NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC FORM 10-K (Annual Report) Filed 02/29/12 for the Period Ending 12/31/11 Address THREE GLENLAKE PARKWAY ATLANTA, GA 30328 Telephone 770-418-7000 CIK 0000814453 Symbol NWL SIC Code 3089 - Plastics Products, Not Elsewhere Classified Industry Personal & Household Prods. Sector Consumer/Non-Cyclical Fiscal Year 12/31 http://www.edgar-online.com © Copyright 2012, EDGAR Online, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Distribution and use of this document restricted under EDGAR Online, Inc. Terms of Use. 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 COMMISSION FILE NUMBER DECEMBER 31, 2011 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 NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE Common Stock, $1 par value per share 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 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 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 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 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. 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 Accelerated Filer Non-Accelerated Filer Smaller Reporting Company (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Table of Contents Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes No There were 288.4 million shares o f the Registrant’s Common Stock outstanding (net of treasury shares) as of January 31, 2012. The aggregate market value of the shares of Common Stock (based upon the closing price on the New York Stock Exchange on June 30, 2011) beneficially owned by non-affiliates of the Registrant was approximately $4.6 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 8, 2012 . 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. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES 15 SUPPLEMENTARY ITEM — EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT 16 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT ’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 18 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 19 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT ’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 22 ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK 45 ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 47 ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 93 ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 93 ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION 93 PART III ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 94 ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 94 ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 94 ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 94 ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES 94 PART IV ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 95 SIGNATURES 100 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 2 Table of Contents 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 ® and Lenox ® . 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. Effective January 1, 2012, under a previously announced plan, the Company implemented changes to its organizational structure that resulted in the consolidation of the Company's three operating groups into two — Newell Consumer and Newell Professional — and its 13 global business units into nine, with the Baby & Parenting global business unit operating as a stand-alone operating segment. These actions are intended to simplify the organization and free up resources to be invested into growth initiatives and strengthened capabilities. These changes are considered key enablers to building a bigger, faster-growing, more global and more profitable Newell Rubbermaid. Newell Rubbermaid ’s vision is to be 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 build Brands That Matter™ to drive demand, fuel growth through margin expansion and scale synergies and leverage the portfolio for faster growth. The Company's strategy is designed to achieve simultaneous net sales growth, gross margin expansion and increased earnings per share. In implementing the three tenets of its strategy, the Company is focused on Everyday Great Execution, or "EDGE", to capitalize on and maximize the benefits of investment and growth opportunities and to optimize the cost structure of the business. 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 Build Brands that Matter™ to Drive Demand The Company is committed to building consumer-meaningful brands by leveraging an insight-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 insight-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 insight-driven innovation process, creates a more effective marketing organization and increases consumer awareness and demand for its products.