Masco 10-K 2017-12-31

10-K 1 mas_20171231x10k.htm 10-K

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF

THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2017 Commission File Number 1-5794

MASCO CORPORATION

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 313-274-7400

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ

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 þ 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 such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes þ No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. þ

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or 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.

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 þ

The aggregate market value of the Registrant's Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant on June 30, 2017 (based on the closing sale price of $38.21 of the Registrant's Common Stock, as reported by the New York Stock Exchange on such date) was approximately $12,100,656,000.

Number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Common Stock at January 31, 2018:

313,391,500 shares of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Portions of the Registrant's definitive Proxy Statement to be filed for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K.

Masco Corporation

2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I

Masco Corporation is a global leader in the design, manufacture and distribution of branded home improvement and building products. Our portfolio of industry-leading brands includes BEHR® paint; DELTA® and HANSGROHE® faucets and bath and shower fixtures; KRAFTMAID® and MERILLAT® cabinets; MILGARD® windows and doors; and HOT SPRING® spas. We leverage our powerful brands across product categories, sales channels and geographies to create value for our customers and shareholders.

We believe that our solid results of operations and financial position for 2017 resulted from our continued focus on our three strategic pillars: driving the full potential of our core businesses, leveraging opportunities across our businesses, and actively managing our portfolio.

To drive the full potential of our core businesses during 2017, we continued to pursue sales growth opportunities by introducing new products, enhancing services and penetrating adjacent markets. In addition, we continued to reduce costs and capitalize on synergies across our businesses with standardized operating tools, cost saving initiatives and the implementation of lean principles and process improvements in many areas, including production and functional support processes. As a result, we grew both our top and bottom lines.

We also continued to leverage the collective strength of our enterprise, the second pillar of our strategy. We provided new assignments to selected leaders across our business units to further develop talent and facilitate operational improvements. We continued to realize supply chain efficiencies through strategic sourcing and to share best practices across all of our functional departments to enhance productivity. We believe this contributed to our results of operations improving as compared to the prior year.

Additionally, we continued to actively manage our portfolio, the third pillar of our strategy, and remain committed to making selective acquisitions in attractive end markets. During 2017, we acquired a U.S. plastics processor and manufacturer of water handling systems in our Plumbing Products segment and signed a definitive agreement to acquire The L.D. Kichler Co., a leader in decorative residential and light commercial lighting products, ceiling fans and LED lighting systems, which is expected to close in the first quarter of 2018. We also divested our U.S. fastener and tool business and our U.K. manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom furniture business. In addition, we repurchased over 9 million shares of our common stock and increased our quarterly dividend by 5 percent, which further enhanced value for our shareholders.

We believe that the actions we have taken over the last few years, combined with the Masco Operating System, our methodology to drive growth and productivity, have positioned us to further enhance shareholder value through strong and consistent growth. We will continue to actively manage our portfolio, identify growth opportunities in key industries and create new products that differentiate us in the marketplace by combining design and innovation. By focusing on our disciplined execution of our strategy, we believe that our positive momentum will continue.

Our Business Segments

We report our financial results in four business segments aggregated by similarity in products. The following tables set forth the contribution of our segments to net sales and operating profit (loss) for the three-year period ended December 31, 2017. Additional financial information concerning our operations by segment and by geographic regions, as well as general corporate expense, net, as of and for the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, is set forth in Note O to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report.

All of our operating segments, except the Plumbing Products segment, normally experience stronger sales during the second and third calendar quarters, corresponding with the peak season for repair and remodel activity and new home construction.

Plumbing Products

The businesses in our Plumbing Products segment sell a wide variety of products that are manufactured or sourced by us.

We believe that our plumbing products are among the leaders in sales in North America and Europe. Competitors of the majority of our products in this segment include Lixil Group Corporation’s American Standard Brands and Grohe products, Kohler Co., Fortune Brands Home & Security Inc.'s Moen, Rohl and Riobel brands and Spectrum Brands Holdings, LLC’s Pfister faucets. Competitors of our spas and exercise pools and systems include Jacuzzi, Master Spas and Dynasty Spas. Foreign manufacturers competing with us are located primarily in Germany and China. We face significant competition from private label products. Many of the faucet and showering products with which our products compete are manufactured by foreign manufacturers that are putting downward pressure on price. The businesses in

our Plumbing Products segment manufacture products in North America, Europe and Asia and source products from Asia and other regions. Competition for our plumbing products is based largely on brand reputation, product features and innovation, product quality, customer service, breadth of product offering and price.

Many of our plumbing products contain brass, the major components of which are copper and zinc. We have multiple sources, both domestic and foreign, for the raw materials used in this segment, and sufficient raw materials have been available for our needs. We have encountered price volatility for brass, brass components and any components containing copper and zinc. To help reduce the impact of this volatility, from time to time we may enter into long-term agreements with certain significant suppliers or, occasionally, use derivative instruments.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we acquired Mercury Plastics, Inc. ("Mercury"), a U.S. plastics processor and manufacturer of water handling systems. This acquisition enhances our ability to develop faucet technology and provides continuity of supply of quality faucet components.

Decorative Architectural Products

We produce architectural coatings, including paints, primers, specialty paints, stains and waterproofing products. These products are sold in North America, South America and China under the brand names BEHR®, KILZ® and other trademarks to “do‑it‑yourself” and professional customers through home center retailers and other retailers. Net sales of architectural coatings comprised approximately 25 percent of our consolidated net sales in 2017, 2016 and 2015. Our BEHR products are sold through The Home Depot, our largest customer overall, as well as this segment’s largest customer. The loss of this segment’s sales to The Home Depot would have a material adverse effect on this segment’s business and on our consolidated business as a whole.

Our competitors in this segment include large national and international brands such as Benjamin Moore, Glidden, Olympic, PPG, Sherwin‑Williams, Valspar and Zinsser, as well as many regional and other national brands. We believe that brand reputation is an important factor in consumer selection, and that competition in this industry is also based largely on product features and innovation, product quality, customer service and price.

Titanium dioxide is a major ingredient in the manufacture of architectural coatings. The price for titanium dioxide can fluctuate as a result of global supply and demand dynamics and production capacity limitations, which can have a material impact on our costs and results of operations in this segment. Natural gas derivatives and acrylic resins derived from crude oil are also used in the manufacture of architectural coatings. Significant price fluctuations in either natural gas derivatives or crude oil can also impact our costs in this segment. We have agreements with certain significant suppliers for this segment that are intended to help assure continued supply.

Our Decorative Architectural Products segment also includes branded cabinet, door and window hardware, functional hardware, glass shower doors, wall plates, hook and rail products, and picture hanging accessories, which are manufactured for us and sold to home center retailers, mass retailers, e-commerce retailers, other specialty retailers, original equipment manufacturers and wholesalers. These products are sold under the LIBERTY®, BRAINERD® and other trademarks, and our key competitors in North America include Amerock, Top Knobs, Richelieu and private label brands. Decorative bath hardware, shower accessories, and shower doors are sold under the brand names DELTA® and FRANKLIN BRASS® to wholesalers, home center retailers, mass retailers and other specialty retailers. Competitors for these products include Moen, Kohler, Gatco and private label brands.

Cabinetry Products

In North America, we manufacture and sell semi-custom, stock and value‑priced assembled cabinetry for kitchen, bath, storage, home office and home entertainment applications in a broad range of styles and price points to address consumer preferences. Our KRAFTMAID® and CARDELL® products are sold primarily to dealers and home center retailers, and our MERILLAT® and QUALITY CABINETS™ products are sold primarily to dealers and homebuilders for both home improvement and new home construction. Cabinet sales are significantly affected by levels of activity in both retail consumer spending and new home construction, particularly spending for major kitchen and bathroom renovation projects. A significant portion of our cabinetry sales for home improvement projects are made through home center retailers.

The cabinet manufacturing industry in the United States includes several large companies and numerous local and regional businesses with whom we compete. We believe that competition in this industry is based largely on product features and selection, product quality, and price. Our competitors in this segment include American Woodmark Corporation, Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. and Elkay.

The raw materials used in this segment are primarily hardwood lumber, plywood and particleboard, and are available from multiple sources, both domestic and foreign. Some of the materials we import may be subject to customs duties.

In the fourth quarter of 2017, we divested Moores Furniture Group Limited ("Moores"), a manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom furniture in the United Kingdom.

Windows and Other Specialty Products

We manufacture and sell vinyl, fiberglass and aluminum windows and patio doors, which are sold under the MILGARD® brand name for home improvement and new home construction, principally in the western United States. MILGARD products are sold primarily through dealers and, to a lesser extent, directly to production homebuilders and through lumber yards and home center retailers. Our North American competitors for these products include national brands, such as Jeld‑Wen, Marvin, Pella, Ply Gem and Andersen, and numerous regional brands.

In the United Kingdom, we manufacture and sell vinyl windows, composite and panel doors, related products and components under several brand names, including DURAFLEX™, GRIFFIN™, PREMIER™ and EVOLUTION™. Sales are primarily through dealers and wholesalers to the repair and remodeling markets, although our DURAFLEX products are also sold to other window fabricators. United Kingdom competitors include many small and mid‑sized firms and a few large, vertically integrated competitors.

In addition to price, we believe that brand reputation is an important factor in consumer selection and that competition in this industry in both the domestic and international markets is based largely on product quality, innovative products and customer and warranty services.

The raw materials used in this segment are available from multiple sources.

In the second quarter of 2017, we divested Arrow Fastener Co., LLC ("Arrow"), a manufacturer and distributor of fastening tools.

Additional Information

Intellectual Property

We hold numerous U.S. and foreign patents, patent applications, licenses, trademarks, trade names, trade secrets and proprietary manufacturing processes. We view our trademarks and other intellectual property rights as important, but do not believe that there is any reasonable likelihood of a loss of such rights that would have a material adverse effect on our present business as a whole.

Environmental Laws and Regulations Affecting Our Business

We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign government regulations regarding the protection of the environment, and we have certain responsibilities for environmental remediation. We monitor applicable laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and incur ongoing expense relating to compliance. Compliance with these laws and regulations may affect our product and production costs.

We do not expect that compliance with the federal, state and local regulations relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, will result in material capital expenditures or have a material adverse effect on our competitive position or results of operations and financial position.

Backlog

We do not consider backlog orders to be material in any of our segments.

Employees

At December 31, 2017, we employed approximately 26,000 people. We have generally experienced satisfactory relations with our employees.

Available Information

Our website is www.masco.com. Our periodic reports and all amendments to those reports required to be filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 are available free of charge through our website as soon as reasonably practicable after those reports are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). This Report is being posted on our website concurrently with its filing with the SEC. Material contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Report. Our reports filed with the SEC also may be found on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.

There are a number of business risks and uncertainties that could affect our business. These risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ from past performance or expected results. We consider the following risks and uncertainties to be most relevant to our specific business activities. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently believe to be immaterial, also may adversely impact our business, results of operations and financial position.

Our business relies on residential repair and remodeling activity and, to a lesser extent, on new home construction activity, both of which are cyclical.

Our business relies on residential repair and remodeling activity and, to a lesser extent, on new home construction activity. A number of factors affect consumers’ spending on home improvement projects as well as new home construction activity, including:

The fundamentals driving our business are cyclical, and adverse changes or uncertainty involving the factors listed above could result in a decline in spending on residential repair and remodeling activity and a decline in demand for new home construction, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We could lose market share if we do not maintain our strong brands, develop new products or respond to changing purchasing practices and consumer preferences or if our reputation is damaged.

Our competitive advantage is due, in part, to our ability to maintain our strong brands and to develop and introduce innovative new and improved products. While we continue to invest in brand building and brand awareness, these initiatives may not be successful. The uncertainties associated with developing and introducing new and improved products, such as gauging changing consumer preferences and successfully developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling these products, may impact the success of our product introductions. If we do not introduce new or improved products in a timely manner or if these products do not gain widespread acceptance, we could lose market share, which could adversely impact our results of operations and financial position. It is also possible that our competitors may improve their products more rapidly or effectively than we do, which could adversely affect our market share.

In recent years, consumer purchasing practices and preferences have shifted and our customers’ business models and strategies have changed. As our customers execute their strategies to reach end consumers through multiple channels, they rely on us to support their efforts with our infrastructure, including maintaining robust and user-friendly websites with sufficient content for consumer research and to provide comprehensive supply chain solutions and differentiated product development. If we are unable to successfully provide this support to our customers, our brands may lose market share.

If we do not timely and effectively identify and respond to these changing purchasing practices and consumer preferences, our relationships with our customers and with consumers could be harmed, the demand for our brands and products could be reduced and our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

Our public image and reputation are important to maintaining our strong brands and could be adversely affected by various factors, including product quality and service, claims and comments in social media or the press, or negative publicity regarding disputes or legal action against us, even if unfounded. Damage to our public image or reputation could adversely affect our sales and results of operations and financial position.

We face significant competition.

Our products face significant competition. We believe that brand reputation is an important factor affecting product selection and that we compete on the basis of product features and innovation, product quality, customer service, warranty and price. We sell many of our products through home center retailers, online retailers, distributors and independent dealers and rely on these customers to market and promote our products to consumers. Our success with our customers is dependent on our ability to provide quality products and timely delivery. In addition, home center retailers, which have historically concentrated their sales efforts on retail consumers and remodelers, are increasingly marketing directly to professional contractors and installers, which may affect our margins on our products that contractors and installers would otherwise buy through our dealers and wholesalers.

We also compete with low‑cost foreign manufacturers and private label brands sold by our customers in a variety of our product groups. As market dynamics change, we may experience a shift in the mix of some products we sell toward more value‑priced or opening price point products, which may affect our ability to maintain or gain market share and/or our profitability.

If we are unable to maintain our competitive position in our industries, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

Our sales are concentrated with two significant customers.

Our sales are concentrated with our two largest customers. In 2017, our net sales to The Home Depot were $2.5 billion (approximately 33 percent of our consolidated net sales), and our net sales to Lowe’s were less than 10 percent of our consolidated net sales. Our reliance on these significant customers may further increase if the mix of our business operations changes, including as a result of acquisitions or divestitures. These home center retailers can significantly affect the prices we receive for our products and the terms and conditions on which we do business with them. Additionally, these home center retailers may reduce the number of vendors from which they purchase and could make significant changes in their volume of purchases from us. Although other retailers, dealers, distributors and homebuilders represent other channels of distribution for our products and services, we might not be able to quickly replace, if at all, the loss of a substantial portion of our sales to The Home Depot or the loss of all of our sales to Lowe’s, and any such loss would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial position.

Further, as these home center retailers expand their markets and targeted customers and as consumer purchasing practices change and e‑commerce increases, conflicts between our existing distribution channels have and will continue to occur, which could affect our results of operations and financial position. Our relationships with these customers may be affected if we increase the amount of business we transact directly with consumers and professionals. In addition, these home center retailers are granted product exclusivity from time to time, which increases the complexity of our product offerings and our costs and may affect our ability to offer products to other customers.

Variability in commodity costs or limited availability of commodities could affect our results of operations and financial position.

Various commodities, including, among others, brass, resins, titanium dioxide, zinc, wood and glass, are used to produce our products. Fluctuations in the availability and prices of these commodities could increase the costs of our products. Our production of products could also be affected if we or our suppliers are unable to procure our requirements for these commodities or if a shortage of these commodities drives their prices to levels that are not commercially feasible. Further, increases in energy costs could increase our production and transportation costs. In addition, water is a significant component of many of our architectural coatings products and may be subject to restrictions in certain regions. These factors could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

It can be difficult for us to pass on to customers cost increases to cover our increased commodity and production costs. Our existing arrangements with customers, competitive considerations and customer resistance to price increases may delay or make us unable to adjust selling prices. If we are not able to increase the prices of our products or achieve cost savings to offset increased commodity and production costs, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected. If we are able to increase our selling prices, sustained price increases for our products may lead to sales declines and loss of market share, particularly if our competitors do not increase their prices. When commodity prices decline, we have experienced and may in the future receive pressure from our customers to reduce our prices. Such reductions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

From time to time we enter into long-term agreements with certain significant suppliers to help ensure continued availability of key commodities and to establish firm pricing, but at times these contractual commitments may result in our paying above market prices for commodities during the term of the contract. Occasionally, we also may use derivative instruments, including commodity futures and swaps. This strategy increases the possibility that we may make commitments for these commodities at prices that subsequently exceed their market prices, which has occurred and could occur in the future and may adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We are dependent on third-party suppliers.

We are dependent on third‑party suppliers for many of our products and components, and our ability to offer a wide variety of products depends on our ability to obtain an adequate and/or timely supply of these products and components. Failure of our suppliers to timely provide us quality products on commercially reasonable terms, or to comply with applicable legal and regulatory requirements, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial position. Resourcing these products and components to another supplier could take time and involve significant costs. Accordingly, the loss of critical suppliers, or a substantial decrease in the availability of products or components from our suppliers, could disrupt our business and adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Many of the suppliers upon whom we rely are located in foreign countries. The differences in business practices, shipping and delivery requirements and laws and regulations, together with the limited number of suppliers, have increased the complexity of our supply chain logistics and the potential for interruptions in our production scheduling. If we are unable to effectively manage our supply chain or if there is a disruption in transporting the products or components, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

There are risks associated with International operations and global strategies.

Approximately 21 percent of our sales are made outside of North America (principally in Europe) and are transacted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In addition to our European operations, we manufacture products in Asia and source products and components from third parties globally. Risks associated with our international operations include changes in political, monetary and social environments, labor conditions and practices, the laws, regulations and policies of foreign governments, social and political unrest, terrorist attacks, cultural differences and differences in enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights.

Our results of operations and financial position are also affected by international economic conditions, primarily in Europe. Unfavorable currency conversion rates, particularly the Euro, the British pound sterling, the Canadian dollar and the Chinese Yuan Renminbi, have in the past adversely affected us, and could adversely affect us in the future. Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may present challenges in comparing operating performance from period to period.

As the situation involving the United Kingdom’s decision to exit from the European Union develops, we could experience volatility in the currency exchange rates and/or a change in the demand for our products and services, particularly in our U.K. and European markets, or there could be disruption of our operations and our customers’ and suppliers’ businesses.

We are also affected by laws applicable to U.S. companies doing business abroad or importing goods and materials. These include tax laws, laws regulating competition, anti‑bribery/anti‑corruption and other business practices, and trade regulations, which may include duties and tariffs. While it is difficult to assess what changes may occur and the relative effect on our international tax structure, significant changes in how U.S. and foreign jurisdictions tax cross‑border transactions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We may not achieve all of the anticipated benefits of our strategic initiatives.

We continue to pursue our strategic initiatives of investing in our brands, developing innovative products, and focusing on operational excellence through our continued deployment of the Masco Operating System, our methodology to drive growth and productivity into our business units. All of these initiatives are designed to grow revenue, improve profitability and increase shareholder value over the mid‑ to long‑term. Our business performance and results could be adversely affected if we are unable to successfully execute these initiatives or if we are unable to execute these initiatives in a timely and efficient manner. We could also be adversely affected if we have not appropriately prioritized and balanced our initiatives or if we are unable to effectively manage change throughout our organization.

We may not be able to successfully execute our acquisition strategy or integrate businesses that we acquire.

Pursuing the acquisition of businesses complementary to our portfolio is a component of our strategy for future growth. If we are not able to identify suitable acquisition candidates or consummate potential acquisitions at acceptable terms and prices, our long‑term competitive positioning may be affected. Even if we are successful in acquiring businesses, we may experience risks in integrating these businesses into our existing business. Such risks include difficulties realizing expected synergies and economies of scale, diversion of our resources, unforeseen liabilities, issues with the new or existing customers or suppliers, and difficulties in retaining critical employees of the acquired businesses. Future foreign acquisitions may also increase our exposure to foreign currency risks and risks associated with interpretation and enforcement of foreign regulations. Our failure to address these risks could cause us to incur additional costs and/or fail to realize the anticipated benefits of our acquisitions and could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

The long-term performance of our businesses relies on our ability to attract, develop and retain talented personnel.

To be successful, we must attract, develop and retain highly qualified, talented and diverse personnel who have the experience, knowledge and expertise to successfully implement our key strategic initiatives. We compete for employees with a broad range of employers in many different industries, including large multinational firms, and we invest significant resources in recruiting, developing, motivating and retaining them. We have been affected by a shortage of qualified personnel in certain geographic areas. Our growth, competitive position and results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected by our failure to attract, develop and retain key employees, to build strong leadership teams, or to develop effective succession planning to assure smooth transitions of those employees and the knowledge and expertise they possess, or by a shortage of qualified personnel.

We may not experience the anticipated benefits from our investments in new technology.

We are making significant investments in new technology systems throughout our company, including concurrent implementations of Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) systems at our larger business units. ERP implementations are complex and require significant management oversight. While we are leveraging our experience and engaging consultants to assist as we deploy ERP systems, we have experienced, and may continue to experience, unanticipated expenses and interruptions to our operations during these implementations. These interruptions could affect our ability to produce and ship goods to our customers or to timely report financial results. Our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected if we do not appropriately select and implement our new technology systems in a timely manner or if we experience significant unanticipated expenses or disruptions in connection with the implementation of ERP systems.

We rely on information systems and technology, and a breakdown of these systems could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We rely on many information systems and technology to process, transmit, store and manage information to support our business activities. We may be adversely affected if our information systems breakdown, fail, or are no longer supported. In addition to the consequences that may occur from interruptions in our systems, increased global cybersecurity vulnerabilities, threats and more sophisticated and targeted attacks pose a risk to our information technology systems, and a cybersecurity breach could disrupt our operations. We have established security policies, processes and layers of defense designed to help identify and protect against intentional and unintentional misappropriation or corruption of our systems and information and disruption of our operations.

Despite these efforts, our systems may be damaged, disrupted, or shut down due to attacks by unauthorized access, malicious software, undetected intrusion, hardware failures, or other events, and in these circumstances our disaster recovery plans may be ineffective or inadequate. These breaches or intrusions could lead to business interruption, exposure of proprietary or confidential information, data corruption, damage to our reputation and the reputation of our brands, exposure to litigation, and increased operational costs. Such events could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

In addition, we could be adversely affected if any of our significant customers or suppliers experiences any similar events that disrupt their business operations or damage their reputation.

We may not be able to sustain the improved results of our U.S. window business.

Our U.S. window business, Milgard Manufacturing Incorporated (“Milgard”), has experienced operational issues and production inefficiencies. In addition, Milgard’s phased deployment of a new ERP system to improve its business processes has been complex and requires significant management oversight and resources. While Milgard’s results are improving, there is no assurance that we will be able to sustain this improvement or that our turnaround plan will continue to be successful. Milgard has also been affected by a shortage of qualified personnel in certain geographic areas. If Milgard experiences unanticipated expenses, setbacks or additional disruptions to its operations, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

Claims and litigation could be costly.

We are involved in various claims and litigation, including class actions and regulatory proceedings, that arise in the ordinary course of our business and that could have a material adverse effect on us. The types of matters may include, among others: competition, product liability, employment, warranty, advertising, contract, personal injury, environmental, intellectual property, and insurance coverage. Given the inherently unpredictable nature of claims and litigation, we cannot predict with certainty the outcome or effect of any such matter. Defending and resolving claims and litigation can be costly and can divert management’s attention. We have and may continue to incur significant costs as a result of claims and litigation.

We are also subject to product safety regulations, recalls and direct claims for product liability that can result in significant costs and, regardless of the ultimate outcome, create adverse publicity and damage the reputation of our brands and business. Also, we rely on other manufacturers to provide products or components for products that we sell. Due to the difficulty of controlling the quality of products and components sourced from other manufacturers, we are exposed to risks relating to the quality of such products and to limitations on our recourse against such suppliers.

We maintain insurance against some, but not all, of the risks of loss resulting from claims and litigation. The levels of insurance we maintain may not be adequate to fully cover any and all losses or liabilities. If any significant accident, judgment, claim or other event is not fully insured or indemnified against, it could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Refer to Note S to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report for additional information about litigation involving our businesses.

Compliance with laws, government regulation and industry standards could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

We are subject to a wide variety of federal, state, local and foreign government laws and regulations, including securities laws, tax laws, anti-bribery/anti-corruption laws and employment laws, as well as those pertaining to health and safety (including protection of employees and consumers), product compliance, competition practices, import and export regulations, data privacy and the collection and storage of information, climate change and environmental issues. In addition to complying with current requirements and requirements that will become effective at a future date, even more stringent requirements could be imposed on us in the future. As we sell new types of products or existing products in new geographic areas, our failure to comply with the requirements applicable to those products or regions could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position. Additionally, some of our products must be certified by industry organizations. Compliance with these laws, regulations and industry standards may require us to alter our product designs, our manufacturing processes, our packaging or our sourcing. Compliance activities are costly and require significant management attention and resources. If we do not effectively and timely comply with such regulations and industry standards, our results of operations and financial position could be adversely affected.

We may not be able to adequately protect or prevent the unauthorized use of our intellectual property.

Protecting our intellectual property is important to our growth and innovation efforts. We own a number of patents, trade names, brand names and other forms of intellectual property in our products and manufacturing processes throughout the world. There can be no assurance that our efforts to protect our intellectual property rights will prevent violations. Our intellectual property may be challenged or infringed upon by third parties, particularly in countries where property rights are not highly developed or protected. In addition, the global nature of our business increases the risk that we may be unable to obtain or maintain our intellectual property rights on reasonable terms. Furthermore, others may assert intellectual property infringement claims against us. Current and former employees, contractors or suppliers

have or may have had access to proprietary or confidential information regarding our business operations that could harm us if used by, or disclosed to others, including our competitors. Protecting and defending our intellectual property could be costly, time consuming and require significant resources. If we are not able to protect our existing intellectual property rights, or prevent unauthorized use of our intellectual property, sales of our products may be affected and we may experience reputational damage to our brand names, increased litigation costs and adverse impact to our competitive position, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

Restrictive covenants in our credit agreement could limit our financial flexibility.

We must comply with both financial and nonfinancial covenants in our credit agreement, and in order to borrow under it, we cannot be in default with any of those provisions. Our ability to borrow under the credit agreement could be affected if our earnings significantly decline to a level where we are not in compliance with the financial covenants or if we default on any nonfinancial covenants. In the past, we have been able to amend the covenants in our credit agreement, but there can be no assurance that in the future we would be able to further amend them. If we were unable to borrow under our credit agreement, our financial flexibility could be restricted.

None.

The table below lists our principal North American properties.

Most of our North American facilities range from single warehouse buildings to complex manufacturing facilities. We own most of our North American manufacturing facilities, none of which is subject to significant encumbrances. A substantial number of our warehouse and distribution facilities are leased.

The table below lists our principal properties outside of North America.

Most of our international facilities are located in China, Germany and the United Kingdom. We own most of our international manufacturing facilities, none of which is subject to significant encumbrances. A substantial number of our international warehouse and distribution facilities are leased.

We lease our corporate headquarters in Livonia, Michigan, and we own a building in Taylor, Michigan that is used by our Masco Technical Services (research and development) department. We continue to lease an office facility in Luxembourg, which serves as a headquarters for most of our foreign operations.

Each of our operating divisions assesses the manufacturing, distribution and other facilities needed to meet its operating requirements. Our buildings, machinery and equipment have been generally well maintained and are in good operating condition. We believe our facilities have sufficient capacity and are adequate for our production and distribution requirements.

Information regarding legal proceedings involving us is set forth in Note S to the consolidated financial statements included in Item 8 of this Report and is incorporated herein by reference.

Not applicable.

PART II

The New York Stock Exchange is the principal market on which our common stock is traded. The following table indicates the high and low sales prices of our common stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange and the cash dividends declared per common share for the periods indicated:

On January 31, 2018, there were approximately 3,700 holders of record of our common stock.

We expect that our practice of paying quarterly dividends on our common stock will continue, although the payment of future dividends is at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon our earnings, capital requirements, financial condition and other factors.

In May 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase, for retirement, of up to $1.5 billion of shares of our common stock in open-market transactions or otherwise, replacing the previous Board of Directors authorization established in 2014. During 2017, we repurchased and retired 9.2 million shares of our common stock (including 0.9 million shares to offset the dilutive impact of long-term stock awards granted during the year), for approximately $331 million. At December 31, 2017, we had approximately $1.3 billion remaining under the 2017 authorization. The following table provides information regarding the repurchase of our common stock for the three-month period ended December 31, 2017.

Performance Graph

The table below compares the cumulative total shareholder return on our common stock with the cumulative total return of (i) the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index ("S&P 500 Index"), (ii) The Standard & Poor's Industrials Index ("S&P Industrials Index") and (iii) the Standard & Poor's Consumer Durables & Apparel Index ("S&P Consumer Durables & Apparel Index"), from December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2017, when the closing price of our common stock was $43.94. The graph assumes investments of $100 on December 31, 2012 in our common stock and in each of the three indices and the reinvestment of dividends.

The table below sets forth the value, as of December 31 for each of the years indicated, of a $100 investment made on December 31, 2012 in each of our common stock, the S&P 500 Index, the S&P Industrials Index and the S&P Consumer Durables & Apparel Index and includes the reinvestment of dividends.

The financial and business analysis below provides information which we believe is relevant to an assessment and understanding of our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows. This financial and business analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and related notes.

The following discussion and certain other sections of this Report contain statements that reflect our views about our future performance and constitute "forward-looking statements" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as "believe," "anticipate," "appear," "may," "will," "should," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "assume," "seek," "forecast" and similar references to future periods. Our views about future performance involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and, accordingly, our actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in our forward-looking statements. We caution you against relying on any of these forward-looking statements.

In addition to the various factors included in the "Executive Level Overview," "Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates" and "Outlook for the Company" sections, our future performance may be affected by the levels of residential repair and remodel activity and new home construction, our ability to maintain our strong brands and reputation and to develop new products, our ability to maintain our competitive position in our industries, our reliance on key customers, the cost and availability of raw materials, our dependence on third-party suppliers, risks associated with international operations and global strategies, our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits of our strategic initiatives, our ability to successfully execute our acquisition strategy and integrate businesses that we have and may acquire, our ability to attract, develop and retain talented personnel, our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits from our investments in new technology, risks associated with our reliance on information systems and technology, and our ability to sustain the improved results of our U.S. window business. These and other factors are discussed in detail in Item 1A "Risk Factors" of this Report. Any forward-looking statement made by us speaks only as of the date on which it was made. Factors or events that could cause our actual results to differ may emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all of them. Unless required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Executive Level Overview

We design, manufacture and distribute branded home improvement and building products. These products are sold primarily for repair and remodeling activity and new home construction through home center retailers, mass merchandisers, hardware stores, homebuilders, distributors, online retailers, and direct to the consumer.

2017 Results

Net sales were positively affected by increased sales volume resulting from increased repair and remodel activity and new home construction, net selling price increases in Europe and the U.S., and favorable sales mix in the U.S. Such increases were partially offset by the divestitures of Arrow and Moores, and unfavorable sales mix in Europe. Our results of operations were positively affected by increased sales volume, cost savings initiatives and a more favorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs in Europe. Such increases were partially offset by an increase in strategic growth investments and certain other expenses, including stock-based compensation, health insurance costs, trade show costs and increased head count.

Our Plumbing Products segment benefited from increased sales volume, cost savings initiatives and a favorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs, and was negatively impacted by an increase in investments in strategic growth initiatives and certain other expenses (including trade show costs and increased head count). Our Decorative Architectural Products segment was negatively affected by an unfavorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs of paints and other coating products, and an increase in strategic growth investments to support the expansion of pro paint sales and new programs in builder's hardware, and was positively impacted by increased sales volume and cost savings initiatives. Our Cabinetry Products segment was positively affected by cost savings initiatives as well as favorable sales mix and was negatively affected by decreased sales volume, costs to support new product launches in North America, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, and an unfavorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs. Our Windows and Other Specialty Products segment benefited from a decrease in warranty adjustments, as well as cost savings initiatives and a favorable relationship between net selling prices and commodity costs.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of any contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. We regularly review our estimates and assumptions, which are based upon historical experience, as well as current economic conditions and various other factors that we believe to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of certain assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates and assumptions.

Note A to the consolidated financial statements includes our accounting policies, estimates and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the following critical accounting policies are affected by significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements.

Revenue Recognition and Receivables

We recognize revenue as title to products and risk of loss is transferred to customers or when services are rendered. We record estimated reductions to revenue for customer programs and incentive offerings, including special pricing and co-operative advertising arrangements, promotions and other volume-based incentives. We monitor our customer receivable balances and the credit worthiness of our customers on an on-going basis and maintain allowances for doubtful accounts receivable for estimated losses resulting from the inability of customers to make required payments. During downturns in our markets, declines in the financial condition and creditworthiness of customers impact the credit risk of the receivables involved, and we have incurred additional bad debt expense related to customer defaults. Allowances are estimated based upon specific customer balances, where a risk of default has been identified, and also include a provision for non-customer specific defaults based upon historical collection, return and write-off activity.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

We record the excess of purchase cost over the fair value of net tangible assets of acquired companies as goodwill or other identifiable intangible assets. In the fourth quarter of each year, or as events occur or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a repor

Showing the first 8K of 72K characters. Open the full section

We have considered the provisions of accounting guidance regarding disclosure of accounting policies for derivative financial instruments and disclosure of quantitative and qualitative information about market risk inherent in derivative financial instruments and other financial instruments.

We are exposed to the impact of changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, particularly changes between the U.S. dollar and the European euro, British pound, and Canadian dollar, and to market price fluctuations related to our financial investments. We have involvement with derivative financial instruments and use such instruments to the extent necessary to manage exposure to foreign currency fluctuations. Refer to Note E to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our derivative instruments.

At December 31, 2017, we performed sensitivity analyses to assess the potential loss in the fair values of market risk sensitive instruments resulting from a hypothetical change of 10 percent in foreign currency exchange rates, a 10 percent decline in the market value of our long-term investments, or a 100 basis point change in interest rates. Based upon the analyses performed, such changes would not be expected to materially affect our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The management of Masco Corporation is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Masco Corporation's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

The management of Masco Corporation assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) in "Internal Control – Integrated Framework." Based on this assessment, management has determined that the Company's internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2017.

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, performed an audit of the Company's consolidated financial statements and of the effectiveness of Masco Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017. Their report expressed an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of Masco Corporation's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 and expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's 2017 consolidated financial statements. This report appears under 'Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data' under the heading "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm."

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders

of Masco Corporation:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Masco Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive income (loss), cash flows, and shareholders’ equity for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, including the related notes and the financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Basis for Opinions

The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 8. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding

prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Detroit, Michigan

February 8, 2018

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1959.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

MASCO CORPORATION and Consolidated Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

December 31, 2017 and 2016

(In Millions, Except Share Data)

Showing the first 8K of 146K characters. Open the full section

Not applicable.

The Company's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded, based on an evaluation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rules 13a-15(e) or 15d-15(e)) as required by paragraph (b) of Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 that, as of December 31, 2017, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management's report on the Company's internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) is included in this Report under Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, under the heading, "Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting" and is incorporated herein by reference. The report of our independent registered public accounting firm is also included under Item 8, under the heading, "Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm" and is incorporated herein by reference.

In connection with the evaluation of the Company's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the quarter ended December 31, 2017, which is required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by paragraph (d) of Exchange Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 (as defined in paragraph (f) of Rule 13a-15), management determined that there was no change that materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect internal control over financial reporting.

During the second quarter of 2018, we will implement a new Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) system at Delta Faucet Company ("Delta"). The system implementation is designed, in part, to enhance the overall system of internal control over financial reporting through further automation and improve business processes, and is not in response to any identified deficiency or weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. However, this system implementation is significant in scale and complexity and will result in modification to certain internal controls at Delta.

Not applicable.

PART III

Our Code of Business Ethics applies to all employees, officers and directors including our Principal Executive Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer, and is posted on our website at www.masco.com. Amendments to or waivers of our Code of Business Ethics for directors and executive officers, if any, will be posted on our website.

Other information required by this Item will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed on or before May 1, 2018, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Information required by this Item will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed on or before May 1, 2018 and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

We grant equity under our 2014 Long Term Stock Incentive Plan (the "2014 Plan"). The following table sets forth information as of December 31, 2017 concerning the 2014 Plan, which was approved by our stockholders. We do not have any equity compensation plans that have not been approved by our stockholders.

The remaining information required by this Item will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for our 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed on or before May 1, 2018, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Information required by this Item will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed on or before May 1, 2018, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

Information required by this Item will be contained in our definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to be filed on or before May 1, 2018, and such information is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

a. Listing of Documents.

a. Our Financial Statement Schedule appended hereto, as required for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, consists of the following:

The Company will furnish to its stockholders a copy of any of the above exhibits not included herein upon the written request of such stockholder and the payment to the Company of the reasonable expenses incurred by the Company in furnishing such copy or copies.

The optional summary in Item 16 has not been included in this Form 10-K.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

February 8, 2018

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this Report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.

MASCO CORPORATION

SCHEDULE II. VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

For the Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015