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:

     o  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 Australia,
Canada, Central 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 intense competition and consolidation.

     o  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.

     o  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 earnings growth potential.

     o  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.