Company: NEWELL BRANDS INC
CIK: 814453
SIC: 3089
Filing Date: 2017-03-01 00:00:00

ITEM 1 - BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS
“Newell Brands” or the “Company” refers to Newell Brands Inc. (formerly, Newell Rubbermaid Inc.) alone or with its wholly owned subsidiaries, as the context requires. When this report uses the words “we,” “us” or “our,” it refers to the Company and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires. The Company was founded in Ogdensburg, NY in 1903 and is incorporated in Delaware. The Company’s principal executive office is located at 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, and the Company’s telephone number is 201-610-6600.
Website Access to Securities and Exchange Commission Reports
The Company makes available free of charge on or through its website its annual reports 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) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as practicable after the Company files them with, or furnishes them to, the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company’s Internet website can be found at www.newellbrands.com. The information on the Company’s website is not incorporated by reference into this annual report on Form 10-K.
GENERAL
Newell Brands is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that help people make life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play. Our products are marketed under a strong portfolio of leading brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, Expo®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. The Company sells its products in nearly 200 countries around the world and has operations on the ground in nearly 100 of these countries.
This past year was one of the most transformational in its history as the Company more than doubled its size and extended its successful operating model across a broader set of categories acquired through the combination with Jarden Corporation. On April 15, 2016, Jarden Corporation (“Jarden”) became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Newell Brands Inc. Jarden is a global consumer products company with brands such as Yankee Candle®, Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Coleman®, First Alert®, Rawlings®, Jostens®, K2®, Marker®, Marmot®, Völkl® and many others. Following the Jarden Acquisition, the Company was renamed Newell Brands Inc.
This transformative transaction created a global consumer goods company with estimated annualized sales for 2016 of $16 billion and a portfolio of leading brands in large, growing, unconsolidated, global markets. The scaled enterprise is expected to accelerate profitable growth over time with leading brands in a global market that exceeds $100 billion, with business and capability development supported by the efficiencies of the combined company. Management believes the scale of Newell Brands in key categories, channels and geographies creates a much broader opportunity to deploy the Company’s advantaged set of brand development and commercial capabilities for accelerated growth and margin expansion. The Company’s intent is to design a benchmarked, efficient set of structures that support long-term business development.
The Company anticipates significant annualized cost synergies will be realized by Newell Brands, driven by efficiencies of scale and efficiencies in procurement, cost to serve and infrastructure. The Company anticipates incremental annualized cost synergies of at least $500 million over four years, driven by efficiencies of scale and new efficiencies in procurement, cost to serve and infrastructure that the combination unlocks. The Company currently expects to incur approximately $500 million of restructuring and integration-related costs over the same period to generate and unlock the more than $500 million of annualized cost synergies.
After the completion of the Jarden Acquisition, the Company initiated a comprehensive strategic assessment of the business and in the third quarter of 2016 launched a new corporate strategy that focuses the portfolio, prioritizes investment in the categories with the greatest potential for growth, and extends the Company’s advantaged capabilities in insights, product design, innovation, and e-commerce to the broadened portfolio. The investments in new capabilities are designed to unlock the growth potential of the portfolio and will be funded by a commitment to release cost savings of $800 million through the combination of the completion of Project Renewal and delivery of $500 million in cost synergies associated with the Jarden integration. This new corporate strategy is called the New Growth Game Plan and builds on the successful track record of growth acceleration, margin development, and value creation associated with the transformation of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. from 2011 through 2016.
The Company has maintained continuity of operations through 2016 by preserving both legacy organizations’ operating segments. The 2016 segment information includes results of operations of Jarden since the acquisition date and are included in the following segments: Branded Consumables, Consumer Solutions, Outdoor Solutions and Process Solutions. The key brands included in each segment are as follows:
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Writing: Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Expo®, Prismacolor®, Mr. Sketch®, Elmer’s®, X-Acto®, Parker®, Waterman® and Dymo® Office
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Home Solutions: Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, bubba®, Calphalon® and Goody®
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Tools: Irwin®, Lenox®, hilmorTM and Dymo® Industrial
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Commercial Products: Rubbermaid Commercial Products®
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Baby & Parenting: Graco®, Baby Jogger®, Aprica® and Teutonia®
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Branded Consumables: Yankee Candle®, Waddington, Ball®, Diamond®, First Alert®, NUK®, Quickie® and Pine Mountain®
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Consumer Solutions: Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Rainbow® and Sunbeam®
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Outdoor Solutions: Coleman®, Jostens®, Berkley®, Shakespeare®, Rawlings®, Völkl®, K2® and Marmot®
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Process Solutions: Jarden Plastic Solutions, Jarden Applied Materials and Jarden Zinc Products
During 2016, the Company began the process of driving the New Growth Game Plan into action, announcing a series of portfolio changes. Based on the Company’s strategy to allocate resources to its businesses with the greater right to win in the marketplace, during 2016 the Company divested its Décor business, including Levolor® and Kirsch® window coverings and drapery hardware business, which was included in the Home Solutions segment. Both the divested Décor business and the 2015 divestiture of the Rubbermaid medical cart business, which was included in the Commercial Products segment, did not qualify as discontinued operations pursuant to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”). As a result, the medical cart business was included in the Company’s consolidated results from continuing operations in the Commercial Products segment until it was sold in August 2015, and the Décor business was included in the Company’s consolidated results from continuing operations in the Home Solutions segment until it was sold in June 2016.
During 2016, the Company committed to plans to divest several other businesses and brands to strengthen the portfolio to better align and focus the portfolio for growth and margin development. The affected businesses and brands are as follows: the Tools business, including the Irwin®, Lenox®, and hilmorTM brands in the Tools segment; the Winter Sports business, including the Völkl® and K2® brands and the Zoot® and Squadra® brands in the Outdoor Solutions segment; the heaters, fans, and humidifiers business with related brands in the Consumer Solutions segment; the Rubbermaid® consumer storage totes business in the Home Solutions segment; the Lehigh business, primarily ropes, cordage and chains under the Lehigh® brand and the firebuilding business, including the Pine Mountain® brand in the Branded Consumables segment; and the stroller business under the Teutonia® brand in the Baby and Parenting segment. These divestitures do not qualify as discontinued operations pursuant to U.S. GAAP, and as a result, are and will continue to be included in the Company’s consolidated results from continuing operating in each of the respective segments until the businesses are sold.
In the Company’s 2015 results, the Endicia on-line postage business and the Culinary electrics and retail businesses were classified as discontinued operations based on the Company’s commitment in 2014 to sell these businesses. Endicia was included in the Writing segment and the Culinary businesses were included in the Home Solutions segment. The Company completed the sale of Endicia in November 2015 and ceased operations in its Culinary electrics and retail businesses in the first quarter of 2015.
JARDEN ACQUISITION
On April 15, 2016, Jarden Corporation (“Jarden”) became a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Newell Brands, as a result of a series of merger transactions (the “Jarden Acquisition”). The Jarden Acquisition was effected pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2015 (the “Merger Agreement”) between the Company, Jarden and two wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company. Following the Jarden Acquisition, the Company was renamed Newell Brands Inc. See Footnote 10 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The Company is committed to maintaining its investment grade credit rating by using strong cash flow from the combined enterprise to prioritize debt reduction in the short term, while simultaneously investing in the Company’s growth platforms and maintaining its dividend per share.
STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Newell Brands is committed to building leading brands through understanding the needs of consumers and using those insights to create innovative, highly differentiated product solutions that offer superior performance and value. As a result of the Jarden Acquisition, the Company’s advertising and promotion investments in support of its brands increased by $217.1 million compared to 2015, and the Company intends to continue to leverage its portfolio of leading brands to create a margin structure that allows for further increases in brand investment.
During 2016, the Company launched the New Growth Game Plan, which is its strategy to simplify the organization and free up resources to invest in growth initiatives and strengthened capabilities in support of the Company’s brands. The changes being implemented in the execution of the New Growth Game Plan are considered key enablers to building a bigger, faster-growing, more global and more profitable company.
The New Growth Game Plan encompasses the following strategic elements:
The Newell Brands Vision
The Newell Brands vision for the company is grounded in three core characteristics of the business: its geographic reach with sales in nearly 200 countries and territories, its presence in a broad set of large growing household product categories, and its portfolio of leading brands that make a difference in the lives of consumers every day. The Company asserts that through the broad geographic reach of its business system, through its category presence and leading brands that touch consumers at home, in school, at work, and where they play, that Newell Brands can have a big impact on consumers’ lives. The Company’s vision is that Newell Brands makes life better for hundreds of millions of consumers every day, where they live, learn, work, and play.
The Newell Brands DNA and Ambition
The Newell Brands DNA represents an aspirational set of behaviors that define the culture the company aspires to create. The Newell Brands DNA and Ambition serve as a call to action for the Company’s employees, challenging them to grow, transform, lead, and win. The Company captures our ambition with our employees as follows:
We believe growth and scale benefits drive value creation and we achieve our potential by putting the consumer first in everything that we do. Our portfolio is a powerful collection of leading brands in large, growing, unconsolidated global categories. Over time we are choice-fully building a more international business that reaches the consumer wherever they want to buy our brands. Our strategy is designed to achieve meaningful relative market share advantage in our core categories. We will win by combining Brand Development (insights, product design, innovation, brand communication) with Every Day Great Execution, partnering with our customers to build our categories and maximize reach, availability, and visibility. We are a transformative company in the stretching ambitions we pursue. The clarity of our strategy and the decisive way that we put our choices into action is a distinctive characteristic of our leaders. Money flows to growth and we are true to our entrepreneurial roots by focusing on impact in the market place. This process creates growth missions for our empowered teams. We build our people as we build new business. We expect our people and our ideas to be judged as leaders in our business community. Our brands are better together. We win by acting as one operating company that has the scale and capabilities to outgrow, out execute, and out spend our competition. Our strong financial foundation of cash generation creates a platform for scaling this model through strategic M&A in our core categories.
The Newell Brands Portfolio Roles
Newell Brands allocates resources to the business with the greater growth and market share consolidation potential. There are three portfolio roles that shape performance objectives and resource allocation: Win Bigger, Develop for Growth, and Grow Entrepreneurially.
Win Bigger businesses have innovations and brands that are ready now for investment. Develop for Growth businesses are businesses where investments in insights, design, and innovation can set the stage for future growth acceleration. Both Win Bigger and Develop for Growth businesses are resourced with Brand Development leaders and Commercial Delivery leaders. Grow Entrepreneurially businesses are leaner organizations that leverage the scale of the larger corporation for back office support, but operate as more independent focused organizations.
The Newell Brands Operating Model
As part of the New Growth Game Plan, in late 2016 the Company began to transform from a holding company to an operating company, consolidating its business units into global divisions while investing to extend its design, innovation and brand development capabilities across a broader set of categories. These organization changes were initiated in the third quarter and this major phase of the transformation was completed by year end. These new global divisions will become the key commercial nodes in the Company, including a new Global eCommerce Division, which will have responsibility for all ecommerce activity across the enterprise.The divisions will generally align to the four areas of strategic focus for the Company of Live, Learn, Work, and Play. The new structure will be effective January 1, 2017.
In 2016, the original business units were run in nine operating segments. The Company’s nine business segments and the key brands included in each of the segments are as follows:
Writing
The Company’s Writing segment is comprised of the Writing & Creative Expression business which has market share growth potential by further building strong brands like Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, and Expo® and deploying the portfolio into new geographies, the Elmer’s®, Labeling and Fine Writing businesses that focus investment on innovation and brand support in existing markets. The Writing segment designs, manufactures or sources and distributes writing instruments, adhesives, cutting products and labeling solutions, primarily for use in business and the home. The Segment’s largest writing instrument factory is based in the U.S.A (Tennessee - 2). The segment’s product offerings include markers, highlighters, activity-based adhesives, cutting products and everyday and fine writing instruments and accessories. Permanent/waterbase markers, dry erase markers, highlighters and art supplies are primarily sold under the Sharpie®, Expo®, Sharpie® Accent®, Prismacolor® and Mr. Sketch® trademarks. Ballpoint pens and inks, roller ball pens, mechanical pencils and correction supplies are primarily sold under the Paper Mate®, InkJoy®, Uni-Ball® (used under exclusive license from Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries in North America and certain areas in Latin America), Sharpie®, Mongol® and Liquid Paper® trademarks. Activity-based adhesives and cutting products are primarily sold under the Elmer’s®, Krazy Glue® (a trademark of Toagosei Co. Ltd. used with permission) and X-Acto® trademarks. Fine writing instruments are primarily sold under the Parker®, Waterman® and Rotring® trademarks. The Writing segment’s on-demand labeling solutions are primarily sold under the Dymo® Office trademark.
The Writing segment generally markets its products directly to mass merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores, office superstores, office supply stores, contract stationers, travel retail, on-line and other retailers.
Home Solutions
The Company’s Food & Beverage business within the Home Solutions segment is a business with significant growth and geographic expansion opportunities, while the consumer storage and organization, cookware, and hair care accessories businesses within the Home Solutions segment concentrates innovation and investment in the brands in existing markets. The Home Solutions segment
designs, manufactures or sources and distributes a wide range of consumer products under multiple brand names. The Segment’s largest food storage and cookware factories are based in the U.S.A. (Ohio - 2, Kansas). Indoor/outdoor organization and home storage products are primarily sold under the Rubbermaid® and Roughneck® trademarks. Food storage and on-the-go hydration and thermal bottles are primarily sold under the Rubbermaid®, TakeAlongs®, Contigo®, Avex® and bubba® trademarks. Aluminum and stainless steel cookware and bakeware are sold under the Calphalon® trademark. Hair care accessories and grooming products are marketed primarily under the Goody® trademark.
The Home Solutions segment primarily markets its products directly to mass merchants and specialty, grocery/drug and department stores.
Tools
The Tools segment designs, manufactures or sources and distributes hand tools and power tool accessories, industrial bandsaw blades, tools and industrial labeling solutions. The Segment has two key factories that are based in the U.S.A. (Maine, Massachusetts). Hand tools and power tool accessories are primarily sold under the Irwin® trademark, while industrial bandsaw blades and cutting and drilling accessories are sold under the Lenox® trademark. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) tools are sold under the hilmorTM trademark, and industrial label makers are sold under the Dymo® trademark.
The Tools segment primarily markets its products through distributors and directly to mass merchants, home centers, industrial/construction outlets and other professional customers. During the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to sell the Tools business for an estimated price of $1.95 billion, subject to working capital adjustments. The transaction is expected to close in early 2017, subject to certain customary conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Commercial Products
The Company’s Commercial Products segment is a business with higher growth opportunities within the framework of the New Growth Game Plan. The Commercial Products segment designs, manufactures or sources and distributes cleaning and refuse products, hygiene systems and material handling solutions. The Segment’s largest commercial products factory is based in the U.S.A. (Virginia). Rubbermaid Commercial Products® primarily sells its products under the Rubbermaid® and Brute® trademarks.
The Commercial Products segment primarily markets its products through distributors and directly to mass merchants, home centers, commercial products distributors, select contract customers and other professional customers.
Baby & Parenting
The Company’s Baby & Parenting segment focuses on optimizing the business and market share in existing markets and geographies within the framework of the New Growth Game Plan. The Baby & Parenting segment designs and distributes infant and juvenile products such as car seats, strollers, swings, highchairs and playards, and primarily sells its products under the Graco®, Baby Jogger®, City Mini®, City Select®, Aprica® and Teutonia® trademarks. The Baby & Parenting segment sources substantially all of its products.
The Baby & Parenting segment primarily markets its products directly to mass merchants, department stores, distributors and on-line retailers.
Branded Consumables
The Company’s Branded Consumables segment is a legacy Jarden segment that manufactures or sources, markets and distributes a broad line of branded consumer products, many of which are affordable, consumable and fundamental household staples, and primarily sells its products under the Yankee Candle®, Waddington, Ball®, Diamond®, First Alert®, NUK®, Quickie®, Pine Mountain® trademarks. The Segment’s largest candle, playing card, baby nurturing, and plastic cutlery and serve-ware factories are based in the U.S.A. (Massachusetts - 2, Wisconsin, Kentucky). The Company believes the home fragrance business with this segment offers higher growth and geographic expansion opportunities in the New Growth Game Plan, as demonstrated in the January 2017 acquisition of Smith Mountain Industries, a leading provider of premium home fragrance products, primarily under the WoodWick® Candle brand.
The Branded Consumables segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, mass merchant, specialty retailers, casinos and distributors as well as company-operated retail stores and direct to consumer web-based sales for Yankee Candle.
Consumer Solutions
Consumer Solutions is a legacy Jarden segment that manufactures or sources, markets and distributes a diverse line of household products, including kitchen appliances and home environment products, and primarily sells its products under the Crock-Pot®, FoodSaver®, Holmes®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Rainbow®, and Sunbeam® trademarks. The Consumer Solutions segment also has rights to sell various small appliance products, in substantially all of Europe under the Breville® brand name. The Consumer Solutions segment also utilizes an extensive licensing strategy to extend the reach of the brands across categories, geographies and strategic product extensions. The Consumer Solutions segment focuses investment on innovation and brand support in existing markets within the New Growth Game Plan.
The Consumer Solutions segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, mass merchant, specialty retailers and distributors.
Outdoor Solutions
Outdoor Solutions is a legacy Jarden segment that manufactures or sources, markets and distributes global consumer active lifestyle products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities, and primarily sells its products under the Coleman®, Jostens®, Berkley®, Shakespeare®, Rawlings®, Völkl®, K2®, Marmot® trademarks. The businesses within Outdoor Solutions segment, such as camping, fishing and technical apparel, invest and innovate in brands in existing markets within the New Growth Game Plan.
The Outdoor Solutions segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, mass merchant, sporting goods and specialty retailers and distributors.
Process Solutions
Process Solutions is a legacy Jarden segment that manufactures, markets and distributes a wide variety of plastic products including closures, contact lens packaging, medical disposables, plastic cutlery and rigid packaging. The materials business produces specialty nylon polymers, conductive fibers and monofilament used in various products. We also manufacture a line of industrial zinc products marketed globally for use in the architectural, automotive, construction, electrical component and plumbing markets. The Segment’s largest factory is based in the U.S.A. (South Carolina).
The Process Solutions segment primarily markets its products through distributors and directly to mass merchants, home centers, commercial products distributors, select contract customers and other professional customers. The zinc products business within the Process Solution segment is the sole source supplier of copper-plated zinc penny blanks to the United States Mint and a major supplier to the Royal Canadian Mint, as well as a supplier of brass, bronze and nickel-plated finishes on steel and zinc for coinage to other international markets.
OTHER INFORMATION
Multi-Product Offering
The Company’s broad product offering in multiple categories permits it to more effectively meet the needs of its customers. With families of leading brand names and profitable and innovative new products, the Company can assist volume purchasers in selling a more profitable product mix. As a potential single source for an entire product line, the Company can use program merchandising to improve product presentation, optimize display space for both sales and income, and encourage impulse buying by retail consumers.
Foreign Operations
Information regarding the Company’s 2016, 2015 and 2014 foreign operations and financial information by geographic area is included in Footnote 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated by reference herein. Information regarding risks relating to the Company’s foreign operations is set forth in Part I, Item 1A, of this report and is incorporated by reference herein.
Please refer to Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding the Company’s Venezuelan operations.
Raw Materials and Sourced Finished Goods
The Company has multiple foreign and domestic sources of supply for substantially all of its material requirements. The raw materials and various purchased components required for its products have generally been available in sufficient quantities. The Company’s product offerings require the purchase of resin, corrugate, glass, plastic, expanded polystyrene, extinguisher powder,
nylon, paper, plastic resin, sawdust, tin plate, wax and wood, natural rubber, electrical components, glass fiber, magnesium, adhesives, various paper-related packaging materials and metals, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum copper and gold.
The Company’s resin purchases principally comprise polyethylene, polypropylene and copolyester. Over the long-term, the Company has experienced inflation in raw material prices, labor and sourced products, and in 2016, inflation in labor and sourced products offset deflation in raw material prices. In 2017, the Company expects continued labor and sourced product inflation and moderate inflation in raw material prices. On an annualized basis, resin and metals consumed as raw materials generally represent 8% to 15% of annual cost of products sold, with neither resin nor metals purchased as raw materials individually representing more than 10% of cost of products sold.
The Company also relies on third-party manufacturers as a source for finished goods. Historically, the Company has experienced inflation in sourced product costs due to currency fluctuations and increased input and labor costs. For a limited number of product lines, a single manufacturer or a limited number of manufacturers may supply substantially all of the finished goods for a product line. In particular, certain businesses within the Baby & Parenting and Home Solutions segments rely on third-party manufacturers for substantially all of their products. Specifically, the Company’s Baby & Parenting segment has a single source of supply for products that comprise a majority of Baby & Parenting’s sales and which owns the intellectual property for many of those products.
See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for further discussion.
Backlog
The dollar value of unshipped factory orders is not material.
Seasonal Variations
Sales of the Company’s products tend to be seasonal, with sales, operating income and operating cash flow in the first quarter generally lower than any other quarter during the year, driven principally by reduced volume and the mix of products sold in the first quarter. The seasonality of the Company’s sales volume combined with the accounting for fixed costs, such as depreciation, amortization, rent, personnel costs and interest expense, impacts the Company’s results on a quarterly basis. In addition, the Company tends to generate the majority of its operating cash flow in the second, third and fourth quarters of the year due to seasonal variations in operating results, the timing of annual performance-based compensation payments, customer program payments, working capital requirements and credit terms provided to customers.
Patents and Trademarks
The Company has many patents, trademarks, brand names and trade names that are, in the aggregate, important to its business. The Company’s most significant registered trademarks are Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Elmer’s®, Parker®, Waterman®, Dymo®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, Goody®, Calphalon®, Irwin®, Lenox®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, Aprica®, Bionaire®, Coleman®, Crock-Pot®, First Alert®, FoodSaver®, Health o Meter®, Holmes®, K2®, Marmot®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster®, Pine Mountain®, Quickie®, Rawlings®, Ride®, Rival®, Shakespeare®, Starterlogg®, Stearns®, Sunbeam® and Völkl®.
Customers/Competition
The Company’s principal customers are large mass merchandisers, such as discount stores, home centers, warehouse clubs, office superstores, craft stores, direct-to-consumer channels, specialty retailers and wholesalers, commercial distributors, e-commerce companies and Yankee Candle retail stores. Additionally we distribute our Jostens and Waddington products through the academic and achievement channel and foodservice channel, respectively. The dominant share of the market represented by large mass merchandisers, together with consumer shopping patterns, contributes to a market environment in which dominant multi-category retailers and e-commerce companies have strong negotiating power with suppliers. This environment may limit the Company’s ability to recover cost increases through selling prices.
Current trends among retailers and e-commerce companies include fostering high levels of competition among suppliers, demanding innovative new products and products tailored to each of their unique requirements and requiring suppliers to maintain or reduce product prices and deliver products with shorter lead times. Other trends, in the absence of a strong new product development effort or strong end-user brands, are for retailers and e-commerce companies to import generic products directly from foreign sources and to source and sell products, under their own private label brands, which compete with the Company’s products. The combination of these market influences has created an intensely competitive environment in which the Company’s principal customers continuously evaluate which product suppliers to use, resulting in downward pricing pressures and the need for big, consumer-meaningful brands, the ongoing introduction and commercialization of innovative new products, continuing improvements in category management and customer service, and the maintenance of strong relationships with large, high-volume purchasers. The Company competes with numerous manufacturers and distributors of consumer products, many of which are large and well-established. Our Yankee Candle retail stores compete primarily with specialty candle and personal care retailers and a
variety of other retailers, including department stores, gift stores and national specialty retailers that carry candles along with personal care items, giftware and housewares.
The Company’s principal methods of meeting its competitive challenges are creating and maintaining leading brands and differentiated products that deliver superior value and performance; delivering superior customer service and consistent on-time delivery; producing and procuring products at a competitive cost; and experienced management. In addition, the Company focuses on building consumer loyalty and increased consumer demand through increased investment in consumer insights and using those insights to develop innovative products and product features that meet consumers’ needs.
The Company has also positioned itself to respond to the competitive challenges in the retail environment by developing strong relationships with large, high-volume purchasers. The Company markets its strong multi-product offering through virtually every category of high-volume retailers, including discount, drug/grocery and variety chains; warehouse clubs; department, hardware and specialty stores; home centers; office superstores; contract stationers; and e-commerce companies. The Company’s largest customer, Wal-Mart (which includes Sam’s Club), accounted for approximately 13.5%, 10.9% and 10.6% of net sales in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, across substantially all segments. The Company’s top-ten customers in 2016 included (in alphabetical order): amazon, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Costco, Lowe’s, Office Depot, Staples, Target, The Home Depot, Toys ‘R’ Us and Wal-Mart.
Environmental Matters
Information regarding the Company’s environmental matters is included in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section of this report and in Footnote 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated by reference herein.
Research and Development
The Company’s research and development efforts focus on developing new, differentiated and innovative products to meet consumers’ needs. The Company’s product development efforts begin with consumer insights and the Company has consolidated its consumer marketing and insight capabilities into a global center of excellence and is investing further to strengthen these capabilities. The Company continues to invest to strengthen its product design and research and development capabilities and has consolidated its design and innovation capabilities into a center of excellence. The Company’s enhanced marketing and insight and research and development capabilities have been leveraged to implement a new ideation process throughout the business, resulting in idea fragments that feed the development of product concepts.
Information regarding the Company’s research and development costs for each of the past three years is included in Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated by reference herein.
Employees
As of December 31, 2016, the Company had approximately 53,400 employees worldwide. Approximately 4,500 of the Company’s employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements or are located in countries that have collective arrangements decreed by statute. Management believes that our relationships with our employees and collective bargaining unions are satisfactory.

ITEM 1A - RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The ownership of the Company’s common stock involves a number of risks and uncertainties. Potential investors should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this Annual Report on Form 10-K before deciding whether to invest in the Company’s securities. The Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. The risks described below are not the only ones facing the Company. Additional risks that are currently unknown to the Company or that the Company currently considers to be immaterial may also impair its business or adversely affect its financial condition or results of operations.
The Company is subject to risks related to its dependence on the strength of retail, commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various parts of the world.
The Company’s business depends on the strength of the retail, commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various parts of the world, primarily in North America, and to a lesser extent Europe, Latin America and Asia. These sectors of the economy are affected primarily by factors such as consumer demand and the condition of the retail industry, which, in turn, are affected by general economic conditions. With continuing challenging global economic conditions, particularly outside of the U.S., there has been considerable pressure on consumer demand, and the resulting impact on consumer spending has had and may continue to have an adverse effect on demand for the Company’s products, as well as its financial condition and results of operations. The Company could also be negatively impacted by economic crises in specific countries or regions. Such events could negatively
impact the Company’s overall liquidity and/or create significant credit risks relative to its local customers and depository institutions. Consumer demand and the condition of these sectors of the economy may also be impacted by other external factors such as war, terrorism, geopolitical uncertainties, public health issues, natural disasters and other business interruptions. The impact of these external factors is difficult to predict, and one or more of these factors could adversely impact the Company’s business.
The Company is subject to intense competition in a marketplace dominated by large retailers and e-commerce companies.
The Company competes with numerous other manufacturers and distributors of consumer and commercial products, many of which are large and well-established. The Company’s principal customers are large mass merchandisers, such as discount stores, home centers, warehouse clubs, office superstores, commercial distributors and e-commerce companies. The dominant share of the market represented by these large mass merchandisers, together with changes in consumer shopping patterns, has contributed to the formation of dominant multi-category retailers and e-commerce companies that have strong negotiating power with suppliers. Current trends among retailers and e-commerce companies include fostering high levels of competition among suppliers, demanding innovative new products and products tailored to each of their unique requirements, requiring suppliers to maintain or reduce product prices in response to competitive, economic or other factors, and requiring product delivery with shorter lead times. Other trends are for retailers and e-commerce companies to import products directly from foreign sources and to source and sell products under their own private label brands, typically at lower prices, that compete with the Company’s products.
The combination of these market influences and retailer consolidation has created an intensely competitive environment in which the Company’s principal customers continuously evaluate which product suppliers to use, resulting in downward pricing pressures and the need for big, consumer-meaningful brands, the ongoing introduction and commercialization of innovative new products, continuing improvements in category management and customer service, and the maintenance of strong relationships with large, high-volume purchasers. The Company also faces the risk of changes in the strategy or structure of its major customers, such as overall store and inventory reductions. The intense competition in the retail and e-commerce sectors, combined with the overall economic environment, may result in a number of customers experiencing financial difficulty, or failing in the future. In particular, a loss of, or a failure by, one of the Company’s large customers could adversely impact the Company’s sales and operating cash flows. To address these challenges, the Company must be able to respond to competitive factors, and the failure to respond effectively could result in a loss of sales, reduced profitability and a limited ability to recover cost increases through price increases.
The Company’s sales are dependent on purchases from several large customers and any significant decline in these purchases or pressure from these customers to reduce prices could have a negative effect on the Company’s future financial performance.
The Company’s customer base is relatively fragmented. Although we have long-established relationships with many customers, the Company generally does not have any long-term supply or binding contracts or guarantees of minimum purchases with its largest customers. Purchases by these customers are generally made using individual purchase orders. As a result, these customers may cancel their orders, change purchase quantities from forecast volumes, delay purchases for a number of reasons beyond the Company’s control or change other terms of the business relationship. Significant or numerous cancellations, reductions, delays in purchases or changes in business practices or by customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, because many of the Company’s costs are fixed, a reduction in customer demand could have an adverse effect on the Company’s gross profit margins and operating income.
The Company depends on a continuous flow of new orders from large, high-volume retail customers; however, the Company may be unable to continually meet the needs of these customers. Retailers are increasing their demands on suppliers to:
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reduce lead times for product delivery, which may require the Company to increase inventories and could impact the timing of reported sales;
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improve customer service, such as with direct import programs, whereby product is supplied directly to retailers from third-party suppliers; and
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adopt new technologies related to inventory management such as Radio Frequency Identification, otherwise known as RFID technology, which may have substantial implementation costs.
The Company cannot provide any assurance that it can continue to successfully meet the needs of its customers. A substantial decrease in sales to any of its major customers could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s customers may further consolidate, which could materially adversely affect its sales and margins.
The Company’s customers have steadily consolidated over the last two decades. The Company expects any customers that consolidate will take actions to harmonize pricing from their suppliers, close retail outlets and rationalize their supply chain, which could adversely affect the Company’s business and results of operations. There can be no assurance that, following consolidation,
the Company’s large customers will continue to buy from the Company across different product categories or geographic regions, or at the same levels as prior to consolidation, which could negatively impact the Company’s financial results. Further, if the consolidation trend continues, it could result in future pricing and other competitive pressures that could reduce the Company’s sales and margins and have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s plans to continue to improve productivity and reduce complexity and costs may not be successful, which would materially adversely affect its ability to compete.
The Company’s success depends on its ability to continuously improve its manufacturing operations to gain efficiencies, reduce supply chain costs and streamline or redeploy nonstrategic selling, general and administrative expenses in order to produce products at a best-cost position and allow the Company to invest in innovation and brand building, including advertising and promotion. The Company is currently in the process of implementing Project Renewal and delivering the cost synergies related to the acquisition of Jarden. Both efforts are global initiatives designed to reduce the complexity of the organization and increase investment in the Company’s most significant growth platforms. Project Renewal and the Company’s cost saving plans associated with the Jarden integration may not be completed substantially as planned, may be more costly to implement than expected, or may not result in, in full or in part, the positive effects anticipated. In addition, such initiatives require the Company to implement a significant amount of organizational change, which could have a negative impact on employee engagement, divert management’s attention from other concerns, and if not properly managed, impact the Company’s ability to retain key employees, cause disruptions in the Company’s day-to-day operations and have a negative impact on the Company’s financial results. It is also possible that other major productivity and streamlining programs may be required in the future.
If the Company is unable to commercialize a continuing stream of new products that create demand, the Company’s ability to compete in the marketplace may be adversely impacted.
The Company’s strategy includes investment in new product development and a focus on innovation. Its long-term success in the competitive retail environment and the industrial and commercial markets depends on its ability to develop and commercialize a continuing stream of innovative new products and line extensions that create demand. New product development and commercialization efforts, including efforts to enter markets or product categories in which the Company has limited or no prior experience, have inherent risks. These risks include the costs involved, such as development and commercialization, product development or launch delays, and the failure of new products and line extensions to achieve anticipated levels of market acceptance or growth in sales or operating income. The Company also faces the risk that its competitors will introduce innovative new products that compete with the Company’s products. In addition, sales generated by new products or line extensions could cause a decline in sales of the Company’s existing products. If new product development and commercialization efforts are not successful, the Company’s financial results could be adversely affected.
If the Company does not continue to develop and maintain leading brands or realize the anticipated benefits of increased advertising and promotion spend, its operating results may suffer.
The Company’s ability to compete successfully also depends increasingly on its ability to develop and maintain leading brands so that the Company’s retailer and other customers will need the Company’s products to meet consumer demand. Leading brands allow the Company to realize economies of scale in its operations. The development and maintenance of such brands require significant investment in brand-building and marketing initiatives. While the Company plans to continue to increase its expenditures for advertising and promotion and other brand-building and marketing initiatives over the long term, the initiatives may not deliver the anticipated results and the results of such initiatives may not cover the costs of the increased investment.
The Company incurred substantial additional indebtedness in connection with the Jarden Acquisition which could materially adversely affect the Company and its financial position, including decreasing its business flexibility and increasing its borrowing costs.
The Company incurred an additional $6.5 billion of debt (excluding approximately $4.1 billion of Jarden debt refinanced in connection with the acquisition) in connection with the completion of the Jarden Acquisition. Following completion of the Jarden Acquisition, the Company substantially increased its debt compared to its recent historical levels. This increased level of debt will increase the Company’s interest expense and could have the effect, among other things, of reducing the Company’s flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions. In addition, if the Company is unable to timely reduce its level of indebtedness, the Company will be subject to increased demands on its cash resources, which could increase its total debt-to-capitalization ratios, decrease its interest coverage ratios, result in a breach of covenants or otherwise adversely affect the business and financial results of the Company.
An increase in interest rates could have a material adverse effect on our business.
While the vast majority of the company’s debt is fixed, fluctuations in interest rates can increase borrowing costs on the portion that is variable and interest rate increases on this portion of the company’s debt could have a material adverse effect on our business. In response to the last global economic recession, extraordinary monetary policy actions of the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banking institutions, including the utilization of quantitative easing, were taken to create and maintain a low interest rate environment. However, in December 2015, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point for the first time since 2006, and in December 2016, the U.S. Federal Reserve again raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point. While it is unclear whether such action suggests a change in previous monetary policy positions, any such change or market expectation of such change may result in significantly higher long-term interest rates. Such a transition may be abrupt and may, among other things, reduce the availability and/or increase the costs of obtaining new debt and refinancing existing indebtedness.
If the Company is unable to make strategic acquisitions and to integrate its acquired businesses, the Company’s future growth and profitability could be adversely impacted.
The Company’s ability to continue to make strategic acquisitions and to integrate the acquired businesses successfully remain important factors in the Company’s future growth. In December 2016, the Company announced the acquisition of Sistema Plastics, a New Zealand-based provider of food storage containers primarily under the Sistema® brand. In January 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of Smith Mountain Industries, a provider of home fragrance products, primarily under the WoodWick® Candle brand, and in April 2016, the Company completed the acquisition of Jarden Corporation, which had recently acquired Jostens, Inc. and Waddington Group Inc. The Company’s ability to successfully integrate these or any other acquired business is dependent upon its ability to identify suitable acquisition candidates, integrate and manage product lines that have been acquired, obtain anticipated cost savings and operating income improvements within a reasonable period of time, assume unknown liabilities, known contingent liabilities that become realized or known liabilities that prove greater than anticipated, and manage unanticipated demands on the Company’s management, operational resources and financial and internal control systems. Furthermore, the Company’s ability to finance major acquisitions may be adversely affected by the Company’s financial position and access to credit markets. In addition, significant additional borrowings would increase the Company’s borrowing costs and could adversely affect its credit rating and could constrain the Company’s future access to capital. The Company may not successfully manage these or other risks it may encounter in acquiring and integrating a business or product line, which could have a material adverse effect on its business.
Circumstances associated with divestitures and product line exits could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.
The Company continually evaluates the performance and strategic fit of its businesses and products. In June 2016, the Company completed the sale of its Décor business, which comprises its Levolor® and Kirsch® window coverings brands. During 2016, the Company entered into an agreement to sell its Tools business, which comprises the Irwin®, Lenox®, and hilmorTM brands, and announced its intention to divest several other businesses and brands, including its Winter Sports business, including the Völkl® and K2® brands and the Rubbermaid® consumer storage totes business. The Company may decide to sell or discontinue other businesses or products in the future based on an evaluation of performance and strategic fit. A decision to divest or discontinue a business or product may result in asset impairments, including those related to goodwill and other intangible assets, and losses upon disposition, both of which could have an adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company may encounter difficulty in finding buyers or executing alternative exit strategies at acceptable prices and terms and in a timely manner and prospective buyers may have difficulty obtaining financing. Divestitures and business discontinuations could involve additional risks, including the following:
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difficulties in the separation of operations, services, products and personnel;
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the diversion of management's attention from other business concerns;
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the retention of certain current or future liabilities in order to induce a buyer to complete a divestiture;
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the disruption of the Company’s business; and
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the potential loss of key employees.
The Company may not be successful in managing these or any other significant risks that it may encounter in divesting or discontinuing a business or exiting product lines, which could have a material adverse effect on its business.
The Company’s operating results can be adversely affected by changes in the cost or availability of raw materials, energy, transportation and other necessary supplies and services.
Pricing and availability of raw materials, energy, transportation and other necessary supplies and services for use in the Company’s businesses can be volatile due to numerous factors beyond its control, including general, domestic and international economic
conditions, labor costs, production levels, competition, consumer demand, import duties and tariffs and currency exchange rates. This volatility can significantly affect the availability and cost of raw materials, energy, transportation and other supplies and services for the Company, and may, therefore, have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s success is dependent, in part, on its continued ability to reduce its exposure to increases in those costs through a variety of programs, including periodic purchases, future delivery purchases, long-term contracts, sales price adjustments and certain derivative instruments, while maintaining and improving margins and market share. Also, the Company relies on third-party manufacturers as a source for its products. These manufacturers are also subject to price volatility and labor cost and other inflationary pressures, which may, in turn, result in an increase in the amount the Company pays for sourced products. During periods of rising prices of raw materials, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to pass any portion of such increases on to customers. Conversely, when raw material prices decline, customer demands for lower prices could result in lower sale prices and, to the extent the Company has existing inventory, lower margins. As a result, fluctuations in raw material prices could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
Some of the products we manufacture require particular types of glass, metal, paper, plastic, resin, wax, wood or other materials. Supply shortages for a particular type of material can delay production or cause increases in the cost of manufacturing the Company’s products. This could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s operations are dependent upon third-party vendors and suppliers whose failure to perform adequately could disrupt the Company’s business operations.
The Company currently sources a significant portion of parts and products from third parties. The Company’s ability to select and retain reliable vendors and suppliers who provide timely deliveries of quality parts and products will impact the Company’s success in meeting customer demand for timely delivery of quality products. In many cases, the Company does not enter into long-term contracts with its primary vendors and suppliers, instead buying parts and products on a “purchase order” basis. As a result, the Company may be subject to unexpected changes in pricing or supply of products.
The ability of third-party suppliers to timely deliver finished goods and/or raw materials, and the ability of the Company’s own facilities to timely deliver finished goods, may be affected by events beyond their control, such as inability of shippers to timely deliver merchandise due to work stoppages or slowdowns, or significant weather and health conditions (such as SARS) affecting manufacturers and/or shippers. Any adverse change in the Company’s relationships with its third-party suppliers, the financial condition of third-party suppliers, the ability of third-party suppliers to manufacture and deliver outsourced parts or products on a timely basis, or the Company’s ability to import products from third-party suppliers or its own facilities could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, the financial condition of the Company’s vendors and suppliers may be adversely affected by general economic conditions, such as credit difficulties and the uncertain macroeconomic environment in recent years. In addition, in some instances the Company maintains single-source or limited-source sourcing relationships, either because multiple sources are not available or the relationship is advantageous due to performance, quality, support, delivery, capacity or price considerations. For example, the Company’s Baby & Parenting business has a single source of supply for products that comprise a majority of Baby & Parenting’s sales and which owns intellectual property rights in respect of many of those products. Should any of these single source suppliers fail to manufacture sufficient supply, go out of business or discontinue a particular component, the Company may not be able to find alternative vendors and suppliers in a timely manner, if at all. Any inability of the Company’s vendors and suppliers to timely deliver quality parts and products or any unanticipated change in supply, quality or pricing of products could be disruptive and costly to the Company.
The Company cannot assure you that it could quickly or effectively replace any of its suppliers if the need arose, and the Company cannot assure you that it could retrieve tooling and molds possessed by any of its third-party suppliers. The Company’s dependence on these few suppliers could also adversely affect its ability to react quickly and effectively to changes in the market for its products.
Changes in foreign, cultural, political and financial market conditions could impair the Company’s international operations and financial performance.
Some of the Company’s operations are conducted or products are sold in countries where economic growth has slowed, such as Brazil; or where economies have suffered economic, social and/or political instability or hyperinflation; or where the ability to repatriate funds has been significantly delayed or impaired. Current government economic and fiscal policies in these economies, including stimulus measures and currency exchange rates and controls, may not be sustainable and, as a result, the Company’s sales or profits related to those countries may decline. The economies of other foreign countries important to the Company’s operations could also suffer slower economic growth or economic, social and/or political instability or hyperinflation in the future. The Company’s international operations (and particularly its business in emerging markets), including manufacturing and sourcing
operations (and the international operations of the Company’s customers), are subject to inherent risks which could adversely affect the Company, including, among other things:
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protectionist policies restricting or impairing the manufacturing, sales or import and export of the Company’s products;
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new restrictions on access to markets;
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lack of developed infrastructure;
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inflation (including hyperinflation) or recession;
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devaluations or fluctuations in the value of currencies;
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changes in and the burdens and costs of compliance with a variety of laws and regulations, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, tax laws, accounting standards, trade protection measures and import and export licensing requirements, environmental laws and occupational health and safety laws;
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social, political or economic instability;
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acts of war and terrorism;
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natural disasters or other crises;
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reduced protection of intellectual property rights in some countries;
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increases in duties and taxation;
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restrictions on transfer of funds and/or exchange of currencies;
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expropriation of assets or forced relocations of operations; and
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other adverse changes in policies, including monetary, tax and/or lending policies, encouraging foreign investment or foreign trade by host countries.
Should any of these risks occur, the Company’s ability to manufacture, source, sell or export its products or repatriate profits could be impaired; the Company could experience a loss of sales and profitability from its international operations; and/or the Company could experience a substantial impairment or loss of assets, any of which could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business.
The Company has foreign currency translation and transaction risks that may materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results, financial condition and liquidity.
The financial position and results of operations of many of the Company’s international subsidiaries are initially recorded in various foreign currencies and then translated into U.S. Dollars at the applicable exchange rate for inclusion in the Company’s financial statements. The strengthening of the U.S. Dollar against these foreign currencies ordinarily has a negative impact on the Company’s reported sales, operating margin and operating income (and conversely, the weakening of the U.S. Dollar has a positive impact). For the year ended December 31, 2016, foreign currency unfavorably affected reported sales by $113.1 million compared to the year ended December 31, 2015. The volatility of foreign exchange rates may materially adversely affect the Company’s operating results.
The margin impacts from changes in foreign currency are because the Company’s costs for produced and sourced products are largely denominated in U.S. Dollars, and the Company’s international operations generally sell the Company’s products at prices denominated in local currencies. When local currencies decline in value relative to the U.S. Dollar in the regions in which the Company sells products whose costs are denominated in U.S. Dollars, the Company’s international businesses would need to increase the local currency sales prices of the products and/or reduce costs through productivity or other initiatives in order to maintain the same level of profitability. The Company may not be able to increase the selling prices of its products in its international businesses due to market dynamics, competition or otherwise and may not realize cost reductions through productivity or other initiatives. As a result, gross margins and overall operating results of the Company’s international businesses would be adversely affected when the U.S. Dollar strengthens.
The Company has been adversely impacted by developments in Venezuela, including the significant devaluations of the Venezuelan Bolivar that have occurred in recent years, the declining availability of U.S. Dollars and the implementation of pricing and exchange controls in Venezuela. As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined that it no longer could exercise control over the operations of its Venezuela subsidiary. Accordingly, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuela subsidiary on December 31, 2015 and recorded a pretax charge of $172.7 million.
Future government actions, such as currency devaluations, import authorization controls, foreign exchange controls, price or profit controls or expropriation or other forms of government take-over, could adversely impact the Company’s business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.
See Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.
A failure of one or more key information technology systems, networks, processes, associated sites or service providers could have a material adverse impact on the Company’s business or reputation.
The Company relies extensively on information technology (IT) systems, networks and services, including Internet sites, data hosting and processing facilities and tools and other hardware, software and technical applications and platforms, some of which are managed, hosted, provided and/or used by third parties or their vendors, to assist in conducting business. The various uses of these IT systems, networks and services include, but are not limited to:
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ordering and managing materials from suppliers;
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converting materials to finished products;
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shipping products to customers;
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marketing and selling products to consumers;
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collecting and storing customer, consumer, employee, investor and other stakeholder information and personal data;
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processing transactions;
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summarizing and reporting results of operations;
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hosting, processing and sharing confidential and proprietary research, business plans and financial information;
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complying with regulatory, legal or tax requirements;
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providing data security; and
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handling other processes necessary to manage the Company’s business.
Increased IT security threats and more sophisticated computer crime, including advanced persistent threats, pose a potential risk to the security of the Company’s IT systems, networks and services, as well as the confidentiality, availability and integrity of the Company’s data. The Company’s operations, especially its retail operations, involve the storage and transmission of employees’, customers’ and consumers’ proprietary information, such as credit card and bank account numbers. The Company’s payment services may be susceptible to credit card and other payment fraud schemes, including unauthorized use of credit cards, debit cards or bank account information, identity theft or merchant fraud. If the IT systems, networks or service providers relied upon fail to function properly, or if the Company suffers a loss or disclosure of customers’ and consumers’ data, business or stakeholder information, due to any number of causes, ranging from catastrophic events to power outages to security breaches, and business continuity plans do not effectively address these failures on a timely basis, the Company may suffer interruptions in its ability to manage operations, a risk of government enforcement action, litigation and possible liability, and reputational, competitive and/or business harm, which may adversely impact the Company’s results of operations and/or financial condition.
As techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change frequently and generally are not recognized until launched against a target, the Company may be unable to anticipate these techniques or implement adequate preventative measures. If an actual or perceived breach of the Company’s security occurs, the public perception of the effectiveness of the Company’s security measures could be harmed and the Company could lose customers and consumers, which could adversely affect its business.
Impairment charges could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial results.
Future events may occur that would adversely affect the reported value of the Company’s assets and require impairment charges. Such events may include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to changes in economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on the Company’s sales and customer base, the unfavorable resolution of litigation, a material adverse change in the Company’s relationship with significant customers or business partners, or a sustained decline in the Company’s stock price. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of economic and other developments on the Company and its business units to assess whether impairment indicators are present. Accordingly, the Company may be required to perform impairment tests based on changes in the economic environment and other factors, and these tests could result in impairment charges in the future.
The Company’s businesses and operations are subject to regulation in the U.S. and abroad.
Changes in laws, regulations and related interpretations may alter the environment in which the Company does business. This includes changes in environmental, competitive and product-related laws, as well as changes in accounting standards, taxation and other regulations. Accordingly, the Company’s ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters (including environmental, human resource, product liability, patent and intellectual property matters), and to resolve pending legal and environmental matters without significant liability could require the Company to record significant reserves in excess of amounts accrued to date or pay significant fines during a reporting period, which could materially impact the Company’s results. In addition, new regulations may be enacted in the U.S. or abroad that may require the Company to incur additional personnel-related, environmental or other costs on an ongoing basis, significantly restrict the Company’s ability to sell certain products, or incur fines or penalties for noncompliance, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations.
As a U.S.-based multinational company, the Company is also subject to tax regulations in the U.S. and multiple foreign jurisdictions, some of which are interdependent. For example, certain income that is earned and taxed in countries outside the U.S. is not taxed in the U.S. until those earnings are actually repatriated or deemed repatriated. If these or other tax regulations should change, the Company’s financial results could be impacted.
The Company may incur significant costs in order to comply with environmental remediation obligations.
In addition to operational standards, environmental laws also impose obligations on various entities to clean up contaminated properties or to pay for the cost of such remediation, often upon parties that did not actually cause the contamination. Accordingly, the Company may be liable, either contractually or by operation of law, for remediation costs even if the contaminated property is not presently owned or operated by the Company, is a landfill or other location where it has disposed wastes, or if the contamination was caused by third parties during or prior to the Company’s ownership or operation of the property. Given the nature of the past industrial operations conducted by the Company and others at these properties, there can be no assurance that all potential instances of soil or groundwater contamination have been identified, even for those properties where an environmental site assessment has been conducted. We do not believe that any of the Company’s existing remediation obligations, including at third-party sites where it has been named a potentially responsible party, will have a material adverse effect upon its business, results of operations or financial condition. However, future events, such as changes in existing laws or policies or their enforcement, or the discovery of currently unknown contamination, may give rise to additional remediation liabilities that may be material. See “Environmental Matters” under Footnote 19 of the notes to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a further discussion of these and other environmental-related matters.
The Company may not be able to attract, retain and develop key personnel.
The Company’s success at implementing Project Renewal, the Growth Game Plan, the integration of Jarden and its future performance depends in significant part upon the continued service of its executive officers and other key personnel. The loss of the services of one or more executive officers or other key employees could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, prospects, financial condition and results of operations. The Company’s success also depends, in part, on its continuing ability to attract, retain and develop highly qualified personnel. Competition for such personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that the Company can retain its key employees or attract, assimilate and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future.
The resolution of the Company’s tax contingencies may result in additional tax liabilities, which could adversely impact the Company’s cash flows and results of operations.
The Company is subject to income tax in the U.S. and numerous jurisdictions outside the U.S. Significant estimation and judgment are required in determining the Company’s worldwide provision for income taxes. In the ordinary course of the Company’s business, there are many transactions and calculations where the ultimate tax determination is uncertain. The Company is regularly under audit by various worldwide tax authorities. Although the Company believes its tax estimates are reasonable, the final outcome of tax audits and related litigation could be materially different than that reflected in its historical income tax provisions and accruals. There can be no assurance that the resolution of any audits or litigation will not have an adverse effect on future operating results.
The Company’s business involves the potential for product recalls, product liability and other claims against it, which could affect its earnings and financial condition.
As a manufacturer and distributor of consumer products, the Company is subject to the Consumer Products Safety Act of 1972, which empowers the Consumer Products Safety Commission to exclude from the market products that are found to be unsafe or hazardous. Under certain circumstances, the Consumer Products Safety Commission could require the Company to repurchase or recall one or more of its products. Additionally, other laws and agencies, such as the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, regulate certain consumer products sold by the Company in the United States and abroad, and more restrictive laws and regulations may be adopted in the future. Any repurchase or recall of the Company’s products could be costly and damaging to the Company’s reputation. If the Company were required to remove, or it voluntarily removed, its products from the market, the Company’s reputation could be tarnished and the Company might have large quantities of finished products that it could not sell. The Company also faces exposure to product liability claims in the event that one of its products is alleged to have resulted in property damage, bodily injury or other adverse effects. In addition to the risk of substantial monetary judgments or fines or penalties that may result from any governmental investigations, product liability claims or regulatory actions could result in negative publicity that could harm the Company’s reputation in the marketplace, adversely impact the value of its end-user brands, or result in an increase in the cost of producing the Company’s products.
Although the Company maintains product liability insurance in amounts that it believes are reasonable, that insurance is, in most cases, subject to large self-insured retentions for which the Company is responsible, and the Company cannot assure you that it
will be able to maintain such insurance on acceptable terms, if at all, in the future or that product liability claims will not exceed the amount of insurance coverage. Additionally, the Company does not maintain product recall insurance. As a result, product recalls or product liability claims could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. In addition, the Company faces potential other types of litigation arising out of alleged defects in its products or otherwise, such as class action lawsuits. The Company does not maintain insurance against many types of claims involving alleged defects in its products that do not involve personal injury or property damage. The Company spends substantial resources ensuring compliance with governmental and other applicable standards. However, compliance with these standards does not necessarily prevent individual or class action lawsuits, which can entail significant cost and risk. As a result, these types of claims could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.
The Company’s product liability insurance program is an occurrence-based program based on its current and historical claims experience and the availability and cost of insurance. The Company currently either self-insures or administers a high retention insurance program for most product liability risks. Historically, product liability awards have rarely exceeded the Company’s individual per occurrence self-insured retention. The Company cannot assure you, however, that its future product liability experience will be consistent with its past experience or that claims and awards subject to self-insured retention will not be material.
See Footnote 19 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for a further discussion of these and other regulatory and litigation-related matters.
If the Company fails to adequately protect its intellectual property rights, competitors may manufacture and market similar products, which could adversely affect the Company’s market share and results of operations.
The Company’s success with its proprietary products depends, in part, on its ability to protect its current and future technologies and products and to defend its intellectual property rights, including its patent and trademark rights. If the Company fails to adequately protect its intellectual property rights, competitors may manufacture and market similar products.
The Company holds numerous design and utility patents covering a wide variety of products. The Company cannot be sure that it will receive patents for any of its patent applications or that any existing or future patents that it receives or licenses will provide competitive advantages for its products. The Company also cannot be sure that competitors will not challenge, invalidate or avoid the application of any existing or future patents that the Company receives or licenses. In addition, patent rights may not prevent competitors from developing, using or selling products that are similar or functionally equivalent to the Company’s products.
A reduction in the Company’s credit ratings could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.
The Company’s credit ratings impact the cost and availability of future borrowings and, accordingly, the Company’s cost of capital. The Company’s credit ratings reflect each rating organization’s opinion of its financial strength, operating performance and ability to meet its debt obligations. The Company cannot be sure that any of its current ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that a rating will not be lowered by a rating agency if, in its judgment, circumstances in the future so warrant. A downgrade by Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standard & Poor’s”), which would reduce the Company’s senior debt below investment-grade, would increase the Company’s borrowing costs, which would adversely affect the Company’s financial results. Specifically, the interest rate payable on Notes issued in March 2016 are subject to adjustment from time to time if either Moody’s or Standard & Poor’s downgrades (or subsequently upgrades) its rating assigned to the Notes, though the interest on these notes will permanently cease to be subject to any adjustment (notwithstanding any subsequent decrease in ratings by either credit Rating Agency), if such Notes become rated “Baa1” or higher by Moody’s and BBB+ or higher by S&P, in each case with stable or positive outlook. In addition, in the event of a reduction in credit rating, the Company would likely be required to pay a higher interest rate in future financings, and its potential pool of investors and funding sources could decrease. If the Company’s short-term ratings were to be lowered, it would limit, or eliminate entirely, the Company’s access to the commercial paper market. The ratings from credit agencies are not recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Company’s securities, and each rating should be evaluated independently of any other rating.
The level of returns on pension and postretirement plan assets and the actuarial assumptions used for valuation purposes could affect the Company’s earnings and cash flows in future periods. Changes in government regulations could also affect the Company’s pension and postretirement plan expenses and funding requirements.
The funding obligations for the Company’s pension plans are impacted by the performance of the financial markets, particularly the equity markets, and interest rates. Funding obligations are determined under government regulations and are measured each year based on the value of assets and liabilities on a specific date. If the financial markets do not provide the long-term returns that are expected under the governmental funding calculations, the Company could be required to make larger contributions. The equity markets can be, and recently have been, very volatile, and therefore the Company’s estimate of future contribution requirements can change dramatically in relatively short periods of time. Similarly, changes in interest rates and legislation enacted
by governmental authorities can impact the timing and amounts of contribution requirements. An adverse change in the funded status of the plans could significantly increase the Company’s required contributions in the future and adversely impact its liquidity.
Assumptions used in determining projected benefit obligations and the fair value of plan assets for the Company’s pension and postretirement benefit plans are determined by the Company in consultation with outside actuaries. In the event that the Company determines that changes are warranted in the assumptions used, such as the discount rate, expected long-term rate of return on assets, expected health care costs, or mortality rates, the Company’s future pension and postretirement benefit expenses could increase or decrease. Due to changing market conditions or changes in the participant population, the assumptions that the Company uses may differ from actual results, which could have a significant impact on the Company’s pension and postretirement liabilities and related costs and funding requirements.

ITEM 1B - UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
Not applicable.

ITEM 2 - PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Our corporate offices are located in leased office space in Hoboken, New Jersey, Atlanta, Georgia, Boca Raton, Florida and in Norwalk, Connecticut. At December 31, 2016, the Company and its subsidiaries lease or own facilities throughout the U.S., some of which have multiple buildings and warehouses, and these U.S. facilities encompass approximately 35.6 million square feet. We lease or own international facilities encompassing approximately 19.4 million square feet primarily in Asia, Canada, Europe and Latin America. Of the U.S. and international manufacturing and warehouse facilities, approximately 26.4 million square feet of space is owned, while the remaining 28.6 million square feet of space is leased. The approximate percentage of the facility square footage used by each segment is as follows: Writing - 7.9%, Home Solutions - 12.1%, Tools - 3.5%, Commercial Products - 3.5%, Baby & Parenting - 0.9%, Branded Consumables - 29.5%, Consumer Solutions - 9.1%, Outdoor Solutions - 24.1%, Process Solutions - 2.3%, and Corporate 7.1%.
In general, our properties are well-maintained, considered adequate and are utilized for their intended purposes. See Note 7 to our consolidated financial statements, Property, Plant and Equipment, which discloses amounts invested in land, buildings and machinery and equipment. Also see Note 12 (Commitments) to our consolidated financial statements, which discloses the Company’s operating lease commitments.

ITEM 3 - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3 - ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS
Exhibit Description of Exhibit
Number
3.1
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Newell Brands Inc., as amended as of April 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 15, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
3.2
By-Laws of Newell Brands Inc., as amended April 15, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 15, 2016, File No. 001-09608).

ITEM 4 - RESERVED
ITEM 4 - INSTRUMENTS DEFINING THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS, INCLUDING INDENTURES
Exhibit Description of Exhibit
Number
4.1
Indenture dated as of November 1, 1995, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)), as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 3, 1996, File No. 001-09608).
4.2
Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2012, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. , as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 11, 2012, File No. 001-09608).
4.3
Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2014).
4.4
Specimen Stock Certificate for Newell Brands Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2016).
4.5
Form of 6.25% Notes due 2018 issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of November 1, 1995, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)), as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 25, 2008, File No. 001-09608).
4.6
Form of 4.70% Notes due 2020 issued pursuant to an Indenture dated as of November 1, 1995, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, formerly known as The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association)), as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 2, 2010, File No. 001-09608).
4.7
Form of 4.000% Note due 2022 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2012, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 11, 2012, File No. 001-09608).
4.8
Form of 2.050% Note due 2017 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of June 14, 2012, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. , as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 29, 2012, File No. 001-09608).
4.9
Form of 2.875% Note due 2019 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2014, File No. 001-09608).
4.10
Form of 4.000% Note due 2024 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 14, 2014, File No. 001-09608).
4.11
Form of 2.150% Note due 2018 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 14, 2015, File No. 001-09608).
4.12
Form of 3.900% Note due 2025 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 14, 2015, File No. 001-09608).
4.13
Form of 2.600% note due 2019 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.14
Form of 3.150% note due 2021 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.15
Form of 3.850% note due 2023 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.16
Form of 4.200% note due 2026 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.17
Form of 5.375% note due 2036 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.18
Form of 5.500% note due 2046 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 18, 2016, File No. 001-09608).
4.19
Form of 3 3/4% note due 2021 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
4.20
Form of 5% note due 2023 issued pursuant to the Indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee.
Pursuant to item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, the Company is not filing certain documents. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of each such document upon the request of the Commission.
ITEM 10 - MATERIAL CONTRACTS
10.1*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan as amended and restated August 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013).
10.2*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, File No. 001-09608).
10.3*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Deferred Compensation Plans Trust Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.4*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, File No. 001-09068).
10.5*
First Amendment to the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated August 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.6*
Newell Rubbermaid Severance Plan -- Summary Plan Description for Executives in Bands 10 and above, effective July 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014).
10.7*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2003 Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective February 8, 2006, and as amended effective August 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement, dated April 3, 2006, and Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006, File No. 001-09068).
10.8*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 11, 2010, File No. 001-09068).
10.9*
First Amendment to the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan dated July 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.10*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.11*
Forms of Stock Option Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2003 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 001-09068).
10.12*
Form of Michael B. Polk Stock Option Agreement for July 18, 2011 Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 18, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.13*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Mark Tarchetti dated May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.14*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Ralph Nicoletti dated June 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.15*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Fiona Laird, dated May 31, 2016.
10.16*
Form of Agreement for Restricted Stock Unit Award Granted to Paula S. Larson on December 16, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.17*
2014 Restricted Stock Unit Equivalent Award Agreement dated as of December 28, 2015 between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mark S. Tarchetti (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.18*
2015 Restricted Stock Unit Equivalent Award Agreement dated as of December 28, 2015 between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mark S. Tarchetti (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.19*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.20*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan, as updated February 10, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.21*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan, as amended May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.22*
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010, File No. 001-09068, File No. 001-09068).
10.23*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan for 2013Awards (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.24*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Awards to Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.25*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for 2014 Awards (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.26*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Employees as Amended February 10, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.27*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Employees, as Amended May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.28*
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Awards Beginning May 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.29*
Employment Security Agreement with Michael B. Polk dated July 18, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.30*
Form of Employment Security Agreement between the Company and the named executive officers of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.31*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Employment Security Agreements Trust Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013).
10.32*
Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk, dated June 23, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 23, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.33*
Amendment to Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk, dated October 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, File No. 001-09068).
10.34*
Amendment to Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk dated May 11, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.35*
Compensation Arrangement with Mark Tarchetti dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.36*
Compensation Arrangement with William A. Burke III, dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.37*
Compensation Arrangement with Ralph Nicoletti dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.38*
Compensation Arrangement with Fiona Laird dated May 25, 2016.
10.39*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of March 10, 2016, by and between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Paula Larson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.40*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of May 12, 2016, by and between Newell Brands Inc. and John K. Stipancich (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.41*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of July 28, 2016, by and between Newell Brands Inc. and Joseph A. Arcuri (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.42
Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and among Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mariposa Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Amendment No. 1 to Newell’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed on February 17, 2016, File No. 333-208989).
10.43
Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of April 25, 2016 by and between Mariposa Capital, LLC and Mariposa Associates, LLC whereby Mariposa Capital, LLC assigns its rights, duties and obligations under the Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and among Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mariposa Capital, LLC to Mariposa Associates, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.44*
Separation Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and between Jarden Corporation and Martin E. Franklin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Jarden Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 2015, File No. 001-13665).
10.45*
Separation Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and between Jarden Corporation and Ian G.H. Ashken (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Jarden Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 2015, File No. 001-13665).
10.46
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2016 among Newell Rubbermaid Inc., the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.47
Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2016 among Newell Rubbermaid Inc., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.48
Loan and Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2016, among Jarden Receivables, LLC, as Borrower, Newell Brands Inc., as Servicer, the Conduit Lenders, the Committed Lenders and the Managing Agents named therein, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Issuing Lender, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as Structuring Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.49
Omnibus Amendment, dated as of December 16, 2016 among Jarden Receivables, LLC, Originator parties thereto, Newell Brands Inc., as Servicer, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and as a Managing Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Issuing Lender and each Managing Agent party thereto.
ITEM 12 - STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
Statement of Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
ITEM 21 - SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
21.1
Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.
ITEM 23 - CONSENT OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
ITEM 31 - RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 12a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 32 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATIONS
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 101 - INTERACTIVE DATA FILE
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NEWELL BRANDS INC.
Registrant
By
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Ralph J. Nicoletti
Title
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Date
March 1, 2017
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on March 1, 2017, by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/ Michael B. Polk
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael B. Polk
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Ralph J. Nicoletti
/s/ James L. Cunningham, III
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
James L. Cunningham, III
/s/ Michael T. Cowhig
Chairman of the Board and Director
Michael T. Cowhig
/s/ Ian G. H. Ashken
Director
Ian G. H. Ashken
/s/ Thomas E. Clarke
Director
Thomas E. Clarke
/s/ Kevin C. Conroy
Director
Kevin C. Conroy
/s/ Scott S. Cowen
Director
Scott S. Cowen
/s/ Domenico De Sole
Director
Domenico De Sole
/s/ Martin E. Franklin
Director
Martin E. Franklin
/s/ Ros L'Esperance
Director
Ros L'Esperance
/s/ Steven J. Strobel
Director
Steven J. Strobel
/s/ Michael A. Todman
Director
Michael A. Todman
/s/ Raymond G. Viault
Director
Raymond G. Viault
Schedule II
Newell Brands Inc. and subsidiaries
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(1)
The provision amounts include accounts receivable reserve charges included in discontinued operations of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(2)
Represents accounts written off during the year and cash discounts taken by customers.
(1)
The net provision amounts include inventory reserve (benefits) charges included in discontinued operations of $(0.1) million and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ITEM 5 - MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY

ITEM 6 - SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

ITEM 7 - MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

ITEM 7A - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

ITEM 8 - FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

ITEM 9 - CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS

ITEM 9A - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

ITEM 9B - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 10 - DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
ITEM 10 - MATERIAL CONTRACTS
10.1*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan as amended and restated August 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013).
10.2*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2002 Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of January 1, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, File No. 001-09608).
10.3*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Deferred Compensation Plans Trust Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.4*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, effective January 1, 2008 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, File No. 001-09068).
10.5*
First Amendment to the Newell Rubbermaid Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated August 5, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.6*
Newell Rubbermaid Severance Plan -- Summary Plan Description for Executives in Bands 10 and above, effective July 1, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014).
10.7*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2003 Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective February 8, 2006, and as amended effective August 9, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement, dated April 3, 2006, and Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006, File No. 001-09068).
10.8*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 11, 2010, File No. 001-09068).
10.9*
First Amendment to the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan dated July 1, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.10*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Company’s Proxy Statement dated March 28, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.11*
Forms of Stock Option Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2003 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 001-09068).
10.12*
Form of Michael B. Polk Stock Option Agreement for July 18, 2011 Award (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 18, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.13*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Mark Tarchetti dated May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.14*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Ralph Nicoletti dated June 8, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.15*
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement of Fiona Laird, dated May 31, 2016.
10.16*
Form of Agreement for Restricted Stock Unit Award Granted to Paula S. Larson on December 16, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the Company’s Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.17*
2014 Restricted Stock Unit Equivalent Award Agreement dated as of December 28, 2015 between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mark S. Tarchetti (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.18*
2015 Restricted Stock Unit Equivalent Award Agreement dated as of December 28, 2015 between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mark S. Tarchetti (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 22, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.19*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.20*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan, as updated February 10, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.21*
Long-Term Incentive Performance Pay Terms and Conditions under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan, as amended May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 10, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.22*
Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2010, File No. 001-09068, File No. 001-09068).
10.23*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2010 Stock Plan for 2013Awards (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.24*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Awards to Employees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013, File No. 001-09068).
10.25*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for 2014 Awards (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.26*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Employees as Amended February 10, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 10, 2015, File No. 001-09068).
10.27*
Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Employees, as Amended May 10, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 13, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.28*
Form of Non-Employee Director Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement under the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. 2013 Incentive Plan for Awards Beginning May 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.29*
Employment Security Agreement with Michael B. Polk dated July 18, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.30*
Form of Employment Security Agreement between the Company and the named executive officers of the Company other than the Chief Executive Officer (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, File No. 001-09068).
10.31*
Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Employment Security Agreements Trust Agreement, effective as of June 1, 2013 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2013).
10.32*
Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk, dated June 23, 2011 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated June 23, 2011, File No. 001-09068).
10.33*
Amendment to Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk, dated October 1, 2012 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2012, File No. 001-09068).
10.34*
Amendment to Written Compensation Arrangement with Michael B. Polk dated May 11, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.35*
Compensation Arrangement with Mark Tarchetti dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.36*
Compensation Arrangement with William A. Burke III, dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.37*
Compensation Arrangement with Ralph Nicoletti dated May 12, 2016 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.38*
Compensation Arrangement with Fiona Laird dated May 25, 2016.
10.39*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of March 10, 2016, by and between Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Paula Larson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 10, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.40*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of May 12, 2016, by and between Newell Brands Inc. and John K. Stipancich (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.9 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.41*
Separation Agreement and General Release, dated as of July 28, 2016, by and between Newell Brands Inc. and Joseph A. Arcuri (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 28, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.42
Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and among Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mariposa Capital, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of Amendment No. 1 to Newell’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed on February 17, 2016, File No. 333-208989).
10.43
Assignment and Assumption Agreement dated as of April 25, 2016 by and between Mariposa Capital, LLC and Mariposa Associates, LLC whereby Mariposa Capital, LLC assigns its rights, duties and obligations under the Advisory Services Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and among Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Mariposa Capital, LLC to Mariposa Associates, LLC (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.44*
Separation Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and between Jarden Corporation and Martin E. Franklin (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of Jarden Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 2015, File No. 001-13665).
10.45*
Separation Agreement, dated as of December 13, 2015, by and between Jarden Corporation and Ian G.H. Ashken (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of Jarden Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 2015, File No. 001-13665).
10.46
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2016 among Newell Rubbermaid Inc., the subsidiary borrowers party thereto, the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.47
Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of January 26, 2016 among Newell Rubbermaid Inc., the guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated January 26, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.48
Loan and Servicing Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2016, among Jarden Receivables, LLC, as Borrower, Newell Brands Inc., as Servicer, the Conduit Lenders, the Committed Lenders and the Managing Agents named therein, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Issuing Lender, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent, and PNC Capital Markets LLC, as Structuring Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 3, 2016, File No. 001-09068).
10.49
Omnibus Amendment, dated as of December 16, 2016 among Jarden Receivables, LLC, Originator parties thereto, Newell Brands Inc., as Servicer, PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and as a Managing Agent, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as Issuing Lender and each Managing Agent party thereto.
ITEM 12 - STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
Statement of Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
ITEM 21 - SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
21.1
Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.
ITEM 23 - CONSENT OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
ITEM 31 - RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 12a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 32 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATIONS
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 101 - INTERACTIVE DATA FILE
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NEWELL BRANDS INC.
Registrant
By
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Ralph J. Nicoletti
Title
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Date
March 1, 2017
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on March 1, 2017, by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/ Michael B. Polk
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael B. Polk
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Ralph J. Nicoletti
/s/ James L. Cunningham, III
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
James L. Cunningham, III
/s/ Michael T. Cowhig
Chairman of the Board and Director
Michael T. Cowhig
/s/ Ian G. H. Ashken
Director
Ian G. H. Ashken
/s/ Thomas E. Clarke
Director
Thomas E. Clarke
/s/ Kevin C. Conroy
Director
Kevin C. Conroy
/s/ Scott S. Cowen
Director
Scott S. Cowen
/s/ Domenico De Sole
Director
Domenico De Sole
/s/ Martin E. Franklin
Director
Martin E. Franklin
/s/ Ros L'Esperance
Director
Ros L'Esperance
/s/ Steven J. Strobel
Director
Steven J. Strobel
/s/ Michael A. Todman
Director
Michael A. Todman
/s/ Raymond G. Viault
Director
Raymond G. Viault
Schedule II
Newell Brands Inc. and subsidiaries
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(1)
The provision amounts include accounts receivable reserve charges included in discontinued operations of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(2)
Represents accounts written off during the year and cash discounts taken by customers.
(1)
The net provision amounts include inventory reserve (benefits) charges included in discontinued operations of $(0.1) million and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ITEM 11 - EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

ITEM 12 - SECURITY OWNERSHIP
ITEM 12 - STATEMENT RE COMPUTATION OF RATIOS
Statement of Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
ITEM 21 - SUBSIDIARIES OF THE REGISTRANT
21.1
Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.
ITEM 23 - CONSENT OF EXPERTS AND COUNSEL
23.1
Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
23.2
Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
ITEM 31 - RULE 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) CERTIFICATIONS
31.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 12a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a), as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 32 - SECTION 1350 CERTIFICATIONS
32.1
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
ITEM 101 - INTERACTIVE DATA FILE
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
NEWELL BRANDS INC.
Registrant
By
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Ralph J. Nicoletti
Title
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Date
March 1, 2017
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below on March 1, 2017, by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated.
Signature
Title
/s/ Michael B. Polk
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Michael B. Polk
/s/ Ralph J. Nicoletti
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Ralph J. Nicoletti
/s/ James L. Cunningham, III
Senior Vice President, Chief Accounting Officer
James L. Cunningham, III
/s/ Michael T. Cowhig
Chairman of the Board and Director
Michael T. Cowhig
/s/ Ian G. H. Ashken
Director
Ian G. H. Ashken
/s/ Thomas E. Clarke
Director
Thomas E. Clarke
/s/ Kevin C. Conroy
Director
Kevin C. Conroy
/s/ Scott S. Cowen
Director
Scott S. Cowen
/s/ Domenico De Sole
Director
Domenico De Sole
/s/ Martin E. Franklin
Director
Martin E. Franklin
/s/ Ros L'Esperance
Director
Ros L'Esperance
/s/ Steven J. Strobel
Director
Steven J. Strobel
/s/ Michael A. Todman
Director
Michael A. Todman
/s/ Raymond G. Viault
Director
Raymond G. Viault
Schedule II
Newell Brands Inc. and subsidiaries
Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
(1)
The provision amounts include accounts receivable reserve charges included in discontinued operations of $0.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2014.
(2)
Represents accounts written off during the year and cash discounts taken by customers.
(1)
The net provision amounts include inventory reserve (benefits) charges included in discontinued operations of $(0.1) million and for the year ended December 31, 2014.

ITEM 13 - CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

ITEM 14 - PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

ITEM 15 - EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

Market Capitalization: 23927039.263916016
1-Year Return: 0.01162552926689386
252-Day Return: $252_day_return