Background and Basis of Presentation

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2018

1. Background and Basis of Presentation

The Company is a leading home and security products company with a portfolio of leading branded products used for residential home repair, remodeling, new construction and security applications. References to “Fortune Brands,” “the Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries as a whole, unless the context otherwise requires.

Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form

10-K

have been derived from the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. The Company’s consolidated financial statements are based on a fiscal year ending December 31. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries operate on a 52 or 53 week fiscal year ending during the month of December. In December 2017, there were certain transactions that resulted in approximately $38 million of net cash outflows relating to payments made to third parties in the normal course of business during the period between the

year-end

of our wholly-owned subsidiaries and the Company’s

year-end

(in 2018, amounts were immaterial).

In September 2018, we acquired 100% of membership interests of Fiber Composites LLC (“Fiberon”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of outdoor performance materials used in decking, railing and fencing products for a total purchase price of approximately $470.0 million, subject to certain post-closing adjustments. The acquisition of Fiberon provides category expansion and product extension opportunities into the outdoor living space for our Doors & Security segment. The financial results were included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2018 and in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flow beginning in September 2018.

In July 2018, we publicly announced an internal reorganization to combine our Doors & Security segments under common leadership to drive innovation, accelerate product development, and enhance investments and business processes. In connection with the reorganization, we changed how our chief operating decision maker evaluates and allocates the resources for the combined business. Reporting for the new Doors & Security segment began in the third quarter of 2018 and historical financial segment information has been restated to conform to the new segment presentation.

In October 2017, we acquired Victoria + Albert, a

UK-based

premium brand of standalone bathtubs, sink, tub fillers, faucets and other accessories. In July 2017, we acquired Shaws Since1897 Limited (“Shaws”), a

UK-based

luxury plumbing products company that specializes in manufacturing and selling fireclay sinks and selling brassware and accessories in partnership with Perrin & Rowe. The financial results of both of the acquisitions were included in the Company’s December 31, 2018 and 2017 consolidated balance sheets and in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flow beginning in October 2017 and July 2017, respectively.

In September 2016, we acquired ROHL LLC (“ROHL”) and in a related transaction, we acquired TCL Manufacturing which gave us ownership of Perrin & Rowe Limited (“Perrin & Rowe”), and in May 2016, we acquired Riobel Inc (“Riobel”). The financial results of ROHL, Perrin & Rowe and Riobel were included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, and in the Company’s consolidated statements of income and statements of cash flow beginning in September 2016 and May 2016, respectively.

The cash flows from discontinued operations for 2018, 2017 and 2016 were not separately classified on the accompanying consolidated statements of cash flows. Information on Business Segments was revised to exclude these discontinued operations.