Item 6.
Selected Financial Data.
## Table 0 ##
(1) Cost of sales includes special charges of $44.0 in 2017, $66.0 in 2016, $80.6 in 2015, $14.3 in 2014, and $43.2 in 2013; Interest expense, net includes special charges of $21.9 in 2017 and $2.5 in 2013; Net income (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest includes special charges of $12.8 in 2015 and $0.5 in 2013.
(2) Amounts exclude the impact of special (gains) and charges and discrete tax items.
The effect of a decrease in the discount rate or decrease in the expected return on assets assumption as of December 31, 2017, on the December 31, 2017 funded status and 2018 expense is shown below, assuming no changes in benefit levels and no amortization of gains or losses for our significant U. S.  plans:
## Table 1 ##
Effect on U. S.  Postretirement Health Care Benefits Plans
## Table 2 ##
Our international pension obligations and underlying plan assets represent approximately one third of our global pension plans, with the majority of the amounts held in the U. K.  and Eurozone countries.
We use assumptions similar to our U. S.  plan assumptions to measure our international pension obligations, however, the assumptions used vary by country based on specific local country requirements and information.
See Note 16 for further discussion concerning our accounting policies, estimates, funded status, contributions and overall financial positions of our pension and postretirement plan obligations.
Self Insurance Globally we have insurance policies with varying deductible levels for property and casualty losses.
We are insured for losses in excess of these deductibles, subject to policy terms and conditions and have recorded both a liability and an offsetting receivable for amounts in excess of these deductibles.
We are self-insured for health care claims for eligible participating employees, subject to certain deductibles and limitations.
We determine our liabilities for claims on an actuarial basis.
Restructuring Our restructuring activities are associated with plans to enhance our efficiency, effectiveness and sharpen the competitiveness of our businesses.
These restructuring plans include net costs associated with significant actions involving employee-related severance charges, contract termination costs and asset write-downs and disposals.
Employee termination costs are largely based on policies and severance plans, and include personnel reductions and related costs for severance, benefits and outplacement services.
These charges are reflected in the quarter in which the actions are probable and the amounts are estimable, which typically is when management approves the associated actions.
Contract termination costs include charges to terminate leases prior to the end of their respective terms and other contract termination costs.
Asset write-downs and disposals include leasehold improvement write-downs, other asset writedowns associated with combining operations and disposal of assets.
Restructuring charges have been included as a component of cost of sales, special (gains) and charges and net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest on the Consolidated Statement of Income.
Amounts included as a component of cost of sales include supply chain related severance and other asset write-downs associated with combining operations.
Restructuring liabilities have been classified as a component of both other current and other noncurrent liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Our restructuring liability balance was $42 million and $40 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
For additional information on our restructuring activities, see Note 3.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Goodwill Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of identifiable net assets acquired in a business combination.
The Company’s reporting units are its operating segments.
During the second quarter of 2017, the Company completed its scheduled annual assessment for goodwill impairment across its eleven reporting units through a quantitative analysis, utilizing a discounted cash flow approach, which incorporates assumptions regarding future growth rates, terminal values, and discount rates.
The two-step quantitative process involved comparing the estimated fair value of each reporting unit to the reporting unit’s carrying value, including goodwill.
If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying value, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not to be impaired, and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary.
If the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test would be performed to measure the amount of impairment loss to be recorded, if any.
The Company’s goodwill impairment assessment for 2017 indicated the estimated fair value of each of its reporting units exceeded its carrying amount by a significant margin.
If circumstances change significantly, the Company would also test a reporting unit’s goodwill for impairment during interim periods between its annual tests.
There has been no impairment of goodwill in any of the years presented.
In the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company sold the Equipment Care business, which was a reporting unit, and the goodwill associated with Equipment Care was disposed of upon sale.
No other events occurred during the second half of 2017 that indicated a need to update the Company’s conclusions reached during the second quarter of 2017.
The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for each of the Company’s reportable segments are as follows:
## Table 3 ##
(a) Relates to establishment of the Life Sciences reporting unit in the first quarter of 2017, and goodwill being allocated to Life Sciences based on a fair value allocation of goodwill.
The Life Sciences reporting unit is included in the Industrial reportable segment and is comprised of operations previously recorded in the Food & Beverage and Healthcare reporting units, which are aggregated and reported in the Global Industrial and Global Institutional reportable segments, respectively.
See Note 17 for further information.
(b) For 2017, the Company expects $79.2 million of the goodwill related to businesses acquired to be tax deductible.
For 2016, $3.0 million of the goodwill related to businesses acquired is expected to be tax deductible.
(c) Represents purchase price allocation adjustments for acquisitions deemed preliminary as of the end of the prior year.
(d) Represents immaterial reclassifications of beginning balances to conform to the current or prior year presentation due to customer reclassifications across reporting segments completed in the first quarter of the respective year.

<table><tr><td>December 31, millions, except per share amounts and employees</td><td>2017</td><td>2016</td><td>2015</td><td>2014</td><td>2013</td></tr><tr><td>OPERATIONS</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Net sales</td><td>$13,838.3</td><td>$13,152.8</td><td>$13,545.1</td><td>$14,280.5</td><td>$13,253.4</td></tr><tr><td>Cost of sales (including special (gains) and charges (1))</td><td>7,405.1</td><td>6,898.9</td><td>7,223.5</td><td>7,679.1</td><td>7,161.2</td></tr><tr><td>Selling, general and administrative expenses</td><td>4,417.1</td><td>4,299.4</td><td>4,345.5</td><td>4,577.6</td><td>4,360.3</td></tr><tr><td>Special (gains) and charges</td><td>-3.7</td><td>39.5</td><td>414.8</td><td>68.8</td><td>171.3</td></tr><tr><td>Operating income</td><td>2,019.8</td><td>1,915.0</td><td>1,561.3</td><td>1,955.0</td><td>1,560.6</td></tr><tr><td>Interest expense, net (including special (gains) and charges (1))</td><td>255.0</td><td>264.6</td><td>243.6</td><td>256.6</td><td>262.3</td></tr><tr><td>Income before income taxes</td><td>1,764.8</td><td>1,650.4</td><td>1,317.7</td><td>1,698.4</td><td>1,298.3</td></tr><tr><td>Provision for income taxes</td><td>242.4</td><td>403.3</td><td>300.5</td><td>476.2</td><td>324.7</td></tr><tr><td>Net income including noncontrolling interest</td><td>1,522.4</td><td>1,247.1</td><td>1,017.2</td><td>1,222.2</td><td>973.6</td></tr><tr><td>Net income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest (including special (gains) and charges (1))</td><td>14.0</td><td>17.5</td><td>15.1</td><td>19.4</td><td>5.8</td></tr><tr><td>Net income attributable to Ecolab</td><td>$1,508.4</td><td>$1,229.6</td><td>$1,002.1</td><td>$1,202.8</td><td>$967.8</td></tr><tr><td>Diluted earnings per share, as reported (GAAP)</td><td>$ 5.13</td><td>$ 4.14</td><td>$ 3.32</td><td>$ 3.93</td><td>$ 3.16</td></tr><tr><td>Diluted earnings per share, as adjusted (Non-GAAP) (2)</td><td>$ 4.69</td><td>$ 4.37</td><td>$ 4.37</td><td>$ 4.18</td><td>$ 3.54</td></tr><tr><td>Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic</td><td>289.6</td><td>292.5</td><td>296.4</td><td>300.1</td><td>299.9</td></tr><tr><td>Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted</td><td>294.0</td><td>296.7</td><td>301.4</td><td>305.9</td><td>305.9</td></tr><tr><td>SELECTED INCOME STATEMENT RATIOS</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Gross margin</td><td>46.5%</td><td>47.5%</td><td>46.7%</td><td>46.2%</td><td>46.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Selling, general and administrative expenses</td><td>31.9</td><td>32.7</td><td>32.1</td><td>32.1</td><td>32.9</td></tr><tr><td>Operating income</td><td>14.6</td><td>14.6</td><td>11.5</td><td>13.7</td><td>11.8</td></tr><tr><td>Income before income taxes</td><td>12.8</td><td>12.5</td><td>9.7</td><td>11.9</td><td>9.8</td></tr><tr><td>Net income attributable to Ecolab</td><td>10.9</td><td>9.3</td><td>7.4</td><td>8.4</td><td>7.3</td></tr><tr><td>Effective income tax rate</td><td>13.7%</td><td>24.4%</td><td>22.8%</td><td>28.0%</td><td>25.0%</td></tr><tr><td>FINANCIAL POSITION</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Current assets</td><td>$4,596.4</td><td>$4,279.4</td><td>$4,447.5</td><td>$4,853.0</td><td>$4,698.4</td></tr><tr><td>Property, plant and equipment, net</td><td>3,707.1</td><td>3,365.0</td><td>3,228.3</td><td>3,050.6</td><td>2,882.0</td></tr><tr><td>Goodwill, intangible and other assets</td><td>11,658.9</td><td>10,685.8</td><td>10,965.9</td><td>11,523.8</td><td>12,027.4</td></tr><tr><td>Total assets</td><td>$19,962.4</td><td>$18,330.2</td><td>$18,641.7</td><td>$19,427.4</td><td>$19,607.8</td></tr><tr><td>Current liabilities</td><td>$3,431.8</td><td>$3,019.4</td><td>$4,764.4</td><td>$4,367.9</td><td>$3,487.5</td></tr><tr><td>Long-term debt</td><td>6,758.3</td><td>6,145.7</td><td>4,260.2</td><td>4,843.4</td><td>6,016.0</td></tr><tr><td>Postretirement health care and pension benefits</td><td>1,025.5</td><td>1,019.2</td><td>1,117.1</td><td>1,188.5</td><td>795.6</td></tr><tr><td>Other liabilities</td><td>1,058.1</td><td>1,175.0</td><td>1,519.6</td><td>1,645.5</td><td>1,899.3</td></tr><tr><td>Total liabilities</td><td>12,273.7</td><td>11,359.3</td><td>11,661.3</td><td>12,045.3</td><td>12,198.4</td></tr><tr><td>Ecolab shareholders’ equity</td><td>7,618.5</td><td>6,901.1</td><td>6,909.9</td><td>7,315.9</td><td>7,344.3</td></tr><tr><td>Noncontrolling interest</td><td>70.2</td><td>69.8</td><td>70.5</td><td>66.2</td><td>65.1</td></tr><tr><td>Total equity</td><td>7,688.7</td><td>6,970.9</td><td>6,980.4</td><td>7,382.1</td><td>7,409.4</td></tr><tr><td>Total liabilities and equity</td><td>$19,962.4</td><td>$18,330.2</td><td>$18,641.7</td><td>$19,427.4</td><td>$19,607.8</td></tr><tr><td>SELECTED CASH FLOW INFORMATION</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Cash provided by operating activities</td><td>$2,091.3</td><td>$1,939.7</td><td>$1,999.8</td><td>$1,815.6</td><td>$1,559.8</td></tr><tr><td>Cash used for investing activities</td><td>-1,673.2</td><td>-829.5</td><td>-915.8</td><td>-848.3</td><td>-2,087.7</td></tr><tr><td>Cash used for financing activities</td><td>-522.7</td><td>-868.2</td><td>-1,150.9</td><td>-1,071.0</td><td>-292.6</td></tr><tr><td>Depreciation and amortization</td><td>893.3</td><td>850.7</td><td>859.5</td><td>872.0</td><td>816.2</td></tr><tr><td>Capital expenditures</td><td>789.6</td><td>707.4</td><td>771.0</td><td>748.7</td><td>625.1</td></tr><tr><td>Cash dividends declared per common share</td><td>1.520</td><td>1.420</td><td>1.340</td><td>1.155</td><td>0.965</td></tr><tr><td>SELECTED FINANCIAL MEASURES/OTHER</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total debt</td><td>$7,322.7</td><td>$6,687.0</td><td>$6,465.5</td><td>$6,548.2</td><td>$6,875.8</td></tr><tr><td>Total debt to capitalization</td><td>48.8%</td><td>49.0%</td><td>48.1%</td><td>47.0%</td><td>48.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Book value per common share</td><td>$ 26.33</td><td>$ 23.65</td><td>$ 23.35</td><td>$ 24.40</td><td>$ 24.39</td></tr><tr><td>Return on beginning equity</td><td>21.8%</td><td>17.9%</td><td>13.8%</td><td>16.5%</td><td>15.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Dividends per share/diluted earnings per common share</td><td>29.6%</td><td>34.3%</td><td>40.4%</td><td>29.4%</td><td>30.5%</td></tr><tr><td>Net interest coverage</td><td>7.9</td><td>7.2</td><td>6.4</td><td>7.6</td><td>5.9</td></tr><tr><td>Year end market capitalization</td><td>$38,821.3</td><td>$34,207.7</td><td>$33,852.7</td><td>$31,340.6</td><td>$31,399.4</td></tr><tr><td>Annual common stock price range</td><td>$137.96 to</td><td>$ 124.60 to</td><td>$ 122.48 to</td><td>$ 118.46 to</td><td>$ 108.34 to</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>$117.29</td><td>$98.62</td><td>$97.78</td><td>$97.65</td><td>$71.99</td></tr><tr><td>Number of employees</td><td>48,400</td><td>47,565</td><td>47,145</td><td>47,430</td><td>45,415</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Effect on U.S. Pension Plans</td></tr><tr><td>(millions)</td><td>Assumption Change</td><td>Increase in Recorded Obligation</td><td>Higher 2018 Expense</td></tr><tr><td>Discount rate</td><td>-0.25 pts</td><td>$77.2</td><td>$6.0</td></tr><tr><td>Expected return on assets</td><td>-0.25 pts</td><td>N/A</td><td>5.2</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Effect on U.S. Postretirement Health Care Benefits Plans</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Increase in</td><td>Higher</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>Assumption</td><td>Recorded</td><td>2018</td></tr><tr><td>(millions)</td><td>Change</td><td>Obligation</td><td>Expense</td></tr><tr><td>Discount rate</td><td>-0.25 pts</td><td>$5.2</td><td>$0.6</td></tr><tr><td>Expected return on assets</td><td>-0.25 pts</td><td>N/A</td><td>-</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td>(millions)</td><td>Global Industrial</td><td>Global Institutional</td><td>Global Energy</td><td>Other</td><td>Total</td></tr><tr><td>December 31, 2015</td><td>$2,560.8</td><td>$662.7</td><td>$3,151.5</td><td>$115.8</td><td>$6,490.8</td></tr><tr><td>Segment change (a)</td><td>62.7</td><td>-62.7</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>December 31, 2015 revised</td><td>$2,623.5</td><td>$600.0</td><td>$3,151.5</td><td>$115.8</td><td>$6,490.8</td></tr><tr><td>Current year business combinations (b)</td><td>-</td><td>3.1</td><td>0.6</td><td>-</td><td>3.7</td></tr><tr><td>Prior year business combinations (c)</td><td>3.5</td><td>-</td><td>0.1</td><td>-</td><td>3.6</td></tr><tr><td>Reclassifications (d)</td><td>3.5</td><td>-0.6</td><td>-2.9</td><td>-</td><td>-</td></tr><tr><td>Effect of foreign currency translation</td><td>-45.5</td><td>-11.8</td><td>-55.7</td><td>-2.1</td><td>-115.1</td></tr><tr><td>December 31, 2016</td><td>$2,585.0</td><td>$590.7</td><td>$3,093.6</td><td>$113.7</td><td>$6,383.0</td></tr><tr><td>Current year business combinations (b)</td><td>123.4</td><td>403.7</td><td>8.1</td><td>63.9</td><td>599.1</td></tr><tr><td>Prior year business combinations (c)</td><td>-0.2</td><td>-</td><td>0.3</td><td>-</td><td>0.1</td></tr><tr><td>Dispositions</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-</td><td>-42.6</td><td>-42.6</td></tr><tr><td>Effect of foreign currency translation</td><td>88.8</td><td>32.6</td><td>101.7</td><td>4.4</td><td>227.5</td></tr><tr><td>December 31, 2017</td><td>$2,797.0</td><td>$1,027.0</td><td>$3,203.7</td><td>$139.4</td><td>$7,167.1</td></tr></table>

Question: What is the growing rate of net sales in the years with the least Cost of sales (including special (gains) and charges (1))?
Answer: -0.02896