Significant Accounting Policies And Practices

12 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2019

Significant Accounting Policies And Practices [Abstract]

Significant Accounting Policies And Practices

NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices

Principles of Consolidation and Fiscal Year End

The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its majority owned subsidiaries and have been prepared in accordance with Accounting Principles Generally Accepted in the United States (“GAAP”). All intercompany transactions have been eliminated.

The Company’s fiscal year ends September 30 and reports its results using fiscal quarters whereby each three month quarterly reporting period is approximately thirteen weeks in length and ends on a Sunday. The exceptions are the first quarter, which begins on October 1, and the fourth quarter, which ends on September 30. For the year ended September 30, 2019, the fiscal quarters were comprised of the three months ended December 30, 2018, March 31, 2019, June 30, 2019 and September 30, 2019.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid temporary instruments purchased with original maturities of three months or less from date of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Receivables

Trade accounts receivable are carried at net realizable value. The Company extends credit to its customers based upon an evaluation of the customer’s financial condition and credit history, but generally does not require collateral. The Company monitors its customers’ credit and financial condition based on changing economic conditions and will make adjustments to credit policies as required. Provisions for losses on uncollectible trade receivables are determined based on ongoing evaluations of the Company’s receivables, principally on the basis of historical collection experience and evaluations of the risks of nonpayment or return for a given customer. See Note 8 - Receivables for further detail.

Inventories

The Company’s inventories are valued at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Cost of inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. See Note 9 - Inventory for further detail.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets. Property, plant and equipment held under capital leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the lease term or estimated useful life of the asset; such amortization is included in depreciation expense. The Company uses accelerated depreciation methods for income tax purposes. Useful lives for property, plant and equipment are as follows:

Asset Type	Range
Buildings and improvements	20 - 40 years
Machinery and equipment	2 - 15 years

Expenditures which substantially increase value or extend useful lives are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred. The Company records gains and losses on the disposition or retirement of property, plant and equipment based on the net book value and any proceeds received.

Long-lived fixed assets held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be fully recoverable. Circumstances such as the discontinuation of a product or product line, a sudden or consistent decline in the sales forecast for a product, changes in technology or in the way an asset is being used, a history of operating or cash flow losses or an adverse change in legal factors or in the business climate, among others, may trigger an impairment review. If such indicators are present, the Company performs undiscounted cash flow analyses to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows generated did not exceed the carrying value of the respective asset group. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. There were no triggering events identified during the year ended September 30, 2019 that necessitated an impairment test other than the recognition of an impairment on goodwill at HPC. There was no impairment loss recognized on property, plant and equipment. Assets to be disposed of are reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell. See Note 10 - Property, plant and equipment for further detail.

Goodwill

Goodwill reflects the excess of acquisition cost over the aggregate fair value assigned to identifiable net assets acquired. Goodwill is not amortized, but instead is assessed for impairment at least annually and as triggering events or indicators of potential impairment are identified. Goodwill has been assigned to reporting units for purposes of impairment testing based upon the relative fair value of the asset to each reporting unit. Our reporting units are consistent with our segments. See Note 20 - Segment Information for further discussion.

The Company performs its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. The fair value of each reporting unit is compared to its carrying value, including goodwill. In estimating the fair value of our reporting units, we use a discounted cash flow methodology, which requires us to estimate future revenues, expenses, and capital expenditures and make assumptions about our weighted average cost of capital and perpetuity growth rate, among other variables. We test the aggregate estimated fair value of our reporting units by comparison to our total market capitalization, including both equity and debt capital. If the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized equal to that excess; however the loss recognized cannot exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. See Note 11 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further detail.

NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

Intangible Assets

Intangible assets are recorded at cost or at estimated fair value if acquired in a business combination. Customer lists, proprietary technology and certain trade name intangibles are amortized, using the straight-line method, over their estimated useful lives. The range and weighted average useful lives for definite-lived intangibles assets are as follows:

Asset Type	Range	Weighted Average
Customer relationships	5 - 20 years	18.3 years
Technology assets	5 - 18 years	13.6 years
Tradenames	6 - 13 years	10.7 years

Definite-lived intangible assets held and used are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the assets may not be recoverable. If indicators of potential impairment are identified, the Company performs an undiscounted cash flow analysis to determine if impairment exists. The asset value would be deemed impaired if the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset did not exceed the carrying value of the respective asset group. If impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value. There were no triggering events identified during the year ended September 30, 2019 that necessitated an impairment test other than the recognition of an impairment on goodwill at HPC. There was no impairment loss recognized on definite-lived intangible assets.

Certain trade name intangible assets have an indefinite life and are not amortized, but instead are assessed for impairment at least annually and as triggering events or indicators of potential impairment are identified. The Company performs its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. Impairment of indefinite lived intangible assets is assessed by comparing the estimated fair value of the identified trade names to their carrying value to determine if potential impairment exists. If the fair value is less than the carrying value, an impairment loss is recorded for the excess. The fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets is determined using an income approach, the relief-from-royalty methodology, which requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future revenues, royalty rates, and the discount rate, among others. See Note 11 - Goodwill and Intangible Assets for further detail.

Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations

The Company reports the results of operations of a business as discontinued operations if a disposal represents a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results when the business is sold and classified as held for sale, in accordance with the criteria of Accounting Standard Codification (“ASC”) Topic 205 Presentation of Financial Statements and ASC Topic 360 Property, Plant and Equipment (“ASC 360”). Assets and liabilities of a business classified as held for sale are recorded at the lower of its carrying amount or estimated fair value less cost to sell. If the carrying amount of the business exceeds its estimated fair value less cost to sell, a loss is recognized. Assets and liabilities related to a business classified as held for sale are segregated in the current and prior balance sheets in the period in which the business is classified as held for sale. The results of discontinued operations are reported in Income From Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income for the current and prior periods commencing in the period in which the business meets the criteria, and includes any gain or loss recognized on closing, or adjustment of the carrying amount to fair value less cost to sell. Transactions between the businesses held for sale and businesses held for use that are expected to continue to exist after the disposal are not eliminated to appropriately reflect the continuing operations and balances held for sale. If a business is classified as held for sale after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued or are available to be issued, the business continues to be classified as held and used in those financial statements when issued or when available to be issued.

Debt Issuance Costs

Debt issuance costs are deferred and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method over the lives of the related debt agreements. Debt issuance costs for SBH were $33.0 million and $57.6 million as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and $31.5 and $45.5 million for SB/RH as of September 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. Debt issuance costs are included in Long Term Debt, Net of Current Portion in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. Amortization of debt issuance costs is recognized as Interest Expense in the Consolidated Statements of Income. See Note 12 - Debt for further detail.

Financial Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are used by the Company principally in the management of its interest rate, foreign currency and raw material price exposures. The Company does not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Derivative assets and liabilities are reported at fair value in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. When hedge accounting is elected at inception, the Company formally designates the financial instrument as a hedge of a specific underlying exposure and documents both the risk management objectives and strategies for undertaking the hedge. Depending on the nature of derivatives designated as hedging instruments, changes in fair value are either offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets or liability through earnings, or recognized in equity through other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized. Any ineffective portion of a financial instrument’s change in fair value is recognized in earnings. For derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, the change in the fair value is recognized in earnings. See Note 14 - Derivatives for further detail.

Treasury Stock

Treasury stock purchases are stated at cost and presented as a separate reduction of equity.

Noncontrolling Interest

Noncontrolling interest recognized in the consolidated equity of the Company is the minority interest ownership in equity of a consolidated subsidiary that is not attributable, directly or indirectly, to the parent company, SBH; and recognized separate from shareholders’ equity in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. Income from a consolidated subsidiary with a minority interest ownership is allocated to the minority interest and considered attributable to the noncontrolling interest in the Consolidated Statement of Income.

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NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

Business Combinations and Acquisition Accounting

The Company accounts for acquisitions by applying the acquisition method of accounting when the transaction or event is considered a business combination, which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed constitute a business. A defined business is generally an acquired group of assets with inputs and processes that make it capable of generating a return or economic benefit for the acquirer. The acquisition method of accounting requires, among other things, that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination be measured at their fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. See Note 4 – Acquisitions for further detail.

Revenue Recognition

The Company applies the guidance codified in Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” using the modified retrospective method upon the adoption of Topic 606. See “Newly Adopted Accounting Standards” section of this footnote for more details regarding the method and impact of the adoption. The following are changes to the Company’s revenue recognition accounting policies from those previously disclosed in Note 2 – Significant Accounting Policies and Practices to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended September 30, 2018 and Form 8-K issued on April 5, 2019.

Product Sales

Our customers mostly consist of retailers, wholesalers and distributors, and construction companies with the intention to sell and distribute to an end consumer. The Company recognizes revenue from the sale of products upon transfer of control to the customer. For the majority of our product sales, the transfer of control is recognized when we ship the product from our facilities to the customer. Timing of revenue recognition for a majority of the Company’s sales continues to be consistent. Previously, the Company deferred recognition of revenue if title and risk of loss were retained upon shipment, but the customer arranged and paid for freight such that they had physical possession and control. Under Topic 606, the Company recognizes revenue at the time of shipment for these transactions. This change did not have a material impact on the Company’s adoption of the new standard on October 1, 2018 or comparability to revenue in prior periods.

Licensing Revenue

The Company also sells licenses of its brands to third-party sellers and manufacturers for the development, production, sales & distribution of products that are not directly managed or offered by the Company. The Company maintains all right of ownership of the intellectual property and contracts with its customer for the use of the intellectual property in their operations. Under Topic 606, revenue derived from the right-to-access licenses is recognized using the over time revenue recognition method. We elected to recognize revenue under the ‘as-invoiced’ practical expedient method at the amount we are able to bill using a time-elapsed measure of progress. The Company has assessed that recognizing revenue based on a time-elapsed measure of progress, taking into consideration any minimum guarantee provisions under the contract, appropriately depicts its performance of providing access to the Company’s brands, trade names, logos, etc. This change did not have a material impact on the Company’s adoption of the new standard on October 1, 2018 or comparability to revenue recognition in prior periods.

Other Revenue

Other revenue consists primarily of installation or maintenance services that are provided to certain customers in the GPC segment. The services are often associated with the sale of product but are also provided separately and are considered a distinct performance obligation separate from product sales.

Variable Consideration and Cash Paid to Customers

The Company measures revenue as the amount of consideration for which it expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Certain retailers and/or end customers may receive cash or non-cash incentives such as rebates, volume or trade discounts, cooperative advertising, price protection, service level penalties, and other customer-related programs, which are accounted for as variable consideration. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty is resolved. Estimates of variable consideration and determination of whether to include estimated amounts in the transaction price are based largely on an assessment of the anticipated performance and all information (historical, current and forecasted) that is reasonably available. The estimated liability for sales discounts and other programs and allowances is calculated using the expected value method or most likely amount and recorded at the time of sale as a reduction of net sales.

The Company also enters into various arrangements, primarily with retail customers, which require the Company to make upfront cash payments to secure the right to distribute through such customers. The Company capitalizes these payments, provided they are supported by a volume-based arrangement with the retailer with a period of 12 months or longer, and amortizes the associated payment over the appropriate time or volume-based term of the arrangement. Capitalized payments are recognized as a contract asset and are reported in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as Deferred Charges and Other Assets and related amortization is treated as a reduction in Net Sales.

Product Returns

In the normal course of business, the Company may allow customers to return product per the provisions in a sale agreement. Estimated product returns are recorded as a reduction in reported revenues at the time of sale based upon historical product return experience, adjusted for known trends, to arrive at the amount of consideration expected to receive. For the anticipated value of the returns, the adoption of Topic 606 resulted in the recognition of a return asset included in the Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets and the returns liability recognized in Other Current Liabilities. The Company recognized an expected returns liability of $19.2 million as of September 30, 2019, most of which the Company does not expect or anticipate a returned asset. Prior to the adoption of Topic 606, the reserve for product returns was recognized net of anticipated value of returned product as a reduction to Trade Receivable, Net on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and was $20.9 million as of September 30, 2018.

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NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

Practical Expedients and Exemptions:

The Company does not adjust the promised amount of consideration for the effects of a significant financing component, as the period between the transfer of a promised good or service to a customer and the customer’s payment for the good or service is one year or less.

The Company does not assess whether promised goods or services are performance obligations if they are immaterial in the context of the contract with the customer.

The Company does not disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which we recognize revenue at the amount to which we have the right to invoice for services performed. The estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to performance obligations that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied at the end of the reporting period is immaterial.

The Company generally expenses sales commissions and other contract and fulfillment costs when the amortization period is less than one year. The Company records these costs within selling, general and administrative expenses. For costs amortized over a period longer than one year, such as fixtures which are much more permanent in nature, the Company defers and amortizes over the supportable period based upon historical assumptions and analysis. The costs for permanent displays are incorporated into the pricing of product sold to customer.

The Company excludes all sales taxes that are assessed by a governmental authority from the transaction price.

See Note 6 – Revenue Recognition for further detail.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs include costs incurred with third-party carriers to transport products to customers and salaries and overhead costs related to activities to prepare the Company’s products for shipment at the Company’s distribution facilities. Shipping and handling costs were $253.7 million, $251.2 million and $224.6 million during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company accounts for shipping and handling activities, which occur after control of the related goods transfers, as fulfillment activities instead of assessing such activities as performance obligations. Shipping and handling costs are included in Selling Expenses in the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs include agency fees and other costs to create advertisements, as well as costs paid to third parties to print or broadcast the Company’s advertisements and are expensed as incurred. The Company incurred advertising costs of $34.2 million, $26.0 million and $21.6 million during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Advertising costs are included in Selling Expenses in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs are charged to expense in the period they are incurred.

Environmental Expenditures

Environmental expenditures that relate to current operations or to conditions caused by past operations are expensed or capitalized as appropriate. The Company determines its liability for environmental matters on a site-by-site basis and records a liability at the time when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and such liability can be reasonably estimated. The estimated liability is not reduced for possible recoveries from insurance carriers. Estimated environmental remediation expenditures are included in the determination of the net realizable value recorded for assets held for sale. See Note 19 - Commitments and Contingencies for further detail.

Restructuring and Related Charges

Restructuring charges include, but are not limited to, the costs of one-time termination benefits such as severance costs and retention bonuses, and contract termination costs consisting primarily of lease termination costs. Related charges, as defined by the Company, include, but are not limited to, other costs directly associated with exit and relocation activities, including impairment of property and other assets, departmental costs of full-time incremental employees, and any other items related to the exit or relocation activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by management after evaluating detailed analyses of the costs to be incurred.

Liabilities from restructuring and related charges are recorded for estimated costs of facility closures, significant organizational adjustments and measures undertaken by management to exit certain activities. Costs for such activities are estimated by management after evaluating detailed analyses of the costs to be incurred. Such liabilities or asset reductions could include amounts for items such as severance costs and related benefits, lease termination payments and any other items directly related to the exit activities. Impairment of property and equipment and other current or long-term assets as a result of restructuring related initiatives are recognized as a reduction of the appropriate asset.

Restructuring and related charges associated with manufacturing and related initiatives are recorded in Cost of Goods Sold. Restructuring and related charges reflected in Cost of Goods Sold include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs associated with manufacturing employees, asset impairments relating to manufacturing initiatives and other costs directly related to the manufacturing component of a restructuring initiative. Restructuring and related charges associated with administrative functions are recorded in operating expenses, such as initiatives impacting sales, marketing, distribution or other non-manufacturing related functions. Restructuring and related charges reflected in operating expenses include, but are not limited to, termination and related costs, any asset impairments relating to the administrative functions and other costs directly related to the administrative components of the restructuring initiatives implemented. See Note 5 - Restructuring and Related Charges for further detail.

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NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

Transaction related charges

Transaction related charges consist of transaction costs from (1) qualifying acquisition transactions associated with the completion of the purchase of net assets or equity interest of a business such as a business combination, equity investment, joint venture or purchase of non-controlling interest; (2) subsequent integration related project costs directly associated with an acquired business including costs for integration of acquired operations into the Company’s shared service platforms, termination of redundant positions and locations, employee transition costs, integration related professional fees and other post business combination expenses; and (3) divestiture support and separation costs consisting of incremental costs incurred by the continuing operations after completion of the transaction to facilitate separation of shared operations, development of transferred shared service operations, platforms and personnel transferred under the transaction. Divestiture-related charges prior to completion of the transaction are recognized as a component of Income from Discontinued Operations, net of tax. Transaction costs include, but are not limited to, banking, advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional fees directly related to the respective transactions. Additionally, transaction related charges include costs attributable to the plan to market and sell the HPC operations that was subsequently classified as continuing operations for all periods presented. The following table summarizes transaction related charges incurred by the Company during the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017:

(in millions)	2019		2018		2017
GBL post divestiture separation	$	9.5	$	—	$	—
HPC divestiture		7.3		14.9		—
HHI integration		0.9		6.0		5.9
GAC post divestiture separation		0.3		—		—
PetMatrix integration		—		4.9		4.5
Other integration		3.8		4.4		7.3
Total transaction-related charges	$	21.8	$	30.2	$	17.7

Income Taxes

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not of being sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in income tax expense in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. Accrued interest expense and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recorded in Income Tax Expense. See Note 16 - Income Taxes for further detail.

Foreign Currency Translation

Local currencies are considered the functional currencies for most of the Company’s operations outside the United States. Assets and liabilities of the Company’s foreign subsidiaries are translated at the rate of exchange existing at year-end, with revenues, expenses and cash flows translated at the average of the monthly exchange rates. Adjustments resulting from translation of the financial statements are recorded as a component of equity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (“AOCI”), including the effects of exchange rate changes on intercompany balances of a long-term investment nature.

Foreign currency transaction gains and losses for transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency are reported in Other Non-Operating Expense, Net in the Consolidated Statements of Income in the period they occur. Exchange losses on foreign currency transactions were $41.2 million, $7.1 million, and $5.9 million for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Newly Adopted Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. This ASU requires revenue recognition to depict the transfer of goods and services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The new revenue recognition model requires identifying the contract and performance obligations, determining the transaction price, allocating the transaction price to performance obligations and recognizing the revenue upon satisfaction of performance obligations. This ASU also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments, and assets recognized from costs incurred to obtain or fulfill a contract. The Company adopted ASU 2014-09 and all the related amendments on October 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method. The Company recognized the cumulative effect of applying the new revenue standard as a reduction of $0.7 million, net of tax, to the opening balance of Accumulated Earnings at the beginning of the fiscal year 2019. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods. See Note 6 – Revenue Recognition for further detail.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which addresses diversity in practice with the classification and presentation of certain cash receipts and cash payments in the statement of cash flows. The amendments in this update address the classification within the statement of cash flow for debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs, settlement of zero-coupon debt instruments, contingent payments made after a business combination, proceeds from the settlement of insurance claims and corporate-owned life insurance policies, distributions received from equity method investees, and beneficial interests in securitization transactions, among other separately identifiable cash flows when applying the predominance principle. The Company retrospectively adopted ASU 2016-15 on October 1, 2018. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

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NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash, which addresses diversity in practice with the classification and presentation of restricted cash in the statement of cash flow, classifying transfers between cash and restricted cash as operating, investing, or financing activities, or as a combination of those activities, in the statement of cash flows. The amendment requires the statement of cash flows to explain the change during the period in total cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents; and include with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The Company retrospectively adopted ASU 2016-18 on October 1, 2018. The Company does not have any restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as of September 30, 2019; however, the Company had $8.9 million and $15.3 million of restricted cash as of September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, that consisted of funds held in escrow for contingent payments related to our PetMatrix acquisition that was subsequently paid during the year ended September 30, 2019 and 2018. Restricted cash and changes in restricted cash have been reflected in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended September 30, 2019, 2018, and 2017.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires an employer to disaggregate the service cost component from the other components of net periodic pension costs within the statement of income. The amendment provides guidance requiring the service cost component to be recognized consistent with other compensation costs arising from service rendered by employees during the period, and all other components to be recognized separately outside of the subtotal of income from operations. Due to the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07, the components of net periodic benefit cost other than the service cost component are recognized as Other Non-Operating (Income) Expense, Net on the Statement of Income. The Company utilized a practical expedient included in the ASU which allowed the Company to use amounts previously disclosed in its pension and other postretirement benefits note for the prior period as the estimation basis for applying the required retrospective presentation requirements. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 requires a retrospective restatement of prior periods, which was inconsequential to the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Income. See Note 15 Employee Benefits Plan for further detail on the components of net periodic costs.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments-Overall. This new standard enhances the reporting model for financial instruments regarding certain aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure. The provisions of this ASU are effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim reporting periods within those annual periods. This ASU is to be applied using a cumulative-effect adjustment to the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The Company adopted this ASU during the year ended September 30, 2019. The adoption of this ASU did not have a material impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16 Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which eliminates the exception of recognizing, at the time of transfer, current and deferred income taxes for intra-entity asset transfers other than inventory. Upon adoption of ASU 2016-16, the Company recognized the tax expense from the sale of that asset in the seller’s tax jurisdiction when the transfer occurred, even though the pre-tax effects of that transaction are eliminated in consolidation. Any deferred tax asset that arose in the buyer’s jurisdiction was also recognized at the time of the transfer. Modified retrospective adoption was required with any cumulative-effect adjustment recorded to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The cumulative-effect adjustment consisted of the net impact from (1) the write-off of any unamortized tax expense previously deferred and (2) recognition of any previously unrecognized deferred tax assets, net of any necessary valuation allowances. The Company implemented this ASU on October 1, 2018. The cumulative impact arising from the adoption was a decrease to Accumulated Earnings as of October 1, 2018 of $2.4 million. The impact of the adoption of this standard on future periods is dependent on future asset transfers, which generally occur in connection with acquisitions and other business restructuring activities.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842) and related amendments, which supersedes the lease requirements in ASC 840, Leases. This ASU requires lessees to recognize lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet, as well as to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. Although the new ASU requires both operating and finance leases to be disclosed on the balance sheet, a distinction between the two types still exists as the economics of leases can vary. The Company will adopt ASU 2016-02 utilizing the modified retrospective transition method through a cumulative effect adjustment at the beginning of its first quarter of the year ended September 30, 2020, which allows for the recognition of a cumulative effect of applying the new standard as an adjustment to the opening balance sheet of retained earnings, as of October 1, 2019, while continuing to present all prior periods under previous lease accounting guidance. As allowed under the new accounting standard, the Company will also elect to use the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance, such as, carryforward of our historical lease classification, no reassessment on whether an expired or existing contract contains an embedded lease, no reassessment of initial direct costs for any leases that exist prior to adoption of the new standard and to consolidate lease and non-lease components. We are also electing to exclude leases with an initial term of less than 12 months from the balance sheet. We have performed a preliminary assessment of the impact of the pronouncement to the Company’s financial statements and are currently performing detailed assessments over identified lease arrangements and the impact to our processes and control environment. We have not measured the impact of adoption at this point in our assessment and have not concluded on the overall quantitative impact of the impact of adoption to the Company’s consolidated financial statements but expect to have a material impact for the recognition of operating leases on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging: Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities (Topic 815), and related amendments, which changes the designation and measurement guidance for qualifying hedging relationships and presentation of hedge results. The amendments in this update make certain targeted improvements to simplify the application of the hedge accounting guidance in current GAAP, better aligning the entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships. The ASU can only be applied prospectively and will become effective for us beginning in the first quarter of our fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. We are currently assessing the impact this pronouncement will have on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and have not yet concluded on the materiality of the adoption.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, and related amendments, which introduces a forward-looking approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments, including trade receivables. The estimate of expected credit losses will require entities to incorporate considerations of historical information, current information and reasonable and supportable forecasts. This ASU also expands the disclosure requirements to enable users of financial statements to understand the entity’s assumptions, models and methods for estimating expected credit losses. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods within those fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, which is the first quarter of our fiscal year ending September 30, 2021 for the Company. The company is currently reviewing the provisions of the new standard and have not yet concluded on the materiality of the adoption.

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NOTE 2 - Significant Accounting Policies and Practices (continued)

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, “Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects From Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” ASU 2018-02 amends ASC 220, “Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income,” to allow a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings for stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. In addition, under ASU 2018-02, we may be required to provide certain disclosures regarding stranded tax effects. ASU 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, which is the first quarter of the year ending September 30, 2020 for the Company. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract. This standard provides guidance on accounting for costs of implementation activities performed in a cloud computing arrangement that is a service contract. The amendments in the update align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license. ASU 2018-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019, with early adoption permitted, which is the year ending September 30, 2021 for the Company. We are currently evaluating the effect of this standard on our Consolidated Financial Statements.