and ability to settle the principal amount of the 2017 Notes in cash, and as such, the potential issuance of shares related to the principal amount of the 2017 Notes does not affect diluted shares.

NOTE 11 – BUSINESS SEGMENTS

Griffon’s reportable business segments are as follows:

Information on Griffon’s business segments is as follows:

The following table reconciles segment operating profit to income before taxes:

Griffon evaluates performance and allocates resources based on each segments’ operating results before interest income and expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, unallocated amounts (mainly corporate overhead), restructuring charges, acquisition-related expenses, and gains (losses) from pension settlement and debt extinguishment, as applicable (“Segment adjusted EBITDA”). Griffon believes this information is useful to investors for the same reason.

The following table provides a reconciliation of Segment adjusted EBITDA to Income before taxes:

Unallocated amounts typically include general corporate expenses not attributable to a reportable segment.

NOTE 12 – DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION EXPENSE

Defined benefit pension expense was as follows:

First quarter of 2013, Selling, general and administrative expenses included a $2,142, non-cash, pension settlement loss resulting from the lump-sum buyout of certain participant’s balances in the Company’s defined benefit plan. The buyouts, funded by the pension plan, reduced the Company’s net pension liability by $3,472 and increased Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) by $3,649.

NOTE 13 – RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In February 2013, the FASB issued new accounting guidance requiring enhanced disclosures for items reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The guidance does not amend any existing requirements for reporting net income or other comprehensive income in the financial statements. This guidance is effective prospectively for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. As this new guidance is related to presentation only, the implementation of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

The Company has implemented all new accounting pronouncements that are in effect and that may impact its financial statements and does not believe that there are any other new accounting pronouncements that have been issued that might have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations.

NOTE 14 – DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

The following amounts related to the Installation Services segment, discontinued in 2008, and other businesses discontinued several years ago, which have been segregated from Griffon’s continuing operations, and are reported as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

There was no Installation Services revenue or income for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 or 2012.

NOTE 15 – RESTRUCTURING AND OTHER RELATED CHARGES

In January 2013, ATT announced its intention to close certain manufacturing facilities, and to consolidate affected operations primarily into its Camp Hill and Carlisle, PA locations. The intended actions, to be completed by the end of calendar 2014, will improve manufacturing and distribution efficiencies, allow for in-sourcing of certain production currently performed by third party suppliers, and improve material flow and absorption of fixed costs.

ATT anticipates incurring pre-tax restructuring and related exit costs approximating $8,000, comprised of cash charges of $4,000 and non-cash, asset-related charges of $4,000; the cash charges will include $2,500 for one-time termination benefits and other personnel-related costs and $1,500 for facility exit costs. ATT expects $20,000 in capital expenditures in connection with this initiative and, to date, has incurred $7,200 and $14,392 in restructuring costs and capital expenditures, respectively.

HBP recognized $842 and $1,108, respectively, for the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively, of restructuring and other related exit costs primarily related to one-time termination benefits, facility costs, other personnel costs and asset impairment charges related to the ATT plant consolidation initiatives.

A summary of the restructuring and other related charges included in the line item “Restructuring and other related charges” in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) were recognized as follows:

The activity in the restructuring accrual recorded in accrued liabilities consisted of the following:

NOTE 16 – OTHER EXPENSE

For the quarters ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, Other expense included $242 and $12, respectively, of net currency exchange gains in connection with the translation of receivables and payables denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of Griffon and its subsidiaries as well as $112 and $32, respectively, of net investment income.

NOTE 17 – WARRANTY LIABILITY

Telephonics offers warranties against product defects for periods generally ranging from one to two years, depending on the specific product and terms of the customer purchase agreement. Typical warranties require Telephonics to repair or replace the defective products during the warranty period at no cost to the customer. At the time revenue is recognized, Griffon records a liability for warranty costs, estimated based on historical experience, and periodically assesses its warranty obligations and adjusts the liability as necessary. ATT offers an express limited warranty for a period of ninety days on all products unless otherwise stated on the product or packaging from the date of original purchase.

Changes in Griffon’s warranty liability, included in Accrued liabilities, were as follows:

NOTE 18 – OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

The amounts recognized in other comprehensive income were as follows:

Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income to income were as follows:

NOTE 19 — COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal and environmental

Department of Environmental Conservation of New York State (“DEC”), with ISC Properties, Inc. Lightron Corporation (“Lightron”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffon, once conducted operations at a location in Peekskill in the Town of Cortlandt, New York (the “Peekskill Site”) owned by ISC Properties, Inc. (“ISC”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Griffon. ISC sold the Peekskill Site in November 1982.

Subsequently, Griffon was advised by the DEC that random sampling at the Peekskill Site and in a creek near the Peekskill Site indicated concentrations of solvents and other chemicals common to Lightron’s prior plating operations. ISC then entered into a consent order with the DEC in 1996 (the “Consent Order”) to perform a remedial investigation and prepare a feasibility study. After completing the initial remedial investigation pursuant to the Consent Order, ISC was required by the DEC, and did conduct accordingly over the next several years, supplemental remedial investigations, including soil vapor investigations, under the Consent Order.

In April 2009, the DEC advised ISC’s representatives that both the DEC and the New York State Department of Health had reviewed and accepted an August 2007 Remedial Investigation Report and an Additional Data Collection Summary Report dated January 30, 2009. With the acceptance of these reports, ISC completed the remedial investigation required under the Consent Order and was authorized, accordingly, by the DEC to conduct the Feasibility Study required by the Consent Order. Pursuant to the requirements of the Consent Order and its obligations thereunder, ISC, without acknowledging any responsibility to perform any remediation at the Site, submitted to the DEC in August 2009, a draft feasibility study which recommended for the soil, groundwater and sediment medias, remediation alternatives having a current net capital cost value, in the aggregate, of approximately $5,000. In February 2011, DEC advised ISC it has accepted and approved the feasibility study. Accordingly, ISC has no further obligations under the consent order.

Upon acceptance of the feasibility study, DEC issued a Proposed Remedial Action Plan (“PRAP”) that sets forth the proposed remedy for the site. The PRAP accepted the recommendation contained in the feasibility study for remediation of the soil and groundwater medias, but selected a different remediation alternative for the sediment medium. The approximate cost and the current net capital cost value of the remedy proposed by DEC in the PRAP is approximately $10,000. After receiving public comments on the PRAP, the DEC issued a Record of Decision (“ROD”) that set forth the specific remedies selected and responded to public comments. The remedies selected by the DEC in the ROD are the same remedies as those set forth in the PRAP.

It is now expected that DEC will enter into negotiations with potentially responsible parties to request they undertake performance of the remedies selected in the ROD, and if such parties do not agree to implement such remedies, then the State may use State Superfund money to remediate the Peekskill site and seek recovery of costs from such parties. Griffon does not acknowledge any responsibility to perform any remediation at the Peekskill Site.

Improper Advertisement Claim involving Union Tools Products. Since December 2004, a customer of ATT has been named in various litigation matters relating to certain Union Tools products. The plaintiffs in those litigation matters have asserted causes of action against the customer of ATT for improper advertisement to end consumers. The allegations suggest that advertisements led the consumers to believe that Union Tools’ hand tools were wholly manufactured within boundaries of the United States. The complaints assert various causes of action against the customer of ATT under federal and state law, including common law fraud. At some point, likely once the litigation against the customer of ATT ends, the customer may seek indemnity (including recovery of its legal fees and costs) against ATT for an unspecified amount. Presently, ATT cannot estimate the amount of loss, if any, if the customer were to seek legal recourse against ATT.

Department of Environmental Conservation of New York State, regarding Frankfort, NY site. During fiscal 2009, an underground fuel tank with surrounding soil contamination was discovered at the Frankfort, N.Y. site, which is the result of historical facility operations prior to ATT’s ownership. While ATT was actively working with the DEC and the New York State Department of Health to define remediation requirements relative to the underground fuel tank, the DEC took the position that ATT was responsible to remediate other types of contamination on the site. After negotiations with the DEC, on August 15, 2011, ATT executed an Order on Consent with the DEC. The Order is without admission or finding of liability or acknowledgement that there has been a release of hazardous substances at the site. Importantly, the Order does not waive any rights that ATT has under a 1991 Consent Judgment entered into between the DEC and a predecessor of ATT relating to the site. The Order requires that ATT identify Areas of Concern at the site, and formulate a strategy to investigate and remedy both on and off site conditions in compliance with applicable environmental law. At the conclusion of the remedy phase of the remediation to the satisfaction of the DEC, the DEC will issue a Certificate of Completion. On August 1, 2012, a fire occurred during the course of demolition of certain structures at the Frankfort, NY site, requiring cleanup and additional remediation under the oversight of the DEC. Demolition of the structures on the property has been substantially completed. The DEC has inspected the progress of the work and is satisfied with the results thus far. On February 12, 2013, the DEC issued comments to the Remedial Investigation Work Plan previously submitted by ATT in October 2011, and in response, ATT issued a Revised Remedial Investigation Work Plan. Completion of the remedial investigation is dependent on timing of the DEC approval; no additional comments have been provided by the DEC to date. On October 21, 2013 ATT filed its revised Remedial Investigation Report with the DEC.

U.S. Government investigations and claims

Defense contracts and subcontracts, including Griffon’s contracts and subcontracts, are subject to audit and review by various agencies and instrumentalities of the United States government, including among others, the Defense Contract Audit Agency (“DCAA”), the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (“DCIS”), and the Department of Justice which has responsibility for asserting claims on behalf of the U.S. government. In addition to ongoing audits, pursuant to an administrative subpoena Griffon is currently providing information to the U.S. Department of Defense Office of the Inspector General. No claim has been asserted against Griffon, and Griffon is unaware of any material financial exposure in connection with the Inspector General’s inquiry.

In general, departments and agencies of the U.S. Government have the authority to investigate various transactions and operations of Griffon, and the results of such investigations may lead to administrative, civil or criminal proceedings, the ultimate outcome of which could be fines, penalties, repayments or compensatory or treble damages. U.S. Government regulations provide that certain findings against a contractor may lead to suspension or debarment from future U.S. Government contracts or the loss of export privileges for a company or an operating division or subdivision. Suspension or debarment could have material adverse effect on Telephonics because of its reliance on government contracts.

General legal

Griffon is subject to various laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and is a party to legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes, based on facts presently known to it, that the resolution of the matters above and such other matters will not have a material adverse effect on Griffon’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

NOTE 20 — CONSOLIDATING GUARANTOR AND NON-GUARANTOR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Griffon’s Senior Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior secured basis by the domestic assets of Clopay Building Products Company, Inc., Clopay Plastic Products Company, Inc., Telephonics Corporation, Ames True Temper, Inc. and ATT Southern, Inc. In accordance with Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, presented below are condensed consolidating financial information as of December 31, 2013 and September 30, 2013 and for the three ended December 31, 2013 and 2012. The financial information may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations or financial position had the guarantor companies or non-guarantor companies operated as independent entities. The guarantor companies and the non-guarantor companies include the consolidated financial results of their wholly-owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

 At December 31, 2013

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

At September 30, 2013

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

For the Three Months Ended December 31, 2013