Newell Rubbermaid Announces Sale of Three Businesses

Newell Rubbermaid Announces Sale of Three Businesses
Company Divests Burnes Picture Frame, Anchor Glassware And Mirro Cookware
Businesses 


ATLANTA, March 15  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Newell Rubbermaid Inc.  announced
today that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell three businesses
(Burnes(R) Picture Frame, Anchor(R) Glass and Mirro(R) Cookware) to Global Home
Products, LLC, an affiliate of Cerberus Capital Management L.P.  This
transaction is consistent with the company's intention todivest non-strategic
businesses and concentrate on leveraging brand strength and product innovation
in its core portfolio of businesses.  Closing of the transaction is subject to
regulatory approval and certain other customary conditions.

In 2003, thethree businesses contributed approximately $695 million of sales in
the Calphalon(R) Home Segment.  Under the terms of the agreement, the company
will retain the accounts receivable of the businesses and expects gross proceeds
as a result of the transaction to be approximately $310 million.  Other terms of
the agreement were not disclosed.

Newell Rubbermaid CEO Joseph Galli said, "Divesting non-strategic businesses is
a priority for 2004, and we are pleased to report significant progress against
this initiative.  Combined with our other divestitures this year, we have now
completed the bulk of our portfolio transformation.  While we still have more
work to do, we are moving carefully and quickly to transform Newell Rubbermaid
into an organization capable of consistent growth and profitability through a
core portfolio of businesses."

Outlook

This transaction will be dilutive to earnings approximately $0.11 to $0.13
cents.  For 2004, the company continues to expect sales to decline 1% - 3% and
continuing diluted earnings per share to now be in the range of $1.36 to $1.46. 
This range excludes restructuring charges of $43 - $63 million ($0.11 - $0.16
per share) and other charges of $10 - $20 million ($0.03 - $0.05 per share)
primarily related to product line exits and charges of $95 - $115 million ($0.31
- $0.39 per share) primarily for foreign currency translation adjustments
related to divestitures of non-core businesses.

For the first quarter 2004, the company continues to expect internalsales to
decline 1% - 3% and continuing diluted earnings per share to be $0.16 - $0.20. 
This range excludes restructuring charges of $25 - $35 million ($0.06 - $0.09
per share) and other charges of $5 - $10 million ($0.01 - $0.03 per share)
primarily related to product line exits and charges of $95 - $115 million ($0.31
- $0.39 per share) primarily for foreign currency translation adjustments
related to divestitures of non-core businesses.

  A reconciliation of the 2004 earnings outlook is as follows:

                                              1st Quarter        Full Year
   Diluted earnings per share
    continuing operations                   ($0.27)-($0.23)    $0.81 - $0.91
   Diluted earnings per share
    discontinued operations         ($0.02)           ($0.02)
   Excluding:
     Restructuring charges                   $0.06 - $0.09     $0.11 - $0.16
     Other charges-product
      line exits, divestitures               $0.32 - $0.42     $0.34 - $0.44

   Diluted earningsper share,
    excluding charges                        $0.16 - $0.20     $1.36 - $1.46

  Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements


The statements contained in this press release that are not historical in nature
are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees
since there are inherent difficulties in predicting future results, and actual
results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward
looking statements.  For a list of major factorsthat could cause actual results
to differ materially from those projected, refer to Newell Rubbermaid's third
quarter 2003 Form 10-Q, Exhibit 99.1, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release contains non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of
Regulation G promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Included in
this release is a reconciliation of the differences between these non-GAAP
financial measures with the most directly comparable financial measures
calculated in accordance with GAAP.

About Newell Rubbermaid

Newell Rubbermaid Inc., is a global marketer of consumer products with 2003
sales of over $7 billion and a powerful brand family including Sharpie(R), Paper
Mate(R), Parker(R), Waterman(R), Colorific(R), Rubbermaid(R), Stain Shield(R),
Blue Ice(R), TakeAlongs(R), Roughneck(R), Brute(R), Calphalon(R), Little
Tikes(R), Graco(R), Levolor(R), Kirsch(R), Shur-Line(R), BernzOmatic(R),
Goody(R), Vise-Grip(R), Quick-Grip(R),IRWIN(R), Lenox(R), and Marathon(R). The
company, headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., employs approximately 40,000 people
worldwide.

This press release and additional financial information about the company are
available under the Investor Relations section of the company's website at
http://www.newellrubbermaid.com/. 

DATASOURCE: Newell Rubbermaid Inc.



CONTACT:  Jesse Herron, Vice President, Investor Relations,

[phone], or Susan Masten, Director, Public Relations, [phone],

both of Newell Rubbermaid Inc.



Web site:  http://www.newellco.com/ 



Company News On-Call:  http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/138728.html

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