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Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2017
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] |
Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies | FOOTNOTE 1 Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies Description of Business Newell Brands is a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that help people get more out of life every day, where they live, learn, work and play. Our products are marketed under a strong portfolio of leading brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Jostens®, Marmot®, Rawlings®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Waddington and Yankee Candle®. The Company’s multi-product offering consists of well-known, name brand consumer and commercial products. Effective January 1, 2017, the Company changed its reporting structure and began reporting its financial results in five business segments: Live, Learn, Work, Play and Other (See Footnote 18 for additional information). All prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current reporting structure. Principles of Consolidation The consolidated financial statements include the consolidated accounts of the Company and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”). The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority-owned subsidiaries after elimination of intercompany transactions and balances. Use of Estimates The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires the use of certain estimates by management in determining the Company’s assets, liabilities, sales and expenses, and related disclosures. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Other Items The Company holds a 23.4% investment in Sprue Aegis (“Sprue”). During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s related party sales to Sprue were $33.5 million and $23.2 million, respectively. During the year ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, the income attributable to non-controlling interests was $2.7 million and $2.0 million, respectively. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the Company provided notification to Sprue of its election to terminate the distribution agreement on March 31, 2018. 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 collectability 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 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. Sales Recognition and Customer Programs 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 and programs. Under customer programs and arrangements that require sales incentives to be paid in advance, the Company amortizes the amount paid over the period of benefit or contractual sales volume. When incentives are paid in arrears, the Company accrues the estimated amount to be paid based on the program’s contractual terms, expected customer performance and/or estimated sales volume. The Company sells gift cards to customers in its retail stores, third-party retail stores and through consumer direct operations. Gift cards do not have an expiration date. At the point of sale of a gift card, the Company records deferred revenue. Gift card revenue is recognized when the gift card is redeemed by the customer or the likelihood of the gift card being redeemed by the customer is remote (“gift card breakage”). Gift card breakage income is recognized in proportion to the actual redemption of gift cards based on the Company’s historical redemption pattern and is included in net sales in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. 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. 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 6 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. 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 - 15 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. 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 projected financial performance and cash flows of the reporting unit, the discount rate, long-term sales growth rate, product costs and the working capital investment required. 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 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 8 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 sales 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. 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 production costs of print, radio, television and other advertisements as of the first date the advertisements take place, and the Company expenses all other advertising and marketing costs when incurred. Advertising and promotion costs are recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses and totaled $587 million, $431 million and $214 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, 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 $224 million, $188 million and $113 million in 2017, 2016 and 2015, 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, forward starting interest rate swaps, forward exchange contracts and options. The Company’s forward exchange contracts and options 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. Foreign Currency Operations 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. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in the results of operations and are generally classified in other (income) expense, net, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Foreign currency transaction net losses for 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $11.0 million, $2.2 million and $17.9 million, respectively. The Company designates certain foreign currency denominated, long-term intercompany financing transactions as being of a long-term investment nature and records gains and losses on the transactions arising from changes in exchange rates as translation adjustments. Venezuelan Operations Until December 31, 2015, the Company accounted for its Venezuelan operations using highly inflationary accounting, and therefore, the Company remeasured assets, liabilities, sales and expenses denominated in Bolivar Fuertes (“Bolivars”) into U.S. Dollars using the applicable exchange rate, and the resulting translation adjustments were included in earnings. As of December 31, 2015, the Company determined it could no longer exercise control over its Venezuela operations because the availability of U.S. Dollars had declined significantly over the past several years in each of Venezuela’s three exchange mechanisms. As a result, the Company deconsolidated its Venezuelan operations. Prior to the deconsolidation of the Venezuela operations on December 31, 2015, the results of the Company’s Venezuelan operations have been included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2015 and all prior periods. As of December 31, 2015, the Company began accounting for its investment in its Venezuelan operations using the cost method of accounting, and the cost basis was adjusted to nil as of December 31, 2015. During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Venezuelan operations generated 2.2% of consolidated net sales and $51.1 million of the Company’s reported annual operating income, respectively. As a result of deconsolidating its Venezuelan operations, the Company recorded a charge of $173 million in 2015. The charge consisted of the write-off of the Company’s Venezuelan operations’ net assets of $74.7 million, as well as $58.3 million of Venezuela receivable-related assets held by other subsidiaries, resulting in $133 million of total charges associated with the deconsolidation of Venezuela’s net assets. In addition, in accordance with applicable accounting standards for foreign currency and the transition to the cost method for Venezuela’s operations, the Company was required to write-off the currency translation adjustment that arose prior to the application of hyperinflationary accounting in 2010 that was included in other comprehensive loss in equity. The write-off of the currency translation adjustment resulted in a pre-tax charge of $39.7 million. Since the Company holds all of the equity interests but does not have the power to direct the activities that most significantly affect the Venezuelan entity’s economic performance, the Company considers the Venezuelan entity a variable interest entity for which the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company has determined that the Venezuelan entity’s assets can only be used to settle its obligations. As of December 31, 2017, the Company has no outstanding exposures or commitments with respect to its Venezuelan operations. Further, dividends and payments for intercompany receivables due from the Company’s Venezuelan operations will be recorded as other income upon receipt. 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. The Company’s income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by various worldwide tax authorities. Although the Company believes that the positions taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, it has established tax, interest and penalty reserves in recognition that various taxing authorities may challenge the positions taken, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes, interest and penalties. 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 years for stock options and one to three years for restricted stock units and performance-based restricted stock units. The Company estimates future forfeiture rates based on its historical experience. See Footnote 15 for additional information. Recent Accounting Pronouncements Changes to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) in the form of accounting standards updates (“ASUs”) to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification. The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASUs. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606).” The FASB also issued several amendments and updates to the new revenue standard. As amended, the new revenue standard will replace existing revenue recognition requirements in U.S. GAAP and will require entities to recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. To achieve this core principle, the standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. Other major provisions include the capitalization and amortization of certain contract costs, ensuring the time value of money is considered in the transaction price, and allowing estimates of variable consideration to be recognized before contingencies are resolved in certain circumstances. The new revenue standard will also require significantly expanded disclosures regarding the qualitative and quantitative information of the Company’s nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective transition method and applying this approach to those contracts that were not completed as of that date. The Company is substantially complete with its business process reviews and changes to its controls to support recognition and disclosures under the new guidance. The Company does not expect the adoption of the standard to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements and mainly expects presentation changes in the balance sheet and income statement from the transition to the new revenue standard, primarily due to reclassifications of certain costs and cash payments made to customers previously recorded in costs of products sold and selling, general and administrative expenses, with no impact on net income. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability for all leases with terms of more than 12 months. Recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses will depend on classification as a finance or operating lease. ASU 2016-02 is effective for the Company on January 1, 2019. The Company is currently evaluating the effect of the adoption of ASU 2016-02 on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, “Compensation — Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost.” ASU 2017-07 changes how employers that sponsor defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement plans present the net periodic benefit cost in the income statement. ASU 2017-07 requires that the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost be reported in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. Other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. ASU 2017-07 also allows only the service cost component to be eligible for capitalization, when applicable. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. ASU 2017-07 is to be applied retrospectively for the income statement presentation requirements and prospectively for the capitalization requirements of the service cost component. The Company does not expect that the adoption of ASU 2017-17 will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities.” ASU 2017-12 amends existing guidance to better align an entity’s risk management activities and financial reporting for hedging relationships. ASU 2017-12 also expands and refines hedge accounting for both nonfinancial and financial risk components and aligns the recognition and presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. ASU 2017-12 is effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those annual periods. The Company is beginning to evaluate the impact the adoption of ASU 2017-22 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, “Income Statement — Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income.” ASU No. 2018-02 provides companies with an option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income (“AOCI”) to retained earnings in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded. ASU No. 2018-02 also requires disclosure of a description of the accounting policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI and whether an election was made to reclassify the stranded income tax effects from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. ASU No. 2018-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. Companies can adopt the provisions of ASU 2018-02 in either the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period (or periods) in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is recognized. The Company is beginning to evaluate the impact the adoption of ASU 2018-02 will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. Other recently issued ASUs were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or are expected to have a minimal impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position and results of operations. Adoption of New Accounting Guidance In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles — Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” ASU 2017-04 simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating Step 2 from the goodwill impairment test. ASU 2017-04 is effective for annual or interim impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for interim or annual goodwill impairment tests performed on testing dates after January 1, 2017. The Company adopted ASU 2017-04 during the third quarter of 2017 in connection with its annual goodwill impairment testing. In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation-Stock Compensation: Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” ASU 2016-09 provides guidance intended to simplify accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities and classification on the statement of cash flows. The guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The new standard requires: (1) excess tax benefits and tax deficiencies related to share-based awards to be recognized as income tax benefit or expense on a prospective basis in the reporting period in which they vest; (2) excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements to be presented within operating activities and withholding tax payments upon vesting of restricted stock units to be presented within financing activities within the cash flow statement; (3) permits the employer to repurchase more of an employee’s shares for tax withholding purposes and not classify the award as a liability that requires valuation on a mark-to-market basis; and (4) allows for a policy election to account for forfeitures as they occur. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2017 and decided to continue its policy of estimating forfeitures. The Company has also elected to retrospectively reclassify the prior year cash flows related to excess tax benefits from share-based payment arrangements from financing activities to operating activities within the consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which modified existing requirements regarding measuring first-in, first-out and average cost inventory at the lower of cost or market. Under past standards, the market amount requires consideration of replacement cost, net realizable value (“NRV”), and NRV less an approximately normal profit margin. ASU 2015-11 replaces market with NRV, defined as estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal and transportation. This eliminates the need to determine and consider replacement cost or NRV less an approximately normal profit margin when measuring inventory. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance in the first quarter of 2017 and it did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

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