# NEWELL BRANDS INC. (NWL) FY 2023 MD&A Verbatim Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis from NEWELL BRANDS INC.'s 10-K for fiscal year 2023. SEC filing source: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814453/000081445324000017/nwl-20231231.htm Accession: 0000814453-24-000017 Filing date: 2024-02-21 Report date: 2023-12-31 Extracted structurally from real Item 7 body heading to real Item 7A/8 boundary. Confidence: high Company profile: /company/NWL/ All MD&A years: /company/NWL/mda/ Previous year: /company/NWL/mda/fy2022/ (FY 2022) Next year: /company/NWL/mda/fy2024/ (FY 2024) ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations section should be read in conjunction with “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and the Company’s audited Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The “Business Strategy” and “Recent Developments” sections below are brief presentations of our business and certain significant items addressed in this section or elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This section should be read along with the relevant portions of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a complete discussion of the events and items summarized below. Overview Newell Brands is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Graco, Coleman, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Yankee Candle, Paper Mate, FoodSaver, Dymo, EXPO, Elmer’s, Oster, NUK, Spontex and Campingaz. Newell Brands is focused on delighting consumers by lighting up everyday moments. The Company sells its products in over 150 countries around the world and has operations on the ground in over 40 of these countries, excluding third-party distributors. Business Strategy Following a comprehensive assessment of key capabilities, starting in the second quarter of 2023, the leadership team began implementing an integrated set of new “where to play” and “how to win” strategies designed to enable the Company to leverage the scale of the portfolio, while further building upon its operational foundation and strengthening its front-end capabilities. As part of its strategy, the Company is focused on: •Driving meaningful improvement in front-end capabilities, including consumer understanding, brand management, brand communications, innovation and go-to-market execution; •Disproportionately investing in the Company’s largest and most profitable brands, fastest-growing channels and key geographies; 25 •Turning the Company’s scale into a competitive advantage, enabling cost savings that provide fuel for reinvestment; and •Transitioning to a high-performance organization as the Company transforms its culture. The Company is implementing this strategy while continuing to address key challenges such as shifting consumer preferences and behaviors; a highly competitive operating environment; a rapidly changing retail and consumer landscape; continued macroeconomic and geopolitical volatility; a soft macro backdrop; significant inflationary pressures on consumers and an evolving regulatory landscape. Execution of these strategic imperatives, in combination with other initiatives aimed to build operational excellence, will better position the Company for long-term sustainable growth. One such initiative is Project Ovid, a multi-year, customer centric supply chain initiative to transform the Company’s go-to-market capabilities in the U.S., improve customer service levels and drive operational efficiencies. This initiative, which completed its first phase go-live during the third quarter of 2022 and its second phase go-live during the first quarter of 2023, leveraged technology to further simplify the organization by harmonizing and automating processes. Project Ovid was designed to optimize the Company’s distribution network by creating a single integrated supply chain from 23 business-unit-centric supply chains. The initiative was intended to reduce administrative complexity, improve inventory and invoicing workflow for our customers and enhance product availability for consumers through omni-channel enablement. This new operating model was also expected to drive efficiencies by better utilizing the Company’s transportation and distribution network and consolidating the number of overall distribution sites. In May 2023, the Company announced a restructuring and cost savings initiative that is intended to simplify and streamline its North American distribution network (the “Network Optimization Project”) in order to improve the Company’s cost structure and operating margins while maintaining focus on customer and consumer fulfillment. The Company initiated implementation of the Network Optimization Project during the second quarter of 2023 and expects it to be substantially implemented by the end of fiscal year 2024. The Network Optimization Project incorporates a variety of initiatives, including a reduction in the overall number of distribution centers, an optimization of distribution by location, and completion of select automation investments intended to further streamline the Company’s cost structure and to maximize operating performance. The Company currently estimates that it will incur approximately $37 million to $49 million in restructuring and restructuring-related charges associated with the execution of the Network Optimization Project. The Company also expects to incur $30 million to $40 million in capital expenditures related to the Network Optimization Project. In January 2023, the Company announced a restructuring and savings initiative (“Project Phoenix”) that was intended to strengthen the Company by leveraging its scale to further reduce complexity, streamline its operating model and drive operational efficiencies. Project Phoenix was substantially implemented by the end of 2023 and incorporated a variety of initiatives designed to simplify the organizational structure, streamline the Company’s real estate portfolio, centralize the Company’s supply chain functions, which included manufacturing, distribution, transportation and customer service, transition to a unified One Newell go-to-market model in key international geographies, and otherwise reduce overhead costs. The Company commenced reducing headcount during the first quarter of 2023, with most of these actions completed by the end of 2023. The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $100 million to $130 million in restructuring and restructuring-related charges in connection with Project Phoenix. In January 2024, the Company announced an organizational realignment, which is expected to strengthen the Company’s front-end commercial capabilities, such as consumer understanding and brand communication, in support of the “where to play” and “how to win” strategies the Company unveiled in June of 2023. In addition to improving accountability, the Company’s organizational realignment is designed to unlock operational efficiencies and cost savings, reduce complexity and free up funds for reinvestment. As part of the organizational realignment, the Company is making several operating model changes, which entail: standing up a cross-functional brand management organization, realigning business unit finance to fully support the new global brand management model, further simplifying and standardizing regional go-to-market organizations, and centralizing domestic retail sales teams, the digital technology team, business-aligned accounting personnel, the Manufacturing Quality team, and the Human Resources functions into the appropriate center-led teams to drive standardization, efficiency and scale with a One Newell approach. The Company will also further optimize the Company’s real estate footprint and pursue other cost reduction initiatives. These actions are expected to be substantially implemented by the end of 2024, subject to local law and consultation requirements. The Company estimates that it will incur approximately $75 million to $90 million in restructuring and restructuring-related charges in connection with the organizational realignment. In addition, the Company continues to review its operating footprint and non-core brands, which will likely result in future restructuring charges. 26 Organizational Structure The Company’s three primary operating segments are as follows: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["Segment","","Key Brands","","Description of Primary Products"],["Home and Commercial Solutions","","Ball(1), Calphalon, Crockpot, FoodSaver, Mapa, Mr. Coffee, Oster, Rubbermaid, Rubbermaid Commercial Products, Sistema, Spontex, Sunbeam, WoodWick and Yankee Candle","","Commercial cleaning and maintenance solutions; closet and garage organization; hygiene systems and material handling solutions; household products, including kitchen appliances; food and home storage products; fresh preserving products; vacuum sealing products; gourmet cookware, bakeware and cutlery and home fragrance products"],["Learning and Development","","Dymo, Elmer\u2019s, EXPO, Graco, NUK, Paper Mate, Parker and Sharpie","","Baby gear and infant care products; writing instruments, including markers and highlighters, pens and pencils; art products; activity-based products and labeling solutions"],["Outdoor and Recreation","","Campingaz, Coleman, Contigo and Marmot","","Active lifestyle products for outdoor and outdoor-related activities; technical apparel and on-the-go beverageware"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] (1) and Ball®, TM of Ball Corporation, used under license. This structure reflects the manner in which the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly assesses information for decision-making purposes, including the allocation of resources. The Company also provides general corporate services to its segments which is reported as a non-operating segment, Corporate. Effective January 1, 2023, as a result of the implementation of a new operating model intended to drive further simplification and unlock additional efficiencies and synergies within the Company, the CODM now reviews the businesses as three operating segments: Home and Commercial Solutions, Learning and Development and Outdoor and Recreation. The Home and Commercial Solutions operating segment represents the combination of the previously reported Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances and Home Solutions operating segments. Prior period comparable results have been reclassified to conform to the operating segment change. See Footnote 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. On March 31, 2022, the Company sold its Connected Home and Security (“CH&S”) business to Resideo Technologies, Inc. The results of operations for CH&S continued to be reported in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as part of the Home and Commercial Solutions segment through March 31, 2022. Recent Developments Current Macroeconomic Conditions The Company continues to be impacted by soft global demand, focus by major retailers on rebalancing of inventory levels, inflationary pressures, rising interest rates and indirect impacts from geopolitical conflicts. These collective macroeconomic trends, the duration or severity of which are highly uncertain, are rapidly changing the retail and consumer landscape and negatively impacted the Company’s operating results, cash flows and financial condition during 2023 and are mostly expected to persist into 2024. To help mitigate the negative impact of these conditions to the operating performance of its businesses, the Company has secured selective pricing increases, accelerated productivity initiatives, optimized advertising and promotion expenses, deployed overhead cost containment efforts, adjusted demand forecasts and supply plans, and taken actions designed to improve working capital. The Company will continue to evaluate other opportunities to improve its financial performance both in the short and long term. Although management has made its best estimates and assumptions based upon current information, actual results could materially differ given the uncertainty of these factors and may require future changes to such estimates and assumptions, including reserves, which may result in future expense or impairment charges. Geopolitical Conflicts The global economy has been negatively impacted by military conflicts, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the conflicts in the Middle East. While the Company does not expect these conflicts to have a material impact on its results of operations, it has experienced supply chain disruptions, shortages in raw materials and increased costs for transportation, energy and commodities due in part to the negative impact of these conflicts on the global economy. Further escalation of geopolitical tensions, including 27 increased trade barriers and restrictions on global trade, could result in, among other things, supply disruptions, lower consumer demand, and changes to foreign exchange rates and financial markets, any of which may adversely affect our business and supply chain. Additionally, if these military conflicts escalate beyond their current scope, the Company could be negatively impacted by localized or global economic recessions. See Results of Operations, Critical Accounting Estimates and Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Network Optimization Project During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded restructuring and restructuring-related charges of $7 million and $16 million, respectively in connection with the project. Project Phoenix During the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded restructuring and restructuring-related charges of $78 million and $19 million, respectively in connection with the project. See Risk Factors in Item 1A. and Footnote 4 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangible Asset Impairments During the fourth quarter of 2023, as a result of the Company's annual impairment testing, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $68 million related to two tradenames in the Home and Commercial Solutions segment, as the carrying values of the tradenames exceeded their fair values. See Critical Accounting Estimates and Footnotes 1 and 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Debt Rating Downgrades On February 9, 2024, Moody’s Corporation (“Moody’s”) downgraded the Company’s senior unsecured debt rating to “Ba3”, subjecting certain of the Company’s outstanding senior notes currently aggregating to approximately $3.1 billion (the “Coupon-Step Notes”) to an additional interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points. The change to the interest rate due to the downgrade will increase the Company’s interest expense by approximately $8 million on an annualized basis (approximately $6 million in 2024). On February 14, 2024, S&P Global Inc. (“S&P”) downgraded the Company’s debt ratings to “BB-”, subjecting the Company’s Coupon-Step Notes to an additional interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points, which will increase interest expense by approximately $8 million on an annualized basis (approximately $6 million in 2024). See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Amendments to Credit Revolver As of December 31, 2023, the Company maintained a $1.5 billion senior unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Revolver”) maturing in August 2027. On March 27, 2023, the Company entered into an amendment to its Credit Revolver (the “First Amendment”) to (i) include non-cash expenses resulting from grants of stock awards among the items that may be added to Consolidated Net Income when calculating Consolidated Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”), as defined in the First Amendment, and (ii) lower the Interest Coverage Ratio, as defined in the First Amendment, for the fiscal quarters ending on June 30, 2023, September 30, 2023, December 31, 2023 and March 31, 2024. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. On February 7, 2024, the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, as subsidiary borrower, and certain of its subsidiaries, as subsidiary guarantors, entered into a second amendment to the Credit Revolver (the “Second Amendment”). The Second Amendment, among other things, (i) reduces the commitments of the lenders from $1.5 billion to $1.0 billion (ii) replaces the Company’s financial covenants with new financial covenants testing the Company’s Collateral Coverage Ratio and Total Net Leverage Ratio (each further defined in the Second Amendment), (iii) requires the Company and certain of the Company’s domestic and foreign subsidiaries (collectively the “Guarantors”) to guarantee all obligations under the Credit Revolver including, without limitation, obligations in respect of extensions of credit to any of the borrowers, certain hedging obligations, certain cash management obligations, and certain supply chain financing obligations, and (iv) requires the Company and the other Guarantors to grant a lien and security interest in certain of its assets consisting of eligible accounts receivable, eligible inventory, 28 eligible equipment and eligible intellectual property, and all products and proceeds of the foregoing. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. New Accounts Receivables Facility On October 2, 2023, the Company, through a wholly-owned special purpose entity (“SPE”) entered into a three-year agreement with a financial institution to sell up to $225 million, between February and April of each year and up to $275 million at all other times, of certain customer receivables without recourse on a revolving basis (the “New Receivables Facility”). Under the New Receivables Facility, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries continuously sell their accounts receivables, originated in the U.S., to the SPE and the SPE sells the receivables to the financial institution. The SPE is a variable interest entity for which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The SPE’s sole business consists of the purchase of receivables from certain subsidiaries of the Company and the subsequent transfer of such receivables to the financial institution. Although the SPE is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, it is a separate legal entity with separate creditors. The assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The fair value of these servicing arrangements as well as the fees earned was immaterial. The Company accounts for receivables sold from the SPE to the financial institution as a sale of financial assets and derecognizes the trade receivables from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The balance of outstanding accounts receivables sold to the financial institution as of December 31, 2023 was $45 million. Cash received under the New Receivables Facility is included in cash from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. See Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Results of Operations Consolidated Operating Results 2023 vs. 2022 [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions, except per share data)","2023","","2022","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","$","8,133","","","$","9,459","","","$","(1,326)","","","(14.0)%"],["Gross profit","2,353","","","2,834","","","(481)","","","(17.0)%"],["Gross margin","28.9","%","","30.0","%"],["Operating income (loss)","(85)","","","312","","","(397)","","","NM"],["Operating margin","(1.0)","%","","3.3","%"],["Interest expense, net","283","","","235","","","48","","","20.4%"],["Other (income) expense, net","175","","","(81)","","","256","","","NM"],["Income (loss) before income taxes","(543)","","","157","","","(700)","","","NM"],["Income tax benefit","(155)","","","(40)","","","(115)","","","NM"],["Income tax rate","28.5","%","","(25.5)","%"],["Net income (loss)","$","(388)","","","$","197","","","(585)","","","NM"],["Diluted earnings (loss) per share","$","(0.94)","","","$","0.47"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] NM — NOT MEANINGFUL Net sales decreased 14%. Net sales were unfavorably impacted by soft global demand, distribution losses and category exits, primarily in the Home and Commercial Solutions segment, partially offset by pricing actions by the Company. The sale of the CH&S business at the end of the first quarter of 2022, negatively impacted net sales by approximately 1%. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $38 million, or less than 1%. Gross profit decreased 17% compared to prior year. Gross margin declined to 28.9% as compared with 30.0% in the prior year. The decline in gross margin reflected higher absorption cost associated with lower sales volume, higher sales promotional activities to reduce elevated inventory levels, inflation and higher restructuring-related charges, partially offset by favorable pricing and productivity. The gross profit decline also reflected the unfavorable impact of the sale of the CH&S business in the prior year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates unfavorably impacted gross profit by $38 million, or 1%. 29 Notable items impacting operating income (loss) for 2023 and 2022 are as follows: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2023","","2022","","$ Change"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","$","339","","","$","474","","","$","(135)"],["Restructuring (See Footnote 4) and restructuring-related (a)","","194","","","39","","","155"],["Transactions and other costs (b)","","43","","","72","","","(29)"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] (a)Restructuring-related costs reported in cost of products sold and selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) for 2023 were $86 million and $13 million, respectively, and primarily relate to facility closures. Restructuring-related costs reported in cost of products sold and SG&A for 2022 were $22 million and $2 million, respectively, and primarily relate to facility closures. Restructuring costs for 2023 and 2022 were $95 million and $15 million, respectively. (b)Transaction and other costs for 2023 primarily relate to completed divestitures, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings and inventory reserve due to change in raw material regulation. Transaction and other costs for 2022 primarily relate to completed divestitures, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings, an indirect tax reserve for an international entity and an incremental bad debt reserve for an international customer. Operating loss was $85 million as compared to operating income of $312 million in the prior year period. The decline reflects the impact of lower gross profit, higher restructuring and restructuring-related charges, primarily in connection with Project Phoenix, the Network Optimization Project and other on-going facility closures and higher incentive compensation expense, partially offset by lower non-cash impairment charges, lower advertising and promotion costs, savings from restructuring actions and an employee retention credit in connection with the CARES Act. Interest expense, net increased primarily due to higher interest rates, partially offset by higher interest income. The weighted average interest rates for 2023 and 2022 were approximately 5.2% and 4.3%, respectively. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Other (income) expense, net for 2023 and 2022 include the following items: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2023","","2022"],["Pension settlement and non-service costs, net (See Footnote 11)","","$","126","","","$","\u2014"],["Gain on disposition of businesses (See Footnote 2)","","(1)","","","(136)"],["Foreign exchange losses, net (See Footnote 10)","","22","","","47"],["Discount on factored receivables and other, net","","28","","","8"],["","","$","175","","","$","(81)"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] The income tax benefit for 2023 was $155 million as compared to benefit of $40 million in 2022. The effective tax rate for 2023 was 28.5%, resulting from the combination of pretax book losses and discrete tax benefits of $112 million due to the effects of certain legal entity reorganizations in the U.S. and Luxembourg and $10 million due to the filing of tax returns in various jurisdictions. The year ended December 31, 2022 included discrete benefits of $58 million associated with a change in the Company’s indefinite reinvestment assertion regarding certain earnings within its Irish operations, $28 million associated with the reduction in valuation allowance related to the integration of certain Brazilian and Luxembourg operations and $6 million associated with the approval of certain state tax credits, offset by $14 million of income tax expense related to the divestiture of CH&S. See Footnote 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on income taxes. 30 Business Segment Operating Results 2023 vs. 2022 Home and Commercial Solutions [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2023","","2022","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","4,428","","","$","5,194","","","$","(766)","","","(14.7)%"],["Operating income (loss)","","37","","","(212)","","","249","","","NM"],["Operating margin","","0.8","%","","(4.1)","%"],["Notable items impacting operating income (loss) comparability:"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","76","","","444"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] Home and Commercial Solutions net sales for 2023 decreased 15%, which reflected soft demand across all businesses, the sale of the CH&S business at the end of the first quarter of 2022, which unfavorably impacted net sales by approximately 2%, as well as certain category exits and distribution losses, primarily in the Kitchen business, partially offset by pricing actions. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $14 million. Operating income for 2023 was $37 million as compared to operating loss of $212 million in the prior year. The improvement in operating results is primarily due to gross productivity, pricing actions, lower non-cash impairment charges and advertising and promotional costs, as well as savings from restructuring actions, partially offset by lower gross profit reflecting higher absorption costs associated with lower sales volume, as well as higher restructuring and restructuring-related charges in connection with Project Phoenix. The sale of CH&S business in the prior year also unfavorably impacted the operating results. Learning and Development [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2023","","2022","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","2,706","","","$","2,950","","","$","(244)","","","(8.3)%"],["Operating income","","213","","","593","","","(380)","","","(64.1)%"],["Operating margin","","7.9","%","","20.1","%"],["Notable items impacting operating income comparability:"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","241","","","30"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] Learning and Development net sales for 2023 decreased 8%, primarily due to a decline in the Baby business. The Writing business declined slightly due to soft demand in certain categories, partially offset by pricing actions and innovation. Pricing actions in the Baby business were more than offset by soft demand in certain categories and lower sales to a customer that declared bankruptcy. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $10 million. Operating income for 2023 decreased to $213 million as compared to $593 million in the prior-year period. The decrease in operating income is primarily due to lower gross profit reflecting higher absorption costs associated with lower sales volume and inflation, as well as higher charges for non-cash goodwill impairment, restructuring and restructuring-related charges in connection with Project Phoenix and advertising and promotion costs, partially offset by gross productivity, favorable pricing and savings from restructuring actions. 31 Outdoor and Recreation [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2023","","2022","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","999","","","$","1,315","","","$","(316)","","","(24.0)%"],["Operating income (loss)","","(83)","","","86","","","(169)","","","NM"],["Operating margin","","(8.3)","%","","6.5","%"],["Notable items impacting operating income (loss) comparability:"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","22","","","\u2014"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] Outdoor and Recreation net sales for 2023 decreased 24% primarily reflecting soft global demand and distribution losses, partially offset by pricing actions. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $14 million or 1%. Operating loss for 2023 was $83 million as compared to operating income of $86 million in the prior-year period. The decline was primarily due to lower gross profit caused by unfavorable fixed cost leverage associated with lower sales volume, inflation, higher sales promotional activities to reduce elevated inventory levels, non-cash impairment charge related to an indefinite-lived tradename and higher restructuring and restructuring-related charges in connection with Project Phoenix, partially offset by gross productivity, favorable pricing, savings from restructuring actions and lower advertising costs. Consolidated Operating Results 2022 vs. 2021 [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions, except per share data)","","2022","","2021","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","9,459","","","$","10,589","","","$","(1,130)","","","(10.7)%"],["Gross profit","","2,834","","","3,363","","","(529)","","","(15.7)%"],["Gross margin","","30.0","%","","31.8","%"],["Operating income","","312","","","1,013","","","(701)","","","(69.2)%"],["Operating margin","","3.3","%","","9.6","%"],["Interest expense, net","","235","","","256","","","(21)","","","(8.2)%"],["Other income, net","","(81)","","","(8)","","","(73)","","","NM"],["Income before income taxes","","157","","","760","","","(603)","","","(79.3)%"],["Income tax provision (benefit)","","(40)","","","138","","","(178)","","","NM"],["Income tax rate","","(25.5)","%","","18.2","%"],["Net income","","$","197","","","$","622","","","$","(425)","","","(68.3)%"],["Diluted earnings per share","","$","0.47","","","$","1.45"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] NM — NOT MEANINGFUL Net sales decreased 11%, as pricing actions by the Company were more than offset by softening global demand, category exits in the Home and Commercial Solutions and Outdoor and Recreation segments and a negative 3% impact to net sales related to the sale of CH&S at the end of the first quarter of 2022. The net sales performance also reflected the lapping of elevated levels of demand in certain categories during the prior year. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $300 million, or 3%. Gross profit decreased 16% and gross margin declined to 30.0% as compared with 31.8% in the prior year period. The decrease in gross margin reflected higher absorption costs associated with a lower sales volume, higher sales promotional activities to reduce elevated inventory levels, as well as significant input cost inflation for commodities, sourced finished goods, transportation and labor, which had a negative high-single-digit-percentage impact to costs of products sold. The gross margin decline was partially offset by favorable net pricing and gross productivity. The gross profit decline also reflected the unfavorable impact of the sale of CH&S. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates unfavorably impacted gross profit by $105 million, or 3%. 32 Notable items impacting operating income for 2022 and 2021 are as follows: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2022","","2021","","$ Change"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","$","474","","","$","60","","","$","414"],["Restructuring and restructuring-related (See Footnote 4) (a)","","39","","","46","","","(7)"],["Transactions and other costs (b)","","72","","","37","","","35"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] (a)Restructuring-related costs reported in cost of products sold and SG&A for 2022 were $22 million and $2 million, respectively, and primarily relate to facility closures. Restructuring-related costs reported in cost of products sold and SG&A for 2021 were $22 million and $8 million, respectively, and primarily relate to facility closures. Restructuring costs for 2022 and 2021 were $15 million and $16 million, respectively. (b)Transaction and other costs for 2022 primarily relate to completed divestitures, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings, an indirect tax reserve for an international entity and an incremental bad debt reserve for an international customer. Transaction and other costs for 2021 primarily relate to completed divestitures and costs associated with certain legal proceedings. Operating income decreased to $312 million in 2022 as compared to $1.0 billion in 2021. The decline reflects the impact of lower gross profit, as well as lower incentive compensation expense, advertising and promotion costs and overhead spending. Operating income was also negatively impacted by higher current year non-cash impairment charges relating to goodwill and indefinite-lived tradenames. Interest expense, net decreased primarily due to lower long-term debt levels during the first half of 2022 and higher interest income. The weighted average interest rates for 2022 and 2021 were approximately 4.3% and 4.7%, respectively. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. The loss on the extinguishment of debt of $1 million and $5 million for 2022 and 2021, respectively, are related to the Company’s redemption of certain of its senior notes. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Other income, net for 2022 and 2021 include the following items: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2022","","2021"],["Gain on disposition of businesses (See Footnote 2)","","$","(136)","","","$","(4)"],["Foreign exchange losses, net (See Footnote 10)","","47","","","8"],["Discount on factored receivables and other, net","","8","","","(12)"],["","","$","(81)","","","$","(8)"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] The income tax benefit for 2022 was $40 million as compared to provision of $138 million in 2021. The effective tax rate for 2022 was a benefit of 25.5%, reflecting an increase in discrete tax benefits, as compared to provision of 18.2% for 2021. The year ended December 31, 2022 included discrete benefits of $58 million associated with a change in the Company’s indefinite reinvestment assertion regarding certain earnings within its Irish operations, $28 million associated with the reduction in valuation allowance related to the integration of certain Brazilian and Luxembourg operations and $6 million associated with the approval of certain state tax credits, offset by $14 million of income tax expense related to the divestiture of CH&S. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 included a discrete benefit of $37 million associated with a reduction in valuation allowance related to the integration of certain Luxembourg operations, $13 million associated with a reduction of in valuation allowance related to the integration of certain U.K. operations and $9 million related to a statute of limitation expiration in France. See Footnote 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information on income taxes. 33 Business Segment Operating Results 2022 vs. 2021 Home and Commercial Solutions [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2022","","2021","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","5,194","","","$","6,077","","","$","(883)","","","(14.5)%"],["Operating income (loss)","","(212)","","","566","","","(778)","","","NM"],["Operating margin","","(4.1)","%","","9.3","%"],["Notable items impacting operating income (loss) comparability:"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","444","","","29"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] NM — NOT MEANINGFUL Home and Commercial Solutions net sales for 2022 decreased 15% which reflected softening global demand in the Kitchen and Home Fragrance business units, category exits and lost distribution in one product line at a key customer in the Kitchen business unit, as well as the exit of 43 Yankee Candle retail stores during the year. Net sales performance of the Kitchen and Home Fragrance business units also reflected the lapping of elevated demand during 2021. The sale of CH&S at the end of the first quarter of 2022, also negatively impacted net sales by 5%. Pricing actions taken by the Company, as well as improved order fulfillment in the Commercial business unit resulting from easing of supply chain constraints, partially offset the decline in net sales. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $133 million, or 2%. Operating loss for 2022 was $212 million as compared to operating income of $566 million in 2021. The decline in operating results is primarily due to the non-cash impairment charges in the Kitchen and Home Fragrance business units; lower gross profit leverage; higher absorption costs associated with lower sales volume, significant input cost inflation associated with raw materials, sourced finished goods and transportation; higher sales promotional activities to reduce elevated inventory levels and an indirect tax reserve related to an international entity. The sale of CH&S at the end of the first quarter of 2022 had a negative impact of 4%. The decline in operating results was partially offset by gross productivity and lower incentive compensation expense. Learning and Development [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2022","","2021","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","2,950","","","$","3,028","","","$","(78)","","","(2.6)","%"],["Operating income","","593","","","600","","","(7)","","","(1.2)","%"],["Operating margin","","20.1","%","","19.8","%"],["Notable items impacting operating income comparability:"],["Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets (See Footnotes 1 and 7)","","30","","","31"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] Learning and Development net sales for 2022 decreased 3%, reflecting decreases in both the Writing and Baby business units. The Writing business unit performance reflected logistical constraints and supply chain shortages, particularly in labelling, and softening demand in certain categories in the U.S., partially offset by pricing actions. The Baby business unit performance reflected softening demand in certain categories in the U.S., as the business lapped elevated levels of demand during the prior year, partially offset by pricing actions. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $96 million, or 3%. Operating income for 2022 decreased to $593 million as compared to $600 million in the prior year period. The decrease in operating income is primarily due to significant input cost inflation for sourced finished goods, transportation and labor, partially offset by gross productivity and lower compensation costs. The improvement in operating margin primarily reflects net pricing 34 performance. Outdoor and Recreation [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","Years Ended December 31,"],["(in millions)","","2022","","2021","","$ Change","","% Change"],["Net sales","","$","1,315","","","$","1,484","","","$","(169)","","","(11.4)%"],["Operating income","","86","","","90","","","(4)","","","(4.4)%"],["Operating margin","","6.5","%","","6.1","%"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] Outdoor and Recreation segment net sales for 2022 decreased 11% primarily due to softening U.S. demand and certain category exits, partially offset by pricing actions and improved product availability. Net sales for this segment also reflected the lapping of elevated levels of demand in the prior year. Changes in foreign currency unfavorably impacted net sales by $71 million, or 5%. Operating income for 2022 was $86 million as compared to $90 million in the prior year period. This performance was primarily due to input cost inflation for commodities, sourced finished goods and transportation and higher advertising and promotional costs, partially offset by lower overhead spending and incentive compensation costs. The improvement in operating margin primarily reflects net benefit from pricing actions and the exit from certain low margin product categories. Liquidity and Capital Resources The Company believes the extent of the impact of the rapidly changing retail and consumer landscape, which reflects an increased focus by retailers to rebalance inventory levels, inflationary pressures and uncertainty over the volatility and direction of future demand patterns on the Company’s future sales, operating results, cash flows, liquidity and financial condition will continue to be driven by numerous evolving factors the Company cannot accurately predict and which will vary. As noted in Business Strategy and Recent Developments, the Company has taken actions to further strengthen its financial position and balance sheet, and maintain financial liquidity and flexibility, including amending certain terms of its Credit Revolver and entering into the New Receivables Facility. The Company believes these actions and its cash generating capability, together with its borrowing capacity and available cash and cash equivalents, provide adequate liquidity to fund its operations, support its growth platforms, pay down debt and debt maturities as they come due and execute its ongoing business initiatives. The Company regularly assesses its cash requirements and the available sources to fund these needs. For further information, refer to Item 1A. Risk Factors – Financial Risks in Part I. At December 31, 2023, the Company had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $332 million, of which approximately $298 million was held by the Company’s non-U.S. subsidiaries. The table below summarizes the Company's cash activity for 2023, 2022 and 2021 (in millions): [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","","","Increase (Decrease)"],["","2023","","2022","","2021","","2023","2022"],["Cash provided by (used in) operating activities","$","930","","","$","(272)","","","$","884","","","$","1,202","","$","(1,156)"],["Cash provided by (used in) investing activities","(199)","","","343","","","(268)","","","(542)","","611"],["Cash used in financing activities","(664)","","","(232)","","","(1,143)","","","(432)","","911"],["Exchange rate effect on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash","(9)","","","(13)","","","(17)","","","4","","4"],["Increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash","$","58","","","$","(174)","","","$","(544)","","","$","232","","$","370"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] The Company has historically generated the majority of its operating cash flow in the third and fourth quarters of the year due to seasonal variations in operating results, the timing of annual performance-based compensation payments, customer program payments, working capital requirements and credit terms provided to customers. Cash Flows from Operating Activities The change in net cash provided by operating activities reflects a reduction of working capital and lower incentive compensation payments in 2023, partially offset by impact of the operating loss and higher restructuring payments. 35 The change in net cash used in operating activities for 2022 primarily reflects lower operating income and the impact of the Company’s adjustment to its supply and demand forecasted purchases in the back half of the year. This was in response to significantly greater than expected pullback in retailer orders, as retailers rebalanced inventory in light of continued inflationary pressures on consumers. This also resulted in lower sales volume and unfavorable working capital associated with higher inventory levels. The change also reflected the negative impact of lower accounts receivable sold under the Customer Receivables Purchase Agreement. See Capital Resources for further information. Cash Flows from Investing Activities The change in cash used in investing activities for 2023 was primarily due to proceeds from the sale of the CH&S business in the prior year. The change in net cash provided by investing activities for 2022 was primarily due to proceeds from the sale of CH&S and other property, plant and equipment, partially offset by higher capital expenditures, primarily associated with Project Ovid. See Footnote 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Cash Flows from Financing Activities The change in net cash used in financing activities was primarily due to the period-over-period change in debt, a reduction of the quarterly dividend payment in 2023, that commenced with the second quarter payment, and repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock in the prior year. The change in net cash used in financing activities for 2022 was primarily due to the period-over-period change in debt, offset by repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock. See Footnotes 1,9 and 14 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Capital Resources As of December 31, 2023, the Company maintained a $1.5 billion Credit Revolver maturing in August 2027. The Credit Revolver requires compliance with certain financial covenants. A failure to maintain the Company’s financial covenants and to subsequently remedy a default would impair its ability to borrow under the Credit Revolver and potentially subject the Company to cross-default and acceleration provisions in its debt documents. The Credit Revolver provides for the issuance of up to $150 million of letters of credit, so long as there is sufficient availability for borrowing under the Credit Revolver. At December 31, 2023, the Company had $131 million of outstanding borrowings under the Credit Revolver and approximately $20 million of outstanding standby letters of credit issued against the Credit Revolver, with a net availability of approximately $1.3 billion. On February 7, 2024, the Company, certain of its subsidiaries, as subsidiary borrowers, and certain of its subsidiaries, as subsidiary guarantors, entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Revolver. The Second Amendment among other things, reduces the commitments of the lenders from $1.5 billion to $1.0 billion, replaces the Company’s existing financial covenants with new financial covenants, requires the Company and the Guarantors to guarantee all obligations under the Credit Revolver, and requires the Company and the other Guarantors to grant a lien and security interest in certain of its assets. See Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Factored receivables at December 31, 2023 associated with the Company’s existing factoring agreement (the “Customer Receivables Purchase Agreement”) were approximately $240 million, a decrease of approximately $180 million from December 31, 2022. Transactions under this agreement are accounted for as sales of accounts receivable, and the receivables sold are removed from the Consolidated Balance Sheet at the time of the sales transaction. The Company classifies the proceeds received from the sales of accounts receivable as an operating cash flow and collections of accounts receivables not yet submitted to the financial institution as a financing cash flow in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. The Company records the discount as other (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. On October 2, 2023, the Company, through a wholly-owned special purpose entity (“SPE”) entered into a three-year agreement with a financial institution to sell up to $225 million, between February and April of each year and up to $275 million at all other times, of certain customer receivables without recourse on a revolving basis (the “New Receivables Facility”). Under the New Receivables Facility, certain of the Company’s subsidiaries continuously sell their accounts receivables, originated in the U.S., to the SPE and 36 the SPE sells the receivables to the financial institution. The SPE is a variable interest entity for which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary. The SPE’s sole business consists of the purchase of receivables from certain subsidiaries of the Company and the subsequent transfer of such receivables to the financial institution. Although the SPE is included in the Company’s consolidated financial statements, it is a separate legal entity with separate creditors. The assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of the Company or its subsidiaries. The fair value of these servicing arrangements as well as the fees earned was immaterial. The Company accounts for receivables sold from the SPE to the financial institution as a sale of financial assets and derecognizes the trade receivables from the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet. The balance of outstanding accounts receivables sold to the financial institution as of December 31, 2023 was $45 million. Cash received under the New Receivables Facility is included in cash from operating activities in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. The Company maintained an Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility (the “Securitization Facility”). The aggregate commitment under the Securitization Facility was $375 million. The Securitization Facility matured on October 2, 2023 and was terminated thereafter. On February 14, 2023, Fitch Ratings downgraded the Company’s Long-Term Issuer Default Rating to “BB”, then to “B+” on November 1, 2023. These downgrades did not impact the interest rates on any of the Company’s senior notes. On August 21, 2023, Moody’s downgraded the Company’s debt ratings to “Ba2”. As a result of Moody’s downgrade, the Company’s Coupon-Step Notes are subject to an interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points. The change to the interest rate due to the downgrade will increase the Company’s interest expense by approximately $8 million on an annualized basis (approximately $2 million in 2023). On February 9, 2024, Moody’s downgraded the Company’s senior unsecured debt rating to “Ba3”, subjecting the Coupon-Step Notes to an additional interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points. The change to the interest rate due to the downgrade will further increase the Company’s interest expense by approximately $8 million on an annualized basis (approximately $6 million in 2024). On August 3, 2023, S&P downgraded the Company’s debt ratings to “BB”. In March 2023, S&P had also downgraded the Company’s debt ratings to “BB+”. As a result of the S&P downgrades, the Company’s Coupon-Step Notes are subject to an aggregated interest rate adjustment of 50 basis points. The change to the interest rate due to the downgrade will increase the Company’s interest expense by approximately $15 million on an annualized basis (approximately $8 million in 2023). Furthermore, as a result of the March S&P downgrade, the Company’s ability to borrow from the commercial paper market on terms it deems acceptable or favorable was eliminated. On February 14, 2024, S&P downgraded the Company’s debt ratings to “BB-”, subjecting the Company’s Coupon-Step Notes to an additional interest rate adjustment of 25 basis points, which will increase interest expense by approximately $8 million on an annualized basis (approximately $6 million in 2024). The Company currently believes its capital structure and cash resources will continue to support the funding of future dividends and the Company will continue to evaluate all actions to strengthen its financial position and balance sheet, and to maintain its financial liquidity, flexibility and capital allocation strategy. The Company was in compliance with all of its debt covenants at December 31, 2023. Risk Management From time to time, the Company enters into derivative transactions to hedge its exposures to interest rate, foreign currency rate and commodity price fluctuations. The Company does not enter into derivative transactions for trading purposes. Interest Rate Contracts The Company manages its fixed and floating rate debt mix using interest rate swaps. The Company may use fixed and floating rate swaps to alter its exposure to the impact of changing interest rates on its consolidated results of operations and future cash outflows for interest. Floating rate swaps would be used, depending on market conditions, to convert the fixed rates of long-term debt into short-term variable rates. Fixed rate swaps would be used to reduce the Company’s risk of the possibility of increased interest costs. The settlement of interest rate swaps is included in interest expense. Fair Value Hedges At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $1.1 billion notional amount of interest rate swaps that exchange a fixed rate of interest for a variable rate of interest plus a weighted average spread. These floating rate swaps are designated as fair value 37 hedges against $500 million of principal on the 6.375% senior notes due 2027, $500 million of principal on the 6.625% senior notes due 2029 and $100 million of principal on the 4.000% senior notes due 2024 for the remaining life of the notes. The benchmark interest rate for the $100 million floating swap and associated fair value hedge was amended for a change in benchmark interest rate from London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) to Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”), effective June 1, 2023, accounted for in accordance with ASC 848 (see Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information). The effective portion of the fair value gains or losses on these swaps is offset by fair value adjustments in the underlying debt. Cross-Currency Contracts The Company uses cross-currency swaps to hedge foreign currency risk on certain financing arrangements. The Company previously entered into three cross-currency swaps, maturing in January 2025, February 2025 and September 2027, respectively, with an aggregate notional amount of $1.3 billion. Each of these cross-currency swaps was designated as a net investment hedge of the Company’s foreign currency exposure of its net investment in certain Euro-functional currency subsidiaries with Euro-denominated net assets, and the Company pays a fixed rate of Euro-based interest and receives a fixed rate of U.S. dollar interest. During the third quarter of 2022, the Company entered into two additional cross-currency swaps with notional amounts of $500 million each, with one maturing in September 2027 and one in September 2029. These swaps were also designated as net investment hedges of the Company’s foreign currency exposure of its net investment in certain Euro-functional currency subsidiaries with Euro-denominated net assets, and the Company pays a floating rate of Euro-based interest and receives a floating rate of U.S. dollar interest. The Company has elected the spot method for assessing the effectiveness of these contracts. During the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, the Company recognized income of $38 million, $31 million and $16 million, respectively, in interest expense, net, related to the portion of cross-currency swaps excluded from hedge effectiveness testing. Foreign Currency Contracts The Company uses forward foreign currency contracts to mitigate the foreign currency exchange rate exposure on the cash flows related to forecasted inventory purchases and sales with maturity dates through December 2024. The derivatives used to hedge these forecasted transactions that meet the criteria for hedge accounting are accounted for as cash flow hedges. The effective portion of the gains or losses on these derivatives is deferred as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (“AOCL”) until it is recognized in earnings at the same time that the hedged item affects earnings and is included in the same caption in the statements of operations as the underlying hedged item. At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $348 million notional amount outstanding of forward foreign currency contracts that are designated as cash flow hedges of forecasted inventory purchases and sales. The Company also uses foreign currency contracts, primarily forward foreign currency contracts, to mitigate the foreign currency exposure of certain other foreign currency transactions. At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $1.3 billion notional amount outstanding of these foreign currency contracts that are not designated as effective hedges for accounting purposes and have maturity dates through July 2024. Fair market value gains or losses are included in the results of operations and are classified in other (income) expense, net in the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. The following table presents the fair value of derivative financial instruments at December 31, 2023 (in millions): [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["","Asset (Liability)"],["Derivatives designated as effective hedges:"],["Cash flow hedges:"],["Foreign currency contracts","$","(12)"],["Fair value hedges:"],["Interest rate swaps","(19)"],["Net investment hedges:"],["Cross-currency swaps","(82)"],["Derivatives not designated as effective hedges:"],["Foreign currency contracts","(7)"],["Total","$","(120)"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] 38 Contractual Obligations, Commitments and Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements The Company has outstanding debt obligations maturing at various dates through 2046. Certain other items, such as purchase commitments and other executory contracts, are not recognized as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements but are required to be disclosed. Examples of items not recognized as liabilities in the Company’s consolidated financial statements are commitments to purchase raw materials or inventory that has not yet been received at December 31, 2023, and other non-cancelable obligations including capital assets and other licensing services. The following table summarizes the effect that material contractual obligations and commitments are expected to have on the Company’s cash flow in the indicated period at December 31, 2023. Additional details regarding these obligations are provided in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements: [[GREPCENT_TABLE]] [["(in millions)","","Total","","1 year","","2-3 years","","4-5 years","","After 5 years"],["Debt (1)","","$","4,952","","","$","332","","","$","2,532","","","$","502","","","$","1,586"],["Interest on debt (2)","","1,957","","","277","","","447","","","241","","","992"],["Lease obligations (3)","","652","","","146","","","205","","","128","","","173"],["Purchase obligations (4)","","961","","","801","","","127","","","27","","","6"],["Tax obligations (5)","","35","","","35","","","\u2014","","","\u2014","","","\u2014"],["Total (6)","","$","8,557","","","$","1,591","","","$","3,311","","","$","898","","","$","2,757"]] [[/GREPCENT_TABLE]] (1)Amounts represent contractual obligations based on the earliest date that the obligation may become due, excluding interest, based on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2023. For further information relating to these obligations, see Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. (2)Amounts represent estimated interest payable on borrowings outstanding as of December 31, 2023, excluding the impact of fixed to floating rate interest rate swaps. Interest on floating-rate debt was estimated using the rate in effect as of December 31, 2023. For further information, see Footnote 9 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. (3)Amounts represent lease liabilities on operating leases as of December 31, 2023. See Footnote 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. (4)Primarily consists of purchase commitments with suppliers entered into as of December 31, 2023, for the purchase of materials, packaging and other components and services. These purchase commitment amounts represent only those items which are based on agreements that are legally enforceable and that specify all significant terms including minimum quantity, price and term and do not represent total anticipated purchases. (5)Represents the future cash payments related to 2017 Tax Reform, for the one-time provisional transition tax on the Company’s previously untaxed foreign earnings. (6)Total does not include contractual obligations reported as of December 31, 2023 balance sheet as current liabilities, except for current portion of long-term debt, short-term debt and accrued interest. The Company also has liabilities for uncertain tax positions and unrecognized tax benefits. The Company is under audit from time-to-time by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) and other taxing authorities, and it is possible that the amount of the liability for uncertain tax positions and unrecognized tax benefits could change in the coming year. While it is possible that one or more of these examinations may be resolved in the next year, the Company is not able to reasonably estimate the timing or the amount by which the liability will be settled over time; therefore, the $463 million in unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2023, is excluded from the preceding table. See Footnote 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information. Additionally, the Company has obligations with respect to its pension and postretirement benefit plans, which are excluded from the preceding table. The timing and amounts of the funding requirements are uncertain because they are dependent on interest rates and actual returns on plan assets, among other factors. See Footnote 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. At December 31, 2023, the Company had approximately $38 million in standby letters of credit primarily related to the Company’s self-insurance programs, including workers’ compensation, product liability and medical. See Footnote 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. At December 31, 2023, the Company did not have any significant off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K. Critical Accounting Estimates The preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying footnotes. Future events and their effects cannot be determined with absolute certainty. Therefore, the determination 39 of estimates requires the exercise of judgment. Actual results will differ from those estimates, and such differences may be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. The Company’s most critical accounting policies, which are those that have or are reasonably likely to have a material impact on its financial condition and results of operations, are described below. Revenue Recognition The Company recognizes revenue when performance obligations under the terms of a contract with the customer are satisfied or at a point in time, which generally occurs either on shipment or on delivery based on contractual terms, which is also when control is transferred. The Company’s primary performance obligation is the sale and distribution of its consumer and commercial products to its customers. Revenue is measured as the amount of consideration for which it expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or providing services. Certain customers may receive cash and/or non-cash incentives such as cash discounts, returns, credits or reimbursements related to defective products, customer discounts (such as volume or trade discounts), cooperative advertising and other customer-related programs, which are accounted for as variable consideration. In some cases, the Company applies judgment, including contractual rates and historical payment trends, when estimating variable consideration. In addition, the Company participates in various programs and arrangements with customers designed to increase the sale of products by these customers. Among the programs negotiated are arrangements under which allowances are earned by customers for attaining agreed-upon sales levels or for participating in specific marketing programs. Coupon programs are also developed on a customer- and territory-specific basis. Under customer programs and arrangements that require sales incentives to be paid in advance, the Company amortizes the amount paid over the period of benefit or contractual sales volume. When incentives are paid in arrears, the Company accrues the estimated amount to be paid based on the program’s contractual terms, expected customer performance and/or estimated sales volume. These estimates are determined using historical customer experience and other factors, which sometimes require significant judgment. Due to the length of time necessary to obtain relevant data from customers, among other factors, actual amounts paid can differ from these estimates. Sales taxes and other similar taxes are excluded from revenue. The Company has elected to account for shipping and handling activities as a fulfillment cost. The Company also elected not to disclose the value of unsatisfied performance obligations for (i) contracts with an original expected length of one year or less and (ii) contracts for which revenue is recognized at the amount to which the Company has the right to invoice for services performed. Goodwill and Indefinite-Lived Intangibles Goodwill and indefinite-lived intangibles are tested and reviewed for impairment annually during the fourth quarter (on December 1), or more frequently if facts and circumstances warrant. On December 1, 2023, the carrying values for total goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets were $3.1 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. Goodwill Goodwill is tested for impairment at a reporting unit level, and all of the Company’s goodwill is assigned to its reporting units. Reporting units are determined based upon the Company’s organizational structure in place at the date of the goodwill impairment testing and generally one level below the operating segment level. The Company’s operations are comprised of six reporting units, within its three primary operating segments. The quantitative goodwill impairment testing requires significant use of judgment and assumptions, such as the identification of reporting units; the assignment of assets and liabilities to reporting units; and the estimation of future cash flows, business growth rates, terminal values, discount rates and total enterprise value. The income approach used is the discounted cash flow methodology and is based on five-year cash flow projections. The cash flows projected are analyzed on a debt-free basis (before cash payments to equity and interest-bearing debt investors) in order to develop an enterprise value from operations for the reporting unit. A provision is made, based on these projections, for the value of the reporting unit at the end of the forecast period, or terminal value. The present value of the finite-period cash flows and the terminal value are determined using a selected discount rate. The Company estimated the fair values of its reporting units based on discounted cash flow methodology reflecting its latest projections which included, among other things, the impact of significant input cost inflation at the time the Company performed its impairment testing. 40 During the fourth quarter of 2023, in conjunction with its annual impairment testing, the Baby reporting unit in the Learning and Development segment, had a fair value within the 10% of its associated carrying value. A hypothetical 10% reduction in forecasted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization used in the discounted cash flows to estimate the fair value to the Baby reporting unit would have resulted in an impairment charge of approximately $99 million against its goodwill carrying value of $415 million. The Company has experienced headwinds due to soft global demand and an increased focus by retailers to rebalance inventory levels in light of continued inflationary pressures on consumers that impacted the Baby business within the Learning and Development segment. Further declines in anticipated consumer spending or an inability to achieve expected margin improvements on sales of Baby products could result in declines in the fair value of the business that may result in goodwill impairment charges. See Footnotes 1 and 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Indefinite-lived intangibles The testing of indefinite-lived intangibles (primarily trademarks and tradenames) under established guidelines for impairment also requires significant use of judgment and assumptions (such as cash flow projections, royalty rates, terminal values and discount rates). An indefinite-lived intangible asset is impaired by the amount by which its carrying value exceeds its estimated fair value. For impairment testing purposes, the fair value of indefinite-lived intangibles is determined using either the relief from royalty method or the excess earnings method. The relief from royalty method estimates the value of a tradename by discounting the hypothetical avoided royalty payments to their present value over the economic life of the asset. The excess earnings method estimates the value of the intangible asset by quantifying the residual (or excess) cash flows generated by the asset and discounts those cash flows to the present. The excess earnings methodology requires the application of contributory asset charges. Contributory asset charges typically include assumed payments for the use of working capital, tangible assets and other intangible assets. Changes in forecasted operations and other assumptions could materially affect the estimated fair values. Changes in business conditions could potentially require adjustments to these asset valuations. During the fourth quarter of 2023, in conjunction with its annual impairment testing, the Company recorded aggregate non-cash impairment charges of $68 million associated with two tradenames in the Home and Commercial Solutions segments, as the carrying values exceeded their fair values. A hypothetical 10% reduction in the forecasted revenue and residual (excess) cash flows used in the excess earnings method applied in determining the fair value of a tradename and in the relief from royalty method applied in determining the fair value of the other tradename would have resulted in an incremental impairment charge on the Home and Commercial Solutions segment of $54 million. During the fourth quarter of 2023, in conjunction with its annual impairment testing, one tradename in the Learning and Development segment and two tradenames in the Outdoor and Recreation segment, had fair values within 10% of their associated carrying values of $135 million, $35 million and $9 million, respectively. A hypothetical 10% reduction in the forecasted revenue used in the relief from royalty method in determining the fair values of the tradenames would have resulted in an impairment charge of $12 million in the Learning and Development segment and $2 million in the Outdoor and Recreation segment. The Company has experienced headwinds due to soft global demand and an increased focus by retailers to rebalance inventory levels in light of continued inflationary pressures on consumers. The Company expects that current market contraction is reflective of a reset of demand levels. If the demand continues to contract or the business fails to regain lost distribution, additional declines in the fair value of certain tradenames may occur resulting in an impairment charge. Additional impairment testing may be required based on further deterioration of global demand and/or the macroeconomic environment, continued disruptions to the Company’s business, further declines in operating results of the Company’s reporting units and/or tradenames, further sustained deterioration of the Company’s market capitalization, and other factors, which may necessitate changes to estimates or valuation assumptions used in the fair value of the reporting units for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible tradenames. Although management cannot predict when improvements in macroeconomic conditions will occur, if consumer confidence and consumer spending continue to decline significantly in the future or if commercial and industrial economic activity experiences a sustained deterioration from current levels, the Company may be required to record further impairment charges in the future. See Footnotes 1 and 7 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information associated with non-cash indefinite-lived intangibles impairment charges resulting from its annual test and triggering events during 2023. Other Long-Lived Assets The Company continuously evaluates whether impairment indicators related to its property, plant and equipment, operating leases and other long-lived assets are present. These impairment indicators may include a significant decrease in the market price of a long-lived asset or asset group, early termination of an operating lease, a significant adverse change to the extent or manner in which 41 a long-lived asset or asset group is being used or in its physical condition, or a current-period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a forecast that demonstrates continuing losses associated with the use of a long-lived asset or asset group. If impairment indicators are present, the Company estimates the future cash flows for the asset or group of assets. The sum of the undiscounted future cash flows attributable to the asset or group of assets is compared to their carrying amount. The cash flows are estimated utilizing various assumptions regarding future sales and expenses, working capital and proceeds from asset disposals on a basis consistent with the Company’s forecasts. If the carrying amount exceeds the sum of the undiscounted future cash flows, the Company discounts the future cash flows using a discount rate required for a similar investment of like risk and records an impairment charge as the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset group. The Company performs its testing of the asset group at the reporting unit level, as this is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are available, with the exception of the Yankee Candle business, where testing is performed at the retail store level. See Footnotes 6, 7, and 13 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Income Taxes The Company accounts for deferred income taxes using the asset and liability approach. Under this approach, deferred income taxes are recognized based on the tax effects of temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities, as measured by current enacted tax rates. Valuation allowances are recorded to reduce the deferred tax assets to an amount that will more likely than not be realized. The Company’s income tax provisions are based on calculations and assumptions that are subject to examination by various worldwide tax authorities. Although the Company believes that the positions taken on previously filed tax returns are reasonable, it has established tax, interest and penalty reserves in recognition that various taxing authorities may challenge the positions taken, which could result in additional liabilities for taxes, interest and penalties. The Company regularly reviews its deferred tax assets for recoverability considering historical profitability, projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and tax planning strategies. For uncertain tax positions, the Company applies the provisions of relevant authoritative guidance, which requires application of a “more likely than not” threshold to the recognition and derecognition of tax positions. The Company’s ongoing assessments of the more likely than not outcomes of tax authority examinations and related tax positions require significant judgment and can increase or decrease the Company’s effective tax rate, as well as impact operating results. The Company’s provision for income taxes is subject to volatility and could be favorably or adversely affected by earnings being higher or lower in countries that have lower tax rates and higher or lower in countries that have higher tax rates; by changes in the valuation of deferred tax assets and liabilities; by expiration of or lapses in tax-related legislation; by expiration of or lapses in tax incentives; by tax effects of nondeductible compensation; by changes in accounting principles; by liquidity needs driving repatriations of non-U.S. cash to the U.S.; or by changes in tax laws and regulations, including possible U.S. changes to the taxation of earnings of foreign subsidiaries, the deductibility of expenses attributable to foreign income, or the foreign tax credit rules. The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the statutory rate, primarily due to the tax impact of state taxes, foreign tax rates, tax credits, the domestic manufacturing deduction, tax audit settlements and valuation allowance adjustments. Significant judgment is required in evaluating uncertain tax positions, determining valuation allowances recorded against deferred tax assets, and ultimately, the income tax provision. It is difficult to predict when resolution of income tax matters will occur and when recognition of certain income tax assets and liabilities is appropriate, and the Company’s income tax expense in the future may continue to differ from the statutory rate because of the effects of similar items. For example, if items are favorably resolved or management determines a deferred tax asset is realizable that was previously reserved, the Company will recognize period tax benefits. Conversely, to the extent tax matters are unfavorably resolved or management determines a valuation allowance is necessary for a tax asset that was not previously reserved, the Company will recognize incremental period tax expense. These matters are expected to contribute to the tax rate differing from the statutory rate and continued volatility in the Company’s effective tax rate. See Footnote 12 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. 42 Pensions and Postretirement Benefits The Company records annual amounts relating to its pension and postretirement plans based on calculations, which include various actuarial assumptions, including discount rates, assumed rates of return, compensation increases, turnover rates and health care cost trend rates. The Company reviews its actuarial assumptions on an annual basis and makes modifications to the assumptions based on current rates and trends when it is deemed appropriate to do so. The effect of modifications is generally deferred and amortized over future periods. The Company believes that the assumptions utilized in recording its obligations under its plans are reasonable based on its experience, market conditions and the input from its actuaries and investment advisors. The pension and postretirement obligations are measured at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company employs a total return investment approach for its pension and postretirement benefit plans whereby a mix of equities and fixed income investments are used to optimize the long-term return of pension plan assets. The intent of this strategy is to minimize plan expenses by outperforming plan liabilities over the long run. Risk tolerance is established through careful consideration of plan liabilities, plan funded status, and corporate financial condition. The investment portfolios contain a diversified blend of equity and fixed-income investments. Furthermore, equity investments are diversified across geography and market capitalization through investments in U.S. large-capitalization stocks, U.S. small-capitalization stocks and international securities. Investment risk is measured and monitored on an ongoing basis through annual liability measurements, periodic asset/liability studies and quarterly investment portfolio reviews. The expected long-term rate of return for plan assets is based upon many factors including expected asset allocations, historical asset returns, current and expected future market conditions, risk and active management premiums. The target asset allocations for the Company’s domestic pension plans may vary by plan, in part due to plan demographics, funded status and liability duration. In general, the Company’s target asset allocations are as follows: global equities approximately zero to 20%; fixed income approximately 80% to 100%; and cash, alternative investments and other, approximately zero to 10% at December 31, 2023. Actual asset allocations may vary from the targeted allocations for various reasons, including market conditions and the timing of transactions. The Company maintains numerous international defined benefit pension plans. The asset allocations for the international investment may vary by plan and jurisdiction and are primarily based upon the plan structure and plan participant profile. At December 31, 2023, the domestic plan assets were allocated as follows: Equities: approximately 10% and Other Investments (alternative investments, fixed-income securities, cash and other): approximately 90%. Actual asset allocations may vary from the targeted allocations for various reasons, including market conditions and the timing of transactions. For 2023, 2022 and 2021, the actual return (loss) on plan assets for the Company’s U.S. pension plan assets was approximately $57 million, $(220) million and $48 million, respectively, versus an expected return on plan assets of approximately $52 million, $47 million and $51 million, respectively. The actual amount of future contributions will depend, in part, on long-term actual return on assets and future discount rates. Pension contributions for all the Company’s pension plans for 2024 are estimated to be approximately $21 million, as compared to the 2023 contributions of approximately $17 million. The weighted average expected return on plan assets assumption for 2023 was approximately 5.2% for the Company’s pension plans. The weighted average discount rate at the 2023 measurement date used to measure the pension and postretirement benefit obligations was approximately 4.7% and 4.8%, respectively. A 25 basis points decrease in the discount rate at the 2023 measurement date would increase the pension plans’ projected benefit obligation by approximately $22 million. The healthcare cost trend rates used in valuing the Company’s postretirement benefit obligation are established based upon actual healthcare cost trends and consultation with actuaries and benefit providers. At December 31, 2023, the current weighted average healthcare cost trend rate assumption was approximately 5.9%. The current healthcare cost trend rate is assumed to gradually decrease to an ultimate healthcare cost trend rate of 4.5%. See Footnote 11 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Recent Accounting Pronouncements A summary of recent accounting pronouncements is included in Footnote 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. International Operations The Company’s non-U.S. businesses accounted for approximately 37% of net sales for 2023 and 35% of net sales for 2022 and 2021 (see Footnote 17 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). 43 Forward-Looking Statements This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities law. These statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as “intend,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “project,” “target,” “plan,” “expect,” “setting up,” “beginning to,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “resume,” “are confident that,” “remain optimistic that,” “seek to,” or similar statements. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees because there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results. 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: •the Company’s ability to optimize costs and cash flow and mitigate the impact of soft global demand and retailer inventory rebalancing through discretionary and overhead spend management, advertising and promotion expense optimization, demand forecast and supply plan adjustments and actions to improve working capital; •the Company’s dependence on the strength of retail and consumer demand and commercial and industrial sectors of the economy in various countries around the world; •the Company’s ability to improve productivity, reduce complexity and streamline operations; •risks related to the Company’s substantial indebtedness, potential increases in interest rates or changes in the Company’s credit ratings including the failure to maintain financial covenants which if breached could subject us to cross-default and acceleration provisions in our debt documents; •competition with other manufacturers and distributors of consumer products; •major retailers’ strong bargaining power and consolidation of the Company’s customers; •supply chain and operational disruptions in the markets in which we operate, including as a result of geopolitical and macroeconomic conditions and any global military conflicts including those between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East; •changes in the prices and availability of labor, transportation, raw materials and sourced products, including significant inflation, and the Company’s ability to offset cost increases through pricing and productivity in a timely manner; •the Company's ability to effectively execute its turnaround plan, including Project Ovid, Project Phoenix, the Network Optimization Project and the Organizational Realignment; •the Company’s ability to develop innovative new products, to develop, maintain and strengthen end-user brands and to realize the benefits of increased advertising and promotion spend; •the risks inherent to the Company’s foreign operations, including currency fluctuations, exchange controls and pricing restrictions; •future events that could adversely affect the value of the Company’s assets and/or stock price and require additional impairment charges; •unexpected costs or expenses associated with dispositions; •the cost and outcomes of governmental investigations, inspections, lawsuits, legislative requests or other actions by third parties, including but not limited to those described in Footnote 18 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, the potential outcomes of which could exceed policy limits, to the extent insured; •the Company’s ability to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting and to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting; •a failure or breach of one of the Company’s key information technology systems, networks, processes or related controls or those of the Company’s service providers; •the impact of United States and foreign regulations on the Company’s operations, including the impact of tariffs and environmental remediation costs and legislation and regulatory actions related to product safety, data privacy and climate change; •the potential inability to attract, retain and motivate key employees; •changes in tax laws and the resolution of tax contingencies resulting in additional tax liabilities; •product liability, product recalls or related regulatory actions; •the Company’s ability to protect its intellectual property rights; •significant increases in the funding obligations related to the Company’s pension plans; and •other factors listed from time to time in our SEC filings, including but not limited to our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings. The information contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is as of the date indicated. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K as a result of new information or future events or developments. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company has correctly identified and assessed all of the factors affecting the Company or that the publicly available and other information the Company receives with respect to these factors is complete or correct. 44