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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-238122

 

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. A registration statement relating to these securities has become effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This preliminary prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell nor does it seek an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to completion, dated May 20, 2020

Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

(To Prospectus Dated May 8, 2020)

$500,000,000

 

 

LOGO

$500,000,000     % Notes due 2025

 

 

The notes will mature on                    , 2025. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on            and            of each year, commencing                     , 2020. We may redeem the notes in whole or in part at any time at the redemption prices described in this prospectus supplement.

We intend to use the net proceeds of the offering of the notes for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding borrowings. See “Use of Proceeds.”

We may redeem the notes in whole or in part at our option and from time to time at the applicable redemption prices described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” If a change of control triggering event as described herein occurs with respect to the notes, the holders of the notes may require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any. See “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer.”

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Newell Brands and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

 

 

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

Investing in the notes involves risks that are described or referenced in the “Risk Factors” section on page S-14 of this prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

     Per Note     Total  

Public Offering Price

            $                

Underwriting Discount and Commissions

            $                

Proceeds, Before Expenses, to Us

            $                

The public offering price set forth above does not include accrued interest, if any. Interest on the notes will accrue from                     , 2020.

The notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.

The underwriters expect to deliver the notes through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company and its participants including Clearstream and the Euroclear system, against payment in New York, New York on or about                 , 2020.

Joint Book-Running Managers

 

J.P. Morgan    

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Credit Suisse                   Barclays  

BofA Securities

 

 

May                     , 2020


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  
Prospectus Supplement   

About this Prospectus Supplement

     S-ii  

Incorporation by Reference

     S-iii  

Forward-Looking Statements

     S-iv  

Summary

     S-1  

Risk Factors

     S-14  

Use of Proceeds

     S-19  

Capitalization

     S-20  

Description of the Notes

     S-22  

Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

     S-31  

Certain ERISA and Related Considerations

     S-36  

Underwriting

     S-39  

Legal Matters

     S-44  

Experts

     S-44  
Prospectus   
     Page  

Newell Brands Inc.

     1  

Forward-Looking Statements

     1  

Where You Can Find More Information

     3  

Risk Factors

     4  

Use of Proceeds

     4  

Description of Debt Securities

     5  

Description of Capital Stock

     16  

Description of Rights

     20  

Description of Warrants

     21  

Description of Stock Purchase Contracts and Stock Purchase Units

     22  

Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences

     23  

Plan of Distribution

     23  

Legal Matters

     25  

Experts

     25  

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus contain information about Newell Brands Inc. and about the notes. They also refer to information contained in other documents filed by us with the SEC and incorporated into this prospectus supplement by reference. References to this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus also include the information contained in such other documents. To the extent that information appearing in a later filed document is inconsistent with prior information, the later statement will control. If this prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement.

We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or in any free writing prospectuses we have prepared. We and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is an offer to sell only the notes offered hereby, but only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is current only as of the respective dates of such documents.

In this prospectus supplement, unless otherwise indicated, references to “Newell Brands,” “Company,” “Newell,” “we,” “us,” and “our” refer to Newell Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries. If we use a capitalized term in this prospectus supplement and do not define the term, it is defined in the accompanying prospectus.

 

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INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to documents filed with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. In other words, in the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information set forth in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus, unless the information incorporated by reference was filed after the date of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than any portions of such filings that are furnished rather than filed under applicable SEC rules) until our offering is completed:

 

  1.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Form 10-K”) filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020.

 

  2.

Our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2020 (the “Form 10-Q”) filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020.

 

  3.

The portions of our definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020 and incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

  4

Our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January  17, 2020, February  10, 2020, as amended, February  14, 2020 (Item 8.01 only), February  20, 2020 and May 13, 2020.

You may request a copy of these filings at no cost by writing to or telephoning us at the following addresses:

Newell Brands Inc.

6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, Georgia 30328

Telephone: 1-770-418-7000

Email: investor.relations@newellco.com

Attention: Office of Investor Relations

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We have made statements in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein that are not historical in nature and constitute forward-looking statements in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, but are not limited to, information or assumptions about the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, effects of sales (including pricing), income/(loss), return on invested capital, operating income, operating margin or gross margin improvements or declines, capital and other expenditures, working capital, cash flow, dividends, capital structure, debt to capitalization ratios, debt ratings, availability of financing, interest rates, restructuring and other project-related costs, impairment and other charges, potential losses on divestitures, impacts of changes in accounting standards, pending legal proceedings and claims (including environmental matters), future economic performance, costs and cost savings, inflation or deflation with respect to raw materials and sourced products, productivity and streamlining, synergies, changes in foreign exchange rates, product recalls, expected benefits and financial results from recently completed acquisitions and planned acquisitions and divestitures, and management’s plans, projections and objectives for future operations, performance and growth or the assumptions relating to any of the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,”, “explore”, “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “setting up,” “beginning to,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “resume,” or similar statements. We caution that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there are no assurances that we will complete any or all of the potential transactions, or other initiatives referenced here. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to our ability to manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges associated with the actual or perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; our dependence on the strength of retail, commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various parts of the world; competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products; major retailers’ strong bargaining power and consolidation of our customers; risks related to our substantial indebtedness, potential increases in interest rates or additional adverse changes in our credit ratings; our ability to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline operations; future events that could adversely affect the value of our assets and/or stock price and require additional impairment charges; our ability to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; our ability to develop innovative new products, to develop, maintain and strengthen end user brands and to realize the benefits of increased advertising promotion and spend; the impact of costs associated with divestitures; our ability to effectively execute our turnaround plan; changes in the prices of raw materials and sourced products and our ability to obtain raw materials and sourced products in a timely manner; the impact of governmental investigations, inspections, lawsuits or other activities by third parties; the risks inherent to our foreign operations, including currency fluctuations, exchange controls and pricing restrictions; a failure of one of our key information technology systems, networks, processes or related controls or those of our services providers; the impact of U.S. or foreign regulations on our operations, including the escalation of tariffs on imports into the U.S. and exports to Canada, China and the European Union and environmental remediation costs and data privacy regulations; the potential inability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; the impact of new Treasury or tax regulations and the resolution of tax contingencies resulting in additional tax liabilities; product liability, product recalls or related regulatory actions; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; significant increases in the funding obligations related to our pension plans; and other factors listed from time to time in our SEC filings, including but not limited to the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q.

 

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In addition, there can be no assurance that we have currently identified or assessed all of the factors that affect us or that the publicly available and other information that we receive with respect to these factors is complete or correct. Changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein is as of the date indicated. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein as a result of new information or future events or developments.

 

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SUMMARY

The following summary may not contain all of the information that is important to you. You should read the following summary together with more detailed information regarding us and the notes being sold in this offering and our financial statements and notes thereto which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.

Newell Brands Inc.

We are a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that make life better every day for consumers, where they live, learn, work and play. Our products are marketed under a strong portfolio of leading brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Marmot®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Mapa®, Spontex®, Quickie® and Yankee Candle®. We sell our products in nearly 200 countries around the world and have operations on the ground in over 40 of these countries, excluding third party distributors.

Business Strategy. We are currently executing a turnaround strategy, with the vision of building a global, next generation consumer products company that can unleash the full potential of our brands in a fast moving omni-channel environment. These strategies are designed to address key challenges we are facing, including: shifting consumer preferences and behaviors; a highly competitive operating environment; a rapidly changing retail landscape, including the growth in e-commerce; continued macroeconomic and political volatility; and an evolving regulatory landscape.

We have identified the following strategic imperatives to address and adapt to these challenges during our turnaround period:

 

   

Strengthen our portfolio by investing in attractive categories aligned with our capabilities and strategy;

 

   

Sustainable profitable growth by focusing on innovation, as well as growth in digital marketing, e-commerce and our international businesses;

 

   

Attractive margins by driving productivity and overhead savings to reinvest into the business;

 

   

Cash efficiency by improving key working capital metrics, resulting in a lower cash conversion cycle; and

 

   

Build a winning team through engagement and focusing the best people on the right things.

Execution on these strategic imperatives will better position us for long-term sustainable growth in order to achieve our short-to-near-term goals of:

 

   

Growing core sales;

 

   

Improving operating margins;

 

   

Accelerating cash conversion cycle; and

 

   

Strengthening organizational capability and employee engagement.



 

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Organizational Structure. Our four reportable segments are as follows:

 

Segment

  

Key Brands

  

Description of Primary Products

Appliances and Cookware

   Calphalon®, Crock-Pot®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster® and Sunbeam®    Household products, including kitchen appliances, gourmet cookware, bakeware and cutlery

Food and Commercial

   Ball® (1), FoodSaver®, Rubbermaid®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Sistema®, Mapa®, Quickie® and Spontex®    Food storage and home storage products, fresh preserving products, vacuum sealing products, commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions, hygiene systems and material handling solutions

Home and Outdoor Living

   Chesapeake Bay Candle®, Coleman®, Contigo®, ExOfficio®, First Alert®, Marmot®, WoodWick® and Yankee Candle®    Products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities, home fragrance products and connected home and security

Learning and Development

   Aprica®, Baby Jogger®, Dymo®, Elmer’s®, EXPO®, Graco®, Mr. Sketch®, NUK®, Paper Mate®, Parker®, Prismacolor®, Sharpie®, Tigex® Waterman® and X-Acto®    Writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; baby gear and infant care products

 

(1)

Ball® TM of Ball Corporation, used under license.

Appliances and Cookware. The Appliances and Cookware segment designs, manufactures, sources, markets and distributes a diverse line of household products. Kitchen appliances are primarily sold under the Crock-Pot®, Mr. Coffee®, Oster® and Sunbeam® trademarks. Aluminum and stainless-steel cookware and bakeware are sold under the Calphalon® trademark. The Appliances and Cookware segment also has rights to sell various small appliance products in substantially all of Europe under the Breville® brand name. The Appliances and Cookware segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, home centers, mass merchant, specialty retailers, distributors and e-commerce companies.

Food and Commercial. The Food and Commercial segment designs, manufactures, sources, markets and distributes a diverse line of household products. Food storage products are sold primarily under the FoodSaver®, Rubbermaid® and Sistema® trademarks. We also sell certain food storage products under the Ball® trademark, pursuant to a license from Ball Corporation. The Commercial Business designs, manufactures or sources and distributes cleaning and refuse products, hygiene systems and material handling solutions primarily under the Quickie®, Mapa®, Rubbermaid®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products® and Spontex® trademarks.

The Food and Commercial segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, home centers, commercial products distributors, mass merchant, specialty retailers, distributors, e-commerce companies, select contract customers and other professional customers.

Home and Outdoor Living. The Home and Outdoor Living segment designs, manufactures, sources, markets and distributes home fragrance and home security products, as well as global consumer active lifestyle products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities. Home fragrance products are sold primarily under the Chesapeake Bay Candle®, WoodWick® and Yankee Candle® trademarks. Home security products are primarily sold under the First Alert® trademark. Active lifestyle products are sold primarily under the Coleman®, Contigo®, ExOfficio® and Marmot® trademarks.



 

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The Home and Outdoor Living segment primarily markets its products directly to club, department store, drug/grocery, home centers, mass merchant, sporting goods and specialty retailers, distributors and e-commerce companies, as well as direct to consumers on-line and in Yankee Candle retail stores.

Learning and Development. The Learning and Development segment designs, manufactures, sources, markets and distributes writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens and pencils; art products; activity-based adhesive and cutting products; labeling solutions; baby gear and infant care products. Writing instruments, activity-based adhesive and cutting products and labeling solutions products are sold primarily under the Dymo®, Elmer’s®, EXPO®, Mr. Sketch®, Paper Mate®, Parker®, Prismacolor®, Sharpie®, Waterman® and X-Acto® trademarks. Baby gear and infant care and health products are sold primarily under the Baby Jogger®, Graco®, NUK® and Tigex® trademarks.

The Learning and Development segment primarily markets its products directly to mass merchants, warehouse clubs, drug/grocery stores, office superstores, office supply stores, contract stationers, travel retail, distributors and e-commerce companies, and direct to consumers on-line.

We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and our telephone number is (770) 418-7000.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Impact on our business

Beginning late in the fourth quarter and into 2020, COVID-19 emerged and subsequently spread globally, ultimately being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The pandemic has resulted in various federal, state and local governments as well as private entities mandating restrictions, including travel restrictions, restrictions on public gatherings, closure of non-essential commerce, stay at home orders and quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus. We began to experience significant COVID-19 related disruption to our business in three primary areas:

 

   

Supply chain. While the majority of our factories are considered essential in their applicable jurisdictions and are operational, we are experiencing disruption at certain of our facilities. Of our 135 manufacturing and distribution facilities, approximately 20 are or were temporarily closed, the most significant of which include our South Deerfield, Massachusetts, Home Fragrance plant, our Mexicali, Mexico and India Writing facilities and our Juarez, Mexico Connected Home and Security facility, all of which were closed in line with government guidelines. The Mexicali and India Writing facilities have since reopened on a limited basis and are currently in the process of ramping up to full operations. On May 18, 2020, our South Deerfield, Massachusetts, Home Fragrance plant was authorized to re-open. We are also facing intermittent transportation and logistical challenges.

 

   

Retail. While our largest retail customers are experiencing a surge in sales as their stores remain open, a number of secondary customers, primarily in the specialty and department store channels, have temporarily closed their brick and mortar doors. These dynamics, in combination with some retailers’ prioritization of essential items, have had a meaningful impact on retailers’ order patterns. In addition, we temporarily closed our Yankee Candle retail stores in North America as of mid-March.

 

   

Consumer demand patterns. As the quarantine phase of the pandemic has taken hold, consumer purchasing behavior has strongly shifted to certain focused categories. While certain of our businesses have benefited from this shift, including Food and Commercial, others have seen significant slowing.

As a result of these challenges, we experienced a significant negative impact on sales in March and April 2020 and expect this trend to continue through at least the second quarter. For context, we estimate that sales in April 2020 were materially lower than April 2019.



 

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Mitigation Actions and Outlook

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have focused on three priorities: protecting the health and well-being of our employees; maintaining financial viability and business continuity; and keeping manufacturing facilities and distribution centers operating, where deemed prudent, to provide products to our consumers. We have established internal protocols including the establishment of a COVID-19 task force to monitor the situation, as well as communications and guidance issued by foreign, federal, state and local governments. In the first quarter 2020, we instituted mandatory work-from-home policies for employees able to work from home in various locations around the world and implemented a number of precautionary measures at our manufacturing plants, warehouses, distribution centers and R&D centers to reduce person to person contact and improve the personal safety for our front-line employees. Furthermore, beginning in mid-March 2020, we began temporarily closing all of the world-wide retail stores within our Home and Outdoor Living segment. While most of our manufacturing and distribution sites remain open, we have also experienced temporary closure of certain key operating facilities in the Home and Outdoor Living and Learning & Development segments, and additional COVID-19 related closures could further disrupt our supply chain. We continue to monitor developments, including government requirements and recommendations at the national, state, and local level to evaluate possible cessation or extensions to all or part of such initiatives. As part of our efforts to contain costs and maintain financial liquidity and flexibility, we have: instituted a hiring freeze for non-essential roles, furloughed all field-based and most corporate retail employees in North America, effective April 1, 2020, tightened discretionary spending as well as reduced and optimized advertising and promotional expenses.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, we believe the extent of the impact to our businesses, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and financial condition will be primarily driven by the severity and duration of the pandemic, the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. and global economies and the timing, scope and effectiveness of federal, state and local governmental responses to the pandemic. Those primary drivers are beyond our knowledge and control, and as a result, at this time it is difficult to predict the cumulative impact, both in terms of severity and duration, COVID-19 will have on our sales, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. However, the effects that we have experienced in the first quarter have been material to our operating results and we anticipate our second quarter results will worsen sequentially. Furthermore, the impact to our businesses, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and financial condition may be further adversely impacted if the current circumstances continue to exist for a prolonged period of time. As a result of the uncertainties described above, we withdrew our previously announced full year guidance for 2020.

Impairment Triggering Event

During the first quarter of 2020, we concluded that an impairment triggering event had occurred as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Accordingly, we performed an impairment test and determined that certain of our indefinite-lived intangible assets in the Appliances and Cookware, Home and Outdoor Living and Learning and Development segments were impaired. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded an aggregate non-cash charge of $1.3 billion to reflect impairment of these indefinite-lived trade names as their carrying values exceeded their fair values. In addition, we determined that the goodwill associated with our Appliances and Cookware segment was impaired. During the three months ended March 31, 2020, we recorded a non-cash charge of $212 million to reflect the impairment of goodwill as its carrying value exceeded its fair value. See Footnotes 1 and 7 of the Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Asset Trigger Event, Liquidity and Capital Resources, Significant Accounting Policies and Critical Estimates and Risk Factors in Part II, Item 1A, of the Form 10-Q for more information.



 

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Liquidity Update

In light of current uncertainty in the global economy, as well as equity and bond markets, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we have taken several actions and may continue to take actions to further strengthen our financial position and balance sheet, and maintain financial liquidity and flexibility, including, evaluating supply purchases, enhanced customer credit review processes, reviewing operating expenses, prioritizing capital expenditures, as well as the extension of payment terms for goods and services. We have the ability to borrow under our existing Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below). In addition, our existing Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (the “Securitization Facility”) had $289 million outstanding at March 31, 2020 and, as of May 20, 2020, after giving effect to this offering and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby, we had maximum net availability under the Securitization Facility of approximately $209 million.

At March 31, 2020, we did not have any amounts outstanding under our $1.25 billion unsecured revolving credit facility that matures in December 2023 (the “Revolving Credit Facility”). In April 2020, we borrowed $125 million under the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, repay the $40 million outstanding under our commercial paper program at March 31, 2020. We do not intend to retire any of our outstanding notes prior to maturity or to repurchase any of our shares of common stock outstanding on the open market. In addition, we will continue to evaluate all actions to strengthen our financial position and balance sheet, and maintain financial liquidity and flexibility, including the issuance of debt and maintaining our capital allocation strategy.

At March 31, 2020, we had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $476 million, of which approximately $308 million was held by our non-U.S. subsidiaries. Our available cash and cash equivalents, cash flows generated by operating activities and borrowing capacity along with the actions described above, provide us with continued financial viability and adequate liquidity to fund our operations. Our cash requirements are subject to change as business conditions warrant. As the COVID-19 pandemic is complex and rapidly evolving, our plans as described above may change. At this point, we are unable to predict the duration and severity of this pandemic; however, the pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our future sales, results of operations, financial position and cash flows, particularly if the current circumstances continue to exist for a prolonged period of time, which could impact our ability to satisfy financial maintenance covenants and could limit the ability to make future borrowings under existing debt instruments. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in the Form 10-Q and “Risk Factors—Risks Related to COVID-19” below for more information.



 

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The Offering

The following is a brief summary of the notes and the offering. For a more complete description of the terms of the notes, see “Description of the Notes” in this prospectus supplement.

 

Issuer

Newell Brands Inc., a Delaware corporation.

 

Securities Offered

$500 million initial aggregate principal amount of     % notes due 2025, which mature on             , 2025.

 

Interest Rate

The notes will bear interest at     % per annum.

 

Interest Payment Dates

Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on             and             of each year, commencing                     , 2020 to holders of record on the             or             (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date.

 

Optional Redemption

We may redeem all or part of the notes at any time prior to             (the date that is one month prior to the maturity date) at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

   

the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; or

 

   

the Make-Whole Amount (as defined herein) for the notes being redeemed,

 

  plus, in each case, accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

  On or after             (the date that is one month prior to the maturity date), we may redeem all or part of the notes at any time at our option at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued interest to the redemption date.

 

Change of Control Offer

If a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the notes, each holder of the notes may require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder’s notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date of purchase. See “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer.”

 

Ranking

The notes will:

 

   

rank equally in right of payment with all of our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding;

 

   

be effectively junior in right of payment to any secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt;

 

   

be structurally subordinated to all liabilities of our subsidiaries, and our ability to pay principal and interest on the notes could be affected by the ability of our subsidiaries to declare and distribute dividends or otherwise transfer assets to us.

 

  The indenture under which the notes are being offered does not limit the amount of debt that we or any of our subsidiaries may incur.


 

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  As of March 31, 2020, our subsidiaries had $326 million of debt outstanding, excluding unamortized discounts and deferred financing fees.

 

Form and Denominations

The notes will be issued in book-entry form in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof and represented by one or more global notes deposited with a custodian for, and registered in the name of a nominee of, The Depository Trust Company.

 

Trading

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange.

 

Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association.

 

Certain Covenants

The indenture contains certain restrictive covenants that, among other things, will limit our ability to:

 

   

consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person; and

 

   

with certain exceptions, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien of any kind upon any of our property or assets, or to permit any of our subsidiaries to do so upon any of their respective assets, unless the notes are equally and ratably secured.

 

  See “Description of the Notes.”

 

Additional Notes

We may, without the consent of the holders, issue additional notes in the future and thereby increase the principal amount of the notes outstanding. Such additional notes will have the same terms and conditions and, assuming they are fungible with the original notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the same CUSIP number as the notes so that the additional notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the notes.

 

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from the sale of the notes of approximately $             million. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and Securitization Facility, as well as the repayment of near-term public debt at contractual maturities and other uses.

 

Risk Factors

Your decision to participate in the offering is a decision to invest in the notes, which involves substantial risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-14 for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to participate in this offering.


 

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Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations

For a discussion of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations to holders of the notes, see “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations.”

 

Governing Law

The notes and the indenture are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.


 

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Summary Historical Consolidated Financial Data of Newell Brands

The following table presents summary historical consolidated financial data of Newell Brands. The summary historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2019 and 2018 and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2019, are derived from Newell Brands’ audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, which are contained in the Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. The summary historical consolidated financial data as of December 31, 2017 is derived from audited consolidated financial statements of Newell Brands not included in the Form 10-K. The summary historical consolidated financial data as of March 31, 2020, and for the three months ended March 31, 2020 and 2019, are derived from Newell Brands’ interim unaudited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, which are contained in the Form 10-Q, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

The information set forth below is only a summary. You should read the following information together with Newell Brands’ audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes and the sections entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” contained in the Form 10-K and the Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, and in Newell Brands’ other reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference hereby.

 

     For the Three Months
Ended March 31,
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2020(1)(2)     2019(1)(2)     2019(3)(4)     2018(3)(4)     2017(3)  
(in millions)                               

Statements of Operations Data(5)(6)

          

Net sales

   $ 1,886     $ 2,042     $ 9,715     $ 10,154     $ 11,170  

Gross profit

     617       655       3,219       3,518       3,811  

Operating income (loss)

     (1,408     12       (482     (7,554     707  

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (1,483     (94     (852     (7,992     919  

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (1,279     (74     186       (6,633     2,434  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         (77     (79     (310     315  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,279   $ (151   $ 107     $ (6,943   $ 2,749  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     As of March 31,      As of December 31,  
     2020(1)(2)      2019(3)(4)      2018(3)(4)      2017  
(in millions)                            

Balance Sheet Data

           

Inventories, net

   $ 1,700      $ 1,606      $ 1,761      $ 1,856  

Working capital(7)

     966        1,132        2,655        5,823  

Total assets

     13,903        15,642        17,722        33,136  

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

     639        332        319        662  

Long-term debt

     5,375        5,391        6,696        9,889  

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,479        4,996        5,253        14,181  


 

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     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the Years Ended December 31,  
     2020(2)     2019(2)       2019(4)         2018(4)         2017(8)    
(in millions)                               

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

          

EBITDA(9)

   $ (1,329   $ 73     $ (103   $ (7,174   $ 1,789  

Adjusted EBITDA(9)

     173       188       1,332       1,389    

Free Cash Flow(9)

     (35     (258     779       296       560  

 

(1)

Supplemental data regarding the first quarter of 2020 and 2019 is provided in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Form 10-Q, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

(2)

During the first quarter of 2020, Newell Brands recorded an impairment charge related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles of $1.5 billion. During the first quarter of 2019, Newell Brands recorded an impairment charge of $63 million to reflect a decrease in the carrying values of Mapa/Spontex and Quickie while these businesses were classified as held for sale (see Footnote 7 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Form 10-Q).

(3)

Supplemental data regarding 2019, 2018 and 2017 is provided in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Form 10-K, which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement.

(4)

During 2019 and 2018, Newell Brands recorded non-cash impairment charges related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles of $1.2 billion and $8.3 billion, respectively, in continuing operations and $112 million and $1.5 billion, respectively, in discontinued operations (see Footnotes 3 and 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Form 10-K).

(5)

The results of Chesapeake Bay Candle, Sistema Plastics and Smith Mountain Industries, are included from their dates of acquisition of September 2017, April 2017 and January 2017, respectively.

(6)

The results of Newell Brands’ Tools business and Winter Sports business were included in continuing operations up until their dates of disposition of March 2017 and July 2017, respectively. Also, at various dates during 2017, Newell Brands sold a number of smaller businesses, including its Rubbermaid® consumer storage totes business, its Teutonia® stroller business, its Lehigh business, its Firebuilding business and its triathlon apparel business, the results of which, were included in continuing operations up until their respective dates of disposition. The results of Newell Brands’ Playing Cards business, Process Solutions business, Rexair business, Jostens business, Pure Fishing business, Goody business, Team Sports business and Waddington business, were included in discontinued operations up until their dates of disposition of December 2019, May 2019, May 2019, December 2018, December 2018, August 2018, June 2018 and June 2018, respectively.

(7)

Working capital is defined as current assets less current liabilities.

(8)

Commencing in 2019, Newell Brands changed the way in which it calculated certain non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G. As a result of this change, the Company recast 2018 to conform to the 2019 non-GAAP methodology. However, Adjusted EBITDA was not recast for 2017. As such, it has not been presented for 2017.

(9)

This prospectus supplement contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Regulation G promulgated by the SEC.

Newell Brands uses certain non-GAAP financial measures both to explain its results to stockholders and the investment community and in the internal evaluation and management of its businesses. Newell Brands’ management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures and the information they provide are useful to investors since these measures permit investors to view Newell Brands’ performance and liquidity using the same tools that management uses to evaluate Newell Brands’ past performance, prospects for future performance and liquidity. “EBITDA” is defined as net income (loss) before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. “Adjusted EBITDA” is defined as net income (loss), adjusted for Income (loss) from



 

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discontinued operations, net of tax, and as further adjusted for restructuring and certain other charges, if any, related to discontinued operations; acquisition amortization costs; impairment charges related to tradenames and customer relations and goodwill; costs related to divestitures and acquisitions; the cumulative depreciation and amortization catch-up related to the inclusion of the Commercial Business, Mapa and Quickie businesses in continuing operations; losses due to changes in the fair value of certain investments; Argentina hyperinflationary adjustments; product recall costs; certain pension settlement charges; losses related to extinguishments of debt; and certain other financial charges and tax adjustments. “Free Cash Flow” is defined as net cash provided by operating activities less capital expenditures.

While Newell Brands believes these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating Newell Brands’ performance and liquidity, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and not as a substitute for or superior to the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP.

Additionally, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similar measures presented by other companies and are not prescribed in the Company’s debt covenants.

The following provides a numerical reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss), which is the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP:

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the Years Ended
December 31,
 

(in millions)

   2020     2019     2019     2018     2017  

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,279   $ (151   $ 107     $ (6,943   $ 2,749  

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         (77     (79     (310     315  

Income tax benefit

     (204     (20     (1,038     (1,359     (1,515

Interest expense, net

     63       80       303       446       469  

Depreciation and amortization

     91       87       446       372       401  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

EBITDA

   $ (1,329   $ 73     $ (103   $ (7,174   $ 1,789  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the
Years Ended
December 31,
 

(in millions)

   2020     2019     2019     2018  

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,279   $ (151   $ 107     $ (6,943

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     —         (77     (79     (310

Normalized items, net of tax

     1,318 (a)      109 (b)      491 (c)      7,323 (d) 

Normalized income tax(e)

     3       4       59       (88

Interest expense, net

     63       80       303       446  

Additional depreciation and amortization adjustments(f)

     60       64       251       270  

Stock-based compensation(g)

     8       5       42       71  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 173     $ 188     $ 1,332     $ 1,389  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

  (a)

Includes restructuring and restructuring related costs of $6 million; acquisition amortization costs of $31 million; impairment charges of $1.5 billion related to goodwill, other intangible assets and operating right of use assets; divestiture costs of $1 million primarily related to completed divestitures and a net gain on the disposition of $1 million related to the sale of the Jostens business; a loss of $3 million due to changes in the fair value of certain investments; an Argentinian hyperinflationary adjustment of $2 million; $6 million of other charges, primarily related to fees for certain legal proceedings; $1 million of other charges, primarily related to a product recall and a $1 million loss on pension settlement; income tax expenses of $20 million related to a change in tax status of certain



 

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  entities and $5 million of charges related to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, as well as the tax effects of pre-tax normalized items (see footnote (e) below).

 

  (b)

Includes restructuring and restructuring related costs of $18 million; acquisition amortization costs of $33 million; impairment charges of $63 million related to goodwill and other intangible assets; divestiture costs of $6 million primarily related to the completed divestitures of businesses and acquisition related costs of $1 million; a loss of $17 million due to changes in the fair value of certain investments; an Argentinian hyperinflationary adjustment of $5 million; $1 million of other charges, primarily related to fees for certain legal proceedings and tax adjustment of $4 million primarily related to foreign and state tax impacts of offshore earnings; depreciation and amortization expense related to the Commercial Business and the Mapa and Quickie businesses that would have been recorded had the businesses been continuously classified as held and used, as well as the tax effects of pre-tax normalized items (see footnote (e) below).

 

  (c)

Includes restructuring and restructuring related costs of $81 million; acquisition amortization costs of $131 million; impairment charges of $1.2 billion primarily related to tradenames, customer relationships and goodwill; divestiture costs of $28 million primarily related to planned and completed divestitures; acquisition related costs of $2 million; cumulative depreciation and amortization catch-up of $54 million related to the inclusion of the Commercial Business, Mapa and Quickie businesses in continuing operations; a loss of $21 million due to changes in the fair value of certain investments; an Argentinian hyperinflationary adjustment of $12 million; $20 million of costs associated with a product recall; $9 million of other charges, primarily related to fees for certain legal proceedings; a loss on extinguishment of debt of $28 million; a $1 million loss on pension settlement and other financial charges and a net tax adjustment primarily related to foreign and state tax impacts of offshore earnings and a withholding tax refund from Switzerland; an income tax benefit of $522 million related to the deferred tax effects associated with the internal realignment of certain intellectual property rights as well as an income tax benefit of $227 million associated with a taxable loss related to the impairment of certain assets, as well as the tax effects of pre-tax normalized items (see footnote (e) below).

 

  (d)

Includes restructuring costs primarily associated with the Accelerated Transformation Plan of $98 million; acquisition amortization costs of $133 million; impairment charges of $8.3 billion ($3.9 billion related to goodwill, $4.4 billion related to other intangible assets and $41 million, primarily related to Home Fragrance fixed assets impairments); acquisition related costs of $15 million; divestiture costs of $18 million primarily related to the planned and completed divestitures; a gain of $1 million for a working capital adjustment related to the Tools business and a gain of $1 million related to a sale of a small subsidiary; fire-related losses, net of insurance recoveries of $11 million in the Writing business; $26 million of bad debt related to a customer in the Baby business; $17 million of costs related to the proxy contest; a $11 million gain on a legacy Jarden investment; $1 million of pension settlement costs; debt extinguishment costs, net of $4 million, consisting of non-cash write-offs of $47 million of deferred debt issue costs and $5 million of fees, partially offset by $48 million non-cash settlement gains for payoff of debt below its carrying value and a $55 million tax provision in continuing operations for recognition of deferred taxes primarily related to statutory rate changes and adjustments to Newell Brands’ 2017 transition tax estimate, as well as the tax effects of pre-tax normalized items (see footnote (e) below).

 

  (e)

Newell Brands determined the tax effect of the items excluded from normalized results by applying the estimated effective rate for the applicable jurisdiction in which the pre-tax items were incurred, and for which realization of the resulting tax benefit, if any, is expected. In certain situations in which an item excluded from normalized results impacts income tax expense, Newell Brands uses a “with” and “without” approach to determine normalized income tax expense.



 

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  (f)

Excludes from GAAP depreciation and amortization the following items: (1) an acquisition amortization expense associated with intangible assets recognized in purchase accounting; (2) depreciation and amortization cost related to the inclusion of the Commercial Business, Mapa and Quickie businesses in continuing operations; and (3) accelerated depreciation costs associated with restructuring activities.

 

  (g)

Represents non-cash expense associated with stock compensation from continuing operations.

The following provides a numerical reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, which is the most directly comparable financial measure prepared in accordance with GAAP:

 

     For the Three
Months Ended
March 31,
    For the Years Ended
December 31,
 

(in millions)

   2020     2019     2019     2018     2017  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 23     $ (200   $ 1,044     $ 680     $ 966  

Less: Capital expenditures

     (58     (58     (265     (384     (406
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free cash flow

   $ (35   $ (258   $ 779     $ 296     $ 560  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 


 

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RISK FACTORS

In considering whether to purchase the notes offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, you should carefully consider the information included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. In particular, you should carefully consider the factors listed in “Forward-Looking Statements” as well as the “Risk Factors” contained in the Form 10-K and Form 10-Q, which are incorporated by reference herein. The risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations, our financial results and the value of the notes. In addition, the risks described below could result in a decrease in the value of the notes and your investment therein.

Risks Related to COVID-19

We must successfully manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges associated with the actual or perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other disease outbreak, including epidemics, pandemics, or similar widespread public health concerns.

Our business may be unfavorably impacted by the fear of exposure to or actual effects of the COVID-19 pandemic or any other disease outbreak, epidemic, pandemic, or similar widespread public health concern, such as reduced travel or recommendations or mandates from governmental authorities to cease particular business activities. These impacts include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Significant reductions in demand or significant volatility in demand for one or more of our products, which may be caused by, among other things: the temporary inability of consumers to purchase our products due to illness, store closures, quarantine or other travel restrictions, or financial hardship among customers, retailers and consumers, shifts in demand away from one or more of our more discretionary or higher priced products to lower priced products, or stockpiling; if prolonged, such impacts can further increase the difficulty in planning our operations, which may adversely impact our results, liquidity and financial condition;

 

   

Inability to meet our customers’ needs and achieve cost targets due to disruptions in our manufacturing operations and supply arrangements as well as distribution centers caused by the loss or disruption of essential manufacturing and supply elements such as raw materials or other finished product components, transportation, workforce, or other manufacturing and distribution capability including as a result of governmental mandates to close certain of our manufacturing and distribution facilities;

 

   

Failure of third parties on which we rely, including our suppliers, contract manufacturers, distributors, contractors, commercial banks, joint venture partners and external business partners, to meet their obligations to us, or significant disruptions in their ability to do so, which may be caused by their own financial or operational difficulties, which may adversely impact our operations, liquidity and financial condition; or

 

   

Significant changes in the political and labor conditions in markets in which we manufacture, sell or distribute our products, including quarantines, governmental or regulatory actions, closures or other restrictions that limit or close our manufacturing, distribution, research and development and retail facilities; restrict our employees’ ability or willingness to travel or perform necessary business functions, or otherwise prevent our facilities or our third-party partners, suppliers, or customers from sufficiently staffing operations, including operations necessary for the production, distribution, sale, and support of our products, which could adversely impact our results, liquidity and financial condition.

There are no comparable recent events that provide guidance as to the effect the spread of COVID-19 as a global pandemic may have, and, as a result, the ultimate impact of the outbreak is highly uncertain and subject to change. We do not yet know the full extent of the impacts on our business, our operations or the global economy

 

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as a whole. Despite our efforts to manage and remedy these impacts to the Company, the ultimate impact of COVID-19 could materially and adversely impact our business, results of operations, liquidity and financial condition, and depends on factors beyond our knowledge or control, including the duration and severity of any such outbreak as well as third-party actions taken to contain its spread and mitigate its public health effects.

We have experienced significant COVID-19 related disruptions to our businesses and if we are unable to re-commence normal operations in the near-to-medium term, we may be unable to maintain compliance with the financial covenants or borrowing base requirements in certain of our debt facilities.

Under the terms of certain of our debt facilities, including our Securitization Facility and Revolving Credit Facility, we are required to maintain certain financial covenants or satisfy certain borrowing basis requirements. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, our operations have been and could be further disrupted and if we are unable to re-commence normal operations in the near-to-medium term, we may be not be able to satisfy such requirements.

Covenant waivers may result in us incurring additional fees associated with obtaining the waiver, increased interest rates, additional restrictive covenants and other available lender protections that would be applicable to us under these debt facilities. Our ability to provide additional lender protections under these facilities, including the granting of security interests in collateral, will be limited by the restrictions in our indebtedness. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain future waivers in a timely manner, on acceptable terms or at all. If we were not able to obtain a covenant waiver under any one or more of these debt facilities, we would be in default of such agreements, which could result in cross defaults to our other debt agreements. As a consequence, we would need to refinance or repay the applicable debt facility or facilities, and would be required to raise additional debt or equity capital, or divest assets, to refinance or repay such facility or facilities. If we were to be unable to obtain a covenant waiver in the future under any one or more of these debt facilities, there can be no assurance that we would be able to raise sufficient debt or equity capital, or divest assets, to refinance or repay such facility or facilities.

With respect to each of these debt facilities, if we were unable to obtain a waiver or refinance or repay such debt facilities, it would lead to an event of default under such facilities, which could lead to an acceleration of the indebtedness under such debt facilities. In turn, this would lead to an event of default and potential acceleration of amounts due under all of our outstanding debt and derivative contract liabilities. As a result, the inability to obtain the covenant waivers described above would have a material adverse effect.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly evolving, and the continuation or a future resurgence of the pandemic could precipitate or aggravate the other risk factors that we identified in the Form 10-K, the Form 10-Q, and the risks described in this prospectus supplement, which in turn could further materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations and profitability, including in ways that are not currently known to us or that we do not currently consider to present significant risks.

Risks Related to this Offering and the Notes

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness, which could limit our financing and other options and adversely affect our ability to make payments on the notes.

We have a substantial amount of indebtedness. As of March 31, 2020, on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to the April repayment of $40 million of commercial paper and $125 million of additional borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and the offering contemplated hereby (including the application of net proceeds of this offering as disclosed elsewhere in this prospectus supplement), we have $6,185 million of total debt. See “Capitalization” in this prospectus supplement. Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to holders of the notes. For example, it may:

 

   

limit our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures or general corporate purposes, particularly if the ratings assigned to our debt securities by rating organizations were revised downward;

 

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limit our flexibility to adjust to changing business and market conditions and make us more vulnerable to a downturn in general economic conditions as compared to our competitors; and

 

   

place us at a competitive disadvantage compared to businesses in our industry that have less indebtedness.

There are various financial covenants and other restrictions in our debt instruments. If we fail to comply with any of these requirements, the related indebtedness (and other unrelated indebtedness could become due and payable prior to its stated maturity, and we may not be able to repay the indebtedness that becomes due. A default under our debt instruments may also significantly affect our ability to obtain additional or alternative financing.

Our ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance our obligations with respect to indebtedness will depend on our operating and financial performance, which in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our control.

We may still be able to incur substantially more debt.

We may be able to incur substantial indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indenture governing the notes will not prohibit us from doing so. If we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the notes, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably with the holders of the notes in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding up of our Company.

Active trading markets for the notes may not develop.

The notes will constitute a new issue of securities for which there is no existing trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the notes on any securities exchange or any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that a trading market for the notes will ever develop or will be maintained. If a trading market does not develop or is not maintained, you may find it difficult or impossible to resell the notes. Further, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any market that may develop for such notes, your ability to sell such notes or the price at which you will be able to sell such notes. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and results of operations, the then-current ratings assigned to the notes and the markets for similar securities. Any trading market that develops would be affected by many factors independent of and in addition to the foregoing, including:

 

   

the number of holders of the notes;

 

   

the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the notes;

 

   

our credit ratings with major credit rating agencies; and

 

   

the level, direction and volatility of market interest rates generally.

The underwriters have advised us that they currently intend to make a market in the notes, but they are not obligated to do so and may cease market-making at any time without notice.

Changes in our credit ratings may adversely affect the value of the notes.

In connection with this offering, we expect to receive credit ratings for the notes from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. (“Moody’s”), Fitch Inc. (“Fitch”) and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“S&P”). Such ratings are limited in scope, and do not address all material risks related to structure, market or other factors related to the value of the notes, but rather reflect only the view of each rating agency at the time the rating is issued. An explanation of the significance of

 

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such rating may be obtained from such rating agency. Since November 2019, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch have downgraded the Company’s debt ratings below investment grade. There can be no assurance that such credit ratings will remain in effect for any given period of time or that such ratings will not be further lowered, suspended or withdrawn entirely by the rating agencies, if, in each rating agency’s judgment, circumstances so warrant. These downgrades have resulted in an increase of 50 basis points to the interest rates on certain series of our outstanding senior notes. In addition, we are no longer able to access our commercial paper program. Increases in the level of our outstanding indebtedness, repurchases of our equity by us, the inability of the combined company to realize expected cash flows or other events could cause the rating agencies to downgrade, place on negative watch or change their outlook on our debt credit rating generally, and the ratings on the notes, which could adversely impact the trading prices for, or the liquidity of, the notes. Additionally, credit rating agencies evaluate the industries in which we operate as a whole and may change their credit rating for us based on their overall view of such industries. Actual or anticipated changes or downgrades in our credit ratings, including any announcement that our ratings are under further review for a downgrade, could affect the market value of the notes and increase our corporate borrowing costs.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may incur or restrict our ability to engage in other transactions that may adversely affect holders of our notes.

The indenture under which the notes will be issued does not limit the amount of debt that we may incur. The indenture does not contain any financial covenants or other provisions that would afford the holders of the notes any substantial protection in the event we participate in a highly leveraged transaction. In addition, the indenture does not limit our ability to pay dividends, make distributions or repurchase shares of our common stock. Any such transaction could adversely affect you.

We may be unable to generate the cash flow to service our debt obligations, including the notes.

We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow to enable us to service our indebtedness, including the notes, or to make anticipated capital expenditures. Our ability to pay our expenses and satisfy our debt obligations, refinance our debt obligations and fund planned capital expenditures will depend on our future performance, which will be affected by general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control. Based upon current levels of operations, we believe cash flow from operations and available cash will be adequate for the foreseeable future to meet our anticipated requirements for working capital, capital expenditures and scheduled payments of principal and interest on our indebtedness, including the notes. However, if we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations or to borrow sufficient funds in the future to service our debt, we may be required to sell assets, reduce capital expenditures, refinance all or a portion of our existing debt (including the notes) or obtain additional financing. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance our debt, sell assets or incur additional indebtedness on terms acceptable to us, if at all.

The notes are our obligations exclusively and our operations are conducted through, and our consolidated assets are held by, our subsidiaries. The notes will be structurally subordinated to any indebtedness of our subsidiaries. Structural subordination increases the risk that we will be unable to meet our obligations on the notes.

The notes are our obligations exclusively and are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. We are a holding company and conduct our business principally through our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our ability to service our debt, including the notes, depends on the results of operations and cash flows of our subsidiaries and upon the ability of such subsidiaries to provide us with cash, whether in the form of dividends, loans or otherwise, to pay amounts due on our obligations, including the notes. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to make payments on the notes or to make any funds available for that purpose. As a result, claims of holders of the notes will be effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries. In addition, dividends, loans or other distributions to us

 

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from such subsidiaries may be subject to contractual and other restrictions and are subject to other business considerations. In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any of our subsidiaries, creditors of our subsidiaries will generally be entitled to payment of their claims from the assets of those subsidiaries before any assets are made available for distribution to us. Even if we were a creditor of any of our subsidiaries, our rights as a creditor would be subordinate to any security interests in the assets of our subsidiaries and any indebtedness of our subsidiaries senior to that held by us and may otherwise be subordinated to other indebtedness and payables due to equitable or other considerations.

We may not be able to purchase the notes upon a change of control triggering event.

Upon the occurrence of a “change of control triggering event” as defined under “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer,” we will be required to offer to purchase all outstanding notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase. However, we may not be able to purchase the notes upon a change of control triggering event because we may not have sufficient funds to do so, particularly if a change of control event triggers a similar repurchase requirement for, or results in the acceleration of, our other then-existing debt. Holders of our 4.70% Notes due 2020, 3.15% Notes due 2021, 3.75% Notes due 2021, 4.00% Notes due 2022, 3.85% Notes due 2023, 4.00% Notes due 2024, 3.90% Notes due 2025, 4.20% Notes due 2026, 5.375% Notes due 2036 and 5.50% Notes due 2046 may require us to repurchase such notes on the same change of control triggering event. In addition, certain changes of control are termination events under our receivables financing facility, which would permit the declaration of a termination date and result in the proceeds from all receivables under the facility paying off the facility.

The change of control offer covenant is limited to the transactions specified in “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer.” We have no present intention to engage in a transaction involving a change of control triggering event, although it is possible that we could decide to do so in the future. In the event we are required to purchase outstanding notes pursuant to a change of control triggering event, we expect that we would seek third party financing to the extent we do not have available funds to meet our purchase obligations. However, we cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such financing. In addition, our ability to purchase the notes for cash may be limited by law or the terms of other agreements relating to our indebtedness outstanding at the time. Our failure to repurchase the notes upon a change of control triggering event would cause a default under the indenture that will govern the notes, which could result in defaults under our other debt agreements and have material adverse consequences for us and the holders of the notes.

Redemption may adversely affect your return on the notes.

We have the right to redeem some or all of the notes prior to maturity, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement. We may redeem the notes at times when prevailing interest rates may be relatively low. Accordingly, you may not be able to reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an effective interest rate as high as that of the notes.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby (after deducting the underwriting discount and our estimated expenses of the offering) will be approximately $     million.

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes in this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility and Securitization Facility, as well as the repayment of near-term public debt at contractual maturities and other uses.

As of March 31, 2020, we had no amounts outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility and $289 million outstanding under our Securitization Facility. In April 2020, we borrowed $125 million under the Revolving Credit Facility to, among other things, repay the $40 million outstanding under the commercial paper program at March 31, 2020. Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility had a weighted average interest rate of 1.65% as of April 2020. The Revolving Credit Facility matures in December 2023. Borrowings under the Securitization Facility had a weighted average interest rate of 1.96% as of March 31, 2020. The Securitization Facility matures in October 2022.

Affiliates of certain of the other underwriters are also lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility. To the extent we use some or all of the net proceeds of this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, those underwriters or their affiliates may, therefore, receive a portion of those proceeds. See “Underwriting—Other Relationships.”

 

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CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents, total debt, total stockholders’ equity and total capitalization as of March 31, 2020, on

 

   

an actual basis;

 

   

an as adjusted basis to give effect to (i) the April repayment of the $40 million outstanding under the commercial paper program and $125 million borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility, as further described in Notes (3) and (5) below, and (ii) the issuance and sale of notes in this offering and the application of net proceeds from this offering as set forth under “Use of Proceeds” in this prospectus supplement.

You should read this table in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

 

     As of March 31, 2020  
(in millions)    Actual      As adjusted(1)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 476      $ 640  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt:

     

Securitization Facility(2)

   $ 289      $ —    

Revolving Credit Facility(3)

     —          —    

Outstanding senior notes(4)

     5,664        5,664  

Notes offered hereby

     —          500  

Commercial paper(5)

     40        —    

Other debt(6)

     21        21  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total debt

   $ 6,014      $ 6,185  

Total stockholders’ equity

     3,479        3,479  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total capitalization(7)

   $ 9,493      $ 9,664  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1)

As adjusted amounts shown reflect (i) the $125 million we borrowed in April 2020 under the Revolving Credit Facility, (ii) the $40 million repayment of our outstanding amounts under our commercial paper program at March 31, 2020, (iii) the issuance and sale of the notes in this offering, (iv) the repayment of the $125 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility with a portion of the net proceeds of this offering, (v) the repayment of the $289 million outstanding under our Securitization Facility, plus $1 million of deferred financing fees, with a portion of the net proceeds of this offering, (vi) estimated fees and expenses of approximately $6 million in connection with this offering and (vii) $79 million of cash to the balance sheet after giving effect to the use of proceeds contemplated by this offering and set forth in clauses (iv) through (vi) above. Except as expressly noted, as adjusted amounts do not reflect the cash generated or used by the Company in its operations since March 31, 2020. As adjusted amounts shown do not reflect the aggregate $98 million dividend declared by our board of directors on May 11, 2020.

(2)

The aggregate commitment under the Securitization Facility is $600 million. The Securitization Facility matures in October 2022 and bears interest at a margin over a variable interest rate. At March 31, 2020, we drew down the maximum net availability under the Securitization Facility, which fluctuates based on eligible accounts receivable balances. In March 2020, we amended our Securitization Facility with respect to certain customer receivables and to remove an originator from the Securitization Facility. As of May 20, 2020, after giving effect to this offering and the use of proceeds contemplated hereby, we had maximum net availability under the Securitization Facility of approximately $209 million.

(3)

On December 12, 2018, we entered into a five-year unsecured revolving credit agreement with a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, that established our Revolving Credit Facility. This agreement amends and restates in its entirety our pre-existing revolving credit agreement, dated as of January 26, 2016. The $1.25 billion Revolving Credit Facility includes an incremental feature that will allow us, subject to certain conditions, to request up to an additional

 

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  $500 million for a potential total commitment of $1.75 billion. The Revolving Credit Facility matures on December 12, 2023. At March 31, 2020, we did not have any amounts outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility. In April 2020, we borrowed $125 million under the Revolving Credit Facility, which proceeds are reflected in as adjusted cash and cash equivalents.
(4)

Outstanding senior notes at March 31, 2020 is comprised of our 4.70% senior notes due 2020, 3.15% senior notes due 2021, 3.75% senior notes due 2021, 4.00% senior notes due 2022, 3.85% senior notes due 2023, 4.00% senior notes due 2024, 3.90% senior notes due 2025, 4.20% senior notes due 2026, 5.375% senior notes due 2036 and 5.50% senior notes due 2046. As a result of the downgrades of our debt ratings by Moody’s and S&P, certain of our outstanding senior notes aggregating to approximately $4.5 billion are subject to an interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points as a result of each downgrade, for a total of 50 basis points. See Footnote 9 of the notes to our interim unaudited consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-Q for more information. The Company may ultimately use a portion of the net proceeds of the offering to retire its $305 million of outstanding 4.70% senior notes due 2020 at maturity on August 15, 2020.

(5)

In April 2020, we repaid the $40 million outstanding under our commercial paper program at March 31, 2020, which repayment is reflected in as adjusted cash and cash equivalents. As a result of downgrades to our debt rating, we are not permitted to borrow additional amounts under our commercial paper program.

(6)

Other debt relates primarily to capital lease obligations outstanding as of March 31, 2020.

(7)

Total capitalization is the sum of total debt and total stockholders’ equity.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

In this section, unless otherwise indicated, references to “Newell Brands,” the “Company,” “Newell,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Newell Brands Inc. not including its subsidiaries.

We will issue the notes under an indenture, dated as of November 19, 2014, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (as used in this prospectus supplement, the “trustee”). The indenture is subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. We refer to the $500 million aggregate principal amount of the 2025 notes as the “notes.” The term “debt securities,” as used in this prospectus supplement, refers to all debt securities issued and issuable from time to time under the indenture and includes the notes. The debt securities and the trustee are more fully described in the accompanying prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” The following summary of certain provisions of the notes and of the indenture is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the indenture, a form of which is incorporated as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are a part. This summary supplements and, to the extent inconsistent with, replaces the description of the general terms and provisions of the debt securities under the caption “Description of Debt Securities” in the accompanying prospectus. Terms used but not defined in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus have the meanings given to them in the indenture.

Ranking

The notes:

 

   

will be general unsecured obligations of Newell Brands;

 

   

will be pari passu in right of payment with all of our other unsecured debt and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding;

 

   

will be effectively junior to any secured debt to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt;

 

   

will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of Newell Brands; and

 

   

will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of Newell Brands’ subsidiaries.

All debt securities, including the notes, issued and to be issued under the indenture will be our unsecured general obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness from time to time outstanding.

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities that we may issue. We may issue debt securities from time to time as a single series or in two or more separate series up to the aggregate principal amount that we authorize from time to time for each series. We may, from time to time, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue additional notes or other debt securities under the indenture in addition to the aggregate principal amount of the notes offered by this prospectus supplement.

Principal, Maturity and Interest

We are initially offering $500 million aggregate principal amount of the notes as outlined above. We may, without the consent of the holders, increase the aggregate principal amount of the notes outstanding in the future by issuing additional notes with the same terms and conditions (except for the issue date, issue price and, if applicable, the first payment of interest on the additional notes) and, assuming they are fungible with the original notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, with the same CUSIP number (or other applicable identifying number) as the notes so that the additional notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the notes.

The notes will mature on                     , 2025 and will bear interest at a rate of     % per annum. Interest on the notes will accrue from                     , 2020 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for. We will compute interest on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.

 

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Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on              and              of each year, commencing                     , 2020 to holders of record on the              or              (whether or not a business day) immediately preceding the relevant interest payment date.

If any interest payment date or maturity or redemption date falls on a day that is not a business day, then the payment will be made on the next business day without additional interest and with the same effect as if it were made on the originally scheduled date. “Business day,” with respect to any place of payment or any other particular location referred to in the indenture or the notes, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that place of payment or particular location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

We will issue the notes only in fully registered book-entry form without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notes may be transferred or exchanged only through a participating member of The Depository Trust Company, or any successor depositary (“DTC”). See “Description of the Notes—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.”

We will make payments of principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, notes through the trustee to DTC or its nominee. See “Description of the Notes—Book-Entry, Delivery and Form.”

The notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund.

The notes are subject to defeasance and discharge as described under the caption “Description of Debt Securities—Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Transfer and Exchange

A holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the provisions of the indenture. The registrar and the trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents in connection with a transfer of notes. Holders will not be required to pay a service charge for any transfer or exchange but will be required to pay certain taxes and governmental charges that are due on certain transfers. We will not be required to transfer or exchange any note selected for redemption. We also will not be required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of 15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.

Optional Redemption

All or any portion of the notes may be redeemed at any time prior to              (the date that is one month prior to the maturity date) (such date the applicable “par call date”), at a redemption price for the notes to be redeemed equal to the greater of the following amounts:

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed on the redemption date; and

 

   

the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes being redeemed (not including any portion of any payments of interest accrued to the redemption date), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate (as defined below), plus              basis points in the case of the notes (a “Make-Whole Amount”), as determined by the Quotation Agent (as defined below),

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the notes being redeemed to the redemption date.

On or after the applicable par call date, all or any portion of the notes may be redeemed at any time at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on notes that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant regular record date according to the notes and the indenture.

We will cause the trustee on our behalf to mail notice of any redemption at least 15 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each registered holder of the notes to be redeemed.

Once notice of redemption is mailed, the notes called for redemption will become due and payable on the redemption date and at the applicable redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date. The notes will be redeemed in increments of $1,000 and, if we redeem any notes only in part, such that the principal amount that remains outstanding of each note that we redeem only in part equals $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for such Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the related Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“Comparable Treasury Issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

“Comparable Treasury Price” means, with respect to any redemption date, (A) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if we obtain fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations, or (C) if only one Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation is obtained, such Quotation.

“Quotation Agent” means a Reference Treasury Dealer selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer(s)” means one or more primary U.S. government securities dealer(s) in New York City selected by us.

“Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by us, of the bid and asked prices for the applicable Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes, or any portion of the notes, called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with a paying agent (or the trustee) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the notes to be redeemed on that date. If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by lot by DTC or, if the notes to be redeemed are not represented by a global security, by a method the trustee deems to be fair and appropriate.

 

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Change of Control Offer

If a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the notes, unless we have exercised our option to redeem such notes as described above by mailing notice of such redemption to the registered holders of the notes, we will be required to make an offer (a “change of control offer”) to each holder of the notes with respect to which such change of control triggering event has occurred to repurchase all of such holder’s notes or any part of such holder’s notes such that the principal amount that remains outstanding of each note not repurchased in full equals $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof on the terms set forth in such notes. In a change of control offer, we will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of any notes repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to the date of repurchase (a “change of control payment”).

Within 30 days following any change of control triggering event or, at our option, prior to any change of control, but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control, a notice will be mailed to holders of the notes, as the case may be, describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the change of control triggering event and offering to repurchase such notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or delivered electronically (a “change of control payment date”). The notice will, if mailed or delivered electronically prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, state that the change of control offer is conditioned on the change of control triggering event occurring on or prior to the applicable change of control payment date.

Upon the change of control payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

 

   

accept for payment all notes or portions of notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the change of control offer;

 

   

deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the change of control payment in respect of all notes or portions of notes properly tendered; and

 

   

deliver or cause to be delivered to the trustee the notes properly accepted together with an officers’ certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions of notes being repurchased.

We will not be required to make a change of control offer upon the occurrence of a change of control triggering event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and the third party repurchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer. In addition, we will not repurchase any notes if there has occurred and is continuing on the change of control payment date an event of default under the indenture, other than a default in the payment of the change of control payment upon a change of control triggering event.

We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a change of control triggering event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control offer provisions of the notes, we will comply with those securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the change of control offer provisions of the notes by virtue of any such conflict.

For purposes of the change of control offer provisions of the notes, the following terms will be applicable:

“Change of control” means the occurrence of any of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of

 

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related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than our company or one of our subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of our outstanding voting stock or other voting stock into which our voting stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed measured by voting power rather than number of shares; (3) we consolidate with, or merge with or into, any person, or any person consolidates with, or merges with or into, us, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of our outstanding voting stock or the voting stock of such other person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the shares of our voting stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitute, or are converted into or exchanged for, a majority of the voting stock of the surviving person or any direct or indirect parent company of the surviving person, immediately after giving effect to such transaction; or (4) the adoption of a plan relating to our liquidation or dissolution.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a change of control under clause (2) above if (i) we become a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the voting stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of our voting stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a holding company satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the voting stock of such holding company. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

“Change of control triggering event” with respect to the notes means the occurrence of both a change of control and a rating event with respect to the notes.

“Fitch” means Fitch Inc., and its successors.

“Investment grade rating” means a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by Fitch, a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s and a rating equal to or higher than BBB- (or the equivalent) by S&P, and a rating equal to or higher than the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by us.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., and its successors.

“Rating agencies” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of such notes publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act selected by us (as certified by a resolution of our Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

“Rating event” means, with respect to the notes, that on any day during the period (the “trigger period”) commencing 60 days prior to the first public announcement by us of any change of control (or pending change of control) and ending 60 days following consummation of such change of control (which trigger period will be extended following consummation of a change of control for so long as any of the rating agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change), if the notes had an investment grade rating from at least two of the three rating agencies on the day before the commencement of the trigger period, the notes cease to have an investment grade rating from at least two of the three rating agencies; provided that if the notes did not have an investment grade rating from at least two of the three rating agencies on the day before the commencement of the trigger period, then a rating event shall be deemed to occur upon the consummation of a change of control without regard to any action by any rating agency. Unless at least two of the three rating agencies are providing a rating for the notes at the commencement of any trigger period, the notes will be

 

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deemed to have ceased to have an investment grade rating from at least two of the three rating agencies during that trigger period.

“S&P” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

“Voting stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of our assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a holder of notes to require us to repurchase its notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of assets and those of our subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

Book-Entry, Delivery and Form

DTC. The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will act as securities depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. One fully registered security certificate will be issued for the notes, in the aggregate principal amount of the notes, and will be deposited with DTC.

The following is based on information furnished by DTC: DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its direct participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among direct participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities, through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between direct participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or DTCC. DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agents. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others—indirect participants—such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The DTC rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for such notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each security—the beneficial owner—is in turn recorded on the records of direct and indirect participants. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases.

Beneficial owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they entered into the transactions. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of direct and indirect participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

 

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To facilitate subsequent transfers, all notes deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The direct and indirect participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

If applicable, redemption notices shall be sent to DTC. If less than all of the notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each direct participant in such issue to be redeemed.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to notes unless authorized by a direct participant in accordance with DTC’s MMI procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an omnibus proxy to Newell as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Redemption proceeds, principal payments and any premium, interest or other payments on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from Newell or the paying agent, on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, Newell or the paying agent, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, principal and any premium, interest or other payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of Newell and the paying agent, disbursement of such payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

A beneficial owner shall give notice to elect to have its notes purchased or tendered, through its participant, to the appropriate agent and will effect delivery of such notes by causing the direct participant to transfer the participant’s interest in the notes on DTC’s records to the appropriate agent. The requirement for physical delivery of the notes in connection with an optional tender or mandatory purchase will be deemed satisfied when the ownership rights in the notes are transferred by direct participants on DTC’s records and followed by a book-entry credit of tendered notes to the DTC account of the appropriate agent.

We have provided the foregoing information with respect to DTC to the financial community for information purposes only. We do not intend the information to serve as a representation, warranty or contract modification of any kind. We have received the information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s system from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.

Clearstream. Clearstream is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg as a professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream participants through electronic book-

 

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entry changes in accounts of Clearstream participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides Clearstream participants with, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and establishment of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. As a professional depositary, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Monetary Institute. Clearstream participants are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations, and may include the underwriters of this offering. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant either directly or indirectly.

Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures to the extent received by DTC for Clearstream.

Euroclear. Euroclear was created in 1968 to hold securities for participants of Euroclear (“Euroclear participants”) and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (the “Euroclear Operator”), under contract with Euroclear Clearance System S.C., a Belgian cooperative corporation (the “Cooperative”). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes a policy for Euroclear on behalf of Euroclear participants. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.

The Euroclear Operation is regulated and examined by the Belgian Banking Commission.

Links have been established among DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear to facilitate the initial issuance of the notes sold outside of the U.S. and cross-market transfers of the notes associated with secondary market trading. Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the procedures provided below in order to facilitate transfers, they are under no obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be modified or discontinued at any time.

Clearstream and Euroclear will record the ownership interests of their participants in much the same way as DTC, and DTC will record the total ownership of each of the U.S. agents of Clearstream and Euroclear, as participants in DTC. When notes are to be transferred from the account of a DTC participant to the account of a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant, the purchaser must send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one day prior to settlement. Clearstream or Euroclear, as the case may be, will instruct its U.S. agent to receive notes against payment. After settlement, Clearstream or Euroclear will credit its participant’s account. Credit for the notes will appear on the next day (European time).

Because settlement is taking place during New York business hours, DTC participants will be able to employ their usual procedures for sending notes to the relevant U.S. agent acting for the benefit of Clearstream or Euroclear participants. The sale proceeds will be available to the DTC seller on the settlement date. As a result, to the DTC participant, a cross-market transaction will settle no differently than a trade between two DTC participants.

When a Clearstream or Euroclear participant wishes to transfer notes to a DTC participant, the seller will be required to send instructions to Clearstream or Euroclear through a participant at least one business day prior to

 

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settlement. In these cases, Clearstream or Euroclear will instruct its U.S. agent to transfer these notes against payment for them. The payment will then be reflected in the account of the Clearstream or Euroclear participant the following day, with the proceeds back valued to the value date, which would be the preceding day, when settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, that is, if the trade fails, proceeds credited to the Clearstream or Euroclear participant’s account will instead be valued as of the actual settlement date.

You should be aware that you will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on the days when clearing systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the U.S. In addition, because of time zone differences there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as the U.S.

The information in this section concerning DTC, its book-entry system, Clearstream and Euroclear and their respective systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we have not attempted to verify the accuracy of this information.

Certificated Notes

We will issue certificated notes, in registered form for U.S. federal income tax purposes, to each person that DTC identifies as the beneficial owner of the notes represented by global notes upon surrender by DTC of such global notes only if:

 

   

DTC notifies us that it is no longer willing, able or eligible to act as a depositary for such global notes, and we have not appointed a successor depositary within 60 days of that notice;

 

   

an event of default has occurred and is continuing; or

 

   

subject to DTC’s procedures, we decide not to have the notes represented by global notes.

Neither we nor the trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC, its nominee or any direct or indirect participant in DTC in identifying the beneficial owners of the notes. We and the trustee may conclusively rely on, and will be protected in relying on, instructions from DTC or its nominee, including instructions about the registration and delivery, and the respective principal amounts, of the notes to be issued.

 

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CERTAIN MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes issued pursuant to this offering. It is not a complete analysis of all the potential tax considerations relating to the notes. This summary is based upon the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), Treasury Regulations promulgated under the Code, administrative rulings and judicial decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus supplement, and all of which are subject to change or to different interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect. Any such change could affect the accuracy of the statements and conclusions set forth herein. No ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), or opinion of counsel has or will be sought with respect to the matters discussed below. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not take a different position concerning the tax considerations relating to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes.

This summary is limited to beneficial owners of the notes that purchase the notes upon their initial issuance at their “issue price” for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, the first price at which a substantial amount of the notes is sold for cash to investors (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity as underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers)) and that will hold the notes as “capital assets” within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, for investment purposes). This summary does not address the tax considerations arising under the laws of any non-U.S., state or local jurisdiction. In addition, this summary does not address all U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances, including alternative minimum tax, or special tax rules that may apply to certain categories of holders, such as, for example:

 

   

banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions;

 

   

regulated investment companies;

 

   

real estate investment trusts;

 

   

tax-exempt organizations;

 

   

brokers and dealers in securities, currencies or commodities;

 

   

U.S. expatriates;

 

   

traders in securities that elect to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities holdings;

 

   

U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;

 

   

persons that will hold the notes as a position in a hedging transaction, straddle, conversion transaction or other risk reduction transaction;

 

   

persons deemed to sell the notes under the constructive sale provisions of the Code;

 

   

Non-U.S. Holders (as defined below) subject to special rules under the Code, including “controlled foreign corporations” and “passive foreign investment companies” or entities that accumulate earnings to avoid U.S. federal income tax;

 

   

entities or arrangements treated as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes or other pass-through entities, or investors in such entities; or

 

   

persons required to accelerate the recognition of any item of gross income with respect to the notes as a result of such income being recognized on an applicable financial statement.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds notes, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner in the partnership generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes that will hold notes, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of holding the notes to you.

 

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This summary of certain material U.S. federal income tax considerations is for general information only and is not tax advice. You are urged to consult your tax advisor with respect to the application of U.S. federal income tax laws to your particular situation as well as any tax considerations arising under other U.S. federal tax laws (such as the estate or gift tax laws) or under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S. or other taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

Certain Additional Payments

In certain circumstances (see “Description of the Notes—Change of Control Offer”), we may be obligated to pay amounts in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes. The obligation to make these payments may implicate the provisions of the Treasury Regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments,” which, if applicable, could cause the timing, amount and character of a holder’s income, gain or loss with respect to the notes to be different from the consequences discussed herein. Under the applicable Treasury Regulations, for purposes of determining whether a debt instrument is a contingent payment debt instrument, remote or incidental contingencies (determined as of the date the notes are issued) are ignored, and a single payment schedule can be presumed to apply if it is significantly more likely than not to occur. We believe and intend to take the position that the possibility of the payment of amounts in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes will not result in the notes being treated as contingent payment debt instruments. Our position will be binding on all holders, except a holder that discloses its differing position to the IRS in the manner required by applicable Treasury Regulations. Our position is not, however, binding on the IRS, which may take a contrary position and treat the notes as contingent payment debt instruments. Holders of the notes are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the possible application of the contingent payment debt instrument rules to the notes. The remainder of this summary assumes the notes will not be treated as contingent payment debt instruments.

Consequences to U.S. Holders

The following portion of this summary will apply to you if you are a “U.S. Holder.” For purposes of this discussion, a U.S. Holder is a beneficial owner of a note that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the U.S.;

 

   

a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the U.S., any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust (i) if a court within the U.S. can exercise primary supervision over its administration, and one or more United States persons (as defined under the Code) have the authority to control all of the substantial decisions of that trust or (ii) that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. person for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Payments of Interest

It is anticipated, and this discussion assumes, that the notes will be issued at par or at a discount that is less than a “de minimis” amount for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and therefore, without original issue discount. Stated interest on the notes generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with your method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Upon the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note, you will recognize taxable gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the sum of cash plus the fair market value of property received on such disposition (except any cash or property attributable to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated as interest as described above under “—Payments of Interest” to the extent not previously included in

 

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income) and your adjusted tax basis in the note. Your adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be your cost for the note, decreased by the amount of any payments, other than qualified stated interest payments, received with respect to such note. Gain or loss recognized on the disposition of a note generally will be capital gain or loss, and will generally be long-term capital gain or loss if, at the time of such disposition, your holding period for the note is more than one year. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers generally are eligible for preferential rates of taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations.

Net Investment Income Tax

Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts and whose income exceeds certain thresholds generally are subject to a 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of (i) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for the relevant taxable year (or undistributed net investment income in the case of an estate or trust) and (ii) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income (or adjusted gross income in the case of an estate or trust) for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals is between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A U.S. Holder’s net investment income generally will include its gross interest income with respect to the notes and its net gains from a disposition of the notes, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the application of the Medicare tax to income and gains in respect of an investment in the notes.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Information reporting generally will apply to payments of interest on the notes and to payments of the proceeds from a sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes unless you are an exempt recipient. U.S. federal backup withholding (currently at a rate of 24%) generally will apply to such payments if you fail to furnish a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 to us or our paying agent providing your taxpayer identification number and complying with certain certification requirements, or otherwise establishing an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules generally may be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that you furnish the required information to the IRS on a timely basis. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding their qualification for an exemption from backup withholding and the procedures for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders

The following portion of this summary will apply to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder.” You are a “Non-U.S. Holder” if you are a beneficial owner of a note and, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, you are either an individual, corporation, trust (other than a grantor trust) or estate and are not a U.S. Holder.

Payments of Interest

Subject to the discussions of backup withholding and FATCA below, payments of interest on the notes to you generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax and withholding tax under the “portfolio interest” exemption if:

 

   

you do not conduct a trade or business within the U.S. with which the interest income is effectively connected;

 

   

you do not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote within the meaning of Section 871(h)(3) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder;

 

   

you are not a “controlled foreign corporation” that is related to us through stock ownership;

 

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you are not a bank that receives such interest in a transaction described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and

 

   

you provide a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate successor form), to the applicable withholding agent certifying under penalty of perjury that you are not a U.S. person within the meaning of the Code. If you hold the notes through a securities clearing organization, financial institution or other agent acting on your behalf, you may be required to provide appropriate certifications to such agent. Your agent will then generally be required to provide appropriate certifications to the applicable withholding agent, either directly or through other intermediaries. Special rules apply to non-U.S. partnerships, estates and trusts and other intermediaries, and in certain circumstances certifications as to non-”United States person” (within the meaning of the Code) status of partners, trust owners or beneficiaries may have to be provided. In addition, special rules apply to qualified intermediaries that enter into withholding agreements with the IRS.

If you cannot satisfy the requirements described above for the portfolio interest exemption, payments of interest made to you on the notes generally will be subject to the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax, unless you provide us either with (1) a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8BEN or IRS Form W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or appropriate successor form), establishing an exemption from (or a reduction of) withholding under the benefit of an applicable income tax treaty or (2) a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or appropriate successor form) certifying that interest paid on the note is not subject to withholding tax because the interest is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. (as discussed below under “—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business”).

Sale or Other Taxable Disposition of Notes

Subject to the discussions of backup withholding and FATCA below, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note unless:

 

   

the gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. (and, if an income tax treaty applies, is attributable to your permanent establishment or fixed base in the U.S.); or

 

   

you are an individual who has been present in the U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition and certain other requirements are met.

If you are described in the first bullet point, see “—Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business” below. If you are described in the second bullet point, you will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the amount by which your capital gains allocable to U.S. sources (including gains from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the note) exceed certain capital losses allocable to U.S. sources, except as otherwise required by an applicable income tax treaty.

To the extent that the amount realized on a sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes is attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on the notes, it generally will be treated in the same manner as described in “—Payments of Interest” above.

Income or Gain Effectively Connected with a U.S. Trade or Business

If you are engaged in the conduct of a trade or business in the U.S. and interest on a note or gain recognized from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note is effectively connected with the conduct of that trade or business, you will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax (but not the 30% U.S. federal withholding tax on interest if certain certification requirements are satisfied) on that interest and on gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if you were a United States person as defined under the

 

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Code. You can generally meet these certification requirements by providing a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form) to the applicable withholding agent. If you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty between the U.S. and your country of residence, any effectively connected income or gain generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis only if it is also attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base maintained by you in the U.S.

In addition, if you are a non-U.S. corporation, you may be subject to an additional branch profits tax equal to 30% (or a lower applicable income tax treaty rate) of your earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to adjustments, that are effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business in the U.S.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

Generally, information returns will be filed with the IRS in connection with payments of interest on the notes and proceeds from the sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) of the notes. Copies of the information returns reporting such payments and any withholding may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. You may be subject to backup withholding of tax on payments of interest and, depending on the circumstances, the proceeds of a sale or other taxable disposition (including a retirement or redemption) unless you comply with certain certification procedures to establish that you are not a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code) or otherwise establishes an exemption. The certification procedures required to claim an exemption from withholding of tax on interest described above generally will satisfy the certification requirements necessary to avoid backup withholding as well. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle you to a refund, provided that you furnish the required information to the IRS on a timely basis. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the application of the backup withholding rules to their particular situations, the availability of an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.

FATCA

Provisions commonly referred to as “FATCA” generally impose withholding of 30% on payments of U.S. source interest and sales or redemption proceeds from the dispositions of debt instruments of U.S. issuers to “foreign financial institutions” (which is broadly defined for this purpose in the Code and in general includes investment vehicles) and certain other non-U.S. entities unless various U.S. information reporting and due diligence requirements (generally relating to ownership by U.S. persons of interests in or accounts with those entities) have been satisfied, or an exemption applies. The IRS has issued proposed Treasury Regulations that eliminate FATCA withholding on payments of gross proceeds (but not on payments of interest). Pursuant to the proposed Treasury Regulations, we and any other applicable withholding agent may (but are not required to) rely on this proposed change to FATCA withholding until the final regulations are issued or until such proposed Treasury Regulations are rescinded. If FATCA withholding is imposed, a beneficial owner that is not a foreign financial institution generally may be entitled to a refund of any amounts withheld by filing a U.S. federal income tax return (which may entail significant administrative burden). We will not pay any additional amounts to holders of notes in respect of any taxes withheld from payments on the notes. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisers regarding the effects of FATCA (including the effects of any intergovernmental agreements) on their investment in the notes.

The summary of U.S. federal income tax considerations set forth above is intended for general information only and may not be applicable depending upon a holder’s particular situation. Prospective holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors with respect to the tax consequences to them of the purchase, ownership and disposition of notes, including the tax consequences under U.S. federal income tax laws, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax laws and the possible effects of changes in U.S. or other tax laws.

 

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CERTAIN ERISA AND RELATED CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a summary of certain considerations associated with the purchase and holding of the notes by or with the assets of (a) “employee benefit plans” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)) that are subject to Title I of ERISA, (b) plans, individual retirement accounts and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or provisions under any other U.S. and non-U.S. federal, state, local, or other laws or regulations that are similar to the foregoing provisions of ERISA or the Code (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and (c) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” (within the meaning of ERISA) of the foregoing described in clause (a) and (b) by reason of a plan’s investment in such entities (each of (a), (b) and (c), a “Plan”).

General

ERISA and the Code impose certain duties on those persons who are fiduciaries with respect to Plans subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (“Covered Plans”) and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of any Covered Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties. Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority, responsibility or control over the administration of such a Covered Plan or the management or disposition of the assets of such a Covered Plan, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to such a Covered Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the Covered Plan (within the meaning of Section 3(21) of ERISA). When considering investment in the notes with the assets of any Plan, a fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Laws relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan including, without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any applicable Similar Laws. Plan fiduciaries must make their own determinations regarding whether an investment in the notes is prudent under ERISA, taking into consideration all of the specific facts and circumstances of the Plan and an investment in the notes.

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit Covered Plans from engaging in certain transactions involving the assets of the Covered Plan and certain persons or entities (referred to as “parties in interest” or “disqualified persons”) having certain relationships to such Covered Plans, unless a statutory or administrative exemption is applicable to the transaction. A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code. In addition, the fiduciary of the Covered Plan that engaged in such a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.

Any Plan fiduciary that proposes to cause a Plan to purchase or hold the notes should consult with its counsel regarding the potential applicability of the fiduciary responsibility and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code or applicable Similar Law to such an investment, and to confirm that such purchase and holding will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction or any other violation of an applicable requirement of ERISA.

Each Plan should consider the fact that none of the issuer or any of its respective affiliates, or solely with respect to the initial sale of the notes offered hereby, the underwriters, trustee, or any of their respective affiliates (collectively, the “Transaction Parties”) is acting, or will act, as a fiduciary to any Covered Plan with respect to the decision to purchase the notes and is not undertaking to provide any advice or recommendation, including, without limitation, in a fiduciary capacity, with respect to such decision. The Transaction Parties are not undertaking to provide impartial investment advice or advice based on any particular investment need. All communications, correspondence and materials from the Transaction Parties with respect to the notes are intended to be general in nature and are not directed at any specific purchaser of the notes, and do not constitute advice regarding the advisability of investment in the notes for any specific purchaser. The decision to purchase

 

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and hold the notes must be made solely by each respective Covered Plan’s fiduciary on an arm’s length basis. The Transaction Parties may have a financial interest in a Covered Plan’s purchase and holding of the notes, which interests may conflict with the interest of such Covered Plan, as more fully described in this prospectus supplement.

Other Plans

Non-U.S. plans, governmental plans and certain church plans, may not be subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code, but may nevertheless be subject to Similar Laws. Fiduciaries of any such plans should consult with their counsel before purchasing the notes to determine the potential need for, and the availability, if necessary, of any exemptive relief under any such law or regulations.

Prohibited Transaction Exemptions

The fiduciary of a Covered Plan that proposes to purchase and hold any notes should consider, among other things, whether such purchase and holding may involve (i) the direct or indirect extension of credit between a Covered Plan and a party in interest or a disqualified person, (ii) the sale or exchange of any property between a Covered Plan and a party in interest or a disqualified person, or (iii) the transfer to, or use by or for the benefit of, a party in interest or disqualified person, of any Covered Plan assets. Such parties in interest or disqualified persons could include, without limitation, the Company, the underwriters, the agents or any of their respective affiliates. The acquisition and/or holding of notes by a Covered Plan with respect to which a Transaction Party is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person may constitute or result in a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code (or any comparable provisions of Similar Laws), unless the investment is acquired and is held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may apply to the acquisition and/or holding of the notes. These class exemptions include, without limitation, PTCE 84-14 respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers, PTCE 90-1 respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts, PTCE 91-38 respecting bank collective investment funds, PTCE 95-60 respecting life insurance company general accounts and PTCE 96-23 respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers. In addition, Section 408(b)(17) of ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code provide relief from the prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code for certain transactions, respectively, for the purchase and sale of securities, provided that neither the issuer of the securities nor any of its affiliates (directly or indirectly) have or exercise any discretionary authority or control or render any investment advice with respect to the assets of any Covered Plan involved in the transaction and provided further that the Covered Plan receives no less, and pays no more, than adequate consideration in connection with the transaction. However, there can be no assurance that any such exemptions or any other exemption will be available with respect to any particular transaction involving the notes. It should also be noted that even if the conditions specified in one or more of these exemptions are met, the scope of relief provided by these exemptions may not necessarily cover all acts that might be construed as prohibited transactions.

We also note that while Plans such as governmental plans, as defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA, church plans, as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA, and foreign plans, as described in Section 4(b)(4) of ERISA may not be subject to the requirements of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, such Plans may nevertheless be subject to Similar Laws.

Because of the foregoing, the notes should not be purchased or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase and holding will not constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA or the Code or will not constitute a similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.

 

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Representation

By its acquisition of any note, the purchaser, holder and subsequent transferee thereof (and, if such purchaser, holder or transferee is a Plan (or is acquiring the notes or any interest therein with the assets of a Plan) fiduciary) will be deemed to have represented and warranted, in its corporate and fiduciary capacity, that either:

 

   

no assets of a Plan have been used to acquire or hold such notes or an interest therein; or

 

   

the acquisition, holding and disposition of such notes or an interest therein by such person will not constitute or result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code or a violation of Similar Law.

Each Covered Plan fiduciary (and each fiduciary for a Plan subject to Similar Law) should consult with its legal advisor concerning the potential consequences to the Plan under Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or applicable Similar Laws of an investment in the notes.

The foregoing discussion is general in nature and is not intended to be all inclusive, and should not be construed as legal advice or as complete in all relevant respects. Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may be imposed upon persons involved in non-exempt prohibited transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries, or other persons considering purchasing the notes on behalf of, or with the assets of, any Plan, consult with their counsel regarding the potential applicability of Section 406 of ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code and any Similar Laws to such investment and as to whether an exemption would be applicable to the purchase and holding of the notes. Investors in the notes have exclusive responsibility for ensuring that their purchase and holding of the notes does not violate the fiduciary or prohibited transaction rules of ERISA or the Code or any similar provisions of Similar Laws. The foregoing discussion is based on laws in effect on the date of this prospectus supplement and is subject to any subsequent changes therein.

 

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UNDERWRITING

The Company and the underwriters for the offering named below have entered into an underwriting agreement with respect to the notes. Subject to certain conditions, each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase the aggregate principal amounts of notes indicated in the following table:

 

Underwriters

   Aggregate
Principal
Amount of
Notes
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $                

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

  

Barclays Capital Inc.

  

BofA Securities, Inc.

  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 500,000,000  
  

 

 

 

The underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the notes being offered, if any are taken.

Notes sold by the underwriters to the public will initially be offered at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement. Any notes sold by the underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount of the notes. Any such securities dealers may resell any notes purchased from the underwriters to certain other brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public offering price of up to     % of the principal amount of the notes. If all the notes are not sold at the initial offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we are to pay to the underwriters in connection with this offering:

 

     Paid by Newell
Brands Inc.
 

Per note

         

Total

   $                

We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $1.5 million.

Newell Brands has agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.

Absence of Public Market for the Notes

The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for the notes to be listed on any securities exchange or to arrange for the notes to be quoted on any quotation system. The Company has been advised by certain of the underwriters that the underwriters intend to make a market in the notes but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes. If an active public trading market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected. If the notes are traded, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price, depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our operating performance and financial condition, general economic conditions and other factors.

Stabilization

In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell notes in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover positions created by short

 

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sales. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of notes than they are required to purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of certain bids or purchases made for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the notes while the offering is in progress.

The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions.

These activities by the underwriters, as well as other purchases by the underwriters for their own accounts, may stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the notes. As a result, the price of the notes may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If these activities are commenced, they may be discontinued by the underwriters at any time. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Other Relationships

The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include sales and trading, commercial and investment banking, advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, market making, brokerage and other financial and non-financial activities and services. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have provided, and may in the future provide, a variety of these services to the issuer and to persons and entities with relationships with the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses.

In particular, J.P. Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., an affiliate of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, is the administrative agent of our Revolving Credit Facility. Affiliates of certain of the other underwriters are also lenders under our Revolving Credit Facility. To the extent we use some or all of the net proceeds of this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility, those underwriters or their affiliates may, therefore, receive a portion of those proceeds. In addition, certain of the underwriters also acted as underwriters for one or more of our prior issuances of senior notes under the indenture.

If any of the underwriters or their affiliates has a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates are likely to hedge, and certain other of those underwriters or their affiliates may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby.

In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates, officers, directors and employees may purchase, sell or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and trading activities may involve or relate to assets, securities and/or instruments of the issuer (directly, as collateral securing other obligations or otherwise) and/or persons and entities with relationships with the issuer. The underwriters and their respective affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such assets, securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they should acquire, long and/or short positions in such assets, securities and instruments.

 

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Selling Restrictions

European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom

The notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (“EEA”) or in the United Kingdom (“UK”). For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, “MiFID II”); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97 (as amended, the “Insurance Distribution Directive”), where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or (iii) not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 (as amended, the “Prospectus Regulation”). No key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended, the “PRIIPs Regulation”) for offering or selling any in scope instrument or otherwise making such instruments available to retail investors in the EEA or in the UK has been prepared. Offering or selling the notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA or in the UK may be unlawful.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have been prepared on the basis that any offer of notes in any Member State of the EEA or in the UK will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Prospectus Regulation from the requirement to publish a prospectus for offers of notes. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not prospectuses for the purposes of the Prospectus Regulation.

The above selling restriction is in addition to any other selling restriction set out below.

References to Regulations or Directives include, in relation to the UK, those Regulations or Directives as they form part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 or have been implemented in UK domestic law, as appropriate.

United Kingdom

This prospectus supplement does not constitute an offer to the public in the United Kingdom. No offering document has been or will be approved in the United Kingdom in respect of our notes. Consequently, this prospectus supplement is distributed only to, and is directed at (a) persons who are outside the United Kingdom, and/or (b) persons in the United Kingdom who are “qualified investors” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation, and are (i) “investment professionals” falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the “Order”), (ii) high net worth entities falling within article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order, or (c) other persons to whom it may be lawfully communicated (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any of their contents. Persons into whose possession this prospectus supplement may come are required by us and the underwriters to inform themselves about and to observe such restrictions. For the purposes of this provision, the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended.

Hong Kong

The notes have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are

 

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intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

Japan

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of Japan (Law No. 25/1948, as amended) and, accordingly, will not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan, or for the benefit of any Japanese Person or to others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to any Japanese Person, except in compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines promulgated by relevant Japanese governmental or regulatory authorities in effect at the relevant time. For the purposes of this paragraph, “Japanese Person” shall mean any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore, or the MAS, under the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore, or the Securities and Futures Act. Accordingly, the notes may not be offered or sold or made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase nor may this offering memorandum or any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale or invitation for subscription or purchase of such notes be circulated or distributed, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (a) to an institutional investor pursuant to Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act, (b) to a relevant person pursuant to Section 275(1) of the Securities and Futures Act, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the Securities and Futures Act, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act, or (c) pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the Securities and Futures Act.

Each of the following relevant persons specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act which has subscribed or purchased notes, namely a person who is: (1) a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or (2) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary is an accredited investor, should note that shares, debentures and common shares and preferred shares of shares and debentures of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act except:

 

   

to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the Securities and Futures Act or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the Securities and Futures Act, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the Securities and Futures Act, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the Securities and Futures Act;

 

   

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

   

by operation of law; and

 

   

as specified in Section 276(7) of the Securities and Futures Act.

Singapore Securities and Futures Act Product Classification

Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the Securities and Futures Act, the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the Securities and Futures Act) that the notes are prescribed capital markets products (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

In this section, any reference to the Securities and Futures Act is a reference to the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore and a reference to any term as defined in the Securities and Futures Act or any provision in the Securities and Futures Act is a reference to that term as modified or amended from time to time including by such of its subsidiary legislation as may be applicable at the relevant time.

 

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Canada

The securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contain a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Switzerland

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes. The notes may not be publicly offered, directly or indirectly, in Switzerland within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”) and no application has or will be made to admit the notes to trading on any trading venue (exchange or multilateral trading facility) in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA, and neither this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Alternative Settlement Cycle

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about the delivery date specified on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, which will be the          business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as “T+     ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on any day prior to the second business day before the delivery of the notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+    , to specify an alternative settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent failed settlement. Such purchasers should consult their own advisors in this regard.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the notes will be passed on for us by Jones Day. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, New York, New York, will act as counsel for the underwriters.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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PROSPECTUS

Newell Brands Inc.

Debt Securities

Preferred Stock

Common Stock

Rights

Warrants

Stock Purchase Contracts

Stock Purchase Units

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under a “shelf” registration process. Under this process, we may sell, at any time and from time to time, in one or more offerings, any combination of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities registered under this process, we will file with the SEC a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering of such securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information,” carefully before deciding whether to invest in any of our securities. This prospectus may not be used to make sales of offered securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “NWL.” On May 7, 2020, the closing price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $12.04 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, none of the other securities that we may offer by this prospectus are listed on any national securities exchange or automated quotation system.

We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from, or additional to, the information provided in this prospectus or any later prospectus supplement. We are not making an offer to sell securities in any state or country where the offer is not permitted.

 

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus.

Neither the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 8, 2020.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

NEWELL BRANDS INC

     1  

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     1  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     3  

RISK FACTORS

     4  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     4  

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     5  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     16  

DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

     20  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     21  

DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

     22  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

     23  

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     23  

LEGAL MATTERS

     25  

EXPERTS

     25  

 

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NEWELL BRANDS INC.

We are a global marketer of consumer and commercial products that make life better every day, for people where they live, learn, work and play. Our products are marketed under a strong portfolio of leading brands, including Paper Mate®, Sharpie®, Dymo®, EXPO®, Parker®, Elmer’s®, Coleman®, Marmot®, Oster®, Sunbeam®, FoodSaver®, Mr. Coffee®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products®, Graco®, Baby Jogger®, NUK®, Calphalon®, Rubbermaid®, Contigo®, First Alert®, Mapa®, Spontex®, Quickie® and Yankee Candle®. We sell our products in nearly 200 countries around the world and have operations on the ground in nearly 100 of these countries.

Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “Newell,” “we,” “us” and “our” are to Newell Brands Inc. and its subsidiaries.

We are a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road, Atlanta, Georgia 30328, and our telephone number is (770) 418-7000.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-looking statements in this prospectus are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements may relate to, but are not limited to, information or assumptions about the duration and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, effects of sales (including pricing), income/(loss), earnings per share, return on equity, return on invested capital, operating income, operating margin or gross margin improvements or declines, capital and other expenditures, working capital, cash flow, dividends, capital structure, debt to capitalization ratios, debt ratings, availability of financing, interest rates, restructuring and other project costs, impairment and other charges, potential losses on divestitures, impacts of changes in accounting standards, pending legal proceedings and claims (including environmental matters), future economic performance, costs and cost savings, inflation or deflation with respect to raw materials and sourced products, productivity and streamlining, changes in foreign exchange rates, product recalls, expected benefits and synergies and financial results from recently completed acquisitions and planned acquisitions and divestitures and management’s plans, goals and objectives for future operations, performance and growth or the assumptions relating to any of the forward-looking statements. These statements generally are identified by the use of words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “explore,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “setting up,” “beginning to,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “resume” or similar statements. Newell cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, there are no assurances that Newell will complete any or all of the potential transactions or other initiatives referenced in this prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

 

   

Newell’s ability to manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges associated with the actual or perceived effects of the COVID-19 pandemic;

 

   

Newell’s dependence on the strength of retail, commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various parts of the world;

 

   

competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products;

 

   

major retailers’ strong bargaining power and consolidation of Newell’s customers;

 

   

risks related to Newell’s substantial indebtedness, potential increases in interest rates or additional adverse changes in Newell’s credit ratings;

 

   

Newell’s ability to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline operations;

 

   

future events that could adversely affect the value of our assets and/or stock price and require additional impairment charges;


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Newell’s ability to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;

 

   

Newell’s ability to develop innovative new products, to develop, maintain and strengthen end-user brands and to realize the benefits of increased advertising promotion and spend;

 

   

Newell’s ability to complete planned divestures, and other unexpected costs or expenses associated with divestitures;

 

   

changes in the prices of raw materials and sourced products and Newell’s ability to obtain raw materials and sourced products in a timely manner;

 

   

the impact of governmental investigations, inspections, lawsuits or other activities by third parties;

 

   

the risks inherent in Newell’s foreign operations, including currency fluctuations, exchange controls and pricing restrictions;

 

   

a failure of one of Newell’s key information technology systems, networks, processes or related controls or those of Newell’s service providers;

 

   

the impact of U.S. or foreign regulations on Newell’s operations, including escalation of tariffs on imports into the United States and exports to Canada, China and the European Union, and environmental remediation costs;

 

   

the potential inability to attract, retain and motivate key employees;

 

   

new Treasury or tax regulations and the resolution of tax contingencies resulting in additional tax liabilities;

 

   

product liability, product recalls or related regulatory actions;

 

   

Newell’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights;

 

   

significant increases in the funding obligations related to Newell’s pension plans; and

 

   

those factors listed in our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC.

The information contained in this prospectus is as of the date indicated. Newell assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus as a result of new information or future events or developments. In addition, there can be no assurance that Newell has correctly identified and assessed all of the factors affecting Newell or that the publicly available and other information Newell receives with respect to these factors is complete or correct.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. In addition, the SEC maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC, including us.

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (other than any portions of such filings that are furnished rather than filed under applicable SEC rules), until our offering is completed:

 

   

our Annual Report on Form 10-K (including the portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement for our 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on March 26, 2020 and incorporated by reference therein) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020;

 

   

our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2020; and

 

   

our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 17, 2020, February 10, 2020 (second Form 8-K, Item 5.02), as amended, February  14, 2020 (Item 8.01 only) and February 20, 2020.

You may request a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus at no cost by writing to or telephoning us at the following address:

Newell Brands Inc.

6655 Peachtree Dunwoody Road

Atlanta, GA 30328

Phone: 800-424-1941

Email: investor.relations@newellco.com

We maintain an Internet site at http://www.newellbrands.com which contains information concerning Newell and its subsidiaries. The information contained at our Internet site is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before deciding whether to invest in any of our securities, in addition to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risk factors under the heading “Part I—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 and “Part II—Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, which are incorporated herein by reference. These risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by:

 

   

risk factors contained in other periodic reports or information that we file with the SEC, which will be subsequently incorporated herein by reference;

 

   

any prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus; or

 

   

a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

In addition, new risks may emerge at any time and we cannot predict such risks or estimate the extent to which they may affect our financial performance. See “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Where You Can Find More Information.”

USE OF PROCEEDS

We expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include additions to working capital, refinancing or paying down existing indebtedness, capital expenditures and possible acquisitions. We have not allocated a specific portion of the net proceeds for any particular use at this time. Specific information concerning the use of proceeds from the sale of securities offered under this prospectus will be described in the prospectus supplement for the offering of such securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

General

The following description sets forth general terms that may apply to the debt securities. The particular terms of any debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.

The debt securities will be senior obligations of Newell and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt. The debt securities will be issued under an indenture entered into between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (“U.S. Bank”).

The indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. For your convenience, we have included references to specific sections of the indenture in the descriptions below.

The following summaries of provisions of the debt securities and the indenture are not complete and are qualified in their entirety by express reference to all of the provisions of the indenture and the debt securities.

Because Newell is a holding company and conducts its business principally through its subsidiaries, these notes will be structurally subordinated to the liabilities of its subsidiaries. The rights of Newell, and the rights of its creditors, including the holders of the notes, to participate in any distribution of the assets of any of its subsidiaries upon that subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise are necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that Newell’s claims as a creditor of that subsidiary may be recognized. Neither the debt securities nor the indenture restrict Newell or any of its subsidiaries from incurring indebtedness.

The indenture does not limit the principal amount of debt securities that we may issue. The indenture provides that debt securities may be issued up to the principal amount that we may separately authorize from time to time. It also provides that the debt securities may be denominated in any currency or currency unit designated by us. Unless otherwise shown in the prospectus supplement related to that offering, neither the indenture nor the debt securities will contain any provisions to afford holders of any debt securities protection in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring of our business.

We will include specific terms relating to a particular series of debt securities in a prospectus supplement relating to the offering. The terms we will describe in the prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following:

 

   

the distinct title and type of the debt securities;

 

   

the total principal amount or initial offering price of the debt securities;

 

   

the date or dates when the principal of the debt securities will be payable;

 

   

the rate at which the debt securities will bear interest;

 

   

the date from which interest on the debt securities will accrue;

 

   

the dates when interest on the debt securities will be payable and the regular record date for these interest payment dates;

 

   

the place where:

 

   

the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities will be paid,

 

   

registered debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer, and

 

   

debt securities may be surrendered for exchange;

 

   

any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or otherwise redeem the debt securities;

 

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the terms and conditions upon which we will have the option to redeem the debt securities;

 

   

the denominations in which any registered debt securities will be issuable, if other than denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples, and the denominations in which any bearer debt securities will be issuable, if other than a denomination of $5,000;

 

   

the identity of each security registrar and paying agent, and the designation of the exchange rate agent, if any, if other than the trustee;

 

   

the portion of the principal amount of debt securities that will be payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities;

 

   

the currency used to pay principal, premium and interest on the debt securities, if other than U.S. Dollars, and whether you or we may elect to have principal, premium and interest paid in a currency other than the currency in which the debt securities are denominated;

 

   

any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of principal, premium or interest on the debt securities;

 

   

whether provisions relating to defeasance and covenant defeasance will be applicable to the series of debt securities;

 

   

any changes to the events of default or to our covenants;

 

   

whether the debt securities are issuable as registered debt securities or bearer debt securities, whether there are any restrictions relating to the form in which they are issued and whether bearer and registered debt securities may be exchanged for each other;

 

   

to whom interest will be payable

 

   

if other than the registered holder (for registered debt securities),

 

   

if other than upon presentation and surrender of the related coupons (for bearer debt securities), or

 

   

if other than as specified in the indenture (for global debt securities);

 

   

if the debt securities are to be convertible or exchangeable for other securities, the terms of conversion or exchange; and

 

   

any other terms of the debt securities. (Section 301)

We may issue debt securities as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. If we issue original issue discount securities, then special U.S. federal income tax rules that apply may be described in the prospectus supplement for those debt securities.

Registration and Transfer

We presently plan to issue each series of debt securities only as registered securities. However, we may issue a series of debt securities as bearer securities, or a combination of both registered securities and bearer securities. If we issue debt securities as bearer securities, they will have interest coupons attached unless we elect to issue them as zero coupon securities. (Sections 201 and 301). If we issue bearer securities, we may describe material U.S. federal income tax consequences and other material considerations, procedures and limitations in the prospectus supplement for that offering.

Holders of registered debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange for different authorized amounts of other debt securities of the same series and of similar principal amount at the corporate trust office of the trustee in New York, New York or at the office of any other transfer agent we may designate for the purpose and describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. The registered securities must be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer. The agent will not impose a service charge on you for the

 

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transfer or exchange. We may, however, require that you pay any applicable tax or other governmental charge. We will describe any procedures for the exchange of bearer securities for other debt securities of the same series in the prospectus supplement for that offering. Generally, we will not allow you to exchange registered securities for bearer securities. (Sections 301, 305 and 1002)

In general, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue registered securities without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples, and bearer securities in denominations of $5,000. We may issue both registered and bearer securities in global form. (Sections 301 and 302)

Conversion and Exchange

If any debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or other securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms and conditions of the conversion or exchange, including:

 

   

the securities into which the debt securities are convertible;

 

   

the conversion price or exchange ratio;

 

   

the conversion or exchange period;

 

   

whether the conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or Newell;

 

   

whether any portion of the conversion value will be paid in cash;

 

   

provisions for adjustment of the conversion price or exchange ratio; and

 

   

provisions that may affect the conversion or exchange if the debt securities are redeemed.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that we will identify in a prospectus supplement. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities represented thereby, a global security may not be registered for transfer or exchange except:

 

   

as a whole by the depositary for the global security to a nominee of the depositary, by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary, or by the depositary or a nominee of the depositary to a successor depositary or a nominee of the successor depositary; and

 

   

in any other circumstances described in the prospectus supplement applicable thereto.

The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement applicable thereto. Newell expects that the following provisions will apply to depositary arrangements.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities that are to be represented by a global security to be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary will be represented by a global security or, in some cases, global securities registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of the global security, and the deposit of the global security with or on behalf of the depositary for the global security, the depositary will credit on its book entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee (“participants”). The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents of the debt securities. If we directly offer and sell debt securities, the accounts to be credited will be designated by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be limited to

 

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participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for the global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security by persons that hold through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within the participant will be effected only through, records maintained by the participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. The foregoing limitations and the laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in the global securities.

So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or “holder” of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture applicable thereto. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in the global security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of the series in certificated form and will not be considered the holders of the debt securities for any purposes under the indenture applicable thereto. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in the global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if the person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest to exercise any rights of a holder of debt securities under the indenture applicable thereto. Newell understands that under existing industry practices, if Newell requests any action of holders or an owner of a beneficial interest in the global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture applicable thereto, then the depositary would authorize the participants to give this notice or take this action, and participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through these participants to give this notice or take this action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.

Principal of and any premium and interest on a global security will be payable in the manner described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease

As provided in the indenture, we may, without the consent of holders of the debt securities, consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to, any person (the “survivor”), so long as:

 

   

the survivor is a corporation, limited liability company, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of any United States jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indenture;

 

   

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing under the indenture; and

 

   

certain other conditions regarding delivery of an officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel are met. (Section 801)

Limitation on Liens

The indenture provides that while the debt securities issued under it or the related coupons remain outstanding, Newell will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any lien of any kind upon any of its or their property or assets, now owned or hereafter acquired, without directly securing all of the debt securities equally and ratably with the obligation or liability secured by the lien, except for:

(1)    liens existing as of the date of the indenture;

 

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(2)    liens, including sale and lease-back transactions, on any property acquired, constructed or improved after the date of the indenture, which are created or assumed contemporaneously with, or within 180 days after, the acquisition or completion of this construction or improvement, or within six months thereafter by a commitment for financing arranged with a lender or investor within the 180-day period, to secure or provide for the payment of all or a portion of the purchase price of the property or the cost of the construction or improvement incurred after the date of the indenture (or before the date of the indenture in the case of any construction or improvement which is at least 40% completed at the date of the indenture) or, in addition to liens contemplated by clauses (3) and (4) below, liens on any property existing at the time of acquisition of the property including acquisition through merger or consolidation; provided, that any lien (other than a sale and lease-back transaction meeting the requirements of this clause) does not apply to any property theretofore owned by Newell or a subsidiary other than, in the case of any such construction or improvement, any theretofore unimproved real property on which the property so constructed, or the improvement, is located;

(3)    liens existing on any property of a person at the time the person is merged with or into, or consolidates with, Newell or a subsidiary;

(4)    liens on any property of a person (including, without limitation, shares of stock or debt securities) or its subsidiaries existing at the time the person becomes a subsidiary, is otherwise acquired by Newell or a subsidiary or becomes a successor to Newell under Section 802 of the indenture;

(5)    liens to secure an obligation or liability of a subsidiary to Newell or to another subsidiary;

(6)    liens in favor of the United States of America or any state, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States of America or any state, to secure partial progress, advance or other payments under any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of constructing or improving the property subject to the liens;

(7)    liens to secure tax-exempt private activity bonds under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

(8)    liens arising out of or in connection with a sale and lease-back transaction if the net proceeds of the sale and lease-back transaction are at least equal to the fair value, as determined by the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, the president or the principal financial officer of Newell, of the property subject to the sale and lease-back transaction;

(9)    liens for the sole purpose of extending, renewing or replacing in whole or in part indebtedness secured by any lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (1) to (8), inclusive, or in this clause (9); provided, however, that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of the extension, renewal or replacement, and that this extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property which secured the lien so extended, renewed or replaced plus improvements on the property;

(10)    liens arising out of or in connection with a sale and lease-back transaction in which the net proceeds of the sale and lease-back transaction are less than the fair value, as determined by the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, the president or the principal financial officer of Newell, of the property subject to the sale and lease-back transaction if Newell provides in a board resolution that it shall, and if Newell covenants that it will, within 180 days of the effective date of any arrangement or, in the case of (C) below, within six months thereafter under a firm purchase commitment entered into within the 180-day period, apply an amount equal to the fair market value as so determined of the property:

(A)    to the redemption of debt securities of any series which are, by their terms, at the time redeemable or the purchase and retirement of debt securities, if permitted;

 

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(B)    to the payment or other retirement of funded debt, as defined below, incurred or assumed by Newell which ranks senior to or pari passu with the debt securities or of funded debt incurred or assumed by any subsidiary other than, in either case, funded debt owned by Newell or any subsidiary; or

(C)    to the purchase of property other than the property involved in the sale;

(11)    liens on (x) accounts receivable and related general intangibles and instruments arising out of or in connection with a sale or transfer by Newell or the subsidiary of the accounts receivable and (y) any or all of the assets of a special purpose subsidiary that has purchased such accounts receivable (and related general intangibles and instruments) securing indebtedness of such special purpose subsidiary;

(12)    permitted liens; and

(13)    liens other than those referred to in clauses (1) through (12) above which are created, incurred or assumed after the date of the indenture, including those in connection with purchase money mortgages and sale and lease-back transactions, provided that the aggregate amount of indebtedness secured by the liens, or, in the case of sale and lease-back transactions, the value of the sale and lease-back transactions, referred to in this clause (13), does not exceed 15% of consolidated total assets. (Section 1007)

The term “consolidated total assets” means the total of all the assets appearing on the consolidated balance sheet of Newell and its subsidiaries determined according to generally accepted accounting principles applicable to the type of business in which Newell and the subsidiaries are engaged, and may be determined as of a date not more than 60 days before the happening of the event for which the determination is being made. (Section 101)

The term “funded debt” means any indebtedness which by its terms matures at or is extendable or renewable at the sole option of the obligor without requiring the consent of the obligee to a date more than 12 months after the date of the creation of the indebtedness. (Section 101)

The term “lien” means, as to any person, any mortgage, lien, collateral assignment, pledge, charge, security interest or other encumbrance in respect of or on, or any interest or title of any vendor, lessor, lender or other secured party to or of the person under any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, purchase money mortgage or sale and lease-back transaction with respect to, any property or asset (including without limitation income and rights thereto) of the person (including without limitation capital stock of any subsidiary of the person), or the signing by the person and filing of a financing statement which names the person as debtor, or the signing by the person of any security agreement agreeing to file, or authorizing any other party as the secured party thereunder to file, any financing statement. (Section 101)

The term “permitted liens” means:

 

   

mechanics, materialmen, landlords, warehousemen and carriers liens and other similar liens imposed by law securing obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business which are not past due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves have been established;

 

   

liens under workmen’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security or similar legislation;

 

   

liens, deposits, or pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts (other than contracts for the payment of money), leases, public or statutory obligations, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity, performance or other similar bonds, or similar obligations arising in the ordinary course of business;

 

   

judgment and other similar liens arising in connection with court proceedings, provided the execution or other enforcement of the liens is effectively stayed and the claims secured thereby are being actively contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings; and

 

   

easements, rights of way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances which, in the aggregate, do not materially interfere with the occupation, use and enjoyment by Newell or any subsidiary of the

 

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property or assets encumbered thereby in the normal course of its business or materially impair the value of the property subject thereto. (Section 101)

The term “sale and lease-back transaction” means, with respect to any person, any direct or indirect arrangement with any other person or to which any other person is a party, providing for the leasing to the first person of any property, whether now owned or hereafter acquired (except for temporary leases for a term, including any renewal of the leases, of not more than three years and except for leases between Newell and a subsidiary or between subsidiaries), which has been or is to be sold or transferred by the first person to the other person or to any person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by the other person on the security of the property. (Section 101)

The term “subsidiary” means any corporation of which at the time of determination Newell or one or more subsidiaries owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of voting stock. (Section 101)

The term “value” means, with respect to a sale and lease-back transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of:

(a)    the net proceeds from the sale or transfer of the property leased under the sale and lease-back transaction or

(b)    the fair value in the opinion of the board of directors, the chairman of the board, the vice chairman of the board, the president or the principal financial officer of Newell of the property at the time of entering into the sale and lease-back transaction,

in either case multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be equal to the number of full years of the term of the lease remaining at the time of determination and the denominator of which shall be equal to the number of full years of the term, without regard to any renewal or extension options contained in the lease. (Section 101)

The term “voting stock” means stock of a corporation of the class or classes having general voting power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation. (Section 101)

Events of Default

An “event of default” regarding any series of debt securities is any one of the following events:

 

   

default for 30 days in the payment of any interest installment when due and payable;

 

   

default in the payment of principal or premium (if any) when due at its stated maturity, by declaration, when called for redemption or otherwise;

 

   

default in the making of any sinking fund payment when due;

 

   

default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or in the indenture (other than a default in the performance of a covenant which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in these bullets or which is solely for the benefit of one or more other series of debt securities) for 60 days after notice to Newell by the trustee or to Newell and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series;

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization of Newell or one of its principal subsidiaries;

 

   

an event of default (as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there is issued, or by which there is secured or evidenced, any indebtedness of Newell or any principal subsidiary for

 

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money borrowed) that results in such indebtedness in principal amount in excess of $75,000,000 becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable, which such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled, nor such indebtedness discharged, within a period of 30 days after notice to Newell by the trustee or to Newell and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series; and

 

   

any other event of default provided with respect to that series of debt securities. (Section 501)

The term “principal subsidiary” means, as of any date of determination thereof, any subsidiary the consolidated net revenues of which for the twelve-month period ending on the last day of the month then most recently ended exceed 10% of our consolidated net revenues for such period, determined on a pro forma basis after giving effect to any acquisition or disposition of a subsidiary or a business effected on or prior to the determination date and after the beginning of such twelve-month period (including acquisitions and dispositions accomplished through a purchase or sale of assets or through a merger or consolidation). (Section 101)

We are required to file every year with the trustee an officers’ certificate stating whether any default exists and specifying any default that exists. (Section 1004)

Acceleration of Maturity

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to debt securities of a particular series (other than an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization), the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series (or that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) due and payable immediately by notice to Newell (and to the trustee, if given by the holders). If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of the debt securities of that series (or that portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder. (Section 502)

At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee therefor, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series by written notice to Newell and the trustee may rescind and annul the declaration and its consequences if:

 

   

Newell has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the currency in which the debt securities of the series are payable, except as otherwise specified in the indenture:

 

   

all overdue interest on all outstanding debt securities of that series and any related coupons,

 

   

all unpaid principal of and premium, if any, on any of the debt securities which has become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration, and interest on the unpaid principal at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the debt securities,

 

   

to the extent lawful, interest on overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in the debt securities, and

 

   

all sums paid or advanced by the trustee and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the trustee, its agents and counsel; and

 

   

all events of default with respect to debt securities of that series, other than the non-payment of amounts of principal, interest or any premium on the debt securities which have become due solely by the declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived. (Section 502)

No rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all the debt securities of the series, waive any past default under the indenture with respect to the series and its consequences, except a default:

 

   

in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt security of the series or any related coupon, or

 

   

in respect of a covenant or provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the series affected thereby. (Section 513)

The trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of the series, unless the holders shall have offered to the trustee indemnity and security reasonably acceptable to the trustee in its sole discretion against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred by it in compliance with the request. (Section 603)

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee under the indenture, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided in each case certain conditions are met. The trustee may refuse to follow directions in conflict with law or the indenture or that may involve the trustee in personal liability or may be unjustly prejudicial to the other, non-directing holders. (Section 512)

Modification or Waiver

The indenture allows Newell and the trustee, without the consent of any holders of debt securities, to enter into supplemental indentures for various purposes, including:

 

   

evidencing the succession of another entity to us and the assumption of our covenants and obligations under the debt securities and the indenture by this successor;

 

   

adding to Newell’s covenants for the benefit of the holders;

 

   

adding additional events of default for the benefit of the holders;

 

   

establishing the form or terms of any series of debt securities issued under the supplemental indentures or curing ambiguities or inconsistencies in the indenture;

 

   

securing the debt securities;

 

   

evidencing and providing for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee; and

 

   

making other provisions that do not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities in any material respect. (Section 901)

The indenture allows Newell and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all outstanding debt securities of any affected series, to execute supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the indenture or modifying the rights of the holders of the debt securities of the series. (Section 902). Without the consent of the holders of all the outstanding debt securities affected thereby, no supplemental indenture may:

 

   

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any debt security;

 

   

reduce the principal amount of, the rate of interest on, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any debt security;

 

   

reduce the amount of the principal of any original issue discount security or indexed security that would be due and payable upon acceleration of the maturity of the debt security;

 

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change the redemption provisions of any debt security in a manner adverse to the interests of holders of such security;

 

   

change any place of payment where, or the currency, currencies or currency unit or units in which, any debt security or any premium or interest thereon is payable;

 

   

impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of the debt security or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date;

 

   

affect adversely the right of repayment at the option of the holder of any debt security of the series;

 

   

reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required for a supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose holders is required for any waiver of compliance with various provisions of the indenture or various defaults thereunder and their consequences provided for in the indenture; or

 

   

modify any of the foregoing described provisions. (Section 902)

Meetings

The indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of any series for any action to be made, given or taken by holders of debt securities. The trustee, Newell, and the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series may call a meeting, in each case after notice to holders of that series has been properly given. (Section 1502)

Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series will constitute a quorum at a meeting of holders of debt securities of that series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities of any series that has been properly held under the provisions of the indenture will bind all holders of debt securities of that series and related coupons. (Section 1504)

Financial Information

Newell will file with the SEC the annual reports, quarterly reports and other documents required to be filed with the SEC by Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, and will also file with the trustee copies of these reports and documents within 15 days after it is required to file them with the SEC. (Section 703)

Defeasance

The indenture includes provisions allowing us to be discharged from our obligation on the debt securities of any series. (Section 1401). To be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities, we would be required to deposit with the trustee or another trustee money or U.S. government obligations sufficient to make all principal, premium (if any) and interest payments on those debt securities. (Section 1404). If we make this defeasance deposit with respect to your debt securities, we may elect either:

 

   

to be discharged from all of our obligations on your debt securities, except for our obligations to register transfers and exchanges, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust (Section 1402); or

 

   

to be released from restrictions relating to liens and sale-leaseback transactions and from other covenants as may be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. (Section 1403)

To establish the trust, Newell must deliver to the trustee an opinion of our counsel that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the defeasance

 

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and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amount, and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if the defeasance had not occurred. (Section 1404). There may be additional provisions relating to defeasance which we will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The Trustee

U.S. Bank is the trustee under the indenture. U.S. Bank is a lender under our revolving credit facility. We maintain other banking arrangements with U.S. Bank, and U.S. Bank and its affiliates may perform additional banking services for, or transact other banking business with, Newell in the future.

Subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Trust Indenture Act”), the trustee may be deemed to have a conflicting interest for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act and may be required to resign as trustee if:

 

   

there is an event of default under the indenture; and

 

   

one or more of the following occurs:

 

   

the trustee is a trustee for another indenture under which our securities are outstanding;

 

   

the trustee is a trustee for more than one outstanding series of debt securities under a single indenture;

 

   

the trustee is one of our creditors; or

 

   

the trustee or one of its affiliates acts as an underwriter or agent for us.

Newell may appoint an alternative trustee for any series of debt securities. The appointment of an alternative trustee would be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities are by their terms to be governed by and their provisions construed under the internal laws of the State of New York. (Section 112)

Miscellaneous

Newell has the right at all times to assign any of its respective rights or obligations under the indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Newell; provided, that, in the event of any assignment, Newell will remain liable for all of its respective obligations. (Section 803). The indenture is binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective successors and assigns. (Section 109)

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following description of our capital stock is only a summary of the general terms and provisions of capital stock that we may offer and sell. The applicable prospectus supplement and applicable agreements relating to any particular capital stock offered and sold will describe the specific terms of such capital stock. The summaries and descriptions below do not purport to be complete statements of the relevant provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Newell, as amended (the “Restated Certificate of Incorporation”), and the By-Laws of Newell, as amended (the “By-Laws”). The summaries and descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, which you must read for the actual terms of our capital stock. These documents are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

Authorized Capital Stock

We are authorized to issue up to 810,000,000 shares of capital stock, consisting of 800,000,000 shares of common stock of the par value of $1.00 per share and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, consisting of 10,000 shares without par value and 9,990,000 shares of the par value of $1.00 per share. As of March 31, 2020, 424,077,605 shares of our common stock were issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, no class or series of preferred stock has been established, and no shares of preferred stock have been issued or are outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting Rights. Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share on all matters voted on by our stockholders. The By-Laws provide that directors are elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, except as otherwise required by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) or as provided for in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws; provided, however, that if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, then the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at any such meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors. All directors are elected at each annual meeting of stockholders for a one-year term and until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless he or she shall cease to serve by reason of death, resignation or other cause. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

For all other matters, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of shares of capital stock represented at the meeting shall be the act of the stockholders.

Subscription, Redemption or Conversion Privileges. Holders of our common stock do not have any subscription, redemption or conversion privileges. Holders of our common stock do not have any pre-emptive right to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire stock of any class of Newell or any security convertible into, or any warrant, option or right to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire stock of any class of Newell, whether now or hereafter authorized. All outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Dividends. Subject to the preferences or other rights of any preferred stock that may be issued from time to time, holders of our common stock are entitled to participate ratably in dividends on our common stock as declared by our board of directors.

Liquidation. Holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets available for distribution to stockholders in the event of our liquidation or dissolution, subject to distribution of the preferential amount, if any, to be distributed to holders of our preferred stock.

 

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Stock Exchange Listing. Our common stock is listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “NWL.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar. Computershare Inc. is the transfer agent and registrar for our common stock.

Preferred Stock

Subject to limitations prescribed by law, our board of directors is authorized to determine the voting powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions and other terms of any class or series of preferred stock. Issuances of preferred stock would be subject to the applicable rules of Nasdaq or other organizations on whose systems our capital stock may then be quoted or listed. Depending upon the terms of preferred stock established by our board of directors, any or all classes or series of preferred stock may have preference over the common stock with respect to dividends and other distributions and upon our liquidation. Issuance of any such shares with voting powers would dilute the voting power of the outstanding common stock. Except as otherwise provided in an applicable prospectus supplement, holders of our preferred stock will not have any pre-emptive right to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire stock of any class of Newell or any security convertible into, or any warrant, option or right to purchase, subscribe for or otherwise acquire stock of any class of Newell, whether now or hereafter authorized.

A prospectus supplement relating to a certain class or series of our preferred stock will describe the material terms of that class or series of our preferred stock, including, without limitation:

 

   

the designation of such class or series and the number of shares offered;

 

   

the initial public offering price at which the shares will be issued;

 

   

the dividend rate of that class or series, the conditions and dates upon which those dividends will be payable, and whether those dividends will be cumulative or noncumulative;

 

   

the relative ranking and preferences of that class or series as to dividend rights and rights upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our affairs;

 

   

any redemption or sinking fund provisions;

 

   

any conversion or exchange rights of the holder or us;

 

   

any voting rights;

 

   

any listing of that class or series on any securities exchange; and

 

   

any other terms of that class or series.

Certain Provisions Affecting Control of Newell

General. Certain provisions of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the By-Laws and the DGCL described in this section may delay or make more difficult acquisitions or changes of control of Newell not approved by our board of directors. These provisions could have the effect of discouraging third parties from making proposals involving an acquisition or change of control of Newell, although these kinds of proposals, if made, might be considered desirable by a majority of our stockholders. These provisions may also have the effect of making it more difficult for third parties to cause the replacement of our current management without the concurrence of our board of directors.

Number of Directors; Removal; Vacancies. The By-Laws provide that the number of directors shall be not less than nine and not more than thirteen, with the exact number to be fixed from time to time by our board of directors. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation also provides that newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the board of directors resulting from death, resignation or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a

 

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quorum, or by a sole remaining director. This provision could have the effect of discouraging a potential acquiror from attempting to obtain control of Newell. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation further provides that any director, or the entire board of directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause by a majority of the shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors. This provision, in conjunction with the provision authorizing our board of directors to fill vacant directorships, could prevent stockholders from removing certain incumbent directors and filling the resulting vacancies with their own nominees.

Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Special Meetings. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholder action can be taken at an annual or special meeting of stockholders or, in certain circumstances by written consent in lieu of a meeting. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that stockholder action by written consent can be requested by a stockholder or a group of stockholders holding at least fifteen percent (15%) of the outstanding voting stock of Newell for at least one year prior to such request for stockholder action by written consent, and such request must comply with the other procedural requirements set forth in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

The By-Laws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the chairman of the board of directors, the board of directors or the president of Newell and must also be called by the board of directors upon the written request of stockholders representing in the aggregate at least 15% of the outstanding voting stock of Newell for at least one year prior to such special meeting request, and such request must comply with the other procedural requirements set forth in the By-Laws. These provisions could delay a stockholder vote on certain matters, such as business combinations and removal of directors, and could have the effect of discouraging a potential acquiror from making a tender offer.

Advance Notice for Stockholder Proposals; Director Nominations; Proxy Access. The Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholder proposals to be brought before a meeting of stockholders and for nominations by our stockholders of candidates for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called for that purpose. As described in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws, any business conducted at a meeting of stockholders must be brought before the stockholders by our board of directors or a stockholder who has given to the secretary of Newell timely written notice, in proper form, of the stockholder’s intention to bring that business before the meeting. Individuals who are nominated by our board of directors, or who are nominated by a stockholder who has given to the secretary of Newell timely written notice, in proper form, prior to an annual or special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, will be eligible for election to our board of directors. In addition to the director nomination process described above, the By-Laws permit any stockholder or group of up to 20 stockholders who have maintained continuous qualifying ownership of 3% or more of our outstanding common stock for at least the previous three years to include up to a specified number of director nominees in our proxy materials for an annual meeting. The maximum number of stockholder nominees permitted under the proxy access provisions of the By-Laws shall not exceed 20% of the total number of directors serving on the last day a notice of proxy access nomination may be submitted. Stockholders must give timely written notice to the secretary of Newell, in proper form, to include nominees in our proxy materials for an annual meeting. With the exception of proxy access, these provisions could make it more difficult for stockholders to raise matters affecting control of Newell, including tender offers, business combinations or the election or removal of directors, for a stockholder vote.

Amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation. Any proposal to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation requires approval by the affirmative vote of both a majority of the members of our board of directors then in office and a majority vote of the voting power of all of the shares of our capital stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. This provision is the minimum approval required under the DGCL.

Preferred Stock and Additional Common Stock. Under the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, our board of directors has the authority to provide by board resolution for the issuance of shares of one or more classes or series of preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized to fix by resolution the terms and conditions of

 

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each such other class or series. The authorized shares of our preferred stock, as well as authorized but unissued shares of our common stock, are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless stockholder action is required by applicable law or the rules of Nasdaq or any other stock exchange on which any class or series of our stock may then be listed. These provisions give our board of directors the power to approve the issuance of a class or series of our preferred capital stock, or additional shares of our common stock, that could, depending on the terms of the stock, either impede or facilitate the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt. For example, the issuance of new shares might impede a business combination if the terms of those shares include voting rights which would enable a holder to block business combinations. Alternatively, the issuance of new shares might facilitate a business combination if those shares have general voting rights sufficient to cause an applicable percentage vote requirement to be satisfied.

Delaware Business Combination Statute. Newell is subject to the “business combination” provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, such provisions prohibit a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in various “business combination” transactions with any interested stockholder for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” is defined to include mergers, corporate consolidations, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to an interested stockholder. In general, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, (i) owns 15% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock or (ii) is an affiliate of the corporation and, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within the three year period immediately prior to the date of determining one’s status as an “interested stockholder,” did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts with respect to Newell and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire Newell even though such a transaction may offer Newell’s stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.

Exclusive Forum

The By-Laws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of another forum, a state court located within the State of Delaware (or the federal district court for the District of Delaware, as applicable) shall be the exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of Newell, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of Newell to Newell or Newell’s stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against Newell or any director or officer or other employee of Newell arising pursuant to any provision of the DGCL, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the By-Laws, or (iv) any action asserting a claim against Newell or any director or officer or other employee of Newell governed by the internal affairs doctrine. Although we believe this provision benefits us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, the provision may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors and officers. The enforceability of similar choice of forum provisions in other companies’ bylaws and certificates of incorporation has been challenged in legal proceedings, and it is possible that, in connection with any action, a court could find the choice of forum provisions contained in our By-Laws to be inapplicable or unenforceable in such action.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

We may issue subscription rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or other securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by us and may or may not be transferable by the securityholder receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other investors pursuant to which the underwriters or other investors may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

To the extent appropriate, the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of the rights to purchase shares of our securities offered thereby, including the following:

 

   

the date of determining the securityholders entitled to the rights distribution;

 

   

the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

 

   

the exercise price payable for the common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities upon the exercise of the subscription right;

 

   

the number of subscription rights issued to each securityholder;

 

   

the amount of common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, debt securities or other securities that may be purchased per each subscription right;

 

   

any provisions for adjustment of the amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the subscription rights or of the exercise price of the subscription rights;

 

   

the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire;

 

   

the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

 

   

the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights;

 

   

any applicable U.S. federal income tax considerations; and

 

   

any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange and exercise of the subscription rights.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants to purchase debt or equity securities. We may issue warrants independently or together with any offered securities. The warrants may be attached to or separate from those offered securities. We will issue the warrants under warrant agreements to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent, all as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants.

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants that we may offer will contain the specific terms of the warrants. These terms may include the following:

 

   

the title of the warrants;

 

   

the designation, amount and terms of the securities for which the warrants are exercisable;

 

   

the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which the warrants are to be issued and the number of warrants issued with each other security;

 

   

the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

   

the aggregate number of warrants;

 

   

any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the warrants or the exercise price of the warrants;

 

   

the price or prices at which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;

 

   

if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;

 

   

if applicable, a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the exercise of the warrants;

 

   

any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants;

 

   

the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence, and the date on which the right will expire;

 

   

the maximum or minimum number of warrants that may be exercised at any time; and

 

   

information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any.

Each warrant will entitle the holder of warrants to purchase for cash the amount of debt or equity securities at the exercise price stated or determinable in the prospectus supplement for the warrants. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date shown in the applicable prospectus supplement, unless otherwise specified in such prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be exercised as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. When the warrant holder makes the payment and properly completes and signs the warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as possible, forward the debt or equity securities that the warrant holder has purchased. If the warrant holder exercises the warrant for less than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF STOCK PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND STOCK PURCHASE UNITS

We may issue stock purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and for us to sell to the holders, a specified number of shares of common stock at a future date or dates. The price per share of common stock and the number of shares of common stock may be fixed at the time the stock purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula stated in the stock purchase contracts.

The stock purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units that we call “stock purchase units.” Stock purchase units consist of a stock purchase contract and either our debt securities or U.S. treasury securities securing the holders’ obligations to purchase the common stock under the stock purchase contracts.

The stock purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the stock purchase units or vice versa, and these payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The stock purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations in a specified manner.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. The description in the prospectus supplement will only be a summary, and you should read the stock purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral or depositary arrangements, relating to the stock purchase contracts or stock purchase units. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the stock purchase units and the stock purchase contracts will also be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES

A summary of any material U.S. federal income tax consequences to persons investing in the securities offered by this prospectus may be set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement. The summary will be prepared for information purposes only, however, and will not be intended as legal or tax advice to prospective purchasers. Prospective purchasers of securities are urged to consult their own tax advisors prior to any acquisition of securities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities:

 

   

through underwriters,

 

   

through agents,

 

   

directly to a limited number of institutional purchasers or to a single purchaser, or

 

   

any combination of these.

The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including the following:

 

   

the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents;

 

   

the purchase price and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

   

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; and

 

   

any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.

If underwriters are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the securities if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

If dealers are used in the sale, we will sell the securities to the dealers as principals. The dealers may resell the securities to the public at prices determined by the dealers at the time of the resale.

We may sell securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to that agent, will be described in the prospectus supplement.

The names of the underwriters, dealers or agents, as the case may be, and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled to indemnification by us against civil liabilities arising out of this prospectus, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or to contribution with respect to payments which the agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make relating to those liabilities. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

 

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Our common stock will be approved for listing upon notice of issuance on Nasdaq. Other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. Any person participating in an offering of securities may make a market in such securities, but may discontinue such market-making at any time without notice. No assurances can be given that there will be a market for the securities.

Certain persons participating in an offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Legal matters in connection with the securities will be passed upon for Newell by Jones Day and for any underwriters, dealers or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report (which contains an adverse opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

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