GRIFFON CORP (GFF) Business

Item 1. Business

Overview

Griffon Corporation (the “Company,” “Griffon,” "we," or "us") is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company, founded in 1959, is a Delaware corporation headquartered in New York, N.Y. and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE:GFF).

Business Strategy

Our strategic objective is to maintain leading positions in the markets we serve by providing innovative, branded products with superior quality and industry-leading service. We place emphasis on our iconic and well-respected brands, which helps to differentiate us and our offerings from our competitors and strengthens our relationship with our customers and those who ultimately use our products.

Through operating a diverse portfolio of businesses, we expect to reduce variability caused by external factors such as market cyclicality, seasonality, and weather. We achieve diversity by providing various product offerings and brands through multiple sales and distribution channels and conducting business across multiple countries which we consider our home markets.

Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as divestitures. As long-term investors, we intend to continue to grow and strengthen our existing businesses, and to diversify further through investments in our businesses and acquisitions.

Since 2017, we have undertaken a series of transformative transactions to strengthen our core business and increase shareholder value. We divested our specialty plastics business in 2018 and our defense electronics (Telephonics) business in 2022 to focus on our core markets and improve our free cash flow conversion. In our Home and Building Products ("HBP") segment, we acquired CornellCookson, Inc. in 2018, which has established us as a leading North American manufacturer and marketer of residential garage doors and sectional commercial doors, and rolling steel doors and grille products, under brands that include Clopay, Ideal, Cornell and Cookson. In our Consumer and Professional Products ("CPP") segment, we expanded the scope of our brands through the acquisition of Hunter Fan Company ("Hunter") in January 2022 and ClosetMaid, LLC ("ClosetMaid") in 2018.

On July 1, 2024, Griffon announced that its subsidiary, The AMES Companies, Inc., ("AMES") expanded the scope of its Australian operations by acquiring substantially all the assets of Pope, a leading Australian provider of residential watering products, from The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) for a purchase price of approximately AUD 21,800 (approximately $14,500) in cash. This is CPP's seventh acquisition in Australia since 2013, and further expands AMES's product portfolio in the Australian market. Pope generated over $25,000 in revenue in its first full year of operations.

CPP Global Sourcing Strategy Expansion and Restructuring Charges

Griffon announced in May 2023 that CPP was expanding its global sourcing strategy to include long handled tools, material handling, and wood storage and organization product lines for the U.S. market. This initiative was successfully completed as of September 30, 2024.

As a result of this global sourcing expansion initiative, manufacturing operations have concluded at four manufacturing sites and four wood mills, resulting in a total facility footprint reduction of approximately 1.2 million square feet, or approximately 15% of CPP's square footage, and a headcount reduction of approximately 600. The closed locations have met the held for sale criteria and have been classified as such on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024. The net book value of these properties as of September 30, 2025 and September 30, 2024 totaled $5,609 and $14,532, respectively.

The adoption of an asset-light business model for these U.S. products has positioned CPP to better serve customers with a more flexible and cost-effective sourcing model that leverages supplier relationships around the world, and improved its competitive positioning. These actions will be essential for CPP to achieve its target of 15% EBITDA margin while enhancing free cash flow through improved working capital and significantly reduced capital expenditures.

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Implementation of this strategy over the duration of the project resulted in charges of $133,777, which included $51,082 of cash charges for employee retention and severance, operational transition, and facility and lease exit costs, and $82,695 of non-cash charges, primarily related to asset write-downs. In addition, there were $2,678 of capital investments to effectuate the project. This excludes cash proceeds from the sale of real estate and equipment, which through September 30, 2024 were $13,271, and excludes future proceeds from the sale of remaining real estate and equipment. During the year ended September 30, 2025, cash proceeds related to the sale of remaining real estate and equipment held for sale totaled $17,729.

Available Information

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and, in accordance therewith, file periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information, including our Code of Conduct, with the SEC. Such periodic reports, proxy statements, and other information are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.

Griffon posts and makes available, free of charge through its website at www.griffon.com, its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as press releases, as soon as reasonably practicable after such materials are published or filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The information found on Griffon's website is not incorporated into this or any other report it files with or furnishes to the SEC.

For information regarding revenue, profit and total assets of each segment, see the Reportable Segments footnote in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Reportable Segments:

Griffon conducts its operations through two reportable segments:

•Home and Building Products ("HBP") conducts its operations through Clopay Corporation ("Clopay"). Founded in 1964, Clopay is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Residential and commercial sectional garage doors are sold through professional dealers and leading home center retail chains throughout North America under the brands Clopay, Ideal, and Holmes. Rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail use are sold under the Clopay, Cornell and Cookson brands.

•Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) is a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools; residential, industrial and commercial fans; home storage and organization products; and products that enhance indoor and outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including AMES, since 1774, Hunter, since 1886, True Temper, and ClosetMaid.

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Reportable Segments:

HOME AND BUILDING PRODUCTS

The HBP segment consists of Clopay. Founded in 1964 and acquired by Griffon in 1986, Clopay has grown organically and through acquisitions to become the largest manufacturer and marketer of both residential and commercial garage doors, and rolling steel doors, in North America. The majority of Clopay's sales come from home remodeling and renovation projects, with the balance from commercial construction and new residential housing construction. Sales into the home remodeling market are driven by the aging of the housing stock, existing home sales activity, and the trends of improving both home appearance and energy efficiency. Sales into the commercial market are driven by commercial construction and repair and replacement, including the aging of nonresidential buildings, warehouses, and institutional and industrial facilities, as well as increased business activity, changes to building codes, security of facilities, and trends of improving function and performance.

Clopay has approximately 3,100 employees.

Brands

Clopay brings over 60 years of experience and innovation to the residential and sectional garage door industry, and has over 100 years of experience in the rolling steel industry. Residential and commercial sectional products are sold under market-leading brands, including Clopay®, America’s Favorite Garage Doors®, Holmes Garage Door Company® and IDEAL Door®. Clopay commercial rolling steel door brands include Cornell®, Cookson® and Clopay®.

Products and Service

Clopay manufactures a broad line of residential sectional garage doors with a variety of options, at varying prices. Clopay offers garage doors made primarily from steel, aluminum, plastic composite and wood, and also sells related products, such as garage door openers manufactured by third parties.

Commercial door products manufactured and marketed by Clopay include rolling steel service doors, fire doors, shutters, steel security grilles, and room dividers. Clopay also manufactures and markets commercial sectional doors, which are similar to residential garage doors, but are designed to meet the more demanding performance specifications of a commercial application.

Customers

Clopay supports a diversity of customers, ranging from local rural dealerships to national retail chains. Clopay’s customers include over 3,000 independent professional installing dealers and major home center retail chains including Home Depot and Menards. Clopay maintains strong relationships with its installing dealers and believes it is the largest supplier of sectional garage doors to the retail and professional installing channels in North America and the largest supplier of rolling steel door products in North America.

Clopay distributes its garage doors directly to customers from its manufacturing facilities and through its network of 57 distribution centers located throughout the U.S. and Canada. These distribution centers allow Clopay to maintain an inventory of garage doors near installing dealers and provide quick-ship service to retail and professional dealer customers.

Clopay is currently the exclusive supplier of residential and commercial garage doors to Home Depot and Menards locations throughout North America, and has maintained long-standing relationships with Home Depot for 40 years and with Menards for over 30 years. The loss of either of these customers would have a material adverse effect on Clopay and Griffon.

Product Development

Clopay product development efforts focus on both new products and improvements to existing products. Products are developed through in-house design and engineering staffs.

Clopay operates technical development centers where its research engineers design and develop new products and technologies and perform durability and performance testing of new and existing products, materials and finishes. Clopay continually improves its door offerings through these development efforts, focusing on characteristics such as strength, design, performance, durability, and energy efficiency. The process engineering teams also work to develop new manufacturing processes and production techniques aimed at improving manufacturing efficiencies and ensuring quality-made products.

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Sales and Marketing

The Clopay sales and marketing organization supports our customers, consults on new product development, and aggressively markets door solutions, with a primary focus on the North American market. Clopay maintains a strong promotional presence, in both traditional and digital media.

Clopay provides a unique customer experience platform called MyClopay™, which delivers an array of sales, order management, analytical, instructional, and informational applications. These applications empower Clopay’s customers to provide the best solutions to their end customers, and MyClopay has been widely adopted by Clopay’s customers due to its feature rich, intuitive, and device-agnostic software. We believe this capability is unique to the industry.

Within the MyClopay application suite, Clopay customers use a proprietary residential door web application, the MyDoor® mobile enabled app, that guides consumers through an easy to use door visualization and pricing process, allowing them to select the optimal door for their home. For Clopay’s commercial products, Clopay’s Commercial Door Quoter (CDQ®™) and WebGen™ applications deliver a streamlined quoting and bid submittal process to our professional dealers, providing improved close rates, productivity, and back office efficiency.

Raw Materials and Suppliers

The principal raw material used in Clopay's manufacturing is galvanized steel. Clopay also utilizes certain hardware and plastic components, as well as aluminum and insulated foam. All raw materials are generally available from a number of sources.

Competition

The sectional garage door and commercial rolling steel door industry includes several large national manufacturers and many smaller, regional and local manufacturers. Clopay competes on the basis of service, quality, brand awareness, product design and price.

Clopay brand names are widely recognized in the building products industry. Clopay believes that it has earned a reputation among installing dealers and retailers for producing a broad range of innovative, high-quality doors with industry leading lead times supported by an extensive distribution network. Clopay's market position, brand recognition, and proprietary software applications and systems are key marketing tools for expanding its customer base.

Manufacturing and Distribution

Clopay's principal manufacturing facilities include 1,625,000 square feet in Troy and Russia, Ohio, 279,000 square feet in Mountain Top, Pennsylvania and 163,000 square feet in Goodyear, Arizona. Clopay distributes its products through a wide range of distribution channels, including a national network of 57 distribution centers with a total of approximately 1,300,000 square feet. This network of manufacturing facilities and distribution centers is capable of providing just in time and prepositioned inventory across the U.S. and Canada, and provides flexibility regarding how and where doors are delivered to customers in their local markets.

CONSUMER AND PROFESSIONAL PRODUCTS

Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) is a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools; residential, industrial and commercial fans; home storage and organization products; and products that enhance indoor and outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including AMES, Hunter and ClosetMaid. AMES, founded in Massachusetts in 1774, has the distinction of being one of the oldest companies in continuous operation in the United States. Over its long life, AMES has grown organically and through the acquisition of other leading and historic tool businesses such as True Temper, Union Tools, and Garant. Today, AMES is a leading provider of long-handled tools and landscaping products for homeowners and professionals in North America, and also provides these products in key global markets including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K., and Ireland. Under the ClosetMaid brand, CPP is a leading provider of wood and wire closet organization, general living storage, and wire garage storage products in the United States. Under the Hunter brand, since 1886, CPP is a leading provider of residential, industrial and commercial fans in the United States.

CPP has approximately 2,000 employees worldwide.

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Brands

CPP's brands are among the most recognized across its primary product categories in North America, Australia and the United Kingdom. Its brand portfolio for long-handled tools, outdoor décor, and landscaping product includes AMES®, True Temper®, Garant®, Harper®, UnionTools®, Westmix™, Cyclone®, Southern Patio®, Northcote Pottery™, Nylex®, Hills®, Kelkay®, Tuscan Path®, La Hacienda®, Kelso™, Dynamic Design®™, Apta®, Quatro Design® and Pope®. Contractor-oriented tool brands include Razor-Back® Professional Tools and Jackson® Professional Tools. CPP's home organization, general living storage, and garage storage products are sold primarily under the ClosetMaid® brand. CPP's residential, industrial and commercial fan products are sold under the Hunter Fan®, Hunter Industrial® and Casablanca® brands.

This strong portfolio of brands enables CPP to build and maintain long-standing relationships with leading retailers and distributors. In addition, given the breadth of its brand portfolio and product category depth, CPP is able to offer specific, differentiated branding strategies for key retail customers. These strategies focus on enhancement of brand value, with the goal of de-commoditizing CPP products through identity and functionality elements that makes each top brand unique, attractive and visually recognizable by the consumer.

Products

CPP markets a broad portfolio of long-handled tools, landscaping products, home organization products and residential, industrial and commercial fans. This portfolio contains many iconic brands and is anchored by six core product categories: seasonal outdoor tools, project tools, outdoor décor and watering, home organization, fans and cleaning products. As a result of brand portfolio recognition, outstanding product quality, industry leading service and strong customer relationships, CPP has earned market-leading positions in its six core product categories. The following is a brief description of CPP's primary product lines:

•Seasonal Outdoor Tools

•Long-Handled Tools: An extensive line of engineered tools including shovels, spades, scoops, rakes, hoes, cultivators, weeders, post hole diggers, scrapers, edgers and forks, marketed under leading brand names including AMES®, True Temper®, UnionTools®, Garant®, Cyclone® and Kelso™, as well as contractor-oriented brands including Razor-Back® Jackson® and Darby™.

•Wheelbarrows:  AMES designs, and develops a full line of wheelbarrows and lawn carts, primarily under the AMES®, True Temper®, Jackson® Professional Tools, UnionTools®, Garant® and Westmix™ brand names. The products range in size, material (poly and steel), tray form, tire type, handle length and color based on the needs of homeowners, landscapers and contractors.

•Snow Tools:  A complete line of snow tools is marketed under the True Temper®, Garant® and Union Tools® brand names. The snow tool line includes shovels, pushers, roof rakes, sled sleigh shovels, scoops and ice scrapers.

•Pruning: The pruning line is made up of pruners, loppers, shears, and other tools sold primarily under the AMES®, True Temper®, Cyclone® and Garant® brand names.

•Project Tools

•Striking Tools:  Axes, picks, mattocks, mauls, wood splitters, sledgehammers, pry bars and repair handles make up the striking tools product line. These products are marketed under the True Temper®, AMES®, Cyclone®, Garant®, Jackson® Professional Tools and Razor-Back® Professional Tools brand names.

•Hand Tools:  Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers, adjustable wrenches, handsaws, tape measures, levels, clamps, and other traditional hand tools make up this product line. These products are marketed under the Trojan®, Cyclone® and Supercraft® brand names. In addition, gardening hand tools, such as trowels, cultivators, weeders and other specialty garden hand tools, are marketed under the AMES® brand name.

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•Outdoor Décor and Watering

•Planters and Lawn Accessories:  AMES is a designer and distributor of indoor and outdoor planters and accessories, sold under the Southern Patio®, Northcote Pottery™, Tuscan Path®, La Hacienda®, Hills®, Kelkay®, Quatro Design®, Pope® and Dynamic Design®™ brand names, as well as various private label brands. The range of planter sizes (from 6 to 32 inches) is available in various designs, colors and materials.

•Garden Hose and Storage:  AMES offers a wide range of garden hoses and hose reels under the AMES®, NeverLeak® and Nylex® brand names.

•Home Organization: AMES designs, manufactures and sells a comprehensive portfolio of wire and wood shelving, containers, storage cabinets and other closet and home organization accessories primarily under the highly recognized ClosetMaid® brand name. Wire products include wire shelving and hardware, wire accessories and kitchen storage products. Wire product brands include Maximum Load®, SuperSlide® and ShelfTrack®. Wood solutions include closet systems, cube storage, storage furniture and cabinets. Selected wood product brands include MasterSuite®, Suite Symphony®™, ExpressShelf®, Style+®, and SpaceCreations®.

•Fans: CPP designs and sells residential, industrial and commercial fans under the Hunter Fan®, Hunter Industrial® and Casablanca® brand names.

•Cleaning Products: CPP offers a line of cleaning products for professional, home, and industrial use, including brooms, brushes, squeegees, and other cleaning products, primarily under the Harper® brand.

Customers

CPP sells products throughout North America, Australia, New Zealand, the U.K. and Ireland through (1) home centers, such as The Home Depot, Inc. (“Home Depot”), Lowe’s Companies Inc. (“Lowe’s”), Rona Inc., Bunnings Warehouse (“Bunnings”) and Woodies (with the average length of the relationship with these customers being approximately 30 years); (2) mass market, specialty, and hardware retailers including Tractor Supply Corporation, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corporation, Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Ace, Do-It-Best and True Value Company; (3) industrial distributors, such as W.W. Grainger, Inc. and ORS Nasco; (4) homebuilders, such as D.R. Horton, KB Home, Lennar and NVR, Inc.; and (5) E-commerce platforms, such as Amazon Inc., Wayfair Inc. (“Wayfair”), Hayneedle Inc. (“Hayneedle”), Beyond, Inc. (“Beyond”), and Spreetail LLC.

Home Depot, Lowe's and Bunnings are significant customers of CPP. The loss of any of these customers would have a material adverse effect on the CPP business and on Griffon.

Product Development

CPP product development efforts focus on both new products and product line extensions. CPP continually improves existing products as well as develops new products to satisfy consumer needs, expand revenue opportunities, maintain or extend competitive advantages, increase market opportunity and reduce production costs. Products are developed through in-house industrial design and engineering staffs to introduce new products and product line extensions that are timely and cost effective.

Sales and Marketing

CPP's sales organization is structured by product line and distribution channel in the U.S., and by country internationally. In the U.S., a dedicated team of sales professionals is provided for each of the large retail customers. Offices are maintained adjacent to each of the two largest customers’ headquarters, supported by a shared in-house sales analyst. In addition, sales professionals are assigned to domestic, wholesale and industrial distribution channels. Sales teams located in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Mexico and Ireland handle sales in each of their respective regions. In Australia, a dedicated team of sales professionals is provided for the largest retail customer. CPP has made significant investments in automation, facilities expansion and fulfillment operations to support e-commerce growth.

Raw Materials and Suppliers

CPP's primary raw material inputs include resin (primarily polypropylene and high-density polyethylene), hickory wood and steel (wire rod). All raw materials are generally available from a number of sources. CPP sources certain finished goods, primarily in storage and organization, outdoor décor, residential, industrial and commercial fans, and tools.

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Competition

The long-handled tools and landscaping product industry is highly competitive and fragmented. Most competitors consist of small, privately-held companies focusing on a single product category. Some competitors, such as Fiskars Corporation in the hand tool and pruning tool market and Truper Herramientas S.A. de C.V. in the long-handled and garden tool space, compete in various tool categories. Suncast Corporation competes in the hose reel and accessory market, and in the long-handled plastic snow shovel category. In addition, there is competition from imported or sourced products from China, India and other low-cost producing countries, particularly in long-handled tools, wheelbarrows, planters, striking tools and pruning tools.

The home storage and organizational solutions industry is also highly fragmented. CPP, primarily under the ClosetMaid brands, sells through retail, direct to consumer (e-commerce category) and direct to installer (building) channels and competes with a significant number of companies across each of these unique channels. Principal competition for retail wire products is from products sourced from China, India and other low-cost producing countries. FirstService Brands, Inc. sells competing wood solutions under the brand California Closets®, but does not sell through the retail or direct to consumer channels.

The residential, industrial, and commercial fan industry is fragmented. CPP, under the highly recognized Hunter brand, sells through direct to consumer (e-commerce category), retail, and direct to installer (industrial and commercial) channels. CPP's principal competitors in the consumer ceiling fan market are retailer house brands such as Hampton Bay in The Home Depot and Harbor Breeze in Lowe’s, followed by Minka Air. In the industrial and commercial fan space, principal competitors are Big Ass Fans, Rite-Hite, Macro Air, and Minka Air.

CPP differentiates itself and provides the best value to customers through its successful history of innovation, dependable supply chain and high on-time delivery rates, quality, product performance, and highly recognized product brands. CPP's size, depth and breadth of product offering, category knowledge, research and development (“R&D”) investment, service and its ability to react to sudden changes in demand from seasonal weather patterns, especially during harsh winter months, are competitive advantages.

Manufacturing and Distribution

CPP sources products for sale through a combination of internal and external global manufacturing sources and supply chain partners. Principal North American manufacturing facilities include a 676,000 square foot facility in Ocala, Florida, and a 353,000 square foot center in St. Francois, Quebec, Canada. CPP also operates two wood mills, of which one is located in Canada and the other is located in the United States. Internationally CPP operates manufacturing facilities in Grafton, New South Wales and Wonthaggi, Victoria, both in Australia.

CPP has three principal distribution facilities in the United States: a 1.4 million square foot facility in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; a 997,000 square foot facility in Reno, Nevada; and a 600,000 square foot facility in Byhalia, Mississippi. Finished goods are transported to these facilities by both an internal fleet, as well as over the road trucking and rail. Additionally, light assembly is performed at the Carlisle and Reno locations. Smaller distribution centers are also strategically located in the U.S. in Ocala, Florida, and internationally in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Griffon Corporation

Employees

As of September 30, 2025, Griffon and its subsidiaries employ approximately 5,100 employees located primarily throughout North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and China.  Generally, the total number of employees of Griffon and its subsidiaries does not significantly fluctuate throughout the year.  However, acquisition activity or the opening of new branches or lines of business, efficiency initiatives, or other changes in the level of Griffon's business activity (for instance, based on actual or anticipated customer demand or other factors), could require staffing level adjustments.

As of September 30, 2025, approximately 145 employees in Canada are represented by the Trade Union Advisory Committee. Griffon believes its relationships with its employees are satisfactory.

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In managing its human capital resources, Griffon aims to attract a qualified workforce through an inclusive and accessible recruiting process that utilizes online recruiting platforms, campus outreach, internships and job fairs. Griffon also seeks to retain employees by offering competitive wages, benefits and training opportunities, as well as promoting a safe and healthy workplace. Griffon and all of its businesses strictly comply with all applicable state, local and international laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which Griffon and its businesses have facilities. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training. All applicants and employees are treated with the same high level of respect regardless of their gender, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, marital status, political affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status.

Regulation

Griffon’s operations are subject to various environmental, health, and employee safety laws and regulations. Griffon believes that it is in material compliance with these laws and regulations. Historically, compliance with environmental, health, and employee safety laws and regulations have not materially affected, and are not expected to materially affect, Griffon’s capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position. Nevertheless, Griffon cannot guarantee that, in the future, it will not incur additional costs for compliance or that such costs will not be material.

Customers

A small number of customers account for, and are expected to continue to account for, a substantial portion of Griffon’s consolidated revenue. In 2025, Home Depot represented 10% of Griffon’s consolidated revenue, 9% of HBP's revenue and 12% of CPP's revenue.

No other customer accounted for 10% or more of consolidated revenue. Future operating results will continue to substantially depend on the success of Griffon’s largest customers and Griffon's relationships with them. Orders from these customers are subject to change and may fluctuate materially. The loss of all or a portion of volume from any one of these customers could have a material adverse impact on Griffon’s financial results, liquidity and operations.

Seasonality

Griffon's revenue and earnings are generally lowest in our first and fourth quarters ending December 31, and September 30, respectively, and highest in the second and third quarters ending March 31, and June 30, respectively, primarily due to the seasonality within the HBP and CPP businesses. HBP’s business is driven by renovation and construction during warm weather, which is historically at reduced levels during the winter months, generally in our second quarter. In 2025, 49% of CPP's sales occurred during the second and third quarters compared to 52% in 2024 and 54% in 2023.

Demand for lawn and garden products is influenced by weather, particularly weekend weather during peak gardening season. AMES' sales volume can be adversely affected by certain weather patterns such as unseasonably cool or warm temperatures, hurricanes, water shortages or floods. In addition, lack of snow or lower than average snowfall during the winter season may result in reduced sales of certain AMES' products, such as snow shovels and other snow tools. As a result, AMES' results of operations, financial results and cash flows could be adversely impacted.

Financial Information About Geographic Areas

Segment and operating results are included in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

For geographic financial information, see the Reportable Segment footnote in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8, Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

Griffon’s non-U.S. businesses are primarily in Canada, Australia, the U.K., Ireland and China.

Research and Development

Griffon’s businesses are encouraged to improve existing products as well as develop new products to satisfy customer needs; expand revenue opportunities; maintain or extend competitive advantages; increase market share and reduce production costs. R&D costs, not recoverable under contractual arrangements, are charged to expense as incurred.

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Intellectual Property

Griffon follows a practice of actively protecting and enforcing its proprietary rights in the U.S. and throughout the world where Griffon’s products are produced and sold. All intellectual property information presented in this section is as of September 30, 2025.

Trademarks are of significant importance to Griffon’s HBP and CPP businesses. With 50 years of experience and innovation in the garage door industry, and over 100 years of experience in the rolling steel door industry, HBP has a significant level of goodwill in its strong family of brands, including: Clopay®, America’s Favorite Doors®; Holmes Garage Door Company®; IDEAL Door®; and the Cornell® and Cookson® commercial door brands. Principal global and regional trademarks used by CPP for its tool and landscape products include AMES®, True Temper®, Garant®, Harper®, UnionTools®, Westmix™, Cyclone®, Southern Patio®, Northcote Pottery™, Nylex®, Hills®, Kelkay®, Tuscan Path®, Pope®, La Hacienda®, Kelso™, Apta®, and Dynamic Design®, as well as contractor-oriented brands including Razor-Back® Professional Tools and Jackson® Professional Tools. Storage and home organization brands within CPP include ClosetMaid®, MasterSuite®, Suite Symphony®, Cubeicals®, ExpressShelf®, SpaceCreations®, Maximum Load®, SuperSlide® and ShelfTrack®. CPP’s Hunter Fan Company has over 135 years of experience in the ceiling fan industry with well-recognized brands including Hunter®, Casablanca®, Hunter Industrial®, and Jan Fan®. The HBP and CPP businesses have approximately 1,564 registered trademarks and approximately 149 pending trademark applications around the world. Griffon’s rights in these trademarks endure for as long as they are used and registered.

Patents are also important to the HBP and CPP businesses. HBP holds approximately 65 issued patents and 27 pending patent applications in the U.S., as well as approximately 18 and 108 corresponding foreign patents and patent applications, primarily related to garage door system components and operation. CPP protects its designs and product innovation through the use of patents, and currently has approximately 855 issued patents and approximately 187 pending patent applications in the U.S., as well as approximately 345 and 69 corresponding foreign patents and patent applications, respectively. Design patents are generally valid for fourteen years, and utility patents are generally valid for twenty years, from the date of filing. Griffon's patents are in various stages of their terms of validity.

Sustainable Business Practices

Griffon and its operating companies have always taken into account environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) considerations in the management of our businesses. Griffon is a subscriber to the United Nations Global Compact (“UNGC”) and published its inaugural annual Sustainability Report in August 2022, in relation to fiscal 2021, benchmarked to both United Nations Global Compact (“UNGC”) Sustainable Development Goals and to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (“SASB”) criteria. Since then, Griffon published an annual Sustainability Report in November 2024 in relation to calendar 2023; and in November 2023 in relation to calendar 2022. The Griffon ESG policy, and annual Sustainability Report, can be found on the Griffon website at www.griffon.com. We expect to file our calendar year 2024 Sustainability Report before the end of calendar 2025.

The annual Sustainability Report discusses employee safety, employee education and welfare, carbon emissions, air emissions, energy consumption, water consumption, waste generation, recycled raw materials, and packaging initiatives, as well as community involvement and charitable giving. In our calendar 2022 report, we set an overarching goal of 30 percent reduction across six key metrics by 2030: carbon emissions, air emissions, water consumption, hazardous waste generated, lost time rates, and recordable injury rates. In addition, in 2023, in connection with the announcement of an expansion of CPP's global sourcing strategy, we adopted a Supplier Code of Conduct (“SCC”) that essentially binds our suppliers to the same ESG goals and criteria to which Griffon adheres.

Griffon has assessed the environmental risk from its operations and focused its efforts to date on areas with the potential to have the greatest environmental impact. Where available, we use recycled materials to construct our products, and we continuously improve our packaging to reduce both volume and environmental impact. For example, bags used to pack AMES’ Kelkay aggregate products in the UK are made from plant-based materials, and not from petroleum. The AMES Companies use a box-on-demand system that reduces packaging size. Approximately seventy percent of the steel used in HBP's garage doors is recycled steel. AMES is a member of the Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Association, which provides sustainable hardwoods for AMES tools, and is committed to purchasing hardwoods through the Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

Our operating companies are involved in the local communities in which they operate. We are involved in more than 100 charitable and community organizations, including well known national concerns such as Habitat for Humanity, Boys and Girls Clubs, the Home Depot Foundation (Diamond Sponsor), the Lowe's Foundation, and the American Cancer Society, as well as local groups such as garden clubs. Our communities know they can count on our support.

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Over the last six years, we have invested millions of dollars in capital improvements relating to employee safety and health. These improvements include major upgrades to our loading and unloading operations (which had been the source of a significant portion of our worker injuries), ergonomic improvements, machine guarding and elimination of certain high-risk repetitive jobs through the use of robotics. Griffon has also invested significant time and capital in reducing ergonomic injuries through better work positioning and lifting improvements. Griffon has invested over one million dollars in improvements to employee welfare facilities, such as break areas and cafeterias.

More importantly, we view our employees as more than just workers. Through our Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP"), our U.S. employees own approximately nine percent of Griffon stock. Our businesses engage in a variety of outreach programs in the various communities in which we operate to recruit new employees at all levels. These programs involve high schools and vocational schools, as well as colleges and universities, and often include internships as a means for potential new employees to experience what it is like to be part of our team. We also have a variety of onboarding programs, onsite job training programs, leadership development programs, and tuition reimbursement and education assistance policies to further the development and advancement of our employees.

In all of our geographies, we conduct regular audits of suppliers and utilize contractual terms that require our suppliers to comply with environmental and social laws and regulations, as well as with our policies, including with respect to human rights, child labor, slave labor and unsafe working conditions. Our SCC requires that all new suppliers, major volume suppliers and suppliers in higher risk areas submit a formal certification of compliance with our SCC. All key suppliers worldwide are required to periodically submit to an SCC audit, which evaluates not only quality control and vendor capabilities, but assesses to what extent each supplier emphasizes environmental, labor and social considerations in the operation of its business. Griffon companies are in the process of phasing in the SCC over a multi-year period; the initial year included training and program roll-out.

Honesty, transparency, and ethical practices have been ordinary course at Griffon for decades, and we continue to review and upgrade our programs in these areas. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics ("Code"), to which every employee certifies annually, requires that each and every employee conduct business to the highest ethical standards. Any acts of bribery are strictly prohibited, as is human trafficking and activities supporting human trafficking, such as the use of conflicts minerals. The Code prohibits all business courtesies except for those with an insignificant value, and even then, only under limited circumstances. Our SCC reinforces the same expectations from our suppliers. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are published on our website. While the guidelines require that a majority of directors be independent, currently all of our directors are independent except our CEO (constituting approximately 91% of our directors). Griffon has appointed a lead independent director and has four principal board committees - Audit, Compensation, Nominating and Corporate Governance, and Finance - each of which has its responsibilities set forth in a charter available on the Griffon website.

We expect each of our employees and suppliers around the world to work hard to deliver outstanding products to our customers and to deliver value to our shareholders. And, while doing so, we expect them to respect and adhere to our environmental, social and governance commitments and policies, and to make our company a place where all employees are proud to come to work every day.

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Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following is a current list of Griffon’s executive officers: