10-Q 1 shw-2018630_10q.htm 10-Q Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
x
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the Period Ended June 30, 2018
or
o
Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
For the transition period from              to             
Commission file number 1-04851
 
THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
OHIO
34-0526850
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
101 West Prospect Avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio
44115-1075
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
(216) 566-2000
(Registrant’s telephone number including area code)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  x    No  o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one:)
Large accelerated filer
x
 
Accelerated filer
o
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
 
 
 
 
 
Emerging growth company
o
 
 
 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  o    No  x
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practical date.

Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value – 93,381,022 shares as of June 30, 2018.




TABLE OF CONTENTS
 









PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements
THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars, except per share data
 
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
$
4,773,796

 
$
3,735,817

 
$
8,738,802

 
$
6,497,204

Cost of goods sold
2,735,168

 
2,001,200

 
5,013,327

 
3,419,534

Gross profit
2,038,628

 
1,734,617

 
3,725,475

 
3,077,670

Percent to net sales
42.7
%
 
46.4
%
 
42.6
%
 
47.4
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
1,307,861

 
1,153,779

 
2,522,426

 
2,164,800

Percent to net sales
27.4
%
 
30.9
%
 
28.9
%
 
33.3
%
Other general expense - net
26,979

 
1,775

 
29,969

 
2,051

Amortization
73,893

 
28,918

 
158,942

 
35,088

Interest expense
93,507

 
56,729

 
185,054

 
82,424

Interest and net investment income
(559
)
 
(3,091
)
 
(2,177
)
 
(4,371
)
Other income - net
(1,139
)
 
(12,496
)
 
(10,411
)
 
(17,930
)
Income from continuing operations before income taxes
538,086

 
509,003

 
841,672

 
815,608

Income taxes
134,482

 
148,352

 
187,941

 
215,805

Net income from continuing operations
403,604

 
360,651

 
653,731

 
599,803

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss from discontinued operations (see Note 4)


 


 


 


Income taxes


 
41,540

 


 
41,540

Net loss from discontinued operations

 
(41,540
)
 

 
(41,540
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
$
403,604

 
$
319,111

 
$
653,731

 
$
558,263

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
4.34

 
$
3.89

 
$
7.02

 
$
6.47

Discontinued operations

 
(.45
)
 

 
(.45
)
Net income per common share
$
4.34

 
$
3.44

 
$
7.02

 
$
6.02

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted net income per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
4.25

 
$
3.80

 
$
6.86

 
$
6.34

Discontinued operations

 
(.44
)
 

 
(.44
)
Net income per common share
$
4.25

 
$
3.36

 
$
6.86

 
$
5.90

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average shares outstanding - basic
92,926,421

 
92,841,148

 
93,132,993

 
92,695,853

Average shares and equivalents outstanding - diluted
94,884,187

 
94,968,636

 
95,258,956

 
94,697,439

Comprehensive income
196,810

 
349,288

 
$
496,152

 
$
579,378

See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

2



THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars
 
June 30,
2018
 
December 31,
2017
 
June 30,
2017
Assets
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
154,973

 
$
204,213

 
$
210,049

Accounts receivable, less allowance
2,625,066

 
2,104,555

 
2,377,874

Inventories:
 
 
 
 
 
Finished goods
1,443,538

 
1,415,339

 
1,468,671

Work in process and raw materials
431,113

 
386,036

 
386,266

 
1,874,651

 
1,801,375

 
1,854,937

Other current assets
382,515

 
355,697

 
411,141

Total current assets
5,037,205

 
4,465,840

 
4,854,001

Property, plant and equipment:
 
 
 
 
 
Land
245,247

 
254,676

 
259,415

Buildings
919,212

 
962,094

 
961,870

Machinery and equipment
2,589,790

 
2,572,963

 
2,595,633

Construction in progress
143,393

 
177,056

 
134,518

 
3,897,642

 
3,966,789

 
3,951,436

Less allowances for depreciation
2,121,264

 
2,089,674

 
2,061,519

 
1,776,378

 
1,877,115

 
1,889,917

Goodwill
6,994,206

 
6,814,345

 
7,178,113

Intangible assets
5,463,518

 
6,002,361

 
6,002,534

Deferred pension assets
301,664

 
296,743

 
224,695

Other assets
581,761

 
502,023

 
568,138

Total assets
$
20,154,732

 
$
19,958,427

 
$
20,717,398

 
 
 
 
 
 
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
 
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Short-term borrowings
$
650,718

 
$
633,731

 
$
51,904

Accounts payable
2,049,123

 
1,791,552

 
1,783,648

Compensation and taxes withheld
405,762

 
508,166

 
395,867

Accrued taxes
173,022

 
79,901

 
320,890

Current portion of long-term debt
1,179

 
1,179

 
701,101

Other accruals
910,283

 
972,651

 
898,503

Total current liabilities
4,190,087

 
3,987,180

 
4,151,913

Long-term debt
9,722,918

 
9,885,745

 
10,751,284

Postretirement benefits other than pensions
276,796

 
274,675

 
253,434

Deferred income taxes
1,380,370

 
1,434,196

 
2,467,348

Other long-term liabilities
837,472

 
684,443

 
702,159

Shareholders’ equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Common stock—$1.00 par value:
 
 
 
 
 
    93,381,022, 93,883,645 and 93,410,169 shares outstanding
 
 
 
 
 
at June 30, 2018, December 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017, respectively
117,964

 
117,561

 
117,071

Other capital
2,795,196

 
2,723,183

 
2,606,757

Retained earnings
5,997,628

 
5,502,730

 
4,448,788

Treasury stock, at cost
(4,621,250
)
 
(4,266,416
)
 
(4,262,120
)
Cumulative other comprehensive loss
(542,449
)
 
(384,870
)
 
(519,236
)
Total shareholders' equity
3,747,089

 
3,692,188

 
2,391,260

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
20,154,732

 
$
19,958,427

 
$
20,717,398


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

3



THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
Thousands of dollars
 
Six Months Ended
 
June 30,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net income
$
653,731

 
$
558,263

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net operating cash:
 
 
 
Loss from discontinued operations

 
41,540

Depreciation
144,133

 
94,965

Amortization of intangible assets
158,942

 
35,088

Amortization of inventory purchase accounting adjustments

 
36,278

Stock-based compensation expense
36,776

 
35,866

Amortization of credit facility and debt issuance costs
5,513

 
2,940

Provisions for qualified exit costs
9,941

 
12,828

Provisions for environmental-related matters
32,018

 
1,629

Defined benefit pension plans net cost
(868
)
 
10,554

Net change in postretirement liability
996

 
(7,422
)
Deferred income taxes
27,455

 
(6,968
)
Other
(9,995
)
 
(630
)
Change in working capital accounts - net
(471,675
)
 
(239,495
)
Costs incurred for environmental-related matters
(8,473
)
 
(6,059
)
Costs incurred for qualified exit costs
(14,325
)
 
(8,904
)
Other
14,927

 
25,660

Net operating cash
579,096

 
586,133

 
 
 
 
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
(101,826
)
 
(83,635
)
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired and divestiture (see Note 4)

 
(8,806,282
)
Proceeds from sale of assets
14,354

 
37,131

Increase in other investments
(19,511
)
 
(11,444
)
Net investing cash
(106,983
)
 
(8,864,230
)
 
 
 
 
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowings
23,985

 
(228,785
)
Proceeds from long-term debt

 
7,984,375

Payments of long-term debt
(151,794
)
 
(176
)
Payments for credit facility and debt issuance costs
(113
)
 
(45,454
)
Payments of cash dividends
(161,641
)
 
(158,934
)
Proceeds from stock options exercised
33,419

 
79,157

Treasury stock purchased
(334,155
)
 

Other
73,586

 
(26,420
)
Net financing cash
(516,713
)
 
7,603,763

 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
(4,640
)
 
(5,410
)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(49,240
)
 
(679,744
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
204,213

 
889,793

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
154,973

 
$
210,049

 
 
 
 
Income taxes paid
$
95,181

 
$
121,115

Interest paid
185,065

 
31,816


See notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

4



THE SHERWIN-WILLIAMS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
Periods ended June 30, 2018 and 2017
NOTE 1—BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.
There have been no significant changes in critical accounting policies since December 31, 2017, except as described in Note 2. Accounting estimates were revised as necessary during the first six months of 2018 based on new information and changes in facts and circumstances. Certain amounts in the 2017 condensed consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2018 presentation. See Note 2.
The Company primarily uses the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of valuing inventory. An actual valuation of inventory under the LIFO method can be made only at the end of each year based on the inventory levels and costs at that time. Accordingly, interim LIFO calculations are based on management’s estimates of expected year-end inventory levels and costs are subject to the final year-end LIFO inventory valuation. In addition, interim inventory levels include management’s estimates of annual inventory losses due to shrinkage and other factors. For further information on inventory valuations and other matters, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
The consolidated results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2018.
NOTE 2—RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
Adopted in 2018
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2014-09, "Revenue from Contracts with Customers," and all the related amendments (Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 606). ASC 606 consists of a comprehensive revenue recognition standard, which requires the recognition of revenue when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled. The Company adopted the standard using the modified retrospective method and applied it to all contracts. Under the modified retrospective method, the comparative periods are not restated.
The only significant change that resulted from the new revenue standard was that certain advertising support that was previously classified as Selling, general and administrative expenses is now classified as a reduction of revenue. This reclassification had no effect on Net income, and therefore, there was no adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. During the six months ended June 30, 2018, this change resulted in $53.1 million within Consumer Brands Group being recorded as a reduction of Net sales rather than in Selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company does not expect the adoption of the new revenue standard to have a material impact on its Net income on an ongoing basis. Refer to Note 3 for additional information.
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-07, "Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Costs." The standard requires the service component of pension and other postretirement benefit expense to be presented in the same income statement lines as other employee compensation costs, and the other components to be presented outside of operating income. The guidance on the presentation of components of pension and other postretirement benefit expense was adopted retrospectively, as required, and the practical expedient allowing estimates for comparative periods using the information previously disclosed in the pension and other postretirement benefit plan note was elected. The following table summarizes the impact of the standard for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017.

5



(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2018
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
 
Impact of ASU 2017-07
 
As Reported
 
As Previously Reported (Without Adoption of ASU 2017-07)
 
Reclass for ASU 2017-07
 
As Reported in 2018
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of goods sold
 
$
1,489

 
$
5,013,327

 
$
3,416,874

 
$
2,660

 
$
3,419,534

Selling, general and administrative expenses
 
5,958

 
2,522,426

 
2,155,667

 
9,133

 
2,164,800

Other expense (income) - net
 
(7,447
)
 
(10,411
)
 
(6,137
)
 
(11,793
)
 
(17,930
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-01, “Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” which amends the guidance for certain aspects of recognition, measurement and disclosure of financial instruments. As a result of this standard, changes in fair value of available-for-sale marketable securities that were previously recognized in other comprehensive income are now recognized in earnings. In addition, in accordance with the guidance, the Company reclassified its opening unrealized gains balance of $2.3 million to Retained earnings. The adoption of this standard did not have a significant impact on the Company's results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.
Not Yet Adopted
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, "Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income." This ASU allows a reclassification from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings stranded tax effects resulting from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the impact of the standard.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases,” which consists of a comprehensive lease accounting standard. Under the new standard, assets and liabilities arising from most leases will be recognized on the balance sheet. Leases will be classified as either operating or financing, and the lease classification will determine whether expense is recognized on a straight-line basis (operating leases) or based on an effective interest method (financing leases). The new standard is effective for interim and annual periods starting in 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required with certain practical expedients available.  The Company has made significant progress with its assessment process and anticipates this standard will have a material impact on its consolidated balance sheet. While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the standard, it currently believes the most significant impact relates to recording lease assets and related liabilities on the balance sheet for its retail operations in The Americas Group.
NOTE 3REVENUE
The Company manufactures and sells paint, stains, supplies, equipment and floor covering through Company-owned stores, branded and private label products through retailers, and a broad range of industrial coatings directly to global manufacturing customers through company-operated branches. A large portion of the Company’s revenue is recognized at a point in time and made to customers who are not engaged in a long-term supply agreement or any form of contract with the Company. These sales are paid for at the time of sale in cash, credit card, or may be on account with the vast majority of customers having terms between 30 and 60 days, not to exceed one year. Many customers who purchase on account take advantage of early payment discounts offered by paying within 30 days of being invoiced. The Company estimates variable consideration or performs a constraint analysis for these sales on the basis of both historical information and current trends to estimate the expected amount of discounts to which customers are likely to be entitled.
The remaining revenue is governed by long-term supply agreements and related purchase orders (“contracts”) which specify shipping terms and aspects of the transaction price including rebates, discounts and other sales incentives, such as advertising support. Contracts are at standalone pricing. The performance obligation in these contracts is determined by each of the individual purchase orders and the respective stated quantities, with revenue being recognized at a point in time when obligations under the terms of the agreement are satisfied. This generally occurs with the transfer of control of our products to the customer. Sales, value add, and other taxes we collect concurrent with revenue-producing activities are excluded from revenue.

6



Refer to Note 15 for the Company's disaggregation of Net sales by reportable segment. As the reportable segments are aligned by similar economic factors, trends and customers, this disaggregation best depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors.
The Company has made payments or credits for rebates or incentives at the beginning of a long-term contract where future revenue is expected and before satisfaction of performance obligations. Under these circumstances, the Company recognizes a contract asset and amortizes these prepayments over the expected benefit life of the long-term contract typically on a straight-line basis. Management judgment is required when estimating sales-based variable consideration, determining whether it is constrained, measuring obligations for returns, refunds, and determining amortization periods for prepayments.
The majority of variable consideration in the Company’s contracts include a form of volume rebate, discounts, and other incentives, where the customer receives a retrospective percentage rebate based on the amount of their purchases. In these situations, the rebates are accrued as a fixed percentage of sales and recorded as a reduction of net sales until paid to the customer per the terms of the supply agreement. Forms of variable consideration such as tiered rebates, whereby a customer receives a retrospective price decrease dependent on the volume of their purchases, are calculated using a forecasted percentage to determine the most likely amount to accrue. Management creates a baseline calculation using historical sales and then utilizing forecast information, estimates the anticipated sales volume each quarter to calculate the expected reduction to sales. The remainder of the transaction price is fixed as agreed upon with the customer, limiting estimation of revenues including constraints.
The Company’s Accounts receivable and current and long-term contract assets and liabilities are summarized in the following table.
(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts Receivable, Less Allowance
 
Contract
Assets
(Current)
 
Contract
Assets
(Long-Term)
 
Contract Liabilities (Current)
 
Contract Liabilities (Long-Term)
Balance at January 1, 2018
$
2,104,555

 
$
33,031

 
$
135,150

 
$
208,909

 
$
8,745

Balance at June 30, 2018
2,625,066

 
45,678

 
130,805

 
180,369

 
8,745

The difference between the opening and closing balances of the Company’s contract assets and contract liabilities primarily results from the timing difference between the Company’s performance and the customer’s payment.
Provisions for estimated returns are established and the expected costs continue to be recognized as contra-revenue per ASC 606 when the products are sold. With the exception of furniture protection plan sales, the Company only offers an assurance type warranty on products sold, and there is no material service to the customer beyond fixing defects that existed at the time of sale and no warranties are sold separately. Warranty liabilities are excluded from the table above and discussed in Note 7. Amounts reclassified during the quarter from deferred liabilities to Revenue were not material. The Company records a right of return liability within each of its operations to accrue for expected customer returns. Historical actual returns are used to estimate future returns as a percentage of current sales. Obligations for returns and refunds were not material individually or in the aggregate.


7



NOTE 4ACQUISITIONS
On June 1, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of The Valspar Corporation (Valspar) at $113 per share in an all cash transaction for a total purchase price of $8.9 billion, net of divestiture proceeds of $431.0 million (Acquisition). On April 11, 2017, the Company and Valspar entered into a definitive agreement with Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. to divest the assets related to Valspar's North American industrial wood coatings business. The divestiture was also completed on June 1, 2017, and is reported as a discontinued operation with no pre-tax gain or loss but includes the tax expense effect of this separate transaction. Proceeds of $431.0 million were received for the divested assets sold. The divestiture resulted in a tax provision of $41.5 million, which reduced basic and diluted net income per common share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 by $.45 and $.44, respectively. The Acquisition expanded the Company's diversified array of brands and technologies, expanded its global platform and added new capabilities in its packaging and coil businesses. See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 for additional information.
The preliminary and final allocation of the fair value of the Acquisition is summarized in the following table. The allocation of the fair value is based on the acquisition method of accounting and third-party valuation appraisals.
(Millions of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Preliminary Allocation
 (as reported at March 31, 2018)
 
Measurement Period Adjustments
 
Final Allocation
(as reported at June 30, 2018)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash
 
$
129.1

 
$

 
$
129.1

Accounts receivable
 
817.5

 

 
817.5

Inventories
 
684.4

 

 
684.4

Indefinite-lived trademarks
 
775.9

 
(161.6
)
 
614.3

Finite-lived intangible assets
 
5,071.8

 
(148.9
)
 
4,922.9

Goodwill
 
5,654.4

 
234.4

 
5,888.8

Property, plant and equipment
 
841.0

 
(0.3
)
 
840.7

All other assets
 
231.3

 
3.8

 
235.1

Accounts payable
 
(553.2
)
 

 
(553.2
)
Long-term debt
 
(1,603.5
)
 

 
(1,603.5
)
Deferred taxes
 
(2,015.3
)
 
99.4

 
(1,915.9
)
All other liabilities
 
(1,094.0
)
 
(26.8
)
 
(1,120.8
)
Total
 
$
8,939.4

 
$

 
$
8,939.4

Total, net of cash
 
$
8,810.3

 
$

 
$
8,810.3

Finite-lived intangible assets include customer relationships of $3.2 billion and intellectual property and technology of $1.7 billion, which are being amortized over weighted average amortization periods ranging from 15 to 20 years. The measurement period adjustments for finite-lived intangible assets resulted in a $7.7 million reduction of amortization expense in the three months ended June 20, 2018 that related to prior periods ($5.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 and $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018). Goodwill of $2.0 billion, $1.1 billion, and $2.8 billion was recorded in The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group, and Performance Coatings Group, respectively, and relates primarily to expected synergies.
The Company's Net sales and Net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 included net sales of $1.216 billion and $2.284 billion, respectively, and a profit before tax of $108.9 million and $189.1 million, respectively, related to the operations of the Acquisition. Net income for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 included Acquisition-related costs and purchase accounting amortization impacts of $115.4 million and $235.2 million, respectively, and Acquisition-related interest expense of $69.1 million and $137.7 million, respectively.
The Company's Net sales and Net income from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 included net sales of $381.0 million and a profit before tax of $46.6 million related to the operations of the Acquisition. Net income from continuing operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017 included Acquisition-related costs of $85.4 million and $93.4 million, respectively, and Acquisition-related interest expense of $36.5 million and $41.5 million, respectively.

8



The following pro forma information presents consolidated financial information as if Valspar had been acquired at the beginning of 2017. Pro forma adjustments have been made to exclude Valspar's divested North American industrial wood coatings business results and certain transaction and integration costs from all periods presented. Interest expense has been adjusted as though total debt related to the Acquisition had been outstanding at January 1, 2017. Amortization of acquired intangibles and fixed asset step-ups has been adjusted as though the amortization period started January 1, 2017. The $54.9 million amortization of inventory cost increases resulting from the purchase accounting has been included in 2017 to reflect the pro forma transaction date of January 1, 2017. The unaudited pro forma consolidated financial information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred had the Acquisition taken place on January 1, 2017, nor is it meant to be indicative of future results of operations of the combined companies under the ownership and operation of the Company.
(Thousands of dollars except per share data)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
$
4,773,796

 
$
4,439,801

 
$
8,738,802

 
$
8,148,329

Net income from continuing operations
426,077

 
399,817

 
708,982

 
550,527

Net income per common share from continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
4.59

 
$
4.31

 
$
7.61

 
$
5.94

Diluted
$
4.49

 
$
4.21

 
$
7.44

 
$
5.81

NOTE 5—DIVIDENDS
Dividends paid on common stock during each of the first two quarters of 2018 and 2017 were $.86 per common share and $.85 per common share, respectively.
NOTE 6—CHANGES IN CUMULATIVE OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
The following tables summarize the changes in Cumulative other comprehensive loss for the six months ended June 30, 2018 and 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Adjustments
 
Unrealized Net Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized Net Gains on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Total Cumulative Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Balance at December 31, 2017
$
(353,346
)
 
$
(84,863
)
 
$
2,320

 
$
51,019

 
$
(384,870
)
Amounts recognized in Other comprehensive loss 
(152,296
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(152,296
)
Amounts reclassified from Other comprehensive loss (1)


 
(65
)
 
(2,320
)
 
(2,898
)
 
(5,283
)
Net change
(152,296
)
 
(65
)
 
(2,320
)
 
(2,898
)
 
(157,579
)
Balance at June 30, 2018
$
(505,642
)
 
$
(84,928
)
 
$

 
$
48,121

 
$
(542,449
)

(1) Net of taxes of $505 for pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, $760 for realized gains on the sale of available-for-sale securities and $1,195 for realized gains on cash flow hedges.


9



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments
 
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Adjustments
 
Unrealized Net Gains on Available-for-Sale Securities
 
Unrealized Net Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges
 
Total Cumulative Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income
Balance at December 31, 2016
$
(501,277
)
 
$
(125,096
)
 
$
1,015

 
$
85,007

 
$
(540,351
)
Amounts recognized in Other comprehensive loss (1)
51,250

 
 
 
870

 
(30,754
)
 
21,366

Amounts reclassified from Other comprehensive loss (2)
 
 
385

 
8

 
(644
)
 
(251
)
Net change
51,250

 
385

 
878

 
(31,398
)
 
21,115

Balance at June 30, 2017
$
(450,027
)
 
$
(124,711
)
 
$
1,893

 
$
53,609

 
$
(519,236
)

(1) Net of taxes of $(537) for unrealized net gains on available-for-sale securities and $18,895 for unrealized net losses on cash flow hedges.
(2) Net of taxes of $(195) for pension and other postretirement benefit adjustments, $(5) for realized losses on the sale of available-for-sale securities and $396 for realized gains on cash flow hedges.
NOTE 7—PRODUCT WARRANTIES
Changes in the Company’s accrual for product warranty claims during the first six months of 2018 and 2017, including customer satisfaction settlements, were as follows:
 
(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
2018
 
2017
Balance at January 1
$
151,425

 
$
34,419

Charges to expense
14,639

 
16,434

Settlements
(8,185
)
 
(16,698
)
Acquisition and other adjustments
(15,309
)
 
110,461

Balance at June 30
$
142,570

 
$
144,616


Warranty accruals acquired in connection with the Acquisition include warranties for certain products under extended furniture protection plans. In the U.S., revenue related to furniture protection plans is deferred and recognized over the life of the contract.
For further details on the Company’s accrual for product warranty claims, see Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.


10



NOTE 8—EXIT OR DISPOSAL ACTIVITIES
Liabilities associated with exit or disposal activities are recognized as incurred in accordance with the Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations Topic of the ASC. Qualified exit costs primarily include post-closure rent expenses, incremental post-closure costs and costs of employee terminations. Adjustments may be made to liabilities accrued for qualified exit costs if information becomes available upon which more accurate amounts can be reasonably estimated. Concurrently, property, plant and equipment is tested for impairment in accordance with the Property, Plant and Equipment Topic of the ASC, and if impairment exists, the carrying value of the related assets is reduced to estimated fair value. Additional impairment may be recorded for subsequent revisions in estimated fair value.
In the six months ended June 30, 2018, eleven stores in The Americas Group and six branches in the Performance Coatings Group were closed due to lower demand or redundancy. The Company continues to evaluate all legacy operations in response to the Acquisition in order to optimize restructured operations. These Acquisition-related restructuring charges to date are recorded in the Administrative segment as presented in the table below. The following table summarizes the activity and remaining liabilities associated with qualified exit costs at June 30, 2018:
(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provisions
 
 Actual
 
 
 
 
Balance at
 
in Cost of
 
Expenditures
 
Balance at
 
 
December 31,
 
Goods Sold
 
Charged to
 
June 30,
Exit Plan
 
2017
 
or SG&A
 
Accrual
 
2018
Administrative segment Acquisition-related restructuring:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Severance and related costs
 
$
6,019

 
$
7,800

 
$
(10,961
)
 
$
2,858

Other qualified exit costs
 
5,541

 

 
(2,501
)
 
3,040

Performance Coatings Group facilities shutdown in 2018:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other qualified exit costs
 
 
 
1,495

 
(45
)
 
1,450

Performance Coatings Group branches shutdown in 2017:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Severance and related costs
 
14

 
286

 
(118
)
 
182

Other qualified exit costs
 
121

 
360

 
(95
)
 
386

Consumer Brands Group facilities shutdown in 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Severance and related costs
 
21

 

 
(21
)
 

Performance Coatings Group branches shutdown in 2016:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other qualified exit costs
 
111

 

 
(41
)
 
70

Severance and other qualified exit costs for facilities shutdown prior to 2016
 
1,558

 


 
(543
)
 
1,015

Totals
 
$
13,385

 
$
9,941


$
(14,325
)
 
$
9,001

For further details on the Company’s exit or disposal activities, see Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.



11



NOTE 9HEALTH CARE, PENSION AND OTHER BENEFITS
Shown below are the components of the Company’s net periodic benefit (credit) cost for domestic defined benefit pension plans, foreign defined benefit pension plans and postretirement benefits other than pensions:
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Domestic Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
 
Foreign Defined
Benefit Pension Plans
 
Postretirement
Benefits Other than
Pensions
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Three Months Ended June 30:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
1,158

 
$
5,459

 
$
2,016

 
$
2,287

 
$
499

 
$
471

Interest cost
8,540

 
7,191

 
2,351

 
1,864

 
2,544

 
2,593

Expected return on assets
(14,382
)
 
(11,299
)
 
(2,685
)
 
(2,008
)
 
 
 
 
Recognition of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Unrecognized prior service cost
406

 
340

 


 


 
(1,642
)
 
(1,645
)
Unrecognized actuarial loss


 
1,662

 
383

 
(97
)
 
582

 
5

     Ongoing pension (credit) cost
(4,278
)
 
3,353

 
2,065

 
2,046

 
1,983

 
1,424

Settlements


 


 
 
 


 


 
(9,332
)
Net pension (credit) cost
$
(4,278
)
 
$
3,353

 
$
2,065

 
$
2,046

 
$
1,983

 
$
(7,908
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Service cost
$
5,515

 
$
10,772

 
$
4,032

 
$
4,205

 
$
997

 
$
1,014

Interest cost
16,692

 
13,601

 
4,703

 
3,502

 
5,089

 
5,236

Expected return on assets
(28,816
)
 
(21,608
)
 
(5,370
)
 
(3,772
)
 
 
 
 
Recognition of:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Unrecognized prior service cost
785

 
681

 
 
 
 
 
(3,284
)
 
(3,290
)
Unrecognized actuarial loss


 
3,323

 
766

 
(150
)
 
1,163

 
16

Ongoing pension (credit) cost
(5,824
)
 
6,769

 
4,131

 
3,785

 
3,965

 
2,976

Settlements and curtailments
825

 
 
 


 
 
 


 
(9,332
)
Net periodic benefit (credit) cost
$
(4,999
)
 
$
6,769

 
$
4,131

 
$
3,785

 
$
3,965

 
$
(6,356
)
Service cost is recorded in Cost of goods sold and Selling, general and administrative expenses. All other components are recorded in Other income - net. See Note 2 for information on the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07.
During the first quarter of 2018, the Company's domestic defined benefit plan was split into two separate overfunded plans: one that will continue to operate (Ongoing Plan) and one that will be terminated (Terminating Plan). The Company provided notice to participants of the Terminating Plan of the intent to terminate the plan and applied for a determination letter. The Terminating Plan was frozen as of March 31, 2018, which resulted in a curtailment expense. During the second quarter of 2018, the Terminating Plan was terminated. The Company has begun the process of winding up the Terminating Plan, which will include settling plan liabilities by offering lump sum distributions to plan participants or purchasing annuity contracts for those who either do not elect lump sums or are already receiving benefit payments. The Company's settlement obligation will depend on the nature of participant settlements and the prevailing market conditions.
The settlement gain recognized in the second quarter of 2017 relates to the termination of a life insurance benefit plan.
For further details on the Company’s health care, pension and other benefits, see Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.


12



NOTE 10—OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
The Company initially provides for estimated costs of environmental-related activities relating to its past operations and third party sites for which commitments or clean-up plans have been developed and when such costs can be reasonably estimated based on industry standards and professional judgment. These estimated costs are determined based on currently available facts regarding each site. If the best estimate of costs can only be identified as a range and no specific amount within that range can be determined more likely than any other amount within the range, the minimum of the range is provided. At June 30, 2018, the unaccrued maximum of the estimated range of possible outcomes is $101.5 million higher than the minimum.
The Company continuously assesses its potential liability for investigation and remediation-related activities and adjusts its environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated and as additional accounting guidelines are issued. Actual costs incurred may vary from these estimates due to the inherent uncertainties involved including, among others, the number and financial condition of parties involved with respect to any given site, the volumetric contribution which may be attributed to the Company relative to that attributed to other parties, the nature and magnitude of the wastes involved, the various technologies that can be used for remediation and the determination of acceptable remediation with respect to a particular site.
Included in Other long-term liabilities at June 30, 2018 and 2017 were accruals for extended environmental-related activities of $215.1 million and $160.2 million, respectively. Estimated costs of current investigation and remediation activities of $27.0 million and $30.4 million are included in Other accruals at June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
Four of the Company’s currently and formerly owned manufacturing sites account for the majority of the accrual for environmental-related activities and the unaccrued maximum of the estimated range of possible outcomes at June 30, 2018. At June 30, 2018, $189.5 million, or 78.3 percent of the total accrual, related directly to these four sites. In the aggregate unaccrued maximum of $101.5 million at June 30, 2018, $85.1 million, or 83.8 percent, related to the four manufacturing sites. While environmental investigations and remedial actions are in different stages at these sites, additional investigations, remedial actions and monitoring will likely be required at each site.
Management cannot presently estimate the ultimate potential loss contingencies related to these sites or other less significant sites until such time as a substantial portion of the investigation at the sites is completed and remedial action plans are developed. In the event any future loss contingency significantly exceeds the current amount accrued, the recording of the ultimate liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which the additional costs are accrued. Management does not believe that any potential liability ultimately attributed to the Company for its environmental-related matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, liquidity, or cash flow due to the extended period of time during which environmental investigation and remediation takes place. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s operations cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.
Management expects these contingent environmental-related liabilities to be resolved over an extended period of time. Management is unable to provide a more specific time frame due to the indefinite amount of time to conduct investigation activities at any site, the indefinite amount of time to obtain environmental agency approval, as necessary, with respect to investigation and remediation activities, and the indefinite amount of time necessary to conduct remediation activities.
For further details on the Company’s Other long-term liabilities, see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
NOTE 11 – LITIGATION
In the course of its business, the Company is subject to a variety of claims and lawsuits, including, but not limited to, litigation relating to product liability and warranty, personal injury, environmental, intellectual property, commercial, contractual and antitrust claims that are inherently subject to many uncertainties regarding the possibility of a loss to the Company. These uncertainties will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur confirming the incurrence of a liability or the reduction of a liability. In accordance with the Contingencies Topic of the ASC, the Company accrues for these contingencies by a charge to income when it is both probable that one or more future events will occur confirming the fact of a loss and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. In the event that the Company’s loss contingency is ultimately determined to be significantly higher than currently accrued, the recording of the additional liability may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such additional liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded because it is not probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount of any such loss cannot be reasonably estimated, any potential liability ultimately determined to be attributable to the Company may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. In those cases where no accrual is recorded or

13



exposure to loss exists in excess of the amount accrued, the Contingencies Topic of the ASC requires disclosure of the contingency when there is a reasonable possibility that a loss or additional loss may have been incurred.
Lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. The Company’s past operations included the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The Company, along with other companies, is and has been a defendant in a number of legal proceedings, including individual personal injury actions, purported class actions, and actions brought by various counties, cities, school districts and other government-related entities, arising from the manufacture and sale of lead pigments and lead-based paints. The plaintiffs’ claims have been based upon various legal theories, including negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentations and omissions, fraudulent misrepresentations and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy, violations of unfair trade practice and consumer protection laws, enterprise liability, market share liability, public nuisance, unjust enrichment and other theories. The plaintiffs seek various damages and relief, including personal injury and property damage, costs relating to the detection and abatement of lead-based paint from buildings, costs associated with a public education campaign, medical monitoring costs and others. The Company has also been a defendant in legal proceedings arising from the manufacture and sale of non-lead-based paints that seek recovery based upon various legal theories, including the failure to adequately warn of potential exposure to lead during surface preparation when using non-lead-based paint on surfaces previously painted with lead-based paint. The Company believes that the litigation brought to date is without merit or subject to meritorious defenses and is vigorously defending such litigation. The Company has not settled any material lead pigment or lead-based paint litigation. The Company expects that additional lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation may be filed against the Company in the future asserting similar or different legal theories and seeking similar or different types of damages and relief.
Notwithstanding the Company’s views on the merits, litigation is inherently subject to many uncertainties, and the Company ultimately may not prevail. Adverse court rulings or determinations of liability, among other factors, could affect the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation against the Company and encourage an increase in the number and nature of future claims and proceedings. In addition, from time to time, various legislation and administrative regulations have been enacted, promulgated or proposed to impose obligations on present and former manufacturers of lead pigments and lead-based paints respecting asserted health concerns associated with such products or to overturn the effect of court decisions in which the Company and other manufacturers have been successful.
Due to the uncertainties involved, management is unable to predict the outcome of the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation, the number or nature of possible future claims and proceedings or the effect that any legislation and/or administrative regulations may have on the litigation or against the Company. In addition, management cannot reasonably determine the scope or amount of the potential costs and liabilities related to such litigation, or resulting from any such legislation and regulations. The Company has not accrued any amounts for such litigation. With respect to such litigation, with the exception of the public nuisance litigation in California discussed below, the Company does not believe that it is probable that a loss has occurred, and it is not possible to estimate the range of potential losses as there is no prior history of a loss of this nature and there is no substantive information upon which an estimate could be based. In addition, any potential liability that may result from any changes to legislation and regulations cannot reasonably be estimated. In the event any significant liability is determined to be attributable to the Company relating to such litigation, the recording of the liability may result in a material impact on net income for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued. Additionally, due to the uncertainties associated with the amount of any such liability and/or the nature of any other remedy which may be imposed in such litigation, any potential liability determined to be attributable to the Company arising out of such litigation may have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition. An estimate of the potential impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition cannot be made due to the aforementioned uncertainties.
Public nuisance claim litigation. The Company and other companies are or were defendants in legal proceedings seeking recovery based on public nuisance liability theories, among other theories, brought by the State of Rhode Island, the City of St. Louis, Missouri, various cities and counties in the State of New Jersey, various cities in the State of Ohio and the State of Ohio, the City of Chicago, Illinois, the City of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the County of Santa Clara, California and other public entities in the State of California. Except for the Santa Clara County, California proceeding, all of these legal proceedings have been concluded in favor of the Company and other defendants at various stages in the proceedings.
The proceedings initiated by the State of Rhode Island included two jury trials. At the conclusion of the second trial, the jury returned a verdict finding that (i) the cumulative presence of lead pigment in paints and coatings on buildings in the State of Rhode Island constitutes a public nuisance, (ii) the Company, along with two other defendants, caused or substantially contributed to the creation of the public nuisance and (iii) the Company and two other defendants should be ordered to abate the public nuisance. The Company and two other defendants appealed and, on July 1, 2008, the Rhode Island Supreme Court, among other determinations, reversed the judgment of abatement with respect to the Company and two other defendants. The Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decision reversed the public nuisance liability judgment against the Company on the basis that the complaint failed to state a public nuisance claim as a matter of law.

14



The Santa Clara County, California proceeding was initiated in March 2000 in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Santa Clara. In the original complaint, the plaintiffs asserted various claims including fraud and concealment, strict product liability/failure to warn, strict product liability/design defect, negligence, negligent breach of a special duty, public nuisance, private nuisance, and violations of California’s Business and Professions Code. A number of the asserted claims were resolved in favor of the defendants through pre-trial proceedings. The named plaintiffs in the Fourth Amended Complaint, filed on March 16, 2011, are the Counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Los Angeles, Monterey, San Mateo, Solano and Ventura, the Cities of Oakland and San Diego and the City and County of San Francisco. The Fourth Amended Complaint asserted a sole claim for public nuisance, alleging that the presence of lead pigments for use in paint and coatings in, on and around residences in the plaintiffs’ jurisdictions constitutes a public nuisance. The plaintiffs sought the abatement of the alleged public nuisance that exists within the plaintiffs’ jurisdictions. A trial commenced on July 15, 2013 and ended on August 22, 2013. The court entered final judgment on January 27, 2014, finding in favor of the plaintiffs and against the Company and two other defendants (ConAgra Grocery Products Company and NL Industries, Inc.). The final judgment held the Company jointly and severally liable with the other two defendants to pay $1.15 billion into a fund to abate the public nuisance. The Company strongly disagrees with the judgment.
On February 18, 2014, the Company filed a motion for new trial and a motion to vacate the judgment. The court denied these motions on March 24, 2014. On March 28, 2014, the Company filed a notice of appeal to the Sixth District Court of Appeal for the State of California. Oral argument before the Sixth District Court of Appeal was held on August 24, 2017. On November 14, 2017, the Sixth District Court of Appeal entered its decision, which affirmed the trial court’s judgment of liability with respect to residences built before 1951 and reversed and vacated the trial court’s judgment with respect to residences built after 1950. The Sixth District Court of Appeal directed the trial court to: (i) recalculate the amount of the abatement fund to limit the fund to the amount necessary to cover the cost of inspecting and remediating pre-1951 residences; and (ii) hold an evidentiary hearing to appoint a suitable receiver. On November 29, 2017, the Company and the two other defendants filed separate Petitions for Rehearing, which the Sixth District Court of Appeal denied on December 6, 2017. The Sixth District Court of Appeal’s decision became final on December 14, 2017. On December 22, 2017, the Company and the two other defendants submitted separate Petitions for Review to the California Supreme Court. On February 14, 2018, the California Supreme Court issued an order denying the Petitions for Review.
On April 17, 2018, the parties filed their briefs with the trial court regarding the recalculation of the amount of the abatement fund. The plaintiffs proposed $730.00 million as the amount of the abatement fund, and the Company and the other two defendants jointly proposed a maximum amount of no more than $409.05 million. On May 17, 2018, NL Industries filed a Motion for Good Faith Settlement, which the Company and ConAgra opposed. The trial court held a hearing on NL Industries’ Motion for Good Faith Settlement on July 12, 2018, and the parties are awaiting the trial court’s decision. At such hearing, the trial court scheduled an August 17, 2018 case management conference to announce a decision on the amount of the abatement fund. On July 16, 2018, the Company filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari with the Supreme Court of the United States seeking discretionary review. The Company expects the Supreme Court of the United States to decide whether to accept the case during the fourth quarter of 2018. The Company believes that the judgment conflicts with established principles of law and is unsupported by the evidence.
Although the Company believes it is probable that a loss has occurred, the Company has concluded that it is not possible to reasonably estimate the range of potential loss due to the numerous possible outcomes and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, (i) the final amount of the abatement fund necessary to cover the cost of inspecting and remediating pre-1951 residences, as recalculated by the trial court, and (ii) the portion of the abatement fund for which the Company, the two other defendants and others are determined to be responsible. If the Company concludes that it is possible to reasonably estimate the range of potential loss once more definitive information becomes available, the Company will recognize the loss and disclose such information. Because of joint and several liability, it is possible the Company could ultimately be liable for the total amount of the abatement fund. In the event any significant liability is determined to be attributable to the Company relating to such litigation, the recording of any liability may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued.
Litigation seeking damages from alleged personal injury. The Company and other companies are defendants in a number of legal proceedings seeking monetary damages and other relief from alleged personal injuries. These proceedings include claims by children allegedly injured from ingestion of lead pigment or lead-containing paint and claims for damages allegedly incurred by the children’s parents or guardians. These proceedings generally seek compensatory and punitive damages, and seek other relief including medical monitoring costs. These proceedings include purported claims by individuals, groups of individuals and class actions.
The plaintiff in Thomas v. Lead Industries Association, et al., initiated an action in state court against the Company, other alleged former lead pigment manufacturers and the Lead Industries Association in September 1999. The claims against the Company and the other defendants included strict liability, negligence, negligent misrepresentation and omissions, fraudulent

15



misrepresentation and omissions, concert of action, civil conspiracy and enterprise liability. Implicit within these claims is the theory of “risk contribution” liability (Wisconsin’s theory which is similar to market share liability, except that liability can be joint and several) due to the plaintiff’s inability to identify the manufacturer of any product that allegedly injured the plaintiff. The case ultimately proceeded to trial and, on November 5, 2007, the jury returned a defense verdict, finding that the plaintiff had ingested white lead carbonate, but was not brain damaged or injured as a result. The plaintiff appealed and, on December 16, 2010, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals affirmed the final judgment in favor of the Company and other defendants.
Wisconsin is the only jurisdiction to date to apply a theory of liability with respect to alleged personal injury (i.e., risk contribution/market share liability) that does not require the plaintiff to identify the manufacturer of the product that allegedly injured the plaintiff in the lead pigment and lead-based paint litigation. Although the risk contribution liability theory was applied during the Thomas trial, the constitutionality of this theory as applied to the lead pigment cases has not been judicially determined by the Wisconsin state courts. However, in an unrelated action filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, Gibson v. American Cyanamid, et al., on November 15, 2010, the District Court held that Wisconsin’s risk contribution theory as applied in that case violated the defendants’ right to substantive due process and is unconstitutionally retroactive. The District Court's decision in Gibson v. American Cyanamid, et al., was appealed by the plaintiff to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On July 24, 2014, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed the judgment and remanded the case back to the District Court for further proceedings. On January 16, 2015, the defendants filed a petition for certiorari in the United States Supreme Court seeking that Court's review of the Seventh Circuit's decision, and on May 18, 2015, the United States Supreme Court denied the defendants' petition. The case is currently pending in the District Court. Three cases also are pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin (Ravon Owens v. American Cyanamid, et al., Cesar Sifuentes v. American Cyanamid, et al., and Glenn Burton, Jr. v. American Cyanamid, et al.) in which dispositive motions have been filed and are currently pending. In Maniya Allen, et al. v. American Cyanamid, et al., also pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, cases involving six of the 146 plaintiffs were selected for discovery. In Dijonae Trammell, et al. v. American Cyanamid, et al., also pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, discovery for one of the three plaintiffs was consolidated with the six Allen cases referenced above. The parties have selected four of the cases to proceed to expert discovery and to prepare for trial. Discovery has been stayed pending the Court's disposition of the pending dispositive motions in the Burton, Owens and Sifuentes cases. No trial dates have been set by the District Court.
Insurance coverage litigation. The Company and its liability insurers, including certain underwriters at Lloyd’s of London, initiated legal proceedings against each other to primarily determine, among other things, whether the costs and liabilities associated with the abatement of lead pigment are covered under certain insurance policies issued to the Company. The Company’s action, filed on March 3, 2006 in the Common Pleas Court, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, is currently stayed and inactive. The liability insurers’ action, which was filed on February 23, 2006 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York, has been dismissed. An ultimate loss in the insurance coverage litigation would mean that insurance proceeds could be unavailable under the policies at issue to mitigate any ultimate abatement related costs and liabilities. The Company has not recorded any assets related to these insurance policies or otherwise assumed that proceeds from these insurance policies would be received in estimating any contingent liability accrual. Therefore, an ultimate loss in the insurance coverage litigation without a determination of liability against the Company in the lead pigment or lead-based paint litigation will have no impact on the Company’s results of operation, liquidity or financial condition. As previously stated, however, the Company has not accrued any amounts for the lead pigment or lead-based paint litigation and any significant liability ultimately determined to be attributable to the Company relating to such litigation may result in a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, liquidity or financial condition for the annual or interim period during which such liability is accrued.
NOTE 12—OTHER
Other general expense - net
Included in Other general expense - net were the following:
(Thousands of dollars)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Provisions for environmental matters - net
$
31,253

 
$
1,110

 
$
32,018

 
$
1,629

(Gain) loss on sale or disposition of assets
(4,274
)
 
665

 
(2,049
)
 
422

Total
$
26,979

 
$
1,775

 
$
29,969

 
$
2,051


16



Provisions for environmental matters - net represent site-specific increases or decreases to environmental-related accruals as information becomes available upon which more accurate costs can be reasonably estimated and as additional accounting guidelines are issued. Environmental-related accruals are not recorded net of insurance proceeds in accordance with the Offsetting Subtopic of the Balance Sheet Topic of the ASC. See Note 10 for further details on the Company’s environmental-related activities.
The (gain) loss on sale or disposition of assets represents net realized (gains) losses associated with the sale or disposal of fixed assets previously used in the conduct of the primary business of the Company.
Other income - net
Included in Other income - net were the following:
 
(Thousands of dollars)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Dividend and royalty income
$
(1,521
)
 
$
(1,198
)
 
$
(2,972
)
 
$
(3,042
)
Net expense from banking activities
2,450

 
2,513

 
4,686

 
4,985

Foreign currency transaction related losses (gains)
5,626

 
976

 
3,164

 
(2,610
)
Miscellaneous pension income
(3,903
)
 
(10,726
)
 
(7,447
)
 
(11,793
)
Other income
(6,999
)
 
(5,937
)
 
(14,108
)
 
(10,897
)
Other expense
3,208

 
1,876

 
6,266

 
5,427

Total
$
(1,139
)
 
$
(12,496
)
 
$
(10,411
)
 
$
(17,930
)
Foreign currency transaction related losses (gains) represent net realized losses (gains) on U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and net realized and unrealized losses (gains) from foreign currency option and forward contracts. There were no material foreign currency option and forward contracts outstanding at June 30, 2018 and 2017.
Miscellaneous pension income consists of the non-service components of net pension costs (credits). See Note 2 for information on the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 and Note 9 for the detail of net pension costs (credits).
Other income and Other expense included items of revenue, gains, expenses and losses that were unrelated to the primary business purpose of the Company. There were no other items within the other income or other expense caption that were individually significant.

17



NOTE 13—INCOME TAXES
The effective tax rate for income from continuing operations was 25.0 percent and 22.3 percent for the second quarter and first six months of 2018, respectively, compared to 29.1 percent and 26.5 percent for the second quarter and first six months of 2017, respectively. The decrease in the effective tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2018 compared to 2017 was primarily due to the overall favorable impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Tax Act). The Company received favorable tax benefits from the reduction in the corporate domestic income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent and a deduction related to foreign-derived intangible income. The Company also received an income tax benefit relating to an increase in the tax basis of the assets of various foreign subsidiaries in the second quarter of 2018. These benefits were partially offset by a $27.5 million reversal of tax benefits recorded in the fourth quarter of 2017 primarily related to the Tax Act due to purchase accounting adjustments made in the second quarter of 2018 related to the Acquisition. The Tax Act’s elimination of the domestic manufacturing deduction, a reduction in allowable foreign tax credits and a decreased benefit related to international tax rate differences also negatively impacted the effective tax rate for the second quarter and first six months of 2018. The Company recorded an income tax provision of $41.5 million in the second quarter of 2017 related to the divestiture of Valspar's North American industrial wood coatings business, which is reported as a discontinued operation. See Note 4.
In accordance with Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB) No. 118, based on the information available as of December 31, 2017, the Company recorded a provisional reduction of income taxes of $607.9 million as a result of the Tax Act. The Company's deferred tax liabilities were reduced by $560.2 million due to the lower income tax rate. The remaining $47.7 million is the effects of the implementation of the territorial tax system and the remeasurement of U.S. deferred tax liabilities on unremitted foreign earnings. The final impact of the Tax Act may differ from the provisional amounts recorded at December 31, 2017, due to, among other things, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, guidance that may be issued and actions the Company may take as a result of the Tax Act. During the second quarter of 2018, the Company made purchase accounting adjustments related to the Acquisition which resulted in the reversal of $27.5 million of income tax benefits related to the remeasurement of U.S. deferred tax liabilities.
At December 31, 2017, the Company had $59.0 million in unrecognized tax benefits, the recognition of which would have an effect of $49.5 million on the effective tax rate. Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2017 was $5.2 million related to tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that the total amounts could significantly change during the next twelve months. This amount represents a decrease in unrecognized tax benefits comprised primarily of items related to federal audits of partnership investments and expiring statutes in federal, foreign and state jurisdictions. During the first six months of 2018, the Company added an additional $20.8 million of unrecognized tax benefits primarily due to purchase accounting adjustments related to the Acquisition.
The Company classifies all income tax related interest and penalties as income tax expense. At December 31, 2017, the Company had accrued $14.6 million for the potential payment of income tax interest and penalties. During the first six months of 2018, the Company added an additional $8.4 million of tax-related interest and penalties, primarily due to purchase accounting adjustments related to the Acquisition.
The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various state and foreign jurisdictions. The IRS is currently auditing the Company's 2014 and 2015 income tax returns, as well as the 2014 and 2015 tax years of a Valspar subsidiary. No significant adjustments have been proposed by the IRS. The IRS and the Joint Committee of Taxation have approved refund claims for the 2010, 2011 and 2012 tax years. The Company will receive approximately $7.5 million of tax and interest related to the refund claims by the end of the 2018 tax year. As of June 30, 2018, the federal statute of limitations has not expired for the 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 tax years.
As of June 30, 2018, the Company is subject to non-U.S. income tax examinations for the tax years of 2010 through 2017. In addition, the Company is subject to state and local income tax examinations for the tax years 2005 through 2017.

18



NOTE 14—NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE

Basic and diluted earnings per share are calculated using the treasury stock method.
(Thousands of dollars except per share data)
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 
Six Months Ended
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Basic
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding
92,926,421

 
92,841,148

 
93,132,993

 
92,695,853

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
403,604

 
$
360,651

 
$
653,731

 
$
599,803

Discontinued operations (2)

 
(41,540
)
 

 
(41,540
)
Net income
$
403,604

 
$
319,111

 
$
653,731

 
$
558,263

Basic net income per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
4.34

 
$
3.89

 
$
7.02

 
$
6.47

Discontinued operations (2)

 
(.45
)
 

 
(.45
)
Net income per common share
$
4.34

 
$
3.44

 
$
7.02

 
$
6.02

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average common shares outstanding
92,926,421

 
92,841,148

 
93,132,993

 
92,695,853

Stock options and other contingently issuable shares (1)
1,903,442

 
2,055,422

 
2,064,944

 
1,935,690

Non-vested restricted stock grants
54,324

 
72,066

 
61,019

 
65,896

Average common shares outstanding assuming dilution
94,884,187

 
94,968,636

 
95,258,956

 
94,697,439

Net income
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
403,604

 
$
360,651

 
$
653,731

 
$
599,803

Discontinued operations (2)

 
(41,540
)
 

 
(41,540
)
Net income
$
403,604

 
$
319,111

 
$
653,731

 
$
558,263

Diluted net income per common share
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
4.25

 
$
3.80

 
$
6.86

 
$
6.34

Discontinued operations (2)

 
(.44
)
 

 
(.44
)
Net income per common share
$
4.25

 
$
3.36

 
$
6.86

 
$
5.90

 
(1) 
Stock options and other contingently issuable shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2018 excludes 52,427 and 26,873 shares, respectively, due to their anti-dilutive effect. There were no stock options and other contingently issuable shares excluded due to their anti-dilutive effect for the three and six months ended June 30, 2017.
(2) 
Relates to the divestiture of Valspar's North American industrial wood coatings business. See Note 4.


19



NOTE 15—REPORTABLE SEGMENT INFORMATION
The Company reports its segment information in the same way that management internally organizes its business for assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources in accordance with the Segment Reporting Topic of the ASC. The Company has determined that it has three reportable operating segments: The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group and Performance Coatings Group (individually, a Reportable Segment and collectively, the Reportable Segments).
(Thousands of dollars)
Three Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
The Americas
Group
 
Consumer Brands
Group
 
Performance
Coatings
Group
 
Administrative
 
Consolidated
Totals
Net external sales
$
2,625,057

 
$
777,746

 
$
1,369,324

 
$
1,669

 
$
4,773,796

Intersegment transfers
219

 
955,270

 
6,570

 
(962,059
)
 
 
Total net sales and intersegment transfers
$
2,625,276

 
$
1,733,016

 
$
1,375,894

 
$
(960,390
)
 
$
4,773,796

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
569,897

 
$
90,903

 
$
144,194

 

 
$
804,994

Interest expense

 
 
 
 
 
$
(93,507
)
 
(93,507
)
Administrative expenses and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
(173,401
)
 
(173,401
)
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
$
569,897

 
$
90,903

 
$
144,194

 
$
(266,908
)
 
$
538,086


 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
The Americas
Group
 
Consumer Brands
Group
 
Performance
Coatings
Group
 
Administrative
 
Consolidated
Totals
Net external sales
$
2,437,655

 
$
536,441

 
$
761,094

 
$
627

 
$
3,735,817

Intersegment transfers
2,020

 
864,337

 
7,231

 
(873,588
)
 
 
Total net sales and intersegment transfers
$
2,439,675

 
$
1,400,778

 
$
768,325

 
$
(872,961
)
 
$
3,735,817

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
532,687

 
$
76,064

 
$
62,345

 
 
 
$
671,096

Interest expense

 
 
 
 
 
$
(56,729
)
 
(56,729
)
Administrative expenses and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
(105,364
)
 
(105,364
)
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
$
532,687

 
$
76,064

 
$
62,345

 
$
(162,093
)
 
$
509,003


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2018
 
The Americas
Group
 
Consumer Brands
Group
 
Performance
Coatings
Group
 
Administrative
 
Consolidated
Totals
Net external sales
$
4,705,472

 
$
1,434,125

 
$
2,597,099

 
$
2,106

 
$
8,738,802

Intersegment transfers
273

 
1,721,333

 
12,414

 
(1,734,020
)
 
 
Total net sales and intersegment transfers
$
4,705,745

 
$
3,155,458

 
$
2,609,513

 
$
(1,731,914
)
 
$
8,738,802

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
907,289

 
$
165,131

 
$
234,960

 
 
 
$
1,307,380

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(185,054
)
 
(185,054
)
Administrative expenses and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
(280,654
)
 
(280,654
)
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
$
907,289

 
$
165,131

 
$
234,960

 
$
(465,708
)
 
$
841,672


20



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
The Americas
Group
 
Consumer Brands
Group
 
Performance
Coatings
Group
 
Administrative
 
Consolidated
Totals
Net external sales
$
4,389,401

 
$
859,807

 
$
1,245,548

 
$
2,448

 
$
6,497,204

Intersegment transfers
4,361

 
1,560,175

 
11,031

 
(1,575,567
)
 
 
Total net sales and intersegment transfers
$
4,393,762

 
$
2,419,982

 
$
1,256,579

 
$
(1,573,119
)
 
$
6,497,204

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment profit
$
837,911

 
$
131,978

 
$
119,457

 
 
 
$
1,089,346

Interest expense
 
 
 
 
 
 
$
(82,424
)
 
(82,424
)
Administrative expenses and other
 
 
 
 
 
 
(191,314
)
 
(191,314
)
Income from continuing operations
before income taxes
$
837,911

 
$
131,978

 
$
119,457

 
$
(273,738
)
 
$
815,608



In the reportable segment financial information, Segment profit was total net sales and intersegment transfers less operating costs and expenses. Domestic intersegment transfers were accounted for at the approximate fully absorbed manufactured cost, based on normal capacity volumes, plus customary distribution costs. International intersegment transfers were accounted for at values comparable to normal unaffiliated customer sales. The Administrative segment includes the administrative expenses of the Company’s corporate headquarters site. Also included in the Administrative segment was interest expense, interest and investment income, certain expenses related to closed facilities and environmental-related matters, and other expenses which were not directly associated with the reportable segments. The Administrative segment did not include any significant foreign operations. Also included in the Administrative segment was a real estate management unit that is responsible for the ownership, management and leasing of non-retail properties held primarily for use by the Company, including the Company’s headquarters site, and disposal of idle facilities. Sales of this segment represented external leasing revenue of excess headquarters space or leasing of facilities no longer used by the Company in its primary businesses. Gains and losses from the sale of property were not a significant operating factor in determining the performance of the Administrative segment.
Net external sales of all consolidated foreign subsidiaries were $1.018 billion and $603.3 million for the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively. Net external sales of all consolidated foreign subsidiaries were $1.938 billion and $1.022 billion for the six months ended 2018 and 2017, respectively. Long-lived assets of these subsidiaries totaled $3.485 billion and $1.698 billion at June 30, 2018 and June 30, 2017, respectively. The increase in net external sales and long-lived assets is primarily due to the Acquisition. Domestic operations accounted for the remaining net external sales, segment profits and long-lived assets. No single geographic area outside the United States was significant relative to consolidated net external sales, income before taxes or consolidated long-lived assets.
Export sales and sales to any individual customer were each less than 10 percent of consolidated sales during all periods presented.
For further details on the Company's Reportable Segments, see Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.


21



NOTE 16FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC applies to the Company’s financial and non-financial assets and liabilities. The guidance applies when other standards require or permit the fair value measurement of assets and liabilities. The Company did not have any fair value measurements unrelated to purchase accounting for its non-financial assets and liabilities during the second quarter. The following table presents the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis, categorized using the fair value hierarchy:
(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Quoted Prices
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
in Active
 
 
 
Significant
 
Fair Value at
 
Markets for
 
Significant Other
 
Unobservable
 
June 30,
 
Identical Assets
 
Observable Inputs
 
Inputs
 
2018
 
(Level 1)
 
(Level 2)
 
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred compensation plan assets (1)
$
63,196

 
$
35,952

 
$
27,244

 

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred compensation plan liabilities (2)
$
72,609

 
$
72,609

 

 

 
(1) 
The deferred compensation plan assets consist of the investment funds maintained for the future payments under the Company’s executive deferred compensation plans, which are structured as rabbi trusts. The investments are marketable securities accounted for under the Debt and Equity Securities Topic of the ASC. The level 1 investments are valued using quoted market prices multiplied by the number of shares. The level 2 investments are valued based on vendor or broker models. The cost basis of the investment funds is $58,222.

(2) The deferred compensation plan liabilities are the Company’s liabilities under its deferred compensation plans. The liabilities represent the fair value of the participant shadow accounts, and the value is based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.
NOTE 17DEBT
The table below summarizes the carrying amount and fair value of the Company’s publicly traded debt and non-publicly traded debt in accordance with the Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures Topic of the ASC. The fair values of the Company’s publicly traded debt are based on quoted market prices. The fair values of the Company’s non-publicly traded debt are estimated using discounted cash flow analyses, based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. The Company’s publicly traded debt and non-publicly traded debt are classified as level 1 and level 2, respectively, in the fair value hierarchy.
(Thousands of dollars)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
June 30, 2018
 
June 30, 2017
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
 
Carrying
Amount
 
Fair Value
Publicly traded debt
$
8,737,229

 
$
8,499,644

 
$
9,448,274

 
$
9,660,353

Non-publicly traded debt
986,868

 
911,011

 
2,004,111

 
1,863,095

On February 27, 2018, the Company amended the five-year credit agreement entered into in May 2016 to increase it by $250.0 million up to an aggregate availability of $750.0 million.
On July 19, 2018, the Company and three of its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Sherwin-Williams Canada, Inc. (SW Canada), Sherwin-Williams Luxembourg S.à r.l. (SW Lux) and Sherwin-Williams UK Holding Limited (SW UK, together with the Company, SW Canada and SW Lux, the Borrowers), entered into a new five-year $2.000 billion credit agreement (New Credit Agreement). The New Credit Agreement may be used for general corporate purposes, including the financing of working capital requirements. The New Credit Agreement replaced that certain credit agreement dated July 16, 2015, as amended, which was terminated. The New Credit Agreement allows the Company to extend the maturity of the facility with two one-year extension options and the Borrowers to increase the aggregate amount of the facility to $2.750 billion, both of which are subject to the discretion of each lender. In addition, the Borrowers may request letters of credit in an amount of up to $250.0 million.


22



NOTE 18NON-TRADED INVESTMENTS
The Company has invested in the U.S. affordable housing and historic renovation real estate markets. These non-traded investments have been identified as variable interest entities. However, because the Company does not have the power to direct the day-to-day operations of the investments and the risk of loss is limited to the amount of contributed capital, the Company is not considered the primary beneficiary. In accordance with the Consolidation Topic of the ASC, the investments are not consolidated. For affordable housing investments entered into prior to the January 1, 2015 adoption of ASU No. 2014-01, the Company uses the effective yield method to determine the carrying value of the investments. Under the effective yield method, the initial cost of the investments is amortized to income tax expense over the period that the tax credits are recognized. For affordable housing investments entered into on or after the January 1, 2015 adoption of ASU No. 2014-01, the Company uses the proportional amortization method. Under the proportional amortization method, the initial cost of the investments is amortized to income tax expense in proportion to the tax credits and other tax benefits received. The carrying amount of the affordable housing and historic renovation investments, included in Other assets, was $208.7 million and $212.1 million at June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The liability for estimated future capital contributions to the investments was $173.3 million and $170.4 million at June 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

23



Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND
ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
SUMMARY
The Sherwin-Williams Company, founded in 1866, and its consolidated wholly owned subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”) are engaged in the development, manufacture, distribution and sale of paints, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial and retail customers primarily in North and South America with additional operations in the Caribbean region, Europe, Asia and Australia. The Company is structured into three reportable segments—The Americas Group, Consumer Brands Group and Performance Coatings Group (collectively, the “Reportable Segments”)—and an Administrative segment in the same way it is internally organized for assessing performance and making decisions regarding allocation of resources. See Note 15 for more information.
The Company’s financial condition, liquidity and cash flow continued to be strong through the first six months of 2018 primarily due to continued improvements in operating results. Net working capital increased $145.0 million at June 30, 2018 compared to the end of the second quarter of 2017 due to a significant increase in current assets, offset by an increase in current liabilities primarily due to the acquisition of The Valspar Corporation (Valspar or the Acquisition) (see Note 4). The Acquisition annualized on June 1st which resulted in one month of Valspar results in the second quarter and first six months of 2017 versus 2018 or incremental April and May and first five months of 2018 in second quarter and first six months, respectively. The Company has been able to arrange sufficient short-term borrowing capacity at reasonable rates, and the Company continues to have sufficient total available borrowing capacity to fund its current operating needs. Net operating cash for the six months ended June 30, 2018 was a cash source of $579.1 million compared to a cash source of $586.1 million for the same period in 2017.
Consolidated net sales increased 27.8 percent in the second quarter of 2018 to $4.774 billion from $3.736 billion in the second quarter of 2017. The increase was due primarily to the Acquisition, which increased sales 21.0 percent in the second quarter of 2018, as well as selling price increases and higher paint sales volume in The Americas Group. Consolidated gross profit as a percent of consolidated net sales decreased in the second quarter of 2018 to 42.7 percent compared to 46.4 percent in the second quarter of 2017. The decrease was due primarily to the Acquisition, higher raw material costs and unfavorable currency impacts, partially offset by increased paint sales volume. Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) decreased as a percent of consolidated net sales to 27.4 percent in the second quarter of 2018 from 30.9 percent in the second quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily due to realized administrative synergies from Valspar operations. Amortization expense increased $45.0 million in the second quarter of 2018 versus 2017, due to the Acquisition and related purchase accounting fair value adjustments. Interest expense increased $36.8 million in the second quarter of 2018 versus 2017 primarily due to increased debt levels to fund the Acquisition. The effective tax rate for income from continuing operations was 25.0 percent and 29.1 percent for the second quarter of 2018 and 2017, respectively. Excluding the impact of share-based payments, the effective tax rate was 25.7 percent for the second quarter of 2018 compared to 32.7 percent for the second quarter of 2017. Diluted net income per common share in the second quarter of 2018 increased to $4.25 per share from $3.36 per share in 2017 (including the $.44 per share charge related to the divestiture). Second quarter 2018 diluted net income per common share included a $1.23 per share charge from Acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting impacts and increased amortization of intangibles. Second quarter 2017 diluted net income per common share included a $.72 per share charge from Acquisition-related costs, inventory purchase accounting adjustments and increased amortization of intangibles.
Consolidated net sales increased 34.5 percent in the first six months of 2018 to $8.739 billion from $6.497 billion in the first six months of 2017. The increase was due primarily to the Acquisition, which increased sales 28.5 percent in the first six months of 2018. Consolidated gross profit as a percent of consolidated net sales decreased to 42.6 percent in the first six months of 2018 from 47.4 percent during the same period in 2017. The decrease was due primarily to the Acquisition, higher raw material costs partially offset by increased paint sales volume and favorable currency impacts. Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) decreased as a percent of consolidated net sales to 28.9 percent in the first six months of 2018 from 33.3 percent during the same period in 2017. The decrease was primarily due to realized administrative synergies from Valspar operations. Amortization expense increased $123.9 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to the Acquisition and related purchase accounting fair value adjustments. Interest expense increased $102.6 million in the first six months of 2018 compared to 2017 primarily due to increased debt levels to fund the Acquisition. The effective tax rate for income from continuing operations was 22.3 percent and 26.5 percent for the first six months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. Excluding the impact of share-based payments, the effective tax rate was 24.5 percent for the first six months of 2018 compared to 32.7 percent for the first six months of 2017. Diluted net income per common share increased to $6.86 per share in the first six months of 2018 from $5.90 per share in the first six months of 2017. Diluted net income per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2018 included a $2.18 per share charge from Acquisition-related costs, purchase accounting impacts and increased amortization of intangibles. Diluted net income per common share for the six months ended June 30, 2017 included

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an $.80 per share charge from Acquisition-related costs, inventory purchase accounting adjustments and increased amortization of intangibles.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
The preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated unaudited interim financial statements and accompanying notes included in this report are the responsibility of management. The financial statements and footnotes have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial statements and contain certain amounts that were based upon management’s best estimates, judgments and assumptions that were believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management considered the impact of the uncertain economic environment and utilized certain outside sources of economic information when developing the basis for their estimates and assumptions. The impact of the global economic conditions on the estimates and assumptions used by management was believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management used assumptions based on historical results, considering the current economic trends, and other assumptions to form the basis for determining appropriate carrying values of assets and liabilities that were not readily available from other sources. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Also, materially different amounts may result under materially different conditions, materially different economic trends or from using materially different assumptions. However, management believes that any materially different amounts resulting from materially different conditions or material changes in facts or circumstances are unlikely to significantly impact the current valuation of assets and liabilities that were not readily available from other sources.
A comprehensive discussion of the Company’s critical accounting policies, management estimates and significant accounting policies followed in the preparation of the financial statements is included in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and in Note 1, on pages 46 through 50, in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. There have been no significant changes in critical accounting policies, management estimates or accounting policies followed since the year ended December 31, 2017, except as described in Note 2.
FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CASH FLOW
Overview
On June 1, 2017, the Company completed the Acquisition for a total purchase price of $8.9 billion. On May 16, 2017, the Company issued $6.0 billion of senior notes (collectively, the "New Notes") in a public offering. The net proceeds from the issuance of the New Notes were used to fund the Acquisition. The Company continues to maintain sufficient short-term borrowing capacity at reasonable rates, and the Company has sufficient cash on hand and total available borrowing capacity to fund its current operating needs.
The Acquisition significantly affected the Company’s financial condition, liquidity and cash flow. See Note 4 for a table detailing the opening balance sheet. Net working capital increased $145.0 million at June 30, 2018 compared to the end of the second quarter of 2017 due to a significant increase in current assets partially offset by an increase in current liabilities primarily due to the Acquisition. Cash and cash equivalents decreased $55.1 million at June 30, 2018 compared to June 30, 2017. In the first six months of 2018, accounts receivable increased $520.5 million, inventories increased $73.3 million and other current assets increased $26.8 million when normal seasonal trends typically require significant growth in these categories while current portion of long-term debt decreased $699.9 million resulting from 1.35% senior notes becoming due in 2017. In the first six months of 2018, cash and cash equivalents decreased $49.2 million, accounts payable increased $257.6 million and short-term borrowings increased