<PAGE> 1
FILED PURSUANT TO RULE NO. 424(B)(3)
REG. NO. 333-47261
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NO. 17
(TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 14, 1998)
10,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES
NEWELL RUBBERMAID LOGO
NEWELL FINANCIAL TRUST I
5 1/4% CONVERTIBLE QUARTERLY INCOME PREFERRED SECURITIES
(CONVERTIBLE QUIPS(SM)* SECURITIES)
(LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE $50 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH IN THE PROSPECTUS REFERENCED HEREIN BY,
AND CONVERTIBLE INTO COMMON STOCK OF,
NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.
------------------------
This Prospectus Supplement No. 17 supplements and amends the Prospectus
dated May 14, 1998, as it has previously been supplemented by Prospectus
Supplements dated June 5, 1998, June 25, 1998, July 13, 1998, July 23, 1998,
August 12, 1998, September 8, 1998, October 8, 1998, November 6, 1998, December
8, 1998, January 11, 1999, February 5, 1999, March 15, 1999, April 27, 1999, May
26, 1999, September 29, 1999 and November 8, 1999. The initial May 14, 1998
Prospectus and all seventeen Prospectus Supplements constitute the current
Prospectus.
The Prospectus relates to: (1) the 5 1/4% Convertible Quarterly Income
Preferred Securities (The Preferred Securities represent preferred undivided
beneficial ownership interests in the assets of Newell Financial Trust I.); and
(2) the shares of common stock of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. that may be issued on
conversion of the Preferred Securities.
The Selling Holder Table in the Prospectus is amended so that the following
line item reads as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES OF COMPANY
COMMON STOCK
NUMBER OF ISSUABLE UPON
PREFERRED SECURITIES CONVERSION OF
OWNED AND PREFERRED
NAME OF SELLING HOLDER OFFERED HEREBY SECURITIES
---------------------- -------------------- -----------------
<C> <S> <C> <C>
50. Goldman, Sachs & Co. ................................ 230,270 227,159
Additionally, the following new line item is hereby added to the Selling Holder Table:
120. LPT MFS Total Return Portfolio....................... 680 670
</TABLE>
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 6 OF THE PROSPECTUS FOR A DISCUSSION
OF CERTAIN FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE
OFFERED SECURITIES.
------------------------
THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND STATE SECURITIES REGULATORS HAVE
NOT APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THESE SECURITIES, OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY
REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
- ---------------------
* QUIPS is a servicemark of Goldman, Sachs & Co.
------------------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is December 6, 1999.
