Newell Brands
NWL
#4860
Rank
$1.93 B
Marketcap
$4.62
Share price
1.54%
Change (1 day)
-31.66%
Change (1 year)
Newell Brands is a company from the United States that produces and sells various types of consumer goods and housewares under the brand names Sharpie, Paper Mate, DYMO, EXPO, Waterman, Parker, Rolodex, BernzOmatic, Rubbermaid, Graco, Calphalon, Goody.

Newell Brands - 10-K annual report


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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, 1998 1-9608


NEWELL CO.
(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.)


Newell Center
29 East Stephenson Street
Freeport, Illinois
(Address of principal 61032-0943
executive offices) (Zip Code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (815) 235-4171

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

Name of each exchange
Title of each class on which registered
------------------- ---------------------

Common Stock, $1 par value per New York Stock Exchange
share, and associated Common Chicago Stock Exchange
Stock Purchase Rights


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

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 X No
----- -----
2

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K 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. (X)

There were 162.7 million shares of the Registrant's Common Stock
outstanding as of December 31, 1998. The aggregate market value of
the shares of Common Stock (based upon the closing price on the New
York Stock Exchange on that date) beneficially owned by nonaffiliates
of the Registrant was approximately $6,381.3 million. 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

Part III

Portions of the Registrant's Definitive Proxy Statement for its
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May 26, 1999.
3

Item 1. Business
--------

"Newell" or the "Company" refers to Newell Co. alone or with its
wholly-owned subsidiaries, as the context requires.

GENERAL
-------

The Company is a manufacturer and full-service marketer of staple
consumer products sold to high-volume purchasers, including, but not
limited to, discount stores and warehouse clubs, home centers and
hardware stores, and office superstores and contract stationers. The
Company's basic business strategy is to merchandise a multi-product
offering of brand name consumer products, which are concentrated in
product categories with relatively steady demand not dependent on
changes in fashion, technology or season, and to differentiate itself
by emphasizing superior customer service. The Company's multi-product
offering consists of staple consumer products in three major product
groups: Hardware and Home Furnishings, Office Products, and
Housewares. The Company's primary financial goals are to increase
sales and earnings per share an average of 15% per year, to achieve an
annual return on beginning equity of 20% or above, to increase
dividends per share in line with earnings growth and to maintain a
prudent ratio of total debt to total capitalization, net of cash
("leverage"). For the ten years ended December 31, 1998, the
Company's compound annual growth rates for sales and earnings per
share were 13% and 16%, respectively, its average annual return on
beginning equity was 21%, its compound annual growth rate for
dividends per share was 18% and its average leverage were 26%.

The Company's growth strategy emphasizes acquisitions and
internal growth. The Company has grown both domestically and
internationally by acquiring businesses with brand name product lines
and improving the profitability of such businesses through an
integration process called "Newellization." Since 1990, the Company
has completed more than 20 major acquisitions (excluding Rubbermaid)
representing approximately $3 billion in additional sales. The
Company supplements acquisition growth with internal growth,
principally by introducing new products, entering new domestic and
international markets, adding new customers, cross-selling existing
product lines to current customers and supporting its U.S.-based
customers' international expansion.

On October 20, 1998, the Company and Rubbermaid Incorporated
("Rubbermaid") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger
Agreement"), providing for the merger of a subsidiary of the Company
into Rubbermaid, leaving Rubbermaid a wholly owned subsidiary of
Newell ("Proposed Merger"). After the Proposed Merger, the Company
will be re-named "Newell Rubbermaid Inc." The Proposed Merger will be
accounted for as a pooling of interests and will be tax-free for
federal income tax purposes. The Company and Rubbermaid expect the
4

Proposed Merger to become effective before the end of the first
quarter of 1999. All information in this Report pertains to the
Company prior to the Proposed Merger, unless explicity stated
otherwise.

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, such matters as sales, income, earnings per
share, return on equity, capital expenditures, dividends, capital
structure, free cash flow, debt to capitalization ratios, internal
growth rates, Euro conversion plans and related risks, Year
2000 plans and related risks, pending legal proceedings and claims
(including environmental matters), future economic performance,
management's plans, goals and objectives for future operations and
growth or the assumptions relating to any of the forward-looking
information. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are
not guarantees since there are inherent difficulties in predicting
future results. Actual results could differ materially from those
expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors that
could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to,
those matters set forth in this Report, the documents incorporated by
reference herein and Exhibit 99 to this Report.

PRODUCT GROUPS
--------------

The Company's three product groups are Hardware and Home Furnishings,
Office Products, and Housewares.

HARDWARE AND HOME FURNISHINGS
-----------------------------

Window Treatments
-----------------

The Company's window treatments business is conducted by the
Levolor Home Fashions, Newell Window Furnishings and Newell Window
Fashions Europe divisions. Levolor Home Fashions and Newell Window
Furnishings primarily design, manufacture or import, package and
distribute drapery hardware, made-to-order and stock horizontal and
vertical blinds, and pleated, cellular and roller shades for the
retail marketplace. Levolor Home Fashions also produces window
treatment components for custom window treatment fabricators. Newell
Window Fashions Europe primarily designs, manufactures, packages and
distributes drapery hardware and made-to-order window treatments for
the European retail marketplace.

Levolor Home Fashions, Newell Window Furnishings and Newell
Window Fashions Europe products are sold primarily under the
trademarks Newell{R}, Levolor{R}, Louverdrape{R}, Del Mar{R},
5

Kirsch{R}, Acrimo{TM}, Swish{R}, Gardinia{TM}, Spectrim{R},
MagicFit{R}, Riviera{R} and Levolor Cordless{TM}.

Levolor Home Fashions and Newell Window Furnishings market their
products directly and through distributors to mass merchants, home
centers, department/specialty stores, hardware distributors, custom
shops and select contract customers, using a network of manufacturers'
representatives, as well as regional account and market-specific sales
managers. Newell Window Fashions Europe markets its products to mass
merchants and buying groups using a direct sales force.

Principal U.S. facilities are located in Freeport, Illinois; High
Point, North Carolina and Sturgis, Michigan. Principal foreign
facilities are located in Prescott, Ontario, Canada; Ablis, France;
Isny, Germany; Milan, Italy; Lisbon, Portugal; Vitoria, Spain; Malmo,
Sweden; and Tamworth, Great Britain.


Hardware and Tools
------------------

The Company's hardware and tools business is conducted by the
Amerock Cabinet and Window Hardware Systems, Bulldog Fastener, EZ
Paintr and BernzOmatic divisions. Amerock Cabinet and Window Hardware
Systems manufacture or import, package and distribute cabinet hardware
for the retail and O.E.M. marketplace and window hardware for window
manufacturers. Bulldog packages and distributes hardware, which
includes bolts, screws and mechanical fasteners. EZ Paintr
manufactures and distributes manual paint applicator products.
BernzOmatic manufactures and distributes propane/oxygen hand torches.

Amerock, Bulldog, EZ Paintr and BernzOmatic products are sold
primarily under the trademarks Amerock{R}, Allison{R}, Bulldog{R},
EZ Paintr{R} and BernzOmatic{R}.

Amerock, Bulldog, EZ Paintr and BernzOmatic market their products
directly and through distributors to mass merchants, home centers,
hardware distributors, cabinet shops and window manufacturers, using a
network of manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional zone
and market-specific sales managers.

Principal facilities are located in Rockford, Illinois; St.
Francis, Wisconsin; and Medina, New York.

Picture Frames
--------------

The Company's picture frame business is conducted by the
Intercraft/Burnes division. Intercraft/Burnes primarily designs,
manufactures or imports, packages and distributes wood, wood composite
and metal ready-made picture frames and photo albums.
6

Intercraft/Burnes ready-made picture frames are sold primarily
under the trademarks Intercraft{R}, Decorel{R}, Burnes of Boston{R},
Carr{R}, Rare Woods{R} and Terragrafics{R}, while photo albums are
sold primarily under the Holson{R} trademark.

Intercraft/Burnes markets its products directly to mass
merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores and
department/specialty stores, using a network of manufacturers'
representatives, as well as regional zone and market-specific sales
managers. Intercraft{R}, Decorel{R} and Holson{R} products are sold
primarily to mass merchants, while the remaining brands are sold
primarily to department/specialty stores.

Principal U.S facilities are located in Taylor, Texas;
Statesville, North Carolina; Claremont, New Hampshire; and Covington,
Tennessee. Principal foreign facilities are located in Mississauga,
Ontario, Canada and Durango, Mexico.

Home Storage Products
---------------------

The Company's home storage business is conducted by its Lee Rowan
division. Lee Rowan primarily designs, manufactures or imports,
packages and distributes wire storage and laminate products and
ready-to-assemble closet, organization and work shop cabinets.

Lee Rowan products are sold primarily under the trademarks Lee
Rowan{R} and System Works{R}.

Lee Rowan markets its products directly to mass merchants,
warehouse clubs, home centers and hardware stores, using a network of
manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional zone and
market-specific sales managers.

Principal facilities are located in Jackson, Missouri; Vista,
California; and Watford, Ontario, Canada.

OFFICE PRODUCTS
---------------

Markers and Writing Instruments
-------------------------------

The Company's Markers and Writing Instruments business is
conducted by the Sanford North America, Sanford International and
Cosmolab divisions. Sanford North America primarily designs,
manufactures or imports, packages and distributes permanent/waterbase
markers, dry erase markers, overhead projector pens, highlighters,
wood-cased pencils, ballpoint pens and inks, and other art supplies,
and distributes other writing instruments including roller ball pens
and mechanical pencils for the retail marketplace. Sanford
International primarily designs and manufactures, packages and
7

distributes ball point pens, wood-cased pencils, roller ball pens and
other art supplies for the retail marketplace. Cosmolab primarily
designs and manufactures, packages and distributes private label
cosmetic pencils for commercial customers.

Sanford products are sold primarily under the trademarks
Sanford{R}, Eberhard Faber{R}, Berol{R}, Grumbacher{R}, Koh-I-Noor{R}
and Rotring{R}, and the brands Sharpie{R}, Uni-Ball{R} (used under
exclusive license from Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd. and its
subsidiaries), Expo{R}, Zeze{R}, Vis-a-Vis{R}, Expresso{R} and
Mongol{R}.

Sanford North America markets its products directly and through
distributors to mass merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores,
office superstores, office supply stores, contract stationers, and
hardware distributors, using a network of manufacturers'
representatives, as well as regional direct sales representatives and
market-specific sales managers. Sanford International markets its
products directly to retailers and distributors using a direct sales
force.

Principal U.S. facilities are located in Bellwood, Illinois and
Lewisburg and Shelbyville, Tennessee. Principal foreign facilities
are located in Tlalnepantla, Mexico; Bogota, Colombia; Maracay,
Venezuela; King's Lynn, United Kingdom; Oakville, Ontario, Canada; and
Hamburg, Germany.

Office Storage and Organization Products
----------------------------------------

The Company's office storage and organization business is
conducted through its Newell Office Products division. Newell Office
Products primarily designs, manufactures or imports, packages and
distributes desktop accessories, computer accessories, storage
products, card files and chair mats.

Newell Office Products markets its products under the Rolodex{R},
Eldon{R} and Rogers{R} trademarks.

Newell Office Products markets its products directly and through
distributors to mass merchants, warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores,
office superstores, office supply stores and contract stationers,
using a network of manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional
zone and market-specific sales managers.

Principal facilities are located in Moca, Puerto Rico; Maryville,
Tennessee; and Madison, Wisconsin.
8


HOUSEWARES
----------

Glassware
---------

The Company's glassware business is conducted by the Anchor
Hocking and Newell Europe divisions. These divisions primarily
design, manufacture, package and distribute glass products. These
products include glass ovenware, servingware, cookware and dinnerware
products. Anchor Hocking also produces foodservice products, glass
lamp parts, lighting components, meter covers and appliance covers for
the foodservice and specialty markets. Newell Europe also produces
glass components for appliance manufacturers, and its products are
marketed primarily in Europe, the Middle East and Africa only.

Anchor Hocking products are sold primarily under the Anchor
Hocking{R} trademark and the Oven Basics{R} brand name. Newell
Europe's products are sold primarily under the brand names of Pyrex{R}
and Visions{R} (both used under exclusive license from Corning
Incorporated and its subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East and
Africa only), Pyroflam{TM}, and Vitri{TM}.

Anchor Hocking markets its products directly to mass merchants,
warehouse clubs, grocery/drug stores, department/specialty stores,
hardware distributors and select contract customers, using a network
of manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional zone and
market-specific sales managers. Anchor Hocking markets its products
to manufacturers that supply the mass merchant and home party channels
of trade. Newell Europe markets its products to mass merchants,
industrial manufacturers and buying groups using a direct sales force
and manufacturers' representatives in some markets.

Principal U.S. facilities are located in Lancaster, Ohio and
Monaca, Pennsylvania. Principal foreign facilities are located in
Sunderland, Great Britain; Muhltal, Germany; and Chateauroux, France.

Aluminum Cookware and Bakeware
------------------------------

The Company's aluminum cookware and bakeware business is
conducted by the Mirro and Calphalon divisions. Mirro primarily
designs, manufactures, packages and distributes aluminum cookware and
bakeware for the U.S. and Latin American retail marketplace. Mirro
also designs, manufactures, packages and distributes various
specialized aluminum cookware and bakeware items for the food service
industry. It also produces aluminum contract stampings and components
for other manufacturers and makes aluminum and plastic kitchen tools
and utensils. Mirro manufacturing operations are highly integrated,
rolling sheet stock from aluminum ingot, and producing phenolic
handles and knobs at its own plastics molding facility. Calphalon
9

primarily designs, manufactures or imports, packages and distributes
aluminum cookware and bakeware for the department/specialty store
marketplace.

Mirro and Calphalon products are sold primarily under the
trademarks Mirro{R}, Wearever{R}, Calphalon {R}, Panex{TM},
Penedo{TM}, Rochedo {TM} and Clock {TM}, and the brand names of
Airbake{R}, Cushionaire{R}, Concentric Air{R}, Channelon{R}, Wearever
Air{TM} and Kitchen Essentials{TM}.

Mirro markets its products directly to mass merchants, warehouse
clubs, grocery/drug stores, department/specialty stores, hardware
distributors, cable TV networks and select contract customers, using a
network of manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional zone
and market-specific sales managers. Calphalon markets its products
directly to department/specialty stores.

Principal U.S. facilities are located in Manitowoc and Chilton,
Wisconsin; and Toledo, Ohio. The principal foreign facility is
located in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Hair Accessories and Beauty Organizers
--------------------------------------

The Company's hair accessory and beauty organizer business is
conducted through its Goody division. Goody primarily designs,
manufactures or imports, packages and distributes hair accessories and
beauty organizers.

Goody products are sold primarily under the trademarks Goody{R},
Ace{R} and Wilhold{R}.

Goody markets its products directly to mass merchants, warehouse
clubs, grocery/drug stores and department/specialty stores, using a
network of manufacturers' representatives, as well as regional zone
and market-specific sales managers.

Principal facilities are located in Peach Tree City and
Manchester, Georgia.

Net Sales By Industry Segment
-----------------------------

The Company reviewed the criteria for determining segments of an
enterprise in accordance with SFAS No. 131 and concluded it has three
reportable operating segments: Hardware & Home Furnishings, Office
Products, and Housewares. This segmentation is appropriate because
the Company organizes its product categories into these groups when
making operating decisions and assessing performance. The Company
Divisions included in each group also sell primarily to the same
retail channel: Hardware & Home Furnishings (home centers and
10

hardware stores), Office Products (office superstores and contract
stationers), and Housewares (discount stores and warehouse clubs).

The principal product categories included in each of the
Company's business segments are as follows:

Segment Product Category
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware & Home Window Treatments,
Furnishings Hardware and Tools, Picture
Frames, Home Storage

Office Products Markers and Writing
Instruments, Office Storage and
Organization, School Supplies and
Stationery (sold in 1998)

Housewares Aluminum Cookware and Bakeware,
Glassware, Hair Accessories,
Plasticware (sold in 1998)

The following table sets forth the amounts and percentages of the
Company's net sales for the three years ended December 31 (including
sales of acquired businesses from the time of acquisition and sales of
divested businesses through date of sale), for the Company's three
operating segments and the product categories included therein.
Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries amounted to
approximately 14% of consolidated net sales in 1998 and 15% in both
1997 and 1996. Sales to no other customer exceeded 10% of
consolidated net sales.
11

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 % of total 1997* % of total 1996* % of total
---- ---------- ---- ---------- ---- ----------
(In millions, except percentages)
Hardware and Home Furnishings:
Window Treatments $ 808.7 22% $ 562.6 17% $ 385.6 13%
Hardware and Tools 398.5 11 392.6 12 383.1 13
Picture Frames 386.6 10 359.4 10 339.8 11
Home Storage Products 164.3 4 170.2 5 190.8 7
Total Hardware and ------- ----- ------- --- ------- ---
Home Furnishings $ 1,758.1 47% 1,484.8 49 1,299.3 44

Office Products:
Markers and Writing
Instruments $ 714.7 19% $ 601.4 18% $ 570.2 19%
Office Storage and Organization 254.8 7 209.9 6 85.6 3
School Supplies and Stationery 70.8 2 87.9 3 86.0 3
-------- --- ------- --- ----- ---
Total Office Products 1,043.3 28 899.2 27 741.8 25

Housewares:
Aluminum Cookware and Bakeware $ 400.6 11% $ 386.2 12% $ 373.4 13%
Glassware and Plasticware 368.2 10 394.4 12 394.2 13
Hair Accessories 152.8 4 171.6 5 164.1 5
-------- --- ------- --- ----- ---
Total Housewares 921.6 25 952.2 29 931.7 31

Newell Consolidated $ 3,720.0 100% $3,336.2 100% $2,972.8 100%
======== === ======= === ======== ===

</TABLE>

*Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

Certain 1997 and 1996 amounts have been reclassified to conform
with the 1998 presentation.

Export Sales
------------

The Company's export sales business, defined as sales of products
made in the U.S. and sold abroad, is conducted through its Newell
International division. For purposes of the table immediately above,
sales attributable to the Newell International division are allocated
to the operating segment that manufactured the products.
12


GROWTH STRATEGY
---------------

The Company's growth strategy emphasizes acquisitions and
internal growth. The Company has grown both domestically and
internationally by acquiring businesses with brand name product lines
and improving the profitability of such businesses through an
integration process referred to as "Newellization." Since 1990, the
Company has completed more than 20 major acquisitions (excluding
Rubbermaid) representing approximately $3 billion in additional sales.
The Company supplements acquisition growth with internal growth,
principally by introducing new products, entering new domestic and
international markets, adding new customers, cross-selling existing
product lines to current customers and supporting its U.S.-based
customers' international expansion.


ACQUISITIONS AND INTEGRATION
----------------------------

Acquisition Strategy
-------------------

The Company primarily grows by acquiring businesses and product
lines with a strategic fit with the Company's existing businesses. It
also seeks to acquire product lines with a number one or two position
in the markets in which they compete, a low technology level, a long
product life cycle and the potential to reach the Company's standard
of profitability. In addition to adding entirely new product lines,
the Company uses acquisitions to round out existing businesses and
fill gaps in its product offering, add new customers and distribution
channels, expand shelf space for the Company's products with existing
customers, and improve operational efficiency through shared
resources.

Newellization
-------------

"Newellization" is the Company's well-established profit
improvement and productivity enhancement process that is applied to
integrate newly acquired product lines. The Newellization process
includes establishing a more focused business strategy, improving
customer service, reducing corporate overhead through centralization
of administrative functions and tightening financial controls. In
integrating acquired businesses, the Company typically centralizes
accounting systems, capital expenditure approval, cash management,
order processing, billing, credit, accounts receivable and data
processing operations. To enhance efficiency, Newellization also
focuses on improving manufacturing processes, eliminating
non-productive lines, reducing inventories, increasing accounts
receivable turnover and trimming excess costs.

Newellization also builds partnerships with customers and
improves sales mix profitability through program merchandising
13

techniques. The Newellization process usually takes approximately two
to three years to complete.

History of Acquiring and Integrating Businesses
-----------------------------------------------

The Company's growth from a small manufacturer of drapery
hardware with approximately $15 million in annual sales in 1967 has
largely been the result of the acquisition and integration of nearly
100 businesses and product lines to build a strong multi-product
offering. Set forth below is a list of the Company's major
acquisitions since 1991 along with the approximate amount of aggregate
annual sales for the businesses acquired in the full year prior to
acquisition.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
Major Acquisitions Since 1991
-----------------------------

Acquired Trade or Annual Sales
Year Brand Name (1) Product Category When Acquired
---- ----------------- ---------------- -------------
(In millions)

1998 Swish, Gardinia Window Treatments $700
Panex, Calphalon Aluminum Cookware
Rotring Writing Instruments

1997 Rolodex, Eldon Office Storage and Organization $550
Kirsch Window Treatments

1996 Holson and Burnes of Boston Picture Frames $130

1995 Decorel Picture Frames $300
Berol Markers and Writing Instruments

1994 Del Mar and LouverDrape Window Treatments $470
Eberhard Faber (including Markers and Writing Instruments
Uni-Ball(2))
Pyrex (3) Glassware and Plasticware

1993 Goody Hair Accessories $500
Levolor Window Treatments
Lee Rowan Home Storage Products

1992 Sanford (including Markers and Writing Instruments $120
Sharpie and Expo)
Intercraft Picture Frames

1991 Rogers and Keene Office Storage and Organization $ 50

</TABLE>
14

(1) All listed trade and brand names are trademarks, which are
registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, except
for Gardinia and Panex.

(2) Used under exclusive license from Mitsubishi Pencil Co. Ltd. and
its subsidiaries.

(3) Used under exclusive license from Corning Incorporated and its
subsidiaries in Europe, the Middle East and Africa only.


Internal Growth
---------------

The second element of the Company's growth strategy is internal
growth. Once an acquired business has been Newellized, the Company's
strategy is to build profitable sales and contribute to the Company's
internal growth. Avenues for internal growth include introducing new
products, entering new domestic and international markets, adding new
customers, cross-selling existing product lines to current customers
and supporting its U.S.-based customers' international expansion. The
Company's goal is to achieve an internal growth rate of 3-5% per year,
and over the last five years, the Company has achieved an average of
5% annual internal growth. Internal growth is defined by the Company
as growth from its "core businesses," which include continuing
businesses owned more than two years and minor acquisitions. The
Company intends to continue to pursue internal growth opportunities to
complement its acquisition growth.

International
-------------

The Company is pursuing international opportunities to further
its acquisition and internal growth objectives. The rapid growth of
consumer goods economies and retail structures in several regions
outside the U.S., particularly Europe, Mexico and South America, makes
them attractive to the Company by providing opportunities to acquire
businesses, develop partnerships with new foreign customers and extend
relationships with the Company's domestic customers whose businesses
are growing internationally. The Company's recent acquisitions,
combined with existing sales to foreign customers, increased its sales
outside the U.S. to approximately 22% of total sales in 1998 from
approximately 8% in 1992.

Within the last few years, the Company acquired a number of
businesses with significant foreign sales. The Company's first
significant foreign acquisition was the 1994 acquisition of Corning
Incorporated's European consumer product business, with annual sales
of approximately $130 million. Now known as Newell Europe, the
acquisition included Corning's manufacturing facilities in England,
France and Germany, as well as the trademark rights and product lines
of Pyrex{R} glass cookware used under exclusive license from Corning
15

Incorporated and its subsidiaries in Europe, Africa and the Middle
East only. The 1995 acquisition of Berol, an international
manufacturer and marketer of writing instruments provided annual
international sales of more than $80 million and several foreign
manufacturing facilities. The 1997 acquisition of Kirsch added annual
international sales of drapery hardware and window coverings of
approximately $150 million and several European manufacturing
facilities. The 1998 foreign acquisitions included Swish and
Gardinia, drapery hardware manufacturers in Europe, Panex, a maker of
aluminum cookware in Latin America, and Rotring, a manufacturer of
writing and drawing instruments in Europe. These 1998 acquisitions
represent approximately $450 million in annualized sales outside the
United States.

Additional information regarding acquisitions of businesses is
included in Item 6 and note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements.

MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
--------------------------

Customer Service
----------------

The Company believes that one of the primary ways it
distinguishes itself from its competitors is through customer service.
The Company's ability to provide superior customer service is a result
of its information technology, marketing and merchandising programs
designed to enhance the sales and profitability of its customers and
consistent on-time delivery of its products.

Information Technology
----------------------

The Company is an industry leader in the application of
Electronic Data Interchange ("EDI") technology, an electronic link
between the Company and many of its retail customers, and invests in
advanced computer systems. The Company uses EDI to receive and
transmit purchase orders, invoices and payments. By replacing
paper-based processing with computer-to-computer business
transactions, EDI has cut days off the order/shipping cycle.

Building upon its EDI expertise, the Company has established
"Quick Response" programs with several major customers. These
programs allow the Company to implement customized features such as
vendor-managed inventories in which the Company manages certain or all
aspects of inventory of several product categories at customer
locations. The Company's experience is that its customers benefit
from such programs by increased inventory turnover and reduced
customer waiting periods for out-of-stock product.
16

On-Time Delivery
----------------

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,
lowest-cost products to their customers. A growing trend among
retailers is to purchase on a "just-in-time" basis in order to reduce
inventory costs and increase returns on investment. As retailers
shorten their lead times for orders, manufacturers need to more
closely anticipate consumer buying patterns. The Company supports its
retail customers' "just-in-time" inventory strategies through
investments in improved forecasting systems, more responsive
manufacturing and distribution capabilities and electronic
communications. The Company manufactures the vast majority of its
products and has extensive experience in high-volume, cost-effective
manufacturing. The high-volume nature of its manufacturing processes
and the relatively consistent demand for its products enables the
Company to ship most products directly from its factories without the
need for independent warehousing and distribution centers. For 1998,
approximately 98% of the items ordered by customers were shipped on
time, typically within two to three days of the customer's order.

Marketing and Merchandising
---------------------------

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

The Company's merchandising skills help customers stimulate store
traffic and sales through timely advertising and innovative
promotions. The Company also assists customers in differentiating
their offerings by customizing products and packaging. Through
self-selling packaging and displays that emphasize good-better-best
value relationships, retail customers are encouraged to trade up to
higher-value, best quality products.

Customer service also involves customer contact with top-level
decision makers at the Company's divisions. As part of its
decentralized structure, the Company's division presidents are the
chief marketing officers of their product lines and communicate
directly with customers. This structure permits early recognition of
market trends and timely response to customer problems.

Multi-Product Offering
----------------------

The Company's increasingly broad product coverage in multiple
product lines permits it to more effectively meet the needs of its
17

customers. With families of leading, brand name products and
profitable new products, the Company also can help volume purchasers
sell 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 customers.

Corporate Structure
-------------------

By decentralizing its manufacturing and marketing efforts while
centralizing key administrative functions, the Company seeks to foster
a responsive entrepreneurial culture. The Company's divisions
concentrate on designing, manufacturing, merchandising, selling their
products and servicing their customers, which facilitates product
development and responsiveness to customers. Administrative functions
that are centralized at the corporate level include cash management,
accounting systems, capital expenditure approvals, order processing,
billing, credit, accounts receivable, data processing operations and
legal functions. Centralization concentrates technical expertise in
one location, making it easier to observe overall business trends and
manage the Company's businesses.

BACKLOG
-------

The dollar value of unshipped factory orders is not material.

SEASONAL VARIATIONS
-------------------

The Company's product groups are only moderately affected by
seasonal trends. Hardware and Home Furnishings products have higher
sales in the second and third quarters due to an increased level of
do-it-yourself projects completed in the summer months; Office
Products have higher sales in the second and third quarters due to the
back-to-school season; and Housewares products typically have higher
sales in the second half of the year due to retail stocking related to
the holiday season. Because these seasonal trends are moderate, the
Company's consolidated quarterly sales do not fluctuate significantly,
unless a significant acquisition is made.

FOREIGN OPERATIONS
------------------

Information regarding the Company's 1998, 1997 and 1996 foreign
operations is included in note 13 to the consolidated financial
statements and is incorporated by reference herein.
18

RAW MATERIALS
-------------

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.

PATENTS AND TRADEMARKS
----------------------

The Company has many patents, trademarks, brand names and trade
names, none of which is considered material to the consolidated
operations.

COMPETITION
-----------

The rapid growth of high-volume retailers, such as discount
stores and warehouse clubs, home centers and hardware stores, and
office superstores and contract stationers, together with changes in
consumer shopping patterns, have contributed to a significant
consolidation of the U.S. retail industry and the formation of
dominant multi-category retailers. Other trends among retailers are
to require manufacturers to maintain or reduce product prices or
deliver products with shorter lead times, or for the retailer to
import generic products directly from foreign sources. The
combination of these market influences creates a highly competitive
environment in which the Company's principal customers continuously
evaluate which product suppliers to use, resulting in pricing
pressures and the need for ongoing improvements in customer service.

For more than 30 years, the Company has positioned itself to
respond to the challenges of this 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, contract
stationers and military exchanges. The Company's largest customer,
Wal-Mart (including Sam's Club), accounted for approximately 14% of
net sales in 1998. Other top ten customers included Kmart, The Home
Depot, The Office Depot, Target, JCPenney, United Stationers,
Hechinger, Office Max and Lowe's.

The Company's other principal methods of meeting its competitive
challenges are high brand name recognition, superior customer service
(including industry leading information technology, innovative
"good-better-best" marketing and merchandising programs), consistent
on-time delivery, decentralized manufacturing and marketing,
centralized administration, and experienced management.
19

ENVIRONMENT
-----------

Information regarding the Company's environmental matters is
included in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of this
report and in note 14 to the consolidated financial statements and is
incorporated by reference herein.

EMPLOYEES
---------

The Company has approximately 32,000 employees worldwide, of whom
approximately 9,300 are covered by collective bargaining agreements
or, in certain countries, other collective arrangements decreed by
statute.


Item 2. Properties
----------

The following table shows the location and general character of
the principal operating facilities owned or leased by the Company.
The executive offices are located in Beloit, Wisconsin, which is an
owned facility occupying approximately 9,000 square feet. Other
Corporate offices are located in Illinois in owned facilities at
Freeport (occupying 73,000 square feet) and owned and leased space in
Rockford (occupying 7,000 square feet). Most of the idle facilities,
which are excluded from the following list, are subleased while being
held pending sale or lease expiration. The Company considers its
properties to be in generally good condition and well-maintained, and
are generally suitable and adequate to carry on the Company's
business. The properties are used for manufacturing ("M"),
distribution ("D") and administrative offices ("A").



Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

UNITED STATES
Arkansas Bentonville 05/99 A
Bentonville M-T-M A

Arizona Phoenix 03/04 D
Bizbes Owned M
20

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

California Irvine Owned M
Irvine Owned M & A
Santa Fe Springs 04/00 D
Vista 06/03 M, D & A
Westminister 09/02 M
Westminister 04/99 M

Georgia Athens Owned M
Augusta 08/01 A
Columbus Owned D
Columbus 12/99 D
Manchester Owned M
Peachtree City Owned A
St. Simons 12/99 A

Illinois Bannockburn 12/03 A
Bellwood Owned M & A
Bellwood 11/99 M, D & A
Freeport 10/01 M & D
Freeport Owned A
Freeport Owned M, D & A
Freeport 09/00 A
Itasca M-T-M A
Itasca 08/99 A
Lake Bluff 12/00 A
Mundelein 09/99 M & A
Rockford Owned M, D & A
Rockford Owned A
Rockford 04/04 D
Rockford 05/06 A
Rockford 10/03 A
South Holland 06/02 M
Waukegan 07/99 D


Indiana Lowell Owned M, D & A
Middlebury Owned M

Maine Libson Falls 03/03 M & D

Massachusetts Montague Owned M

Michigan Sturgis Owned M & D
Sturgis Owned M & D
21

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Missouri Fenton 12/99 D
Fenton 11/99 D
Jackson Owned M, D & A
Jackson 12/01 D

Nebraska Omaha 09/00 D

New Hampshire Claremont Owned M & D
Claremont 10/00 D

New Jersey Rockaway 03/02 M
Bloomsbury Owned M, D & A
Cranbury 12/05 D
Greenwich Twp Owned M & D
Secaucus 12/99 D

New York Farmingdale 12/99 M & A
Medina Owned M, D & A
New York 01/01 D
Ogdensburg Owned M & A
Ogdensburg Owned D

North Carolina High Point Owned M
Statesville 05/99 M & A

Ohio Bremen Owned M
Bremen Owned D
Lancaster M-T-M A
Lancaster Owned M, D & A
Lancaster Owned D
Perrysburg Owned M, D & A
Toledo M-T-M D
Toledo 05/02 D
Westerville Owned M & A

Pennsylvania Ambridge M-T-M D
Monaca Owned M & A
Monaca M-T-M D
Shamokin Owned M & D
Shamokin Owned M
Sunbury Owned D
Wampum M-T-M D

Puerto Rico Carolina 06/03 D & A
Moca 04/02 M & A

Rhode Island North Smithfield 05/05 A
22

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Tennessee Covington M-T-M D
Johnson City 12/99 D
Johnson City Owned M
Johnson City 05/00 D
Lewisburg Owned M, D & A
Lewisburg M-T-M D
Maryville Owned M, D & A
Memphis 12/01 D & A
Memphis 02/06 M, D & A
Shelbyville Owned M, D & A

Texas Carrollton 01/00 D
Taylor M-T-M M & A
Waco Owned M
Waco 07/99 D
Waco 01/06 M

Utah Ogden Owned M
Salt Lake City 04/99 M

Vermont Brangboro 12/07 M & A

West Virginia Clarksburg Owned D

Wisconsin Beloit Owned A
Chilton Owned M
Madison 04/00 D
Madison M-T-M D
Madison Owned M, D & A
Manitowoc 04/02 D
Manitowoc Owned M, D & A
St. Francis Owned M, D & A
Cudahy 06/99 D

CANADA
Alberta Calgary 07/01 M
23

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Ontario Concord 09/99 A
Meaford Owned D
Mississauga Owned M & D
Oakville 10/99 D & A
Pickering 03/07 D
Pickering Corp. D
Pickering Corp. D
Prescott 09/00 A
Prescott Owned M & A
Prescott M-T-M D
Richmond Hills 10/00 A
Toronto 08/02 M & A
Watford 01/04 M, D & A

Quebec Repentigny M-T-M M

EUROPE
Austria St. Polten M-T-M D
Wien M-T-M D
Worgl Tirol Owned M, D & A

Belarus Minskij Rajon 03/00 D
Minskij Rajon 12/99 D & A

Belgium Aarschot Owned D & A
Zellick 07/07 D & A
Bornem 03/99 D

Czechia Zalec Owned D & A

Denmark Aars Owned M
Hedehusene M-T-M M & A
Risskov 07/01 A

Finland Helsinki M-T-M A

France Ablis 02/06 D
Avon 11/99 A
Bordeaux 07/99 A
Briand Owned M & A
Chateauroux Owned M, D & A
Chateauroux 12/99 D
Feuquieres en Virneu Owned A
Les Ulls Cedex 07/04 D & A
Melun Cedex 06/99 M, D & A
Mitra Mory 03/07 D & A
24

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Germany Bunde 11/01 D & A
Bunde Owned M, D & A
Eckental Owned D & A
Ernskirchen Owned M
Garching/Munchen 12/99 D & A
Gobritz M-T-M D
Gobritz 12/05 A
Haan Owned D & A
Hamburg 11/03 A
Hamburg Owned D
Hamburg Owned M, D & A
Hamburg M-T-M D
Henstadt-Ulzburg Owned D & A
Isny 10/00 D
Isny Owned M & A
Isny Owned M, D & A
Isny M-T-M D
Kirchen Owned M
Malerhofen Owned M, D & A
Muhltal Owned M, D & A
Saara 12/99 M
Schmolin Owned M, D & A
Schwabisch-Gmund M-T-M D & A
Tudingen Owned D & A
Wiebelsheim Owned M, D & A
Zachow/Berlin Owned M, D & A

Greece Athens 12/02 D & A

Hungary Budapest M-T-M D & A

Italy Albignasego M-T-M D & A
Figino Serenza Owned M
Milan 12/01 A
Milano 03/04 D & A
Milan 04/99 D
Supino Owned M

Netherlands Almere-haven Owned D & A

Norway Moss 01/03 M, D & A
Oslo 03/04 D & A
25

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Poland Gdansk 07/00 D & A
Otwock M-T-M D & A
Swietochiowice 08/00 D & A
Tyniec Maly Owned M, D & A

Portugal Amadora Owned D & A
Lisbon M-T-M D
Porto Owned D

Romania Bukarest 10/01 D
Bukarest 12/99 A

Slovakia Priavidza 04/99 D & A

Spain Barcelona Owned D
Barcelona 12/03 A
Madrid 12/99 A
Madrid Owned D
Malaga Owned D
Ovledo Owned D
Tenerife M-T-M D
Valladolid Owned D
Victoria Owned M

Sweden Andestorp Owned M, D & A
Malmo Owned M & A
Malmo M-T-M M & D
Nykoping 06/99 M, D & A

Switzerland Riedstr Owned D & A

Turkey Istanbul 03/00 D & A
26

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

United Kingdom Bercl House Owned M & A
Dunstable 02/05 D
King's Lynn Owned M, D & A
Sheffield 12/12 M & D
Sheffield 12/15 D
Sheffield M-T-M M & D
Sheffield 09/10 D
Shefford 07/01 D
Shefford 05/06 D
Slough 06/07 A
Sunderland Owned M
Sunderland 11/99 D
Sunderland 12/00 D
Tamworth Owned M & A
Tamworth 03/00 M
Tipton 12/18 D
Venus House Owned M & D
Worcastershire Owned A

Ukraine Kiev 03/00 A

LATIN AMERICA
Argentina Buenos Aires 10/00 D & A

Brazil Sao Paulo 01/00 D
Sao Paulo 12/99 M & A

Colombia Bogota Owned M, D & A

Mexico Cancun Owned A
Durango M-T-M M
Estado de Mexico 06/99 D
Jocotitian 06/03 M
Tijuana M-T-M M
Tlalnepantla Owned M, D & A

Venezuela Caracas Owned D
Maracay Owned M, D & A
Maracay M-T-M M
San Vicente Owned M & D

ASIA
Australia Noble Park 06/00 D & A
Victoria 07/99 A

China Hong Kong 09/99 D & A
27

Owned or
Exp. Date General
Location City if Leased Character
----------- ----- ------------ ------------

Japan Fukuoka 12/99 A
Osaka 12/99 A
Saitama M-T-M D
Tokyo 05/99 A

Item 3. Legal Proceedings
--------------------------

Information regarding legal proceedings is included in note 14 to
the consolidated financial statements and is incorporated by reference
herein.
28

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
------------------------------------------------------------

There were no matters submitted to a vote of the Company's
shareholders during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 1998.

Supplementary Item - Executive Officers of the Registrant as of
12/31/98

Name Age Present Position With the Company
---- --- ---------------------------------

William P. Sovey 65 Chairman of the Board

John J. McDonough 62 Vice Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer

Thomas A. Ferguson, Jr. 51 President and Chief Operating Officer

Donald L. Krause 59 Senior Vice President-Corporate
Controller

William T. Alldredge 58 Vice President-Finance

Richard C. Dell 52 Group President

William J. Denton 54 Group President

Robert S. Parker 53 Group President

Gilbert A. Niesen 54 Vice President - Personnel Relations

William P. Sovey has been Chairman of the Board since January 1, 1998.
He was Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from
May 1992 through December 1997. From January 1986 through July 1992,
he was President and Chief Operating Officer.

John J. McDonough has been Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of the Company since January 1, 1998 and a Director since 1992. He
was Senior Vice President-Finance of the Company from November 1981
through April 1983. Mr. McDonough has also been President and Chief
Executive Officer of McDonough Capital Company LLC (an investment
management company) since April 1995. Prior thereto, he was Vice
Chairman and a Director of Dentsply International Inc. (a manufacturer
and distributor of dental and medical x-ray equipment and other dental
products) from 1983 through October 1995, and was Chief Executive
Officer from April 1983 through February 1995.

Thomas A. Ferguson, Jr. has been President and Chief Operating Officer
since May 1992. From January 1989 to May 1992, he was
President-Operating Companies.
29

Donald L. Krause was appointed Senior Vice President-Corporate
Controller in March 1990. He was President-Industrial Companies from
February 1988 to March 1990.

William T. Alldredge has been Vice President-Finance of the Company
since August 1983.

Richard C. Dell has been Group President since June 1992. He was
President of Amerock from November 1989 to June 1992. He was
President of EZ Paintr from September 1987 to November 1989.

William J. Denton has been Group President since March 1990. From
April 1989 to March 1990, he was Vice President-Corporate Controller.
He was President of Anchor Hocking Glass from August 1987 to April
1989.

Robert S. Parker has been Group President since August 1998. He was
President of Sanford Corporation from February 1992 to August 1998.

Gilbert A. Niesen has been Vice President-Personnel Relations since
May 1998. He was Vice President of Human Resources of the Mirro
Division from March 1994 to May 1998, and Vice President of Human
Resources of Amerock Corporation from December 1987 to March 1994.
30

PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters
-------------------------------------------------

The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York and Chicago
Stock Exchanges (symbol: NWL). As of December 31, 1998, there were
16,315 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 (as published in the Wall Street Journal) for
the calendar periods indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 1997 1996
------------------ ------------------ ------------------
High Low High Low High Low
--------- ------- ------- ------- -------- -------
Quarters:
First $50 3/16 $40 7/8 $38 3/8 $30 3/8 $28 7/8 $25 5/8
Second 49 13/16 45 7/16 40 1/16 32 7/8 32 25 1/2
Third 54 7/16 43 3/16 43 1/4 37 1/2 32 28 1/2
Fourth 49 1/16 37 13/16 43 3/16 35 1/8 33 1/4 28 1/4

</TABLE>
The Company has paid regular cash dividends on its Common Stock
since 1947. On February 8, 1999, the quarterly cash dividend was
increased to $0.20 per share from the $0.18 per share that had been
paid since February 10, 1998. Prior to this date, the quarterly cash
dividend paid was $0.16 per share since February 11, 1997, which was
an increase from the $0.14 per share paid since February 6, 1996.

Information about the 5.25% convertible quarterly income
preferred securities issued by a wholly owned subsidiary trust of the
Company, which are reflected as outstanding in the Company's
consolidated financial statements as Company-Obligated Mandatorily
Redeemable Convertible Preferred Securities of a Subsidiary Trust, is
included in note 5 to the consolidated financial statements and is
incorporated by reference herein.
31

Item 6. Selected Financial Data
-----------------------

The following is a summary of certain consolidated financial
information relating to the Company at December 31. 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.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1998 1997* 1996* 1995* 1994*
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(In thousands, except per share data)
INCOME STATEMENT DATA
Net sales $3,720,040 $3,336,233 $2,972,839 $2,580,313 $2,141,600
Cost of products sold 2,548,064 2,259,551 2,020,116 1,759,871 1,437,518
---------- --------- --------- ---------- ----------
Gross income 1,171,976 1,076,682 952,723 820,442 704,082

Selling, general
and administrative expenses 583,016 497,739 461,802 392,921 335,532
Trade names and goodwill
amortization and other 54,860 31,882 23,554 19,280 15,400
---------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Operating income 534,100 547,061 467,367 408,241 353,150
Nonoperating expenses (income):
Interest expense 60,397 76,413 58,541 51,443 31,435
Other, net (211,143) (14,686) (19,474) (20,353) (16,717)
---------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Net (150,746) 61,727 39,067 31,090 14,718
---------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Income before income taxes 684,846 485,334 428,300 377,151 338,432
Income taxes 288,690 192,187 169,258 150,676 137,141
---------- -------- --------- --------- ----------
Net income $ 396,156 $ 293,147 $ 259,042 $ 266,475 $ 201,291
========== ======== ========= ========= ==========
Earnings Per Share
Basic $ 2.44 $ 1.81 $ 1.60 $ 1.40 $ 1.25
Diluted $ 2.38 $ 1.80 $ 1.60 $ 1.40 $ 1.25

Dividends per share $ 0.72 $ 0.64 $ 0.56 $ 0.46 $ 0.39

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding
Basic 162,544 162,173 161,858 161,306 160,868
Diluted 173,041 163,308 162,281 161,624 161,094
32

1998 1997* 1996* 1995* 1994*
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(In thousands)
BALANCE SHEET DATA

Inventories $ 714,531 $ 653,200 $ 524,444 $ 518,039 $ 426,847
Working capital 769,619 719,215 482,580 462,683 141,592
Total assets 4,327,912 4,011,734 3,058,430 2,965,190 2,517,780
Short-term debt 76,250 83,914 108,814 165,050 310,790
Long-term debt, net of
current maturities 866,211 786,793 685,608 776,565 423,975
Stockholders' equity 1,912,007 1,725,221 1,500,022 1,301,585 1,126,941
</TABLE>

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

1994
----

On August 29, 1994, the Company acquired the assets of the
decorative window coverings business of Home Fashions, Inc.("HFI"),
including vertical blinds and pleated shades sold under the Del Mar{R}
and LouverDrape{R} brand names. HFI was combined with Levolor and
together they are operated as a single entity called Levolor Home
Fashions. On October 18, 1994, the Company acquired Faber-Castell
Corporation ("Faber"), a maker and marketer of markers and writing
instruments, including wood-cased pencils and rolling ball pens, sold
under the Eberhard Faber{R} brand name. Faber was combined with
Sanford and together they are operated as a single entity called
Sanford North America. On November 30, 1994, the Company acquired the
European consumer products business of Corning Incorporated (now known
as "Newell Europe"). This acquisition included Corning's consumer
products manufacturing facilities in England, France and Germany, the
product lines and right to use the foreign registered trademarks
Pyrex{R}, Pyroflam{TM} and Visions{TM} brands in Europe, the Middle
East and Africa, and Corning's consumer distribution network
throughout these areas under exclusive license from Corning
Incorporated. Additionally, the Company became the distributor in
Europe, the Middle East and Africa for Corning's U.S. manufactured
cookware and dinnerware brands. For these and other minor 1994
acquisitions, the Company paid $360.8 million in cash and assumed
$12.8 million of debt.

These transactions were accounted for as purchases; therefore,
results of operations are included in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements since their respective dates of acquisition. The
acquisition costs were allocated to the fair market value of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed and resulted in trade names
and goodwill of approximately $202.2 million.

1995
----

On October 2, 1995, the Company acquired Decorel Incorporated
("Decorel"), a manufacturer and marketer of ready-made picture frames.
33

Decorel was combined with Intercraft. On November 2, 1995, the
Company acquired Berol Corporation ("Berol"), a designer, manufacturer
and marketer and markers and writing instruments. Berol was combined
with Sanford. The U.S. component of Berol is operated as part of the
Sanford North America division. The international piece is operated
as part of Sanford International. For these and other minor 1995
acquisitions, the Company paid $210.6 million in cash, issued 379,507
shares of the Company's Common Stock (valued at approximately $9.5
million) and assumed $144.2 million of debt.

The transactions were accounted for as purchases; therefore
results of operations are included in the accompanying consolidated
financial statements since their respective dates of acquisition. The
acquisition costs were allocated to the fair market value of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed and resulted in trade names
and goodwill of approximately $181.1 million.
34

Subsequent Years
----------------

Information regarding businesses acquired in the last three years
is included in note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.

QUARTERLY SUMMARIES

Summarized quarterly data for the last three years is as follows
(unaudited):

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Calendar Year 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Year
------------- --- --- --- --- ----
(In millions, except per share data)
1998
----
Net sales $ 770.5 $ 922.7 $ 957.1 $1,069.7 $3,720.0
Gross income 231.0 307.4 325.2 308.4 1,172.0
Net income 148.9 88.7 99.2 59.4 396.2
Earnings per share:
Basic 0.92 0.55 0.61 0.36 2.44
Diluted 0.88 0.54 0.60 0.36 2.38

1997*
----
Net sales $ 650.0 $ 819.3 $ 925.7 $ 941.2 $3,336.2
Gross income 195.1 270.1 298.6 312.9 1,076.7
Net income 37.7 77.0 87.2 91.2 293.1
Earnings per share:
Basic 0.23 0.48 0.54 0.56 1.81
Diluted 0.23 0.47 0.54 0.56 1.80

1996*
----
Net sales $ 638.8 $ 753.2 $ 791.7 $ 789.1 $2,972.8
Gross income 189.6 243.8 257.8 261.5 952.7
Net income 33.0 67.3 76.3 82.4 259.0
Earnings per share:
Basic 0.20 0.42 0.47 0.51 1.60
Diluted 0.20 0.42 0.47 0.51 1.60

</TABLE>

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.
35

Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of
Operations and Financial Condition
--------------------------------------------------

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 consolidated financial statements and notes thereto.


Introduction
------------

The Company's primary financial goals are to increase sales
and earnings per share an average of 15% per year, to achieve an
annual return on beginning equity ("ROE") of 20% or above, to increase
dividends per share in line with earnings growth, and to maintain a
prudent ratio of total debt to total capitalization, net of cash
("leverage"). The Company has achieved most of these goals over the
last ten years, increasing sales and earnings per share at compound
annual rates of 13% and 16%, respectively, averaging 21% ROE,
increasing dividends per share at a compound annual rate of 18% and
averaging 26% leverage. The Company believes that the principal
factors affecting its ability to achieve these objectives in the
future are likely to be the realized rates of both acquisition and
internal growth and the Company's continued ability to integrate
acquired businesses through a process called "Newellization."


Since 1990, the Company has more than tripled its sales by
acquiring businesses with aggregate annual sales of approximately $3
billion (excluding Rubbermaid). The rate at which the Company can
integrate Rubbermaid and other recent acquisitions to meet the
Company's standards of profitability will affect near-term financial
results. Over the longer term, the Company's ability both to make and
to integrate strategic acquisitions will impact the Company's
financial results.

The Company pursues internal growth by introducing new
products, entering new domestic and international markets, adding new
customers, cross-selling existing product lines to current customers
and supporting its U.S. based customers' international expansion. The
Company's goal is to achieve an internal growth rate of 3-5% per year,
and over the last five years, it has achieved an average of 5% annual
internal growth. Internal growth is defined by the Company as growth
from its "core businesses," which include continuing businesses owned
more than two years and minor acquisitions. The Company believes that
its future internal growth will likely depend on its continued success
in these areas, as well as external factors.
36

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table sets forth for the period indicated
items from the Consolidated Statements of Income as a percentage of
net sales:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997* 1996*
----- ----- -----
Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Cost of products sold 68.5 67.7 68.0
----------------------------------------------------------
Gross income 31.5 32.3 32.0
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 15.6 14.9 15.5
Goodwill amortization
and other 1.5 1.0 0.8
-----------------------------------------------------------
Operating income 14.4 16.4 15.7
Nonoperating expenses:
Interest expense 1.6 2.3 2.0
Other, net (5.6) (0.4) (0.7)
------------------------------------------------------------
(4.0) 1.9 1.3
------------------------------------------------------------
Pre-tax income 18.4 14.5 14.4
Income taxes 7.8 5.7 5.7
------------------------------------------------------------
Net income 10.6% 8.8% 8.7%
============================================================
</TABLE>


* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was accounted for
as a pooling of interests.


1998 vs. 1997
-------------

Net sales for 1998 were $3,720.0 million, representing an
increase of $383.8 million or 11.5% from $3,336.2 million in 1997. The
overall increase in net sales was primarily attributable to
contributions from Rolodex (acquired in March 1997), Kirsch (acquired
in May 1997), Eldon (acquired in June 1997), Swish (acquired in March
1998), Panex (acquired in June 1998), Gardinia (acquired in August
1998), Rotring (acquired in September 1998) and 4% internal growth.
The 1997 and 1998 acquisitions are described in note 2 to the
consolidated financial statements.

As of December 31, 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 131,
"Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information."
After reviewing the criteria for determining segments, the Company
believes it has three reportable operating segments: Hardware and Home
Furnishings, Office Products, and Housewares. This segmentation is
37

appropriate because the Company organizes its product categories into
these groups when making operating decisions and assessing
performance, and the Company divisions included in each group sell
primarily to the same retail channel: Hardware and Home Furnishings
(home centers and hardware stores), Office Products (office
superstores and contract stationers), and Housewares (discount stores
and warehouse clubs).

Net sales for each of the Company's segments (and the
primary reasons for the year-to-year changes) were as follows, in
millions:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997* % Change
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware and
Home Furnishings $1,758.1 $1,484.8 18.4%(1)
Office Products 1,040.3 899.2 15.7%(2)
Housewares 921.6 952.2 (3.2)%(3)
---------------------------------------------
$3,720.0 $3,336.2 11.5%
=============================================

Primary Reasons for Changes:

(1) 6% internal growth and Kirsch (May 1997), Swish (March 1998),
and Gardinia (August 1998) acquisitions

(2) 8% internal growth and Rolodex (March 1997), Eldon (June 1997)
and Rotring (September 1998) acquisitions, offset partially by
Stuart Hall divestiture

(3) 3% internal sales declines and Newell Plastics divestiture,
offset partially by Panex (June 1998) acquisition.

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

Gross income as a percent of net sales in 1998 was 31.5% or
$1,172.0 million versus 32.3% or $1,076.7 million in 1997. Excluding
costs associated with the 1998 Calphalon acquisition and certain
realignment and other charges, gross income as a percent of net sales
in 1998 was 32.2%. The slight decrease in gross margins was due to the
1998 acquisitions, which had gross margins lower than the Company's
average gross margins. As the 1998 acquisitions are integrated, the
Company expects its gross margins to improve. This decline was
partially offset by increases in gross margins at several of the
Company's core businesses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") in
1998 were 15.6% of net sales or $583.0 million versus 14.9% or $497.7
million in 1997. Excluding costs associated with the 1998 Calphalon
38

acquisition and certain realignment and other charges, SG&A was 15.0%
of net sales. The slight increase in SG&A as a percent of net sales
was primarily due to the 1998 acquisitions, whose spending levels are
higher than the Company's average. As these acquisitions are
integrated, the Company expects its SG&A spending levels as a
percentage of net sales to decline.

The Company has reclassified trade names and goodwill
amortization from nonoperating expense to operating expense for all
periods presented. Trade names and goodwill amortization as a
percentage of net sales was 1.0% in both 1998 and 1997, excluding
charges of $16.2 million (which included write-offs of intangible
assets) recorded in 1998.

Operating income in 1998 was 14.4% of net sales or $534.1
million versus 16.4% or $547.1 million in 1997. Excluding costs
associated with the 1998 Calphalon acquisition ($28.8 million) and
certain realignment and other charges ($38.8 million), operating
income in 1998 was $601.7 or 16.2% of net sales. The slight decrease
in operating margins in 1998 was primarily due to the 1998
acquisitions, whose operating margins are improving as they are being
integrated but are still operating at less than the Company's average
operating margins. This decline was offset partially by increases in
operating margins at several of the Company's core businesses.

Other nonoperating income in 1998 was 4.0% of net sales or
$150.7 million versus other nonoperating expenses of 1.9% or $61.8
million in 1997. The $212.5 million increase in income was due
primarily to a net pre-tax gain of $191.5 million on the sale of the
Company's stake in The Black & Decker Corporation and a pre-tax gain
of $35.6 million on the sales of Stuart Hall and Newell Plastics. This
increase was partially offset by increases in distributions of $25.2
million related to the convertible preferred securities issued by a
subsidiary trust in December 1997.

For 1998 and 1997, the effective tax rates were 42.2% and
39.6%, respectively. The rate increase was the result of
non-deductible goodwill related to the sales of the two businesses;
excluding this item, the overall tax rate was 39.0% in 1998. See Note
11 to the consolidated financial statements for an explanation of the
effective tax rate.

Net income for 1998 was $396.2 million, representing an
increase of $103.1 million or 35.2% from 1997. Basic earnings per
share in 1998 increased 34.8% to $2.44 versus $1.81 in 1997; diluted
earnings per share in 1998 increased 32.2% to $2.38 versus $1.80 in
1997. Excluding the net pre-tax gain on the sale of Black & Decker
stock of $191.5 million ($116.8 million after taxes), the net pre-tax
gain of $35.6 million on the sales of Stuart Hall and Newell Plastics
($0.4 million after taxes) and costs associated with the 1998
Calphalon acquisition and certain realignment and other charges of
$67.6 million ($40.8 million after taxes), net income in 1998
39

increased $26.7 million or 9.1% to $319.8 million. The increase in net
income, excluding the gains and charges noted above, was primarily due
to strong shipments at the Company's core Office Products and Hardware
and Home Furnishings businesses.

1997 vs. 1996
-------------

Net sales for 1997 were $3,336.2 million, representing an
increase of $363.4 million or 12.2% from $2,972.8 million in 1996. The
overall increase in net sales was primarily attributable to
contributions from Rolodex (acquired in March 1997), Kirsch (acquired
in May 1997), Eldon (acquired in June 1997) and 3% internal growth.
The 1997 acquisitions are described in note 2 to the consolidated
financial statements.
40

Net sales for each of the Company's segments (and the
primary reasons for the year-to-year changes) were as follows, in
millions:


</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1997* 1996* % Change
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hardware and
Home Furnishings $1,484.8 $1,299.3 14.3%(1)
Office Products 899.2 741.8 21.2%(2)
Housewares 952.2 931.7 2.2%(3)
-------------------------------------------------------------
$3,336.2 $2,972.8 12.2%
=============================================================
</TABLE>

Primary Reasons for Changes:

(1) 2% internal growth and Kirsch (May 1997) acquisition

(2) 6% internal growth and Rolodex (March 1997) and Eldon (June 1997)
acquisitions

(3) Internal growth

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

Gross income as a percent of net sales in 1997 was 32.3% or
$1,076.7 million versus 32.0% or $952.7 million in 1996. Gross margins
improved as a result of cost savings achieved through the integration
of several picture frame businesses acquired by the Company in recent
years, profitability improvement at the Company's Levolor Home
Fashions division and increased gross margins at several of the
Company's other core businesses. The increase in gross margins was
offset partially by 1997 acquisitions which had gross margins lower
than the Company's average gross margins. As these acquisitions are
integrated, the Company expects its gross margins to improve.

SG&A in 1997 was 14.9% of net sales or $497.7 million versus
15.5% or $461.8 million in 1996. Core business SG&A spending as a
percentage of sales decreased primarily as a result of cost savings
arising from the picture frame business integration. This decrease was
offset partially by the 1997 acquisitions, which had higher SG&A than
the Company's average SG&A as a percent of net sales. As these
acquisitions are integrated, the Company expects its SG&A spending
levels as a percentage of net sales to decline.

Trade names and goodwill amortization as a percentage of net
sales in 1997 was comparable to 1996.

Operating income in 1997 was 16.4% of net sales or $547.1
million versus 15.7% or $467.3 million in 1996. The increase in
operating margins was primarily due to cost savings as a result of the
41

picture frame business integration, profitability improvement at the
Company's Levolor Home Fashions division and increased core business
gross margins, offset partially by 1997 acquisitions which had average
operating margins lower than the Company's average operating margins.

Net nonoperating expenses in 1997 were 1.9% of net sales or
$61.8 million versus 1.3% or $39.0 million in 1996. The $22.8 million
increase was due primarily to a $16.6 million increase in interest
expense (as a result of additional borrowings related to the 1997
acquisitions) and a $7.0 million decrease in dividend income. Dividend
income decreased as a result of the conversion on October 15, 1996 by
Black & Decker of 150,000 shares of privately placed Black & Decker
convertible preferred stock, Series B, owned by the Company (purchased
at a cost of $150.0 million) into 6.4 million shares of Black & Decker
Common Stock. Prior to conversion, the preferred stock paid a 7.75%
cumulative dividend, aggregating $2.9 million per quarter, before the
effect of income taxes. After the conversion, the dividends paid to
the Company on the shares of Black & Decker Common Stock owned by the
Company as a result of the conversion totaled $0.8 million per
quarter, before the effect of income taxes. For supplementary
information regarding other nonoperating expenses, see note 12 to the
consolidated financial statements.

The effective tax rate was 39.6% and 39.5% in 1997 and 1996,
respectively. See Note 11 to the consolidated financial statements for
an explanation of the effective tax rate.

Net income for 1997 was $293.1 million, representing an
increase of $34.1 million or 13.2% from 1996. Basic earnings per share
in 1997 increased 13.1% to $1.81 versus $1.60 in 1996; diluted
earnings per share in 1997 increased 12.5% to $1.80 versus $1.60 in
1996. The increases in net income and earnings per share were
primarily attributable to cost savings arising from the picture frame
business integration, profitability improvement at the Company's
Levolor Home Fashions division, cost savings as a result of the Kirsch
integration into the Newell Window Furnishings division and increased
operating margins at several of the Company's other core businesses.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Sources
-------

The Company's primary sources of liquidity and capital
resources include cash provided from operations and use of available
borrowing facilities.

Cash provided by operating activities in 1998 was $302.6
million, representing a decrease of $73.8 million from $376.4 million
for 1997. This decrease was primarily due to an increase in payments
related to liabilities at acquired businesses.
42

On March 3, 1998, the Company received $378.3 million
(before the payment of taxes on the net gain) from the sale of
7,862,300 shares of Black & Decker common stock. The proceeds from the
sale were used to pay down commercial paper.

In the third quarter of 1998, the Company received $199.0
million (before the payment of taxes on the net gains) from the sales
of Stuart Hall and Newell Plastics.

The Company has short-term foreign and domestic uncommitted
lines of credit with various banks which are available for short-term
financing. Borrowings under the Company's uncommitted lines of credit
are subject to discretion of the lender. The Company's uncommitted
lines of credit do not have a material impact on the Company's
liquidity. Borrowings under the Company's uncommitted lines of credit
at December 31, 1998 totaled $69.2 million.

During 1997, the Company amended its revolving credit
agreement to increase the aggregate borrowing limit to $1.3 billion,
at a floating interest rate. The revolving credit agreement will
terminate in August 2002. At December 31, 1998, there were no
borrowings under the revolving credit agreement.

In lieu of borrowings under the Company's revolving credit
agreement, the Company may issue up to $1.3 billion of commercial
paper. The Company's revolving credit agreement provides the committed
backup liquidity required to issue commercial paper. Accordingly,
commercial paper may only be issued up to the amount available for
borrowing under the Company's revolving credit agreement. At December
31, 1998, $125.0 million (principal amount) of commercial paper was
outstanding. The entire amount is classified as long-term debt.

The Company has a universal shelf registration statement on
file for the issuance of up to $500.0 million of debt and equity
securities from time to time. The Company issued during 1998 and has
outstanding as of December 31, 1998 a total of $470.5 million of
Medium-term notes under this program. The maturities on these notes
range from five to thirty years at an average interest rate of 6.0%.

At December 31, 1998, the Company had outstanding $263.0
million (principal amount) of Medium-term notes issued under a
previous shelf registration statement with maturities ranging from
five to ten years at an average interest rate of 6.3%.


Uses
----

The Company's primary uses of liquidity and capital
resources include acquisitions, dividend payments and capital
expenditures.
43

In 1998, the Company acquired Swish, Panex, Gardinia and
Rotring and made other minor acquisitions for cash purchase prices
totaling $413.3 million. In 1997, the Company acquired Rolodex, Kirsch
and Eldon and made other minor acquisitions for cash purchase prices
totaling $762.1 million. In 1996, the Company acquired Holson Burnes
and completed other minor acquisitions for consideration that included
cash of $42.6 million. All of these acquisitions were accounted for as
purchases and were paid for with proceeds obtained from the issuance
of commercial paper, medium-term notes and notes payable under the
Company's lines of credit.

Capital expenditures were $147.7 million, $103.2 million and
$96.2 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. The increase in
1998 was primarily due to the replacement of glass manufacturing tanks
at the Newell Europe and Anchor Hocking divisions.

The Company has paid regular cash dividends on its Common
Stock since 1947. On February 8, 1999, the quarterly cash dividend was
increased to $0.20 per share from the $0.18 per share that had been
paid since February 10, 1998. Prior to this date, the quarterly cash
dividend paid was $0.16 per share since February 11, 1997, which was
an increase from the $0.14 per share paid since February 6, 1996.
Dividends paid during 1998, 1997 and 1996 were $116.5 million, $101.8
million and $88.9 million, respectively.

Retained earnings increased in 1998, 1997 and 1996 by $279.7
million, $191.3 million and $170.1 million, respectively. The higher
increase in 1998 versus the increase in 1997 was primarily due to a
pre-tax gain of $191.5 million ($116.8 million after taxes) on the
sale of the Black & Decker common stock. The average dividend payout
ratio to common stockholders in 1998, 1997 and 1996 was 30%, 36% and
35%, respectively (represents the percentage of diluted earnings per
share paid in cash to stockholders).

Working capital at December 31, 1998 was $769.6 million
compared to $719.2 million at December 31, 1997 and $482.6 million at
December 31, 1996. The current ratio at December 31, 1998 was 1.94:1
compared to 2.01:1 at December 31, 1997 and 1.72:1 at December 31,
1996.

Total debt to total capitalization (total debt is net of
cash and cash equivalents, and total capitalization includes total
debt, company-obligated mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred
securities of a subsidiary trust and stockholders' equity) was .27:1
at December 31, 1998, .27:1 at December 31, 1997 and .35:1 at December
31, 1996.

The Company believes that cash provided from operations and
available borrowing facilities will continue to provide adequate
support for the cash needs of existing businesses; however, certain
events, such as significant acquisitions, could require additional
external financing.
44


LEGAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and
claims, including various environmental matters, that have arisen in
the ordinary conduct of its business. Such matters are more fully
described in Note 14 to the Company's consolidated financial
statements. The Company does not expect any amount it may be required
to pay in excess of amounts reserved will have a material effect on
its consolidated financial statements.


YEAR 2000 COMPUTER COMPLIANCE

State of Readiness
------------------

Any computer equipment that uses two digits instead of four
to specify the year will be unable to interpret dates beyond the year
1999. This "Year 2000" issue could result in system failures or
miscalculations causing disruptions of operations.

In order to address Year 2000 compliance issues, the Company
has initiated a comprehensive project designed to minimize or
eliminate these kinds of operational disruptions in its information
technology ("IT") systems, as well as its non-IT systems (e.g., HVAC
systems and building security systems). The project consists of six
phases: company recognition, inventory of systems, impact analysis,
planning, fixing and testing.

The Company has substantially completed all phases for its
IT and non-IT systems in the United States. With respect to
International IT systems, approximately 60% of the Company's critical
business systems are currently compliant and approximately 40% are in
the process of being fixed and tested. With respect to International
non-IT systems, the assessment phase indicated a need for only minor
fixing. For both International IT and non-IT systems, the fixing and
testing phases currently underway are generally expected to be
completed by June 1999.

As part of its Year 2000 project, the Company has initiated
communications with all of its key vendors and services suppliers
(including raw material and utility providers) to assess their state
of Year 2000 readiness. Over 80% of its key vendors and service
suppliers have responded in writing to the Company's Year 2000
readiness inquiries and have said they will be Year 2000 compliant.
The Company plans to continue assessment of its third party business
partners, including face-to-face meetings with management and/or
onsite visits as deemed appropriate. The Company is prepared in cases
where its main vendor or service provider cannot continue with its
business due to Year 2000 problems to use alternate vendors as sources
for required materials. Despite the Company's efforts, there can be no
45

guarantee that the systems of other companies which the Company relies
upon to conduct its day-to-day business will be compliant.


Costs
-----

The Company estimates that it will incur total expenses of
$14 million to $16 million in conjunction with the Year 2000
compliance project (excluding such expenses relating to the Rubbermaid
operations). As of December 31, 1998, the Company has spent $14
million in conjunction with this project. The majority of these
expenditures were capitalized since they were associated with
purchased software that would have been replaced in the normal course
of business.


Risks
-----

With respect to the risks associated with its IT and non-IT
systems, the Company believes that the most likely worst case scenario
is that the Company may experience minor system malfunctions and
errors in the early days and weeks of 2000 that were not detected
during its fixing and testing efforts. The Company also believes that
these problems will not have a material effect on the Company's
financial condition or results of operations.

With respect to the risks associated with third parties, the
Company believes that the most likely worst case scenario is that some
of the Company's vendors will not be compliant and will have
difficulty filling orders and delivering goods. Management also
believes that the number of such vendors will have been minimized by
the Company's program of identifying non-compliant vendors and
replacing or jointly developing alternative supply or delivery
solutions prior to 2000. Due to the diversity of its product lines,
the Company does not have material sensitivity to any one vendor or
service supplier.

The Company has limited the scope of its risk assessment to
those factors upon which it can reasonably be expected to have an
influence. For example, the Company has made the assumption that
government agencies, utility companies and telecommunications
providers will continue to operate. Obviously, the lack of such
services could have a material effect on the Company's ability to
operate, but the Company has little if any ability to influence such
an outcome, or to reasonably make alternative arrangements in advance
for such services in the event they are unavailable.
46

Contingency Plans
-----------------

In the United States, the Company has all of its major
business systems running on a centralized system for all of its
operating divisions. Although extensive testing has been completed for
these systems, the following contingency plan has been adopted for
Year 2000 issues that may occur on January 1, 2000 and thereafter:

- A triage team has been assembled which has the
authority and financial capabilities to rectify all
systems problems that may occur.

- The team consists of Corporate officers and managers
from every support function.

- The team has access to vendor support hotlines and
internal staffs.

- Once a problem has been identified and course of action
determined, staff will be assigned to provide
around-the-clock corrective actions until the problem
is resolved.


INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS
------------------------

The Company's non-U.S. business is growing at a faster pace
than its business in the United States. This growth outside the U.S.
has been fueled by recent international acquisitions, which
supplemented the Company's existing Canadian businesses and Newell
International, the Company's subsidiary responsible for the majority
of exports of the Company's products. For the year ended December 31,
1998, the Company's non-U.S. business accounted for approximately 22%
of sales and 16% of operating income (see note 13 to the consolidated
financial statements). Growth of both the U.S. and the non-U.S.
businesses is shown below:
47

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997* % Change
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions)

Net sales:
U.S. $2,906.1 $2,796.6 3.9%
Non-U.S. 813.9 539.6 50.8
------------------------------
Total $3,720.0 $3,336.2 11.5%
==============================
Operating income:
U.S. $ 449.0 $ 460.8 (2.6)%
Non-U.S. 85.1 86.3 (1.4)
------------------------------
Total $ 534.1 $ 547.1 (2.4)%
==============================


Year Ended December 31, 1997* 1996* % Change
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
(in millions)

Net sales:
U.S. $2,796.6 $2,558.2 9.3%
Non-U.S. 539.6 414.6 30.1
----------------------------
Total $3,336.2 $2,972.8 12.2%
=============================
Operating income:
U.S. $ 460.8 $ 401.7 14.7%
Non-U.S. 86.3 65.7 31.4
------------------------------
Total $ 547.1 $ 467.4 17.1%
=============================

</TABLE>

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

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 market prices. The Company does not hold or
issue derivative instruments for trading purposes.

The Company's primary market risk is interest rate exposure,
primarily in the United States. The Company manages interest rate
exposure through its conservative debt ratio target and its mix of
fixed and floating rate debt. Interest rate exposure was reduced
48

significantly in 1997 from the issuance of $500 million 5.25%
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Securities of a Subsidiary Trust, the proceeds of which reduced
commercial paper. Interest rate swaps may 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.

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
focuses on natural hedging techniques of the following form: 1)
offsetting or netting of like foreign currency cash flows, 2)
structuring foreign subsidiary balance sheets with appropriate levels
of debt to reduce subsidiary net investments and subsidiary cash flows
subject to conversion risk, 3) converting excess foreign currency
deposits into U.S. dollars or the relevant functional currency and 4)
avoidance of risk by denominating contracts in the appropriate
functional currency. In addition, the Company utilizes forward
contracts and purchased options to hedge commercial and intercompany
transactions. Gains and losses related to qualifying hedges of
commercial transactions are deferred and included in the basis of the
underlying transactions. Derivatives used to hedge intercompany
transactions are marked to market with the corresponding gains or
losses included in the consolidated statements of income.

Due to the diversity of its product lines, the Company does
not have material sensitivity to any one commodity. The Company
manages commodity price exposures primarily through the duration and
terms of its vendor contracts.

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 and including substantially all market risk exposures
(specifically excluding equity-method investments). The fair value
losses shown in the table below have no impact on results of
operations or financial condition as they represent economic not
financial losses.
49
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Time Confidence
Amount Period Level
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Interest rates $8.6 1 day 95%
Foreign exchange $1.8 1 day 95%

</TABLE>

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. These amounts should not be considered
projections of future losses, since actual results may differ
significantly depending upon activity in the global financial markets.

EURO CURRENCY CONVERSION

On January 1, 1999, the "Euro" became the common legal
currency for 11 of the 15 member countries of the European Union. On
that date, the participating countries fixed conversion rates between
their exiting sovereign currencies ("legacy currencies") and the Euro.
On January 4, 1999, the Euro began trading on currency exchanges and
became available for non-cash transactions, if the parties elect to
use it. The legacy currencies will remain legal tender through
December 31, 2001. Beginning January 1, 2002, participating countries
will introduce Euro-denominated bills and coins, and effective July 1,
2002, legacy currencies will no longer be legal tender.

After the dual currency phase, all businesses in
participating countries must conduct all transactions in the Euro and
must convert their financial records and reports to be Euro-based. The
Company has commenced an internal analysis of the Euro conversion
process to prepare its information technology systems for the
conversion and analyze related risks and issues, such as the benefit
of the decreased exchange rate risk in cross-border transactions
involving participating countries and the impact of increased price
transparency on cross-border competition in these countries.

The Company believes that the Euro conversion process will
not have a material impact on the Company's businesses or financial
condition on a consolidated basis.

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
50

relate to, but are not limited to, such matters as sales, income,
earnings per share, return on equity, capital expenditures, dividends,
capital structure, free cash flow, debt to capitalization ratios,
interest rates, internal growth rates, Euro conversion plans and
related risks, Year 2000 plans and related risks, pending legal
proceeding and claims (including environmental matters), future
economic performance, management's plans, goals and objectives for
future operations and growth or the assumptions relating to any of the
forward-looking information. The Company cautions that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees since there are inherent difficulties in
predicting future results. Actual results could differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Factors
that could cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited
to, those matters set forth in this Report, the documents incorporated
by reference herein and Exhibit 99 to this Report.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
----------------------------------------------------------

The information required by this item is incorporated herein by
reference to the section entitled "Market Risk" in the Company's
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and
Financial Condition (Part II, Item 7).
51

Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
-------------------------------------------

Report of Independent Public Accountants
----------------------------------------

To the Stockholders of Newell Co.:

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets
of Newell Co. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December
31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity and comprehensive income and cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998. These consolidated
financial statements are the responsibility of Newell Co. management.
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards. 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 financial position of
Newell Co. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.

Our audit was made for the purpose of forming an opinion on
the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The schedule listed
in Part IV Item 14(a)(2) of this Form 10-K is presented for purposes
of complying with the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and
is not a part of the basic financial statements. This schedule has
been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the
basic financial statements and, in our opinion, fairly states in all
material respects the financial data required to be set forth therein
in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.

Arthur Andersen LLP
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
January 27, 1999
52

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997* 1996*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands, except per share data)
Net sales $3,720,040 $3,336,233 $2,972,839
Cost of products sold 2,548,064 2,259,551 2,020,116
-----------------------------------------------
Gross Income 1,171,976 1,076,682 952,723
Selling, general and administrative expenses 583,016 497,739 461,802
Trade names and goodwill amortization and other 54,860 31,882 23,554
----------------------------------------------
Operating Income 534,100 547,061 467,367
Nonoperating (income) expenses:
Interest expense 60,397 76,413 58,541
Other, net (211,143) (14,686) (19,474)
-----------------------------------------------
Net (150,746) 61,727 39,067
-----------------------------------------------
Income Before Income Taxes 684,846 485,334 428,300
Income taxes 288,690 192,187 169,258
-----------------------------------------------
Net Income $396,156 $293,147 $259,042
===============================================
Earnings per share
Basic $2.44 $1.81 $1.60
Diluted $2.38 $1.80 $1.60
Weighted average shares outstanding
Basic 162,544 162,173 161,858
Diluted 173,041 163,308 162,281

</TABLE>

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
53

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997* 1996*
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands)

Operating Activities
Net income $ 396,156 $293,147 $259,042
Adjustments to reconcile net income to
Net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization 147,526 131,964 118,109
Deferred income taxes 56,600 57,792 44,203
Net gains on:
Marketable equity securities (116,800) (1,723) -
Sales of businesses (388) - -
Write-off of intangible assets and other 4,288 2,365 1,338
Other 3,610 (6,961) (6,364)
Changes in current accounts, excluding
the effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable 9,005 675 (5,956)
Inventories (16,667) 5,233 21,110
Other current assets 3,928 (5,577) (214)
Accounts payable (44,583) (21,974) (22,416)
Accrued liabilities and other (140,097) (78,544) (42,832)
------------------------------------------------
Net Cash Provided By Operating
Activities 302,578 376,397 366,020

Investing Activities
Acquisitions, net (437,639) (715,316) (58,213)
Expenditures for property, plant and equipment (147,741) (103,195) (96,230)
Purchase of marketable equity securities (26,056) - (3,513)
Sale of businesses, net of taxes paid 162,225 - -
Sale of marketable securities, net of taxes paid 303,869 6,389 -
Disposals of non-current assets and other 10,633 5,082 8,430
----------------------------------------------
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (134,709) (807,040) (149,526)

Financing Activities
Proceeds from issuance of debt 502,670 148,073 4,164
Proceeds from the issuance of company-obligated
mandatorily redeemable convertible preferred
securities of a subsidiary trust - 500,000 -
Proceeds from exercised stock options and other 3,859 17,026 7,274
Payments on notes payable and long-term debt (535,043) (98,714) (195,799)
Cash dividends (116,472) (101,798) (88,900)
----------------------------------------------
Net Cash Provided by (Used in)
Financing Activities (144,986) 464,587 (273,261)
----------------------------------------------
Exchange rate effect on cash (1,477) (2,200) 338
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash 21,406 31,744 (56,429)
equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 36,107 4,363 60,792
54

------------------------------------------------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at
End of Year $ 57,513 $ 36,107 $ 4,363
================================================
Supplemental cash flow disclosures -
Cash paid during the year for:
Income taxes $217,391 $ 162,100 $ 127,392
Interest 68,053 69,270 57,036

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
</TABLE>
55



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997* 1996*
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands)

Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 57,513 $ 36,107 $ 4,363
Accounts receivable, net 652,354 544,375 424,479
Inventories, net 714,531 653,200 524,444
Deferred income taxes 90,437 134,732 126,200
Prepaid expenses and other 76,240 65,280 68,978
------------------------------------------------
Total Current Assets 1,591,075 1,433,694 1,148,464

Marketable Equity Securities 19,317 307,121 240,789
Other Long-Term Investments 57,967 51,020 58,703
Other Assets 166,543 144,475 119,720
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net 835,646 711,325 567,880
Trade Names and Goodwill, Net 1,657,364 1,364,099 922,874
------------------------------------------------
Total Assets $ 4,327,912 $4,011,734 $3,058,430
================================================
Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity
Current Liabilities
Notes payable $ 69,167 $ 52,636 $ 73,877
Accounts payable 164,328 138,531 114,158
Accrued compensation 80,794 82,676 67,269
Other accrued liabilities 480,048 397,561 337,729
Income taxes 20,036 11,797 37,914
Current portion of long-term debt 7,083 31,278 34,937
--------------------------------------------------
Total Current Liabilities 821,456 714,479 665,884

Long-Term Debt 866,211 786,793 685,608
Other Non-Current Liabilities 206,560 186,673 159,439
Deferred Income Taxes 20,821 90,216 47,477
Minority Interest 857 8,352 -
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible
Preferred Securities of a Subsidiary Trust 500,000 500,000 -

Stockholders' Equity
Common Stock - authorized shares,
400.0 million at $1 par value; 162,739 162,330 161,965
Outstanding shares:
1998 - 162.7 million
1997 - 162.3 million
1996 - 162.0 million
Additional paid-in capital 204,495 201,045 194,829
Retained earnings 1,585,327 1,305,643 1,114,294
56

Accumulated other comprehensive income (40,554) 56,203 28,934
--------------------------------------------------
Total Stockholders' Equity 1,912,007 1,725,221 1,500,022
--------------------------------------------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders $ 4,327,912 $4,011,734 $3,058,430
Equity
==================================================
* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

</TABLE>
57

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Accumulated Current
Other Year
Additional Compre- Compre-
Common Paid-In Retained hensive hensive
Stock Capital(1) Earnings Income Income
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In thousands, except per share data)

Balance at December 31, 1995* $161,720 $187,800 $944,152 $ 7,913
Net income 259,042 $ 259,042
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on securities
available for sale, net of tax
of $13.6 million 20,683 20,683
Foreign currency translation adjustments,
net of tax of $0.2 million 338 338
-----------
Total comprehensive income $ 280,063
===========
Cash dividends:
Common stock $0.56 per share (88,900)
Exercise of stock options 245 7,088
Other (59)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1996* 161,965 194,829 1,114,294 28,934

Net income 293,147 $ 293,147
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on securities
available for sale, net of tax of $27.7 million 42,244 42,244
Foreign currency translation adjustments,
net of tax of $9.8 million (14,975) (14,975)
-----------
Total comprehensive income $ 320,416
===========
Cash dividends:
Common stock $.64 per share (101,798)
Exercise of stock options 365 6,818
Other (602)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1997* 162,330 201,045 1,305,643 56,203
Net income 396,156 $ 396,156
Other comprehensive income:
Unrealized gain on securities
available for sale, net of
tax of $21.6 million 33,850 33,850
Reclassification adjustment for gains realized
in net income, net of tax of $74.7 million (116,800) (116,800)
58


Foreign currency translation adjustments,
net of tax of $8.8 million (13,807) (13,807)
---------
Total comprehensive income $ 299,399
=========
Cash dividends:
Common stock $.72 per share (116,472)
Exercise of stock options 409 8,080
Other (4,630)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at December 31, 1998 $162,739 $204,495 $1,585,327 $ (40,554)
===========================================================================

(1) Net of treasury stock (at cost) of $1,534, $665 and $199 as of
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

* Restated for the merger with Calphalon Corporation, which was
accounted for as a pooling of interests.

See notes to consolidated financial statements.
59

</TABLE>
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996


1) SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION: The consolidated financial statements
include the accounts of Newell and its majority owned subsidiaries
("the Company") after elimination of intercompany accounts and
transactions.

USE OF ESTIMATES: The preparation of these financial statements
required the use of certain estimates by management in determining the
Company's assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses and related
disclosures.

REVENUE RECOGNITION: Sales of merchandise are recognized upon
shipment to customers.

DISCLOSURES ABOUT FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS: The following
methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each
class of financial instruments:

LONG-TERM DEBT: The fair value of the Company's long-term debt
issued under the Medium-term note program is estimated based on
quoted market prices which approximate cost. All other
significant long-term debt is pursuant to floating rate
instruments whose carrying amounts approximate fair value.

COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OF A SUBSIDIARY TRUST: The fair value of the
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Securities of a Subsidiary Trust was $527.5 million at December
31, 1998 based on quoted market prices.

ALLOWANCES FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS: Allowances for doubtful accounts
at December 31 totaled $24.5 million in 1998, $21.2 million in 1997
and $15.0 million in 1996.

INVENTORIES: Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market
value. Cost of certain domestic inventories (approximately 74%, 84%
and 90% of total inventories at December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively) was determined by the "last-in, first-out" ("LIFO")
method; for the balance, cost was determined using the "first-in,
first-out" ("FIFO") method. If the FIFO inventory valuation method had
been used exclusively, inventories would have increased by $3.5
million, $19.2 million and $27.4 million at December 31, 1998, 1997
and 1996, respectively.
60

The components of inventories, net of the LIFO reserve, were as
follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Materials and supplies $150.4 $142.8 $128.7
Work in process 122.1 109.9 91.4
Finished products 442.0 400.5 304.3
------------------------------------------------------
$714.5 $653.2 $524.4
======================================================

</TABLE>
Inventory reserves at December 31 totaled $103.0 million in 1998,
$93.9 million in 1997 and $82.6 million in 1996.

OTHER LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS: The Company has a 49% ownership
interest in American Tool Companies, Inc., a manufacturer of hand
tools and power tool accessory products marketed primarily under the
Vise-Grip(TM) and Irwin(TM) trademarks. This investment is accounted
for on the equity method with a net investment of $58.0 million at
December 31, 1998.

LONG-TERM MARKETABLE EQUITY SECURITIES: Long-term Marketable
Equity Securities classified as available for sale are carried at fair
value with adjustments to fair value reported separately, net of tax,
as a component of stockholders' equity (and excluded from earnings).
Gains and losses on the sales of Long-term Marketable Equity
Securities are based upon the average cost of securities sold. On
March 8, 1998, the Company sold 7,862,300 shares it held in The Black
& Decker Corporation. The Black & Decker transaction resulted in net
proceeds of approximately $378.3 million and a net pre-tax gain, after
fees and expenses, of approximately $191.5 million. Long-term
Marketable Equity Securities are summarized as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Aggregate market value $19.3 $307.1 $240.8
Aggregate cost 26.0 176.8 180.3
-----------------------------------------------------
Unrealized gain (loss) $(6.7) $130.3 $ 60.5
=====================================================
</TABLE>
61

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT: Property, plant and equipment
consisted of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Land $ 41.2 $ 34.1 $ 21.4
Buildings and
improvements 337.7 278.6 213.2
Machinery and
equipment 951.9 854.9 714.5
-------------------------------------------------------
1,330.8 1,167.6 949.1
Allowance for
depreciation (495.2) (456.3) (381.2)
--------------------------------------------------------
$ 835.6 $ 711.3 $ 567.9
========================================================

</TABLE>

Replacements and improvements are capitalized. Expenditures for
maintenance and repairs are charged to expense. The components of
depreciation are provided by annual charges to income calculated to
amortize, principally on the straight-line basis, the cost of the
depreciable assets over their depreciable lives. Estimated useful
lives determined by the Company are: buildings and improvements (20-40
years), machinery and equipment (5-12 years).

TRADE NAMES AND GOODWILL: The cost of trade names and goodwill
represent the excess of cost over identifiable net assets of
businesses acquired. The Company does not allocate such excess cost to
trade names separate from goodwill. In addition, the Company may
allocate excess cost to other identifiable intangible assets and
record such intangible assets in Other Assets (long-term). Trade names
and goodwill are amortized over 40 years and other identifiable
intangible assets are amortized over 5 to 40 years. Trade names and
goodwill and other indentifiable intangible assets consisted of the
following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Trade Names and Goodwill
Cost $1,838.6 $1,502.9 $1,029.6
Accumulated amortization (181.2) (138.8) (106.7)
---------------------------------------------------------
Net Trade Names and Goodwill $1,657.4 $1,364.1 $ 922.9
=========================================================
</TABLE>
62

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)
Other Identifiable
Intangible Assets

Cost $66.7 $60.2 $55.8
Accumulated amortization (26.3) (28.2) (20.9)
-----------------------------------------------------
Net other identifiable
intangible assets recorded
in Other Assets $40.4 $32.0 $34.9
=====================================================

</TABLE>

Subsequent to an acquisition, the Company periodically evaluates
whether later events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the
remaining estimated useful life of goodwill may warrant revision or
that the remaining balance of goodwill may not be recoverable. If
factors indicate that goodwill should be evaluated for possible
impairment, the Company would use an estimate of the relevant
business' undiscounted net cash flow over the remaining life of the
goodwill in measuring whether the goodwill is recoverable. An
impairment loss would be measured by reducing the carrying value to
fair value, based on a discounted cash flow analysis.

ACCRUED LIABILITIES: Accrued Liabilities included the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Customer accruals $131.5 $135.9 $ 95.8
Accrued self-insurance
liability 43.7 42.8 47.0

</TABLE>
Customer accruals are promotional allowances and rebates given to
customers in exchange for their selling efforts. The self-insurance
accrual is primarily for workers' compensation and is estimated based
upon historical claim experience.

FOREIGN CURRENCY TRANSLATION: Foreign currency balance sheet
accounts are translated into U.S. dollars at the rates of exchange in
effect at fiscal year end. Income and expenses are translated at the
average rates of exchange in effect during the year. The related
translation adjustments are made directly to a separate component of
stockholders' equity. International subsidiaries operating in highly
inflationary economies translate non-monetary assets at historical
rates, while net monetary assets are translated at current rates, with
the resulting translation adjustment included in net income as other
nonoperating (income) expenses. Foreign currency transaction gains and
losses were immaterial in 1998, 1997 and 1996.
63

ADVERTISING COSTS: The company expenses advertising costs as
incurred, including cooperative advertising programs with customers.
Total advertising expense was $111.1 million, $101.1 million, and
$78.9 million for 1998, 1997, and 1996, respectively. Cooperative
advertising is recorded in the financial statements as a reduction of
sales because it is viewed as part of the negotiated price of its
products. All other advertising costs are charged to selling, general
and administrative expenses.

EARNINGS PER SHARE: The earnings per share amounts are computed
based on the weighted average monthly number of shares outstanding
during the year. "Basic" earnings per share is calculated by dividing
net income (before cumulative effect of accounting change) by weighted
average shares outstanding. "Diluted" earnings per share is calculated
by dividing net income (before cumulative effect of accounting change)
by weighted average shares outstanding, including the assumption of
the exercise and/or conversion of all potentially dilutive securities
("in the money" stock options and company-obligated mandatorily
redeemable convertible preferred securities of a subsidiary trust).
Effective December 31, 1997, the Company adopted SFAS No. 128,
"Earnings Per Share." As a result, the Company's reported earnings per
share for 1996 was restated.

A reconciliation of the difference between basic and diluted
earnings per share for the years 1998, 1997 and 1996 is shown below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
"In the Convertible
Year Ended Basic Money" Preferred Diluted
December 31, 1998 Method Stock Options Securities Method
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share data)

Net Income $396.2 - $16.1 $412.3
Weighted average
shares outstanding 162.5 0.6 9.9 173.0
Earnings per share 2.44 2.38


"In the Convertible
Year Ended Basic Money" Preferred Diluted
December 31, 1997 Method Stock Options Securities Method
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share data)

Net Income $293.1 - $0.9 $294.0
Weighted average
shares outstanding 162.2 0.6 0.5 163.3
Earnings per share 1.81 1.80
</TABLE>
64

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
"In the Convertible
Year Ended Basic Money" Preferred Diluted
December 31, 1996 Method Stock Options Securities Method
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share data)

Net Income $259.0 - $ - $259.0
Weighted average
shares outstanding 161.9 0.4 - 162.3
Earnings per share 1.60 1.60

</TABLE>

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME: In 1998, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 130, "Reporting Comprehensive
Income," (SFAS No. 130), which requires companies to report all
changes in equity during a period, except those resulting from
investment by owners and distribution to owners, in a financial
statement for the period in which they are recognized. The Company has
chosen to report Comprehensive Income and Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income, which encompasses net income, net unrealized
gains on securities available for sale and foreign currency
translation adjustments, in the Consolidated Statements of
Stockholders' Equity and Comprehensive Income. Prior years have been
restated to conform to the SFAS No. 130 requirements.

The following table displays the components of Accumulated Other
Comprehensive Income:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Accumulated
Unrealized Foreign Other
Gains/(Losses) Currency Comprehensive
on Securities Translation Income
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)
Balance at Dec. 31, 1995 $15.9 $(8.0) $7.9
Current year change 20.7 0.3 21.0
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at Dec. 31, 1996 36.6 (7.7) 28.9
Current year change 42.2 (14.9) 27.3
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at Dec. 31, 1997 78.8 (22.6) 56.2
Current year change (82.9) (13.9) (96.8)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at Dec. 31, 1998 $ (4.1) $(36.5) $(40.6)
===================================================================

</TABLE>

NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS: Effective December 31, 1998, the
Company adopted SFAS No. 131, "Disclosure about Segments of an
Enterprise and Related Information (SFAS No. 131)." See note 13 to the
consolidated financial statements.

Effective December 31, 1998, the Company adopted SFAS No. 132,
"Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement
65

Benefits (SFAS No.132)." See note 8 to the consolidated financial
statements.

Effective January 1, 2000, the Company will adopt SFAS No. 133,
"Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities."
Management believes that the adoption of this statement will not be
material to the consolidated financial statements.

RECLASSIFICATIONS: Certain 1997 and 1996 amounts have been
reclassified to conform with the 1998 presentation. In particular, the
Company began reclassifying the amortization of trade names and
goodwill from non-operating expenses to operating expenses in the
first quarter of 1998. This change required a restatement for all
periods presented.

2) ACQUISITIONS OF BUSINESSES

1996 and 1997
-------------

On January 19, 1996, the Company acquired The Holson Burnes
Group, Inc. ("Holson Burnes"), a manufacturer and marketer of photo
albums and picture frames. Holson Burnes was combined with Intercraft,
creating the Intercraft/Burnes division.

On March 5, 1997, the Company purchased Insilco Corporation's
Rolodex business unit ("Rolodex"), a marketer of office products
including card files, personal organizers and paper punches. Rolodex
was integrated into the Company's Newell Office Products division. On
May 30, 1997, the Company acquired Cooper Industries Incorporated's
Kirsch business ("Kirsch"), a manufacturer and distributor of drapery
hardware and custom window coverings in the United States and
international markets. The Kirsch North American operations were
combined with the Newell Window Furnishings division. The European
operations of Kirsch exist as a separate division called Newell Window
Fashions Europe. On June 13, 1997, the Company acquired Rubbermaid
Incorporated's office products business, including the Eldon{R} brand
name (now referred to as "Eldon"). Eldon is a designer, manufacturer
and supplier of computer and plastic desk accessories, and storage and
organization products. Eldon was integrated into the Company's Newell
Office Products division.

For these and other minor acquisitions, the Company paid $804.7
million in cash and assumed $48.8 million of debt. The transactions
were accounted for as purchases; therefore, results of operations are
included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements since
their respective dates of acquisition. The acquisition costs were
allocated to the fair market value of the assets acquired and
liabilities assumed and resulted in trade names and goodwill of
approximately $621.2 million.
66

1998
----

On March 27, 1998, the Company acquired Swish Track and Pole
("Swish") from Newmond PLC. Swish is a manufacturer and marketer of
decorative and functional window furnishings in Europe and operates as
part of Newell Window Fashions Europe. On June 30, 1998, the Company
purchased Panex S.A. Industria e Comercio ("Panex"), a manufacturer
and marketer of aluminum cookware products based in Brazil. Panex
operates as part of the Mirro division. On August 31, 1998, the
Company purchased the Gardinia Group ("Gardinia"), a manufacturer and
supplier of window treatments based in Germany. Gardinia operates as
part of Newell Window Fashions Europe. On September 30, 1998 the
Company purchased the Rotring Group ("Rotring"), a manufacturer and
supplier of writing instruments, drawing instruments, art materials
and color cosmetic products based in Germany. The writing and drawing
instruments piece of Rotring operates as part of the Company's Sanford
International division. The art materials portion of Rotring operates
as part of the Company's Sanford North America division. The color
cosmetic products piece of Rotring operates as a separate U.S.
division called Cosmolab.

For these and other minor acquisitions, the Company paid $413.3
million in cash and assumed $118.2 million of debt. The transactions
were accounted for as purchases; therefore, results of operations are
included in the accompanying consolidated financial statements since
their respective dates of acquisition. The acquisition costs were
allocated on a preliminary basis to the fair market value of the
assets acquired and liabilities assumed and resulted in trade names
and goodwill of approximately $360.5 million. The Company began to
formulate an integration plan for these acquisitions as of their
respective acquisition dates. No integration liabilities have been
included in the allocation of purchase price as of December 31, 1998.
Such costs will be accrued upon finalization of each acquisition's
integration plan. The Company's finalized integration plan will
include exit costs for certain plants and product lines and employee
terminations associated with the integration of the Swish and Gardinia
businesses into the existing Newell Window Fashions Europe businesses,
the Rotring business into the existing Sanford International writing
instruments businesses and the Panex business into the existing
housewares businesses. The final adjustments to the purchase price
allocations are not expected to be material to the consolidated
financial statements.

On May 7, 1998, a subsidiary of the Company merged with Calphalon
Corporation ("Calphalon"), a manufacturer and marketer of gourmet
cookware. The Company issued approximately 3.1 million shares of
common stock for all of the common stock of Calphalon. This
transaction was accounted for as a pooling of interests; therefore,
prior financial statements were restated to reflect this merger. Net
sales and net income for the individual companies for periods prior to
the merger were as follows:
67

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Four months Year Year
ended ended ended
April 30, 1998 Dec. 31, 1997 Dec. 31, 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)
Net sales:
Newell $1,009.9 $3,234.3 $2,872.8
Calphalon 28.5 101.9 100.0
---------------------------------------------------
Total net sales $1,038.4 $3,336.2 $2,972.8
===================================================
Net income:
Newell $ 169.6 $ 290.4 $ 256.5
Calphalon (0.7) 2.7 2.5
---------------------------------------------------
Total net income $ 168.9 $ 293.1 $ 259.0
===================================================

</TABLE>
Conforming Calphalon's accounting practices to those of
Newell resulted in no adjustments to net income or stockholders'
equity. There were no significant intercompany transactions between
Newell and Calphalon.

On August 21, 1998, the Company sold its school supplies and
stationery business. On September 9, 1998, the Company sold its
plastic storage and serveware business. The pre-tax net gain on the
sales of these businesses was $35.6 million, which was primarily
offset by non-deductible goodwill, resulting in a net after-tax gain
which was immaterial. Sales for these businesses prior to their
divestitures were approximately $110 million in 1998 and $160 million
in 1997.

The unaudited consolidated results of operations for the
year ended December 31, 1998 and 1997 on a pro forma basis, as though
the Rolodex, Kirsch, Eldon, Swish, Panex, Gardinia and Rotring
businesses had been acquired on January 1, 1997, are as follows:

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997
-------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share amounts)

Net sales $4,103.9 $4,162.9
Net income 381.7 265.5

Earnings per share (basic) $2.35 $1.64
68

Proposed Merger of the Company
------------------------------

On October 20, 1998, Newell and Rubbermaid Incorporated
("Rubbermaid") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Merger
Agreement"), providing for the merger of a subsidiary of Newell into
Rubbermaid, leaving Rubbermaid a wholly owned subsidiary of Newell
("Proposed Merger"). After the Proposed Merger, Newell will be
re-named "Newell Rubbermaid Inc." The Proposed Merger, which will be
accounted for as a pooling of interests and will be tax-free for
federal income tax purposes, has been approved by the respective
Boards of Directors, as well as the applicable regulatory agencies.
The Companies expect the Proposed Merger to become effective before
the end of the first quarter of 1999.

Under the terms of the Merger Agreement, the outstanding shares of
Newell's common stock will remain unchanged and outstanding, and each
outstanding share of Rubbermaid common stock will be converted into
0.7883 shares of Newell common stock.

The following summary contains selected unaudited pro forma
financial data as of and for the year ended December 31, 1998. The pro
forma combined earnings per share reflect the issuance of shares based
on the exhange ratio.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Pro Forma Pro Forma
Newell Rubbermaid Adjustments Combined
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share amounts)

Net Sales $3,720.0 $2,553.7 $(98.6)(1) $6,175.1
Operating Income 534.1 136.4 (2.3)(2) 668.2
Net Income 396.2 82.9 1.4(2) 480.5
Earnings per share:
-Basic 2.44 0.55 1.71
-Diluted 2.38 0.55 1.71
Total Assets 4,327.9 2,127.9 (97.0)(2) 6,358.8
Long-term debt 866.2 152.5 1,018.7

(1) The Pro Forma net sales adjustment represents a reclassification
of Rubbermaid's cooperative advertising to conform with Newell's
classification.

(2) The Pro Forma adjustments primarily represent the elimination of
the accounting effects related to Newell's purchase of a former
Rubbermaid operating division (Eldon) in 1997. Because the Newell
Rubbermaid merger will be accounted for as a pooling of interests, the
69

accounting effects of Newell's purchase of Eldon must be eliminated as
if Newell has always owned Eldon.

</TABLE>

Rubbermaid is an international manufacturer and marketer of consumer
products sold primarily under the Rubbermaid{R}, Little Tikes{R},
Graco{R}, Century{R}, and Curver{R} brands. Rubbermaid's major
customers include discount stores and warehouse clubs, toy stores,
home centers and hardware stores, drug and grocery stores, catalog
showrooms, and distributors serving institutional markets. Rubbermaid
has approximately 12,000 employees.

3) CREDIT ARRANGEMENTS

The Company has short-term foreign and domestic uncommitted lines
of credit with various banks which are available for short-term
financing. Borrowings under the Company's uncommitted lines of credit
are subject to discretion of the lender. The Company's uncommitted
lines of credit do not have a material impact on the Company's
liquidity. Borrowings under the Company's uncommitted lines of credit
at December 31, 1998 totaled $69.2 million.

The following is a summary of borrowings under foreign and
domestic lines of credit:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Notes payable to banks:
Outstanding at year-end
- borrowing $69.2 $ 52.6 $ 73.9
- weighted average interest rate 5.9% 4.5% 4.7%
Average for the year
- borrowing $45.0 $132.6 $100.9
- weighted average interest rate 7.5% 5.4% 5.3%
Maximum borrowing
outstanding during the year $69.2 $417.3 $127.0

The Company can also issue commercial paper (as described in note
4 to the consolidated financial statements) as summarized below:

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Commercial paper:
Outstanding at year-end
- borrowing $125.0 $517.0 $404.0
- average interest rate 5.6% 6.5% 5.9%
Average for the year
70

- borrowing $287.9 $731.3 $512.3
- average interest rate 5.5% 5.6% 5.3%
Maximum borrowing
outstanding during
the year $572.0 $1,177.6 $594.0

4) LONG-TERM DEBT

The following is a summary of long-term debt:

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Medium-term notes $733.5 $263.0 $295.0
Commercial paper 125.0 517.0 404.0
Other long-term debt 14.8 38.1 21.5
-----------------------------------------
873.3 818.1 720.5
Current portion (7.1) (31.3) (34.9)
-----------------------------------------
$866.2 $786.8 $685.6
=========================================
</TABLE>

During 1997, the Company amended its revolving credit agreement to
increase the aggregate borrowing limit to $1.3 billion, at a floating
interest rate. The revolving credit agreement will terminate in August
2002. At December 31, 1998, there were no borrowings under the
revolving credit agreement.

In lieu of borrowings under the Company's revolving credit
agreement, the Company may issue up to $1.3 billion of commercial
paper. The Company's revolving credit agreement provides the committed
backup liquidity required to issue commercial paper. Accordingly,
commercial paper may only be issued up to the amount available for
borrowing under the Company's revolving credit agreement. At December
31, 1998, $125.0 million (principal amount) of commercial paper was
outstanding. The entire amount is classified as long-term debt.

The revolving credit agreement permits the Company to borrow funds
on a variety of interest rate terms. This agreement requires, among
other things, that the Company maintain a certain Total Indebtedness
to Total Capital Ratio, as defined in this agreement. As of December
31, 1998, the Company was in compliance with this agreement.

The Company has a universal shelf registration statement on file
for the issuance of up to $500.0 million of debt and equity securities
from time to time. The Company issued during 1998 and has outstanding
as of December 31, 1998 a total of $470.5 million of Medium-term notes
under this program. The maturities on these notes range from five to
thirty years at an average interest rate of 6.0%.
71

At December 31, 1998, the Company had outstanding $263.0 million
(principal amount) of medium-term notes issued under a previous shelf
registration statement with maturities ranging from five to ten years
at an average interest rate of 6.3%.

The aggregate maturities of Long-term Debt outstanding are as
follows:

December 31, Aggregate Maturities
----------------------------------------
(In millions)

1999 $ 7.1
2000 148.1
2001 2.9
2002 227.4
2003 117.9
Thereafter 369.9
-------
$873.3
=======


5) COMPANY-OBLIGATED MANDATORILY REDEEMABLE CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED
SECURITIES OF A SUBSIDIARY TRUST OF THE COMPANY

In December 1997, a wholly owned subsidiary trust of the Company
issued 10,000,000 of its 5.25% convertible quarterly income preferred
securities (the "Convertible Preferred Securities"), with a
liquidation preference of $50 per security, to certain institutional
buyers. The Convertible Preferred Securities represent an undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the trust. Each of the
Convertible Preferred Securities is convertible at the option of the
holder into shares of the Company's Common Stock at the rate of 0.9865
shares of Common Stock for each preferred security (equivalent to the
approximate conversion price of $50.685 per share of Common Stock),
subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. Holders of the
Convertible Preferred Securities are entitled to a quarterly cash
distribution at the annual rate of 5.25% of the $50 liquidation
preference commencing March 1, 1998. The Convertible Preferred
Securities are subject to a limited guarantee by the Company and are
callable by the Company initially at 103.15% of the liquidation
preference beginning in December 2001 and decreasing over time to 100%
of the liquidation preference beginning in December 2007.

The trust invested the proceeds of this issuance of Convertible
Preferred Securities in $500 million of the Company's 5.25% Junior
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2027 (the "Debentures"). The
72

Debentures are the sole assets of the trust, mature on December 1,
2027, bear interest at the rate of 5.25%, payable quarterly,
commencing March 1, 1998, and are redeemable by the Company beginning
in December 2001. The Company may defer interest payments on the
Debentures for a period not to exceed 20 consecutive quarters during
which time distribution payments on the Convertible Preferred
Securities are also deferred. Under this circumstance, the Company may
not declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to its capital
stock or debt securities that rank pari passu with or junior to the
Debentures. The Company has no current intention to exercise its right
to defer payments of interest on the Debentures.

The Convertible Preferred Securities are reflected as outstanding
in the Company's consolidated financial statements as
Company-Obligated Mandatorily Redeemable Convertible Preferred
Securities of a Subsidiary Trust.

6) DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company has only limited involvement with derivative financial
instruments and does not use them for trading purposes. They are used
to manage certain interest rate and foreign currency risks.

Interest rate swap agreements are utilized to convert certain
floating rate debt instruments into fixed rate debt. Cash flows
related to interest rate swap agreements are included in interest
expense over the terms of the agreements.

The Company utilizes forward exchange contracts to manage foreign
exchange risk related to anticipated intercompany and third-party
commercial transaction exposures of one year duration or less. Gains
and losses related to qualifying hedges of commercial transactions are
deferred and included in the basis of the underlying transactions.
Derivatives used to hedge intercompany transactions are marked to
market with the corresponding gains or losses included in the
consolidated statements of income.

The following table summarizes the Company's forward contracts in
U.S. dollars by major currency and contractual amount. The "buy"
amounts represent the U.S. equivalent of commitments to purchase
foreign currencies, and the "sell" amounts represent the U.S.
equivalent of commitments to purchase foreign currencies according to
local needs in foreign subsidiaries. The contractual amounts of
significant forward contracts and their fair value were as follows:
73



December 31, 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)
Buy Sell Buy Sell
----------------------------------
French francs $ - $154.8 $ 8.4 $23.5
Deutsch marks 0.4 171.5 0.3 4.1
Japanese yen - - 18.2 -
----------------------------------
$0.4 $326.3 $26.9 $27.6
==================================
Fair Value $0.3 $324.5 $26.2 $27.3
==================================

The Company's forward contracts do not subject the Company to risk
due to foreign exchange rate movement, since gains and losses on these
contracts generally offset losses and gains on the assets, liabilities
and other transactions being hedged.

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.
74

7) LEASES

The Company has minimum rental payments through the year 2018
under noncancellable operating leases as follows:

Year ended December 31, Minimum Payments
-------------------------------------------
(In millions)

1999 $34.6
2000 24.0
2001 17.5
2002 13.4
2003 7.7
Thereafter 11.9
------
$109.1
======

Total rental expense for all operating leases was approximately
$57.1 million, $50.9 million and $45.2 million in 1998, 1997 and 1996,
respectively.

8) EMPLOYEE BENEFIT RETIREMENT PLANS

The Company and its subsidiaries have noncontributory pension and
profit sharing plans covering substantially all of its foreign and
domestic employees. Pension plan benefits are generally based on years
of service and/or compensation. The Company's funding policy is to
contribute not less than the minimum amounts required by the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or local statutes to assure
that plan assets will be adequate to provide retirement benefits. The
Company's common stock comprised $69.3 million, $71.4 million and
$52.9 million of pension plan assets at December 31, 1998, 1997 and
1996, respectively.

Total expense under all profit sharing plans was $7.6 million,
$8.0 million, and $7.1 million for the years ended December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996, respectively.

In addition to the Company's pension and profit sharing plans,
several of the Company's subsidiaries currently provide retiree health
care benefits for certain employee groups.

The following provides a reconciliation of benefit obligations,
plan assets and funded status of the plans, within the guidelines of
SFAS No. 132:
75

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits
December 31, 1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Change in benefit obligation
Benefit obligation at January 1 $578.0 $484.7 $313.4 $ 114.9 $ 96.9 $ 95.1
Service cost 20.1 15.9 16.3 1.7 1.7 2.1
Interest cost 42.7 38.7 36.2 8.5 8.0 7.7
Amendments 2.2 0.1 - - - -
Actuarial loss/(gain) 34.3 11.9 (13.1) 2.9 (5.6) 3.4
Acquisitions 33.7 60.6 162.3 - 24.7 -
Currency exchange (0.3) - 1.6 - - -
Benefits paid from plan assets (37.1) (33.9) (32.0) (12.1) (10.8) (11.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit obligation at December 31 $673.6 $578.0 $484.7 $ 115.9 $ 114.9 $ 96.9
============================================================================
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at
January 1 $738.4 $587.6 $341.9 $ - $ - $ -
Actual return on plan assets (5.9) 111.6 73.1 - - -
Employer contributions 5.0 4.1 4.5 12.1 10.8 11.4
Acquisitions 14.1 69.1 198.7 - - -
Currency exchange (0.8) (0.1) 1.4 - - -
Benefits paid from plan assets (37.1) (33.9) (32.0) (12.1) (10.8) (11.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value of plan assets at
December 31 $713.7 $738.4 $587.6 $ - $ - $ -
============================================================================


Funded Status
Funded status at December 31 $40.1 $160.4 $102.9 $(115.9) $ (114.9) $ (96.9)
Unrecognized net gain (7.9) (105.4) (46.8) (15.0) (18.3) (13.0)
Unrecognized prior service cost (2.0) (5.1) (5.6) - - -
Unrecognized net asset (4.9) (5.2) (6.2) - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net amount recognized $25.3 $ 44.7 $44.3 $(130.9) $ (133.2) $ (109.9)
============================================================================
Amounts recognized in the
Consolidated Balance Sheets
Prepaid benefit cost(1) $ 71.8 $ 77.4 $ 71.3 $ - $ - $ -
Accrued benefit cost(2) (50.4) (34.4) (27.6) (130.9) (133.2) (109.9)
Intangible asset(1) 3.9 1.7 0.6 - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net amount recognized $ 25.3 $ 44.7 $ 44.3 $(130.9) $ (133.2) $ (109.9)
============================================================================
Assumptions as of December 31
Discount rate 7.00% 7.75% 7.75% 7.00% 7.50% 7.75%
Long-term rate of return on
76

plan assets 10.00% 9.00% 9.00% - - -
Long-term rate of compensation
increase 5.00% 5.00% 5.00% - - -
Health care cost trend rate(3) - - - 8.00% 9.00% 10.00%

</TABLE>

(1) Recorded in Other Non-Current Assets.

(2) Recorded in Other Non-Current Liabilities.

(3) The assumed health care cost trend rate decreases one percent
every year through 2000 to 6% and remains constant beyond that point.


Net pension costs and other postretirement benefit costs include the
following components:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Pension Benefits Other Retirement Benefits
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996 1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Service cost-benefits earned
during the year $19.3 $16.0 $16 .3 $ 1.7 $ 1.6 $ 2.1
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligation 45.3 38.7 36.2 8.6 8.0 7.7
Expected return on plan assets (59.0) (57.7) (50.0) - - -
Amortization of:
Transition asset (1.1) (1.1) (1.1) (0.5) (0.2) (0.2)
Prior service cost recognized (0.3) (0.3) (0.3) - - -
Actuarial (gain)/loss (1.8) 5.5 1.6 - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
$2.4 $ 1.1 $2.7 $9.8 $9.4 $9.6
==========================================================================

</TABLE>


The projected benefit obligation, accumulated benefit obligation
and fair value of plan assets for the pension plans with accumulated
benefit obligations in excess of plan assets are as follows:

December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Projected benefit
obligation $129.6 $68.4 $39.7
Accumulated benefit
obligation 110.0 55.1 28.4
Fair value of plan assets 52.1 22.1 1.8
77

The health care cost trend rate significantly affects the reported
postretirement benefit costs and benefit obligations. A one percentage
point change in the assumed rate would have the following effects:


1% Increase 1% Decrease
--------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Effect on total of
service and interest
cost components $1.0 $(0.9)
Effect on postretirement
benefit obligations 8.7 (8.1)


9) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

The Company's Common Stock consists of 400.0 million authorized
shares, with a par value of $1 per share. Of the total unissued common
shares at December 31, 1998, total shares in reserve included 8.0
million shares for issuance under the Company's stock option plans.

Each share of Common Stock includes a stock purchase right (a
"Right"). Each Right will entitle the holder, until the earlier of
October 31, 2008 or the redemption of the Rights, to buy one share of
Common Stock at an exercise price of $200 per share, subject to
adjustment under certain circumstances. The Rights will be exercisable
only if a person or group acquires 15% or more of voting power of the
Company or announces a tender offer following which it would hold 15%
or more of the Company's voting power.

In the event that any person or group becomes the beneficial owner
of 15% or more of the Company's voting stock, the Rights (other than
Rights held by the 15% stockholder) would become exercisable for that
number of shares of the Company's Common Stock having a market value
of two times the exercise price of the Right. Furthermore, if,
following the acquisition by a person or group of 15% or more of the
Company's voting stock, the Company was acquired in a merger or other
business combination or 50% or more of its assets were sold, each
Right (other than Rights held by the 15% stockholder) would become
exercisable for that number of shares of Common Stock of the Company
(or the surviving company in a business combination) having a market
value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

The Company may redeem the Rights at $0.001 per Right prior to the
occurrence of an event that causes the Rights to become exercisable
for Common Stock.

10) STOCK OPTIONS

The Company's stock option plans are accounted for under APB
Opinion No. 25. As a result, the Company grants fixed stock options
under which no compensation cost is recognized. Had compensation cost
for the plans been determined consistent with FASB Statement No. 123,
the Company's net income and earnings per share would have been
reduced to the following pro forma amounts:
78

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------------
(In millions, except per share data)

Net income: As reported $396.2 $293.1
Pro forma 389.9 290.0

Diluted EPS: As reported $2.38 $1.80
Pro forma 2.35 1.78

Because the FASB Statement No. 123 method of accounting has not
been applied to options granted prior to January 1, 1995, the
resulting pro forma compensation cost may not be representative of
that to be expected in future years.

The Company may grant up to 8.0 million shares under the 1993
Stock Option Plan, of which, the Company has granted 2.5 million
shares and cancelled 0.3 million shares through December 31, 1998.
Under this plan, the option exercise price equals the Common Stock's
closing price on the date of grant, vests over a five-year period and
expires after ten years.

The following summarizes the changes in number of shares of Common
Stock under option:

Weighted
Average
Exercise
1998 Shares Price
--------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at
beginning of year 1,921,359 $24
Granted 583,214 45
Exercised (430,676) 17
Cancelled (45,915) 25
----------
Outstanding at end of year 2,027,982 31
==========
Exercisable at end of year 864,151 21
==========
Weighted average
fair value of options
granted during the year $18
==========
79

The 2,027,982 options outstanding at December 31, 1998 have
exercise prices between $12 and $49 and are summarized below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Options Outstanding
------------------- Weighted
Range of Number Weighted Average
Exercise Outstanding at Average Remaining
Prices December 31, 1998 Exercise Price Contractual Life
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
$12-15 142,676 $14 2
16-25 662,787 21 5
26-35 347,800 29 7
36-45 714,019 41 9
46-49 160,700 48 9
----------
$12-49 2,027,982 31 7
==========
</TABLE>

The 864,151 options exercisable at December 31, 1998 have exercise
prices between $12 and $43 and are summarized below:

Options Exercisable
-------------------
Range of Number Weighted
Exercise Exercisable at Average
Prices December 31, 1998 Exercise Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------
$12-15 142,676 $14
16-25 540,435 20
26-35 120,660 28
36-43 60,380 37
---------
$12-43 864,151 21
=========
80

Weighted
Average
Exercise
1997 Shares Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at
beginning of year 1,959,034 $21
Granted 395,600 38
Exercised (364,587) 18
Cancelled (68,688) 22
---------
Outstanding at end of year 1,921,359 24
=========
Exercisable at end of year 886,445 19
==========
Weighted average
fair value of options
granted during the year $13
==========
81

Weighted
Average
Exercise
1996 Shares Price
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Outstanding at
beginning of year 1,945,730 $20
Granted 400,820 21
Exercised (243,596) 17
Cancelled (143,920) 21
---------
Outstanding at end of year 1,959,034 21
=========
Exercisable at end of year 999,118 18
=========
Weighted average
fair value of options
granted during the year $10
=========

The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of
grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
assumptions used for grants in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively:
risk-free interest rate of 4.1%, 6.3% and 6.4%; expected dividend
yields of 1.6%, 1.8% and 1.8%; expected lives of 9.9, 9.9 and 9.9
years; and expected volatility of 34%, 23% and 20%.

11) INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes consists of the following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Current:
Federal $ 197.8 $ 97.7 $ 98.6
State 23.8 17.6 15.9
Foreign 10.5 19.1 10.6
---------------------------------------------------
232.1 134.4 125.1

Deferred 56.6 57.8 44.2
---------------------------------------------------
Total $288.7 $192.2 $169.3
===================================================

</TABLE>
The non-U.S. component of income before income taxes was $30.5
million in 1998, $64.5 million in 1997 and $40.4 million in 1996.
82



The components of the net deferred tax asset are as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Deferred tax assets:
Accruals, not currently
deductible for
tax purposes $101.9 $117.3 $111.9
Postretirement liabilities 51.3 53.0 43.9
Inventory reserves 25.3 35.7 29.2
Self-insurance liability 16.3 15.4 16.5
Other 2.9 1.0 1.9
--------------------------------------------------
197.7 222.4 203.4
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated depreciation (64.4) (60.3) (46.9)
Prepaid pension asset (27.1) (31.1) (30.5)
Unrealized gain on
securities available
for sale - (51.5) (23.9)
Amortization of
intangibles (22.1) (11.9) (4.1)
Other (14.5) (23.1) (19.3)
--------------------------------------------------
(128.1) (177.9) (124.7)
--------------------------------------------------
Net deferred tax asset $ 69.6 $ 44.5 $ 78.7
==================================================
</TABLE>

The net deferred tax asset is classified in the consolidated
balance sheets as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Current net deferred
income tax asset $90.4 $134.7 $126.2
Non-current deferred
income tax liability (20.8) (90.2) (47.5)
-------------------------------------------------
$69.6 $ 44.5 $ 78.7
=================================================

</TABLE>
83

A reconciliation of the U.S. statutory rate to the effective
income tax rate is as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In percent)

Statutory rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0%
Add (deduct) effect of:
State income taxes, net of
federal income tax effect 3.3 3.6 3.6
Nondeductible trade names
and goodwill amortization 1.3 1.6 1.5
Tax basis differential on
sales of businesses 3.2 - -
Other (0.6) (0.6) (0.6)
------------------------------------------------
Effective rate 42.2% 39.6% 39.5%
================================================
</TABLE>

No U.S. deferred taxes have been provided on the undistributed
non-U.S. subsidiary earnings which are considered to be permanently
invested. At December 31, 1998, the estimated amount of total
unremitted non-U.S. subsidiary earnings is $72.9 million.

12) OTHER NONOPERATING (INCOME) EXPENSES

Total other nonoperating (income) expenses consist of the
following:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C> <C>

Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Equity earnings* $ (7.1) $ (5.8) $ (6.4)
Interest income (12.1) (5.3) (3.7)
Dividend income - (4.0) (11.0)
Gain on sale of marketable
equity securities (191.5) (2.9) -
Gain on sales
of businesses (35.6) - -
Minority interest in income
of subsidiary trust 26.7 1.5 -
Currency translation loss 6.0 0.3 -
Other 2.5 1.5 1.6
------------------------------------------------------
$(211.1) $(14.7) $(19.5)
======================================================
</TABLE>

* in American Tool Companies, Inc., in which the Company has a 49%
interest.
84

13) OTHER OPERATING INFORMATION

Industry Segment Information
----------------------------

The Company reviewed the criteria for determining segments of an
enterprise in accordance with SFAS No. 131 and concluded it has three
reportable operating segments: Hardware & Home Furnishings, Office
Products, and Housewares. This segmentation is appropriate because the
Company organizes its product categories into these groups when making
operating decisions and assessing performance. The Company Divisions
included in each group also sell primarily to the same retail channel:
Hardware & Home Furnishings (home centers and hardware stores), Office
Products (office superstores and contract stationers), and Housewares
(discount stores and warehouse clubs).

The principal product categories included in each of the Company's
business segments are as follows:

Segment Product Category
---------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware & Home Window Treatments,
Furnishings Hardware and Tools, Picture
Frames, Home Storage

Office Products Markers and Writing
Instruments, Office Storage and
Organization

Housewares Aluminum Cookware and Bakeware,
Glassware, Hair Accessories

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>

Net Sales*
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Hardware &
Home Furnishings $1,758.1 $1,484.8 $1,299.3
Office Products 1,040.3 899.2 741.8
Housewares 921.6 952.2 931.7
----------------------------------------------------------
Total $3,720.0 $3,336.2 $2,972.8
==========================================================
</TABLE>

* Sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and subsidiaries amounted to
approximately 14% of consolidated net sales in 1998 and 15% in both
1997 and 1996. Sales to no other customer exceeded 10% of consolidated
net sales.
85

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Operating Income
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Hardware &
Home Furnishings $290.2 $241.1 $185.3
Office Products 212.3 187.1 161.7
Housewares 101.0 165.5 157.8
Corporate (69.4) (46.6) (37.4)
--------------------------------------------------------
Total $534.1 $547.1 $467.4
========================================================


Identifiable Assets
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Hardware &
Home Furnishings $ 995.8 $850.8 $ 656.8
Office Products 643.0 520.7 355.4
Housewares 664.8 616.4 583.5
Corporate 2,024.3 2,023.8 1,462.7
----------------------------------------------------------
Total $4,327.9 $4,011.7 $3,058.4
==========================================================



Capital Expenditures
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Hardware &
Home Furnishings $ 39.1 $30.3 $27.7
Office Products 24.9 26.4 20.3
Housewares 53.4 38.7 45.4
Corporate 30.3 7.8 2.8
--------------------------------------------------------
Total $147.7 $103.2 $96.2
========================================================
86

Depreciation and Amortization
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

Hardware &
Home Furnishings $ 31.2 $ 33.4 $ 27.9
Office Products 28.7 21.6 16.0
Housewares 39.6 35.4 35.7
Corporate 48.0 41.6 38.5
----------------------------------------------------------
Total $147.5 $132.0 $118.1
==========================================================

</TABLE>
87

GEOGRAPHIC AREA INFORMATION

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

United States $2,906.1 $2,796.6 $2,558.2
Canada 159.4 163.9 145.4
--------------------------------------------------------------
North America 3,065.5 2,960.5 2,703.6
Europe 463.0 247.2 162.2
Latin America+ 177.9 109.3 89.0
All other 13.6 19.2 18.0
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total $3,720.0 $3,336.2 $2,972.8
=============================================================

Operating Income
Year Ended December 31, 1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

United States $449.0 $460.8 $401.7
Canada 6.3 21.2 14.3
-------------------------------------------------------------
North America 455.3 482.0 416.0
Europe 41.0 33.0 25.7
Latin America+ 38.3 30.8 23.9
All other (0.5) 1.3 1.8
-----------------------------------------------------------
Total $534.1 $547.1 $467.4
===========================================================

Identifiable Assets
December 31, 1998 1997 1996
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(In millions)

United States $3,183.8 $3,536.3 $2,789.0
Canada 68.9 106.5 73.4
-------------------------------------------------------------
North America 3,252.7 3,642.8 2,862.4
Europe 796.2 264.7 133.6
Latin America+ 263.8 99.3 59.9
All other 15.2 4.9 2.5
-------------------------------------------------------------
Total $4,327.9 $4,011.7 $3,058.4
=============================================================
+ Includes Mexico, Venezuela, and Colombia, and in 1998, Brazil and
Argentina.

</TABLE>
88



Operating income is net sales less cost of products sold and
S,G&A expenses, but is not affected either by nonoperating (income)
expenses or by income taxes. Nonoperating (income) expenses consists
principally of net interest expense, and in 1998, the net gain on the
sale of Black & Decker common stock and the net gains on the sales of
Stuart Hall and Newell Plastics. In calculating operating income for
individual business segments, certain headquarters expenses of an
operational nature are allocated to business segments and geographic
areas primarily on a net sales basis. Trade names and goodwill
amortization is considered a corporate expense and not allocated to
business segments.

All intercompany transactions have been eliminated, and transfers
of finished goods between geographic areas are not significant.
Corporate assets primarily include trade names and goodwill, equity
investments and deferred tax assets.

14) LITIGATION

The Company is subject to certain legal proceedings and claims,
including the environmental matters described below, that have arisen
in the ordinary conduct of its business.

As of December 31, 1998, the Company was involved in various
matters concerning federal and state environmental laws and
regulations, including matters in which the Company has been
identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and certain
state environmental agencies as a potentially responsible party
("PRPs") at contaminated sites under the Federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") and
equivalent state laws.

In assessing its environmental response costs, the Company has
considered several factors, including: the extent of the Company's
volumetric contribution at each site relative to that of other PRPs;
the kind of waste; the terms of existing cost sharing and other
applicable agreements; the financial ability of other PRPs to share in
the payment of requisite costs; the Company's prior experience with
similar sites; environmental studies and cost estimates available to
the Company; the effects of inflation on cost estimates; and the
extent to which the Company's and other parties' status as PRPs is
disputed.

Based on information available to it, the Company's estimate of
environmental response costs associated with these matters as of
December 31, 1998 ranged between $15.0 million and $19.5 million. As
of December 31, 1998, the Company had a reserve equal to $18.0 million
for such environmental response costs in the aggregate. No insurance
recovery was taken into account in determining the Company's cost
89

estimates or reserve, nor do the Company's cost estimates or reserve
reflect any discounting for present value purposes.

Because of the uncertainties associated with environmental
investigations and response activities, the possibility that the
Company could be identified as a PRP at sites identified in the future
that require the incurrence of environmental response costs and the
possibility of additional sites as a result of businesses acquired,
actual costs to be incurred by the Company may vary from the Company's
estimates.

Subject to difficulties in estimating future environmental
response costs, the Company does not expect that any amount it may
have to pay in connection with environmental matters in excess of
amounts reserved will have a material adverse effect on its
consolidated financial statements.

The Company is involved in several legal proceedings relating to
the importation and distribution of vinyl mini-blinds made with
plastic containing lead stabilizers. In 1996, the Consumer Product
Safety Commission found that such stabilizers deteriorate over time
from exposure to sunlight and heat, causing lead dust to form on
mini-blind surfaces and presenting a health risk to children under six
years of age.

In July 1996, the California Attorney General and the Alameda
County District Attorney filed a civil suit against 12 named
companies, including a subsidiary of the Company, alleging failure to
warn consumers adequately about the presence of lead in accordance
with California law and seeking injunctions, civil penalties and
restitutionary relief.

In August 1996, 15 companies, including a subsidiary of the
Company, were named as defendants in a national and California private
class action in Sacramento County Superior Court. In October 1997, 16
additional companies were named as defendants in this case, in which
the plaintiffs alleged that the Company's subsidiary used false and
misleading advertising and employed unfair or fraudulent business
practices in connection with the presence of lead in their blinds.
These two cases were coordinated in 1996.

On June 22, 1998, the Court entered a Stipulated Consent
Judgement resolving the Attorney General's case as to the Company's
subsidiary and most of the defendants. On July 27, 1998, the
coordination trial judge ruled that this Consent Judgment barred the
California claims of the private class action plaintiffs, and on
October 6, 1998, judgment was entered for the Company's subsidiary and
22 of the other defendants in the private class action. The private
class action plaintiffs have filed an appeal for both the Consent
Judgment and the Judgment entered in their action and applying for
attorneys' fees for their efforts at the trial court level. The
90

Company's contribution to the judgment amount was not material to the
Company's consolidated financial statements.

In February 1997, a subsidiary of the Company was named as the
defendant in another case involving the importation and distribution
of vinyl mini-blinds containing lead, which was filed as an Illinois
and national private class action in the Cook County Chancery
Division. In this case, the plaintiffs alleged violations of the
Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act and the
Illinois version of the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act, breach
of implied warranty, fraud, negligent misrepresentation, negligence,
unjust enrichment, and reception and retention of money unlawfully
received. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unspecified damages,
suit costs and punitive damages.

In December 1998, 13 companies, including a subsidiary of the
Company, were named as defendants in a third case involving the
importation and distribution of vinyl mini-blinds containing lead. The
case, filed as a Massachusetts class action in the Superior Court,
alleges misrepresentation, breaches of express and implied warranties,
negligence, loss of consortium and violation of Massachusetts consumer
protection laws. The plaintiffs seek injunctive relief, unspecified
damages, compensatory damages for personal injury and court costs.

Although management of the Company cannot predict the ultimate
outcome of these matters with certainty, it believes that their
ultimate resolution will not have a material effect on the Company's
consolidated financial statements.
91

Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting
and Financial Disclosure
-----------------------------------------------------------

None.


PART III
--------

Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant
--------------------------------------------------

Information regarding executive officers of the Company is
included as a Supplementary Item at the end of Part I of this Form
10-K.

Information regarding directors of the Company is included in the
Company's Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held May 26, 1999 ("Proxy Statement") under the
caption "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors," which information is
hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act is included in the Proxy Statement under the caption
"Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Compliance Reporting," which
information is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 11. Executive Compensation
----------------------

Information regarding executive compensation is included in the
Proxy Statement under the caption "Proposal 1 - Election of Directors
- Information Regarding Board of Directors and Committees," the
captions "Executive Compensation - Summary; - Option Grants in 1998; -
Option Exercises in 1998; - Pension and Retirement Plans; - Employment
Security Agreements," and the caption "Executive Compensation
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation," which information is
hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management
---------------------------------------------------

Information regarding security ownership is included in the Proxy
Statement under the caption "Certain Beneficial Owners," which
information is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions
----------------------------------------------

Not applicable.
92

PART IV
-------

Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on
Form 8-K
------------------------------------------------------

(a)(1) The following is a list of the financial statements of
Newell Co. included in this report on Form 10-K which are filed
herewith pursuant to Item 8:

Report of Independent Public Accountants

Consolidated Statements of Income - Years Ended December 31, 1998
1997 and 1996

Consolidated Balance Sheets - December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years Ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity - Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements - December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996

(2) The following consolidated financial statement schedule of
the Company included in this report on Form 10-K is filed
herewith pursuant to Item 14(d) and appears immediately preceding
the Exhibit Index:

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
--------------------------------------------------

(3) The exhibits filed herewith are listed on the Exhibit Index
filed as part of this report on Form 10-K. Each management
contract or compensatory plan or arrangement of the Company
listed on the Exhibit Index is separately identified by an
asterisk.

(b) Reports on Form 8-K:

Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 21,
1998 reporting the agreement between Registrant and Rubbermaid
Incorporated pursuant to which a subsidiary of Newell will merge
with Rubbermaid in a transaction to be accounted for using the
pooling of interests method of accounting.

Registrant filed a Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 17,
1998 to file its Selected Financial Data, Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,
and Consolidated Financial Statements, each restated to reflect
the merger of a subsidiary of Registrant into Calphalon
Corporation, which was accounted for using the pooling of
interests method of accounting.
93

Registrant filed Current Reports on Form 8-K and 8-K/A, each
dated November 20, 1998, to disclose Financial Statements of
Rubbermaid Incorporated and related pro forma financial
information.
94

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS
-------------------------------------------------

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Additions
-----------------------
Charged Charged
Balance at to Costs to Other Balance at
Beginning and Accounts Deductions End of
Description of Period Expenses (A) (B) Period
----------- --------- -------- -------- ---------- -----------
Allowance for
doubtful accounts
for the years ended:
December 31, 1998 $21,193 $4,683 $14,028 ($15,434) $24,470
December 31, 1997* 14,990 5,888 8,321 (8,006) 21,193
December 31, 1996* 12,314 6,534 2,200 (6,058) 14,990

Note A - Represents recovery of accounts previously written off, along with net reserves of acquired and divested businesses.

Note B - Represents accounts charged off.

Balance at Balance at
Beginning Other End of
of Period Provision Write-offs (C) Period
--------- --------- ---------- ------- ----------
Inventory reserves for
the years ended:
December 31, 1998 $93,894 $27,894 ($29,293) $10,551 $103,046
December 31, 1997* 82,554 22,469 (30,332) 19,203 93,894
December 31, 1996* 68,675 22,251 (30,721) 22,349 82,554



Note C - Represents net reserves of acquired and divested businesses, including provisions for product line rationalization.

* Restated for the May 1998 merger with Calphalon Corporation,
which was accounted for as a pooling of interests.


</TABLE>
95

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.

NEWELL CO.
Registrant
By /s/ William T. Alldredge
------------------------
William T. Alldredge
Vice President-Finance
Date March 19, 1999
------------------

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, this report has been signed below on March 19, 1999 by the
following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities
indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C>
Signature Title
--------- -----

/s/ William P. Sovey Chairman of the Board and Director
--------------------------------
William P. Sovey

/s/ John J. McDonough Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive
-------------------------------- Officer and Director
John J. McDonough (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Thomas A. Ferguson, Jr. President and Chief Operating Officer
-------------------------------- and Director
Thomas A. Ferguson, Jr.

/s/ Donald L. Krause Senior Vice President-Corporate Controller
-------------------------------- (Principal Accounting Officer)
Donald L. Krause

/s/ William T. Alldredge Vice President-Finance
------------------------------- (Principal Financial Officer)
William T. Alldredge

Director
------------------------------
Alton F. Doody

Director
------------------------------
Gary H. Driggs
96

/s/ Daniel C. Ferguson Director
------------------------------
Daniel C. Ferguson

/s/ Robert L. Katz Director
------------------------------
Robert L. Katz

Director
------------------------------
Elizabeth Cuthbert Millett

Director
------------------------------
Cynthia A. Montgomery

/s/ Allan P. Newell Director
------------------------------
Allan P. Newell

Director
------------------------------
Henry B. Pearsall

</TABLE>
97

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S> <C> <C> <C>
(C) EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibit
------- ----------------------
Item 3. Articles of 3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Newell Co., as amended as of
Incorporation September 7, 1995 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the
and By-Laws Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995
(the "1995 Form 10-K")).

3.2 By-Laws of Newell Co., as amended through November 9, 1995 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to Pre-effective Amendment No. 1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 33-64225, filed January 23,
1996).

Item 4. Instruments 4.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Newell Co., as amended as
defining the of September 7, 1995, is included in Item 3.1.
rights of
security
holders,
including
indentures

4.2 By-Laws of Newell Co., as amended through November 9, 1995, are
included in Item 3.2.

4.3 Rights Agreement dated as of August 6, 1998 between the
Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights Agent
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's Current Report on
Form 8-K dated August 6, 1998).

4.4 Indenture dated as of April 15, 1992, between the Company and The Chase
Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.4 to the Company's Report on Form 8 amending the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31,
1992).

4.5 Indenture dated as of November 1, 1995 between the Company and The Chase
Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 4.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 3,
1996).

4.6 Specimen Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-71747, filed
February 4, 1999).

Pursuant to item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, the Company is not
filing certain documents. The Company agrees to furnish a copy of each such
document upon the request of the Commission.

Item 10. Material *10.1 The Newell Long-Term Savings and Investment Plan, as amended and
Contracts restated effective May 1, 1993 and amended through December 29, 1995.
98

*10.2 The Company's Amended and Restated 1984 Stock Option Plan, as amended
through February 14, 1990 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1990
File No. 1-09608 (the "1990 Form 10-K")).

*10.3 Newell Co. Deferred Compensation Plan, as amended, effective August 1, 1980,
as amended and restated effective January 1, 1997.

*10.4 Newell Operating Company's ROA Cash Bonus Plan, effective January 1, 1977,
as amended (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-14, Reg. No. 002-71121, filed March 4,
1981).

*10.5 Newell Operating Company's ROI Cash Bonus Plan, effective January 1, 1986.

*10.6 Newell Operating Company's Pension Plan for Salaried and Clerical Employees,
as amended and restated, effective January 1, 1996, as amended through June 15,
1998.

*10.7 Newell Operating Company's Pension Plan for Factory and Distribution
Hourly-Paid Employees, as amended and restated effective January 1, 1989 and
amended through September 30, 1997.

*10.8 Newell Operating Company's Restated Supplemental Retirement Plan for Key
Executives, effective January 1, 1982, as amended effective May 13, 1998.

*10.9 Form of Employment Security Agreement with seven executive officers
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the 1990 Form 10-K).

10.10 Credit Agreement dated as of June 12, 1995 and amended and restated as of
August 5, 1997 among the Company, certain of its affiliates, The Chase
Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Agent, and the banks whose names
appear on the signature pages thereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.17 to the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
period ended June 30, 1997).

10.11 Shareholder's Agreement and Irrevocable Proxy dated as of June 21, 1985.
among American Tool Companies, Inc., Newell Co., Allen D. Petersen, Kenneth
L. Cheloha, Robert W. Brady, William L. Kiburz, Flemming Andresen and Ane C.
Patterson (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the Company's
Annual Report on From 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997 (the "1997
Form 10-K")).

*10.12 Newell Co. 1993 Stock Option Plan, effective February 9, 1993, as amended in
November 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the 1997 Form
10-K).

10.13 Amended and Restated Trust Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1997 among
Newell Co., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property Trustee,
99

Chase Manhattan Delaware, as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative
Trustees (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3, File No. 333-47261, filed March 3, 1998
(the "1998 Form S-3")).

10.14 Junior Convertible Subordinated Indenture for the 5.25% Convertible
Subordinated Debentures, dated as of December 12, 1997, among Newell Co. and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Indenture Trustee (Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.3 to the 1998 Form S-3).

10.15 Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 12, 1997, between Newell
Financial Trust I and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Bear, Sterns & Co. Inc.
and Merrill Lynch & Co., as Initial Purchasers (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.1 to the 1998 Form S-3).

10.16 Terms Agreement dated as of July 9, 1998 among Newell Co., Morgan Stanley
Dean Witter, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Chase
Securities Inc. and First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated
July 9, 1998).

10.17 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of October 20, 1998 among Newell Co.,
Rooster Company and Rubbermaid Incorporated (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 2.1 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20,
1998).

Item 11. Exhibit 11 Statement of Computation of Earnings per Share of Common Stock.

Item 12. Exhibit 12 Statement of Computation of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

Item 21. Subsidiaries 21.1 Significant Subsidiaries of the Company.
of the
Registrant

Item 23. Consent of 23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP.
experts and
counsel

Item 27. Financial 27 Financial Data Schedule.
Data Schedule

Item 99. Additional 99 Safe Harbor Statement.
Exhibits

* Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement of the Company.

</TABLE>