Form 10-K
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO

SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED

DECEMBER 31, 2010

 

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER

1-9608

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.

(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE    36-3514169
(State or other jurisdiction of    (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)    Identification No.)
Three Glenlake Parkway    30328
Atlanta, Georgia    (Zip Code)
(Address of principal executive offices)   

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (770) 418-7000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

 

TITLE OF EACH CLASS

Common Stock, $1 par value per share

    

NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE

ON WHICH REGISTERED

New York Stock Exchange

Chicago Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. Yes  ¨    No  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes  þ    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer þ

  

Accelerated Filer ¨

Non-Accelerated Filer ¨

  

Smaller Reporting Company ¨

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes  ¨    No  þ

There were 290.6 million shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding (net of treasury shares) as of January 31, 2011. The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock (based upon the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2010) beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $4.1 billion. For purposes of the foregoing calculation only, which is required by Form 10-K, the Registrant has included in the shares owned by affiliates those shares owned by directors and officers of the Registrant, and such inclusion shall not be construed as an admission that any such person is an affiliate for any purpose.

* * *

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 10, 2011.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I

     
  

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

     3   
  

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

     9   
  

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

     13   
  

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

     13   
  

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

     15   
  

ITEM 4. [RESERVED]

     15   
  

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM — EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

     15   

PART II

     
  

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

     17   
  

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     18   
  

ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     20   
  

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

     42   
  

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

     44   
  

ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

     86   
  

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

     86   
  

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

     86   

PART III

     
  

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

     87   
  

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     87   
  

ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

     87   
  

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

     87   
  

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

     87   

PART IV

     
  

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

     88   

SIGNATURES

     95   

Statement of Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges

  

Significant Subsidiaries

  

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  

302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer

  

302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

  

906 Certification of Chief Executive Officer

  

906 Certification of Chief Financial Officer

  

 

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PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

“Newell Rubbermaid” or the “Company” refers to Newell Rubbermaid Inc. alone or with its wholly owned subsidiaries, as the context requires. When this report uses the words “we” or “our,” it refers to the Company and its subsidiaries unless the context otherwise requires.

Website Access to Securities and Exchange Commission Reports

The Company’s Internet website can be found at www.newellrubbermaid.com. 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.

GENERAL

Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they work, live and play. The Company’s products are marketed under a strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid®, Graco®, Aprica®, Levolor®, Calphalon®, Goody®, Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Dymo®, Parker®, Waterman®, Irwin®, Lenox® and Technical Concepts™. The Company’s multi-product offering consists of well-known name-brand consumer and commercial products in three business segments: Home & Family; Office Products; and Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products.

Newell Rubbermaid’s vision is to become a global company of Brands That Matter™ and great people, known for best-in-class results. The Company is committed to building consumer-meaningful brands through understanding the needs of consumers and using those insights to create innovative, highly differentiated product solutions that offer performance and value. Over the past five years, the Company has been focused on transforming its business model and operations to align with its long-term strategy. The Company has largely completed the transformation and has transitioned from a manufacturer of products to a marketer of Brands That Matter to consumers, improved the product portfolio by investing in brands and products that respond to innovation and product differentiation while reducing exposures to commoditized product categories, and expanded geographically with a growing global footprint. With the transformation largely complete, the Company’s strategy is to leverage the portfolio for faster growth, continue building Brands That Matter to drive demand, and fuel growth through margin expansion and scale synergies. The Company’s strategy is designed to achieve simultaneous net sales growth, gross margin expansion and increased earnings per share.

Refer to the forward-looking statements section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for a discussion of the Company’s forward-looking statements included in this report.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Leverage the Portfolio for Faster Growth

The Company’s strategy is to leverage its brand and product portfolio for faster growth by targeting further investment in higher growth businesses and categories to accelerate geographic and category expansion. In 2010, the Company completed Project Acceleration through which the Company substantially exited commoditized businesses and product lines that the Company deemed as not responsive to innovation and where input costs were a significant portion of the overall product cost. As a result, the Company’s current portfolio of brands and products generally are more responsive to innovation and product differentiation, have strong margin and growth potential, and participate in global categories.

Each of the Company’s global business units (“GBUs”) supports one or more of the Company’s key brands worldwide, with a focus on developing and marketing differentiated products designed to meet consumers’ needs. The GBU structure gives the Company’s key businesses the ability to leverage research and development, branding, marketing and innovation on a global basis. The Company is able to maximize the benefits of its targeted investments in geographic and category expansion because the GBU structure allows the GBUs to take advantage of favorable customer and channel dynamics, optimize valued intellectual property and realize synergies with the Company’s core product categories and competencies.

 

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Build Brands that Matter to Drive Demand

The Company is committed to building consumer-meaningful brands by leveraging a consumer-driven innovation process, utilizing and further developing best-in-class marketing and branding capabilities across the organization, and investing in strategic brand-building activities to support long-term sales growth. As part of the consumer-driven innovation process, the Company invests in consumer insight programs to better understand its target consumers and their needs. The insights gained from this investment are used to develop focused brand strategies and to create products that deliver meaningful solutions.

The Company also continues to employ resources to further develop best-in-class branding and marketing capabilities across the organization. Each business unit is tasked with evaluating its brands against best-in-class metrics, using a common framework and methodology, and developing a comprehensive plan to achieve the targeted goals. The Company’s continued investment in strategic brand-building activities such as research and development, marketing, and advertising and promotion supports the consumer-driven innovation process, creates a more effective marketing organization and increases consumer awareness and demand for its products.

In 2010, the Company continued to support its brands and products with more than $125 million invested in product development, an increase of approximately 9% over 2009. This continued focus on consumer-driven innovation and product development resulted in the launch and support of several new products in 2010, including the following:

 

   

Rubbermaid Reveal™ Microfiber Spray Mop that helps consumers clean floors better, while reducing waste and saving money;

 

   

Goody’s Simple Styles™ collection of hair accessories that make it easy to achieve salon-quality hair styles with only a few simple steps;

 

   

Sharpie® Liquid Pencil with cutting-edge liquid graphite technology that writes smooth like a pen but erases like a pencil;

 

   

Expo Washable™ markers formulated to easily wash off of skin and most washable fabrics;

 

   

Lenox’s® Q88™ bimetal bandsaw blade with a design that maximizes blade life while delivering superior cutting performance; and

 

   

Irwin® Vise-Grip® Curved Jaw Locking Pliers that feature a unique self-energizing lower jaw that delivers three times more gripping power than traditional locking pliers.

Fuel Growth Through Margin Expansion and Scale

The Company’s objective is to achieve best cost and improve productivity through the adoption of best-in-class practices, including leveraging scale, continuing to optimize the supply chain to improve capacity utilization and to deliver productivity savings, reducing costs in nonmarket-facing activities, designing products to reduce input costs, and utilizing strategic sourcing partners when it is cost effective. Achieving best cost allows the Company to improve its competitive position, generate funds for increased investment in strategic brand-building initiatives, and preserve cash and liquidity.

In 2010, the Company completed the implementation of its Project Acceleration restructuring initiative, which is expected to result in the realization of annual savings in excess of $220 million by the end of 2011. Through Project Acceleration and other initiatives, the Company made significant progress in improving capacity utilization rates to deliver productivity savings and in increasing the use of strategic sourcing partners. Since the inception of Project Acceleration, the Company reduced its manufacturing footprint by more than 60%. Additionally, the Company restructured its supply chain to realize efficiencies in purchasing, sourcing, distribution and transportation, both domestically and internationally.

In June 2010, the Company announced a program to simplify and centralize its European business (the “European Transformation Plan”), which includes initiatives designed to transform the European organizational structure and processes to centralize certain operating activities, improve performance, leverage the benefits of scale and to contribute to a more efficient and cost-effective implementation of an enterprise resource planning program in Europe, all with the aim of increasing operating margins in the European region to at least ten percent. The European Transformation Plan is expected to result in aggregate restructuring and other plan-related costs of $110 to $115 million, to be substantially incurred by the end of 2011. The Company expects to realize annualized after-tax savings of $55 to $65 million upon completion of the implementation of the European Transformation Plan.

The Company continues to evaluate and optimize nonstrategic SG&A expenditures throughout the organization. By establishing regional shared service centers, the Company has started to realize savings due to reduced costs in nonmarket-facing functional capabilities. In addition, the Company has consolidated the leadership and strategic operations of five of the Company’s GBUs into

 

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the Company’s headquarters facilities and consolidated five additional GBUs into the Company’s other primary North American campuses to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and better leverage best practices.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company’s reportable segments reflect the Company’s focus on building large consumer brands, promoting organizational integration, achieving operating efficiencies in sourcing and distribution and leveraging its understanding of similar consumer segments and distribution channels. The Company’s business segments for 2010 were as follows:

 

Segment

  

Key Brands

  

Description of Products

Home & Family

  

Rubbermaid®, Graco®,

Aprica®, Levolor®,

Calphalon®, Goody®

  

Infant and juvenile products such as car seats, strollers, highchairs and playards; gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics; hair care accessories; cabinet hardware, drapery hardware and window treatments; and indoor/outdoor organization, food storage and home storage products

Office Products

  

Sharpie®, Paper Mate®,

Dymo®, Parker®,

Waterman®

  

Writing instruments, including markers, highlighters, pens, pencils and fine writing instruments; office technology solutions such as label makers and printers, interactive teaching solutions, card-scanning solutions and online postage; and art products

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

  

Lenox®, Irwin®,

Rubbermaid®

Commercial Products,

Technical Concepts™

  

Hand tools, power tool accessories, industrial bandsaw blades, cutting tools, propane torches and manual paint applicators; window hardware; cleaning and refuse products, hygiene systems, material handling solutions, medical and computer carts, and wall-mounted work stations

Home & Family

The Company’s Home & Family segment consists of five GBUs. Rubbermaid Consumer designs, manufactures, packages and distributes indoor/outdoor organization products and food and home storage products and primarily sells its products under the trademarks Rubbermaid®, Roughneck® and TakeAlongs®. Baby & Parenting designs, sources, packages and distributes infant and juvenile products such as swings, highchairs, car seats, strollers and playards and primarily sells its products under the trademarks Graco®, Teutonia® and Aprica®. Décor designs, manufactures or sources, packages and distributes window treatments, drapery hardware and cabinet hardware and primarily sells its products under the trademarks Levolor®, Kirsch® and Amerock®. Culinary Lifestyle designs, manufactures or sources, packages and distributes aluminum and stainless steel cookware, bakeware, cutlery, small kitchen electrics, and kitchen gadgets and utensils and primarily sells its products under the trademarks Calphalon®, Kitchen Essentials®, Cooking with Calphalon™, Calphalon®Unisonand Katana™. Beauty & Style designs, sources, packages and distributes hair care accessories and grooming products and markets its products primarily under the trademarks Goody®, Ace® and Solano®.

The Home & Family GBUs primarily market their products directly to mass merchants and specialty, grocery/drug and department stores.

Office Products

The Company’s Office Products segment consists of four GBUs. These businesses primarily design, manufacture or source, package and distribute writing instruments and office solutions, primarily for use in the business and home.

Markers, Highlighters, Art & Office Organization products include permanent/waterbase markers, dry erase markers, highlighters and art supplies and are primarily sold under the trademarks Sharpie®, Expo®, Sharpie® Accent®, Vis-à-Vis®, Eberhard Faber®, Berol® and Prismacolor®. Technology products include on-demand labeling products, online postage, card scanning solutions and interactive teaching solutions, and are primarily sold under the trademarks Dymo®, Endicia™, CardScan® and Mimio®. Everyday Writing products include ballpoint pens and inks, roller ball pens, mechanical pencils and correction fluids and are primarily sold under the trademarks Paper Mate®, Uni-Ball® (used under exclusive license from Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd. and its subsidiaries in North America), Sharpie®, Eberhard Faber®, Berol®, Reynolds® and Liquid Paper®. Fine Writing & Luxury Accessories products include fine writing instruments and luxury accessories and are primarily sold under the trademarks Parker®, Waterman® and Rotring®.

The Office Products GBUs primarily market their products directly to mass merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores, office superstores, office supply stores, contract stationers and other retailers.

 

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Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

The Company’s Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products segment consists of four GBUs. These businesses design, manufacture or source, package and distribute cleaning and refuse products, hygiene systems, hand tools and power tool accessories, industrial bandsaw blades, soldering tools and accessories, propane torches, manual paint applicator products, and window and door hardware.

Industrial Products & Services products include cutting and drilling accessories and industrial bandsaw blades sold under the Lenox® trademark. Rubbermaid Commercial Products primarily sells its cleaning and refuse products and hygiene systems under the trademarks Rubbermaid®, Brute® and Technical Concepts™. Construction Tools & Accessories products include hand tools and power tool accessories primarily sold under the trademarks Irwin®, Vise-Grip®, Marathon®, Quick-Grip®, Unibit® and Strait-Line®. Hardware products include paint applicator products, propane torches, soldering tools and accessories, and window and door hardware primarily sold under the trademarks Shur-Line®, BernzOmatic® and Bulldog®.

The Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products GBUs primarily market their products directly and through distributors to mass merchants, home centers, department/specialty stores, hardware and commercial products distributors, industrial/construction outlets, custom shops, select contract customers and other professional customers.

NET SALES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT

The following table sets forth the amounts and percentages of the Company’s net sales for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in millions, except percentages) (including sales of acquired businesses from the time of acquisition), for the Company’s three business segments.

 

     2010      % of
Total
    2009     

% of

Total

    2008     

% of  

Total  

 
        

Home & Family

     $   2,378.4         41.3   $   2,377.2         42.6     $   2,654.8         41.0%    

Office Products

     1,708.9         29.7        1,674.7         30.0        1,990.8         30.8         

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

     1,671.9         29.0        1,525.7         27.4        1,825.0         28.2         
        

Total Company

     $   5,759.2         100.0   $   5,577.6         100.0     $   6,470.6         100.0%   
        

Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries, which includes Sam’s Club, amounted to approximately 12% of consolidated net sales for each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 and 13% of consolidated net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008, substantially across all segments. For more detailed segment information, including operating income (loss) and identifiable assets by segment, refer to Footnote 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

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.

Customer Marketing and Service

The Company strives to develop long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with its customers and become their supplier and brand of choice. To achieve this goal, the Company has a value-added marketing program that offers a family of leading brand name consumer products, tailored sales programs, innovative merchandising support, in-store services and responsive top management.

The Company strives to enhance its relationships with customers through exceptional customer service. The Company’s ability to provide superior customer service is a result of its supply chain, information technology and marketing and merchandising programs that are designed to enhance the sales and profitability of its customers and provide consistent on-time delivery of its products.

A critical element of the Company’s customer service is consistent on-time delivery of products to its customers. Retailers are pursuing a number of strategies to deliver the highest-quality, best-cost products to their customers. Retailers frequently purchase on a “just-in-time” basis in order to reduce inventory carrying costs and increase returns on investment. As retailers shorten their lead times for orders, manufacturers and suppliers need to more closely anticipate consumer buying patterns. The Company supports its retail customers’ “just-in-time” inventory strategies through more responsive sourcing, manufacturing and distribution capabilities and electronic communications.

 

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Foreign Operations

Information regarding the Company’s 2010, 2009 and 2008 foreign operations and financial information by geographic area is included in Footnote 19 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.

The Company’s Office Products segment has operations in Venezuela, and the primary currency used by the Venezuelan operations to transact business is the Venezuelan Bolivar. Effective January 1, 2010, Venezuela’s economy was characterized as highly inflationary because its three-year cumulative inflation exceeded 100%. The Company began accounting for its Venezuelan operations using highly inflationary accounting in January 2010. Under highly inflationary accounting, the Company remeasures assets, liabilities, sales and expenses denominated in Bolivar Fuertes into U.S. Dollars using the applicable exchange rate, and the resulting translation adjustments are included in earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized $5.6 million of foreign exchange gains associated with its operations in Venezuela, and such amount is included in other (income) expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary had approximately $29.5 million of net monetary assets denominated in Bolivar Fuertes, and a 5% increase/(decrease) in the applicable exchange rate would decrease/(increase) the Company’s pretax income by $1.5 million.

During substantially all of 2009, the Company used the official rate of 2.15 to 1 U.S. Dollar to report the results of its Venezuelan operations, and during 2010, the Venezuelan operations’ results were reflected at the parallel exchange rate or the SITME rate (which is a regulated foreign currency exchange system that began in June 2010), both of which were less favorable than the official rate used for substantially all of 2009. As a result of the use of the less favorable rate in 2010, net sales and operating income declined approximately 1% and 3%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 due solely to the change in exchange rates used to translate the results of the Company’s Venezuelan operations. The change in the rate does not impact reported changes in core sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency.

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 and metals, including steel, stainless steel, zinc, aluminum and gold. The Company’s resin purchases are principally comprised of polyethylene and polypropylene in roughly equal quantities. Over the long-term, the Company has experienced inflation in raw material prices, and the Company expects continued inflation pressures in 2011. The Company has reduced the volume of its resin purchases through rationalizing and exiting product lines. On an annualized basis, commodities consumed as raw materials generally represent approximately 10% to 15% of annual cost of products sold, with no single type of commodity representing more than 10% of cost of products sold.

The Company is also placing increasing reliance on third-party manufacturers as a source for finished goods. In a limited number of cases, such manufacturers supply substantially all of the finished goods for a product line. In particular, the Home & Family segment’s Baby & Parenting GBU relies on a third-party manufacturer for substantially all of certain of its 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 and operating income 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. Historically, the Company has earned more than 60% of its annual operating income during the second and third quarters of the year. 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 has historically generated more than 65% of its operating cash flow in the second half of the year due to seasonal variations in operating results, the timing of annual performance-based compensation payments, 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 “Rubbermaid®,” “Graco®,” “Aprica®,” “Levolor®,” “Calphalon®,” “Goody®,” “Sharpie®,” “Paper Mate®,” “Dymo®,” “Parker®,” “Waterman®,” “Irwin®,” “Lenox®” and “Technical Concepts™.”

 

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Customers / Competition

The Company’s principal customers are large mass merchandisers, such as discount stores, home centers, warehouse clubs and office superstores, and commercial distributors. The rapid growth of these large mass merchandisers, together with changes in consumer shopping patterns, have contributed to a significant consolidation of the consumer products retail industry and dominant multi-category retailers that have strong negotiating power with suppliers. This environment limits the Company’s ability to recover cost increases through selling prices.

Current trends among retailers include fostering high levels of competition among suppliers, demanding innovative new products 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 the retailer to import generic products directly from foreign sources and to source and sell products, under their own private label brands, that compete with products of the Company. 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 pricing pressures and the need for strong end-user brands, the ongoing introduction of innovative new products and continuing improvements in category management and customer service. The Company competes with numerous manufacturers and distributors of consumer products, many of which are large and well- established.

The Company’s principal methods of meeting its competitive challenges are creating and maintaining consumer-meaningful brands and differentiated products; delivering superior customer service and consistent on-time delivery; outsourcing certain production to low-cost suppliers and lower-cost countries where appropriate; and experienced management.

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 retailer, including discount, drug, grocery and variety chains; warehouse clubs; department, hardware and specialty stores; home centers; office superstores; and contract stationers. The Company’s largest customer, Wal-Mart (which includes Sam’s Club), accounted for approximately 12% of net sales in 2010, across substantially all GBUs. The Company’s top ten customers in 2010 included (in alphabetical order): Bed Bath & Beyond, Lowe’s, Office Depot, OfficeMax, Staples, Target, The Home Depot, Toys ‘R’ Us, United Stationers 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 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated by reference herein.

Research and Development

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. The Company’s research and development costs are incurred to develop new, differentiated and innovative products to meet consumers’ needs.

Employees

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had approximately 19,400 employees worldwide, of whom approximately 2,400 are covered by collective bargaining agreements or are located in countries which have collective arrangements decreed by statute.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The factors that are discussed below, as well as the matters that are generally set forth in this report on Form 10-K and the documents incorporated by reference herein, could materially and adversely affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition.

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, Central and South 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 economic conditions in the U.S. and elsewhere, there has been considerable pressure on consumer demand, and the resulting impact on consumer spending has had and may continue to have a material adverse effect on demand for the Company’s products as well as its financial condition and results of operations. 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 the factors could adversely impact the Company’s business.

In recent years, the retail industry in the U.S. and, increasingly, elsewhere has been characterized by intense competition among retailers. Because such competition, particularly in weak retail economies, can cause retailers to struggle or fail, the Company must continuously monitor, and adapt to changes in, the profitability, creditworthiness and pricing policies of its customers. A failure by one of the Company’s large retail customers would adversely impact the Company’s sales and operating cash flows.

The Company is subject to intense competition in a marketplace dominated by large retailers.

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 and office superstores, and commercial distributors. The rapid growth of these large mass merchandisers, together with changes in consumer shopping patterns, have contributed to the formation of dominant multi-category retailers that have strong negotiating power with suppliers. Current trends among retailers include fostering high levels of competition among suppliers, demanding innovative new products and requiring suppliers to maintain or reduce product prices, and delivering products with shorter lead times. Other trends are for retailers to import products directly from foreign sources and to source and sell products, under their own private label brands, that 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 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 retailer customers, such as overall store and inventory reductions and retailer consolidation. The intense competition in the retail sector combined with the overall economic environment may result in a number of retailers experiencing financial difficulty or failing in the future. As a result of these factors, the Company may experience a loss of sales, reduced profitability and a limited ability to recover cost increases through price increases.

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 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 that create demand. The Company also faces the risk that its competitors will introduce innovative new products that compete with the Company’s products. The Company’s strategy includes investment in new product development and a focus on innovation. There are, nevertheless, numerous uncertainties inherent in successfully developing and commercializing innovative new products on a continuing basis, and new product launches may not deliver expected growth in sales or operating income.

If the Company does not continue to develop and maintain consumer-meaningful brands, its operating results may suffer.

The Company’s ability to compete successfully also depends increasingly on its ability to develop and maintain consumer-meaningful brands so that the Company’s retailer and other customers will need the Company’s products to meet consumer demand. Consumer-meaningful brands allow the Company to realize economies of scale in its operations. The development and maintenance of such brands requires significant investment in brand-building and marketing initiatives. While the Company plans to continue to increase

 

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its expenditures for advertising and other brand-building and marketing initiatives over the long term, the increased investment may not deliver the anticipated results.

Price increases in raw materials and sourced products could harm the Company’s financial results.

The Company purchases raw materials, including resin, principally polyethylene and polypropylene, corrugate, steel, gold, zinc, brass and aluminum, which are subject to price volatility and inflationary pressures. The Company attempts to reduce its exposure to increases in those costs through a variety of programs, including periodic purchases, future delivery purchases, long-term contracts and sales price adjustments. Where practical, the Company uses derivatives as part of its risk management process. Also, as part of its strategy to achieve best total cost, the Company increasingly 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. Raw material and sourced product price increases may more than offset the Company’s productivity gains and price increases and could materially impact the Company’s financial results.

The Company’s plans to continue to improve productivity and streamline operations may not be successful, which would 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 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. The Company completed Project Acceleration in 2010, and the primary objective of Project Acceleration was to reduce manufacturing overhead and streamline the supply chain to achieve best cost. In addition, the Company continuously explores ways and initiates projects, such as the European Transformation Plan, to best leverage its functional capabilities such as Human Resources, Information Technology, Customer Service, Supply Chain Management and Finance in order to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The Company runs the risk that the European Transformation Plan and other corporate initiatives aimed at streamlining operations and processes, cost reduction and improving overall financial results may not be completed substantially as planned or may be more costly to implement than expected. In addition, these initiatives as well as Project Acceleration may not have the positive effects anticipated. It is also possible that other major productivity and streamlining programs may be required in the future. In addition, disruptions in the Company’s ability to supply products on a timely basis, which may be incidental to any problems in the Company’s implementation of SAP or other programs, could adversely affect the Company’s future results.

If the Company is unable to make strategic acquisitions and to integrate its acquired businesses, the Company’s future growth could be adversely impacted.

Although the Company has, in recent years, increasingly emphasized internal growth rather than growth by acquisition, the Company’s ability to continue to make strategic acquisitions and to integrate the acquired businesses successfully, including obtaining anticipated cost savings and operating income improvements within a reasonable period of time, remain important factors in the Company’s future growth. 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.

Circumstances associated with divestitures could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations and financial condition.

The Company continues to evaluate the performance and strategic fit of its businesses and products and may decide to sell or discontinue a business based on such an evaluation. A decision to divest or discontinue a business 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 prospective buyers may have difficulty obtaining financing) or executing alternative exit strategies at acceptable prices and terms and in a timely manner. Divestitures and business discontinuations could involve additional risks, including the following:

•  difficulties in the separation of operations, services, products and personnel;

•  the diversion of management’s attention from other business concerns;

•  the retention of certain current or future liabilities in order to induce a buyer to complete a divestiture;

•  the disruption of the Company’s business; and

•  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.

 

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The Company is subject to risks related to its international operations and sourcing model.

International operations, especially in Europe, but also in Asia, Central and South America and Canada, are important to the Company’s business, and the Company’s strategy emphasizes international growth. In addition, as the Company increasingly sources products in low-cost countries, particularly in Asia, it is exposed to additional risks and uncertainties. Foreign operations can be affected by factors such as currency devaluation; other currency fluctuations; tariffs; nationalization; exchange controls; labor inflation; interest rates; limitations on foreign investment in local business; and other political, economic and regulatory risks and difficulties. The Company also faces risks due to the transportation and logistical complexities inherent in increased reliance on foreign sourcing.

Venezuela was designated as a highly inflationary economy effective January 1, 2010, and, accordingly, gains and losses resulting from the translation of the net assets (excluding non-monetary assets) of subsidiaries operating in Venezuela into U.S. Dollars are recorded in earnings. See Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

The inability to obtain raw materials and finished goods in a timely manner from suppliers would adversely affect the Company’s ability to manufacture and market its products.

The Company purchases raw materials to be used in manufacturing its products. In addition, the Company is placing increasing reliance on third-party manufacturers as a source for finished goods. The Company typically does not enter into long-term contracts with its suppliers or sourcing partners. Most raw materials and sourced goods are obtained on a “purchase order” basis; however, in limited cases where the Company has supply contracts with fixed prices, the Company may be required to purchase raw materials at above-market prices, which could adversely impact gross margins. 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. Financial, operating or other difficulties encountered by the Company’s suppliers and/or sourcing partners or changes in the Company’s relationships with them could result in manufacturing or sourcing interruptions, delays and inefficiencies, and prevent the Company from manufacturing or obtaining the finished goods necessary to meet customer demand.

Complications in connection with the Company’s current information system initiative may adversely impact its results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

The Company is in the process of replacing various business information systems worldwide with an enterprise resource planning system from SAP. To date, the North American operations of 12 of the Company’s 13 GBUs have successfully gone live with their SAP implementation efforts. These go-lives are the first major milestones in a multi-year implementation that will occur in several phases, primarily based on geographic region and segment. This activity involves the migration of multiple legacy systems and users to a common SAP information platform. Throughout this process, the Company is changing the way it conducts business and employees’ roles in processing and utilizing information. In addition, this conversion will impact certain interfaces with the Company’s customers and suppliers, resulting in changes to the manner in which the Company takes orders, procures materials, schedules production, remits billings, makes payments and performs other business functions. Based upon the complexity of this initiative, there is risk that the Company will be unable to complete the implementation in accordance with its timeline and will incur additional costs. The implementation could result in operating inefficiencies, and the implementation could impact the Company’s ability to perform necessary business transactions. All of these risks could adversely impact the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.

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, including patent infringement litigation involving Endicia, 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 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 matters without significant liability could require the Company to take significant reserves in excess of amounts accrued to date or pay significant fines during a reporting

 

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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 or incur fines or penalties for noncompliance, any of which could adversely affect the Company’s results of operations. Lastly, as a U.S.-based multi-national 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., provided those earnings are indefinitely reinvested outside the U.S. If these or other tax regulations should change, the Company’s financial results could be impacted.

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 is 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 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.

Actions by the Company’s counterparty to the accelerated stock buyback may affect the market for the Company’s common stock.

In connection with the Company’s accelerated stock buyback, the Company expects that its counterparty will purchase shares (or otherwise acquire long positions in shares ) of Company common stock in the open market until it has acquired (or otherwise has long positions in) the number of shares the Company will receive under the accelerated stock buyback contract. We expect that these acquisitions (and other transactions) will include covering purchases to close out stock borrow positions taken on by the counterparty to make its initial deliveries of shares to the Company. In addition, we expect that the counterparty may be purchasing or selling, or both purchasing and selling (and possibly taking on other long and/or short positions in Company common stock), in other hedging transactions related to the accelerated stock buyback. All of these market transactions in the Company’s shares (or in derivative or other transactions related to Company shares) would be for the counterparty’s own account. Although the magnitude and effect of such activities on the market price of the Company’s common stock cannot be determined at this time, such activities may increase, or prevent a decrease in, the market price of the common stock.

Product liability claims or regulatory actions could adversely affect the Company’s financial results or harm its reputation or the value of its end-user brands.

Claims for losses or injuries purportedly caused by some of the Company’s products arise in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. In addition to the risk of substantial monetary judgments, 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. The Company could also be required to recall possibly defective products, which could result in adverse publicity and significant expenses. Although the Company maintains product liability insurance coverage, potential product liability claims are subject to a self-insured retention or could be excluded under the terms of the policy.

If the Company is unable to access the capital markets to refinance its maturing short-term debt, its borrowing costs could increase.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had $305.0 million of debt that it will be required to refinance or repay within the next 12 months. It is possible that the Company may seek to address its short-term obligations through the capital markets or other arrangements. However, access to the capital markets cannot be assured, and although the Company believes that alternative arrangements will be available to refinance these obligations, such arrangements could result in an increase in the Company’s borrowing costs.

A reduction in the Company’s credit ratings could materially and adversely affect its business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Company’s current senior debt credit ratings from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings are Baa3, BBB- and BBB, respectively. Its current short-term debt credit ratings from Moody’s Investors Service, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings are P-3, A-3 and F-2, respectively. Standard & Poor’s has a positive outlook on its rating while Moody’s and Fitch have a stable outlook on their ratings. 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 or Standard & Poor’s, which would reduce the Company’s senior debt below investment grade, could increase the Company’s borrowing costs, which would adversely affect the Company’s financial results. The Company would likely be required to pay a higher interest rate in future

 

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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 further 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 other 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, or expected health care costs, 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

Not applicable.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The following table shows the location and general character of the principal operating facilities owned or leased by the Company. The properties are listed within their designated business segment: Home & Family; Office Products; and Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products. These are the primary manufacturing locations, administrative offices and distribution warehouses of the Company. The Company’s headquarters are in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Company also maintains sales offices throughout the U.S. and the world. Most of the Company’s idle facilities, which are excluded from the following list, are subleased, pending lease expiration, or are for sale. The Company’s properties currently in use are generally in good condition, well-maintained, and are suitable and adequate to carry on the Company’s business.

 

BUSINESS SEGMENT

       LOCATION       

CITY

   OWNED
OR
LEASED
   GENERAL CHARACTER

HOME & FAMILY

           
   OH    Perrysburg    O    Cookware
   OH    Toledo    L    Cookware
   PA    Exton    L    Infant Products
   Japan    Nara    O    Infant Products
   Germany    Hiddenhausen    O    Infant Products
   Poland    Wloclawek    L    Infant Products
   China    Zhongshan    L    Infant Products
   OH    Mogadore    O    Home Products
   KS    Winfield    L/O    Home Products
   OH    Wooster    L    Home Products
   Canada    Calgary    L    Home Products
   TX    Greenville    L/O    Home Products
   MO    Jackson    O    Home Storage Systems
   Mexico    Agua Prieta    L    Window Treatments
   NC    High Point    L    Window Treatments
   UT    Ogden    L    Window Treatments
   UT    Salt Lake City    L    Window Treatments
   IL    Freeport    L    Window Treatments
   Canada    Etobicoke    L    Window Furnishings

 

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BUSINESS SEGMENT

       LOCATION       

CITY

   OWNED
OR
LEASED
   GENERAL CHARACTER
   Canada    Pickering    L    Beauty & Style

OFFICE PRODUCTS

           
   IL    Oakbrook    L    Writing Instruments
   TN    Shelbyville    O    Writing Instruments
   TN    Maryville    O    Writing Instruments
   TN    Manchester    O    Writing Instruments
   Canada    Oakville    L    Writing Instruments
   Thailand    Bangkok    O    Writing Instruments
   India    Chennai    L    Writing Instruments
   China    Shanghai    L    Writing Instruments
   Colombia    Bogota    O    Writing Instruments
   Germany    Hamburg    O    Writing Instruments
   Mexico    Tlalnepantla    L    Writing Instruments
   Mexico    Mexicali    L    Writing Instruments
   Australia    Melbourne    L    Writing Instruments
   France    Nantes    O    Writing Instruments
   Venezuela    Maracay    O    Writing Instruments
   Belgium    Sint Niklaas    O    Technology
   CT    Norwalk    L    Technology
   MA    Cambridge    L    Technology
   CA    Palo Alto    L    Technology

TOOLS, HARDWARE & COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS

           
   MA    East Longmeadow    O    Tools
   China    Shanghai    L    Tools
   China    Shenzhen    L    Tools
   ME    Gorham    O    Tools
   Australia    Lyndhurst    L    Tools
   Brazil    Sao Paulo    L    Tools
   Brazil    Carlos Barbosa    O    Tools
   Germany    Hallbergmoos    L    Tools
   WI    Saint Francis    O    Hardware
   NY    Medina    L/O    Hardware
   NC    Winston-Salem    L/O    Hardware
   IN    Lowell    O    Hardware
   Mexico    Monterrey    L    Hardware
   TN    Cleveland    O    Commercial Products
   VA    Winchester    O    Commercial Products
   WV    Martinsburg    L    Commercial Products
   PA    Pottsville    L    Commercial Products
   Brazil    Rio Grande Do Sul    L    Commercial Products
   Brazil    Cachoeirinha    O    Commercial Products
   Netherlands    Bentfield    O    Commercial Products

CORPORATE

           
   GA    Atlanta    L    Office
   Canada    Oakville    L    Office
   Switzerland    Geneva    L    Office
   France    Paris    L    Office
   China    Hong Kong    L    Office
   Australia    Dandenong    L    Office
   Italy    Milan    L    Office

 

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BUSINESS SEGMENT

       LOCATION       

CITY

   OWNED
OR
LEASED
   GENERAL CHARACTER

SHARED FACILITIES

           
   CA    Hesperia    L    Shared Services
   CA    Victorville    L    Shared Services
   GA    Union City    L    Shared Services
   IL    Freeport    L/O    Shared Services
   NC    Huntersville    L    Shared Services
   UK    Lichfield    L    Shared Services
   Netherlands    Goirle    O    Shared Services
   AR    Bentonville    L    Shared Services
   France    Malissard    L/O    Shared Services

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Information regarding legal proceedings is included in Footnote 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements and is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 4. [RESERVED]

SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM - EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

 

Name

 

Age

  

Present Position with the Company

    

Mark D. Ketchum

 

61

  

President and Chief Executive Officer

  

William A. Burke

 

50

  

President, Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

  

Jay Gould

 

51

  

President, Home & Family

  

G. Penny McIntyre

 

49

  

President, Office Products

  

Juan R. Figuereo

 

55

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

  

James M. Sweet

 

58

  

Executive Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Communications (Chief Human Resources Officer)

  

Gordon Steele

 

59

  

Senior Vice President, Program Management Office and Chief Information Officer

  
John K. Stipancich  

42

  

Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

  

Theodore W. Woehrle

 

49

  

Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer

  

Hartley D. Blaha

 

45

  

President, Corporate Development

  

Paul G. Boitmann

 

49

  

President, Global Sales Operations

  

J. Eduardo Senf

 

52

  

President, Newell Rubbermaid International

  

Mark D. Ketchum has been President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since October 2005. Mr. Ketchum joined the Company’s Board of Directors in November 2004 and served as a member of the Audit Committee prior to assuming his current role. Prior thereto, he was President of the Global Baby & Family Care business of Procter & Gamble from 1999 through November 2004. From 1971 to 1984, he held a variety of operations positions with Procter & Gamble’s paper division. From 1984 to 1999, he transitioned into brand management and general management roles, culminating as President of Global Baby & Family Care.

William A. Burke has been President, Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products since January 2009 and was President, Tools and Hardware from December 2007 to January 2009. Prior thereto, he was President, North American Tools from 2004 through 2006. He served as President of the Company’s Lenox division from 2003 through 2004. From 1992 through 2002, he served in a variety of positions with The Black and Decker Corporation (a manufacturer and marketer of power tools and accessories), culminating as Vice President and General Manager of Product Service.

Jay Gould has been President, Home & Family since December 2007. Prior thereto, he served as President of Graco Children’s Products from May 2006 through December 2007. From 2003 through 2006, he served as President of Pepperidge Farm, Inc. (a manufacturer of food products), and from 2002 through 2003 he was Chief Marketing Officer of Pepperidge Farm. He held a variety of executive positions with The Coca-Cola Company from 1995 through 2002, including Vice President, Portfolio Development and Innovation from 2000 through 2002.

G. Penny McIntyre has been President, Office Products since June 2009. From 1998 through 2009, she served in a variety of managerial positions with The Coca-Cola Company, including Senior Vice President & General Manager, Water, Tea and Coffee,

 

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Coca Cola, North America from 2007 to 2009 and Senior Vice President Noncarbonated and New Beverages Business Unit from 2005 to 2007. Prior thereto, from 1982 to 1998 she held several marketing and branding positions with S.C. Johnson Wax (a manufacturer and marketer of consumer products).

Juan R. Figuereo has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since December 2009. Prior thereto, from 2007 to September 2009, he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Cott Corporation, Inc. (a provider of retailer branded soft drinks). From 2003 through 2007, he served as Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions of Wal-Mart International. Prior thereto, from 1988 through 2003 he held a variety of key international positions with PepsiCo, including Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Pepsi-Cola, Latin America, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Frito Lay Southern Europe and Vice President and Managing Director of Frito Lay Dominicana.

James M. Sweet has been Executive Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Communications since May 2007. Prior thereto, he served as the Company’s Chief Human Resources Officer from May 2004 through May 2007. He was Group Vice President, Human Resources for the Sharpie/Calphalon Group from January 2004 to April 2004. From 2001 to 2004, he was President of Capital H, Inc., a human resource services company that Mr. Sweet co-founded. From 1999 to 2001, he was Vice President of Human Resources for the Industrial Automation Systems and Rexnord divisions of Invensys PLC (an industrial manufacturing company). Prior thereto, he held executive human resource positions at Kohler Co., Keystone International and Brady Corp.

Gordon Steele has been Senior Vice President, Program Management Office and Chief Information Officer since August 2007. Prior thereto, he served as Vice President, Chief Information Officer from August 2005 through August 2007. From 2001 until 2005, he served as Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Global Information Technology at Nike, Inc. (a global marketer of athletic apparel and equipment). Prior to becoming the Chief Information Officer at Nike, he spent four years as the Senior Director responsible for the Nike Supply Chain project, which involved the complete replacement of all business application systems and included the global rollout of various planning and resource systems. From 1989 to 1997, he served as Chief Information Officer and in other leadership capacities with Mentor Graphics Corporation (a provider of electronic software and hardware products and consulting services).

John K. Stipancich has been Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary since January 2010. From November 2004 through December 2009 he served as Vice President and General Counsel to several of the Company’s businesses.

Theodore W. Woehrle has been Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer of the Company since March 2010. From June 2007 to March 2010, he was Senior Vice President, Marketing and Brand Management. Prior thereto, he held a variety of executive positions with Procter & Gamble from 1983 to 2007, culminating as Vice President Marketing, North America.

Hartley D. Blaha has been President, Corporate Development since February 2005. Prior thereto, he was Vice President, Corporate Development from November 2003 to February 2005. Prior thereto, from 1987 to 2003 he held a variety of positions within the Investment Banking Division of Lehman Brothers Inc. (a global investment bank), culminating as Managing Director, Mergers and Acquisitions.

Paul G. Boitmann has been President, Global Sales Operations since February 2007. Mr. Boitmann joined the Company in 2001 as President of its Home Depot Division, serving in that role until January 2005. From January 2005 to February 2007, he was President, Rubbermaid/Irwin North America Sales Operations.

J. Eduardo Senf has been President, Newell Rubbermaid International since January 2010. Prior thereto, he served as President, Latin America from January 2008 through December 2009. From November 2004 through December 2007, he served as President, Latin America for the Company’s Rubbermaid/Irwin Group. Prior thereto, he was President, South America for Mars Incorporated (a food products company) from 1996 through 2003.

 

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PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York and Chicago Stock Exchanges (symbol: NWL). As of January 31, 2011, there were 14,218 stockholders of record. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices of the common stock on the New York Stock Exchange Composite Tape for the calendar periods indicated:

 

     2010      2009  
        
Quarters    High      Low      High      Low  
        

First

   $ 15.88       $ 13.11       $ 10.95       $ 4.51   

Second

     17.96         14.55         12.15         6.22   

Third

     18.17         14.14         16.10         9.79   

Fourth

     18.48         16.71         15.73         13.66   

The Company has paid regular cash dividends on its common stock since 1947. The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for the year ended December 31, 2010. For the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.105 per share in the first quarter and $0.05 per share in each of the second, third and fourth quarters. The payment of dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock remains at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s financial condition, earnings, legal requirements and other factors the Board of Directors deems relevant.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The following table provides information about the Company’s purchases of equity securities during the quarter ended December 31, 2010.

 

Period   

    Total Number of    

    Shares    

    Purchased(2)    

  

   Average    

   Price Paid    

   per Share   

  

  Total Number of  

  Shares Purchased as  

  Part of Publicly  

  Announced Plans or  

  Programs(1)  

  

  Approximate Dollar Value of  

  Shares that May Yet Be  

  Purchased Under the Plans  

  or Programs  

 

10/1/10-10/31/10      

  

 

  

 

  

 

   (1)

 

 

11/1/10-11/30/10      

   8,016

 

   $17.46

 

  

 

   (1)

 

 

12/1/10-12/31/10      

   51,641

 

   $17.51

 

  

 

   (1)

 

 

Total

   59,657

 

   $17.50

 

  

 

   (1)

 

 

  (1)

On August 2, 2010, the Company entered into an accelerated stock buyback program (the “ASB”) with Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”). Under the ASB, on August 10, 2010, the Company paid Goldman Sachs an initial purchase price of $500.0 million, and Goldman Sachs delivered to the Company 25,806,452 shares of common stock, representing approximately 80% of the shares that would be purchased under the ASB based on an initial per share amount of $15.50. Goldman Sachs delivered the initial amount of shares on August 10, 2010. The number of shares that the Company ultimately purchases under the ASB will be determined based on the average of the daily volume-weighted average share prices of the common stock over the course of a calculation period and is subject to certain adjustments. Upon settlement following the end of the calculation period, Goldman Sachs will deliver additional shares to the Company so that the aggregate value of the shares initially delivered plus such additional shares, based on the final price, is $500.0 million. Alternatively, if the value of the shares initially delivered, based on the final price, exceeds $500.0 million, the Company will deliver cash or shares of common stock (at the Company’s election) to Goldman Sachs for the excess. The calculation period is scheduled to run from August 11, 2010 until March 21, 2011 (subject to suspension).

 

  (2)

All shares purchased during the three months ended December 31, 2010 were acquired by the Company to satisfy employees’ tax withholding and payment obligations in connection with the vesting of awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units, which are repurchased by the Company based on their fair market value on the vesting date.

 

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The following is a summary of certain consolidated financial information relating to the Company as of and for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except per share data). The summary has been derived in part from, and should be read in conjunction with, the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company included elsewhere in this report and the schedules thereto.

 

         2010(1)     2009(1)        2008(1)     2007     2006  
        

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS DATA

  

Net sales

     $   5,759.2      $ 5,577.6       $ 6,470.6      $ 6,407.3      $ 6,201.0      

Cost of products sold

     3,588.4        3,528.1         4,347.4        4,150.1        4,131.0      
        

Gross margin

     2,170.8        2,049.5         2,123.2        2,257.2        2,070.0      

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,463.4        1,374.6         1,502.7        1,430.9        1,347.0      

Impairment charges

     —          —           299.4        —          —      

Restructuring costs (2)

     77.5        100.0         120.3        86.0        66.4      
        

Operating income

     629.9        574.9         200.8        740.3        656.6      

Nonoperating expenses:

           

Interest expense, net

     118.4        140.0         137.9        104.1        132.0      

Losses related to extinguishments of debt

     218.6        4.7         52.2        —          —      

Other (income) expense, net

     (7.4     2.0         6.9        4.2        6.1      
        

Net nonoperating expenses

     329.6        146.7         197.0        108.3        138.1      
        

Income before income taxes

     300.3        428.2         3.8        632.0        518.5      

Income taxes

     7.5        142.7         53.6        149.7        44.2      
        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     292.8        285.5         (49.8     482.3        474.3      

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax (3)

     —          —           (0.5     (12.1     (85.7)     
        

Net income (loss)

     292.8        285.5         (50.3     470.2        388.6      

Net income noncontrolling interests

     —          —           2.0        3.1        3.6      
        

Net income (loss) controlling interests

     $ 292.8      $ 285.5       $ (52.3   $ 467.1      $ 385.0      
        

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     282.4        280.8         279.9        278.6        276.7      

Diluted

     305.4        294.4         279.9        287.6        276.8      

Earnings (loss) per share:

           

Basic:

           

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     $ 1.04      $ 1.02       $ (0.18   $ 1.72      $ 1.70      

Loss from discontinued operations

     —          —           —          (0.04     (0.31)     

Net income (loss) controlling interests

     $ 1.04      $ 1.02       $ (0.18   $ 1.68      $ 1.39      

Diluted:

           

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     $ 0.96      $ 0.97       $ (0.18   $ 1.72      $ 1.70      

Loss from discontinued operations

     —          —           —          (0.04     (0.31)     

Net income (loss) controlling interests

     $ 0.96      $ 0.97       $ (0.18   $ 1.67      $ 1.39      

Dividends

     $ 0.20      $ 0.26       $ 0.84      $ 0.84      $ 0.84      

BALANCE SHEET DATA

           

Inventories, net

     $ 701.6      $ 688.2       $ 912.1      $ 940.4      $ 850.6      

Working capital (4)

     466.1        422.6         159.7        87.9        580.3      

Total assets

     6,405.3        6,423.9         6,792.5        6,682.9        6,310.5      

Short-term debt, including current portion of long-term debt

     305.0        493.5         761.0        987.5        277.5      

Long-term debt, net of current portion

     2,063.9        2,015.3         2,118.3        1,197.4        1,972.3      

Total stockholders’ equity

     $ 1,905.5      $ 1,782.2       $ 1,588.6      $ 2,222.1      $ 1,867.6      

 

(1)

Supplemental data regarding 2010, 2009 and 2008 is provided in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

(2)

Restructuring costs include asset impairment charges, employee severance and termination benefits, employee relocation costs, and costs associated with exited contractual commitments and other restructuring costs.

 

(3)

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, attributable to noncontrolling interests was not material.

 

(4)

Working capital is defined as Current Assets less Current Liabilities.

 

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Acquisitions of Businesses

Information regarding significant businesses acquired in 2007 and 2008 is included in Footnote 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. No significant acquisitions occurred during 2006, 2009 or 2010.

Quarterly Summaries

Summarized quarterly data for the last two years is as follows (in millions, except per share data) (unaudited):

 

Calendar Year    1st      2nd      3rd      4th      Year  
        

2010

              

Net sales

     $ 1,306.4       $ 1,496.2       $ 1,487.3       $ 1,469.3       $ 5,759.2     

Gross margin

     471.7         587.3         567.1         544.7         2,170.8     

Net income

     $ 58.4       $ 130.4       $ 28.3       $ 75.7       $ 292.8     

Earnings per share:

              

Basic

     $ 0.21       $ 0.46       $ 0.10       $ 0.26       $ 1.04     

Diluted

     $ 0.19       $ 0.41       $ 0.09       $ 0.25       $ 0.96     

2009

              

Net sales

     $ 1,203.9       $ 1,504.3       $ 1,449.0       $ 1,420.4       $ 5,577.6     

Gross margin

     422.8         558.3         542.6         525.8         2,049.5     

Net income

     $ 33.7       $ 105.7       $ 85.5       $ 60.6       $ 285.5     

Earnings per share:

              

Basic

     $ 0.12       $ 0.38       $ 0.30       $ 0.22       $ 1.02     

Diluted

     $ 0.12       $ 0.37       $ 0.28       $ 0.20       $ 0.97     

 

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis provides information which management believes is relevant to an assessment and understanding of the Company’s consolidated results of operations and financial condition. The discussion should be read in conjunction with the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto.

Business Overview

Newell Rubbermaid is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they work, live and play. The Company’s products are marketed under a strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid®, Graco®, Aprica®, Levolor®, Calphalon®, Goody®, Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Dymo®, Parker®, Waterman®, Irwin®, Lenox® and Technical Concepts™. The Company’s multi-product offering consists of well-known name-brand consumer and commercial products in three business segments: Home & Family; Office Products; and Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products.

Business Strategy

Newell Rubbermaid’s vision is to become a global company of Brands That Matter™ and great people, known for best-in-class results. The Company is committed to building consumer-meaningful brands through understanding the needs of consumers and using those insights to create innovative, highly differentiated product solutions that offer performance and value. The Company’s strategy is to leverage the portfolio for faster growth, build Brands That Matter™ to drive demand, and fuel growth through margin expansion and scale synergies.

 

   

Leveraging the portfolio includes accelerating global expansion, targeting investment in higher growth businesses and categories, and acquiring businesses that facilitate geographic and category expansion, thus enhancing the potential for growth and improved profitability.

 

   

Building Brands™ That Matter to drive demand involves continued focus on consumer-driven innovation, developing best-in-class marketing and branding capabilities across the organization, and investing in strategic brand-building activities, including investments in research and development to better understand target consumers and their needs.

 

   

Fueling growth through margin expansion and scale synergies entails continued focus on achieving best cost and improving productivity through the adoption of best-in-class practices, including leveraging scale, optimizing the supply chain to improve capacity utilization and to deliver productivity savings, reducing costs in nonmarket-facing activities, designing products to optimize input costs and utilizing strategic sourcing partners when it is cost effective. Achieving best cost allows the Company to improve its competitive position, generate funds for increased investment in strategic brand-building initiatives and preserve cash and liquidity.

The Company’s core organizing concept is the global business unit (“GBU”). The Company is organized into 13 GBUs, and each GBU supports one or more of the Company’s key brands worldwide, with a focus on developing and marketing differentiated products designed to meet consumers’ needs. The GBU structure positions the business units to leverage research and development, branding, marketing and innovation on a global basis and facilitates the Company’s objective of optimizing working capital and shared resources. The Company’s 13 GBUs are aggregated into three operating segments, which are as follows:

 

Segment

  

GBU

  

Key Brands

  

Description of Primary Products

Home & Family

  

Rubbermaid Consumer

Baby & Parenting

  

Rubbermaid® Graco®, Aprica®

  

Indoor/outdoor organization, food storage, and home storage products Infant and juvenile products such as car seats, strollers, highchairs, and playards

  

Décor

  

Levolor®, Kirsch®, Amerock®

  

Drapery hardware, window treatments and cabinet hardware

  

Culinary Lifestyle
Beauty & Style

  

Calphalon® Goody®

  

Gourmet cookware, bakeware, cutlery and small kitchen electrics Hair care accessories

Office Products

  

Markers, Highlighters,

Art & Office

Organization

  

Sharpie®,

Expo®

  

Writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, and art products

  

Technology

  

Dymo®,

Mimio®

  

Office technology solutions such as label makers and printers, interactive teaching solutions and on-line postage

  

Everyday Writing
Fine Writing & Luxury
Accessories

  

Paper Mate®
Parker®, Waterman®

  

Writing instruments, including pens and pencils Fine writing instruments and leather goods

 

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Segment

  

GBU

  

Key Brands

  

Description of Primary Products

Tools, Hardware &

Commercial Products

  

Industrial Products &

Services Rubbermaid
Commercial Products

  

Lenox® Rubbermaid® Commercial Products, Technical Concepts™

  

Industrial bandsaw blades, power tool accessories and cutting tools for pipes and HVAC systems

Cleaning and refuse products, hygiene systems, material handling solutions and medical and computer carts and wall mounted work stations

  

Construction Tools &

Accessories Hardware

  

Irwin® Shur-line®, Bulldog®, BernzOmatic®

  

Hand tools and power tool accessories Manual paint applicators, window hardware, convenience hardware and propane torches

Market and Performance Overview

The Company operates in the consumer and commercial products markets, which are generally impacted by overall economic conditions in the regions in which the Company operates. The Company’s results in 2010 improved compared to 2009 due to an increase in net sales and the expansion of gross margins, despite continuing challenging macroeconomic conditions.

The Company’s results for 2010 were impacted by the following factors:

 

   

Improvement in economic conditions and increased product penetration internationally, particularly in emerging markets, which contributed to a year-over-year net sales increase of 7.9% in the Company’s international businesses, excluding the impact of currency.

 

   

Productivity gains and favorable product mix, which more than offset the adverse impact of input cost inflation, resulting in a 100-basis-point expansion in gross margins.

 

   

Ongoing improvements in the cost structure of the business, including the completion of Projection Acceleration, the Company’s multi-year restructuring plan designed to achieve best total cost, and reductions in structural selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) costs resulting from streamlining SG&A activities.

 

   

Selective spend for strategic SG&A activities to drive sales, enhance the new product pipeline and develop growth platforms. During 2010, the Company’s selective spend for strategic brand building and consumer demand creation activities included spend for the following:

 

   

Rubbermaid Reveal™ Microfiber Spray Mop that helps consumers clean floors better, while reducing waste and saving money;

 

   

Goody’s Simple Styles™ collection of hair accessories that make it easy to achieve salon-quality hair styles with only a few simple steps;

 

   

MimioClassroom™ system, an integrated suite of interactive teaching tools and services for educators;

 

   

Sharpie® Liquid Pencil with cutting-edge liquid graphite technology that writes smooth like a pen but erases like a pencil;

 

   

Expo Washable™ markers formulated to easily wash off of skin and most washable fabrics;

 

   

Advertising for Paper Mate® EarthWrite®, Design® Metallic and Gel pen lines;

 

   

Dedicated Parker “Shop-in-Shops” in key retail locations, primarily located in China, to enhance in-store merchandising;

 

   

Rubbermaid Commercial Products’ new line of ergonomically designed material handling carts and trucks, which includes a broad range of solutions that provide enhanced maneuverability and durability;

 

   

Irwin® Vise-Grip® Curved Jaw Locking Pliers feature a unique self-energizing lower jaw that delivers three times more gripping power than traditional locking pliers; and

 

   

Lenox’s® Q88™ bimetal bandsaw blade with a design that maximizes blade life while delivering superior cutting performance.

 

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Implemented a Capital Structure Optimization Plan to simplify the Company’s capital structure, lower interest costs and substantially reduce potential future earnings dilution from the convertible notes resulting in a pretax debt extinguishment charge of $218.6 million during 2010.

 

   

Began implementation of the European Transformation Plan, which includes projects designed to improve the financial performance of the European business. Projects initiated to date include an evaluation of the pricing architecture and gross-to-net sales optimization and centralization of the leadership of the Company’s European operations.

 

   

Settled a multi-year tax return examination resulting in a tax benefit of $63.6 million.

Key Initiatives

European Transformation Plan

In June 2010, the Company announced a program to simplify and centralize its European business (the “European Transformation Plan”). The European Transformation Plan includes initiatives designed to transform the European organizational structure and processes to centralize certain operating activities, improve performance, leverage the benefits of scale and to contribute to a more efficient and cost-effective implementation of an enterprise resource planning system in Europe, all with the aim of increasing operating margin in the European region to at least ten percent.

The European Transformation Plan is expected to result in aggregate restructuring and other plan-related costs of $110 to $115 million, to be substantially incurred by the end of 2011. The European Transformation Plan is expected to be completed in 2012 and is expected to result in cumulative restructuring charges totaling between $40 and $45 million, substantially all of which are employee-related cash costs, including severance, retirement, and other termination benefits and relocation costs. The Company also expects to incur an additional $70 to $75 million of selling, general and administrative expenses to implement the European Transformation Plan, of which $15 million has been incurred through December 31, 2010. The Company expects to realize annualized after-tax savings of $55 to $65 million upon completion of the implementation of the European Transformation Plan.

As part of its European Transformation Plan, the Company expects to start relocating key personnel to Geneva, Switzerland, early in 2011, with all affected employees operational at the new site by the end of 2011. In addition, the Company has undertaken various projects to maximize gross margins and centralize operations in the region.

Project Acceleration

The Company completed the implementation of its Project Acceleration restructuring initiative in 2010. Project Acceleration was designed to reduce manufacturing overhead, better align the Company’s distribution and transportation processes, and reorganize the overall business structure to align with the Company’s core organizing concept, the GBU, to achieve best total cost. Through the Project Acceleration restructuring program and other initiatives, the Company improved capacity utilization rates to deliver productivity savings and increased the use of strategic sourcing partners. In 2010, the Company began implementing a number of restructuring programs as part of Project Acceleration to reduce and realign its manufacturing footprint, including two programs in its Home & Family segment in North America, one program in its Home & Family segment internationally, and one program in its Office Products segment internationally. Since the inception of Project Acceleration, the Company has reduced its manufacturing footprint by more than 60%, including the closure or disposition of 27 manufacturing facilities and the transfer of 19 manufacturing facilities to purchasers in connection with divestitures of businesses.

As part of Project Acceleration, the Company also evaluated its supply chain to identify opportunities to realize efficiencies in purchasing, distribution and transportation. In 2010, the Company began implementing projects to reduce and realign its distribution footprint, including one multi-segment project in North America, one multi-segment project internationally, and one project in the Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products segment’s international operations.

Project Acceleration also included initiatives to exit and rationalize certain product categories to create a more focused and more profitable platform for growth by eliminating selected low-margin, commodity-like, mostly resin-intensive product categories and reduce the Company’s exposure to volatile commodity markets, particularly resin. The product line exits and rationalizations were substantially completed in 2009 and primarily impacted products in the Company’s Rubbermaid Consumer and Markers, Highlighters, Art & Office Organization GBUs. Because these product line exits and rationalizations took place throughout 2009, the carryover impact of the product line exits and rationalizations resulted in a 1.4% decline in net sales in 2010 compared to 2009.

Restructuring costs incurred over the life of the initiative totaled $498 million, including $241 million of employee-related costs, $178 million in non-cash asset-related costs, and $79 million in other associated restructuring costs. Approximately 64% of the total Project

 

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Acceleration restructuring costs were cash charges. Cumulative annualized savings realized from the implementation of Project Acceleration are expected to exceed $220 million by the end of 2011, after the savings for the projects implemented in 2010 are fully realized.

One Newell Rubbermaid

The Company strives to leverage the common business activities and best practices of its GBUs, and to build one common culture of shared values with a focus on collaboration and teamwork. Through this initiative, the Company has established regional shared service centers to leverage nonmarket-facing functional capabilities to reduce costs. In addition, the Company has consolidated the leadership and strategic operations of five of the Company’s GBUs into the Company’s headquarters facilities to facilitate the sharing of knowledge and better leverage best practices.

The Company is also migrating multiple legacy systems and users to a common SAP global information platform in a phased, multi-year rollout. SAP is expected to enable the Company to integrate and manage its worldwide business and reporting processes more efficiently. Through December 31, 2010, the North American operations of 12 of the Company’s 13 GBUs have successfully gone live with their SAP implementation efforts, including the North American operations of the Rubbermaid Consumer and Rubbermaid Commercial Products GBUs in April 2010. Additional SAP go-lives for certain of the Company’s North American operations are scheduled for 2011, and the Company’s European operations are expected to go-live on SAP in the first half of 2012.

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The Company believes the selected data and the percentage relationship between net sales and major categories in the Consolidated Statements of Operations are important in evaluating the Company’s operations. The following table sets forth items from the Consolidated Statements of Operations as reported and as a percentage of net sales for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

             2010        2009     2008           
        

Net sales

     $   5,759.2        100.0   $     5,577.6         100.0   $     6,470.6        100.0%   

Cost of products sold

     3,588.4        62.3        3,528.1         63.3        4,347.4        67.2       
        

Gross margin

     2,170.8        37.7        2,049.5         36.7        2,123.2        32.8       

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,463.4        25.4        1,374.6         24.6        1,502.7        23.2       

Impairment charges

                                  299.4        4.6       

Restructuring costs

     77.5        1.3        100.0         1.8        120.3        1.9       
        

Operating income

     629.9        10.9        574.9         10.3        200.8        3.1       

Nonoperating expenses:

             

Interest expense, net

     118.4        2.1        140.0         2.5        137.9        2.1       

Losses related to extinguishments of debt

     218.6        3.8        4.7         0.1        52.2        0.8       

Other (income) expense, net

     (7.4     (0.1     2.0                6.9        0.1       
        

Net nonoperating expenses

     329.6        5.7        146.7         2.6        197.0        3.0       
        

Income before income taxes

     300.3        5.2        428.2         7.7        3.8        0.1       

Income taxes

     7.5        0.1        142.7         2.6        53.6        0.8       
        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     292.8        5.1        285.5         5.1        (49.8     (0.8)      

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

                                  (0.5     —       
        

Net income (loss)

     292.8        5.1        285.5         5.1        (50.3     (0.8)      

Net income noncontrolling interests

                                  2.0        —       
        

Net income (loss) controlling interests

     $ 292.8        5.1   $ 285.5         5.1   $ (52.3     (0.8)%   
        

 

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Results of Operations — 2010 vs. 2009

Net sales for 2010 were $5,759.2 million, representing an increase of $181.6 million, or 3.3%, from $5,577.6 million for 2009. The following table sets forth an analysis of changes in consolidated net sales for 2010 as compared to 2009 (in millions, except percentages):

 

Core sales

   $ 261.1            4.7%   

Foreign currency

     2.2            —      

Product line exits and rationalizations

     (81.7)          (1.4)    
        

Total change in net sales

   $ 181.6            3.3%   
        

Core sales increased 4.7% compared to the prior year resulting from higher volumes primarily due to increases in demand, particularly internationally, and restocking by customers in anticipation of future increases in consumer demand, particularly in the geographic regions and channels where inventories were reduced in late 2008 and early 2009. The higher volumes were also attributable to new products launched during 2010, distribution gains and geographic expansion. Core sales at the Company’s North American and international businesses increased approximately 3.6% and 7.9%, respectively, versus the prior year. Last year’s product line exits reduced year-over-year sales by 1.4% while foreign currency had a negligible impact.

Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, for 2010 was 37.7%, or $2,170.8 million, versus 36.7% of net sales, or $2,049.5 million, for 2009. The primary drivers of the 100 basis point gross margin improvement were productivity gains from several initiatives, including Project Acceleration, and improved product mix, partially offset by input cost inflation.

SG&A expenses for 2010 were 25.4% of net sales, or $1,463.4 million, versus 24.6% of net sales, or $1,374.6 million for 2009, with currency having a negligible impact on the year-over-year increase. Approximately 30 basis points of the 80 basis point increase in SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales is attributable to restructuring related charges incurred in connection with the European Transformation Plan in 2010. The remaining increase was mainly due to the Company’s increased spend for brand building and other strategic SG&A activities, such as marketing initiatives, advertising and promotions, sales force increases and the implementation of SAP.

The Company recorded restructuring costs of $77.5 million and $100.0 million for 2010 and 2009, respectively. The decrease in restructuring costs is largely attributable to lower costs associated with reducing the Company’s manufacturing and distribution footprint, as the Company completed Project Acceleration in 2010. In addition, the Company incurred lower restructuring costs associated with restructuring programs focused on streamlining the organizational structure to reduce structural SG&A costs. The restructuring costs for 2010 included $6.0 million of facility and other exit costs, $53.6 million of employee severance, termination benefits and employee relocation costs, and $17.9 million of exited contractual commitments and other restructuring costs. The restructuring costs for 2009 included $32.4 million of facility and other exit and impairment costs, $48.8 million of employee severance, termination benefits and employee relocation costs, and $18.8 million of exited contractual commitments and other restructuring costs. See Footnote 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Operating income for 2010 was 10.9% of net sales, or $629.9 million, versus 10.3% of net sales, or $574.9 million for 2009. The 60 basis point improvement in operating margin is primarily attributable to productivity gains and improved product mix combined with lower restructuring costs and better leverage of structural SG&A as a result of increased sales, partially offset by increased spend for brand building and other strategic SG&A activities and input cost inflation.

Net nonoperating expenses for 2010 increased $182.9 million to $329.6 million compared to $146.7 million for 2009. During 2010, the Company executed a series of transactions under its Capital Structure Optimization Plan under which losses related to extinguishments of debt of $218.6 million were recognized. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The increase in net nonoperating expenses attributable to the losses associated with the Capital Structure Optimization Plan was partially offset by a $21.6 million decline in interest expense due to lower outstanding debt levels and lower interest rates. In addition, the Company recognized a foreign exchange gain of $5.6 million during 2010 associated with the Company’s transition to the SITME rate for remeasuring the Company’s Venezuelan assets and liabilities denominated in Bolivar Fuerte. See Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

The Company recognized income tax expense of $7.5 million in 2010 compared to $142.7 million in 2009, representing effective rates of 2.5% and 33.3%, respectively. In 2010, the Company entered into a binding closing agreement related to its 2005 and 2006 U.S. Federal income tax examination, including all issues that were at the IRS Appeals Office, which resulted in a significant reduction to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits in the amount of $63.6 million including penalties and interest. In addition, the Company’s pretax income was $127.9 million lower in 2010 primarily due to charges associated with the Capital Structure Optimization Plan, and the charges were deductible at a higher rate than the Company’s overall tax rate. As a result of the charges associated with the Capital Structure Optimization Plan, the Company recognized lower income tax expense and a lower effective tax rate in 2010 compared to 2009. See Footnote 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

 

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Results of Operations — 2009 vs. 2008

Net sales for 2009 were $5,577.6 million, representing a decrease of $893.0 million, or 13.8%, from $6,470.6 million for 2008. The following table sets forth an analysis of changes in consolidated net sales for 2009 as compared to 2008 (in millions, except percentages):

 

Core sales

     $ (474.0)         (7.3)%   

Foreign currency

     (136.7)         (2.1)       

Product line exits and rationalizations

     (334.3)         (5.2)       

Acquisitions

     52.0          0.8        
        

Total change in net sales

     $ (893.0)         (13.8)%   
        

Core sales declined 7.3% compared to the prior year resulting from lower consumer foot traffic and lower product demand as well as inventory destocking at the retail level and in the commercial and industrial channels. Geographically, core sales of the Company’s North American and international businesses declined approximately 6% and 11%, respectively, versus the prior year. Planned product line exits and foreign currency contributed an additional 5.2% and 2.1% to the year-over-year sales decline, respectively. The Technical Concepts and Aprica acquisitions increased sales 0.8% over the prior year.

Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, for 2009 was 36.7%, or $2,049.5 million, versus 32.8% of net sales, or $2,123.2 million, for 2008. The primary drivers of the 390 basis point gross margin expansion included benefits realized from product line exits and rationalizations, moderating input costs compared to 2008 and pricing actions initiated late in 2008 and early 2009. These improvements more than offset the adverse impacts of reduced production volumes in the Company’s manufacturing facilities and unfavorable product and customer mix.

SG&A expenses for 2009 were 24.6% of net sales, or $1,374.6 million, versus 23.2% of net sales, or $1,502.7 million, for 2008. The $128.1 million decrease was primarily driven by the Company’s continued management of SG&A spending as well as cost reduction programs initiated during late 2008 and early 2009 to mitigate the negative impact of the decline in sales. Foreign currency translation represented $37.8 million of the $128.1 million decline, which was partially offset by $21.2 million of incremental SG&A costs resulting from the Technical Concepts and Aprica acquisitions.

The Company recorded restructuring costs of $100.0 million and $120.3 million for 2009 and 2008, respectively. The Company’s restructuring costs in 2009 related primarily to optimizing the cost structure of the business and secondarily to reducing the Company’s manufacturing footprint, whereas the restructuring costs in 2008 primarily related to product line exits and rationalizations and reducing the Company’s manufacturing footprint. The restructuring costs for 2009 included $32.4 million of facility and other exit and impairment costs, $48.8 million of employee severance, termination benefits and employee relocation costs, and $18.8 million of exited contractual commitments and other restructuring costs. The restructuring costs for 2008 included $46.1 million of facility and other exit and impairment costs, $57.5 million of employee severance, termination benefits and employee relocation costs, and $16.7 million of exited contractual commitments and other restructuring costs. See Footnote 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

The adverse impact of the macroeconomic environment on the Company during the fourth quarter of 2008, particularly the rapid decrease in consumer demand, combined with the updated outlook for certain of the Company’s reporting units led the Company to evaluate the carrying value of goodwill as of December 31, 2008. As a result of this evaluation, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $299.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008 principally related to goodwill of certain reporting units in the Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products and Office Products segments. No similar impairment charges were recorded in 2009.

Operating income for 2009 was 10.3% of net sales, or $574.9 million, versus 3.1% of net sales, or $200.8 million for 2008. The 720 basis point improvement primarily relates to the goodwill impairment charges recorded in 2008, with no similar impairment charges in 2009. The improvement also reflects the favorable impacts of product line exits and rationalizations and moderating input costs in 2009, partially offset by an increase in SG&A costs as a percentage of sales.

Net nonoperating expenses for 2009 decreased $50.3 million to $146.7 million compared to $197.0 million for 2008. The decrease was primarily attributable to a $52.2 million loss on extinguishment of debt relating to the Company’s redemption of its $250.0 million of medium-term Reset notes in July 2008. Interest expense, net, for 2009 was $140.0 million compared to $137.9 million for 2008. The $2.1 million increase in interest expense reflects higher average debt outstanding year-over-year.

The Company recognized income tax expense of $142.7 million in 2009 compared to $53.6 million in 2008. The increase in tax expense was primarily a result of an increase in income before income taxes in 2009 compared to 2008 as well as the recognition of income tax benefits of $3.1 million and $29.9 million in 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to favorable outcomes from the IRS’s review of specific deductions and accrual reversals for items for which the statute of limitations expired. The impacts of these items were partially offset by the tax impacts of the impairment charges recorded in 2008, because substantially all of the impairment

 

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charges were not deductible for tax purposes, and accordingly, only nominal tax benefits were recognized in 2008 associated with the impairment charges. See Footnote 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Business Segment Operating Results

2010 vs. 2009 Business Segment Operating Results

Net sales by segment were as follows for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

     2010      2009      % Change      
        

Home & Family

     $   2,378.4       $   2,377.2         0.1%     

Office Products

     1,708.9         1,674.7         2.0        

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

     1,671.9         1,525.7         9.6        
        

Total Net Sales

     $ 5,759.2       $ 5,577.6         3.3%     
        

The following table sets forth an analysis of changes in net sales in each segment for 2010 as compared to 2009:

 

     Home & Family      Office Products     

Tools, Hardware

& Commercial

Products

 
        

Core sales

     0.5%           7.4%           8.2%     

Foreign currency

     0.9               (2.4)             1.4         

Product line exits and rationalizations

     (1.3)              (3.0)             —         
        

Total change in net sales

     0.1%           2.0%           9.6%     
        

Operating income (loss) by segment was as follows for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

       2010     2009       % Change      
        

Home & Family

     $   281.8        $   274.7        2.6%   

Office Products

     269.4        235.2        14.5       

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

     253.1        245.6        3.1      

Corporate

     (96.9     (80.6     (20.2)     

Restructuring costs

     (77.5     (100.0     22.5      
        

Total Operating Income

     $ 629.9        $ 574.9        9.6%  
        

Home & Family

Net sales for 2010 were $2,378.4 million, an increase of $1.2 million from $2,377.2 million for 2009. Core sales increased 0.5% as core sales growth in the Beauty & Style and Culinary Lifestyle GBUs was partially offset by declines in the Baby & Parenting and Rubbermaid Consumer GBUs. The increase in core sales was largely attributable to consumer-relevant innovation and increased advertising and promotion resulting in shelf space gains and incremental distribution. The impact of product line exits and rationalizations reduced sales by 1.3% while foreign currency had a favorable impact of 0.9%.

Operating income for 2010 was $281.8 million, or 11.8% of net sales, an increase of $7.1 million, or 2.6%, from $274.7 million, or 11.6% of net sales, for 2009. The slight increase in operating margin is attributable to productivity gains and reduced structural SG&A partially offset by input cost inflation and increased spend on brand building and other strategic initiatives.

Office Products

Net sales for 2010 were $1,708.9 million, an increase of $34.2 million, or 2.0%, from $1,674.7 million for 2009. Core sales increased 7.4%, which was primarily attributable to core sales growth across the entire segment with the Technology and Markers, Highlighters, Art & Office Organization GBUs generating double-digit and high single-digit core sales growth, respectively. Product line exits and rationalizations and foreign currency reduced net sales 3.0% and 2.4%, respectively.

Operating income for 2010 was $269.4 million, or 15.8% of net sales, an increase of $34.2 million, or 14.5%, from $235.2 million, or 14.0% of net sales for 2009. The 180 basis point improvement in operating margin is attributable to productivity gains, improved product mix partially offset by the impacts of input cost inflation and a 100 basis point increase in constant currency SG&A costs as a percentage of net sales due to increased spend for strategic brand, volume building and other strategic SG&A activities.

 

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Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

Net sales for 2010 were $1,671.9 million, an increase of $146.2 million, or 9.6%, from $1,525.7 million for 2009. Core sales increases accounted for 8.2% of the year-over-year increase, as geographic expansion and international core sales growth were significant contributors to the core sales increase. From a GBU perspective, the Industrial Products & Services and Construction Tools & Accessories GBUs generated mid to high single-digit core sales growth. Favorable foreign currency accounted for 1.4% of the net sales increase.

Operating income for 2010 was $253.1 million, or 15.1% of net sales, an increase of $7.5 million, or 3.1%, from $245.6 million, or 16.1% of net sales, for 2009. The 100 basis point decline in operating margin is primarily attributable to input cost inflation combined with a 50 basis point increase in constant currency SG&A costs as a percentage of sales, as the segment’s businesses continue to increase spend for brand building and other strategic SG&A activities.

2009 vs. 2008 Business Segment Operating Results

Net sales by segment were as follows for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

     2009      2008      % Change    
        

Home & Family

     $   2,377.2       $   2,654.8         (10.5)%    

Office Products

     1,674.7         1,990.8         (15.9)        

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

     1,525.7         1,825.0         (16.4)        
        

Total Net Sales

     $   5,577.6       $ 6,470.6         (13.8)%    
        

The following table sets forth an analysis of changes in net sales in each segment for 2009 as compared to 2008:

 

     Home & Family   Office Products   

Tools, Hardware

& Commercial

Products

        

Core sales

       (2.1 )%       (6.5)%             (15.8)%     

Foreign currency

       (1.3 )       (3.4)                (2.0)        

Product line exits and rationalizations

       (8.1 )       (6.0)                —         

Acquisitions

       1.0         —                 1.4        
        

Total change in net sales

       (10.5 )%       (15.9)%             (16.4)%     
        

Operating income (loss) by segment was as follows for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

     2009      2008      % Change  
        

Home & Family

     $   274.7          $ 218.3          25.8%    

Office Products

     235.2          212.4          10.7       

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

     245.6          271.7          (9.6)      

Corporate

     (80.6)         (81.9)         1.6       

Impairment charges

     —          (299.4)         NMF      

Restructuring costs

     (100.0)         (120.3)         16.9%    
        

Total Operating Income

     $   574.9        $ 200.8          NMF      
        

NMF-Not meaningful

Home & Family

Net sales for 2009 were $2,377.2 million, a decrease of $277.6 million, or 10.5%, from $2,654.8 million for 2008. Core sales declined 2.1% as low-single-digit core sales growth in the Culinary Lifestyle GBU was offset by a high-single-digit decline in the Décor GBU, which continued to be impacted by softness in residential construction, as well as a mid-single-digit decline in the Baby & Parenting GBU, which was adversely impacted by softness in the baby category worldwide. Net sales declined 8.1% due to product line exits and rationalizations in the Rubbermaid Consumer GBU and 1.3% due to unfavorable foreign currency impacts. The Aprica acquisition increased sales 1.0% compared to the prior year.

Operating income for 2009 was $274.7 million, or 11.6% of net sales, an increase of $56.4 million, or 25.8%, from $218.3 million, or 8.2% of net sales, for 2008. The 340 basis point improvement in operating margin was primarily due to moderating input costs, product line exits and rationalizations and productivity improvements. In the aggregate, these improvements contributed 450 basis points to the net expansion in operating margin and were partially offset by unfavorable mix and an increase in SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales.

 

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Office Products

Net sales for 2009 were $1,674.7 million, a decrease of $316.1 million, or 15.9%, from $1,990.8 million for 2008. Core sales declined 6.5%, which was primarily attributable to weak consumer demand both domestically and internationally and inventory destocking at the retail level. Reduced sales relating to product line exits and rationalizations and unfavorable foreign currency contributed an additional 6.0% and 3.4%, respectively, to the year-over-year decline.

Operating income for 2009 was $235.2 million, or 14.0% of net sales, an increase of $22.8 million, or 10.7%, from $212.4 million, or 10.7% of net sales for 2008. The 330 basis point improvement in operating margin was primarily attributable to product line exits and rationalizations. In constant currency, SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in 2009 were comparable to 2008.

Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products

Net sales for 2009 were $1,525.7 million, a decrease of $299.3 million, or 16.4%, from $1,825.0 million for 2008. Core sales declined 15.8% as sales volumes were negatively impacted by inventory management by retail, commercial and industrial customers; continued softness in the residential construction market, both domestically and internationally; and sustained weakness in industrial and commercial channels. Unfavorable foreign currency contributed an additional 2.0% decline, and the Technical Concepts acquisition increased sales $26.2 million, or 1.4%, versus the prior year.

Operating income for 2009 was $245.6 million, or 16.1% of net sales, a decrease of $26.1 million, or 9.6%, from $271.7 million, or 14.9% of net sales, for 2008. The 120 basis point expansion in operating margin was primarily driven by the moderation of input costs compared to the prior year and improved product mix, which combined contributed 190 basis points to the expansion, as well as productivity gains, all of which were partially offset by the adverse impacts of lower production volumes. The lower production volumes were primarily the result of aggressive management of inventory levels by the Company’s customers and lower sales resulting from weak demand. In constant currency, SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales in 2009 were comparable to 2008.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Cash Flows

Cash and cash equivalents increased (decreased) as follows for the year ended December 31, (in millions):

 

             2010               2009               2008      
        

Cash provided by operating activities

     $   582.6          $ 602.8          $ 454.9       

Cash used in investing activities

     (153.4)         (149.4)         (804.1)      

Cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (571.9)         (427.0)         306.0       

Exchange rate effect on cash and cash equivalents

     4.0          (23.5)         (10.6)      
        

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     $   (138.7)       $ 2.9        $ (53.8)      
        

In the cash flow statement, the changes in operating assets and liabilities are presented excluding the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the effects of acquisitions. Accordingly, the amounts in the cash flow statement differ from changes in the operating assets and liabilities that are presented in the balance sheets.

Sources

Historically, the Company’s primary sources of liquidity and capital resources have included cash provided by operations, issuance of debt and use of available borrowing facilities.

Cash provided by operating activities for 2010 was $582.6 million compared to $602.8 million for 2009. This reduction is primarily attributable to changes in working capital, specifically accounts receivable, inventory and accounts payable, as net changes in working capital generated cash of $237.5 million in 2009, as the Company implemented initiatives to significantly reduce inventory in 2009 due to the global economic downturn. The cash provided by net reductions in working capital in 2009 compared to a use of cash for working capital of $79.0 million in 2010. The year-over-year decline in cash provided by working capital of $316.5 million was offset by the following items:

 

   

a $55.0 million increase in operating income;

 

   

an $11.2 million decline in cash paid for interest;

 

   

a $31.7 million decline in cash paid for income taxes;

 

   

a $25.0 million decline in voluntary contributions to the Company’s primary U.S. defined benefit pension plan, from $75.0 million in 2009 to $50.0 million in 2010; and

 

   

$126.6 million of cash used in 2009 to settle foreign exchange contracts on intercompany financing arrangements, which is included in accrued liabilities and other in 2009, with similar settlements not occurring in 2010.

 

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Cash provided by operating activities for 2009 was $602.8 million compared to $454.9 million for 2008. This improvement is primarily attributable to working capital improvements, driven mainly by $243.1 million of cash provided by reducing inventories in 2009 compared to $30.9 million in 2008, and an approximate $75.0 million decrease in payments in 2009 compared to 2008 for annual performance-based compensation, which is generally paid in the first quarter of the year based on the previous year’s results. Cash provided by operating activities for 2009 includes a $75.0 million voluntary cash contribution the Company made to its primary U.S. defined benefit pension plan and $126.6 million paid to settle foreign exchange contracts on intercompany financing arrangements and cross-currency interest rate swaps.

In August 2010, the Company announced a Capital Structure Optimization Plan (the “Plan”), which was substantially complete as of December 31, 2010 pending the settlement of the Company’s accelerated stock buyback expected in March 2011. The Plan included the issuance of $550.0 million of 4.70% senior notes due 2020. The Company used the proceeds from the sale of the new notes, cash on hand, and short-term borrowings to fund the repurchase of $500.0 million of shares of its common stock through an accelerated stock buyback program and completed a cash tender offer for its outstanding $300.0 million principal amount of 10.60% notes due 2019, which resulted in the repurchase of $279.3 million principal amount of the notes. The Company received $544.9 million of net proceeds from the issuance of the new 4.70% notes due 2020. The aggregate $547.3 million of net proceeds from borrowings during 2010 compares with $634.8 million of net proceeds during 2009, which primarily relate to proceeds from the offering and sale of $300.0 million of 10.60% notes due 2019 and $345.0 million convertible senior notes in March 2009. In connection with the Plan, the Company received $71.1 million of net proceeds associated with the settlement of convertible note hedge and warrant transactions during 2010. Net proceeds from short-term borrowings during 2010 included $100.0 million of borrowings under the Company’s receivables facility and $34.0 million of commercial paper, which compares to $70.0 million of borrowings under the receivables and $125.0 million of borrowings under the syndicated revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”) in 2009.

The Company received proceeds of $634.8 million and $1,318.0 million from the issuance of debt in 2009 and 2008, respectively. In March 2009, the Company completed the offering and sale of $300.0 million of 10.60% notes due 2019 and $345.0 million convertible senior notes. The $624.3 million of net proceeds from these note issuances were used to complete the tender offers to repurchase $325.0 million principal amount of medium-term notes and purchase convertible note hedge transactions and for general corporate purposes. Also related to the issuance of the convertible senior notes, the Company entered into warrant transactions in which the Company sold warrants to third parties for approximately $32.7 million. During 2009, the Company borrowed and repaid $70.0 million under a 364-day receivables facility that was completed in September 2009 and borrowed and repaid $125.0 million under its Revolver. Proceeds from the issuance of debt in 2008 include $400.0 million of borrowings pursuant to an unsecured three-year term loan (the “Term Loan”) and $750.0 million from the offering and sale of senior unsecured notes, consisting of $500.0 million in 5.50% senior unsecured notes due April 2013 and $250.0 million in 6.25% senior unsecured notes due April 2018. Net proceeds from the Term Loan were used to repay outstanding commercial paper and for general corporate purposes, and net proceeds from the note offering were used to fund acquisitions, repay debt, and for general corporate purposes.

Uses

Historically, the Company’s primary uses of liquidity and capital resources have included acquisitions, dividend payments, capital expenditures and payments on debt.

The Company made aggregate payments on short- and long-term debt of $710.8 million during 2010. In August 2010, the Company completed a cash tender offer for $279.3 million of the $300.0 million principal amount of 10.60% notes due 2019 and paid cash of $402.2 million upon settlement. The Company also completed an exchange offer for $324.7 million of the $345.0 million principal amount of 5.5% convertible notes due 2014 (the “Convertible Notes”) (the “Exchange Offer”) and issued 37.7 million shares of common stock and paid cash consideration of $52.0 million to holders accepting the Exchange Offer. The Company paid $1.0 million in fees and expenses associated with the Exchange Offer. The Company made payments on medium-term notes and other debt of $108.6 million and made payments of $200.0 million on its term loan during 2010.

The Company made aggregate payments on short- and long-term debt of $1,113.0 million during 2009. The $1,113.0 million of repayments in 2009 includes $329.7 million used to complete tender offers to repurchase $180.1 million principal amount of the $250.0 million medium-term notes due December 2009 and $144.9 million principal amount of the $250.0 million medium-term notes due May 2010 (the “Tender Offers”), the $448.0 million repayment of the floating-rate note issued under the Company’s 2001 receivables facility, the repayment of $125.0 million of borrowings under the Revolver, a $50.0 million principal payment on the Term Loan, and the repayment of the remaining $69.9 million principal amount outstanding of the $250.0 million medium-term notes due December 2009. Also, as part of the convertible note hedge transactions entered into in March 2009, the Company purchased call options from third parties for $69.0 million. See Footnote 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the call option transaction.

The Company made aggregate payments on short- and long-term debt of $772.5 million during 2008. In July 2008, the Company redeemed its $250.0 million of Reset notes due July 2028 for $302.2 million, which includes the Company’s purchase of the

 

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remarketing option embedded in the Reset notes from a third party for $52.2 million. In July 2008, the Company also repaid $65.0 million of its $75.0 million outstanding 6.11% medium-term notes due July 2028 in accordance with the terms of the notes. The Company utilized its commercial paper program to fund the redemption of the Reset notes, the purchase of the remarketing option, and the repayment of the $65.0 million of 6.11% medium-term notes due July 2028. The remaining payments made on debt during 2008 mainly represent the payoff of commercial paper.

The Company did not invest in significant acquisitions in 2010 and 2009. Cash used for acquisitions was $655.7 million in 2008, which relates primarily to the acquisitions of Technical Concepts and Aprica. See Footnote 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Aggregate dividends paid were $55.4 million, $71.4 million and $234.5 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Capital expenditures were $164.7 million, $153.3 million and $157.8 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. The largest single capital project in all periods was the implementation of SAP, which represented $45.3 million, $47.2 million and $38.1 million of capital expenditures for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

The Company purchased noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries for $29.2 million during 2009.

Cash used for restructuring activities is included in changes in accrued liabilities and other in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Cash used for restructuring activities was $72.8 million, $84.0 million and $60.9 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, which primarily relates to employee termination benefits and relocation costs.

Financial Position

The Company is committed to maintaining a strong financial position through maintaining sufficient levels of available liquidity, managing working capital and monitoring the Company’s overall capitalization.

 

   

Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2010 were $139.6 million, and the Company had $631.0 million and $100.0 million of borrowing capacity under its Revolver and new receivables facility, respectively.

 

   

Working capital at December 31, 2010 was $466.1 million compared to $422.6 million at December 31, 2009, and the current ratio at December 31, 2010 was 1.28:1 compared to 1.24:1 at December 31, 2009. The increase in working capital is primarily due to increases in accounts receivable due to higher sales volumes and lower current portion of long-term debt due to the completion of the Capital Structure Optimization Plan.

 

   

The Company monitors its overall capitalization by evaluating total debt to total capitalization. Total debt to total capitalization is defined as the sum of short- and long-term debt, less cash, divided by the sum of total debt and stockholders’ equity, less cash. Total debt to total capitalization was 0.54:1 at December 31, 2010 and 0.56:1 at December 31, 2009.

Over the long-term, the Company plans to continue to improve its current ratio and total debt to total capitalization by improving operating results, managing working capital and using cash generated from operations to repay outstanding debt. The Company has from time to time refinanced, redeemed or repurchased its debt and taken other steps to reduce its debt or lease obligations or otherwise improve its overall financial position and balance sheet. Going forward, depending on market conditions, its cash positions and other considerations, the Company may continue to take such actions.

Borrowing Arrangements

The Company’s Revolver expires in November 2012. In lieu of borrowings under the Revolver, the Company may use the borrowing capacity under the Revolver to provide the committed backup liquidity required to issue commercial paper. Accordingly, commercial paper may be issued only up to the amount available for borrowing under the Revolver. However, the Company’s current short-term debt credit ratings and access to the credit markets may limit the Company’s ability to use the full $665.0 million of borrowing capacity under the Revolver to issue commercial paper. The Revolver also provides for the issuance of up to $100.0 million of standby letters of credit so long as there is a sufficient amount available for borrowing under the Revolver. As of December 31, 2010, there were no borrowings or standby letters of credit outstanding under the Revolver, and $631.0 million of borrowing capacity was available under the Revolver.

The Company’s 364-day receivables financing facility provides for maximum borrowings of up to $200.0 million and matures in September 2011. As of December 31, 2010, aggregate borrowings of $100.0 million were outstanding under the facility at a weighted-average interest rate of 1.26%, and the remaining $100.0 million was available for borrowing.

 

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The following table presents the maximum and average daily borrowings outstanding under the Company’s short-term borrowing arrangements during the years ended December 31, (in millions):

 

     2010      2009  
        
Short-term Borrowing Arrangement    Maximum      Average      Maximum      Average  
        

Revolver

   $ —         $ —         $ 125.0       $ 6.2   

Commercial paper

     206.0         24.9         —           —     

Receivables financing facility

     140.0         35.9         70.0         3.1   

The indentures governing the Company’s medium-term and convertible senior notes contain usual and customary nonfinancial covenants. The Company’s borrowing arrangements other than the medium-term and convertible senior notes contain usual and customary nonfinancial covenants and certain financial covenants, including minimum interest coverage and maximum debt-to-total-capitalization ratios. As defined by the agreements governing the borrowing arrangements, minimum interest coverage ratio is computed as adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) divided by adjusted interest expense for the four most recent quarterly periods. Generally, maximum debt-to-total-capitalization is calculated as the sum of short-term and long-term debt, excluding the junior convertible subordinated debentures, divided by the sum of (i) total debt, (ii) total stockholders’ equity and (iii) $550.0 million. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had complied with all covenants under the indentures and its other borrowing arrangements, and the Company could access the full borrowing capacity available under the Revolver and the receivables facility and utilize the $731.0 million for general corporate purposes without exceeding the debt-to-total-capitalization limits in its financial covenants. A failure to maintain the financial covenants would impair the Company’s ability to borrow under the Revolver and the receivables facility and may result in the acceleration of the repayment of certain indebtedness.

Debt

The Company has varying needs for short-term working capital financing as a result of the seasonal nature of its business. The volume and timing of production impacts the Company’s cash flows and has historically involved increased production in the first quarter of the year to meet increased customer demand through the remainder of the year. Working capital fluctuations have historically been financed through short-term financing arrangements, such as commercial paper or borrowings under the Revolver or receivables facility.

As of December 31, 2010, the current portion of long-term debt and short-term debt totaled $305.0 million, including the $150.0 million remaining principal amount of the Term Loan due in September 2011, $100.0 million of borrowings under the receivables facility, $34.0 million of commercial paper and $17.5 million of Convertible Notes that remained outstanding as of December 31, 2010. The Company plans to refinance or repay these amounts as they come due using cash flows from operations.

On August 2, 2010 the Company announced a Capital Structure Optimization Plan (the “Plan”), which was substantially complete as of December 31, 2010 pending the settlement of the Company’s accelerated stock buyback expected in March 2011. The Plan included the issuance of $550.0 million of 4.70% senior notes due 2020. The Company used the proceeds from the sale of the notes, cash on hand and short-term borrowings to fund the repurchase of $500.0 million of shares of its common stock through an accelerated stock buyback program; complete a cash tender offer for $279.3 million of the $300.0 million principal amount of outstanding 10.60% notes due 2019; and complete the exchange of 37.7 million shares of common stock and $52.0 million of cash for $324.7 million of the $345.0 million principal amount of outstanding Convertible Notes. The Company also settled, for $71.1 million cash, the convertible note hedge and warrant transactions, which were entered into concurrent with the issuance of the Convertible Notes.

By executing the series of transactions under the Plan, the Company effectively refinanced approximately $550.0 million in long-term debt at lower interest rates, which is expected to generate nearly $35.0 million of annual interest savings based on effective interest rates on the extinguished Convertible Notes and certain medium-term notes of approximately 11.0%, compared to the interest rate on the new debt of 4.7%. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had increased its outstanding common stock by 11.9 million shares, net, and expects the final net increase to be between 9.0 and 10.0 million shares (the final number of shares is subject to change based upon the final settlement of the accelerated stock buyback program, which is scheduled for March 2011). Lastly, the Company substantially eliminated the potential for future share count dilution resulting from the Convertible Notes and related hedge transactions.

Total debt was $2.4 billion and $2.5 billion as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Total debt decreased $139.9 million, primarily due to repayments of $305.1 million for the Company’s term loan and certain medium-term notes partially offset by aggregate borrowings of $134.0 million under the Revolver and the receivables financing facility as of December 31, 2010, compared to December 31, 2009 when no amounts were outstanding under either arrangement. The December 31, 2010 debt balance was also affected by the mark-to-market adjustments necessary to record the fair value of interest rate hedges of fixed-rate debt, in accordance with relevant authoritative guidance. The mark-to-market adjustments increased the carrying value of debt by $23.9 million at December 31, 2010 compared to December 31, 2009.

 

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The following table presents the average outstanding debt and weighted-average interest rates for the year ended December 31, (dollars in millions):

 

     2010      2009  
        

Average outstanding debt

   $ 2,461.0           $ 2,843.7       

Average interest rate

     4.8%         4.9%   

Reset Notes

In July 1998, the Company issued $250.0 million of medium-term notes, maturing in July 2028 with interest payable semiannually (the “Reset notes”). The Reset notes contained a coupon rate reset feature occurring at two ten-year intervals, July 2008 and July 2018. The Reset notes contained a coupon rate of 6.35% through the first interest reset date of July 2008. In addition, the Reset notes contained an embedded remarketing option pursuant to which a third party could call the Reset notes at par at the end of each ten-year remarketing interval, and the third party or another securities dealer could remarket the Reset notes at a reset coupon rate, which would result in the third party realizing proceeds for the remarketed notes in an amount approximately equal to the discounted present value of a $250.0 million ten-year note with a coupon of 5.485%, discounted at the ten-year Treasury note yield to maturity prevailing at the time of remarketing. In the event the remarketing option at the end of each remarketing interval was not exercised, the Reset note holders were required to put the Reset notes back to the Company at a price of par.

The embedded remarketing option was accounted for separately, as it was deemed a purchase by the Company of a transferable, free-standing call option from the Reset note investors and the Company’s concurrent transfer of the free-standing call option to the third party. As a result, the remarketing option, which provided for the call and remarketing of the Reset notes, was in effect a contract between the third party and the Reset note holders that allowed the third party to call the Reset notes from the holders at par at the end of each ten-year remarketing interval and remarket the Reset notes. The fair value of the remarketing option purchased by the Company from the Reset note investors at the date of issuance was determined based on the amount the third party paid the Company for the remarketing option. In summary, at issuance the Company was cash neutral with respect to the remarketing option but implicitly issued the Reset notes at a premium because the investors purchased the Reset notes from the Company simultaneous with the Company purchasing the remarketing option from the investors (which the Company concurrently monetized by selling it to a third party). As a result, the Reset notes carried a premium at issuance, and the Company recognized no gain or loss upon issuance of the Reset notes.

In connection with the issuance of the Reset notes in July 1998, the Company entered into an agreement with the third party that afforded the Company the right to purchase the remarketing option from the third party at the end of each ten-year remarketing interval at its then fair value in order to avoid the remarketing of the Reset notes. The Company exercised this right in July 2008 to avoid the third party calling and remarketing the Reset notes. The Company redeemed the $250.0 million of Reset notes in July 2008 because prevailing interest rates as of the July 2008 remarketing date would have resulted in the third party exercising the remarketing option and calling the Reset notes at par, and the Reset notes subsequently being remarketed. The Reset notes would have been remarketed at a premium to par in order for the third party to realize the discounted present value described above in the remarketing. A note priced at a premium to par would carry a coupon rate greater than the rate carried by a security priced at par. Accordingly, the coupon rate arising from a potential remarketing was estimated to approximate 9.0%, exceeding the Company’s then incremental borrowing rate of 6.25% for comparable debt. To achieve a lower net cost of borrowing, in July 2008, the Company redeemed the Reset notes and recorded a loss on extinguishment of the Reset notes of $52.2 million associated with the purchase of the embedded remarketing option from the third party.

The Company did not have any Reset notes outstanding as of December 31, 2010 and 2009.

Pension Obligations

The Company has adopted and sponsors pension plans in the U.S. and in various other countries. The Company’s ongoing funding requirements for its pension plans are largely dependent on the value of each of the plan’s assets and the investment returns realized on plan assets. In 2009 and 2010, the Company made voluntary cash contributions of $75.0 million and $50.0 million, respectively, to its primary U.S. defined benefit pension plan in order to improve the overall funded status of the plan. The Company expects to contribute approximately $50.0 million to its worldwide pension and other postretirement plans in 2011 based on minimum contribution requirements.

Future increases or decreases in pension liabilities and required cash contributions are highly dependent on changes in interest rates and the actual return on plan assets. The Company determines its plan asset investment mix, in part, on the duration of each plan’s liabilities. To the extent each plan’s assets decline in value or do not generate the returns expected by the Company or to the extent the pension liabilities increase due to declines in interest rates or otherwise, the Company may be required to make contributions to the pension plans to ensure the pension obligations are adequately funded as required by law or mandate.

 

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Dividends

The Company paid a quarterly cash dividend of $0.05 per share for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The payment of dividends to holders of the Company’s common stock remains at the discretion of the Company’s board of directors and will depend upon many factors, including the Company’s financial condition, earnings, legal requirements and other factors the board of directors deems relevant.

Credit Ratings

The Company’s credit ratings are periodically reviewed by rating agencies. The Company’s current senior and short-term debt credit ratings from three credit rating agencies are listed below:

 

    

Senior Debt

Credit Rating

  

Short-term Debt

Credit Rating

   Outlook
    

Moody’s Investors Service

   Baa3    P-3    Stable

Standard & Poor’s

   BBB-    A-3    Positive

Fitch Ratings

   BBB    F-2    Stable

Changes in the Company’s operating results, cash flows or financial position could impact the ratings assigned by the various rating agencies, and changes in the ratings may impact the rate of interest payable on certain of the Company’s indebtedness. 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. Refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors for a more detailed discussion of the Company’s credit ratings.

Outlook

For the year ending December 31, 2011, the Company expects to generate cash flows from operations of more than $550 million after restructuring and restructuring-related cash payments of $90 to $100 million. The Company plans to fund capital expenditures of $180 to $200 million, which include expenditures associated with the implementation of SAP in Europe.

Overall, the Company believes that available cash and cash equivalents, cash flows generated from future operations, access to capital markets and availability under the Revolver and receivables facility will be adequate to support the cash needs of existing businesses. The Company plans to use available cash, borrowing capacity and cash flows from future operations to repay debt maturities as they come due, including $150.0 million principal payment due under the Term Loan in September 2011 and short-term debt of $135.0 million, which includes borrowings under the receivables facility and commercial paper.

Resolution of Income Tax Contingencies

In 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded $79.3 million, $3.1 million and $29.9 million, respectively, in net income tax benefits as a result of the favorable resolution of certain tax matters with taxing authorities and the expiration of the statute of limitations on certain tax matters. These benefits are reflected in the Company’s 2010, 2009 and 2008 Consolidated Statements of Operations. The ultimate resolution of outstanding tax matters may be different than that reflected in the historical income tax provisions and accruals, which may adversely impact future operating results and cash flows.

Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has outstanding debt obligations maturing at various dates through 2028. Certain other items, such as purchase commitments and other executory contracts, are not recognized as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements but are required to be disclosed. Examples of items not recognized as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are commitments to purchase raw materials or inventory that has not yet been received as of December 31, 2010 and future minimum lease payments for the use of property and equipment under operating lease agreements.

 

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The following table summarizes the effect that lease and other material contractual obligations are expected to have on the Company’s cash flow in the indicated period. In addition, the table reflects the timing of principal and interest payments on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2010. Additional details regarding these obligations are provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (in millions):

 

     Payments Due by Period  
        
     Total      Less
than
1 Year
     1-3
Years
     3-5
Years
     More than 
5 Years
 
        

Debt (1)

     $   2,368.9       $ 305.0       $ 778.0               $ 1,285.9   

Interest on debt (2)

     899.7         116.5         186.3       $ 137.8         459.1   

Operating lease obligations (3)

     414.6         97.2         140.1         89.4         87.9   

Purchase obligations (4)

     642.2         511.0         131.2                 —    
        

Total contractual obligations (5)

     $   4,325.4       $ 1,029.7       $ 1,235.6       $ 227.2       $ 1,832.9  
        

 

(1)

Amounts represent contractual obligations based on the earliest date that the obligation may become due, excluding interest, based on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2010. For further information relating to these obligations, see Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(2)

Amounts represent estimated interest payable on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2010, excluding the impact of interest rate swaps that adjust the fixed rate to a floating rate for $1.0 billion of medium-term notes. Interest on floating-rate debt was estimated using the rate in effect as of December 31, 2010. For further information, see Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(3)

Amounts represent contractual minimum lease obligations on operating leases as of December 31, 2010. For further information relating to these obligations, see Footnote 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

(4)

Primarily consists of purchase commitments entered into as of December 31, 2010 for finished goods, raw materials, components and services pursuant to legally enforceable and binding obligations, which include all significant terms.

 

(5)

Total does not include contractual obligations reported on the December 31, 2010 balance sheet as current liabilities, except for current portion of long-term debt and short-term debt.

The Company also has liabilities for uncertain tax positions and unrecognized tax benefits. As a large taxpayer, the Company is under continual audit by the IRS and other taxing authorities on several open tax positions, and it is possible that the amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions and unrecognized tax benefits could change in the coming year. While it is possible that one or more of these examinations may be resolved in the next year, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the timing or the amount by which the liability will increase or decrease over time; therefore, the $113.1 million in unrecognized tax benefits, including interest and penalties, at December 31, 2010 is excluded from the preceding table. See Footnote 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information.

Additionally, the Company has obligations with respect to its pension and postretirement medical benefit plans, which are excluded from the preceding table. The timing and amounts of the funding requirements are uncertain because they are dependent on interest rates and actual returns on plan assets, among other factors. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had liabilities related to its unfunded and underfunded pension and postretirement benefit plans of $576.7 million. See Footnote 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company had $61.6 million in standby letters of credit primarily related to the Company’s self-insurance programs, including workers’ compensation, product liability and medical. See Footnote 20 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

As of December 31, 2010, the Company did not have any significant off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of SEC Regulation S-K.

 

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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company’s accounting policies are more fully described in Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. As disclosed in that footnote, the preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results inevitably will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following sections describe the Company’s critical accounting policies.

Sales Recognition

Sales of merchandise and freight billed to customers are recognized when title passes and all substantial risks of ownership transfer, which generally occurs either upon shipment or upon delivery based upon contractual terms. Sales are net of provisions for cash discounts, returns, customer discounts (such as volume or trade discounts), cooperative advertising and other sales-related discounts.

Recovery of Accounts Receivable

The Company evaluates the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. When aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, such as in the case of bankruptcy filings or deterioration in the customer’s operating results or financial position, the Company records a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes is collectible. The Company also records reserves for bad debt for all other customers based on a variety of factors, including the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection experience. Accounts are reviewed for potential write-off on a case-by-case basis. Accounts deemed uncollectible are written off, net of expected recoveries. If circumstances related to specific customers change, the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted.

Inventory Reserves

The Company reduces its inventory value for estimated obsolete and slow-moving inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the net realizable value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. Net provisions for excess and obsolete inventories, including shrink reserves, totaled $18.4 million, $57.0 million and $79.0 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, and are included in cost of products sold. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company performs its impairment testing of goodwill at a reporting unit level, and all of the Company’s goodwill is assigned to the Company’s reporting units. Reporting units, which are referred to as the Company’s Global Business Units (“GBU”), are one level below the operating segment level. The GBU is the Company’s core organizing concept, and each GBU supports one or more of the Company’s key brands worldwide. The Company has not had any material changes to the reporting units identified and used to test goodwill for impairment since January 1, 2009 due to restructuring activities or otherwise. Acquired businesses, if any, including goodwill arising from such transactions, are integrated into the Company’s existing reporting units.

The Company had 13 reporting units with total goodwill of $2.7 billion as of July 1, 2010. Five of the Company’s 13 reporting units accounted for approximately 70 percent of the Company’s total goodwill. These five reporting units were as follows: Baby & Parenting; Rubbermaid Commercial Products; Industrial Products & Services; Markers, Highlighters, Art & Office Organization; and Technology.

The Company conducts its annual test of impairment of goodwill as of the first day of the third quarter because it generally coincides with its annual strategic planning process. The Company also tests for impairment if events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount. For example, if macroeconomic factors, such as consumer demand and consumer confidence, deteriorate materially such that the Company’s reporting units’ projected sales and operating income decline significantly relative to previous estimates, the Company will perform an interim test to assess whether goodwill is impaired. The Company determined that no interim tests of impairment were necessary during 2010 due to declining macroeconomic conditions, significant reductions in reporting units’ expected sales and profitability, or otherwise.

In the Company’s goodwill impairment testing, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit is greater than its fair value, impairment may be present. Estimates made by management in performing its impairment testing can impact whether or not an impairment charge is necessary and the magnitude of the impairment charge to the extent one is recorded. The Company uses multiple valuation approaches in its impairment testing, each of which requires estimates to arrive at an estimate of fair value. For the Company’s reporting units that are stable businesses and have a history and track record of generating positive operating income and cash flows, the Company relies on a multiple of earnings approach to assess their fair value. The material assumptions used to value a reporting unit using this approach are the reporting units’ estimated financial performance for the remainder of the year and the applicable multiple to apply to

 

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earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). The estimated financial performance for the remainder of the year is based on the Company’s internal forecasting process. To determine the EBITDA multiple, the Company obtains information from third parties on EBITDA multiples observed for recent acquisitions and other transactions in the marketplace for comparable businesses. The Company also evaluates the EBITDA multiples of publicly traded companies that are in the same industry and are comparable to each reporting unit and compares the EBITDA multiples of the publicly traded companies to the multiples used by the Company to estimate the fair value of each reporting unit. The Company evaluates the EBITDA multiples used for the reporting units relative to the Company’s market capitalization plus an equity control premium. The equity control premium is defined as the sum of the individual reporting units’ estimated market values compared to the Company’s market value, with the sum of the individual values typically being larger than the market value of the Company. The Company considers premiums paid by acquirers of comparable businesses to determine the reasonableness of the implied control premium.

The EBITDA multiple observed in the marketplace for recent transactions ranged from 8 to 10 for the annual impairment test as of July 1, 2010. For the July 1, 2010 impairment test, the Company adjusted the EBITDA multiples from the observed multiples, generally to multiples ranging from 6 to 12 so that the aggregate value of all reporting units relative to the Company’s total market value resulted in a reasonable implied equity control premium. The Company considers several factors in estimating the EBITDA multiple applicable to each reporting unit, including the reporting unit’s market position, brand awareness, gross and operating margins and prospects for growth, among other factors. After adjusting the EBITDA multiples for the reporting units, no potential goodwill impairment was indicated for reporting units for which this approach was used. Furthermore, the Company’s equity market value at July 1, 2010 of approximately $4.1 billion was significantly in excess of its book value of stockholders’ equity of approximately $1.9 billion. For the impairment test as of July 1, 2010, if each reporting unit’s EBITDA multiple were reduced by 0.5 from the 6 to 12 multiple used for each reporting unit, all reporting units where the EBITDA multiple approach was used to value the reporting unit would have passed step one of the goodwill impairment test.

The Company relies on a discounted cash flow approach to value reporting units in certain circumstances, such as when the reporting unit is growing at a significantly slower rate than planned, is declining at a significantly faster rate than the overall market, has experienced significant losses, is in a stage of hyper-growth, is executing significant restructuring efforts, or is in a stage of development where it has not yet fully realized the benefits of scale and operating efficiencies. The Company used the discounted cash flow approach to value two of its reporting units for the annual impairment test as of July 1, 2010, Baby & Parenting and Hardware, because these reporting units are executing significant restructuring projects, the financial results are significantly impacted by economic cycles and/or the reporting unit’s growth rate is lower than planned. The material assumptions used to value a reporting unit using the discounted cash flow approach are the future financial performance and cash flows of the reporting unit, the discount rate and the working capital investment required. Estimates of future financial performance include estimates of future sales growth rates, raw material costs, currency fluctuations and operating efficiencies to be realized. The Company determines a discount rate based on an estimate of a reasonable risk-adjusted return an investor would expect to realize on an investment in the reporting unit. In using the discounted cash flow approach to value reporting units in 2010, the Company generally used average compound long-term sales growth rates ranging from 2% to 3%, average operating margins of approximately 10% and discount rates of 12% to 14%. The Company concluded these two reporting units passed step one of the goodwill impairment test based on the values determined using the discounted cash flow approach.

If the discount rates used to estimate the fair value of the Baby & Parenting and Hardware reporting units increased 100 basis points, the estimated fair values of the reporting units would have declined by $70 million and $18 million, respectively. If the discount rates were increased by 100 basis points, the Hardware reporting unit would still have passed step one of the goodwill impairment test, whereas the Baby & Parenting reporting unit would not have passed step one of the goodwill impairment test.

The Company had one reporting unit, Baby & Parenting, whose estimated fair value at July 1, 2010 exceeded net assets by less than 10% of the reporting unit’s net assets using the adjusted EBITDA multiple or discounted cash flow approach, as applicable. The estimated fair value of Baby & Parenting at July 1, 2010 exceeded net assets by less than 10% of the reporting unit’s net assets using the discounted cash flow approach. The Baby & Parenting reporting unit has goodwill of $425.1 million as of July 1, 2010. If the discount rate used to estimate the fair value of the Baby & Parenting reporting unit was increased by 100 basis points, the estimated fair value of the reporting unit would have been approximately 7% less than the net assets of the reporting unit. Additional valuation procedures would have been required to determine whether Baby & Parenting’s goodwill was impaired, and to the extent goodwill was impaired, the magnitude of the impairment charge.

The Company continues to implement specific restructuring projects and business and operational strategies to further strengthen the profitability of Baby & Parenting. The Company continues to monitor whether these initiatives are being executed as planned and improve its financial performance. To the extent the Company is not successful in implementing these projects and strategies, it is possible the Company would record goodwill impairment charges associated with Baby & Parenting in future periods. Baby & Parenting has been adversely affected by the U.S. and Japanese economy and continues to integrate two acquired international businesses. Baby & Parenting has undertaken and is executing restructuring projects to reduce supply chain costs and administrative overhead worldwide and has taken steps to minimize the impact inflation has on its operating results, and to reduce inventories. These efforts are being taken to reduce the working capital investment required in the short-term and improve profitability over the mid- to long-term.

 

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If the estimated fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, the Company measures the amount of goodwill impairment, if any, based on the estimated fair value of the underlying assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, and estimates the implied fair value of goodwill. The Company identifies unrecognized intangible assets, such as trade names and customer relationships, and uses discounted cash flow models to estimate the values of the reporting unit’s recognized and unrecognized intangible assets. The estimated values of the reporting unit’s intangible assets and net tangible assets are deducted from the reporting unit’s total fair value to determine the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment charge is recognized to the extent the recorded goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill.

The Company’s indefinite-lived intangible assets totaled $315.6 million as of July 1, 2010. The Company assesses the fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets using a discounted cash flow model using the relief from royalty method, which estimates royalties to be derived in the future use of the asset were the Company to license the use of the trademark or trade name. An impairment charge for indefinite-lived intangible assets is recorded if the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the estimated fair value on the measurement date. The Company completed its annual impairment test of indefinite-lived intangible assets as of July 1, 2010 and concluded none of the assets were impaired.

The Company considers qualitative and quantitative factors in determining whether impairment testing of the trademark and trade name assets is necessary at dates other than the annual impairment testing date, such as whether the Company has plans to abandon or significantly reduce the use of a trademark or trade name. Based on consideration of these factors, the Company determined that no impairment indicators have been present, and therefore, impairment testing as of a date other than July 1, 2010 is not required.

See Footnote 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

The Company cannot predict the occurrence of events that might adversely affect the reported value of goodwill and other intangible assets. Such events may include, but are not limited to, strategic decisions made in response to economic and competitive conditions, the impact of the economic environment on the Company’s customer base and net sales, a material negative change in its relationships with significant customers or sustained declines in the Company’s market capitalization relative to its reported stockholders’ equity. The Company periodically evaluates the impact of economic and other conditions on the Company and its reporting units to assess whether impairment indicators are present. The Company may be required to perform impairment tests based on changes in the economic environment and other factors, which could result in impairment charges in the future. If consumer confidence and consumer spending decline significantly in the future or if commercial and industrial economic activity deteriorates significantly from current levels, it is reasonably likely the Company will be required to record impairment charges in the future.

Capitalized Software Costs

The Company capitalizes costs associated with internal-use software during the application development stage after both the preliminary project stage has been completed and the Company’s management has authorized and committed to funding for further project development. Capitalized internal-use software costs include: (i) external direct costs of materials and services consumed in developing or obtaining the software; (ii) payroll and payroll-related costs for employees who are directly associated with and who devote time directly to the project; and (iii) interest costs incurred while developing the software. Capitalization of these costs ceases no later than the point at which the project is substantially complete and ready for its intended purpose. The Company expenses as incurred research and development, general and administrative, and indirect costs associated with internal-use software. In addition, the Company expenses as incurred training, maintenance and other internal-use software costs incurred during the post-implementation stage. Costs associated with upgrades and enhancements of internal-use software are capitalized only if such modifications result in additional functionality of the software. Capitalized software costs were $216.4 million at December 31, 2010. Capitalized interest costs included in capitalized software were not material as of December 31, 2010.

The Company amortizes internal-use software costs using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the software, which typically ranges from three to 12 years. Capitalized software costs are evaluated annually for indicators of impairment, including but not limited to a significant change in available technology or the manner in which the software is being used. Impaired items are written down to their estimated fair values.

Other Long-Lived Assets

The Company continuously evaluates if impairment indicators related to its property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are present. These impairment indicators may include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or asset group, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset or asset group is being used or in its physical condition, or a current-period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset or asset group. If impairment indicators are present, the Company estimates the future cash flows for the asset or group of assets. The sum of the undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset or group of assets is compared to their carrying amount. The cash flows are estimated utilizing various assumptions regarding future revenue and expenses, working capital, and proceeds from asset disposals on a basis consistent with the Company’s strategic plan. If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows, the Company discounts the future cash flows using a

 

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discount rate required for a similar investment of like risk and records an impairment charge as the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset group. Generally, the Company performs its testing of the asset group at the product-line level, as this is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available.

Product Liability Reserves

The Company has a self-insurance program for product liability that includes reserves for self-retained losses and certain excess and aggregate risk transfer insurance. The Company uses historical loss experience combined with actuarial evaluation methods, review of significant individual files and the application of risk transfer programs in determining required product liability reserves. The Company’s actuarial evaluation methods take into account claims incurred but not reported when determining the Company’s product liability reserve. The Company has product liability reserves of $42.3 million as of December 31, 2010. While the Company believes that it has adequately reserved for these claims, the ultimate outcome of these matters may exceed the amounts recorded by the Company, and such additional losses may be material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Legal and Environmental Reserves

The Company is subject to losses resulting from extensive and evolving federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations, as well as contract and other disputes. The Company evaluates the potential legal and environmental losses relating to each specific case and determines the probable loss based on historical experience and estimates of cash flows for certain environmental matters. The estimated losses take into account anticipated costs associated with investigative and remediation efforts where an assessment has indicated that a probable liability has been incurred and the cost can be reasonably estimated. No insurance recovery is taken into account in determining the Company’s cost estimates or reserve, nor do the Company’s cost estimates or reserve reflect any discounting for present value purposes, except with respect to long-term operations and maintenance, Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability (“CERCLA”) and other matters which are estimated at present value. The Company’s estimate of environmental response costs associated with these matters as of December 31, 2010 ranged between $17.2 million and $29.6 million. As of December 31, 2010, the Company had a reserve of $19.3 million for such environmental response costs in the aggregate, which is included in other accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Income Taxes

In accordance with relevant authoritative guidance, the Company accounts for deferred income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income taxes are recognized based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as measured by current enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. No provision is made for the U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries, as substantially all such earnings are permanently reinvested.

The Company’s income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the IRS and other tax authorities. Although the Company believes that the positions taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, it has established tax and interest reserves in recognition that various taxing authorities may challenge the positions taken, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes and interest. The Company regularly reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering historical profitability, projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies.

For uncertain tax positions, the Company applies the provisions of relevant authoritative guidance, which requires application of a “more likely than not” threshold to the recognition and derecognition of tax positions. The Company’s ongoing assessments of the more likely than not outcomes of tax authority examinations and related tax positions require significant judgment and can increase or decrease the Company’s effective tax rate as well as impact operating results. See Footnote 16 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits

Pension and other postretirement benefit costs and liabilities are dependent on assumptions used in calculating such amounts. The primary assumptions include factors such as discount rates, health care cost trend rates, expected return on plan assets, mortality rates and rate of compensation increases, as discussed below:

 

 

Discount rates: The Company generally estimates the discount rate for its pension and other postretirement benefit obligations using an iterative process based on a hypothetical investment in a portfolio of high-quality bonds that approximate the estimated cash flows of the pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. The Company believes this approach permits a matching of future cash outflows related to benefit payments with future cash inflows associated with bond coupons and maturities.

 

 

Health care cost trend rate: The Company’s health care cost trend rate is based on historical retiree cost data, near-term health care outlook, and industry benchmarks and surveys.

 

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Expected return on plan assets: The Company’s expected return on plan assets is derived from reviews of asset allocation strategies and historical and anticipated future long-term performance of individual asset classes. The Company’s analysis gives consideration to historical returns and long-term, prospective rates of return.

 

 

Mortality rates: Mortality rates are based on actual and projected plan experience.

 

 

Rate of compensation increase: The rate of compensation increases reflects the Company’s long-term actual experience and its outlook, including consideration of expected rates of inflation.

In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, actual results that differ from the assumptions are accumulated and amortized over future periods, and therefore, generally affect recognized expense and the recorded obligation in future periods. While management believes that the assumptions used are appropriate, differences in actual experience or changes in assumptions may affect the Company’s pension and other postretirement plan obligations and future expense. See Footnote 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on the assumptions used. The following tables summarize the Company’s pension and other postretirement plan assets and obligations included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2010 (in millions):

 

    U.S.     International      
       

Pension plan assets and obligations, net:

   

Prepaid benefit cost

    $ —       $ 19.4      

Accrued current benefit cost

    (7.7     (4.0)    

Accrued noncurrent benefit cost

    (326.9     (71.6)    
       

Net liability recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

    $ (334.6   $ (56.2)    
       
          U.S.  
         

Other postretirement benefit obligations:

   

Accrued current benefit cost

      $   (15.1)    

Accrued noncurrent benefit cost

      (151.4)    
         

Liability recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet

      $ (166.5)    
         

The following table summarizes the net pre-tax cost associated with pensions and other postretirement benefit obligations in the Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, (in millions):

 

       2010      2009      2008    
        

Net pension cost

     $   21.5       $   18.1       $   18.3     

Net postretirement benefit costs

     9.2         8.7         8.8     
        

Total

     $ 30.7       $ 26.8       $ 27.1     
        

The Company used weighted-average discount rates of 5.7% and 5.8% to determine the expenses for 2010 for the pension and postretirement plans, respectively. The Company used a weighted-average expected return on assets of 7.4% to determine the expense for the pension plans for 2010. The following table illustrates the sensitivity to a change in certain assumptions for the pension and postretirement plan expenses, holding all other assumptions constant (in millions):

 

     Impact on 2010
  Expense  
    

25 basis point decrease in discount rate

   +$0.9

25 basis point increase in discount rate

   -$0.9

25 basis point decrease in expected return on assets

   +$2.8

25 basis point increase in expected return on assets

   -$2.8

The total projected benefit obligations of the Company’s pension and postretirement plans as of December 31, 2010 were $1.45 billion and $166.5 million, respectively. The Company used weighted-average discount rates of 5.3% to determine the projected benefit obligations for the pension and postretirement plans as of December 31, 2010. The following table illustrates the sensitivity to a change in certain assumptions for the projected benefit obligation for the pension and postretirement plans, holding all other assumptions constant (in millions):

 

    

December 31,

  2010 Impact on  

PBO

    

25 basis point decrease in discount rate

   +$52.4

25 basis point increase in discount rate

   -$49.7

 

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The Company has $425.4 million (after-tax) of net unrecognized pension and other postretirement losses ($662.5 million pre-tax) included as a reduction to stockholders’ equity at December 31, 2010. The unrecognized gains and losses primarily result from changes to life expectancies and other actuarial assumptions, changes in discount rates, as well as actual returns on plan assets being more or less than expected. The unrecognized gain (loss) for each plan is amortized to expense over the average life of each plan. The net amount amortized to expense totaled $13.1 million (pre-tax) in 2010, and amortization of unrecognized net losses is expected to continue to result in increases in pension and other postretirement plan expenses for the foreseeable future. Changes in actuarial assumptions, actual returns on plan assets and changes in the actuarially determined average life of the plans impact the amount of unrecognized gain (loss) recognized as expense annually.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued new accounting guidance related to the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and clarified existing disclosure requirements. More specifically, this update requires (a) an entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers, and (b) information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be presented separately, on a gross basis rather than net, in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). This guidance clarifies existing disclosure requirements for the level of disaggregation used for classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and requires disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosure were effective beginning January 1, 2010, except for the disclosure requirements related to the purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward activity of Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

International Operations

For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company’s non-U.S. businesses accounted for approximately 31%, 30% and 31% of net sales, respectively (see Footnote 19 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). Changes in both U.S. and non-U.S. net sales are shown below for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

     2010      2009      2008     

2010 vs. 

2009 % 

Change 

   

2009 vs.  

2008 %  

Change  

 
        

U.S.

     $   3,949.9       $   3,881.4       $   4,447.2         1.8     (12.7)%       

Non-U.S

     1,809.3         1,696.2         2,023.4         6.7        (16.2)          
        
     $   5,759.2       $ 5,577.6       $ 6,470.6         3.3     (13.8)%      
        

The Company began accounting for its Venezuelan operations using highly inflationary accounting in January 2010. Under highly inflationary accounting, the Company remeasures assets, liabilities, sales and expenses denominated in Bolivar Fuertes into U.S. Dollars using the applicable exchange rate, and the resulting translation adjustments are included in earnings. As of December 31, 2010, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary had approximately $29.5 million of net monetary assets denominated in Bolivar Fuertes, and as a result, a 5% increase (decrease) in the applicable exchange rate would decrease (increase) the Company’s pretax income by $1.5 million.

In May 2010, the Venezuelan government enacted reforms to its foreign currency exchange control regulations to close down the parallel exchange market. In early June 2010, the Venezuelan government introduced a newly regulated foreign currency exchange system, Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities (“SITME”). Foreign currency exchange through SITME is allowed within a specified band of 4.5 to 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar, but most of the exchanges have been executed at the rate of 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar. The Company began applying the SITME rate of 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar in May 2010. The transition to the SITME rate from the parallel rate did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated net sales or operating income for the year ended December 31, 2010, compared to using the parallel rate for the same period. The transition to the SITME rate did result in a one-time foreign exchange gain of $5.6 million, which is recognized in other income for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Prior to the use of the SITME rate, the Company’s results in Venezuela in 2010 were being reflected in the consolidated financial statements at the parallel exchange rate, and during substantially all of 2009, the Company used the official rate of 2.15 to 1 U.S. Dollar to report the results of its Venezuelan operations. As a result of using the less favorable SITME rate and parallel rate during 2010, consolidated net sales and operating income declined 1% and 3%, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2010 compared to the year ended December 31, 2009 due solely to the change in exchange rates used to translate the results of the Company’s Venezuelan operations. The change in the rate does not impact reported changes in core sales, which exclude the impact of foreign currency. Since the introduction of SITME in June 2010, the Venezuelan government has held the rate constant at 5.3

 

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Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar. However, future changes in the rate are possible, and such changes could materially impact the Company’s net income, primarily as a result of foreign exchange gains and losses that would result from the change in the rate.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is a market-based measurement, not an entity-specific measurement, defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Various valuation techniques exist for measuring fair value, including the market approach (comparable market prices), the income approach (present value of future income or cash flow), and the cost approach (cost to replace the service capacity of an asset or replacement cost). These valuation techniques are based upon observable and unobservable inputs. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources, while unobservable inputs reflect the Company’s market assumptions. The authoritative accounting guidance for fair value provides a hierarchy that prioritizes these two inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels.

The following is a brief description of those three levels:

 

   

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

 

   

Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for similar or identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

 

   

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

The Company’s assets and liabilities adjusted to fair value at least annually are its money market fund investments, included in cash and cash equivalents; mutual fund investments, included in other assets; and derivative instruments, primarily included in other assets, other accrued liabilities and other noncurrent liabilities, and these assets and liabilities are therefore subject to the measurement and disclosure requirements outlined in the authoritative guidance. The Company determines the fair value of its money market fund investments based on the values of the underlying assets (Level 2) and its mutual fund investments based on quoted market prices (Level 1). The Company generally uses derivatives for hedging purposes, and the Company’s derivatives are primarily foreign currency forward contracts and interest rate swaps. The Company determines the fair value of its derivative instruments based on Level 2 inputs in the fair value hierarchy. Level 2 fair value determinations are derived from directly or indirectly observable (market-based) information.

Forward-Looking Statements

Forward-looking statements in this Report are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, but are not limited to, information or assumptions about the effects of sales (including pricing), income/(loss), earnings per share, operating income or gross margin improvements or declines, Project Acceleration, the European Transformation Plan, the Capital Structure Optimization Plan, capital and other expenditures, working capital, cash flow, dividends, capital structure, debt to capitalization ratios, debt ratings, availability of financing, interest rates, restructuring and restructuring-related costs, impairment and other charges, potential losses on divestitures, impact of changes in accounting standards, pending legal proceedings and claims (including environmental matters), future economic performance, costs and cost savings (including raw material and sourced product inflation, productivity and streamlining), synergies, management’s plans, goals and objectives for future operations, performance and growth or the assumptions relating to any of the forward-looking statements. These statements generally are accompanied by words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “will,” “should,” “would” or similar statements. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the Company’s dependence on the strength of retail, commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in light of the global economic slowdown; currency fluctuations; competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products; major retailers’ strong bargaining power; changes in the prices of raw materials and sourced products and the Company’s ability to obtain raw materials and sourced products in a timely manner from suppliers; the Company’s ability to develop innovative new products and to develop, maintain and strengthen its end-user brands; the Company’s ability to expeditiously close facilities and move operations while managing foreign regulations and other impediments; the Company’s ability to implement successfully information technology solutions throughout its organization; the Company’s ability to improve productivity and streamline operations; changes to the Company’s credit ratings; significant increases in the funding obligations related to the Company’s pension plans due to declining asset values or otherwise; the imposition of tax liabilities greater than the Company’s provisions for such matters; the risks inherent in the Company’s foreign operations and those matters set forth in this Report generally and Item 1A to this Report. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company has correctly identified and

 

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assessed all of the factors affecting the Company or that the publicly available and other information the Company receives with respect to these factors is complete or correct.

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market Risk

The Company’s market risk is impacted by changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and certain commodity prices. Pursuant to the Company’s policies, natural hedging techniques and derivative financial instruments may be utilized to reduce the impact of adverse changes in rates and prices. The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes.

Interest Rates

Interest rate risk is present with both fixed- and floating-rate debt. The Company manages its interest rate exposure through its mix of fixed- and floating-rate debt and its conservative debt ratio target. Interest rate swap agreements designated as fair value hedges are used to mitigate the Company’s exposure to changes in the fair value of fixed-rate debt resulting from fluctuations in benchmark interest rates. Accordingly, benchmark interest rate fluctuations impact the fair value of the Company’s fixed-rate debt, which are offset by corresponding changes in the fair value of the swap agreements. Interest rate swaps may also be used to adjust interest rate exposures when appropriate based on market conditions, and for qualifying hedges, the interest differential of swaps is included in interest expense. Excluding debt for which a fixed rate has been swapped for a floating rate, fixed-rate debt represented approximately 43.7% of the Company’s $2.37 billion of total debt as of December 31, 2010.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

The Company is exposed to foreign currency risk in the ordinary course of business since a portion of the Company’s sales, expenses and operating transactions is conducted on a global basis in various foreign currencies. To the extent that business transactions are not denominated in the functional currency of the entity entering into the transaction, the Company is exposed to transactional foreign currency exchange rate risk. The Company’s foreign exchange risk management policy emphasizes hedging anticipated intercompany and third-party commercial transaction exposures of one-year duration or less. The Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts as economic hedges for commercial transactions and to offset the future impact of gains and losses resulting from changes in the expected amount of functional currency cash flows to be received or paid upon settlement of the anticipated intercompany and third-party commercial transactions. Gains and losses related to the settlement of qualifying hedges of commercial and intercompany transactions are deferred and included in the basis of the underlying transactions. The Company also uses natural hedging techniques such as offsetting or netting like foreign currency flows and denominating contracts in the appropriate functional currency.

The Company also incurs gains and losses recorded within shareholders’ equity due to the translation of the financial statements from the functional currency of its subsidiaries to U.S. Dollars. The Company utilizes capital structures of foreign subsidiaries combined with forward contracts to minimize its exposure to foreign currency risk. The Company may hedge portions of its net investments in foreign subsidiaries, including intercompany loans, with forward contracts and cross-currency hedges. Gains and losses related to qualifying forward exchange contracts and cross-currency hedges, which are generally used to hedge intercompany loans and net investments in foreign subsidiaries, are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss).

Commodity Prices

The Company purchases certain raw materials, including resin, corrugate, steel, stainless steel, aluminum and other metals, which are subject to price volatility caused by unpredictable factors. The Company’s resin purchases are principally comprised of polyethylene and polypropylene in roughly equal quantities. While future movements of raw material costs are uncertain, a variety of programs, including periodic raw material purchases, purchases of raw materials for future delivery and customer price adjustments help the Company address this risk. Where practical, the Company uses derivatives as part of its risk management process.

Financial Instruments

In managing the impact of interest rate changes and foreign currency fluctuations, the Company uses interest rate swaps, foreign currency forward contracts and cross-currency swaps. Derivatives were recorded at fair value in the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2010 as follows (in millions):

 

Prepaid expenses and other

   $ 2.6     

Other assets

     42.3     

Other accrued liabilities

   $ (2.0  

See Footnote 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on derivatives.

 

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Value at Risk

The amounts shown below represent the estimated potential economic loss that the Company could incur from adverse changes in either interest rates or foreign exchange rates using the value-at-risk estimation model. The value-at-risk model uses historical foreign exchange rates and interest rates to estimate the volatility and correlation of these rates in future periods. It estimates a loss in fair market value using statistical modeling techniques that are based on a variance/covariance approach and includes substantially all market risk exposures (specifically excluding equity-method investments). The fair value losses shown in the table below represent the Company’s estimate of the maximum loss that could arise in one day. The amounts presented in the table are shown as an illustration of the impact of potential adverse changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates. The following table sets forth the one day value-at-risk as of and for the year ended December 31, (in millions, except percentages):

 

Market Risk (1)   

2010

Average

    

December 31,

2010

    

2009

Average

    

December 31,

2009

    

Confidence

Level

      
           

Interest rates

   $ 9.8       $ 11.5       $ 12.2       $ 9.6         95%      

Foreign exchange

   $ 12.2       $ 11.2       $ 12.8       $ 12.3         95%      

 

(1)

The Company generally does not enter into material derivative contracts for commodities; therefore, commodity price risk is not shown because the amounts are not material.

The 95% confidence interval signifies the Company’s degree of confidence that actual losses would not exceed the estimated losses shown above. The amounts shown here disregard the possibility that interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates could move in the Company’s favor. The value-at-risk model assumes that all movements in these rates will be adverse. Actual experience has shown that gains and losses tend to offset each other over time, and it is highly unlikely that the Company could experience losses such as these over an extended period of time. Additionally, since the Company operates globally, and therefore, among a broad basket of currencies, its foreign currency exposure is diversified. These amounts should not be considered projections of future losses, because actual results may differ significantly depending upon activity in the global financial markets.

 

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

MANAGEMENT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The management of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. is responsible for the accuracy and internal consistency of the consolidated financial statements and footnotes contained in this annual report.

The Company’s management is also responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Newell Rubbermaid Inc. operates under a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of published financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The internal accounting control system is evaluated for effectiveness by management and is tested, monitored and revised as necessary. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010. In making its assessment, the Company’s management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in Internal Control—Integrated Framework.

Based on the results of its evaluation, the Company’s management concluded that, as of December 31, 2010, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Ernst & Young LLP, has audited the financial statements prepared by the management of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and the effectiveness of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting. Their reports on the financial statements and on the effectiveness of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting are presented herein.

 

NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.

Atlanta, Georgia

March 1, 2011

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (2). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Newell Rubbermaid Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated March 1, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

 

    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

   

March 1, 2011

   

 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Board of Directors and Stockholders of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.

We have audited Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries’ management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Responsibility for Financial Statements and Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income (loss), and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and subsidiaries and our report dated March 1, 2011 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (2).

 

    /s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Atlanta, Georgia

   

March 1, 2011

   

 

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NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in millions, except per share data)

 

Year Ended December 31,    2010     2009      2008  
   

Net sales

    $   5,759.2      $ 5,577.6       $   6,470.6     

Cost of products sold

     3,588.4        3,528.1         4,347.4     
        

Gross margin

     2,170.8        2,049.5         2,123.2     

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     1,463.4        1,374.6         1,502.7     

Impairment charges

     0        0         299.4     

Restructuring costs

     77.5        100.0         120.3     
        

Operating income

     629.9        574.9         200.8     

Nonoperating expenses:

       

Interest expense, net of interest income of $3.5, $6.3 and $8.9 in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively

     118.4        140.0         137.9     

Losses related to extinguishments of debt

     218.6        4.7         52.2     

Other (income) expense, net

     (7.4     2.0         6.9     
        

Net nonoperating expenses

     329.6        146.7         197.0     
        

Income before income taxes

     300.3        428.2         3.8     

Income taxes

     7.5        142.7         53.6     
        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     292.8        285.5         (49.8)    

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     0        0         (0.5)    
        

Net income (loss)

     292.8        285.5         (50.3)    

Net income noncontrolling interests

     0        0         2.0     
        

Net income (loss) controlling interests

    $ 292.8      $ 285.5       $ (52.3)    
        

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

       

Basic

     282.4        280.8         279.9     

Diluted

     305.4        294.4         279.9     

Earnings per share:

       

Basic:

       

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    $ 1.04      $ 1.02       $ (0.18)    

Loss from discontinued operations

     0        0         0     

Net income (loss) controlling interests

    $ 1.04      $ 1.02       $ (0.18)    

Diluted:

       

Income (loss) from continuing operations

    $ 0.96      $ 0.97       $ (0.18)    

Loss from discontinued operations

     0        0         0     

Net income (loss) controlling interests

    $ 0.96      $ 0.97       $ (0.18)    

Dividends per share

    $ 0.20      $ 0.26       $ 0.84     

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in millions, except par values)

 

December 31,    2010     2009  
   

Assets

    

Current Assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

    $ 139.6      $ 278.3     

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $43.0 for 2010 and $42.2 for 2009

     997.9        894.1     

Inventories, net

     701.6        688.2      

Deferred income taxes

     179.2        183.8     

Prepaid expenses and other

     113.7        137.7     
        

Total Current Assets

     2,132.0        2,182.1     

Property, plant and equipment, net

     529.3        578.1     

Goodwill

     2,749.5        2,754.3     

Other intangible assets, net

     648.3        646.2     

Other assets

     346.2        263.2     
        

Total Assets

    $ 6,405.3      $ 6,423.9     
        

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current Liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

    $ 472.5      $ 433.6     

Accrued compensation

     190.2        176.4     

Other accrued liabilities

     698.2        656.0     

Short-term debt

     135.0        0.6     

Current portion of long-term debt

     170.0        492.9     
        

Total Current Liabilities

     1,665.9        1,759.5     

Long-term debt

     2,063.9        2,015.3     

Other noncurrent liabilities

     770.0        866.9     

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Preferred stock, authorized shares, 10.0 at $1.00 par value

     0        0     

None issued and outstanding

    

Common stock, authorized shares, 800.0 at $1.00 par value

     307.2        294.0     

Outstanding shares, before treasury:

    

2010 — 307.2

    

2009 — 294.0

    

Treasury stock, at cost:

     (425.7     (420.6)    

Shares held:

    

2010 — 16.7

    

2009 — 16.2

    

Additional paid-in capital

     568.2        669.8     

Retained earnings

     2,057.3        1,820.7     

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (605.0     (585.2)    
        

Stockholders’ Equity Attributable to Parent

     1,902.0        1,778.7     

Stockholders’ Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests

     3.5        3.5     
        

Total Stockholders’ Equity

     1,905.5        1,782.2     
        

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    $   6,405.3      $   6,423.9     
        

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in millions)

 

Year Ended December 31,    2010     2009     2008  
   

Operating Activities:

      

Net income (loss)

    $     292.8      $ 285.5      $ (50.3)    

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

      

Depreciation and amortization

     172.3        175.1        183.3     

Losses related to extinguishments of debt

     218.6        4.7        52.2     

Non-cash restructuring costs

     6.3        32.4        46.2     

Deferred income taxes

     (6.1     14.9        8.7     

Impairment charges

     0        0        299.4     

Loss on disposal of discontinued operations

     0        0        0.5     

Stock-based compensation expense

     36.5        35.1        35.6     

Other, net

     21.9        16.4        (27.0)    

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:

      

Accounts receivable

     (103.6     98.0        168.3     

Inventories

     (14.5     243.1        30.9     

Accounts payable

     39.1        (103.6     (105.5)    

Accrued liabilities and other

     (80.7     (198.8     (185.2)    

Discontinued operations

     0        0        (2.2)    
        

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

    $ 582.6      $ 602.8      $ 454.9     
        

Investing Activities:

      

Acquisitions and acquisition-related activity

    $ (1.5   $ (13.7   $ (655.7)    

Capital expenditures

     (164.7     (153.3     (157.8)    

Proceeds from sales of noncurrent assets

     16.8        17.6        9.4     

Other

     (4.0     0        0     
        

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

    $ (153.4   $ (149.4   $ (804.1)    
        

Financing Activities

      

Proceeds from issuance of debt, net of debt issuance costs

    $ 547.3      $      634.8      $      1,318.0     

Short-term borrowings, net

     133.6        192.5        0     

Proceeds from issuance of warrants

     0        32.7        0    

Purchase of call options

     0        (69.0     0    

Payments for settlement of warrants

     (298.4     0        0    

Proceeds from settlement of call options

     369.5        0        0    

Payments on and for the settlement of notes payable and debt

     (710.8     (1,113.0     (772.5)    

Cash consideration paid for exchange of convertible notes (1)

     (53.0     0        0    

Repurchase of shares of common stock

     (500.1     0        0    

Cash dividends

     (55.4     (71.4     (234.5)    

Purchases of noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiaries

     0        (29.2     0    

Other, net

     (4.6     (4.4     (5.0)    
        

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

    $ (571.9   $ (427.0   $ 306.0     
        

Currency rate effect on cash and cash equivalents

     4.0        (23.5     (10.6)    
        

(Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents

     (138.7     2.9        (53.8)    

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year

     278.3        275.4        329.2     
        

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year

    $ 139.6      $ 278.3      $ 275.4     
        

Supplemental cash flow disclosures — cash paid during the year for:

      

Income taxes, net of refunds

    $ 80.0      $ 111.7      $ 96.9     

Interest

    $ 109.4      $ 120.6      $ 144.2     

 

(1)

Consideration provided in connection with the convertible note exchange consisted of cash as well as issuance of shares of the Company’s common stock, which issuance is not included in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended December 31, 2010. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

(Amounts in millions)

 

   

    Common

    Stock

   

Treasury

Stock

    Add’l
Paid-
In
Capital
    Retained
Earnings
   

Accumulated

Other
Comprehensive Loss

    Stockholders’
Equity
Attributable
to Parent
    Noncontrolling
interests
    Total
Stockholders’
Equity
 
       

Balance at December 31, 2007

    $ 292.6      $ (415.1   $ 570.3      $ 1,894.5      $ (123.2   $ 2,219.1      $ 3.0          $ 2,222.1    

Net (loss) income

    0        0        0        (52.3     0        (52.3     2.0        (50.3)   

Foreign currency translation

    0        0        0        0        (312.0     (312.0     0        (312.0)   

Unrecognized pension and other postretirement costs, net of $87.0 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        0        (107.4     (107.4     0        (107.4)   

Gain on derivative instruments, including $22.1 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        0        39.5        39.5        0        39.5    
                 

Total comprehensive loss

            $ (432.2   $ 2.0          $ (430.2)   
                 

Cash dividends on common stock

    0        0        0        (234.5     0        (234.5     0        (234.5)   

Cash dividends for noncontrolling interests

    0        0        0        0        0        0        (3.0     (3.0)   

Exercise of stock options

    0.1        0        2.3        0        0        2.4        0        2.4    

Pension adjustment, net of $0.2 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        (1.1     0.7        (0.4     0        (0.4)   

Stock-based compensation and other

    0.4        (2.9     34.1        0        0        31.6        0.6        32.2    
       

Balance at December 31, 2008

    $ 293.1      $ (418.0   $ 606.7      $ 1,606.6      $ (502.4   $ 1,586.0      $ 2.6          $ 1,588.6    
       

Net income

    0        0        0        285.5        0        285.5        0        285.5    

Foreign currency translation, including $10.2 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        0        75.9        75.9        0        75.9    

Unrecognized pension and other postretirement costs, net of $17.4 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        0        (109.3     (109.3     0        (109.3)   

Loss on derivative instruments, including $46.3 of tax expense

    0        0        0        0        (49.4     (49.4     0        (49.4)   
                 

Total comprehensive loss

            $ 202.7        0          $ 202.7    
                 

Cash dividends on common stock

    0        0        0        (71.4     0        (71.4     0        (71.4)   

Cash dividends for noncontrolling interests

    0        0        0        0        0        0        (1.9     (1.9)   

Stock-based compensation and other

    0.9        (2.6     34.7        0        0        33.0        3.5        36.5    

Purchase of call options, net of tax

    0        0        (43.0     0        0        (43.0     0        (43.0)   

Issuance and sale of warrants

    0        0        32.7        0        0        32.7        0        32.7    

Discount on convertible notes, net of issuance costs and tax

    0        0        41.0        0        0        41.0        0        41.0    

Purchase of noncontrolling interests

    0        0        (2.3     0        0        (2.3     (0.7     (3.0)   
       

Balance at December 31, 2009

    $ 294.0      $ (420.6   $ 669.8      $ 1,820.7      $ (585.2   $ 1,778.7      $ 3.5          $ 1,782.2    
       

Net income

    0        0        0        292.8        0        292.8        0        292.8    

Foreign currency translation

    0        0        0        0        (13.1     (13.1     0        (13.1)   

Unrecognized pension and other postretirement costs, net of $30.3 of tax benefits

    0        0        0        0        (7.0     (7.0     0        (7.0)   

Gain on derivative instruments, net of $0 tax

    0        0        0        0        0.3        0.3        0        0.3     
                 

Total comprehensive income

            $ 273.0        0          $ 273.0    
                 

Cash dividends on common stock

    0        0        0        (55.4     0        (55.4     0        (55.4)   

Stock-based compensation and other

    1.3        (5.1     35.7        (0.8     0        31.1        0        31.1     

Settlement of call options

    0        0        369.5        0        0        369.5       0        369.5    

Settlement of warrants

    0        0        (298.4     0        0        (298.4     0        (298.4)    

Common stock issued for convertible notes exchange

    37.7       0        600.3        0        0        638.0       0        638.0     

Retirement of common stock purchased under the ASB

    (25.8     0        (474.3     0        0        (500.1     0        (500.1)    

Extinguishment of equity component of convertible notes

    0        0        (334.4     0        0        (334.4     0        (334.4)    
       

Balance at December 31, 2010

    $ 307.2      $ (425.7   $  568.2      $  2,057.3      $ (605.0   $ 1,902.0      $ 3.5          $   1,905.5    
       

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

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NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOOTNOTE 1

Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies

Description of Business

Newell Rubbermaid (the “Company”) is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that touch the lives of people where they work, live and play. The Company’s products are marketed under a strong portfolio of brands, including Rubbermaid®, Graco®, Aprica®, Levolor®, Calphalon®, Goody®, Sharpie®, Paper Mate®, Dymo®, Parker®, Waterman®, Irwin®, Lenox® and Technical Concepts™. The Company’s multi-product offering consists of well-known name-brand consumer and commercial products in three business segments: Home & Family; Office Products; and Tools, Hardware & Commercial Products.

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority owned subsidiaries and variable interest entities where the Company is the primary beneficiary, after elimination of intercompany transactions.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these financial statements requires the use of certain estimates by management in determining the Company’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Reclassifications

Certain 2009 and 2008 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 2010 presentation.

Concentration of Credit Risk

The Company sells products to customers in diversified industries and geographic regions and, therefore, has no significant concentrations of credit risk. The Company continuously evaluates the creditworthiness of its customers and generally does not require collateral.

The Company evaluates the collectibility of accounts receivable based on a combination of factors. When aware of a specific customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations, such as in the case of bankruptcy filings or deterioration in the customer’s operating results or financial position, the Company records a specific reserve for bad debt to reduce the related receivable to the amount the Company reasonably believes is collectible. The Company also records reserves for bad debt for all other customers based on a variety of factors, including the length of time the receivables are past due and historical collection experience. Accounts are also reviewed for potential write-off on a case-by-case basis. Accounts deemed uncollectible are written off, net of expected recoveries. If circumstances related to specific customers change, the Company’s estimates of the recoverability of receivables could be further adjusted.

The Company’s forward exchange contracts, cross-currency interest rate swaps and option contracts do not subject the Company to risk due to foreign exchange rate movement, because gains and losses on these instruments generally offset gains and losses on the assets, liabilities, and other transactions being hedged. The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparties to certain derivative financial instruments. The Company does not obtain collateral or other security to support derivative financial instruments subject to credit risk, but monitors the credit standing of the counterparties.

The credit exposure that results from commodity, interest rate, foreign exchange and other derivatives is the fair value of contracts with a positive fair value as of the reporting date. The credit exposure on the Company’s interest rate and foreign currency derivatives at December 31, 2010 was $42.3 million and $2.6 million, respectively. The credit exposure on the Company’s commodity derivatives at December 31, 2010 was immaterial.

Sales Recognition

Sales of merchandise and freight billed to customers are recognized when title passes and all substantial risks of ownership change, which generally occurs either upon shipment or upon delivery based upon contractual terms. Sales are net of provisions for cash discounts, returns, customer discounts (such as volume or trade discounts), cooperative advertising and other sales-related discounts.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and highly liquid investments that have a maturity of three months or less when purchased.

 

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Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market value using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) or first-in, first-out (FIFO) methods (see Footnote 5 for additional information). The Company reduces its inventory value for estimated obsolete and slow-moving inventory in an amount equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the net realizable value based upon estimates about future demand and market conditions. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the Company’s reserves for excess and obsolete inventory and shrink reserves totaled $70.7 million and $102.1 million, respectively. If actual market conditions are less favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs may be required.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs are expensed as incurred. Depreciation expense is calculated principally on the straight-line basis. Useful lives determined by the Company are as follows: buildings and improvements (20-40 years) and machinery and equipment (3-12 years).

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

The Company conducts its annual test for impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets in the third quarter because it coincides with its annual strategic planning process.

The Company evaluates goodwill for impairment annually at the reporting unit level, which is one level below the operating segment level. The Company also tests for impairment if events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is below its carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit is greater than the fair value, impairment may be present. The Company assesses the fair value of each reporting unit for its goodwill impairment test based on a discounted cash flow model, an earnings multiple or an actual sales offer received from a prospective buyer, if available. Estimates critical to the Company’s fair value estimates using earnings multiples include the projected financial performance of the reporting unit and the applicable earnings multiple. Estimates critical to the Company’s fair value estimates under the discounted cash flow model include the discount rate, projected average revenue growth, projected long-term growth rates in the determination of terminal values and product costs.

The Company measures the amount of any goodwill impairment based upon the estimated fair value of the underlying assets and liabilities of the reporting unit, including any unrecognized intangible assets, and estimates the implied fair value of goodwill. An impairment charge is recognized to the extent the recorded goodwill exceeds the implied fair value of goodwill.

The Company also evaluates indefinite-lived intangible assets (primarily trademarks and trade names) for impairment annually. The Company also tests for impairment if events and circumstances indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair value of an indefinite-lived intangible asset is below its carrying amount. Estimates critical to the Company’s evaluation of indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment include the discount rate, royalty rates used in its evaluation of trade names, projected average revenue growth and projected long-term growth rates in the determination of terminal values. An impairment charge is recorded if the carrying amount of an indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the estimated fair value on the measurement date.

See Footnote 7 for additional detail on goodwill and other intangible assets.

Other Long-Lived Assets

The Company tests its other long-lived assets for impairment in accordance with relevant authoritative guidance. The Company evaluates if impairment indicators related to its property, plant and equipment and other long-lived assets are present. These impairment indicators may include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or asset group, a significant adverse change in the extent or manner in which a long-lived asset or asset group is being used or in its physical condition, or a current-period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset or asset group. If impairment indicators are present, the Company estimates the future cash flows for the asset or group of assets. The sum of the undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset or group of assets is compared to their carrying amount. The cash flows are estimated utilizing various projections of revenues and expenses, working capital and proceeds from asset disposals on a basis consistent with the strategic plan. If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows, the Company determines the assets’ fair value by discounting the future cash flows using a discount rate required for a similar investment of like risk and records an impairment charge as the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset group. Generally, the Company performs its testing of the asset group at the product-line level, as this is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available.

Shipping and Handling Costs

The Company records shipping and handling costs as a component of cost of products sold.

 

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Product Liability Reserves

The Company has a self-insurance program for product liability that includes reserves for self-retained losses and certain excess and aggregate risk transfer insurance. The Company uses historical loss experience combined with actuarial evaluation methods, review of significant individual files and the application of risk transfer programs in determining required product liability reserves. The Company’s actuarial evaluation methods take into account claims incurred but not reported when determining the Company’s product liability reserve. While the Company believes that it has adequately reserved for these claims, the ultimate outcome of these matters may exceed the amounts recorded by the Company, and such additional losses may be material to the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Product Warranties

In the normal course of business, the Company offers warranties for a variety of its products. The specific terms and conditions of the warranties vary depending upon the specific product and markets in which the products were sold. The Company accrues for the estimated cost of product warranty at the time of sale based on historical experience.

Advertising Costs

The Company expenses advertising costs as incurred. Cooperative advertising with customers is recorded in the Consolidated Financial Statements as a reduction of net sales and totaled $107.6 million, $112.6 million and $143.2 million for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. All other advertising costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and totaled $152.9 million, $139.8 million and $201.2 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Research and Development Costs

Research and development costs relating to both future and current products are charged to selling, general and administrative expenses as incurred. These costs totaled $128.8 million, $118.4 million and $119.5 million in 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivative financial instruments are generally used to manage certain commodity, interest rate and foreign currency risks. These instruments primarily include interest rate swaps, cross-currency interest rate swaps, forward exchange contracts and options. The Company’s forward exchange contracts, options and cross-currency interest rate swaps do not subject the Company to exchange rate risk because gains and losses on these instruments generally offset gains and losses on the assets, liabilities, and other transactions being hedged. However, these instruments, when settled, impact the Company’s cash flows from operations to the extent the underlying transaction being hedged is not simultaneously settled due to an extension, a renewal or otherwise.

On the date when the Company enters into a derivative, the derivative is designated as a hedge of the identified exposure. The Company measures effectiveness of its hedging relationships both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis. No material ineffectiveness was recorded on designated hedges in 2010, 2009 and 2008.

Interest Rate Risk Management

Gains and losses on interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges, to the extent that the hedge relationship has been effective, are deferred in other comprehensive income (loss) and recognized in interest expense over the period in which the Company recognizes interest expense on the related debt instrument. Any ineffectiveness on these instruments is immediately recognized in interest expense in the period that the ineffectiveness occurs.

Interest rate swaps designated as fair value hedges include interest rate swaps on long-term debt, cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts. The Company records the fair value of interest rate swaps on long-term debt as an asset or liability with a corresponding adjustment to the carrying value of the debt. Any ineffectiveness on these instruments is immediately recognized in interest expense in the period that the ineffectiveness occurs. See foreign currency management below for discussion of cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts.

Gains or losses resulting from the early termination of interest rate swaps are deferred as an increase or decrease to the carrying value of the related debt and amortized as an adjustment to the yield of the related debt instrument over the remaining period originally covered by the swap. The cash received or paid relating to the termination of interest rate swaps is included in other as an operating activity in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Foreign Currency Management

The Company utilizes forward exchange contracts and options to manage foreign exchange risk related to both known and anticipated intercompany transactions and third-party commercial transaction exposures of approximately one year in duration or less. For instruments designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of the changes in fair value of these instruments is reported in other

 

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comprehensive income (loss) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods in which the hedged transactions affect earnings. Any ineffective portion is immediately recognized in earnings. For instruments designated as fair value hedges, the changes in fair value are reported in earnings, generally offsetting the change in value of the underlying instrument being hedged.

The Company has historically utilized cross-currency interest rate swaps to hedge long-term intercompany financing transactions. Gains and losses related to qualifying forward exchange contracts, which hedge certain anticipated transactions, are recognized in other comprehensive income (loss) until the underlying transaction occurs.

The fair values of foreign currency hedging instruments are recorded in the captions Prepaid expenses and other, Other assets, Other accrued liabilities or Other noncurrent liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets depending on the maturity of the Company’s cross-currency interest rate swaps and forward contracts at December 31, 2010 and 2009. The earnings impact of cash flow hedges relating to forecasted purchases of inventory is generally reported in cost of products sold to match the underlying transaction being hedged. For hedged forecasted transactions, hedge accounting is discontinued if the forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring, in which case previously deferred hedging gains or losses would be recorded to earnings immediately.

Foreign Currency Translation

Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in effect at year-end. The related translation adjustments are made directly to accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Income and expenses are translated at the average monthly rates of exchange in effect during the year. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions of these subsidiaries are included in net income (loss). International subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies remeasure nonmonetary assets at historical rates, while net monetary assets are remeasured at current rates, with the resulting remeasurememt adjustment included in net income (loss) as other expense, net.

The Company designates certain foreign currency denominated, long-term intercompany financing transactions as economic hedges of net investments in foreign operations and records the gain or loss on the transaction arising from changes in exchange rates as a translation adjustment to the extent the intercompany financing arrangement is effective as a hedge.

In December 2009, the Company ceased the use of the official exchange rate to translate assets, liabilities and income (loss) for its operations in Venezuela and instead began using the parallel exchange rate. Effective January 1, 2010, the Company accounted for Venezuela as a highly inflationary economy as the three-year cumulative inflation rate for Venezuela, using a blend of the Consumer Price Index associated with the city of Caracas and the National Consumer Price Index (developed commencing in 2008 and covering the entire country of Venezuela), exceeded 100%. Accounting standards require the functional currency of the foreign operations operating in highly inflationary economies to be the same as the reporting currency of the Company. Accordingly, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary began using the U.S. Dollar as its functional currency on January 1, 2010. As a result of the change to a U.S. Dollar functional currency, monetary assets and liabilities denominated in Bolivar Fuertes generate income or expense for changes in value associated with parallel exchange rate fluctuations against the U.S. Dollar. From January 2010 to May 2010, the Company used the parallel market rate to determine the U.S. Dollar equivalent values of its Venezuelan subsidiary’s transactions and balances. In May 2010, the Venezuelan government enacted reforms to its foreign currency exchange control regulations to close down the parallel exchange market. In early June 2010, the Venezuelan government introduced a newly regulated foreign currency exchange system, Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities (“SITME”). Foreign currency exchange through SITME is allowed within a specified band of 4.5 to 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar, but most of the exchanges have been executed at the rate of 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar. The Company began applying the SITME rate of 5.3 Bolivar Fuerte to U.S. Dollar in May 2010. The transition to the SITME rate resulted in a foreign exchange gain of $5.6 million, which is recognized in other income for the year ended December 31, 2010.

The Company transitioned to the parallel market rate in December 2009 and has used the parallel market rate and SITME rate in 2010 because of indications that the Venezuelan government is not likely to provide substantial currency exchange at the official rate for companies importing nonessential products, as well as difficulties in obtaining approval for the conversion of local currency to U.S. Dollars at the official exchange rate (for imported products, royalties and distributions). The Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary had approximately $29.5 million of net monetary assets denominated in Bolivar Fuertes as of December 31, 2010, which are subject to changes in value based on changes in the SITME rate.

Using predominantly the official rate for translation in 2009, the company’s Venezuelan operations generated net sales of approximately $65.0 million and operating income of approximately $25.0 million in 2009. Net sales and operating income in 2010 declined approximately $49.0 million and $16.0 million, respectively, compared to 2009 due solely to the change in the exchange rate used to convert the Company’s Venezuela results to U.S. Dollars from predominately the official exchange rate in 2009 to the parallel market rate and SITME rate in 2010.

 

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Income Taxes

The Company accounts for deferred income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income taxes are recognized based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as measured by current enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. No provision is made for the U.S. income taxes on the undistributed earnings of non-U.S. subsidiaries that are considered to be permanently invested.

The Company’s income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service and other tax authorities. Although the Company believes that the positions taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, it has established tax and interest reserves in recognition that various taxing authorities may challenge the positions taken, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes and interest. The Company regularly reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering historical profitability, projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies.

The authoritative guidance requires application of a “more likely than not” threshold to the recognition and derecognition of tax positions. The Company’s ongoing assessments of the more likely than not outcomes of tax authority examinations and related tax positions require significant judgment and can increase or decrease the Company’s effective tax rate, as well as impact operating results.

Stock-Based Compensation

Stock-based compensation expense is adjusted for estimated forfeitures and is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period of the award, which is generally three to five years for stock options and three years for restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance share awards. The Company estimates future forfeiture rates based on its historical experience. See Footnote 15 for additional information.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

Accumulated other comprehensive loss is recorded within stockholders’ equity and encompasses foreign currency translation adjustments, gains (losses) on derivative instruments and unrecognized pension and other postretirement costs. The following table displays the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss as of and for the year ended December 31, 2010 (in millions):

 

    

Foreign

Currency

Translation

        Loss        

   

Unrecognized

Pension & Other

Postretirement

Costs, net of tax

   

After-tax

Derivative

Hedging

Gain (Loss)

   

Accumulated

Other

    Comprehensive    

Loss

 
        

Balance at December 31, 2009

   $ (166.3 )   $ (418.4   $ (0.5 )   $ (585.2)     

Current year change

     (13.1     (7.0     0.3        (19.8)      
        

Balance at December 31, 2010

   $ (179.4 )   $ (425.4   $ (0.2 )   $ (605.0)     
        

Noncontrolling Interests

In 2009, in conjunction with its adoption of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) accounting and disclosure guidance for noncontrolling interests, the Company also adopted certain authoritative guidance applicable for all noncontrolling interests where the Company is required to purchase noncontrolling interests in a consolidated subsidiary from the noncontrolling interest holder at a specified future date, and the purchase is outside the Company’s control. The Company was required to purchase the noncontrolling interest in an international subsidiary at fair value, $28.2 million, in 2009. In connection with the adoption of this guidance, the stockholders’ equity as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 has been adjusted to reflect the estimated fair value of the noncontrolling interest the Company was required to purchase, $28.2 million, as a decrease in retained earnings. The following table summarizes the impact of the retrospective adoption of the accounting guidance on the Company’s retained earnings as of December 31, (in millions):

 

     2008      2007  
                 
    

Retained

 Earnings 

    

Stockholders’

Equity

 Attributable to 

Noncontrolling

Interests

    

Retained

Earnings

    

Stockholders’

Equity

 Attributable to 

Noncontrolling

Interests

 
        

As previously reported

   $     1,634.8       $      —         $  1,922.7       $ —       

Minority interest (noncontrolling interests) in consolidated subsidiaries

     —                 2.6              —                3.0       

Fair value of noncontrolling interest the Company is required to purchase

         (28.2)               —         (28.2)             —       
                 

As adjusted

   $ 1,606.6       $     2.6      $ 1,894.5       $      3.0       
                 

 

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Subsequent Events

No significant events occurred subsequent to the balance sheet date but prior to the issuance of the financial statements that would have a material impact on the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued new accounting guidance related to the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements and clarified existing disclosure requirements. More specifically, this update requires (a) an entity to disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and to describe the reasons for the transfers, and (b) information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements to be presented separately, on a gross basis rather than net, in the reconciliation for fair value measurements using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 inputs). This guidance clarifies existing disclosure requirements for the level of disaggregation used for classes of assets and liabilities measured at fair value and requires disclosures about the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both recurring and nonrecurring fair value measurements using Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. The new disclosures and clarifications of existing disclosure were effective beginning January 1, 2010, except for the disclosure requirements related to the purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the rollforward activity of Level 3 fair value measurements, which are effective for the Company on January 1, 2011. The adoption of this guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s financial statements.

FOOTNOTE 2

Acquisitions

Technical Concepts

On April 1, 2008, the Company acquired 100% of the outstanding limited liability company interests of Technical Concepts Holdings, LLC (“Technical Concepts”) for $452.7 million, which includes transaction costs and the repayment of Technical Concepts’ outstanding debt obligations at closing. Technical Concepts provides touch-free and automated restroom hygiene systems in the away-from-home washroom category. The Technical Concepts acquisition gives the Company’s Rubbermaid Commercial Products business an entry into the away-from-home washroom market and fits within the Company’s strategy of leveraging its existing sales and marketing capabilities across additional product categories. In addition, with approximately 40% of its sales outside the U.S., Technical Concepts increased the global footprint of the Company’s Rubbermaid Commercial Products business.

This acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and accordingly, the Company allocated the total purchase price to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values on the date of acquisition. Based on the purchase price allocation, the Company allocated $48.1 million of the purchase price to identified tangible net assets and $93.5 million of the purchase price to identified intangible assets. The Company recorded the excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of $311.1 million as goodwill. Technical Concepts’ results of operations are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the acquisition date. Pro forma results of operations for historical periods would not be materially different and therefore are not presented.

Aprica

On April 1, 2008, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Aprica Childcare Institute Aprica Kassai, Inc. (“Aprica”), a maker of strollers, car seats and other children’s products, headquartered in Osaka, Japan. The Company acquired Aprica’s assets for $145.7 million, which includes transaction costs and the repayment of Aprica’s outstanding debt obligations at closing. Aprica is a Japanese brand of premium strollers, car seats and other related juvenile products. The acquisition provides the opportunity for the Company’s Baby & Parenting Essentials business to broaden its presence worldwide, including expanding the scope of Aprica’s sales outside Asia. The closing of the purchase of Aprica’s operations in China occurred in October 2008, and the assets acquired and liabilities assumed are included in the amount of net liabilities acquired and goodwill recorded in the Aprica acquisition; however, the impact of the acquisition of Aprica’s China operations did not significantly impact the overall Aprica purchase price allocation.

This acquisition was accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and accordingly, the Company allocated the total purchase price to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values on the date of acquisition. Based on the purchase price allocation, the Company allocated $(34.7) million of the purchase price to identified tangible net liabilities and $57.0 million of the purchase price to identified intangible assets. The Company recorded the excess of the purchase price over the aggregate fair values of $123.4 million as goodwill. Aprica’s results of operations are included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements since the acquisition date. Pro forma results of operations for historical periods would not be materially different and therefore are not presented.