EXHIBIT 99


                     NEWELL SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

     Information provided by the Company may contain certain forward-

looking information, which, as defined by the Private Securities

Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Act"), may relate to such matters

as sales, income, earnings per share, return on equity, capital

expenditures, dividends, capital structure, free cash flow, debt to

capitalization ratios, internal growth rates, future economic

performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations

or the assumptions relating to any of the forward-looking information. 

This Safe Harbor Statement is being made pursuant to the Act and with

the intention of obtaining the benefits of the so-called "safe-harbor"

provisions of the Act.  The Company cautions that forward-looking

statements are not guarantees since there are inherent difficulties in

predicting future results, and that actual results could differ

materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking

statements.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ

include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:



       Retail Economy.  The Company's business depends on the strength

of the retail economies in various parts of the world, primarily in

the U.S. and to a lesser extent in Canada, Latin and South America,

and Europe, which are affected by such factors as consumer demand, the

condition of the retail industry and weather conditions.  Recently,

the retail industry has been characterized by lackluster consumer

demand, intense competition and consolidation, which has resulted in

financial weakness and the bankruptcy of a number of retailers.

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      Nature of the Marketplace.  The Company competes with numerous

other manufacturers and distributors, many of which are large and

well-established.  In addition, the Company's principal customers are

volume purchasers, many of which are much larger than the Company and

have significant bargaining power.  The combination of these market

influences creates a very competitive marketplace, resulting in

difficulty in raising prices and the need to provide superior services

to customers.  These competitive pressures increase the risk of losing

substantial customers.



       Growth by Acquisition.  The acquisition of companies that sell

branded, staple product lines to volume purchasers is one of the

foundations of the Company's growth strategy.  The Company's ability

to continue to make strategic acquisitions at reasonable prices and to

integrate the acquired businesses within a reasonable period of time

are important factors in the Company's future growth.



       Foreign Operations.  Foreign operations, currently in Canada,

Mexico, Colombia and Europe and sourcing from the Far East, are of

increasing importance to the Company's business.  Foreign operations

can be affected by factors such as devaluation and other currency

fluctuations, tariffs, nationalization and other political and

regulatory risks.