Edgar Filing: COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO

Document

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K/A

Amendment No. 1

(Mark One)



x	ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017



¨	TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission File Number 1-644

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



DELAWARE	13-1815595
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)	(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
300 Park Avenue, New York, New York	10022
(Address of principal executive offices)	(Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 212-310-2000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



Title of each class	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, $1.00 par value	New York Stock Exchange
Floating Rate Notes due 2019	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

Yes x No ¨

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 ¨ No x

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 x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) 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. ¨

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



Large accelerated filer x	Accelerated filer ¨
Non-accelerated filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)	Smaller reporting company ¨
	Emerging growth company ¨

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. ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes ¨ No x

The aggregate market value of Colgate-Palmolive Company Common Stock held by non-affiliates as of June 30, 2017 (the last business day of its most recently completed second quarter) was approximately $65.1 billion.

There were 875,326,736 shares of Colgate-Palmolive Company Common Stock outstanding as of January 31, 2018.



DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Documents	Form 10-K Reference
Portions of Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders	Part III, Items 10 through 14

EXPLANATORY NOTE

This Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A (the “Amendment”) amends the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Colgate-Palmolive Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2018 (the “Original Filing”).

This Amendment is being filed solely to reformat the conformed signature on the Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. Due to an inadvertent oversight in the EDGAR preparation process, the conformed signature was included, but not visible, in the Original Filing.

In accordance with Rule 12b-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, this Amendment includes new certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, dated as of the filing date of this Amendment. In addition, the consent filed as Exhibit 23 to this Amendment is dated as of the filing date of this Amendment.

No other changes were made to the Original Filing. For ease of reference, the entire Form 10-K, including all other exhibits filed therewith, is included with this Amendment.

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Table of Contents



Part I		Page

Item 1.	Business	1
Item 1A.	Risk Factors	4
Item 1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	12
Item 2.	Properties	13
Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	14
Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	16

Part II
Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	17
Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	17
Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	18
Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	54
Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	55
Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	55
Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	55
Item 9B.	Other Information	55

Part III
Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	56
Item 11.	Executive Compensation	56
Item 12.	Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters	57
Item 13.	Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence	57
Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	57

Part IV
Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	58
Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary	62

Signatures		63

PART I

ITEM 1. BUSINESS

(a) General Development of the Business

Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Colgate”) is a leading consumer products company whose products are marketed in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world. Colgate was founded in 1806 and incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1923.

For recent business developments and other information, refer to the information set forth under the captions “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations–Executive Overview,” “– Outlook,” “–Results of Operations,” “–Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges” and “– Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Part II, Item 7 of this report.

(b) Financial Information about Segments

Worldwide Net sales and Operating profit by business segment and geographic region during the last three years appear under the caption “Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 of this report and in Note 15, Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

The Company operates in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. Colgate is a global leader in Oral Care with the leading toothpaste and manual toothbrush brands throughout many parts of the world according to market share data. Colgate’s Oral Care products include Colgate Total, Colgate Maximum Cavity Protection plus Sugar Acid Neutralizer, Colgate Triple Action, Darlie Double Action, Colgate Max Fresh, Colgate Optic White and Colgate Whitening toothpastes, Colgate 360°, Colgate Extra Clean and Colgate Slim Soft manual toothbrushes and Colgate Plax, meridol and Colgate Total mouthwashes. Colgate’s Oral Care business also includes pharmaceutical products for dentists and other oral health professionals.

Colgate is a leader in many product categories of the Personal Care market with global leadership in liquid hand soap, which it sells under the Softsoap, Palmolive and Protex brands. Colgate’s Personal Care products also include Palmolive, Sanex and Softsoap brand shower gels, Palmolive, Protex and Irish Spring bar soaps and Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick and Sanex deodorants and antiperspirants. Colgate is the market leader in liquid hand soap in the U.S. with its line of Softsoap brand products according to market share data. Colgate’s Personal Care business outside the U.S. also includes Palmolive and Caprice shampoos and conditioners.

Colgate manufactures and markets a wide array of products for the Home Care market, including Palmolive and Ajax dishwashing liquids and Fabuloso, Murphy’s Oil Soap and Ajax household cleaners. Colgate is a market leader in fabric conditioners with leading brands, including Suavitel in Latin America, Soupline in Europe and Cuddly in the South Pacific according to market share data.

Sales of Oral, Personal and Home Care products accounted for 48%, 19% and 18%, respectively, of the Company’s total worldwide Net sales in 2017. Geographically, Oral Care is a significant part of the Company’s business in Asia Pacific, comprising approximately 82% of Net sales in that region for 2017.

Colgate, through its Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment (“Hill’s” or “Pet Nutrition”), is a world leader in specialty pet nutrition products for dogs and cats with products marketed in over 80 countries worldwide. Hill’s markets pet foods primarily under three brands: Hill’s Science Diet, a range of products for everyday nutritional needs; Hill’s Prescription Diet, a range of therapeutic products to help nutritionally manage disease conditions in dogs and cats; and Hill’s Ideal Balance, a range of products with natural ingredients. Sales of Pet Nutrition products accounted for 15% of the Company’s total worldwide Net sales in 2017.

For more information regarding the Company’s worldwide Net sales by product category, refer to Note 1, Nature of Operations and Note 15, Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

For additional information regarding market share data, see “Market Share Information” in Part II, Item 7 of this report.

Research and Development

Strong research and development capabilities and alliances enable Colgate to support its many brands with technologically sophisticated products to meet consumers’ oral, personal and home care and pet nutrition needs. The Company’s spending related to research and development activities was $285 million in 2017, $289 million in 2016 and $274 million in 2015.

Distribution; Raw Materials; Competition; Trademarks and Patents

The Company’s products are marketed by a direct sales force at individual operating subsidiaries or business units, and by distributors or brokers. The Oral, Personal and Home Care products are sold to a variety of retail and wholesale customers and distributors. Pet Nutrition products are sold by authorized pet supply retailers and veterinarians. Many of the Company’s products are also sold online through various e-commerce platforms and retailers. The Company’s sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates represent approximately 11% of the Company’s Net sales in 2017. No other customer represents more than 10% of the Company’s Net sales.

The majority of raw and packaging materials used in the Company’s products are purchased from other companies and are available from several sources. No single raw or packaging material represents, and no single supplier provides, a significant portion of the Company’s total material requirements. For certain materials, however, new suppliers may have to be qualified under industry, governmental and Colgate standards, which can require additional investment and take some period of time. Raw and packaging material commodities such as resins, pulp, essential oils, tropical oils, tallow, poultry, corn and soybeans are subject to market price variations.

The Company’s products are sold in a highly competitive global marketplace which has experienced increased trade concentration and the growing presence of e-commerce retailers, large-format retailers and discounters. Products similar to those produced and sold by the Company are available from multinational and local competitors in the U.S. and overseas. Certain of the Company’s competitors are larger and have greater resources than the Company. In certain geographies, particularly in the emerging markets, the Company also faces strong local competitors, who may be more agile and have better local consumer insights than the Company. In addition, private label brands sold by retail trade chains are a source of competition for certain of the Company’s product lines. Product quality, innovation, brand recognition, marketing capability and acceptance of new products largely determine success in the Company’s operating segments.

The Company considers trademarks to be of material importance to its business. The Company follows a practice of seeking trademark protection in the U.S. and throughout the world where the Company’s products are sold. Principal global and regional trademarks include Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Ideal Balance. The Company’s rights in these trademarks endure for as long as they are used and/or registered. Although the Company actively develops and maintains a portfolio of patents, no single patent is considered significant to the business as a whole.

Environmental Matters

The Company has programs that are designed to ensure that its operations and facilities meet or exceed standards established by applicable environmental rules and regulations. Capital expenditures for environmental control facilities totaled approximately $54 million for 2017. For future years, expenditures are currently expected to be of a similar magnitude. For additional information regarding environmental matters refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies, to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Employees

As of December 31, 2017, the Company employed approximately 35,900 employees.

Executive Officers of the Registrant

The following is a list of executive officers as of February 15, 2018:



Name	Age	Date First Elected Officer	Present Title
Ian Cook	65	1996	Chairman of the Board
			President and Chief Executive Officer
Franck J. Moison	64	2002	Vice Chairman
Dennis J. Hickey	69	1998	Chief Financial Officer
P. Justin Skala	58	2008	Chief Operating Officer,
			North America, Europe, Africa/Eurasia
			and Global Sustainability
Noel R. Wallace	53	2009	Chief Operating Officer,
			Global Innovation and Growth
			and Hill’s Pet Nutrition
John J. Huston	63	2002	Senior Vice President, Chief of Staff
Daniel B. Marsili	57	2005	Chief Human Resources Officer
Victoria L. Dolan	58	2011	Chief Transformation Officer
Patricia Verduin	58	2011	Chief Technology Officer
Jennifer M. Daniels	54	2014	Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Mukul Deoras	54	2015	Chief Marketing Officer
Henning I. Jakobsen	57	2017	Vice President
			and Corporate Controller

Each of the executive officers listed above has served the registrant or its subsidiaries in various executive capacities for the past five years with the exception of Jennifer M. Daniels, who joined the Company in 2014 as Chief Legal Officer and Secretary. Prior to joining the Company, Ms. Daniels was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of NCR Corporation, which she joined in 2010.

Under the Company’s By-Laws, the officers of the corporation hold office until their respective successors are chosen and qualified or until they have resigned, retired or been removed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”). There are no family relationships between any of the executive officers, and there is no arrangement or understanding between any executive officer and any other person pursuant to which the executive officer was elected.

(d) Financial Information about Geographic Areas

For financial data by geographic region, refer to the information set forth under the caption “Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7, of this report and in Note 15, Segment Information to the Consolidated Financial Statements. For a discussion of risks associated with our international operations, see Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

(e) Available Information

The Company’s website address is www.colgatepalmolive.com. The information contained on the Company’s website is not included as a part of, or incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company makes available, free of charge, on its website its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, its interactive data files posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T, its Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after the Company has electronically filed such material with, or furnished it to, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Also available on the Company’s website are the Company’s Code of Conduct and Board Guidelines on Significant Corporate Governance Issues, the charters of the Committees of the Board, Form SD and the related Conflict Minerals Disclosure and Report, reports under Section 16 of the Exchange Act of transactions in Company stock by directors and officers and its proxy statements.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

In addition to the risks described elsewhere in this report, set forth below is a summary of the material risks to an investment in our securities. These risks are not the only ones we face. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also have an adverse effect on us. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be materially and adversely impacted, which might cause the value of our securities to decline.

We face risks associated with significant international operations, including exposure to foreign currency fluctuations.

We operate on a global basis serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories with approximately 75% of our Net sales originating in markets outside the U.S. While geographic diversity helps to reduce our exposure to risks in any one country or part of the world, it also means that we are subject to the full range of risks associated with significant international operations, including, but not limited to:


▪	changes in exchange rates for foreign currencies, which may reduce the U.S. dollar value of revenues, profits and cash flows from non-U.S. markets or increase our supply costs, as measured in U.S. dollars, in those markets;


▪	exchange controls and other limits on our ability to import or export raw materials or finished product or to repatriate earnings from overseas;


▪	political or economic instability, social or labor unrest or changing macroeconomic conditions in our markets, including as a result of volatile commodity prices, including the price of oil;


▪	lack of well-established or reliable legal systems in certain countries where we operate;


▪	foreign ownership restrictions and the potential for nationalization or expropriation of property or other resources; and


▪	other foreign or domestic legal and regulatory requirements, including those resulting in potentially adverse tax consequences or the imposition of onerous trade restrictions and/or tariffs, price controls, labor laws, travel or immigration restrictions, profit controls or other government controls.

These risks could have a significant impact on our ability to sell our products on a competitive basis and may adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

In an effort to minimize the impact on earnings of foreign currency rate movements, we engage in a combination of selling price increases, where permitted, sourcing strategies, cost-containment measures and selective hedging of foreign currency transactions. However, the impact of these measures may not fully offset any negative impact of foreign currency rate movements on our business and results of operations.

Significant competition in our industry could adversely affect our business.

We face vigorous competition worldwide, including from strong local competitors and from other large, multinational companies, some of which may have greater resources than we do. We face this competition in several aspects of our business, including, but not limited to, the pricing of products, promotional activities, new product introductions and expansion into new geographies. Some of our competitors may spend more aggressively on advertising and promotional activities than we do, introduce competing products more quickly and/or respond more effectively to changing business and economic conditions. Such competition also extends to administrative and legal challenges of product claims and advertising. Our ability to compete also depends on the strength of our brands and on our ability to enforce and defend our intellectual property, including patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and trade dress rights against infringement and legal challenges by competitors.

We may be unable to anticipate the timing and scale of such initiatives or challenges by competitors or to successfully respond to them, which could harm our business. In addition, the cost of responding to such initiatives and challenges, including management time, out-of-pocket expenses and price reductions, may affect our performance in the relevant period. A failure to compete effectively could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Our business is subject to legal and regulatory risks in the U.S. and abroad.

Our business is subject to extensive legal and regulatory requirements in the U.S. and abroad. Such legal and regulatory requirements apply to most aspects of our products, including their development, ingredients, manufacture, packaging, labeling, storage, transportation, distribution, export, import, advertising and sale. U.S. federal authorities, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”), the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency, regulate different aspects of our business, along with parallel authorities at the state and local levels and comparable authorities overseas. Also, our selling practices are regulated by competition law authorities in the U.S. and abroad.

New or more stringent legal or regulatory requirements, or more restrictive interpretations of existing requirements, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. For example, from time to time, various regulatory authorities in Europe, the U.S. and other countries review the use of various ingredients in consumer products. Triclosan, an ingredient used by us in Colgate Total toothpaste, is an example of an ingredient that has undergone reviews by various regulatory authorities worldwide, both by itself and in the context of its use in specific products or types of products. In the U.S., Colgate Total toothpaste is subject to the FDA’s rigorous New Drug Application (“NDA”) process for safety and efficacy. Effective September 2017, the FDA restricted the use of 19 active ingredients, including triclosan and triclocarban, in antibacterial consumer soaps in the U.S. Our consumer soaps do not contain triclosan or triclocarbon. Some states and municipalities in the U.S. have proposed, and Minnesota has passed, legislation banning the sale of certain consumer products containing triclosan. The Minnesota legislation does not cover Colgate Total toothpaste. In November 2016, the Canadian government finalized its review of the potential human and environmental risks of triclosan, concluding that triclosan does not enter the environment in quantities or conditions that pose a danger in Canada to human life or health, and that triclosan is neither bioaccumulative nor persistent, but that triclosan could be entering the environment at levels that could potentially cause harm to some aquatic organisms. The Canadian government is now working with stakeholders to ensure triclosan remains under a level it has determined to be safe, and we will participate in this process. Triclosan is also currently being evaluated under the European Union’s Regulation for the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals, which evaluation process is expected to take several years to complete.

A decision by a regulatory or governmental authority that triclosan, or any other of our ingredients, should not be used in certain consumer products or should otherwise be newly regulated, could adversely impact our business, as could negative reactions by our consumers, trade customers or non-governmental organizations to our use of such ingredients. Additionally, an inability to develop new or reformulated products containing alternative ingredients or to obtain regulatory approval of such products on a timely basis could likewise adversely affect our business.

Because of our extensive international operations, we could be adversely affected by violations of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (the “FCPA”) and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws. The FCPA and similar worldwide anti-bribery laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to government officials or other third parties for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. While our policies mandate compliance with these anti-bribery laws, we cannot provide assurance that our internal control policies and procedures will always protect us from reckless or criminal acts committed by our employees, joint-venture partners or agents. Violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and adversely affect our reputation and our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

While it is our policy and practice to comply with all legal and regulatory requirements applicable to our business, a finding that we are in violation of, or out of compliance with, applicable laws or regulations could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, damages, injunctions or product recalls, or criminal sanctions, any of which could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Even if a claim is unsuccessful, is without merit or is not fully pursued, the negative publicity surrounding such assertions regarding our products, processes or business practices could adversely affect our reputation and brand image. For information regarding our legal and regulatory matters, see Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” and Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Increasing dependence on key retailers in developed markets, changes in the policies of our retail trade customers, the emergence of new sales channels and the growing presence of e-commerce retailers may adversely affect our business.

Our products are sold in a highly competitive global marketplace which has experienced increased trade concentration and the growing presence of large-format retailers and discounters. With the growing trend toward retail trade consolidation, we are increasingly dependent on key retailers, and some of these retailers, including large-format retailers, may have greater bargaining strength than we do. They may use this leverage to demand higher trade discounts, allowances or slotting fees, which could lead to reduced sales or profitability. The loss of a key customer or a significant reduction in sales to a key customer could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. For additional information regarding our customers, see “Distribution; Raw Materials; Competition; Trademarks and Patents” in Item 1 “Business.”

We also have been and may continue to be negatively affected by changes in the policies or practices of our retail trade customers, such as inventory de-stocking, limitations on access to shelf space, delisting of our products, environmental or sustainability initiatives and other conditions. For example, a determination by a key retailer that any of our ingredients should not be used in certain consumer products could adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. In addition, private label products sold by retail trade chains, which are typically sold at lower prices than branded products, are a source of competition for certain of our product lines. The emergence of new sales channels for our products may affect, and the growing presence of e-commerce retailers have affected and may continue to affect, consumer preferences and market dynamics and could also adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

The growth of our business depends on the successful identification, development and launch of innovative new products.

Our growth depends on the continued success of existing products, as well as the successful launch of innovative new products and line extensions. Our ability to launch new products and line extensions and to sustain existing products is affected by whether we can successfully:


▪	identify, develop and fund technological innovations;


▪	obtain and maintain necessary intellectual property protection and avoid infringing intellectual property rights of others;


▪	obtain approvals and registrations of regulated products, including from the FDA and other regulatory bodies in the U.S. and abroad; and


▪	anticipate and respond to consumer needs and preferences.

The identification, development and introduction of innovative new products and line extensions involve considerable costs, and any new product or line extension may not generate sufficient customer and consumer interest and sales to become a profitable product or to cover the costs of its development and promotion. Our ability to achieve a successful launch of a new product or line extension could also be adversely affected by preemptive actions taken by competitors in response to the launch, such as increased promotional activities and advertising.

The failure to develop and launch successful new products could hinder the growth of our business and any delay in the development or launch of a new product could result in us not being the first to market, which could compromise our competitive position and adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

If, in the course of identifying or developing new products, we are found to have infringed the trademark, trade secret, copyright, patent or other intellectual property rights of others, directly or indirectly, through the use of third-party ideas or technologies, such a finding could adversely affect our ability to develop innovative new products and adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. Even if we are not found to infringe a third party’s intellectual property rights, claims of infringement could adversely affect us, including by increasing costs and by delaying the launch of new products.

We may not realize the benefits that we expect from our Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

Our restructuring program, which we refer to as the “Global Growth and Efficiency Program,” is ongoing. The Global Growth and Efficiency Program’s initiatives are expected to help us ensure sustained solid worldwide growth in unit volume, organic sales, operating profit and earnings per share and enhance our global leadership positions in our core businesses. While implementation of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program is well underway and many of the initiatives under the program have been successfully implemented or are nearing completion, the successful implementation of the remainder of the program presents significant organizational challenges and, in some cases, may require successful negotiations with third parties. As a result, we may not be able to realize all of the remaining anticipated benefits from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Events and circumstances, such as financial or strategic difficulties, delays and unexpected costs may occur that could result in our not realizing all of the remaining anticipated benefits or our not realizing such benefits on our expected timetable. In addition, changes in foreign exchange rates or in tax, labor or immigration laws may result in our not achieving the remaining anticipated cost savings as measured in U.S. dollars. If we are unable to realize the remaining anticipated savings of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, our ability to fund other initiatives and enhance profitability may be adversely affected. Any failure to implement the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in accordance with our expectations could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. For additional information regarding the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, refer to Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Significant Items Impacting Comparability” and “– Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges.”

There is no guarantee that our ongoing efforts to reduce costs will be successful.

One way that we generate funds needed to support the growth of our business is through our continuous, Company-wide initiatives to lower costs and increase effective asset utilization, which we refer to as our funding-the-growth initiatives. These initiatives are designed to reduce costs associated with direct materials, indirect expenses, distribution and logistics, and advertising and promotional materials, among other things. The achievement of our funding-the-growth goals depends on our ability to successfully identify and realize additional savings opportunities. Events and circumstances, such as financial or strategic difficulties, delays and unexpected costs may occur that could result in our not realizing any or all of the anticipated benefits or our not realizing the anticipated benefits on our expected timetable. If we are unable to realize the anticipated savings of our funding-the-growth initiatives, our ability to fund other initiatives and achieve our profitability goals may be adversely affected. Any failure to implement our funding-the-growth initiatives in accordance with our expectations could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition. For additional information regarding our funding-the-growth initiatives, refer to Part II, Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Executive Overview.”

Damage to our reputation could have an adverse effect on our business.

Maintaining our strong reputation with consumers and our trade partners globally is critical to selling our branded products. Accordingly, we devote significant time and resources to programs designed to protect and preserve our reputation, such as our Ethics and Compliance, Sustainability, Brand Protection and Product Safety, Regulatory and Quality initiatives. Adverse publicity about us, our brands, our supply chain or our ingredients regarding health concerns, legal or regulatory proceedings, environmental impacts (including packaging, energy and water use and waste management) or other sustainability or policy issues, whether or not deserved, could jeopardize our reputation. In addition, widespread use of digital and social media by consumers has greatly increased the accessibility of information and the speed of its dissemination. Negative publicity, posts or comments on social media about us, our brands or our products, whether true or untrue, could damage our brands and our reputation. The success of our brands could also suffer if our marketing initiatives do not have the desired impact on a brand’s image or its ability to attract consumers.

Additionally, due to the scale and scope of our business, we must rely on relationships with third parties, including our suppliers, distributors, contractors, joint venture partners and other external business partners, for certain functions. While we have policies and procedures for managing these relationships, they inherently involve a lesser degree of control over business operations, governance and compliance, thereby potentially increasing our reputational and legal risk.

In addition, third parties sell counterfeit versions of our products, which are inferior or may pose safety risks. As a result, consumers of our brands could confuse our products with these counterfeit products, which could cause them to refrain from purchasing our brands in the future and in turn could impair our brand equity and adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Damage to our reputation or loss of consumer confidence in our products for these or any other reasons could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, as well as require resources to rebuild our reputation.

Volatility in material and other costs could adversely impact our profitability.

Raw and packaging material commodities such as resins, pulp, essential oils, tropical oils, tallow, poultry, corn and soybeans are subject to wide price variations. Increases in the costs and availability of these commodities and the costs of energy, transportation and other necessary services have affected and may continue to adversely affect our profit margins if we are unable to pass along such higher costs in the form of price increases or otherwise achieve cost efficiencies, such as in manufacturing and distribution. As a result, fluctuations in such prices and costs could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition. See “Disruption in our global supply chain or key office facilities could adversely impact our business” below for additional information.

Legal claims and proceedings could adversely impact our business.

As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, we may be subject to a wide variety of legal claims and proceedings, including disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, pension, privacy, environmental and tax matters and consumer class actions. Regardless of their merit, these claims can require significant time and expense to investigate and defend. Since litigation is inherently uncertain, there is no guarantee that we will be successful in defending ourselves against such claims or proceedings, or that our assessment of the materiality of these matters, including any reserves taken in connection therewith, will be consistent with the ultimate outcome of such matters. In addition, if one of our products, or a raw material contained in our products, is perceived or found to be defective or unsafe, we may need to recall some of our products. Whether or not a legal claim or proceeding is successful, or a recall is required, such assertions could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, and the negative publicity surrounding them could harm our reputation and brand image. See Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” and Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information on certain of our legal claims and proceedings.

Disruption in our global supply chain or key office facilities could adversely impact our business.

We are engaged in manufacturing and sourcing of products and materials on a global scale. Our operations and those of our suppliers could be disrupted by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:


▪	environmental events;


▪	strikes and other labor disputes;


▪	disruptions in logistics;


▪	loss or impairment of key manufacturing sites;


▪	loss of key suppliers;


▪	supplier capacity constraints;


▪	raw material and product quality or safety issues;


▪	industrial accidents or other occupational health and safety issues;


▪	the impact on our suppliers of tighter credit or capital markets; and


▪	natural disasters, including climatic events and earthquakes, acts of war or terrorism and other external factors over which we have no control.

In addition, we purchase certain key raw and packaging materials from single-source suppliers or a limited number of suppliers and new suppliers may have to be qualified under industry, governmental and Colgate standards, which can require additional investment and take a significant period of time.

While we believe that the supplies of raw materials needed to manufacture our products are adequate and have business continuity and contingency plans in place for key manufacturing sites and the supply of raw and packaging materials, significant disruption of manufacturing or sourcing of products or materials for any reason, including any of the above reasons, could interrupt product supply and, if not remedied, have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

In addition, as a result of our clustering of single-country subsidiaries into regional commercial hubs and our implementation of a global shared service organizational model, certain of our functions, such as marketing, finance and accounting, customer service and logistics, and human resources, have become more concentrated in key office facilities. A significant disruption to any of our key office facilities for any reason, including natural disasters, acts of war or terrorism, could adversely affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

A cyber-security incident, data breach or a failure of a key information technology system could adversely impact our business or reputation.

We rely extensively on information technology systems (“IT Systems”), including some which are managed, hosted, provided and/or used by third parties and their vendors, in order to conduct our business. Our uses of these systems include, but are not limited to:


▪	communicating within our company and with other parties, including our customers and consumers;


▪	ordering and managing materials from suppliers;


▪	converting materials to finished products;


▪	receiving and processing orders from and shipping products to our customers;


▪	marketing products to consumers;


▪	collecting and storing customer, consumer, employee, investor and other stakeholder information and personal data;


▪	processing transactions, including but not limited to employee payroll, employee and retiree benefits and payments to customers and vendors;


▪	hosting, processing and sharing confidential and proprietary research, business plans and financial information;


▪	complying with legal, regulatory and tax requirements;


▪	providing data security; and


▪	handling other processes involved in managing our business.

Although we have a broad array of information security measures in place, our IT Systems, including those of third-party service providers with whom we have contracted, have been, and will likely continue to be, subject to computer viruses or other malicious codes, unauthorized access attempts, phishing and other cyber-attacks. Cyber-attacks and other cyber incidents are occurring more frequently, are constantly evolving in nature, are becoming more sophisticated and are being made by groups and individuals with a wide range of expertise and motives. Such cyber-attacks and cyber incidents can take many forms, including cyber extortion, social engineering, password theft or introduction of viruses or malware, such as ransomware through phishing emails. We cannot guarantee that our security efforts will prevent breaches or breakdowns of our, or our third-party service providers’, IT Systems since the techniques used in these attacks change frequently and may be difficult to detect for periods of time. In addition, although we have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all personal information collected by us or our third-party service providers is securely maintained, data breaches due to human error or intentional or unintentional conduct have occurred and likely will continue to occur. Although we have seen no material impact on our business operations from the cyber-security attacks and data breaches we have experienced to date, if we suffer a loss or disclosure of confidential business or stakeholder information as a result of a breach of our IT Systems, including those of third-party service providers with whom we have contracted, we may suffer reputational, competitive and/or business harm, incur significant costs and be subject to government investigations, litigation, fines and/or damages, which may adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Furthermore, while we have disaster recovery and business continuity plans in place, if our IT Systems are damaged, breached or cease to function properly for any reason, including the poor performance of, failure of or cyber-attack on third-party service providers, catastrophic events, power outages, cyber-security breaches, network outages, failed upgrades or other similar events and, if the disaster recovery and business continuity plans do not effectively resolve such issues on a timely basis, we may suffer interruptions in our ability to manage or conduct business as well as reputational harm, and may be subject to governmental investigations and litigation, any of which may adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Uncertain global economic conditions and disruptions in the credit markets may adversely affect our business.

Uncertain global economic conditions could adversely affect our business. Recent global economic trends pose challenges to our business and could result in declining revenues, profitability and cash flows. Although we continue to devote significant resources to support our brands and market our products at multiple price points, during periods of economic uncertainty consumers may reduce consumption or switch to economy brands, which could reduce sales volumes of our products or result in a shift in our product mix from higher margin to lower margin product offerings. Additionally, retailers may increase pressure on our selling prices or increase promotional activity for lower-priced or value offerings as they seek to maintain sales volumes and margins.

While we currently generate significant cash flows from ongoing operations and have access to global credit markets through our various financing activities, a disruption in the credit markets could negatively impact the availability or cost of funding. Reduced access to credit or increased costs could adversely affect our liquidity and capital resources or significantly increase our cost of capital. In addition, if any financial institutions that hold our cash or other investments or that are parties to our revolving credit facilities supporting our commercial paper program or other financing arrangements, such as interest rate or foreign exchange hedging instruments, were to declare bankruptcy or become insolvent, they may be unable to perform under their agreements with us. This could leave us with reduced borrowing capacity or unhedged against certain interest rate, foreign currency or commodity price exposures. In addition, tighter credit markets may lead to business disruptions for certain of our suppliers, contract manufacturers or trade customers which could, in turn, adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain key employees and the succession of senior management.

Our success largely depends on the performance of our management team and other key employees. If we are unable to attract and retain talented, highly qualified senior management and other key people, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition could be adversely affected. In addition, if we are unable to effectively provide for the succession of senior management, including our Chief Executive Officer, our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition may be adversely affected. While we follow a disciplined, ongoing succession planning process and have succession plans in place for senior management and other key executives, these do not guarantee that the services of qualified senior executives will continue to be available to us at particular moments in time.

We have pursued and may continue to pursue acquisitions and divestitures, which could adversely impact our results.

We have pursued and may continue to pursue acquisitions of brands, businesses or technologies from third parties. Acquisitions and their pursuit involve numerous potential risks, including, among other things:


▪	realizing the full extent of the expected benefits or synergies as a result of a transaction, within the anticipated time frame, or at all;


▪	successfully integrating the operations, technologies, services, products and systems of the acquired brands or businesses in an effective, timely and cost-efficient manner;


▪	receiving necessary consents, clearances and approvals in connection with a transaction;


▪	diverting management’s attention from other business priorities;


▪	successfully operating in new lines of business or markets;


▪	retaining key employees, partners, suppliers and customers of the acquired business;


▪	conforming standards, controls, procedures and policies of the acquired business with our own;


▪	developing or launching products with acquired technologies; and


▪	other unanticipated problems or liabilities.

Moreover, acquisitions could result in substantial additional debt, exposure to contingent liabilities, such as litigation (including for infringement of intellectual property) or earn-out obligations, the potential impairment of goodwill or other intangible assets, or transaction costs. Any of these risks, should they materialize, could adversely impact our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

We also may periodically divest brands or businesses. These divestitures may adversely impact our results of operations if we are unable to offset the dilutive impacts from the loss of revenue associated with the divested brands or businesses, or otherwise achieve the anticipated benefits or cost savings from the divestitures. In addition, businesses under consideration for, or otherwise subject to, divestiture may be adversely impacted prior to the divestiture, which could negatively impact our results of operations.

ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

None.

ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

The Company owns or leases approximately 320 properties which include manufacturing, distribution, research and office facilities worldwide. Our corporate headquarters is located in leased property at 300 Park Avenue, New York, New York.

In the U.S., the Company operates in approximately 70 properties, of which 14 are owned. Major U.S. manufacturing and warehousing facilities used by the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment of our business are located in Greenwood, South Carolina; Morristown, Tennessee; and Cambridge, Ohio. The Pet Nutrition segment has major manufacturing and warehousing facilities in Bowling Green, Kentucky; Topeka, Kansas; Emporia, Kansas; and Richmond, Indiana. The primary research center for Oral, Personal and Home Care products is located in Piscataway, New Jersey, and the primary research center for Pet Nutrition products is located in Topeka, Kansas. Our global data center is also located in Piscataway, New Jersey.

Overseas, the Company operates in approximately 250 properties, of which 68 are owned, in over 80 countries. Major overseas manufacturing and warehousing facilities used by the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment of our business are located in Australia, Brazil, China, Colombia, France, Greece, Guatemala, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, Venezuela and Vietnam. The Pet Nutrition segment has major manufacturing and warehousing facilities in the Czech Republic and the Netherlands.

The Company has shared business service centers in Mexico, Poland and India, which are located in leased properties.

All of the facilities we operate are well maintained and adequate for the purpose for which they are intended.

ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, the Company is routinely subject to a wide variety of legal proceedings. These include disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, pension, privacy, environmental and tax matters, and consumer class actions. Management proactively reviews and monitors the Company’s exposure to, and the impact of, environmental matters. The Company is party to various environmental matters and, as such, may be responsible for all or a portion of the cleanup, restoration and post-closure monitoring of several sites.

The Company establishes accruals for loss contingencies when it has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Any such accruals are adjusted thereafter as appropriate to reflect changes in circumstances.

The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below for which the amount of any potential losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $250 million (based on current exchange rates). The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company’s analysis of currently available information and, as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of loss contingencies arising from the matters discussed herein will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties noted above, an adverse outcome in one or more matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

Brazilian Matters

There are certain tax and civil proceedings outstanding, as described below, related to the Company’s 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (the “Seller”).

The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees, at the current exchange rate, are approximately $165 million. This amount includes additional assessments received from the Brazilian internal revenue authority in April 2016 relating to net operating loss carryforwards used by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary to offset taxable income that had also been deducted from the authority’s original assessments. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments since October 2001. Appeals are currently pending at the administrative level. In the event the Company is ultimately unsuccessful in its administrative appeals, further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts.

In September 2015, the Company lost one of its appeals at the administrative level and filed a lawsuit in Brazilian federal court. In February 2017, the Company lost an additional administrative appeal and filed a similar action in Brazilian federal court. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the disallowances are without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail. The Company is challenging these disallowances vigorously.

In July 2002, the Brazilian Federal Public Attorney filed a civil action against the federal government of Brazil, Laboratorios Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (the Brazilian subsidiary of the Seller) and the Company, as represented by its Brazilian subsidiary, in the 6th. Lower Federal Court in the City of São Paulo, seeking to annul an April 2000 decision by the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals that found in favor of the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary on the issue of whether it had incurred taxable capital gains as a result of the divestiture of Kolynos. The action seeks to make the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary jointly and severally liable for any tax due from the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary. The case has been pending since 2002, and the Lower Federal Court has not issued a decision. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the Company should ultimately prevail in this action. The Company is challenging this action vigorously.

In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees of approximately $74 million, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company had been disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority’s administrative appeals process. However, in November 2015, the Superior Chamber of Administrative Tax Appeals denied the Company’s final administrative appeal and the Company has filed a lawsuit in the Brazilian federal court. In the event the Company is unsuccessful in this filing, further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail. The Company is challenging this assessment vigorously.

Competition Matters

Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have historically been subject to investigations, and, in some cases, fines, by governmental authorities in a number of countries related to alleged competition law violations. Substantially all of these matters also involved other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The Company’s policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. The status of pending competition law matters as of December 31, 2017 is set forth below.

▪

In December 2014, the French competition law authority found that 13 consumer goods companies, including the Company’s French subsidiary, exchanged competitively sensitive information related to the French home care and personal care sectors, for which the Company’s French subsidiary was fined $57 million. In addition, as a result of the Company’s acquisition of the Sanex personal care business in 2011 from Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC (together with Unilever N.V., “Unilever”) pursuant to a Business and Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “Sale and Purchase Agreement”), the French competition law authority found that the Company’s French subsidiary, along with Hillshire Brands Company (formerly Sara Lee Corporation (“Sara Lee”)), were jointly and severally liable for fines of $25 million assessed against Sara Lee’s French subsidiary. The Company is entitled to indemnification for this fine from Unilever as provided in the Sale and Purchase Agreement. The fines were confirmed by the Court of Appeal in October 2016. The Company is appealing the decision of the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Company and Sara Lee in the French Supreme Court.


▪	In July 2014, the Greek competition law authority issued a statement of objections alleging a restriction of parallel imports into Greece. The Company responded to this statement of objections. In July 2017, the Company received the decision from the Greek competition law authority in which the Company was fined $11 million. The Company is appealing the decision to the Greek courts.

Talcum Powder Matters

The Company has been named as a defendant in civil actions alleging that certain talcum powder products that were sold prior to 1996 were contaminated with asbestos. Most of these actions involve a number of co-defendants from a variety of different industries, including suppliers of asbestos and manufacturers of products that, unlike the Company’s products, were designed to contain asbestos. As of December 31, 2017, there were 193 individual cases pending against the Company in state and federal courts throughout the United States, as compared to 115 cases as of December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, 132 new cases were filed and 54 cases were resolved by voluntary dismissal, appeal in the Company’s favor or settlement. The value of settlements in the years presented was not material, either individually or in the aggregate, to each such period’s results of operations.

The Company believes that a significant portion of its costs incurred in defending and resolving these claims will be covered by insurance policies issued by several primary and excess insurance carriers, subject to deductibles, exclusions, retentions and policy limits.

While the Company and its legal counsel believe that these cases are without merit and intend to challenge them vigorously, there can be no assurances regarding the ultimate resolution of these matters. Since the amount of any potential losses from these cases currently cannot be reasonably estimated, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued liabilities disclosed above does not include any amount relating to these cases.

The Company was a defendant in a lawsuit that was brought in Utah federal court by N8 Medical, Inc. (“N8 Medical”), Brigham Young University (“BYU”) and N8 Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (“N8 Pharma”). The complaint, originally filed in November 2013, alleged breach of contract and other torts arising out of the Company’s evaluation of a technology owned by BYU and licensed, at various times, to Ceragenix Pharmaceuticals, Inc., now in bankruptcy, N8 Medical and N8 Pharma.

In 2016, the Company resolved the claims brought by BYU and N8 Medical. These claims were each resolved in an amount that is not material to the Company’s results of operations. In the first quarter of 2017, the court dismissed the claims of N8 Pharma and, in the third quarter of 2017, N8 Pharma appealed the decision.

ERISA Matter

In June 2016, a putative class action claiming that residual annuity payments made to certain participants in the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan (the “Plan”) did not comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act was filed against the Plan, the Company and certain individuals in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. This action has been certified as a class action. The relief sought includes recalculation of benefits, pre- and post-judgment interest and attorneys’ fees. The Company is contesting this action vigorously. Since the amount of any potential loss from this case currently cannot be reasonably estimated, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued liabilities disclosed above does not include any amount relating to the case.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not Applicable.

PART II


ITEM 5.	MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

For information regarding the market for the Company’s common stock, including quarterly market prices and dividends and stock price performance graphs, refer to “Market and Dividend Information” included in Part IV, Item 15 of this report. For information regarding the number of common shareholders of record, refer to “Historical Financial Summary” included in Part IV, Item 15 of this report. For information regarding the securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, refer to “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” included in Part III, Item 12 of this report.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On February 19, 2015, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate purchase price of up to $5 billion under a share repurchase program (the “2015 Program”), which replaced a previously authorized share repurchase program. The Board also has authorized share repurchases on an ongoing basis to fulfill certain requirements of the Company’s compensation and benefit programs. The shares are repurchased from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions at the Company’s discretion, subject to market conditions, blackout periods and other factors.

The following table shows the stock repurchase activity for each of the three months in the quarter ended December 31, 2017:



Month	Total Number of Shares Purchased⁽¹⁾	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs⁽²⁾	Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs⁽³⁾(in millions)
October 1 through 31, 2017	675,610	$	71.53	622,000	1,367
November 1 through 30, 2017	2,045,446	$	72.05	2,031,250	1,221
December 1 through 31, 2017	2,073,066	$	74.25	2,024,900	1,071
Total	4,794,122	$	72.93	4,678,150

_______


⁽¹⁾	Includes share repurchases under the 2015 Program and those associated with certain employee elections under the Company’s compensation and benefit programs.


⁽²⁾	The difference between the total number of shares purchased and the total number of shares purchased as part of publicly announced plans or programs is 115,972 shares, all of which relate to shares deemed surrendered to the Company to satisfy certain employee elections under the Company’s compensation and benefit programs.


⁽³⁾	Includes approximate dollar value of shares that were available to be purchased under the publicly announced plans or programs that were in effect as of December 31, 2017.

ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

Refer to the information set forth under the caption “Historical Financial Summary” included in Part IV, Item 15 of this report.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)


ITEM 7.	MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Executive Overview

Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Colgate”) seeks to deliver strong, consistent business results and superior shareholder returns by providing consumers globally with products that make their lives healthier and more enjoyable.

To this end, the Company is tightly focused on two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. Within these segments, the Company follows a closely defined business strategy to develop and increase market leadership positions in key product categories. These product categories are prioritized based on their capacity to maximize the use of the organization’s core competencies and strong global equities and to deliver sustainable long-term growth.

Operationally, the Company is organized along geographic lines with management teams having responsibility for the business and financial results in each region. The Company competes in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide with established businesses in all regions contributing to the Company’s sales and profitability. Approximately 75% of the Company’s Net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with approximately 50% of the Company’s Net sales coming from emerging markets (which consist of Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe). This geographic diversity and balance help to reduce the Company’s exposure to business and other risks in any one country or part of the world.

The Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment is managed geographically in five reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia, all of which sell to a variety of retail and wholesale customers and distributors. The Company, through Hill’s Pet Nutrition, also competes on a worldwide basis in the pet nutrition market, selling its products principally through authorized pet supply retailers and veterinarians. Many of the Company’s products are also sold online through various e-commerce platforms and retailers.

On an ongoing basis, management focuses on a variety of key indicators to monitor business health and performance. These indicators include market share, net sales (including volume, pricing and foreign exchange components), organic sales growth (net sales growth excluding, as applicable, the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestments and the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations), a non-GAAP financial measure, and gross profit margin, operating profit, net income and earnings per share, in each case, on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis, as well as measures used to optimize the management of working capital, capital expenditures, cash flow and return on capital. The monitoring of these indicators and the Company’s Code of Conduct and corporate governance practices help to maintain business health and strong internal controls. For additional information regarding non-GAAP financial measures, see “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

To achieve its business and financial objectives, the Company focuses the organization on initiatives to drive and fund growth. The Company seeks to capture significant opportunities for growth by identifying and meeting consumer needs within its core categories, through its focus on innovation and the deployment of valuable consumer and shopper insights in the development of successful new products regionally, which are then rolled out on a global basis. To enhance these efforts, the Company has developed key initiatives to build strong relationships with consumers, dental and veterinary professionals and retail customers. In addition, the Company has strengthened its capabilities in e-commerce, including by developing its relationships with online-only retailers and enhancing its digital marketing capabilities. Growth opportunities are greater in those areas of the world in which economic development and rising consumer incomes expand the size and number of markets for the Company’s products.

The investments needed to support growth are developed through continuous, Company-wide initiatives to lower costs and increase effective asset utilization. Through these initiatives, which are referred to as the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives, the Company seeks to become even more effective and efficient throughout its businesses. These initiatives are designed to reduce costs associated with direct materials, indirect expenses, distribution and logistics, and advertising and promotional materials, among other things, and encompass a wide range of projects, examples of which include raw material substitution, reduction of packaging materials, consolidating suppliers to leverage volumes and increasing manufacturing efficiency through SKU reductions and formulation simplification. The Company also continues to prioritize its investments toward its higher margin businesses, specifically Oral Care, Personal Care and Pet Nutrition.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Significant Items Impacting Comparability

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA” or “U.S. tax reform”) was enacted, which, among other things, lowered the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% and established a modified territorial system requiring a mandatory deemed repatriation tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Beginning in 2018, the TCJA also requires a minimum tax on certain future earnings generated by foreign subsidiaries while providing for future tax-free repatriation of such earnings through a 100% dividends-received deduction.

The Company recorded a provisional charge of $275 based on its initial analysis of the TCJA using available information and estimates. As a result, applicable U.S. and foreign taxes have been provided on substantially all of the Company’s accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries previously considered indefinitely reinvested. Given the significant complexity of the TCJA, anticipated guidance from the U.S. Treasury about implementing the TCJA and the potential for additional guidance from the SEC or the FASB related to the TCJA or additional information becoming available, the Company’s provisional charge may be adjusted during 2018 and is expected to be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018. Other provisions of the TCJA that impact future tax years are still being assessed. Refer to “Results of Operations – Income Taxes” below for additional details.

In September 2016, the Company’s Mexican subsidiary completed the sale to the United States of America of the Mexico City site on which its commercial operations, technology center and soap production facility were previously located and received $60 as the third and final installment of the sale price. The total sale price (including the third installment and the previously received first and second installments) was $120. The Company recognized a pretax gain of $97 ($63 aftertax gain) in the third quarter of 2016, net of costs primarily related to site preparation.

In August 2015, the Company completed the sale of its laundry detergent business in the South Pacific to Henkel AG & Co. KGaA for an aggregate purchase price of approximately 310 Australian dollars ($221) and recorded a pretax gain of $187 ($120 aftertax or $0.13 per diluted share) in Other (income) expense, net. The gain is net of charges related to the right-sizing of the Company’s South Pacific business, asset write-offs related to the divested laundry detergent business and other costs related to the sale.

Effective December 31, 2015, the Company concluded it no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of its Venezuelan subsidiary (“CP Venezuela”) and began accounting for CP Venezuela using the cost method of accounting. As such, effective December 31, 2015, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet no longer includes the assets and liabilities of CP Venezuela. As a result of this change in accounting, the Company recorded an aftertax charge of $1,058 ($1,084 pretax) or $1.16 per diluted share in 2015. The charge primarily consists of an impairment of the Company’s investment in CP Venezuela of $952, which includes intercompany receivables from CP Venezuela, and $111 related to the reclassification of cumulative translation losses. Prior periods have not been restated and CP Venezuela’s Net sales, Operating profit and Net income are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income through December 31, 2015. See Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

Since January 1, 2016, under the cost method of accounting, the Company no longer includes the local operating results of CP Venezuela in its Consolidated Financial Statements and includes income relating to CP Venezuela only to the extent it receives cash for sales of inventory to CP Venezuela or for dividends or royalties remitted by CP Venezuela, all of which have been immaterial. Although CP Venezuela’s local operating results are no longer included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for accounting purposes, under current tax rules, the Company is required to continue including CP Venezuela in its consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. In the first quarter of 2016, Provision for income taxes included a $210 U.S. income tax benefit principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime implemented in March 2016. See Note 11, Income Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details.

Prior to the change in accounting, CP Venezuela’s functional currency was the U.S. dollar since Venezuela had been designated hyper-inflationary and, as such, Venezuelan currency fluctuations were reported in income. The Company remeasured the financial statements of CP Venezuela at the end of each month at the rate at which it expected to remit future dividends which, based on the advice of legal counsel, was the SICAD rate (formerly known as the SICAD I rate). During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company incurred pretax losses of $34 ($22 aftertax or $0.02 per diluted common share) related to the remeasurement of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets at the quarter-end SICAD rate for the second and third quarters of 2015. The SICAD rate did not revalue during the fourth quarter of 2015 and was 13.50 bolivares per dollar as of December 31, 2015. The remeasurement losses incurred in the second and third quarters of 2015 are referred to as the “Venezuela Remeasurements.”

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Included in the Venezuela Remeasurements were charges related to the devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and held by CP Venezuela. Because the official exchange rate remained at 6.30 bolivares per dollar, the devaluation-protected bonds did not revalue at the SICAD rate but remained at the official exchange rate, resulting in an impairment in the fair value of the bonds.

The Company is in the midst of a restructuring program known as the “Global Growth and Efficiency Program,” which following the most recent expansion and extension approved by the Company’s Board of Directors on October 26, 2017, runs through December 31, 2019. The program’s initiatives are expected to help the Company ensure sustained solid worldwide growth in unit volume, organic sales, operating profit and earnings per share and to enhance its global leadership positions in its core businesses. Implementation of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program remains on track.

The initiatives under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program are focused on the following areas:


▪	Expanding Commercial Hubs


▪	Extending Shared Business Services and Streamlining Global Functions


▪	Optimizing Global Supply Chain and Facilities

Savings, substantially all of which are expected to increase future cash flows, are projected to be in the range of $560 to $635 pretax ($500 to $575 aftertax) annually, once all projects are approved and implemented. Cumulative pretax charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, once all phases are approved and implemented, are estimated to be in the range of $1,730 to $1,885 ($1,280 to $1,380 aftertax).

In 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Company incurred aftertax costs of $246, $168 and $183, respectively, associated with the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. For more information regarding the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, see “Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges” below and Note 4, Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Outlook

Looking forward, the Company expects global macroeconomic and market conditions to remain highly challenging and category growth rates around the world to continue to be slow. While the global marketplace in which the Company operates has always been highly competitive, the Company continues to experience heightened competitive activity in certain markets from strong local competitors and from other large multinational companies, some of which have greater resources than the Company does. Such activities have included more aggressive product claims and marketing challenges, as well as increased promotional spending and geographic expansion. The Company has also been negatively affected by changes in the policies or practices of its retail trade customers in key markets, such as inventory de-stocking. In addition, the growth of e-commerce has affected and continues to affect consumer preferences and market dynamics. Given that approximately 75% of the Company’s Net sales originate in markets outside the U.S., the Company has experienced and may continue to experience volatile foreign currency fluctuations and high raw and packaging material costs. While the Company has taken, and will continue to take, measures to mitigate the effect of these conditions, should they persist, they could adversely affect the Company’s future results.

The Company believes it is well prepared to meet the challenges ahead due to its strong financial condition, experience operating in challenging environments and continued focus on the Company’s key priorities: growing sales through engaging with consumers, developing world-class innovation and working with retail partners; driving efficiency on every line of the income statement to increase margins; generating strong cash flow performance and utilizing that cash effectively to enhance total shareholder returns; and leading to win by staying true to the Company’s culture and focusing on its stakeholders. The Company’s commitment to these priorities, together with the strength of the Company’s global brands, its broad international presence in both developed and emerging markets and cost-saving initiatives, such as the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, should position the Company well to increase shareholder value over the long term.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Results of Operations

Net Sales

Worldwide Net sales were $15,454 in 2017, up 1.5% from 2016, driven by volume growth of 0.5%, net selling price increases of 0.5% and positive foreign exchange of 0.5%. Organic sales (Net sales excluding, as applicable, the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestments and the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations), a non-GAAP financial measure as discussed below, increased 1.0% in 2017.

Net sales in the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment were $13,162 in 2017, up 2.0% from 2016, driven by volume growth of 0.5%, net selling price increases of 0.5% and positive foreign exchange of 1.0%. Organic sales in the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment increased 1.0% in 2017.

The increase in organic sales in 2017 versus 2016 was driven by an increase in Oral Care organic sales, partially offset by a decline in Personal Care and Home Care organic sales. The increase in Oral Care organic sales was due to organic sales growth in the toothpaste category. The decrease in Personal Care organic sales was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the underarm protection, liquid hand soap and shampoo categories, which were partially offset by organic sales growth in the shower gel and bar soap categories. The decrease in the Home Care organic sales was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the hand dish category, partially offset by organic sales growth in the liquid cleaners and fabric conditioner categories.

The Company’s share of the global toothpaste market was 43.3% for full year 2017, down 0.4 share points from full year 2016, and its share of the global manual toothbrush market was 32.6% for full year 2017, down 0.5 share points from full year 2016. Full year 2017 market shares in toothpaste were up in Africa/Eurasia and down in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific versus full year 2016. In the manual toothbrush category, full year 2017 market shares were up in Africa/Eurasia and down in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific versus full year 2016. For additional information regarding the Company’s use of market share data and limitations on such data, see “Market Share Information” below.

Net sales for Hill’s Pet Nutrition were $2,292 in 2017, an increase of 1.0% from 2016, as net selling price increases of 1.5% and positive foreign exchange of 0.5% were partially offset by volume declines of 1.0%. Organic sales for Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 0.5% in 2017.

The increase in organic sales in 2017 versus 2016 was due to an increase in organic sales in the Prescription Diet category, partially offset by a decline in organic sales in the Advanced Nutrition and Naturals categories.

Worldwide Net sales were $15,195 in 2016, down 5.0% from 2015, as net selling price increases of 2.5% were more than offset by volume declines of 3.0% and negative foreign exchange of 4.5%. Excluding divested businesses and the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, volume increased 1.5%. Organic sales increased 4.0% in 2016.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Gross Profit/Margin

Worldwide Gross profit increased 2% to $9,280 in 2017 from $9,123 in 2016. Gross profit in both periods included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Excluding these charges in both periods, Gross profit increased to $9,355 in 2017 from $9,169 in 2016, reflecting an increase of $156 resulting from higher Net sales and an increase of $30 resulting from higher Gross profit margin, which also excludes charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

Worldwide Gross profit margin was 60.0% in 2017, even with 2016. Excluding charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in both periods, Gross profit margin increased by 20 basis points (bps) to 60.5% in 2017, from 60.3% in 2016. This increase in Gross profit margin was primarily driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program (200 bps) and higher pricing (20 bps), partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (190 bps).

Worldwide Gross profit decreased 3% to $9,123 in 2016 from $9,399 in 2015. Gross profit in both periods included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Excluding these items in both periods, Gross profit decreased to $9,169 in 2016 from $9,419 in 2015, reflecting a decrease of $492 resulting from the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015 and negative foreign exchange, partially offset by growth in organic sales. This decrease in Gross profit was partially offset by an increase of $242 resulting from higher Gross profit margin.

Worldwide Gross profit margin increased to 60.0% in 2016 from 58.6% in 2015. Excluding the charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in both periods, Gross profit margin increased by 160 bps to 60.3% in 2016, from 58.7% in 2015. This increase in Gross profit margin was primarily driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program (200 bps) and higher pricing (100 bps), partially offset by higher costs (170 bps), which included higher raw and packaging material costs driven by significant foreign exchange transaction costs and the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015.



	2017		2016		2015
Gross profit, GAAP	$	9,280	$	9,123	$	9,399
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	75		46		20
Gross profit, non-GAAP	$	9,355	$	9,169	$	9,419



	2017		2016		Basis Point Change	2015		Basis Point Change
Gross profit margin, GAAP	60.0	%	60.0	%	—	58.6	%	140
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	0.5		0.3			0.1
Gross profit margin, non-GAAP	60.5	%	60.3	%	20	58.7	%	160

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 5% to $5,497 in 2017 from $5,249 in 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses in both periods included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Excluding these charges in both periods, Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $5,408 in 2017 from $5,172 in 2016, reflecting increased advertising investment of $145 and higher overhead expenses of $91.

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales increased to 35.6% in 2017 from 34.5% in 2016. Excluding charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in both periods, Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales were 35.0%, an increase of 100 bps as compared to 2016. This increase in 2017 was driven by increased advertising investment (80 bps) and higher overhead expenses (20 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. In 2017, advertising investment increased 10.2% to $1,573 as compared with $1,428 in 2016, and increased as a percentage of Net sales to 10.2% from 9.4% in 2016.

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 4% to $5,249 in 2016 from $5,464 in 2015. Selling, general and administrative expenses in both periods included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Excluding these charges in both periods, Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to $5,172 in 2016 from $5,400 in 2015, reflecting decreased advertising investment of $63 and lower overhead expenses of $165.

Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales increased to 34.5% in 2016 from 34.1% in 2015. Excluding charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in both periods, Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales were 34.0%, an increase of 30 bps as compared to 2015. This increase in 2016 was driven by increased advertising investment (10 bps) and higher overhead expenses (20 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. In 2016, advertising investment decreased 4.2% to $1,428 as compared with $1,491 in 2015, while as a percentage of Net sales, it increased to 9.4% from 9.3% in 2015.



	2017			2016			2015
Selling, general and administrative expenses, GAAP	$	5,497		$	5,249		$	5,464
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	(89		)	(77		)	(64		)
Selling, general and administrative expenses, non-GAAP	$	5,408		$	5,172		$	5,400



	2017		2016		Basis Point Change	2015		Basis Point Change
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales, GAAP	35.6	%	34.5	%	110	34.1	%	40
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	(0.6	)	(0.5	)		(0.4	)
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales, non-GAAP	35.0	%	34.0	%	100	33.7	%	30

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other (income) expense, net was $194, $37 and $62 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The components of Other (income) expense, net are presented below:



Other (income) expense, net	2017			2016			2015
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	$	169		$	105		$	170
Amortization of intangible assets	35			33			33
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—			(97		)	—
Charges for litigation matters	—			17			14
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—			—			34
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			(187		)
Equity income	(11		)	(10		)	(8		)
Other, net	1			(11		)	6
Total Other (income) expense, net	$	194		$	37		$	62

Other (income) expense, net was $194 in 2017 as compared to $37 in 2016. Other (income) expense, net in both periods included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Other (income) expense, net in 2016 also included a gain on the sale of land in Mexico and charges for litigation matters.

Other (income) expense, net was $37 in 2016 as compared to $62 in 2015. In 2015, Other (income) expense, net included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a gain on the sale of the Company’s laundry detergent business in the South Pacific, charges related to the Venezuela Remeasurements and charges for litigation matters.

Excluding the items described above in all periods, as applicable, Other (income) expense, net was $25 in 2017, $12 in 2016 and $31 in 2015.



	2017			2016			2015
Other (income) expense, net, GAAP	$	194		$	37		$	62
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	(169		)	(105		)	(170		)
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—			97			—
Charges for litigation matters	—			(17		)	(14		)
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—			—			(34		)
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			187
Other (income) expense, net, non-GAAP	$	25		$	12		$	31

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Operating Profit

Operating profit decreased 6% to $3,589 in 2017 from $3,837 in 2016. Operating profit increased 38% to $3,837 in 2016 from $2,789 in 2015.

In 2017, 2016 and 2015, Operating profit included charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. In 2016 and 2015, Operating profit also included charges for litigation matters. In 2016, Operating profit also included a gain on sale of land in Mexico. In 2015, Operating profit also included a charge related to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, charges related to the Venezuela Remeasurements and a gain on the sale of the Company’s laundry detergent business in the South Pacific. Excluding these items in all periods, as applicable, Operating profit decreased 2% in 2017, primarily due to an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses, which was partially offset by higher Gross profit, and Operating profit in 2016 was even with 2015, primarily due to lower Gross profit, which was offset by a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

Operating profit margin was 23.2% in 2017, compared with 25.3% in 2016 and 17.4% in 2015. Excluding the items described above in 2017 and 2016, as applicable, Operating profit margin decreased 80 bps to 25.4% in 2017 compared to 26.2% in 2016. This decrease is due to an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (100 bps), partially offset by an increase in Gross profit (20 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. Excluding the items described above in 2016 and 2015, as applicable, Operating profit margin increased 130 bps in 2016 compared to 2015, primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (160 bps), partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (30 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales.



	2017		2016			% Change		2015			% Change
Operating profit, GAAP	$	3,589	$	3,837		(6	)%	$	2,789		38	%
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	333		228					254
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—		(97		)			—
Charges for litigation matters	—		17					14
Venezuela deconsolidation	—		—					1,084
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—		—					34
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—		—					(187		)
Operating profit, non-GAAP	$	3,922	$	3,985		(2	)%	$	3,988		—	%



	2017		2016		Basis Point Change		2015		Basis Point Change
Operating profit margin, GAAP	23.2	%	25.3	%	(210	)	17.4	%	790
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	2.2		1.5				1.6
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—		(0.7	)			—
Charges for litigation matters	—		0.1				0.1
Venezuela deconsolidation	—		—				6.8
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—		—				0.2
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—		—				(1.2	)
Operating profit margin, non-GAAP	25.4	%	26.2	%	(80	)	24.9	%	130

Interest (Income) Expense, Net

Interest (income) expense, net was $102 in 2017 compared with $99 in 2016 and $26 in 2015. The increase in Interest (income) expense, net in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to higher average interest rates on debt. The change in Interest (income) expense, net from 2015 to 2016 was primarily due to lower interest income on investments held outside the United States, which reflects the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015, and higher interest expense as a result of higher average interest rates on debt.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Income Taxes

The effective income tax rate in 2017, 2016 and 2015 was 37.7%, 30.8% and 44.0%, respectively. As reflected in the table below, the non-GAAP effective income tax rate was 29.5% in 2017 and 31.3% in 2016 and 2015. The decrease in the non-GAAP effective income tax rate in 2017 as compared to 2016 is due primarily to the inclusion of excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation in the Provision for income taxes, as discussed in more detail below.



	2017
	Income Before Income Taxes		Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Effective Income Tax Rate ⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	3,487	$	1,313		37.7	%
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	333		87			(1.0	)
U.S. tax reform	—		(275		)	(7.2	)
Non-GAAP	$	3,820	$	1,125		29.5	%



	2016
	Income Before Income Taxes			Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Effective Income Tax Rate ⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	3,738		$	1,152		30.8	%
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	228			59			(0.3	)
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	(97		)	(34		)	(0.1	)
Benefits from tax matters	—			35			0.9
Charge for a litigation matter	17			6			—
Non-GAAP	$	3,886		$	1,218		31.3	%



	2015
	Income Before Income Taxes			Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Effective Income Tax Rate ⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	2,763		$	1,215		44.0	%
Venezuela deconsolidation⁽³⁾	1,084			26			(11.7	)
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	254			69			(0.3	)
Venezuela remeasurement charges	34			12			—
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	(187		)	(67		)	(0.2	)
Charge for a litigation matter	14			—			(0.1	)
Charge for a tax matter	—			(15		)	(0.4	)
Non-GAAP	$	3,962		$	1,240		31.3	%

_______

⁽¹⁾The income tax effect on non-GAAP items is calculated based upon the tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdiction(s) of the underlying non-GAAP adjustment.

⁽²⁾The impact of non-GAAP items on the Company’s effective tax rate represents the difference in the effective tax rate calculated with and without the non-GAAP adjustment on Income before income taxes and Provision for income taxes.

⁽³⁾See Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Significant Items Impacting Comparability” above.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

On December 22, 2017, the TCJA was enacted, which, among other things, lowered the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% and established a modified territorial system requiring a mandatory deemed repatriation tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Beginning in 2018, the TCJA also requires a minimum tax on certain future earnings generated by foreign subsidiaries while providing for future tax-free repatriation of such earnings through a 100% dividends-received deduction. The Company’s effective income tax rate in 2017 included a provisional charge of $275 related to the TCJA using available information and estimates. The provisional charge is comprised of $451 related to the one-time deemed repatriation of accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and related withholding taxes and $20 related primarily to the remeasurement of net deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, which are offset by $196 of income taxes which had been previously provided for planned repatriations of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, applicable U.S. and foreign taxes have been provided on substantially all of the Company’s accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries previously considered indefinitely reinvested. Given the significant complexity of the TCJA, anticipated guidance from the U.S. Treasury about implementing the TCJA and the potential for additional guidance from the SEC or the FASB related to the TCJA or additional information becoming available, the Company’s provisional charge may be adjusted during 2018 and is expected to be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018. Other provisions of the TCJA that impact future tax years are still being assessed.

The effective income tax rate in 2017 also included $47 of stock compensation excess tax benefits in the Provision for income taxes as a result of the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting” effective January 1, 2017. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Note 11, Income Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, for additional details.

The effective income tax rate in 2016 included a $210 U.S. income tax benefit recognized in the first quarter of 2016 principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime implemented in March 2016. Although, effective December 31, 2015, the operating results of CP Venezuela are no longer included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, under current tax rules, the Company is required to continue including CP Venezuela’s results in its consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. See Note 11, Income Taxes and Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements. In order to fully utilize the above mentioned $210 tax benefit in 2016, the Company repatriated an incremental $1,500 of earnings of foreign subsidiaries it previously considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S., and accordingly, recorded a tax charge of $210 during the first quarter of 2016.

The Company has taken a tax position in a foreign jurisdiction since 2002 that has been challenged by the local tax authorities. In 2015, the Company became aware of several Supreme Court rulings in the foreign jurisdiction disallowing certain tax deductions which had the effect of reversing prior decisions. Since the Company had taken deductions in prior years similar to those now disallowed by the Court, the Company, as required, reassessed its tax position and increased its unrecognized tax benefits by $15.

In 2016, the Supreme Court in the foreign jurisdiction decided the matter in the Company’s favor for the years 2002 through 2005. Also in 2016, the Administrative Court in the foreign jurisdiction decided the matter in the Company’s favor for the years 2008 through 2011 by acknowledging the Supreme Court’s ruling for the years 2002 through 2005, which eliminated the possibility of future appeals. As a result, the Company recorded a tax benefit of $30, including interest. The tax benefit of deductions related to this tax position taken for the years 2006 through 2007 and 2012 through 2014 totals approximately $16 at current exchange rates. These deductions are currently being challenged by the tax authorities in the foreign jurisdiction either in the lower courts or at the administrative level and, if resolved in the Company’s favor, will result in the Company recording additional tax benefits, including interest.

The effective income tax rate in all years benefited from tax planning associated with the Company’s global business initiatives.

Reflecting U.S. tax reform, the Company expects its effective income tax rate in 2018 to be in the range of 26% to 27% both on a GAAP basis and excluding charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Net Income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per share, diluted

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company was $2,024, or $2.28 per share on a diluted basis, in 2017 compared to $2,441, or $2.72 per share on a diluted basis, in 2016 and $1,384, or $1.52 per share on a diluted basis, in 2015. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company included aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. In 2017, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company also included a charge related to U.S. tax reform. In 2016 and 2015, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company also included charges for litigation matters. In 2016, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company also included a gain on sale of land in Mexico and benefits from tax matters. In 2015, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company also included charges related to the Venezuela Remeasurements, a charge related to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, a gain on the sale of the Company’s laundry detergent business in the South Pacific and a charge for a tax matter.

Excluding the items described above in all years, as applicable, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company increased 1% to $2,545 in 2017 and Earnings per share, diluted increased 2% to $2.87, and Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company decreased 1% to $2,522 in 2016, as compared to $2,556 in 2015, and Earnings per share, diluted was even at $2.81.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)



	2017
	Income Before Income Taxes		Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Net Income Including Noncontrolling Interests		Net Income Attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Diluted Earnings Per Share⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	3,487	$	1,313		$	2,174	$	2,024	$	2.28
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	333		87			246		246		0.28
U.S. tax reform	—		(275		)	275		275		0.31
Non-GAAP	$	3,820	$	1,125		$	2,695	$	2,545	$	2.87



	2016
	Income Before Income Taxes			Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Net Income Including Noncontrolling Interests			Less: Income Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests		Net Income Attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company			Diluted Earnings Per Share⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	3,738		$	1,152		$	2,586		$	145	$	2,441		$	2.72
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	228			59			169			1		168			0.19
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	(97		)	(34		)	(63		)	—		(63		)	(0.07		)
Benefits from tax matters	—			35			(35		)	—		(35		)	(0.04		)
Charge for a litigation matter	17			6			11			—		11			0.01
Non-GAAP	$	3,886		$	1,218		$	2,668		$	146	$	2,522		$	2.81



	2015
	Income Before Income Taxes			Provision For Income Taxes⁽¹⁾			Net Income Including Noncontrolling Interests			Less: Income Attributable To Noncontrolling Interests		Net Income Attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company			Diluted Earnings Per Share⁽²⁾
As Reported GAAP	$	2,763		$	1,215		$	1,548		$	164	$	1,384		$	1.52
Venezuela deconsolidation⁽³⁾	1,084			26			1,058			—		1,058			1.16
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	254			69			185			2		183			0.20
Venezuela remeasurement charges	34			12			22			—		22			0.02
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	(187		)	(67		)	(120		)	—		(120		)	(0.13		)
Charge for a litigation matter	14			—			14			—		14			0.02
Charge for a tax matter	—			(15		)	15			—		15			0.02
Non-GAAP	$	3,962		$	1,240		$	2,722		$	166	$	2,556		$	2.81

_______

⁽¹⁾The income tax effect on non-GAAP items is calculated based upon the tax laws and statutory income tax rates applicable in the tax jurisdiction(s) of the underlying non-GAAP adjustment.

⁽²⁾The impact of non-GAAP adjustments on Diluted earnings per share may not necessarily equal the difference between “GAAP” and “non-GAAP” as a result of rounding.

⁽³⁾See Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements and “Significant Items Impacting Comparability” above.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Segment Results

The Company markets its products in over 200 countries and territories throughout the world in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including Operating profit. The Company uses Operating profit as a measure of the operating segment performance because it excludes the impact of corporate-driven decisions related to interest expense and income taxes.

Oral, Personal and Home Care

North America



	2017			2016			% Change			2015			% Change
Net sales	$	3,117		$	3,183		(2.0	)	%	$	3,149		1.0	%
Operating profit	$	986		$	1,030		(4	)	%	$	974		6	%
% of Net sales	31.6		%	32.4		%	(80	)	bps	30.9		%	150	bps

Net sales in North America decreased 2.0% in 2017 to $3,117, driven by net selling price decreases of 2.0%, while volume and foreign exchange were flat. Organic sales in North America decreased 2.0% in 2017.

The decrease in organic sales in North America in 2017 versus 2016 was primarily due to decreases in Personal Care and Home Care organic sales. The decrease in Personal Care was due to declines in organic sales in the underarm protection and liquid hand soap categories. The decrease in Home Care was primarily due to a decline in organic sales in the hand dish category.

Net sales in North America increased 1.0% in 2016 to $3,183, driven by volume growth of 2.5%, which was partially offset by net selling price decreases of 1.0% and negative foreign exchange of 0.5%. Organic sales in North America increased 1.5% in 2016.

Operating profit in North America decreased 4% in 2017 to $986, or 80 bps to 31.6% of Net sales. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to a decrease in Gross profit (40 bps) and an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (60 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This decrease in Gross profit was primarily driven by higher raw and packaging material costs (160 bps) and lower pricing due to increased in-store promotional activities, which were partially offset by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program (220 bps). This increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to increased advertising investment (60 bps).

Operating profit in North America increased 6% in 2016 to $1,030, or 150 bps to 32.4% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (100 bps) and a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses (70 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was primarily driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (190 bps), which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (70 bps). This decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to lower overhead expenses (40 bps) and decreased advertising investment (30 bps), in part reflecting a shift from advertising investment to in-store promotional activities.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Latin America



	2017			2016			% Change			2015			% Change
Net sales	$	3,887		$	3,650		6.5		%	$	4,327		(15.5	)	%
Operating profit	$	1,162		$	1,132		3		%	$	1,209		(6	)	%
% of Net sales	29.9		%	31.0		%	(110	)	bps	27.9		%	310		bps

Net sales in Latin America increased 6.5% in 2017 to $3,887, driven by volume growth of 2.5%, net selling price increases of 3.0% and positive foreign exchange of 1.0%. Volume gains were led by Brazil, the Southern Cone and the Andean Region. Organic sales in Latin America increased 5.5% in 2017.

The increase in organic sales in Latin America in 2017 versus 2016 was driven by increases in Oral Care organic sales as well as increases in Personal Care and Home Care organic sales. The increase in Oral Care was due to organic sales growth in the toothpaste, manual toothbrush and mouthwash categories. The increase in Personal Care was due to organic sales growth in the bar soap and shampoo categories. The increase in Home Care was due to organic sales growth in the fabric conditioner and liquid cleaners categories, partially offset by a decline in the hand dish category.

Net sales in Latin America decreased 15.5% in 2016 to $3,650, as net selling price increases of 8.5% were more than offset by volume declines of 14.0% and negative foreign exchange of 10.0%. Excluding the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, volume increased 1.5%, led by volume gains in Mexico, partially offset by volume declines in Argentina. Organic sales in Latin America increased 10.0% in 2016.

Operating profit in Latin America increased 3% in 2017 to $1,162, while as a percentage of Net sales it decreased 110 bps to 29.9% of Net sales. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (180 bps), partially offset by an increase in Gross profit (40 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was mainly driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (170 bps) and higher pricing, which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (260 bps). This increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to increased advertising investment (120 bps) and higher overhead expenses (60 bps).

Operating profit in Latin America decreased 6% in 2016 to $1,132, while as a percentage of Net sales it increased 310 bps to 31.0% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (390 bps), partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (70 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was mainly driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (150 bps) and higher pricing, which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (100 bps), which included foreign exchange transaction costs and the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015. This increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to increased advertising investment (90 bps), which was partially offset by lower overhead expenses (20 bps).

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Europe



	2017			2016			% Change		2015			% Change
Net sales	$	2,394		$	2,342		2.0	%	$	2,411		(3.0	)	%
Operating profit	$	599		$	579		3	%	$	615		(6	)	%
% of Net sales	25.0		%	24.7		%	30	bps	25.5		%	(80	)	bps

Net sales in Europe increased 2.0% in 2017 to $2,394, as volume growth of 2.0% and positive foreign exchange of 1.0% were partially offset by net selling price decreases of 1.0%. Volume gains were led by France, the Netherlands, Spain and Poland. Organic sales in Europe increased 1.0% in 2017.

The increase in organic sales in Europe in 2017 versus 2016 was primarily due to an increase in Oral Care organic sales, partially offset by a decrease in organic sales in Personal Care. The increase in Oral Care was driven by organic sales growth in the toothpaste category. The decrease in Personal Care was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the shampoo and bar soap categories, partially offset by an increase in organic sales in the shower gel category.

Net sales in Europe decreased 3.0% in 2016 to $2,342, as volume growth of 2.5% was more than offset by net selling price decreases of 2.5% and negative foreign exchange of 3.0%. Organic sales in Europe were flat in 2016. Volume gains were led by Germany, the United Kingdom and Poland, partially offset by volume declines in France.

Operating profit in Europe increased 3% in 2017 to $599, or 30 bps to 25.0% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (30 bps) and a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses (20 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was primarily due to cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program (230 bps) and category sales mix, which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (230 bps), including foreign exchange transaction costs, and lower pricing due to increased in-store promotional activities. This decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to lower overhead expenses (70 bps), which were partially offset by increased advertising investment (50 bps).

Operating profit in Europe decreased 6% in 2016 to $579, or 80 bps to 24.7% of Net sales. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to a decrease in Gross profit (100 bps), partially offset by a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses (50 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This decrease in Gross profit was primarily driven by higher costs (200 bps), primarily due to higher raw and packaging material costs, which included foreign exchange transaction costs, and lower pricing due to increased in-store promotional activities. These decreases in Gross profit were partially offset by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives and the Global Growth and Efficiency Program (190 bps). This decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to decreased advertising investment (100 bps), in part reflecting a shift from advertising investment to in-store promotional activities, which was partially offset by higher overhead expenses (50 bps).

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Asia Pacific



	2017			2016			% Change			2015			% Change
Net sales	$	2,781		$	2,796		(0.5	)	%	$	2,937		(5.0	)	%
Operating profit	$	841		$	887		(5	)	%	$	888		—		%
% of Net sales	30.2		%	31.7		%	(150	)	bps	30.2		%	150		bps

Net sales in Asia Pacific decreased 0.5% in 2017 to $2,781, driven by volume declines of 0.5%, while net selling prices and foreign exchange were flat. Volume declines in Australia, Thailand and India were partially offset by volume gains in the Philippines. Organic sales in Asia Pacific declined 0.5% in 2017.

The decrease in organic sales in 2017 versus 2016 was due to a decrease in Personal Care and Home Care organic sales, partially offset by an increase in organic sales in Oral Care. The decrease in Personal Care was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the shampoo and bar soap categories. The decrease in Home Care was due to declines in organic sales in the hand dish and fabric conditioner categories. The increase in Oral Care was due to an increase in organic sales in the toothpaste category, partially offset by a decline in organic sales in the manual toothbrush category.

Net sales in Asia Pacific decreased 5.0% in 2016 to $2,796, driven by volume declines of 1.0% and negative foreign exchange of 4.0%, while net selling prices were flat. Excluding the impact of the divestment of the Company’s laundry detergent business in the South Pacific, volume increased 2.0%, led by volume gains in the Philippines, Australia and the Greater China region. Organic sales in Asia Pacific grew 2.0% in 2016.

Operating profit in Asia Pacific decreased 5% in 2017 to $841, or 150 bps to 30.2% of Net sales. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to a decrease in Gross profit (20 bps) and an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (120 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This decrease in Gross profit was primarily due to higher costs (290 bps), primarily driven by raw and packaging material costs, which were partially offset by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (250 bps). This increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to higher overhead expenses (90 bps) and increased advertising investment (30 bps).

Operating profit in Asia Pacific decreased to $887 in 2016, while as a percentage of Net sales, it increased 150 bps to 31.7% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (50 bps) and a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses (40 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was primarily due to cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (260 bps) and sales mix, which were partially offset by higher costs (290 bps), primarily driven by raw and packaging material costs, which included foreign exchange transaction costs. This decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to decreased advertising investment (10 bps), in part reflecting a shift from advertising investment to in-store promotional activities, and lower overhead expenses (30 bps).

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Africa/Eurasia



	2017			2016			% Change			2015			% Change
Net sales	$	983		$	960		2.5		%	$	998		(4.0	)	%
Operating profit	$	179		$	186		(4	)	%	$	178		4		%
% of Net sales	18.2		%	19.4		%	(120	)	bps	17.8		%	160		bps

Net sales in Africa/Eurasia increased 2.5% in 2017 to $983, as net selling price increases of 3.5% and positive foreign exchange of 3.5% were partially offset by volume declines of 4.5%. Volume declines in the Sub-Saharan Africa region, Turkey and South Africa were partially offset by volume gains in Russia. Organic sales in Africa/Eurasia declined 1.0% in 2017.

The decrease in organic sales in 2017 versus 2016 was due to a decrease in Oral Care, Personal Care and Home Care organic sales. The decrease in Oral Care was due to declines in organic sales in the manual toothbrush and mouthwash categories. The decrease in Personal Care was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the bar soap and underarm protection categories, partially offset by an increase in organic sales in the shampoo category. The decrease in Home Care was primarily due to declines in organic sales in the hand dish and liquid cleaners categories, partially offset by an increase in organic sales in the fabric conditioner category.

Net sales in Africa/Eurasia decreased 4.0% in 2016 to $960, as net selling price increases of 9.5% were more than offset by volume declines of 4.0% and negative foreign exchange of 9.5%. Organic sales in Africa/Eurasia grew 5.5% in 2016. Volume declines in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and South Africa were partially offset by volume gains in the Gulf States.

Operating profit in Africa/Eurasia decreased 4% in 2017 to $179, or 120 bps to 18.2% of Net sales. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (260 bps), partially offset by an increase in Gross profit (160 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was mainly driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (120 bps) and higher pricing, which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (100 bps). The increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to increased advertising investment (310 bps), partially offset by lower overhead expenses (50 bps).

Operating profit in Africa/Eurasia increased 4% in 2016 to $186, or 160 bps to 19.4% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (300 bps), partially offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (150 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was mainly driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (170 bps) and higher pricing, which were partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (350 bps), driven by higher foreign exchange transaction costs. The increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to higher overhead expenses (120 bps) and increased advertising investment (30 bps).

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Hill’s Pet Nutrition



	2017			2016			% Change			2015			% Change
Net sales	$	2,292		$	2,264		1.0		%	$	2,212		2.5	%
Operating profit	$	653		$	653		—		%	$	612		7	%
% of Net sales	28.5		%	28.8		%	(30	)	bps	27.7		%	110	bps

Net sales for Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 1.0% in 2017 to $2,292, driven by net selling price increases of 1.5% and positive foreign exchange of 0.5%, partially offset by volume declines of 1.0%. Volume declines in the United States, Japan and Western and Eastern Europe were partially offset by volume gains in Australia and Latin America. The volume declines in the United States were attributable to trade disruption, while the volume declines in Japan were attributable to a continued contraction in the market. Organic sales in Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 0.5% in 2017.

The increase in organic sales in 2017 versus 2016 was due to an increase in organic sales in the Prescription Diet category, partially offset by declines in organic sales in the Advanced Nutrition and Natural categories.

Net sales for Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 2.5% in 2016 to $2,264, driven by net selling price increases of 2.5% while volume and foreign exchange were flat. Organic sales in Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 2.5% in 2016. Volume gains led by Russia, Western Europe, South Africa, Canada and Taiwan were offset by volume declines in the United States and Japan.

Operating profit in Hill’s Pet Nutrition was $653 in 2017, even with 2016, while as a percentage of Net sales it decreased 30 bps to 28.5%. This decrease in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses (90 bps), partially offset by an increase in Gross profit (60 bps), both as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was primarily due to cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (170 bps) and higher pricing, partially offset by higher raw and packaging material costs (110 bps), net of foreign exchange transaction costs. This increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses was due to increased advertising investment (60 bps) and higher overhead expenses (30 bps).

Operating profit in Hill’s Pet Nutrition increased 7% in 2016 to $653, or 110 bps to 28.8% of Net sales. This increase in Operating profit as a percentage of Net sales was primarily due to an increase in Gross profit (20 bps), a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses (10 bps), and a decrease in Other (income) expense, net (80 bps), all as a percentage of Net sales. This increase in Gross profit was primarily driven by cost savings from the Company’s funding-the-growth initiatives (190 bps) and higher pricing, partially offset by higher costs (270 bps), primarily driven by higher raw and packaging material costs, which included higher foreign exchange transaction costs. This decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to lower overhead expenses (10 bps). This decrease in Other (income) expense, net was in part due to a foreign sales tax benefit.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Corporate



	2017			2016			% Change		2015			% Change
Operating profit (loss)	$	(831	)	$	(630	)	32	%	$	(1,687	)	(63	)	%

Corporate operations include Corporate overhead costs, research and development costs, stock-based compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock unit awards, restructuring and related implementation costs and gains and losses on sales of non-core product lines. The components of Operating profit (loss) for the Corporate segment are presented as follows:



	2017			2016			2015
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	$	(333	)	$	(228	)	$	(254	)
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—			97			—
Charges for litigation matters	—			(17		)	(14		)
Venezuela deconsolidation	—			—			(1,084		)
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—			—			(34		)
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			187
Corporate overhead costs and other, net	(498		)	(482		)	(488		)
Total Corporate Operating profit (loss)	$	(831	)	$	(630	)	$	(1,687	)

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges

Global Growth and Efficiency Program

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company commenced the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. The program was expanded in 2014 and expanded and extended in 2015. Building on the Company’s successful implementation of the program, on October 26, 2017, the Board approved an expansion of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and an extension of the program through December 31, 2019 to take advantage of additional opportunities to streamline the Company’s operations.

Initiatives under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program are expected to help the Company ensure sustained solid worldwide growth in unit volume, organic sales, operating profit and earnings per share and to enhance its global leadership positions in its core businesses, producing significant benefits in the Company’s long-term business performance. The major objectives of the program include:


▪	Becoming even stronger on the ground through the continued evolution and expansion of proven global and regional commercial capabilities, which have already been successfully implemented in a number of the Company’s operations around the world.


▪	Simplifying and standardizing how work gets done by increasing technology-enabled collaboration and taking advantage of global data and analytic capabilities, leading to smarter and faster decisions.


▪	Reducing structural costs to continue to increase the Company’s gross and operating profit.


▪	Building on Colgate’s current position of strength to enhance its leading market share positions worldwide and ensure sustained sales and earnings growth.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

The initiatives under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program continue to be focused on the following areas:


▪	Expanding Commercial Hubs – Building on the success of the hub structure implemented around the world, streamlining operations in order to drive smarter and faster decision-making, strengthen capabilities available on the ground and improve cost structure.


▪	Extending Shared Business Services and Streamlining Global Functions – Optimizing the Company’s shared service organizational model in all regions of the world and continuing to streamline global functions to improve cost structure.


▪	Optimizing Global Supply Chain and Facilities – Continuing to optimize manufacturing efficiencies, global warehouse networks and office locations for greater efficiency, lower cost and speed to bring innovation to market.

Implementation of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program remains on track. Savings, substantially all of which are expected to increase future cash flows, are projected to be in the range of $560 to $635 pretax ($500 to $575 aftertax) annually, once all projects are approved and implemented. Savings achieved in 2017 were in line with the Company’s previously disclosed estimate of $50 to $60 pretax ($40 to $50 aftertax). The Company expects savings in 2018 to be approximately $90 to $120 pretax ($100 to $125 aftertax). Cumulative pretax charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, once all phases are approved and implemented, are estimated to be in the range of $1,730 to $1,885 ($1,280 to $1,380 aftertax). The Company anticipates that pretax charges for 2018 will approximate $100 to $175 ($75 to $125 aftertax). It is expected that substantially all charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program will be incurred by December 31, 2019.

The pretax charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program are currently estimated to be comprised of the following categories: Employee-Related Costs, including severance, pension and other termination benefits (50%); asset-related costs, primarily Incremental Depreciation and Asset Impairments (10%); and Other charges, which include contract termination costs, consisting primarily of related implementation charges resulting directly from exit activities (20%) and the implementation of new strategies (20%). Over the course of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, it is currently estimated that approximately 80% of the charges will result in cash expenditures.

The Company expects that the cumulative pretax charges, once all projects are approved and implemented, will relate to initiatives undertaken in North America (15%), Europe (20%), Latin America (5%), Asia Pacific (5%), Africa/Eurasia (5%), Hill’s Pet Nutrition (10%) and Corporate (40%), which includes substantially all of the costs related to the implementation of new strategies, noted above, on a global basis. The Company expects that, when it has been fully implemented, the Global Growth and Efficiency Program will have contributed a net reduction of approximately 3,800 to 4,400 positions from the Company’s global employee workforce.

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, restructuring and related implementation charges are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income as follows:



	2017		2016		2015
Cost of sales	$	75	$	46	$	20
Selling, general and administrative expenses	89		77		64
Other (income) expense, net	169		105		170
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax	$	333	$	228	$	254

Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, aftertax	$	246	$	168	$	183

Restructuring and related implementation charges in the preceding table are recorded in the Corporate segment as these initiatives are predominantly centrally directed and controlled and are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Total charges incurred for the Global Growth and Efficiency Program relate to initiatives undertaken by the following reportable operating segments:



							Program-to-date
	2017		2016		2015		Accumulated Charges
North America	23	%	35	%	21	%	18	%
Latin America	2	%	5	%	3	%	3	%
Europe	21	%	12	%	14	%	22	%
Asia Pacific	5	%	4	%	4	%	3	%
Africa/Eurasia	3	%	14	%	5	%	6	%
Hill’s Pet Nutrition	6	%	7	%	5	%	7	%
Corporate	40	%	23	%	48	%	41	%
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%	100	%

Since the inception of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company has incurred cumulative pretax charges of $1,561 ($1,153 aftertax) in connection with the implementation of various projects as follows:



	Cumulative Charges
	as of December 31, 2017
Employee-Related Costs	$	628
Incremental Depreciation	90
Asset Impairments	36
Other	807
Total	$	1,561

The majority of costs incurred since inception relate to the following projects: the implementation of the Company’s overall hubbing strategy; the extension of shared business services and streamlining of global functions; the consolidation of facilities; the closing of the Morristown, New Jersey personal care facility; the simplification and streamlining of the Company’s research and development capabilities and oral care supply chain, both in Europe; redesigning the European commercial organization; restructuring how the Company will provide future retirement benefits to substantially all of the U.S.-based employees participating in the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan by shifting them to the Company’s defined contribution plan; and the implementation of a Corporate efficiencies program.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

The following table summarizes the activity for the restructuring and related implementation charges, in the respective periods, discussed above and the related accruals:



	Employee-Related Costs			Incremental Depreciation			Asset Impairments			Other			Total
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	85		$	—		$	—		$	107		$	192
Charges	109			20			5			120			254
Cash payments	(85		)	—			—			(94		)	(179		)
Charges against assets	(17		)	(20		)	(5		)	—			(42		)
Foreign exchange	(8		)	—			—			(2		)	(10		)
Other	—			—			—			—			—
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	84		$	—		$	—		$	131		$	215
Charges	61			9			20			138			228
Cash payments	(84		)	—			—			(153		)	(237		)
Charges against assets	(4		)	(9		)	(20		)	—			(33		)
Foreign exchange	(1		)	—			—			—			(1		)
Other	—			—			—			9			9
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	56		$	—		$	—		$	125		$	181
Charges	163			10			9			151			333
Cash payments	(74		)	—			—			(170		)	(244		)
Charges against assets	(21		)	(10		)	(9		)	—			(40		)
Foreign exchange	3			—			—			1			4
Other	—			—			—			—			—
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	127		$	—		$	—		$	107		$	234

Employee-Related Costs primarily include severance and other termination benefits and are calculated based on long-standing benefit practices, local statutory requirements and, in certain cases, voluntary termination arrangements. Employee-Related Costs also include pension and other retiree benefit enhancements amounting to $21, $4 and $17 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are reflected as Charges against assets within Employee-Related Costs in the preceding table, as the corresponding balance sheet amounts are reflected as a reduction of pension assets or an increase in pension and other retiree benefit liabilities (see Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

Incremental Depreciation is recorded to reflect changes in useful lives and estimated residual values for long-lived assets that will be taken out of service prior to the end of their normal service period. Asset Impairments are recorded to write down assets held for sale or disposal to their fair value based on amounts expected to be realized. Charges against assets within Asset Impairments are net of cash proceeds pertaining to the sale of certain assets.

Other charges consist primarily of charges resulting directly from exit activities and the implementation of new strategies as a result of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. These charges for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 include third-party incremental costs related to the development and implementation of new business and strategic initiatives of $145, $116 and $65, respectively, and contract termination costs and charges resulting directly from exit activities of $6, $21 and $8, respectively. These charges were expensed as incurred. Also included in Other charges for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 are other exit costs of $0, $1 and $47, respectively, related to the consolidation of facilities.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This Annual Report on Form 10-K discusses certain financial measures on both a GAAP and a non-GAAP basis. The Company uses the non-GAAP financial measures described below internally in its budgeting process, to evaluate segment and overall operating performance and as a factor in determining compensation. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful in evaluating the Company’s underlying business performance and trends; however, this information should be considered as supplemental in nature and is not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the related financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may not be the same as similar measures presented by other companies.

Net sales growth (GAAP) and organic sales growth (Net sales growth excluding, as applicable, the impact of foreign exchange, acquisitions, divestments and the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations) (non-GAAP) are discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Management believes the organic sales growth measure provides investors and analysts with useful supplemental information regarding the Company’s underlying sales trends by presenting sales growth excluding, as applicable, the external factor of foreign exchange, as well as the impact of acquisitions, divestments and the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations. A reconciliation of organic sales growth to Net sales growth for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 is provided below.

Worldwide Gross profit, Gross profit margin, Selling, general and administrative expenses, Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales, Other (income) expense, net, Operating profit, Operating profit margin, effective income tax rate, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per share on a diluted basis are discussed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K both on a GAAP basis and excluding, as applicable, charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a charge related to U.S. tax reform, a gain on the sale of land in Mexico, charges or benefits from tax matters, charges for litigation matters, costs related to the sale of land in Mexico, a gain on the sale of the Company’s South Pacific laundry detergent business, charges related to effective devaluations in Venezuela and a charge for the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations (non-GAAP).

These non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that, either by their nature or amount, management would not expect to occur as part of the Company’s normal business on a regular basis, such as restructuring charges, charges for certain litigation and tax matters, gains and losses from certain divestitures and certain unusual, non-recurring items. Investors and analysts use these financial measures in assessing the Company’s business performance, and management believes that presenting these financial measures on a non-GAAP basis provides them with useful supplemental information to enhance their understanding of the Company’s underlying business performance and trends. These non-GAAP financial measures also enhance the ability to compare period-to-period financial results. A reconciliation of each of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is presented within the applicable section of Results of Operations.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

The following tables provide a quantitative reconciliation of Net sales growth to organic sales growth for each of the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 versus the prior year:



Year ended December 31, 2017	Net Sales Growth (GAAP)	Foreign Exchange Impact	Acquisitions and Divestments Impact	Organic Sales Growth (Non-GAAP)
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	(2.0)%	—%	—%	(2.0)%
Latin America	6.5%	1.0%	—%	5.5%
Europe	2.0%	1.0%	—%	1.0%
Asia Pacific	(0.5)%	—%	—%	(0.5)%
Africa/Eurasia	2.5%	3.5%	—%	(1.0)%
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	2.0%	1.0%	—%	1.0%
Pet Nutrition	1.0%	0.5%	—%	0.5%
Total Company	1.5%	0.5%	—%	1.0%



Year ended December 31, 2016	Net Sales Growth (GAAP)	Foreign Exchange Impact	Acquisitions and Divestments Impact	Organic Sales Growth (Non-GAAP)
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	1.0%	(0.5)%	—%	1.5%
Latin America	(15.5)%	(10.0)%	(15.5)%	10.0%
Europe	(3.0)%	(3.0)%	—%	—%
Asia Pacific	(5.0)%	(4.0)%	(3.0)%	2.0%
Africa/Eurasia	(4.0)%	(9.5)%	—%	5.5%
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	(6.5)%	(5.0)%	(5.5)%	4.0%
Pet Nutrition	2.5%	—%	—%	2.5%
Total Company	(5.0)%	(4.5)%	(4.5)%	4.0%

Market Share Information

Management uses market share information as a key indicator to monitor business health and performance. References to market share in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are based on a combination of consumption and market share data provided by third-party vendors, primarily Nielsen, and internal estimates. All market share references represent the percentage of the dollar value of sales of our products, relative to all product sales in the category in the countries in which the Company competes and purchases data (excluding Venezuela from all periods).

Market share data is subject to limitations on the availability of up-to-date information. The Company measures year-to-date market shares from January 1 of the relevant year through the most recent period for which market share data is available, which typically reflects a lag time of one or two months. We believe that the third-party vendors we use to provide data are reliable, but we have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the data or any assumptions underlying the data. In addition, market share information calculated by the Company may be different from market share information calculated by other companies due to differences in category definitions, the use of data from different countries, internal estimates and other factors.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company expects cash flow from operations and debt issuances will be sufficient to meet foreseeable business operating and recurring cash needs (including for debt service, dividends, capital expenditures, charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and stock repurchases). The Company believes its strong cash generation and financial position should continue to allow it broad access to global credit and capital markets.

Cash Flow

Net cash provided by operations was $3,054 in 2017, compared to $3,141 in 2016 and $2,949 in 2015. Net cash provided by operations for 2017 decreased as compared to 2016 primarily due to the timing of income tax payments. The increase in 2016 as compared to 2015 was due to strong operating earnings and the timing of income tax payments, partially offset by the impact of the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations effective December 31, 2015 and voluntary contributions to employee postretirement plans.

The Company defines working capital as the difference between current assets (excluding Cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities, the latter of which is reported in Other current assets) and current liabilities (excluding short-term debt). The Company’s working capital as a percentage of Net sales increased to (2.0)% in 2017 as compared to (2.2)% in 2016, reflecting the Company’s continued tight focus on working capital.

Building on the Company’s successful implementation of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, on October 26, 2017, the Board approved an expansion of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and an extension of the program through December 31, 2019 to take advantage of additional opportunities to streamline the Company’s operations.

Implementation of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program remains on track. Including the most recent expansion, total program charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program are estimated to be in the range of $1,730 to $1,885 ($1,280 to $1,380 aftertax). Approximately 80% of total program charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program are expected to result in cash expenditures. Savings from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, substantially all of which are expected to increase future cash flows, are projected to be in the range of $560 to $635 pretax ($500 to $575 aftertax) annually, once all projects are approved and implemented. Savings achieved in 2017 were in line with the Company’s previously disclosed estimate of $50 to $60 pretax ($40 to $50 aftertax).

The Company anticipates that pretax charges for 2018 will approximate $100 to $175 ($75 to $125 aftertax). The Company expects savings in 2018 to amount to approximately $90 to $120 pretax ($100 to $125 aftertax). It is anticipated that cash requirements for the Global Growth and Efficiency Program will be funded from operating cash flows. Approximately 75% of the restructuring accrual at December 31, 2017 is expected to be paid before year-end 2018.

Investing activities used $471 of cash in 2017, compared to $499 and $685 during 2016 and 2015, respectively. Investing activities in 2017 include $44 of proceeds from the sale of property and non-core product lines, primarily related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Purchases of marketable securities and investments increased in 2017 to $347 from $336 in 2016. Proceeds from the sale of marketable securities and investments increased in 2017 to $391 from $378 in 2016.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

In August 2015, the Company completed the sale of its laundry detergent business in the South Pacific to Henkel AG & Co. KGaA for an aggregate purchase price of approximately 310 Australian dollars ($221) and recorded a pretax gain of $187 ($120 aftertax or $0.13 per diluted share). The gain is net of charges related to the right-sizing of the Company’s South Pacific business, asset write-offs related to the divested laundry detergent business and other costs related to the sale.

Capital expenditures in 2017 were $553, a decrease from $593 in 2016 and $691 in 2015. Capital expenditures decreased in 2017 primarily due to lower spending on capital projects in the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Capital expenditures for 2018 are expected to be approximately 3.5% of Net sales. The Company continues to focus its capital spending on projects that are expected to yield high aftertax returns.

Financing activities used $2,450 of cash during 2017 compared to $2,233 and $2,276 during 2016 and 2015, respectively. The increase in cash used in 2017 as compared to 2016 was primarily due to lower net proceeds from the issuance of debt and higher purchases of treasury shares. The decrease in cash used in 2016 as compared to 2015 was primarily due to lower purchases of treasury shares and higher proceeds from the exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation, partially offset by lower net proceeds from the issuance of debt.

Long-term debt, including the current portion, increased to $6,566 as of December 31, 2017, as compared to $6,520 as of December 31, 2016 and total debt increased to $6,577 as of December 31, 2017 as compared to $6,533 as of December 31, 2016. The Company’s debt issuances support its capital structure strategy objectives of funding its business and growth initiatives while minimizing its risk-adjusted cost of capital. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company issued $400 of five-year notes at a fixed rate of 2.25%. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company issued $500 of thirty-year notes at a fixed rate of 3.70%. The debt issuances in 2017 were under the Company’s shelf registration statement. Proceeds from the debt issuances in 2017 were used for general corporate purposes, which included the retirement of commercial paper borrowings.

At December 31, 2017, the Company had access to unused domestic and foreign lines of credit of $2,949 (including under the facilities discussed below) and could also issue medium-term notes pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement. In November 2011, the Company entered into a five-year revolving credit facility with a capacity of $1,850 with a syndicate of banks. This facility was extended for an additional year in 2012 and again in 2013. In 2014, the Company entered into an amendment of this facility whereby the facility was extended for an additional year to November 2019 and the capacity of the facility was increased to $2,370. In 2016, the facility was extended for an additional year to November 2020. The Company also has the ability to draw $165 from a revolving credit facility that expires in November 2018. Commitment fees related to the credit facilities are not material.

Domestic and foreign commercial paper outstanding was $24 and $295 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The average daily balances outstanding of commercial paper in 2017 and 2016 were $1,606 and $1,642, respectively. The Company classifies commercial paper and certain current maturities of notes payable as long-term debt when it has the intent and ability to refinance such obligations on a long-term basis, including, if necessary, by utilizing its line of credit that expires in November 2020.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

The following is a summary of the Company’s commercial paper and global short-term borrowings as of December 31, 2017 and 2016:



	2017					2016
	Weighted Average Interest Rate		Maturities	Outstanding		Weighted Average Interest Rate		Maturities	Outstanding
Payable to banks	2.8	%	2018	$	11	1.6	%	2017	$	13
Commercial paper	1.5	%	2018	24		(0.3	)%	2017	295
Total				$	35				$	308

Certain of the agreements with respect to the Company’s bank borrowings contain financial and other covenants as well as cross-default provisions. Noncompliance with these requirements could ultimately result in the acceleration of amounts owed. The Company is in full compliance with all such requirements and believes the likelihood of noncompliance is remote. See Note 6, Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information about the Company’s long-term debt and credit facilities.

Dividend payments in 2017 were $1,529, an increase from $1,508 in 2016 and $1,493 in 2015. Dividend payments increased to $1.59 per share in 2017 from $1.55 per share in 2016 and $1.50 per share in 2015. In the first quarter of 2017, the Company’s Board increased the quarterly common stock cash dividend to $0.40 per share from $0.39 per share, effective in the second quarter of 2017.

The Company repurchases shares of its common stock in the open market and in private transactions to maintain its targeted capital structure and to fulfill certain requirements of its compensation and benefit plans. On February 19, 2015, the Board authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate purchase price of up to $5,000 under the 2015 Program, which replaced the previous program approved by the Board in 2011 (the “2011 Program”). The Company commenced repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2015 Program beginning February 19, 2015. The Board also has authorized share repurchases on an ongoing basis to fulfill certain requirements of the Company’s compensation and benefit programs.

Aggregate share repurchases in 2017 consisted of 18.3 million common shares under the 2015 Program and 0.9 million common shares to fulfill the requirements of compensation and benefit plans, for a total purchase price of $1,399. Aggregate repurchases in 2016 consisted of 18.3 million common shares under the 2015 Program and 1.0 million common shares to fulfill the requirements of compensation and benefit plans, for a total purchase price of $1,335. Aggregate repurchases in 2015 consisted of 19.9 million common shares under the 2015 Program, 1.7 million common shares under the 2011 Program and 1.2 million common shares to fulfill the requirements of compensation and benefit plans, for a total purchase price of $1,551.

Cash and cash equivalents increased $220 during 2017 to $1,535 at December 31, 2017, compared to $1,315 at December 31, 2016, most of which ($1,467 and $1,273, respectively) were held by the Company’s foreign subsidiaries.

As a result of the lower U.S. corporate income tax rate, the Company expects a reduction in its future tax payments. For more information regarding the impact of U.S. tax reform on the Company, refer to “Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” below and Note 11, Income Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

In order to fully utilize a $210 U.S. income tax benefit in 2016 principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime, during the quarter ended March 31, 2016, the Company decided to repatriate in 2016 $1,500 of earnings of foreign subsidiaries it previously considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S., and accordingly, recorded a tax charge of $210 during the first quarter of 2016.

The following represents the scheduled maturities of the Company’s contractual obligations as of December 31, 2017:




	Total		2018		2019		2020		2021		2022		Thereafter
Long-term debt including current portion⁽¹⁾	$	5,843	$	—	$	1,097	$	248	$	298	$	889	$	3,311
Net cash interest payments on long-term debt⁽²⁾	1,325		119		107		104		97		83		815
Leases	737		188		163		143		106		93		44
Purchase obligations⁽³⁾	1,197		952		112		99		21		3		10
U.S. tax reform payments	315		52		22		22		22		22		175
Total	$	9,417	$	1,311	$	1,501	$	616	$	544	$	1,090	$	4,355

_______


⁽¹⁾	The Company classifies commercial paper and notes maturing within the next 12 months as long-term debt when it has the intent and ability to refinance such obligations on a long-term basis. The amounts in this table exclude such obligations.


⁽²⁾	Includes the net interest payments on fixed and variable rate debt and associated interest rate swaps. Interest payments associated with floating rate instruments are based on management’s best estimate of projected interest rates for the remaining term of variable rate debt.

⁽³⁾

The Company had outstanding contractual obligations with suppliers at the end of 2017 for the purchase of raw, packaging and other materials and services in the normal course of business. These purchase obligation amounts represent only those items which are based on agreements that are legally binding and that specify all significant terms including minimum quantity, price and term and do not represent total anticipated purchases. Additionally, purchase obligations include the aggregate purchase price for two acquisitions completed in the first quarter of 2018. See Note 3, Acquisitions and Divestitures to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

Long-term liabilities associated with the Company’s postretirement plans are excluded from the table above due to the uncertainty of the timing of these cash disbursements. The amount and timing of cash funding related to these benefit plans will generally depend on local regulatory requirements, various economic assumptions (the most significant of which are detailed in “Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates” below) and voluntary Company contributions. Based on current information, the Company is not required to make a mandatory contribution to its qualified U.S. pension plan in 2018. Management’s best estimate of voluntary contributions the Company will make to its U.S. postretirement plans for the year ending December 31, 2018 is approximately $75. In addition, total benefit payments to be paid to participants for the year ending December 31, 2018 from the Company’s assets are estimated to be approximately $82.

Additionally, liabilities for unrecognized income tax benefits are excluded from the table above as the Company is unable to reasonably predict the ultimate amount or timing of a settlement of such liabilities. See Note 11, Income Taxes to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

As more fully described in Part I, Item 3 “Legal Proceedings” and Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has commitments and contingencies with respect to lawsuits, environmental matters, taxes and other matters arising in the ordinary course of business.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have off-balance sheet financing or unconsolidated special purpose entities.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Managing Foreign Currency, Interest Rate, Commodity Price and Credit Risk Exposure

The sensitivity of our financial instruments to market fluctuations is discussed below. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Note 7, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of derivatives and hedging policies and fair value measurements.

Foreign Exchange Risk

As the Company markets its products in over 200 countries and territories, it is exposed to currency fluctuations related to manufacturing and selling its products in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company manages its foreign currency exposures through a combination of cost-containment measures, sourcing strategies, selling price increases and the hedging of certain costs in an effort to minimize the impact on earnings of foreign currency rate movements. See the “Results of Operations” section above for discussion of the foreign exchange impact on Net sales in each operating segment.

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates with resulting translation gains and losses accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated into U.S. dollars at average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.

Prior to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, which was effective December 31, 2015, the functional currency for CP Venezuela was the U.S. dollar since Venezuela was designated as hyper-inflationary, and Venezuelan currency fluctuations were reported in income. The local currency-denominated non-monetary assets of the Venezuelan operations, including inventories and property, plant and equipment were remeasured at their historical exchange rates, while local currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities were remeasured at period-end exchange rates. Remeasurement adjustments for these operations were included in Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company. Refer to “Significant Items Impacting Comparability” above and to Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s Venezuelan operations.

The Company primarily utilizes foreign currency contracts, including forward and swap contracts, option contracts, foreign and local currency deposits and local currency borrowings to hedge portions of its exposures relating to foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities created in the normal course of business and the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. The duration of foreign currency contracts generally does not exceed 12 months and the contracts are valued using observable market rates.

The Company’s foreign currency forward contracts that qualify for cash flow hedge accounting resulted in a net unrealized loss of $9 and a net unrealized gain of $20 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Changes in the fair value of cash flow hedges are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) and are reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the underlying hedged transaction is recognized in earnings. At the end of 2017, an unfavorable 10% change in exchange rates would have resulted in a net unrealized loss of $79.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Interest Rate Risk

The Company manages its mix of fixed and floating rate debt against its target with debt issuances and by entering into interest rate swaps in order to mitigate fluctuations in earnings and cash flows that may result from interest rate volatility. The notional amount, interest payment and maturity date of the swaps generally match the principal, interest payment and maturity date of the related debt, and the swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates.

Based on year-end 2017 variable rate debt levels, a 1% increase in interest rates would have increased Interest (income) expense, net by $7 in 2017.

Commodity Price Risk

The Company is exposed to price volatility related to raw materials used in production, such as resins, pulp, essential oils, tropical oils, tallow, poultry, corn and soybeans. The Company manages its raw material exposures through a combination of cost containment measures, ongoing productivity initiatives and the limited use of commodity hedging contracts. Futures contracts are used on a limited basis, primarily in the Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment, to manage volatility related to anticipated raw material inventory purchases of certain traded commodities.

At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company’s open commodity derivative contracts, which qualify for cash flow hedge accounting, were not material and would not have resulted in a material net unrealized loss at December 31, 2017 had there been an unfavorable 10% change in commodity futures prices.

Credit Risk

The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely and any nonperformance is unlikely to be material as it is the Company’s policy to contract with diverse, credit-worthy counterparties based upon both strong credit ratings and other credit considerations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On August 28, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” amending the eligibility criteria for hedged items and transactions to expand an entity’s ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and present hedge ineffectiveness and aligns the presentation of hedge gains and losses with the underlying hedge item. The new guidance also simplifies the hedge documentation and hedge effectiveness assessment requirements. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The amended presentation and disclosure requirements must be adopted on a prospective basis, while any amendments to cash flow and net investment hedge relationships that exist on the date of adoption must be applied on a “modified retrospective” basis, meaning a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. While the Company is currently assessing the impact of the new standard, this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On May 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting,” clarifying when a change to the terms or conditions of a stock-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting if the fair value, vesting condition or the classification of the award is not the same immediately before and after a change to the terms and conditions of the award. The new guidance was effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on January 1, 2018. This new guidance is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements as it is not the Company’s practice to change either the terms or conditions of stock-based payment awards once they are granted.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

On March 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation–Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” changing the presentation of the net periodic benefit cost on the Statement of Income and limiting the amount of net periodic benefit cost eligible for capitalization to assets. The new guidance permits only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. The new guidance also requires entities to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost together with compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees during the period. Other components of net periodic benefit cost, which include interest, expected return on assets, amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses, are required to be presented outside of Operating profit. The line item or items used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost must be disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, if not separately described on the Statement of Income. The new presentation requirement is required to be adopted on a “full retrospective” basis, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods presented in the financial statements, while the limitation on capitalization can only be adopted on a prospective basis. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. Had the standard been effective for the year ended December 31, 2017, full year Operating profit would have increased by approximately $120 with no impact on Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company. The Company anticipates that in future years, as a result of the reclassification, Operating profit will increase by approximately $100 annually with no impact on Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company.

On January 26, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles–Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment,” eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value, essentially eliminating step two from the goodwill impairment test. The new standard requires goodwill impairment to be based upon the results of step one of the impairment test, which is defined as the excess of the carrying value of a reporting unit over its fair value. The impairment charge will be limited to the amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. The standard is effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. This new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On January 5, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business,” which provides additional guidance on evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions of assets or businesses. The guidance requires an entity to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets. If this threshold is met, the new guidance would define this as an asset acquisition; otherwise, the entity then evaluates whether the asset meets the requirement that a business include, at a minimum, an input and substantive process that together significantly contribute to the ability to create outputs. The guidance was effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on January 1, 2018. This new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On October 24, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory,” which eliminates the requirement to defer recognition of income taxes on intra-entity asset transfers until the asset is sold to an outside party. The new guidance requires the recognition of current and deferred income taxes on intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory, such as intellectual property and property, plant and equipment, when the transfer occurs. As permitted, the Company early-adopted the new standard on a “modified retrospective” basis, meaning the standard was applied only to the most recent period presented in the financial statements, as of January 1, 2017. This new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On August 26, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments,” which clarifies how certain cash receipts and payments are to be presented in the statement of cash flows. The guidance was effective for the Company on January 1, 2018. This new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which amended accounting for income taxes related to stock-based compensation, the related classification in the statement of cash flows and share award forfeiture accounting. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. As required subsequent to the adoption of this new guidance, the Company recognized excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation of $47 (resulting from an increase in the fair value of an award from grant date to the vesting or exercise date, as applicable) in the Provision for income taxes as a discrete item during the year ended December 31, 2017. These amounts may not necessarily be indicative of future amounts that may be recognized as any excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation recognized would be dependent on future stock price, employee exercise behavior and applicable tax rates. Prior to January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation were recognized in equity. As permitted, the Company elected to classify these excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation as an operating activity in the Statement of Cash Flows instead of as a financing activity on a prospective basis and did not retrospectively adjust prior periods. Also, as permitted by the new standard, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.

On March 15, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-07, “Investments–Equity Method and Joint Ventures (Topic 323): Simplifying the Transition to the Equity Method of Accounting,” which eliminated the requirement to retroactively adjust an investment that subsequently qualifies for equity method accounting (as a result of an increase in level of ownership interest or degree of influence) as if the equity method of accounting had been applied during all prior periods that the investment was held. The new standard requires that the investor add the cost of acquiring additional ownership interest in the investee to its current basis and prospectively apply the equity method of accounting. For an available-for-sale investment, any unrealized gains or losses should be recognized in earnings at the date the investment qualifies as an equity method investment. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017, and did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued its final standard on lease accounting, ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which supersedes Topic 840, “Leases.” The new accounting standard requires the recognition of right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all long-term leases, including operating leases, on the balance sheet. The new standard also provides additional guidance on the measurement of the right-of-use assets and lease liabilities and will require enhanced disclosures about the Company’s leasing arrangements. Under current accounting standards, substantially all of the Company’s leases are considered operating leases and, as such, are not recognized on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. This new standard is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The standard requires a “modified retrospective” adoption, meaning the standard is applied to leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the new standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

On January 5, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01, “Financial Instruments–Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities.” The updated guidance enhances the reporting model for financial instruments, which includes amendments to address aspects of recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure. The amendment to the standard was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018 and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventories by replacing the lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. The guidance applies only to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) and the retail inventory method. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. This new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

On May 28, 2014, the FASB and the International Accounting Standards Board issued their final converged standard on revenue recognition. The standard, issued as ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)” by the FASB, provides a comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers and supersedes current revenue recognition guidance. The revenue standard contains principles that an entity will apply to determine the measurement of revenue and timing of when it is recognized. The underlying principle is that an entity will recognize revenue to depict the transfer of goods or services to its customers at an amount that the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The new standard also includes enhanced disclosures. During 2016, the FASB issued several accounting updates (ASU No. 2016-08, 2016-10 and 2016-12) to clarify implementation guidance and correct unintended application of the guidance. The standard allows for either full retrospective adoption or modified retrospective adoption. The Company adopted the new standard on January 1, 2018, on a “modified retrospective” basis, which did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. Although the new standard resulted in changes to the Company’s revenue recognition accounting policy commencing on January 1, 2018, the Company does not expect it will have a material impact in future periods on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment and make estimates. The level of uncertainty in estimates and assumptions increases with the length of time until the underlying transactions are completed. Actual results could ultimately differ from those estimates. The accounting policies that are most critical in the preparation of the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements are those that are both important to the presentation of the Consolidated Financial Statements and require significant or complex judgments and estimates on the part of management. The Company’s critical accounting policies are reviewed periodically with the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

In certain instances, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America allow for the selection of alternative accounting methods. The Company’s significant policies that involve the selection of alternative methods are accounting for shipping and handling costs and inventories.

▪

Shipping and handling costs may be reported as either a component of Cost of sales or Selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company reports such costs, primarily related to warehousing and outbound freight, in the Consolidated Statements of Income as a component of Selling, general and administrative expenses. Accordingly, the Company’s Gross profit margin is not comparable with the gross profit margin of those companies that include shipping and handling charges in cost of sales. If such costs had been included in Cost of sales, Gross profit margin would have decreased by 760 bps, from 60.0% to 52.4% in 2017 and decreased by 750 bps in 2016 and 2015, respectively, with no impact on reported earnings.


▪	The Company accounts for inventories using both the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method (75% of inventories) and the LIFO method (25% of inventories). There would have been no material impact on reported earnings for 2017, 2016 or 2015 had all inventories been accounted for under the FIFO method.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

The areas of accounting that involve significant or complex judgments and estimates are pensions and other retiree benefit cost assumptions, stock-based compensation, asset impairments, uncertain tax positions, tax valuation allowances, the provisional charge in 2017 related to U.S. tax reform, legal and other contingency reserves and, prior to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, the selection of the exchange rate used to remeasure the financial statements of CP Venezuela.

▪

In pension accounting, the most significant actuarial assumptions are the discount rate and the long-term rate of return on plan assets. The discount rate used to measure the benefit obligation for U.S. defined benefit plans was 3.73%, 4.27% and 4.93% as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The discount rate used to measure the benefit obligation for other U.S. postretirement plans was 3.80%, 4.41% and 4.97% as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Discount rates used for the U.S. and international defined benefit and other postretirement plans are based on a yield curve constructed from a portfolio of high-quality bonds whose projected cash flows approximate the projected benefit payments of the plans. The assumed long-term rate of return on plan assets for U.S. plans was 6.60% as of December 31, 2017 and 6.80% as of December 2016 and 2015. In determining the long-term rate of return, the Company considers the nature of the plans’ investments and the historical rate of return.

Average annual rates of return for the U.S. plans for the most recent 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 25-year periods were 14%, 8%, 6%, 8% and 8%, respectively. In addition, the current assumed rate of return for the U.S. plans is based upon the nature of the plans’ investments with a target asset allocation of approximately 53% in fixed income securities, 27% in equity securities and 20% in real estate and other investments. A 1% change in the assumed rate of return on plan assets of the U.S. pension plans would impact future Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company by approximately $14. A 1% change in the discount rate for the U.S. pension plans would impact future Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company by approximately $2. A third assumption is the long-term rate of compensation increase, a change in which would partially offset the impact of a change in either the discount rate or the long-term rate of return. This rate was 3.50% as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Refer to Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s pension and other postretirement plans.

▪

The assumption requiring the most judgment in accounting for other postretirement benefits is the medical cost trend rate. The Company reviews external data and its own historical trends for health care costs to determine the medical cost trend rate. The assumed rate of increase for the U.S. postretirement benefit plans is 6.00% for 2018, declining to 4.75% by 2023 and remaining at 4.75% for the years thereafter. The effect on the total of service and interest cost components of a 1% increase in the assumed long-term medical cost trend rate would decrease Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company by $7.

▪

The Company recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock units, based on the fair value of those awards at the date of grant. The Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton (“Black-Scholes”) option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. The weighted-average estimated fair value of each stock option award granted in the year ended December 31, 2017 was $8.37. The Black-Scholes model uses various assumptions to determine the fair value of stock option awards. These assumptions include the expected term of stock option awards, expected volatility rate, risk-free interest rate and expected dividend yield. While these assumptions do not require significant judgment, as the significant inputs are determined from historical experience or independent third-party sources, changes in these inputs could result in significant changes in the fair value of stock option awards. A one-year change in expected term would result in a change in fair value of approximately 7%. A 1% change in volatility would change fair value by approximately 7%.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

▪

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets, such as the Company’s global brands, are subject to impairment tests at least annually. The Company performs either a quantitative or qualitative assessment to determine the fair value of its reporting units for goodwill and fair value of its indefinite life intangible assets. The asset impairment analysis is generally performed using an income method, which requires several estimates, including future cash flows consistent with management’s strategic plans, sales growth rates, foreign exchange rates and the selection of a discount rate. For the Company’s goodwill impairment analysis, fair value is also determined using the market approach, which is generally derived from metrics of comparable publicly traded companies. When multiple valuation methodologies are used in a reporting unit’s goodwill impairment analysis, the Company performs a qualitative analysis comparing the fair value of a reporting unit under each method to assess its reasonableness and ensure consistency of results. Other qualitative factors the Company considers, in addition to those quantitative measures discussed above, include assessments of general macroeconomic conditions, industry-specific considerations and historical financial performance.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s intangible assets substantially exceeds the recorded carrying value, except for the intangible assets acquired in the Sanex acquisition in 2011, which were recorded at fair value. The estimated fair value of the Company’s reporting units also substantially exceeds the recorded carrying value. Therefore, it is not reasonably likely that significant changes in these estimates would occur that would result in an impairment charge related to these assets.

The Company applies the ‘relief from royalty method’ to estimate the fair value of the intangible assets acquired in the Sanex acquisition (the “Sanex intangible assets”). Under this method, the fair value of an intangible asset is calculated as the present value of future royalty savings generated as a result of owning the intangible asset. The key assumptions used in determining the Company’s estimate of the fair value of the Sanex intangible assets include royalty rates, discount rates and long-term revenue growth rates. Estimating long-term revenue growth rates requires significant judgment by management in areas such as future economic conditions, product pricing and consumer tastes and preferences. In determining an appropriate discount rate, the Company considers the current interest rate environment and its estimated cost of capital. As a result of the analysis, the Company determined that the fair value of the Sanex intangible assets exceeded their carrying value by more than 10% and concluded that such excess was reasonable considering the brand’s relatively recent acquisition. Based on this, the brand’s recent performance and the Company’s future plans for it, the Company does not believe there is a significant risk of impairment related to the Sanex intangible assets.

Asset impairment analysis related to certain fixed assets in connection with the Global Growth and Efficiency Program requires management’s best estimate of net realizable values.

▪

In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, and Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, the Company recorded a provisional charge of $275 based on its initial analysis of the TCJA using available information and estimates. The provisional charge is comprised of $451 related to the one-time deemed repatriation of accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and related withholding taxes and $20 related primarily to the remeasurement of net deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, which are offset by $196 of income taxes which had been previously provided for planned repatriations of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, applicable U.S. and foreign taxes have been provided on substantially all of the Company’s accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries previously considered indefinitely reinvested.

Given the significant complexity of the TCJA, anticipated guidance from the U.S. Treasury about implementing the TCJA and the potential for additional guidance from the SEC or the FASB related to the TCJA or additional information becoming available, the Company’s provisional charge may be adjusted during 2018 and is expected to be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018. Other provisions of the TCJA that impact future tax years are still being assessed.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)


▪	The recognition and measurement of uncertain tax positions involves consideration of the amounts and probabilities of various outcomes that could be realized upon ultimate resolution.


▪	Tax valuation allowances are established to reduce deferred tax assets, such as tax loss carryforwards, to net realizable value. Factors considered in estimating net realizable value include historical results by tax jurisdiction, carryforward periods, income tax strategies and forecasted taxable income.

▪

Legal and other contingency reserves are based on management’s assessment of the risk of potential loss, which includes consultation with outside legal counsel and other advisors. Such assessments are reviewed each period and revised based on current facts and circumstances, if necessary. While it is possible that the Company’s cash flows and results of operations in a particular quarter or year could be materially affected by the impact of such contingencies, based on current knowledge it is the opinion of management that these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. Refer to Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s contingencies.

▪

Prior to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, the selection of the exchange rate used to remeasure the financial statements of CP Venezuela required careful consideration by management given the various currency exchange mechanisms that exist in Venezuela. Although access to U.S. dollars in Venezuela had been challenging, because the majority of the products in CP Venezuela’s portfolio were designated as “essential” by the Venezuelan government, historically CP Venezuela’s access to U.S. dollars at the official rate of 6.30 bolivares per dollar was generally sufficient to settle most of its U.S. dollar obligations for imported materials. However, the Company believed this rate was not applicable to foreign investments and could not be used to pay dividends. The Company also gave consideration to using the SIMADI rate to remeasure the financial statements of CP Venezuela; however, CP Venezuela did not participate in the SIMADI market through December 31, 2015 and had no intention to do so. As a result, the Company remeasured the financial statements of CP Venezuela at the rate at which it believed was applicable for the remittance of future dividends which, based on the advice of legal counsel, was the SICAD rate.

Refer to “Significant Items Impacting Comparability” above and to Note 14, Venezuela to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion of the Company’s Venezuelan operations.

The Company generates revenue through the sale of well-known consumer products to trade customers under established trading terms. While the recognition of revenue and receivables requires the use of estimates, there is a short time frame (typically less than 60 days) between the shipment of product and cash receipt, thereby reducing the level of uncertainty in these estimates. Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further description of the Company’s significant accounting policies.

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Statements

This Annual Report on Form 10-K may contain forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 or by the SEC in its rules, regulations and releases that set forth anticipated results based on management’s current plans and assumptions. Such statements may relate, for example, to sales or volume growth, organic sales growth, profit or profit margin growth, earnings per share growth, financial goals, the impact of foreign exchange volatility, cost-reduction plans including the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, tax rates, U.S. tax reform, new product introductions, commercial investment levels, acquisitions and divestitures, or legal or tax proceedings, among other matters. These statements are made on the basis of the Company’s views and assumptions as of this time and the Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law or by the rules and regulations of the SEC. Moreover, the Company does not, nor does any other person, assume responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of those statements. The Company cautions investors that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that actual events or results may differ materially from those statements. Actual events or results may differ materially because of factors that affect international businesses and global economic conditions, as well as matters specific to the Company and the markets it serves, including the uncertain economic environment in different countries and its effect on consumer spending habits, increased competition and evolving competitive practices, foreign currency rate fluctuations, exchange controls, price or profit controls, labor relations, changes in foreign or domestic laws, or regulations or their interpretation, political and fiscal developments, including changes in trade, tax and immigration policies, disruptions in global supply chain, the availability and cost of raw and packaging materials, the ability to maintain or increase selling prices as needed, the ability to implement the Global Growth and Efficiency Program as planned or differences between the actual and the estimated costs or savings under such program, changes in the policies of retail trade customers, the emergence of new sales channels, the growth of e-commerce, the ability to continue lowering costs, the ability to complete acquisitions and divestitures as planned, the ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, and the uncertainty of the outcome of legal proceedings, whether or not the Company believes they have merit. For information about these and other factors that could impact the Company’s business and cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements, refer to Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors.”

ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

See “Managing Foreign Currency, Interest Rate, Commodity Price and Credit Risk Exposure” in Part II, Item 7.

ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

See “Index to Financial Statements.”


ITEM 9.	CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

None.

ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2017 (the “Evaluation”). Based upon the Evaluation, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective.

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

The Company’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based upon the framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and concluded that it is effective as of December 31, 2017.

The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, has audited the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, and has expressed an unqualified opinion in their report, which appears under “Index to Financial Statements – Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. As part of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, the Company is implementing a shared business service organization model in all regions of the world. At this time, certain financial transaction processing activities have been transitioned to these shared business service centers. This transition has not materially affected the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION

None.

PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

See “Executive Officers of the Registrant” in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Additional information required by this Item relating to directors, executive officers and corporate governance of the Company and information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act is incorporated herein by reference to the Company’s Proxy Statement for its 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the “2018 Proxy Statement”).

Code of Ethics

The Company’s Code of Conduct promotes the highest ethical standards in all of the Company’s business dealings. The Code of Conduct satisfies the SEC’s requirements for a Code of Ethics for senior financial officers and applies to all Company employees, including the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Vice President and Corporate Controller, and the Company’s directors. The Code of Conduct is available on the Company’s website at www.colgatepalmolive.com. Any amendment to the Code of Conduct will promptly be posted on the Company’s website. It is the Company’s policy not to grant waivers of the Code of Conduct. In the extremely unlikely event that the Company grants an executive officer a waiver from a provision of the Code of Conduct, the Company will promptly disclose such information by posting it on its website or by using other appropriate means in accordance with SEC rules.

ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The information regarding executive compensation set forth in the 2018 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.


ITEM 12.	SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS


(a)	The information regarding security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management set forth in the 2018 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.


(b)	The registrant does not know of any arrangements that may at a subsequent date result in a change in control of the registrant.


(c)	Equity compensation plan information as of December 31, 2017:



	(a)		(b)			(c)
Plan Category	Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights (in thousands)		Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights			Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column (a)) (in thousands)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders	43,709	⁽¹⁾	$	60.94	⁽²⁾	30,867	⁽³⁾
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders	Not applicable		Not applicable			Not applicable
Total	43,709		$	60.94		30,867

_______


⁽¹⁾	Consists of 40,979 options outstanding and 2,730 restricted stock units awarded but not yet vested under the Company’s 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan, as more fully described in Note 8, Capital Stock and Stock-Based Compensation Plans to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


⁽²⁾	Includes the weighted-average exercise price of stock options outstanding of $65.00 and restricted stock units of $0.00.


⁽³⁾	Amount includes 20,997 options available for issuance and 9,870 restricted stock units available for issuance under the Company’s 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan.


ITEM 13.	CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

The information regarding certain relationships and related transactions and director independence set forth in the 2018 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

The information regarding auditor fees and services set forth in the 2018 Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES


(a)	Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules

See “Index to Financial Statements.”


(b)	Exhibits:



Exhibit No.		Description

3-A		Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 3-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2008, File No. 1-644.)

3-B		By-laws, as amended. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 3.1 to its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 15, 2016, File No. 1-644.)

4	a)	Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1992, between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly known as The Bank of New York) as Trustee. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 4.1 to its Registration Statement on Form S-3 and Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 filed on June 26, 1992, Registration No. 33-48840.)*

	b)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Employee Stock Ownership Trust Agreement dated as of June 1, 1989, as amended. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 4-B (b) to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, File No. 1-644.)

10-A	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Annex B to its 2013 Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Form of Nonqualified Option Award Agreement used in connection with grants under the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan.**

	c)	Form of Restricted Stock Unit Award Agreement used in connection with grants under the 2013 Incentive Compensation Plan.**

10-B	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company 2009 Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Appendix A to its 2009 Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Trust, as amended. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B (b) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987, File No. 1-644.)

	c)	Amendment, dated as of October 29, 2007, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Incentive Compensation Plan Trust. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A (b) to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, File No. 1-644.)

	d)	Form of Restricted Stock Award Agreement used in connection with grants to employees under the 2009 Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-P to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, File No. 1-644.)



Exhibit No.		Description

10-C		Colgate-Palmolive Company Supplemental Salaried Employees’ Retirement Plan, amended and restated as of September 27, 2017. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, File No. 1-644.)

10-D	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Severance Plan, as amended and restated through September 12, 2013. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 16, 2013, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Executive Severance Plan Trust. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-E (b) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1987, File No. 1-644.)

10-E		Colgate-Palmolive Company Pension Plan for Outside Directors, as amended and restated. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-D to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No. 1-644.)

10-F	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Restated and Amended Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-H to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Amendment, dated as of September 12, 2007, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company Restated and Amended Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-F to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, File No. 1-644.)

10-G		Colgate-Palmolive Company Deferred Compensation Plan, amended and restated as of September 12, 2007. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-G to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, File No. 1-644.)

10-H		Colgate-Palmolive Company Above and Beyond Plan – Officer Level. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 1-644.)

10-I	a)	Five Year Credit Agreement dated as of November 4, 2011, Amended and Restated as of July 27, 2015 by Amendment Number 2 thereto (the “Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”), among Colgate-Palmolive Company as Borrower, Citibank, N.A. as Administrative Agent and the Lenders party thereto. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Amendment No. 1 dated as of November 4, 2016 to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, among Colgate-Palmolive Company, as Borrower, Citibank, N.A., as Administrative Agent, and the Lenders party thereto. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-I (b) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, File No. 1-644.)

10-J	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company Supplemental Savings and Investment Plan, amended and restated as of September 1, 2010. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010, File No. 1-644.)

	b)	Amendment, dated September 27, 2017, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company Supplemental Savings and Investment Plan (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, File No. 1-644.)

10-K		Form of Indemnification Agreement between Colgate-Palmolive Company and its directors, executive officers and certain key employees.**



Exhibit No.		Description

10-L	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Appendix C to its 2005 Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement.)

	b)	Form of Award Agreement used in connection with grants to non-employee directors under the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 4, 2005, File No. 1-644.)

	c)	Amendment, dated as of September 7, 2006, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, File No. 1-644.)

	d)	Amendment, dated as of December 7, 2006, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-S (d) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, File No. 1-644.)

	e)	Amendment, dated as of October 29, 2007, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-J to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, File No. 1-644.)

	f)	Amendment, dated as of January 13, 2011, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, File No. 1-644.)

	g)	Amendment, dated as of July 14, 2011, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, File No. 1-644.)

	h)	Amendment, dated as of May 11, 2012, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Stock Plan for Non-Employee Directors. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2012, File No. 1-644.)

10-M	a)	Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Appendix B to its 2005 Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement.)

	b)	Form of Award Agreement used in connection with grants to employees under the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 4, 2005, File No. 1-644.)

	c)	Amendment, dated as of September 7, 2006, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-A to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006, File No. 1-644.)

	d)	Amendment, dated as of December 7, 2006, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-T (d) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, File No. 1-644.)

	e)	Action, dated as of October 29, 2007, taken pursuant to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan and Colgate-Palmolive Company 1997 Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-I to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, File No. 1-644.)

	f)	Amendment, dated as of February 26, 2009, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-S (f) to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, File No. 1-644.)



Exhibit No.

	g)	Amendment, dated as of July 14, 2011, to the Colgate-Palmolive Company 2005 Employee Stock Option Plan. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-B to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011, File No. 1-644.)

10-N		Business and Share Sale and Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2011 among Unilever N.V., Unilever plc, Colgate-Palmolive Company Sarl and Colgate-Palmolive Company relating to the Sanex personal care business. (Registrant hereby incorporates by reference Exhibit 10-C to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, File No. 1-644.)

12		Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.**

21		Subsidiaries of the Registrant.**

23		Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.**

24		Powers of Attorney.**

31-A		Certificate of the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Colgate-Palmolive Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.**

31-B		Certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of Colgate-Palmolive Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.**

32		Certificate of the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Colgate-Palmolive Company pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. § 1350.**

101		The following materials from Colgate-Palmolive Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Consolidated Statements of Income, (ii) the Consolidated Balance Sheets, (iii) the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity, (iv) the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (v) the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, (vi) Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, and (vii) Financial Statement Schedule.

__________


*	Registrant hereby undertakes to furnish the Commission, upon request, with a copy of any instrument with respect to long-term debt where the total amount of securities authorized thereunder does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the registrant and its subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.


**	Filed herewith.

The exhibits indicated above that are not included with the Form 10-K are available upon request and payment of a reasonable fee approximating the registrant’s cost of providing and mailing the exhibits. Inquiries should be directed to:



Colgate-Palmolive Company
Office of the Secretary (10-K Exhibits)
300 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022-7499

ITEM 16. FORM 10-K SUMMARY

None.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

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.



	Colgate-Palmolive Company (Registrant)

Date: February 21, 2018	By	/s/ Dennis J. Hickey
		Dennis J. Hickey Chief Financial Officer

Index to Financial Statements



	Page
Consolidated Financial Statements

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	65

Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015	67

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015	68

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016	69

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015	70

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015	71

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements	72

Financial Statement Schedule

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015	116

Selected Financial Data

Market and Dividend Information	117

Historical Financial Summary	119

All other financial statements and schedules not listed have been omitted since the required information is included in the financial statements or the notes thereto or is not applicable or required.

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Colgate-Palmolive Company

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited the consolidated financial statements, including the related notes and financial statement schedule, of Colgate-Palmolive Company and its subsidiaries as listed in the accompanying index (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 December 31, 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 Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, appearing under Item 9A. 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
New York, New York February 15, 2018
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2002.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Income

For the years ended December 31,

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)



	2017		2016		2015
Net sales	$	15,454	$	15,195	$	16,034
Cost of sales	6,174		6,072		6,635
Gross profit	9,280		9,123		9,399
Selling, general and administrative expenses	5,497		5,249		5,464
Other (income) expense, net	194		37		62
Charge for Venezuela accounting change	—		—		1,084
Operating profit	3,589		3,837		2,789
Interest (income) expense, net	102		99		26
Income before income taxes	3,487		3,738		2,763
Provision for income taxes	1,313		1,152		1,215
Net income including noncontrolling interests	2,174		2,586		1,548
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	150		145		164
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$	2,024	$	2,441	$	1,384
Earnings per common share, basic	$	2.30	$	2.74	$	1.53
Earnings per common share, diluted	$	2.28	$	2.72	$	1.52

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

For the years ended December 31,

(Dollars in Millions)



	2017			2016			2015
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$	2,174		$	2,586		$	1,548
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Cumulative translation adjustments	302			(137		)	(645		)
Retirement plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	54			(109		)	196
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	—			(1		)	(7		)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(14		)	5			2
Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	342			(242		)	(454		)
Total Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interests	2,516			2,344			1,094
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	150			145			164
Less: Cumulative translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	17			(12		)	(11		)
Total Comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	167			133			153
Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$	2,349		$	2,211		$	941

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Consolidated Balance Sheets

As of December 31,

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)



	2017			2016
Assets
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	1,535		$	1,315
Receivables (net of allowances of $77 and $73, respectively)	1,480			1,411
Inventories	1,221			1,171
Other current assets	403			441
Total current assets	4,639			4,338
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,072			3,840
Goodwill	2,218			2,107
Other intangible assets, net	1,341			1,313
Deferred income taxes	188			301
Other assets	218			224
Total assets	$	12,676		$	12,123
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities
Notes and loans payable	$	11		$	13
Current portion of long-term debt	—			—
Accounts payable	1,212			1,124
Accrued income taxes	354			441
Other accruals	1,831			1,727
Total current liabilities	3,408			3,305
Long-term debt	6,566			6,520
Deferred income taxes	204			246
Other liabilities	2,255			2,035
Total liabilities	12,433			12,106
Commitments and contingent liabilities	—			—
Shareholders’ Equity
Common stock, $1 par value (2,000,000,000 shares authorized, 1,465,706,360 shares issued)	1,466			1,466
Additional paid-in capital	1,984			1,691
Retained earnings	20,531			19,922
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,855		)	(4,180		)
Unearned compensation	(5		)	(7		)
Treasury stock, at cost	(20,181		)	(19,135		)
Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders’ equity	(60		)	(243		)
Noncontrolling interests	303			260
Total equity	243			17
Total liabilities and equity	$	12,676		$	12,123

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity

(Dollars in Millions)



	Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity
	Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital			Unearned Compensation			Treasury Stock			Retained Earnings			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			Noncontrolling Interests
Balance, January 1, 2015	$	1,466	$	1,236		$	(20	)	$	(16,862	)	$	18,832		$	(3,507	)	$	240
Net income												1,384						164
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax															(443		)	(11		)
Dividends												(1,355		)				(138		)
Stock-based compensation expense			125
Shares issued for stock options			90						243
Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(69		)				69
Treasury stock acquired									(1,551		)
Other			56			8			(1		)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	1,466	$	1,438		$	(12	)	$	(18,102	)	$	18,861		$	(3,950	)	$	255
Net income												2,441						145
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax															(230		)	(12		)
Dividends												(1,380		)				(128		)
Stock-based compensation expense			123
Shares issued for stock options			128						242
Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(60		)				60
Treasury stock acquired									(1,335		)
Other			62			5
Balance, December 31, 2016	$	1,466	$	1,691		$	(7	)	$	(19,135	)	$	19,922		$	(4,180	)	$	260
Net income												2,024						150
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax															325			17
Dividends												(1,405		)				(124		)
Stock-based compensation expense			127
Shares issued for stock options			197						313
Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(34		)				34
Treasury stock acquired									(1,399		)
Other			3			2			6			(10		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	1,466	$	1,984		$	(5	)	$	(20,181	)	$	20,531		$	(3,855	)	$	303

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the years ended December 31,

(Dollars in Millions)



	2017			2016			2015
Operating Activities
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$	2,174		$	2,586		$	1,548
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	475			443			449
Restructuring and termination benefits, net of cash	91			(9		)	69
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—			—			34
Stock-based compensation expense	127			123			125
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—			(97		)	—
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			(187		)
Charge for Venezuela accounting change	—			—			1,084
Charge for U.S. tax reform	275			—			—
Deferred income taxes	108			56			(51		)
Voluntary benefit plan contributions	(81		)	(53		)	—
Cash effects of changes in:
Receivables	(15		)	(17		)	(75		)
Inventories	(8		)	(4		)	(13		)
Accounts payable and other accruals	(96		)	100			(67		)
Other non-current assets and liabilities	4			13			33
Net cash provided by operations	3,054			3,141			2,949
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(553		)	(593		)	(691		)
Sale of property and non-core product lines	44			—			9
Purchases of marketable securities and investments	(347		)	(336		)	(742		)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities and investments	391			378			599
Proceeds from sale of land in Mexico	—			60			—
Proceeds from sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			221
Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	—			(5		)	(13		)
Reduction in cash due to Venezuela accounting change	—			—			(75		)
Other	(6		)	(3		)	7
Net cash used in investing activities	(471		)	(499		)	(685		)
Financing Activities
Principal payments on debt	(4,808		)	(7,274		)	(9,181		)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	4,779			7,438			9,602
Dividends paid	(1,529		)	(1,508		)	(1,493		)
Purchases of treasury shares	(1,399		)	(1,335		)	(1,551		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	507			446			347
Net cash used in financing activities	(2,450		)	(2,233		)	(2,276		)
Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents	87			(64		)	(107		)
Net (decrease) increase in Cash and cash equivalents	220			345			(119		)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,315			970			1,089
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	$	1,535		$	1,315		$	970
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Income taxes paid	$	1,037		$	932		$	1,259
Interest paid	$	150		$	162		$	131

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

1. Nature of Operations

The Company manufactures and markets a wide variety of products in the U.S. and around the world in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition. Oral, Personal and Home Care products include toothpaste, toothbrushes and mouthwash, bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants, laundry and dishwashing detergents, fabric conditioners, household cleaners and other similar items. These products are sold primarily to retail and wholesale customers and distributors worldwide. Pet Nutrition products include specialty pet nutrition products manufactured and marketed by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The principal customers for Pet Nutrition products are authorized pet supply retailers and veterinarians. Many of the products from both product segments are also sold to e-commerce retailers. Principal global and regional trademarks include Colgate, Palmolive, Speed Stick, Lady Speed Stick, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom’s of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Fabuloso, Soupline and Suavitel, as well as Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Ideal Balance.

The Company’s principal classes of products accounted for the following percentages of worldwide Net sales for the past three years:



	2017		2016		2015
Oral Care	48	%	47	%	47	%
Personal Care	19	%	20	%	20	%
Home Care	18	%	18	%	19	%
Pet Nutrition	15	%	15	%	14	%
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Principles of Consolidation

The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Colgate-Palmolive Company and its majority-owned or controlled subsidiaries. Intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated. The Company’s investments in consumer products companies with interests ranging between 20% and 50%, where the Company has significant influence over the investee, are accounted for using the equity method. Net income (loss) from such investments is recorded in Other (income) expense, net in the Consolidated Statements of Income. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, equity method investments included in Other assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were $42 and $38, respectively. Unrelated third parties hold the remaining ownership interests in these investments. Investments with less than a 20% interest are accounted for using the cost method. Effective December 31, 2015, the Company concluded it no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of its Venezuelan subsidiary (“CP Venezuela”) and began accounting for CP Venezuela using the cost method of accounting. As a result, effective December 31, 2015, CP Venezuela’s net assets and operating results are no longer included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements. See Note 14, Venezuela for further information.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to use judgment and make estimates that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent gains and losses at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The level of uncertainty in estimates and assumptions increases with the length of time until the underlying transactions are completed. As such, the most significant uncertainty in the Company’s assumptions and estimates involved in preparing the financial statements includes pension and other retiree benefit cost assumptions, stock-based compensation, asset impairments, uncertain tax positions, tax valuation allowances, legal and other contingency reserves, the provisional charge in 2017 related to U.S. tax reform (see Note 11, Income Taxes) and, prior to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, the selection of the exchange rate used to remeasure the financial statements of CP Venezuela (see Note 14, Venezuela). Additionally, the Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments and retirement plan assets. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. Actual results could ultimately differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition

Sales are recorded at the time products are shipped to trade customers and when risk of ownership transfers. Net sales reflect units shipped at selling list prices reduced by sales returns and the cost of current and continuing promotional programs. Current promotional programs, such as product listing allowances and co-operative advertising arrangements, are recorded in the period incurred. Continuing promotional programs are predominantly consumer coupons and volume-based sales incentive arrangements with trade customers. The redemption cost of consumer coupons is based on historical redemption experience and is recorded when coupons are distributed. Volume-based incentives offered to trade customers are based on the estimated cost of the program and are recorded as products are sold.

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping and handling costs are classified as Selling, general and administrative expenses and were $1,183, $1,140 and $1,235 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Marketing Costs

The Company markets its products through advertising and other promotional activities. Advertising costs are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses and are expensed as incurred. Certain consumer and trade promotional programs, such as consumer coupons, are recorded as a reduction of sales.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.

Inventories

The cost of approximately 75% of inventories is determined using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method, which is stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of all other inventories, in the U.S. and Mexico, is determined using the last-in, first-out (“LIFO”) method, which is stated at the lower of cost or market.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Property, Plant and Equipment

Land, buildings and machinery and equipment are stated at cost. Depreciation is provided, primarily using the straight-line method, over estimated useful lives ranging from 3 to 15 years for machinery and equipment and up to 40 years for buildings. Depreciation attributable to manufacturing operations is included in Cost of sales. The remaining component of depreciation is included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

Goodwill and Other Intangibles

Goodwill and indefinite life intangible assets, such as the Company’s global brands, are subject to impairment tests at least annually. These tests were performed and did not result in an impairment charge. Other intangible assets with finite lives, such as local brands and trademarks, customer relationships and non-compete agreements, are amortized over their estimated useful lives, generally ranging from 5 to 40 years. Amortization expense related to intangible assets is included in Other (income) expense, net, which is included in Operating profit.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes is determined using the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based upon the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates that will be in effect at the time such differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

The Company uses a comprehensive model to recognize, measure, present and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that the Company has taken or expects to take on an income tax return. The Company recognizes interest expense and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits within Provision for income taxes.

Financial Instruments

Derivative instruments are recorded as assets and liabilities at estimated fair value based on available market information. The Company’s derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting are designated as either fair value hedges, cash flow hedges or net investment hedges. For fair value hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative, as well as the offsetting changes in the fair value of the hedged item, are recognized in earnings each period. For cash flow hedges, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) and are recognized in earnings when the offsetting effect of the hedged item is also recognized in earnings. For hedges of the net investment in foreign subsidiaries, changes in the fair value of the derivative are recorded in Other comprehensive income (loss) to offset the change in the value of the net investment being hedged. Cash flows related to hedges are classified in the same category as the cash flows from the hedged item in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

The Company may also enter into certain foreign currency and interest rate instruments that economically hedge certain of its risks but do not qualify for hedge accounting. Changes in fair value of these derivative instruments, based on quoted market prices, are recognized in earnings each period. The Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments are more fully described in Note 7, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments along with the related fair value measurement considerations.

Stock-Based Compensation

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Currency Translation

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries, other than those operating in highly inflationary environments, are translated into U.S. dollars at year-end exchange rates with resulting translation gains and losses accumulated in a separate component of shareholders’ equity. Income and expense items are translated into U.S. dollars at average rates of exchange prevailing during the year.

For subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary environments, local currency-denominated non-monetary assets, including inventories, goodwill and property, plant and equipment, are remeasured at their historical exchange rates, while local currency-denominated monetary assets and liabilities are remeasured at year-end exchange rates. Remeasurement adjustments for these operations are included in Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company. Prior to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations in 2015, CP Venezuela was designated as hyper-inflationary and the functional currency for CP Venezuela was the U.S. dollar. See Note 14, Venezuela for further information. Currently, none of the Company’s subsidiaries operate in highly inflationary environments.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

On August 28, 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities,” amending the eligibility criteria for hedged items and transactions to expand an entity’s ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and present hedge ineffectiveness and aligns the presentation of hedge gains and losses with the underlying hedge item. The new guidance also simplifies the hedge documentation and hedge effectiveness assessment requirements. The new guidance is effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. The amended presentation and disclosure requirements must be adopted on a prospective basis, while any amendments to cash flow and net investment hedge relationships that exist on the date of adoption must be applied on a “modified retrospective” basis, meaning a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings as of the beginning of the year of adoption. While the Company is currently assessing the impact of the new standard on its Consolidated Financial Statements, this new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

On March 10, 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation–Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost,” changing the presentation of the net periodic benefit cost on the Statement of Income and limiting the amount of net periodic benefit cost eligible for capitalization to assets. The new guidance permits only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be eligible for capitalization. The new guidance also requires entities to present the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost together with compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees during the period. Other components of net periodic benefit cost, which include interest, expected return on assets, amortization of prior service costs and actuarial gains and losses, are required to be presented outside of Operating profit. The line item or items used to present the other components of net periodic benefit cost must be disclosed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, if not separately described on the Statement of Income. The new presentation requirement is required to be adopted on a “full retrospective” basis, meaning the standard is applied to all of the periods presented in the financial statements, while the limitation on capitalization can only be adopted on a prospective basis. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2018. Had the standard been effective for the year ended December 31, 2017, full year Operating profit would have increased by approximately $120 with no impact on Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company. The Company anticipates that, as a result of the reclassification, full year Operating profit will increase in future periods by approximately $100 annually with no impact on Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

On March 30, 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” which amended accounting for income taxes related to stock-based compensation, the related classification in the statement of cash flows and share award forfeiture accounting. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. As required subsequent to the adoption of this new guidance, the Company recognized excess tax benefits of $47 (resulting from an increase in the fair value of an award from grant date to the vesting or exercise date, as applicable) in the Provision for income taxes as a discrete item during the year ended December 31, 2017. These amounts may not necessarily be indicative of future amounts that may be recognized as any excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation recognized would be dependent on future stock price, employee exercise behavior and applicable tax rates. Prior to January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits were recognized in equity. As permitted, the Company elected to classify these excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation as an operating activity in the Statement of Cash Flows instead of as a financing activity on a prospective basis and did not retrospectively adjust prior periods. Also, as permitted by the new standard, the Company elected to account for forfeitures as they occur.

On July 22, 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, “Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory,” which simplifies the subsequent measurement of inventories by replacing the lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. The guidance applies only to inventories for which cost is determined by methods other than LIFO and the retail inventory method. The new guidance was effective for the Company beginning on January 1, 2017. This new guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Reclassifications

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.

3. Acquisitions and Divestitures

Acquisitions

In January 2018, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity interests of Physicians Care Alliance, LLC and Elta MD Holdings, Inc., professional skin care businesses, for aggregate cash consideration of approximately $730.

Sale of Land in Mexico

In September 2016, the Company’s Mexican subsidiary completed the sale to the United States of America of the Mexico City site on which its commercial operations, technology center and soap production facility were previously located and received $60 as the third and final installment of the sale price. The total sale price (including the third installment and the previously received first and second installments) was $120. The Company recognized a pretax gain of $97 ($63 aftertax or $0.07 per diluted share) in the third quarter of 2016, net of costs primarily related to site preparation.

Sale of Laundry Detergent Business in the South Pacific

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

4. Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges

In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company commenced a restructuring program (the “Global Growth and Efficiency Program”) for sustained growth. The program was expanded in 2014 and expanded and extended in 2015. Building on the Company’s successful implementation of the program, on October 26, 2017, the Board approved an expansion of the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and an extension of the program through December 31, 2019 to take advantage of additional opportunities to streamline the Company’s operations.

Initiatives under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program continue to fit within the program’s three focus areas of expanding commercial hubs, extending shared business services and streamlining global functions and optimizing the global supply chain and facilities.

Including the most recent expansion, cumulative pretax charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, once all phases are approved and implemented, are estimated to be in the range of $1,730 to $1,885 ($1,280 to $1,380 aftertax). The Company anticipates that pretax charges for 2018 will approximate $100 to $175 ($75 to $125 aftertax). It is expected that substantially all charges resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program will be incurred by December 31, 2019.

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, restructuring and related implementation charges are reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income as follows:



	2017		2016		2015
Cost of sales	$	75	$	46	$	20
Selling, general and administrative expenses	89		77		64
Other (income) expense, net	169		105		170
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax	$	333	$	228	$	254

Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, aftertax	$	246	$	168	$	183

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Total charges incurred for the Global Growth and Efficiency Program relate to initiatives undertaken by the following reportable operating segments:



							Program-to-date
	2017		2016		2015		Accumulated Charges
North America	23	%	35	%	21	%	18	%
Latin America	2	%	5	%	3	%	3	%
Europe	21	%	12	%	14	%	22	%
Asia Pacific	5	%	4	%	4	%	3	%
Africa/Eurasia	3	%	14	%	5	%	6	%
Hill’s Pet Nutrition	6	%	7	%	5	%	7	%
Corporate	40	%	23	%	48	%	41	%
Total	100	%	100	%	100	%	100	%



	Cumulative Charges
	as of December 31, 2017
Employee-Related Costs	$	628
Incremental Depreciation	90
Asset Impairments	36
Other	807
Total	$	1,561

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The following table summarizes the activity for the restructuring and related implementation charges, in the respective periods, discussed above and the related accruals:



	Employee-Related Costs			Incremental Depreciation			Asset Impairments			Other			Total
Balance at January 1, 2015	$	85		$	—		$	—		$	107		$	192
Charges	109			20			5			120			254
Cash payments	(85		)	—			—			(94		)	(179		)
Charges against assets	(17		)	(20		)	(5		)	—			(42		)
Foreign exchange	(8		)	—			—			(2		)	(10		)
Other	—			—			—			—			—
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	84		$	—		$	—		$	131		$	215
Charges	61			9			20			138			228
Cash payments	(84		)	—			—			(153		)	(237		)
Charges against assets	(4		)	(9		)	(20		)	—			(33		)
Foreign exchange	(1		)	—			—			—			(1		)
Other	—			—			—			9			9
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	56		$	—		$	—		$	125		$	181
Charges	163			10			9			151			333
Cash payments	(74		)	—			—			(170		)	(244		)
Charges against assets	(21		)	(10		)	(9		)	—			(40		)
Foreign exchange	3			—			—			1			4
Other	—			—			—			—			—
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	127		$	—		$	—		$	107		$	234

Employee-Related Costs primarily include severance and other termination benefits and are calculated based on long-standing benefit practices, local statutory requirements and, in certain cases, voluntary termination arrangements. Employee-Related Costs also include pension and other retiree benefit enhancements amounting to $21, $4 and $17 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, which are reflected as Charges against assets within Employee-Related Costs in the preceding table as the corresponding balance sheet amounts are reflected as a reduction of pension assets or an increase in pension and other retiree benefit liabilities (see Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits).

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

5. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

The net carrying value of Goodwill as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 by segment was as follows:



	2017		2016
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	343	$	336
Latin America	256		260
Europe	1,333		1,233
Asia Pacific	190		187
Africa/Eurasia	81		76
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	2,203		2,092
Pet Nutrition	15		15
Total Goodwill	$	2,218	$	2,107

The change in the amount of Goodwill in each year is primarily due to the impact of foreign currency translation.

Other intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 were comprised of the following:



	2017							2016
	Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net		Gross Carrying Amount		Accumulated Amortization			Net
Trademarks	$	547	$	(337	)	$	210	$	539	$	(317	)	$	222
Other finite life intangible assets	249		(103		)	146		231		(78		)	153
Indefinite life intangible assets	985		—			985		938		—			938
Total Other intangible assets	$	1,781	$	(440	)	$	1,341	$	1,708	$	(395	)	$	1,313

The changes in the net carrying amounts of Other intangible assets during 2017, 2016 and 2015 were primarily due to amortization expense of $35, $33 and $33, respectively, as well as the impact of foreign currency translation. Annual estimated amortization expense for each of the next five years is expected to be approximately $35.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

6. Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities

Long-term debt consisted of the following at December 31:



	Weighted Average Interest Rate	Maturities			2017		2016
Notes	2.0%	2018	-	2078	$	6,542	$	6,225
Commercial paper	1.5%	2018			24		295
					6,566		6,520
Less: Current portion of long-term debt					—		—
Total					$	6,566	$	6,520

The weighted-average interest rate on short-term borrowings of $11 in 2017 and $13 in 2016 included in Notes and loans payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 was 2.8% and 1.6%, respectively.

The Company classifies commercial paper and notes maturing within the next twelve months as long-term debt when it has the intent and ability to refinance such obligations on a long-term basis. Excluding such obligations, scheduled maturities of long-term debt and capitalized leases outstanding as of December 31, 2017, were as follows:



Years Ended December 31,
2018	$	—
2019	1,097
2020	248
2021	298
2022	889
Thereafter	3,311

The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements and foreign exchange contracts related to certain of these debt instruments. See Note 7, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for further information about the Company’s financial instruments.

The Company’s debt issuances support its capital structure strategy objectives of funding its business and growth initiatives while minimizing its risk-adjusted cost of capital. During the fourth quarter of 2017, the Company issued $400 of five-year notes at a fixed rate of 2.25%. During the third quarter of 2017, the Company issued $500 of thirty-year notes at a fixed rate of 3.70%. The debt issuances in 2017 were under the Company’s shelf registration statement. Proceeds from the debt issuances in 2017 were used for general corporate purposes which included the retirement of commercial paper borrowings.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Certain agreements with respect to the Company’s bank borrowings contain financial and other covenants as well as cross-default provisions. Noncompliance with these requirements could ultimately result in the acceleration of amounts owed. The Company is in full compliance with all such requirements and believes the likelihood of noncompliance is remote.

7. Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments

The Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely and any nonperformance is unlikely to be material, as it is the Company’s policy to contract only with diverse, credit-worthy counterparties based upon both strong credit ratings and other credit considerations.

The Company is exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price fluctuations. Volatility relating to these exposures is managed on a global basis by utilizing a number of techniques, including working capital management, sourcing strategies, selling price increases, selective borrowings in local currencies and entering into selective derivative instrument transactions, issued with standard features, in accordance with the Company’s treasury and risk management policies, which prohibit the use of derivatives for speculative purposes and leveraged derivatives for any purpose. It is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative instrument contracts with terms that match the underlying exposure being hedged. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is not material for any period presented. Provided below are details of the Company’s exposures by type of risk and derivative instruments by type of hedge designation.

Valuation Considerations

Assets and liabilities carried at fair value are classified as follows:

Level 1: Based upon quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Based upon observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Based upon unobservable inputs reflecting the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

Foreign Exchange Risk

As the Company markets its products in over 200 countries and territories, it is exposed to currency fluctuations related to manufacturing and selling its products in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The Company manages its foreign currency exposures through a combination of cost containment measures, sourcing strategies, selling price increases and the hedging of certain costs in an effort to minimize the impact on earnings of foreign currency rate movements.

The Company primarily utilizes foreign currency contracts, including forward and swap contracts, option contracts, foreign and local currency deposits and local currency borrowings to hedge portions of its foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities arising in the normal course of business and the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. The duration of foreign currency contracts generally does not exceed 12 months and the contracts are valued using observable market rates (Level 2 valuation).

Interest Rate Risk

The Company manages its targeted mix of fixed and floating rate debt with debt issuances and by entering into interest rate swaps in order to mitigate fluctuations in earnings and cash flows that may result from interest rate volatility. The notional amount, interest payment and maturity date of the swaps generally match the principal, interest payment and maturity date of the related debt, and the swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates (Level 2 valuation).

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Commodity Price Risk

The Company is exposed to price volatility related to raw materials used in production, such as resins, pulp, essential oils, tropical oils, tallow, poultry, corn and soybeans. The Company manages its raw material exposures through a combination of cost containment measures, sourcing strategies, ongoing productivity initiatives and the limited use of commodity hedging contracts. Futures contracts are used on a limited basis, primarily in the Hill’s Pet Nutrition segment, to manage volatility related to raw material inventory purchases of certain traded commodities, and these contracts are measured using quoted commodity exchange prices (Level 1 valuation). The duration of the commodity contracts generally does not exceed 12 months.

Credit Risk

The following table summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016:



	Assets					Liabilities
	Account	Fair Value				Account	Fair Value
Designated derivative instruments		12/31/17		12/31/16			12/31/17		12/31/16
Interest rate swap contracts	Other current assets	$	—	$	1	Other accruals	$	—	$	—
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets	—		1		Other liabilities	7		—
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	25		29		Other accruals	20		4
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	—		5		Other liabilities	46		—
Commodity contracts	Other current assets	—		—		Other accruals	—		—
Total designated		$	25	$	36		$	73	$	4

Derivatives not designated
Foreign currency contracts	Other assets	—		—		Other liabilities	—		—
Total not designated		$	—	$	—		$	—	$	—

Total derivative instruments		$	25	$	36		$	73	$	4

Other financial instruments
Marketable securities	Other current assets	$	14	$	23
Total other financial instruments		$	14	$	23

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and short-term debt approximated fair value as of December 31, 2017 and 2016. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including the current portion, as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, was $6,799 and $6,717, respectively, and the related carrying value was $6,566 and $6,520, respectively. The estimated fair value of long-term debt was derived principally from quoted prices on the Company’s outstanding fixed-term notes (Level 2 valuation).

Fair Value Hedges

The Company has designated all interest rate swap contracts and certain foreign currency forward and option contracts as fair value hedges, for which the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in current earnings. The impact of foreign currency contracts is primarily recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact of interest rate swap contracts is recognized in Interest (income) expense, net.

Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during each period presented was as follows:



	2017									2016
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total
Notional Value at December 31,	$	1,231		$	1,000		$	2,231		$	204		$	1,250		$	1,454
Gain (loss) on derivatives	(7		)	(9		)	(16		)	5			(5		)	—
Gain (loss) on hedged items	7			9			16			(5		)	5			—

Cash Flow Hedges

All of the Company’s commodity contracts and certain foreign currency forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges, for which the effective portion of the gain or loss is reported as a component of Other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.

Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during each period presented was as follows:



	2017								2016
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Commodity Contracts		Total			Foreign Currency Contracts		Commodity Contracts			Total
Notional Value at December 31,	$	702		$	—	$	702		$	643	$	7		$	650
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	(25		)	—		(25		)	12		(1		)	11
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	(3		)	—		(3		)	4		—			4

The net gain (loss) recognized in OCI for both foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts is generally expected to be recognized in Cost of sales within the next twelve months.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Net Investment Hedges

The Company has designated certain foreign currency forward and option contracts and certain foreign currency-denominated debt as net investment hedges, for which the gain or loss on the instrument is reported as a component of Cumulative translation adjustments within OCI, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged items.

Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during each period presented was as follows:



	2017									2016
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total
Notional Value at December 31,	$	478		$	601		$	1,079		$	498		$	1,118		$	1,616
Gain (loss) on instruments	(71		)	(112		)	(183		)	22			35			57
Gain (loss) on hedged items	71			112			183			(25		)	(35		)	(60		)

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments include foreign currency contracts for which the gain or loss on the instrument is recognized in Other (income) expense, net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017. During the second quarter of 2017, the Company de-designated foreign currency forward contracts previously designated as net investment hedges and entered into new derivative instruments with offsetting terms. Gains or losses on these de-designated derivatives were substantially offset by gains and losses on the new derivative instruments.

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments consisted of a cross-currency swap that served as an economic hedge of a foreign currency deposit, for which the gain or loss on the instrument and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item was recognized in Other (income) expense, net for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016.

Activity related to these contracts during each period presented was as follows:



	2017		2016
	Foreign Currency Contracts		Foreign Currency Contracts
Notional Value at December 31,	$	3	$	4
Gain (loss) on instruments	—		5
Gain (loss) on hedged items	—		(5		)

Other Financial Instruments

Other financial instruments are classified as Other current assets or Other assets.

Included in Other current assets at December 31, 2017 are marketable securities, which consist of bank deposits of $14 with original maturities greater than 90 days carried at fair value (Level 1 valuation) and the current portion of bonds issued by the Argentinian government in the amount of $4 classified as held-to-maturity and carried at amortized cost.

Through its subsidiary in Argentina, the Company has invested in U.S. dollar-linked devaluation-protected bonds and Argentinian peso-denominated bonds issued by the Argentinian government. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the amortized cost of these bonds was $4 and $52, respectively, and their approximate fair value was $4 and $64, respectively (Level 2 valuation).

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

8. Capital Stock and Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Preference Stock

The Company has the authority to issue 50,262,150 shares of preference stock.

Stock Repurchases

On February 19, 2015, the Board authorized the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock having an aggregate purchase price of up to $5,000 under a share repurchase program (the “2015 Program”), which replaced a previously authorized share repurchase program. The Company commenced repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock under the 2015 Program beginning February 19, 2015. The Board also has authorized share repurchases on an ongoing basis to fulfill certain requirements of the Company’s compensation and benefit programs. The shares are repurchased from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions at the Company’s discretion, subject to market conditions, customary blackout periods and other factors. The Company repurchased its common stock at a cost of $1,399 during 2017 under the 2015 Program.

The Company may use either authorized and unissued shares or treasury shares to meet share requirements resulting from the exercise of stock options and the vesting of restricted stock unit awards.

A summary of common stock and treasury stock activity for the three years ended December 31, is as follows:



	Common Stock Outstanding		Treasury Stock
Balance, January 1, 2015	906,712,145		558,994,215

Common stock acquired	(22,802,784	)	22,802,784
Shares issued for stock options	7,394,839		(7,394,839	)
Shares issued for restricted stock units and other	1,434,318		(1,434,318	)
Balance, December 31, 2015	892,738,518		572,967,842

Common stock acquired	(19,271,304	)	19,271,304
Shares issued for stock options	8,536,639		(8,536,639	)
Shares issued for restricted stock units and other	1,105,110		(1,105,110	)
Balance, December 31, 2016	883,108,963		582,597,397

Common stock acquired	(19,185,828	)	19,185,828
Shares issued for stock options	9,670,988		(9,670,988	)
Shares issued for restricted stock units and other	1,106,995		(1,106,995	)
Balance, December 31, 2017	874,701,118		591,005,242

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognizes the cost of employee services received in exchange for awards of equity instruments, such as stock options and restricted stock units, based on the fair value of those awards at the date of grant. The fair value of restricted stock units, generally based on market prices, is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period. The estimated fair value of stock options on the date of grant is amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award. Awards to employees eligible for retirement prior to the award becoming fully vested are recognized as compensation cost from the grant date through the date that the employee first becomes eligible to retire and is no longer required to provide service to earn the award.

The Company has one incentive compensation plan pursuant to which it issues restricted stock units and stock options to employees and shares of common stock and stock options to non-employee directors. The Personnel and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors, which is comprised entirely of independent directors, administers the incentive compensation plan. The total stock-based compensation expense charged against pretax income for this plan was $127, $123 and $125 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized on stock-based compensation was approximately $42, $40 and $39 for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

Stock-based compensation expense is recorded within Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Corporate segment as these amounts are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance.

The Company uses the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of stock option awards. The weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted in the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $8.37, $8.10 and $7.25, respectively. Fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the assumptions summarized in the following table:



	2017		2016		2015
Expected term of options	4.5 years		4.5 years		4.5 years
Expected volatility rate	16.0	%	16.7	%	17.6	%
Risk-free interest rate	1.8	%	1.2	%	1.5	%
Expected dividend yield	2.2	%	2.1	%	2.5	%

The weighted-average expected term of options granted each year was determined with reference to historical exercise and post-vesting cancellation experience, the vesting period of the awards and the contractual term of the awards, among other factors. Expected volatility incorporates implied share-price volatility derived from exchange traded options on the Company’s common stock. The risk-free interest rate for the expected term of the option is based on the yield of a zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond with a maturity period equal to the option’s expected term.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Restricted Stock Units

The Company grants restricted stock unit awards to officers and other employees, including long-term incentive awards. Under the Company’s long-term incentive plan, awards are granted following a three-year performance period. Awards vest at the end of the restriction period, which is generally three years from the date of grant. As of December 31, 2017, approximately 9,870,000 shares of common stock were available for future restricted stock unit awards.

A summary of restricted stock unit activity during 2017 is presented below:



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Award
Restricted stock units as of January 1, 2017	2,945		$	66
Activity:
Granted	916		74
Vested	(1,057	)	62
Forfeited	(74	)	67
Restricted stock units as of December 31, 2017	2,730		$	70

As of December 31, 2017, there was $52 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested restricted stock unit awards, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years. The total fair value of restricted stock units vested during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $66, $61 and $70, respectively.

Stock Options

The Company issues non-qualified stock options to non-employee directors, officers and other employees. Stock options generally have a contractual term of six years and vest over three years. As of December 31, 2017, 20,997,000 shares of common stock were available for future stock option grants.

A summary of stock option activity during 2017 is presented below:



	Shares (in thousands)		Weighted Average Exercise Price		Weighted Average Remaining Contractual Life (in years)	Intrinsic Value of Unexercised In-the-Money Options
Options outstanding, January 1, 2017	43,692		$	61
Granted	7,798		73
Exercised	(10,118	)	53
Forfeited or expired	(393	)	68
Options outstanding, December 31, 2017	40,979		65		4	$	420
Options exercisable, December 31, 2017	25,349		$	62	3	$	351

As of December 31, 2017, there was $45 of total unrecognized compensation expense related to unvested options, which will be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 was $201, $221 and $200, respectively.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The benefits of tax deductions in excess of grant date fair value resulting from the exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock unit awards for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $47, $59 and $55, respectively. Through December 31, 2016 these amounts were recognized in equity and were reported as a financing cash flow. Effective January 1, 2017, as a result of the required adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation have been recognized in the provision for income taxes as a discrete item in the quarterly period in which they occur and classified as an operating cash flow. Cash proceeds received from options exercised for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 were $507, $386 and $299, respectively.

9. Employee Stock Ownership Plan

In 1989, the Company expanded its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (“ESOP”) through the introduction of a leveraged ESOP that funds certain benefits for employees who have met eligibility requirements. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were 18,400,412 and 21,082,162 shares of common stock, respectively, outstanding and issued to the Company’s ESOP.

During 2000, the ESOP entered into a loan agreement with the Company under which the benefits of the ESOP may be extended through 2035. As of December 31, 2017, the ESOP had outstanding borrowings from the Company of $5, which represents unearned compensation shown as a reduction in Shareholders’ equity.

Dividends on stock held by the ESOP are paid to the ESOP trust and, together with cash contributions from the Company, are (a) used by the ESOP to repay principal and interest, (b) credited to participant accounts or (c) used for contributions to the Company’s defined contribution plans. Stock is allocated to participants based upon the ratio of the current year’s debt service to the sum of total outstanding principal and interest payments over the life of the debt. As of December 31, 2017, 14,809,986 shares of common stock had been released and allocated to participant accounts and 3,590,426 shares of common stock were available for future allocation to participant accounts.

Dividends on the stock used to repay principal and interest or credited to participant accounts are deductible for income tax purposes and, accordingly, are reflected net of their tax benefit in the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Shareholders’ Equity.

Annual expense related to the ESOP was $0 in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

The Company paid dividends on the shares held by the ESOP of $32 in 2017, $35 in 2016 and $38 in 2015. The Company contributed to the ESOP $0 in 2017, 2016 and 2015.

10. Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits

Retirement Plans

The Company and certain of its U.S. and overseas subsidiaries maintain defined benefit retirement plans. Benefits under these plans are based primarily on years of service and employees’ earnings.

In the U.S., effective January 1, 2014, the Company provides virtually all future retirement benefits through the Company’s defined contribution plan. As a result, service after December 31, 2013 is not considered for participants in the Company’s principal U.S. defined benefit retirement plan. Participants in the Company’s principal U.S. defined benefit retirement plan whose retirement benefit was determined under the cash balance formula continue to earn interest credits on their vested balances as of December 31, 2013 but no longer receive pay credits. Participants whose retirement benefit was determined under the final average earnings formula or career average earnings formula continue to have their accrued benefit adjusted for pay increases until termination of employment.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

In the Company’s principal U.S. plans and certain funded overseas plans, funds are contributed to trusts in accordance with regulatory limits to provide for current service and for any unfunded projected benefit obligation over a reasonable period. The target asset allocation for the Company’s defined benefit plans is as follows:



	United States		International
Asset Category
Equity securities	27	%	39	%
Fixed income securities	53	%	41	%
Real estate and other investments	20	%	20	%
Total	100	%	100	%

At December 31, 2017 the allocation of the Company’s plan assets and the level of valuation input, as applicable, for each major asset category were as follows:



	Level of Valuation Input	Pension Plans
	Level of Valuation Input	United States			International		Other Retiree Benefit Plans

Cash and cash equivalents	Level 1	$	21		$	11	$	—
U.S. common stocks	Level 1	127			4		—
International common stocks	Level 1	—			3		—
Pooled funds⁽¹⁾	Level 1	138			94		—
Fixed income securities⁽²⁾	Level 2	843			24		—
Guaranteed investment contracts⁽³⁾	Level 2	1			53		—
		1,130			189		—
Investments valued using NAV per share⁽⁴⁾
Domestic, developed and emerging markets equity funds		350			189		—
Fixed income funds⁽⁵⁾		122			167		—
Hedge funds⁽⁶⁾		82			5		—
Multi-Asset funds⁽⁷⁾		115			3		—
Real estate funds⁽⁸⁾		38			22		—
		707			386		—

Other assets and liabilities, net⁽⁹⁾		(25		)	—		—
Total Investments		$	1,812		$	575	$	—

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

At December 31, 2016 the allocation of the Company’s plan assets and the level of valuation input, as applicable, for each major asset category were as follows:



	Level of Valuation Input	Pension Plans
	Level of Valuation Input	United States			International		Other Retiree Benefit Plans

Cash and cash equivalents	Level 1	$	27		$	13	$	—
U.S. common stocks	Level 1	127			3		—
International common stocks	Level 1	—			3		—
Pooled funds⁽¹⁾	Level 1	134			84		—
Fixed income securities⁽²⁾	Level 2	767			22		—
Guaranteed investment contracts⁽³⁾	Level 2	1			49		—
		1,056			174		—
Investments valued using NAV per share⁽⁴⁾
Domestic, developed and emerging markets equity funds		323			155		—
Fixed income funds⁽⁵⁾		118			155		—
Hedge funds⁽⁶⁾		96			3		—
Multi-Asset funds⁽⁷⁾		52			3		—
Real estate funds⁽⁸⁾		43			19		—
		632			335		—

Other assets and liabilities, net⁽⁹⁾		(42		)	—		—
Total Investments		$	1,646		$	509	$	—

_______


⁽¹⁾	Pooled funds primarily invest in U.S. and foreign equity securities, debt and money market securities.


⁽²⁾	The fixed income securities are traded over the counter and certain of these securities lack daily pricing or liquidity and as such are classified as Level 2. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximately 50% of the U.S. pension plan fixed income portfolio was invested in U.S. treasury or agency securities, with the remainder invested in other government bonds and corporate bonds.


⁽³⁾	The guaranteed investment contracts (“GICs”) represent contracts with insurance companies measured at the cash surrender value of each contract. The Level 2 valuation reflects that the cash surrender value is based principally on a referenced pool of investment funds with active redemption.

⁽⁴⁾

Investments that are measured at fair value using net asset value (“NAV”) per share as a practical expedient have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The NAV is based on the value of the underlying investments owned, minus its liabilities, divided by the number of shares outstanding. There are no unfunded commitments related to these investments. Redemption notice period primarily ranges from 0-3 months and redemption frequency windows range from daily to quarterly.


⁽⁵⁾	Fixed income funds primarily invest in U.S. government and investment grade corporate bonds.


⁽⁶⁾	Consists of investments in underlying hedge fund strategies that are primarily implemented through the use of long and short equity and fixed income securities and derivative instruments such as futures and options.


⁽⁷⁾	Multi-Asset funds primarily invest across a variety of asset classes, including global stocks and bonds, as well as alternative strategies.


⁽⁸⁾	Real estate is valued using the NAV per unit of funds that are invested in real estate property. The investment value of the real estate property is determined quarterly using independent market appraisals as determined by the investment manager.


⁽⁹⁾	This category primarily includes unsettled trades for investments purchased and sold and dividend receivables.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Equity securities in the U.S. plans include investments in the Company’s common stock representing 7% of U.S. plan assets at December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. No shares of the Company’s common stock were purchased or sold by the U.S. plans in 2017 or 2016. The plans received dividends on the Company’s common stock of $3 in 2017 and 2016.

Other Retiree Benefits

The Company and certain of its subsidiaries provide health care and life insurance benefits for retired employees to the extent not provided by government-sponsored plans.

The Company uses a December 31 measurement date for its defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans. Summarized information for the Company’s defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans is as follows:

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)



	Pension Plans												Other Retiree Benefit Plans
	2017			2016			2017			2016			2017			2016
	United States						International
Change in Benefit Obligations
Benefit obligations at beginning of year	$	2,298		$	2,201		$	800		$	802		$	923		$	862
Service cost	1			1			16			16			13			13
Interest cost	94			105			22			25			40			43
Participants’ contributions	—			—			2			2			—			—
Acquisitions/plan amendments	—			—			(6		)	1			—			—
Actuarial loss (gain)	110			129			(11		)	76			21			39
Foreign exchange impact	—			—			72			(47		)	3			1
Termination benefits⁽¹⁾	24			3			—			—			(3		)	1
Curtailments and settlements	—			—			(11		)	(37		)	—			—
Benefit payments	(164		)	(141		)	(36		)	(36		)	(37		)	(36		)
Other	—			—			(1		)	(2		)	—			—
Benefit obligations at end of year	$	2,363		$	2,298		$	847		$	800		$	960		$	923
Change in Plan Assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$	1,646		$	1,624		$	509		$	520		$	—		$	14
Actual return on plan assets	225			88			42			46			—			1
Company contributions	105			75			30			54			37			21
Participants’ contributions	—			—			2			2			—			—
Foreign exchange impact	—			—			40			(43		)	—			—
Settlements and acquisitions	—			—			(11		)	(33		)	—			—
Benefit payments	(164		)	(141		)	(36		)	(36		)	(37		)	(36		)
Other	—			—			(1		)	(1		)	—			—
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$	1,812		$	1,646		$	575		$	509		$	—		$	—
Funded Status
Benefit obligations at end of year	$	2,363		$	2,298		$	847		$	800		$	960		$	923
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	1,812			1,646			575			509			—			—
Net amount recognized	$	(551	)	$	(652	)	$	(272	)	$	(291	)	$	(960	)	$	(923	)
Amounts Recognized in Balance Sheet
Noncurrent assets	$	—		$	—		$	22		$	8		$	—		$	—
Current liabilities	(24		)	(24		)	(13		)	(12		)	(44		)	(44		)
Noncurrent liabilities	(527		)	(628		)	(281		)	(287		)	(916		)	(879		)
Net amount recognized	$	(551	)	$	(652	)	$	(272	)	$	(291	)	$	(960	)	$	(923	)
Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Actuarial loss	$	911		$	962		$	209		$	254		$	338		$	330
Transition/prior service cost	1			2			1			5			(1		)	(2		)
	$	912		$	964		$	210		$	259		$	337		$	328
Accumulated benefit obligation	$	2,293		$	2,230		$	787		$	739		$	—		$	—

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)



	Pension Plans								Other Retiree Benefit Plans
	2017		2016		2017		2016		2017		2016
	United States				International
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Benefit Obligations
Discount rate	3.73	%	4.27	%	2.53	%	2.59	%	3.80	%	4.41	%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.60	%	6.80	%	4.04	%	4.14	%	6.60	%	6.80	%
Long-term rate of compensation increase	3.50	%	3.50	%	2.79	%	2.58	%	3.50	%	—	%
ESOP growth rate	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	10.00	%	10.00	%
Medical cost trend rate of increase	—	%	—	%	—	%	—	%	6.00	%	6.33	%

_________


⁽¹⁾	Represents pension and other retiree benefit enhancements incurred in 2017 and 2016 pursuant to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

The overall investment objective of the plans is to balance risk and return so that obligations to employees are met. The Company evaluates its long-term rate of return on plan assets on an annual basis. In determining the long-term rate of return, the Company considers the nature of the plans’ investments and the historical rates of return. The assumed rate of return as of December 31, 2017 for the U.S. plans was 6.60%. Average annual rates of return for the U.S. plans for the most recent 1-year, 5-year, 10-year, 15-year and 25-year periods were 14%, 8%, 6%, 8%, and 8%, respectively. Similar assessments were performed in determining rates of return on international pension plan assets to arrive at the Company’s 2017 weighted-average rate of return of 4.04%.

The medical cost trend rate of increase assumed in measuring the expected cost of benefits is projected to decrease from 6.00% in 2018 to 4.75% by 2023, remaining at 4.75% for the years thereafter. Changes in the assumed rate can have a significant effect on amounts reported. A 1% change in the assumed medical cost trend rate would have the following approximate effect:



	One percentage point
	Increase		Decrease
Accumulated postretirement benefit obligation	$	123	$	(100	)
Total of service and interest cost components	9		(7		)

Expected mortality is a key assumption in the measurement of pension and other postretirement benefit obligations. For the Company’s U.S. plans, this assumption was updated as of December 31, 2016 in order to reflect the Society of Actuaries’ updated mortality improvement scale published in October 2016. This resulted in a decrease of 1% and 2% to the benefit obligations for the Company’s U.S. pension plans and other postretirement benefits, respectively. This assumption was previously updated for the Company’s U.S. plans as of December 31, 2015 in order to reflect the Society of Actuaries’ mortality tables and mortality improvement scale published in October 2015 which resulted in a decrease of 1% and 2% to the benefit obligations for the Company’s U.S. pension plans and other postretirement benefits, respectively.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Plans with projected benefit obligations in excess of plan assets and plans with accumulated benefit obligations in excess of plan assets as of December 31 consisted of the following:



	Years Ended December 31,
	2017		2016
Benefit Obligation Exceeds Fair Value of Plan Assets
Projected benefit obligation	$	2,834	$	2,973
Fair value of plan assets	1,992		2,024

Accumulated benefit obligation	2,641		2,840
Fair value of plan assets	1,905		2,003

Summarized information regarding the net periodic benefit costs for the Company’s defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans is as follows:



	Pension Plans																		Other Retiree Benefit Plans
	2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015			2017			2016			2015
	United States									International
Components of Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Service cost	$	1		$	1		$	2		$	16		$	16		$	20		$	13		$	13		$	14
Interest cost	94			105			100			22			25			28			40			43			44
Annual ESOP allocation	—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—			—
Expected return on plan assets	(111		)	(109		)	(117		)	(22		)	(23		)	(28		)	—			(1		)	(2		)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	—			—			—			—			—			2			—			—			—
Amortization of actuarial loss	48			41			44			10			8			11			13			14			25
Net periodic benefit cost	$	32		$	38		$	29		$	26		$	26		$	33		$	66		$	69		$	81
Other postretirement charges	24			3			16			4			11			(1		)	(3		)	1			1
Total pension cost	$	56		$	41		$	45		$	30		$	37		$	32		$	63		$	70		$	82
Weighted-Average Assumptions Used to Determine Net Periodic Benefit Cost
Discount rate	4.27		%	4.93		%	4.24		%	2.59		%	3.17		%	3.06		%	4.41		%	4.97		%	4.36		%
Long-term rate of return on plan assets	6.80		%	6.80		%	6.80		%	4.14		%	4.62		%	5.05		%	6.80		%	6.80		%	6.80		%
Long-term rate of compensation increase	3.50		%	3.50		%	3.50		%	2.58		%	2.78		%	2.83		%	—		%	—		%	—		%
ESOP growth rate	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	10.00		%	10.00		%	10.00		%
Medical cost trend rate of increase	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	—		%	6.33		%	6.67		%	7.00		%

Other postretirement charges in 2017, 2016 and 2015 include pension and other benefit enhancements amounting to $21, $4 and $17 respectively, incurred pursuant to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Other postretirement charges in 2017 and 2016 also includes charges of $4 and $11, respectively, in part due to retirements under the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The Company made voluntary contributions of $81, $53 and $0 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, to its U.S. retirement plans.

The estimated actuarial loss and the estimated transition/prior service cost for defined benefit and other retiree benefit plans that will be amortized from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into net periodic benefit cost over the next fiscal year is as follows:



	Pension Plans		Other Retiree Benefit Plans
Net actuarial loss	$	54	$	17
Net transition and prior service cost	—		—

Expected Contributions and Benefit Payments

Management’s best estimate of voluntary contributions the Company will make to its U.S. postretirement plans for the year ending December 31, 2018 is approximately $75. Actual funding may differ from current estimates depending on the variability of the market value of the assets as compared to the obligation and other market or regulatory conditions.

Total benefit payments to be paid to participants for the year ending December 31, 2018 from the Company’s assets are estimated to be approximately $82. Total benefit payments expected to be paid to participants from plan assets, or directly from the Company’s assets to participants in unfunded plans, are as follows:



	Pension Plans
Years Ended December 31,	United States		International		Other Retiree Benefit Plans		Total
2018	$	137	$	37	$	45	$	219
2019	141		35		46		222
2020	144		37		46		227
2021	143		38		47		228
2022	151		39		48		238
2023-2027	737		222		250		1,209

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

11. Income Taxes

The components of Income before income taxes are as follows for the years ended December 31:



	2017		2016		2015
United States	$	1,072	$	1,191	$	1,118
International	2,415		2,547		1,645
Total Income before income taxes	$	3,487	$	3,738	$	2,763

The Provision for income taxes consists of the following for the years ended December 31:



	2017		2016		2015
United States	$	338	$	395	$	376
International	975		757		839
Total Provision for income taxes	$	1,313	$	1,152	$	1,215

Temporary differences between accounting for financial statement purposes and accounting for tax purposes result in the current provision for taxes being higher (lower) than the total provision for income taxes as follows:



	2017			2016			2015
Goodwill and intangible assets	$	135		$	18		$	3
Property, plant and equipment	84			(3		)	(25		)
Pension and other retiree benefits	(192		)	—			36
Stock-based compensation	(28		)	15			11
Tax loss and tax credit carryforwards	(4		)	5			(4		)
Other, net	(103		)	(106		)	98
Total deferred tax benefit (provision)	$	(108	)	$	(71	)	$	119

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The difference between the statutory U.S. federal income tax rate and the Company’s global effective tax rate as reflected in the Consolidated Statements of Income is as follows:



Percentage of Income before income taxes	2017		2016		2015
Tax at United States statutory rate	35.0	%	35.0	%	35.0	%
State income taxes, net of federal benefit	0.5		0.5		1.0
Earnings taxed at other than United States statutory rate	(3.4	)	(2.7	)	(3.6	)
Charge for U.S. tax reform⁽¹⁾	7.9		—		—
Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation⁽²⁾	(1.4	)	—		—
(Benefit) charge for foreign tax matters⁽³⁾	—		(0.8	)	0.5
(Benefit) from Venezuela remeasurement⁽⁴⁾	—		(5.6	)	—
Tax charge on incremental repatriation of foreign earnings⁽⁴⁾	—		5.6		—
Venezuela deconsolidation⁽⁵⁾	—		—		12.8
Other, net	(0.9	)	(1.2	)	(1.7	)
Effective tax rate	37.7	%	30.8	%	44.0	%

_________

⁽¹⁾

On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA” or “U.S. tax reform”) was enacted which, among other things, lowered the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21% from 35% and established a modified territorial system requiring a mandatory deemed repatriation tax on undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. Beginning in 2018, the TCJA also requires a minimum tax on certain future earnings generated by foreign subsidiaries while providing for future tax-free repatriation of such earnings through a 100% dividends-received deduction. In accordance with ASC 740, Income Taxes, and Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, the Company recognized a provisional charge in the fourth quarter of 2017 of $275 related to the TCJA based on its initial analysis using available information and estimates. The provisional charge is comprised of $451 related to the one-time deemed repatriation of accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries and related withholding taxes and $20 related primarily to the remeasurement of net deferred tax assets as a result of the reduction in the corporate income tax rate, which are offset by $196 of income taxes which had been previously provided for planned repatriations of undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries. As a result, applicable U.S. and foreign taxes have been provided on substantially all of the Company’s accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries previously considered indefinitely reinvested. Given the significant complexity of the TCJA, anticipated guidance from the U.S. Treasury about implementing the TCJA and the potential for additional guidance from the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) or the FASB related to the TCJA or additional information becoming available, the Company’s provisional charge may be adjusted during 2018 and is expected to be finalized no later than the fourth quarter of 2018. Other provisions of the TCJA that impact future tax years are still being assessed.

⁽²⁾

As a result of adopting ASU No. 2016-09 “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting,” effective January 1, 2017, the Company recognized excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation of $47 (resulting from an increase in the fair value of an award from the grant date to the vesting or exercise date, as applicable) in the Provision for income taxes as a discrete item during the year ended December 31, 2017. These amounts may not necessarily be indicative of future amounts that may be recognized as any excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation recognized would be dependent on future stock price, employee exercise behavior and applicable tax rates. Prior to January 1, 2017, excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation were recognized in equity. See Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Recent Accounting Pronouncements for additional information.

⁽³⁾

The benefit from a tax matter in 2016 relates to several Supreme Court and Administrative Court rulings in a foreign jurisdiction allowing certain tax deductions which had the effect of reversing prior decisions. The charge for a tax matter in 2015 relates to several Supreme Court rulings in a foreign jurisdiction disallowing certain tax deductions which had the effect of reversing prior decisions.

⁽⁴⁾

The effective tax rate in 2016 included a $210 U.S. income tax benefit recognized in the first quarter of 2016 principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime implemented in March 2016. Although, effective December 31, 2015, the operating results of CP Venezuela are no longer included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements, under current tax rules, the Company is required to continue including CP Venezuela’s results in its consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. In order to fully utilize the above mentioned $210 tax benefit in 2016, the Company repatriated an incremental $1,500 of earnings of foreign subsidiaries it previously considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S., and accordingly, recorded a tax charge of $210 during the first quarter of 2016.


⁽⁵⁾	See Note 14, Venezuela.

100

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The components of deferred tax assets (liabilities) are as follows at December 31:



	2017			2016
Deferred tax liabilities:
Goodwill and intangible assets	$	(311	)	$	(451	)
Property, plant and equipment	(306		)	(380		)
Other	(182		)	(202		)
	(799		)	(1,033		)
Deferred tax assets:
Pension and other retiree benefits	375			599
Tax loss and tax credit carryforwards	39			34
Accrued liabilities	197			246
Stock-based compensation	90			127
Other	82			82
	783			1,088
Net deferred income taxes	$	(16	)	$	55



	2017			2016
Deferred taxes included within:
Assets:
Deferred income taxes	$	188		$	301
Liabilities:
Deferred income taxes	(204		)	(246		)
Net deferred income taxes	$	(16	)	$	55

In addition, net tax benefit of $37 in 2017, net tax benefit of $85 in 2016, and net tax expense of $78 in 2015 were recorded directly through equity. The net tax benefit in 2017 predominantly includes current and future tax impacts related to benefit plans. The amounts in 2016 and 2015 include current and future tax impacts related to employee equity compensation and benefit plans.

101

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Unrecognized tax benefits activity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 is summarized below:



	2017			2016			2015
Unrecognized tax benefits:
Balance, January 1	$	201		$	186		$	218
Increases as a result of tax positions taken during the current year	13			9			20
Decreases of tax positions taken during prior years	(9		)	(45		)	(25		)
Increases of tax positions taken during prior years	15			71			61
Decreases as a result of settlements with taxing authorities and the expiration of statutes of limitations	(15		)	(18		)	(79		)
Effect of foreign currency rate movements	9			(2		)	(9		)
Balance, December 31	$	214		$	201		$	186

If all of the unrecognized tax benefits for 2017 above were recognized, approximately $205 would impact the effective tax rate and would result in a cash outflow of approximately $185. Although it is possible that the amount of unrecognized benefits with respect to our uncertain tax positions will increase or decrease in the next 12 months, the Company does not expect material changes.

The Company recognized approximately $11, $2 and $2 of interest expense related to the above unrecognized tax benefits within income tax expense in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company had accrued interest of approximately $28, $17 and $16 as of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The Company and its subsidiaries file U.S. federal income tax returns as well as income tax returns in many state and foreign jurisdictions. All U.S. federal income tax returns through December 31, 2011 have been audited by the IRS and there are limited matters which the Company plans to appeal for years 2010 through 2011, the settlement of which is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. state and local income tax examinations for income tax returns through December 31, 2011. In addition, the Company has subsidiaries in various foreign jurisdictions that have statutes of limitations for tax audits generally ranging from three to six years.

102

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

12. Earnings Per Share

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, earnings per share were as follows:



	2017					2016					2015
	Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares (millions)	Per Share		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares (millions)	Per Share		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares (millions)	Per Share
Basic EPS	$	2,024	881.8	$	2.30	$	2,441	891.8	$	2.74	$	1,384	902.2	$	1.53
Stock options and restricted stock units			6.0					6.6					7.5
Diluted EPS	$	2,024	887.8	$	2.28	$	2,441	898.4	$	2.72	$	1,384	909.7	$	1.52

Basic earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income available for common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period.

Diluted earnings per common share is computed using the treasury stock method on the basis of the weighted-average number of shares of common stock plus the dilutive effect of potential common shares outstanding during the period. Dilutive potential common shares include outstanding stock options and restricted stock units.

As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the average number of stock options that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 11,056,725, 3,187,485 and 3,228,359, respectively. As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the average number of restricted stock units that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 91, 2,693 and 120, respectively.

13. Commitments and Contingencies

Minimum rental commitments under noncancellable operating leases, primarily for office and warehouse facilities, are $188 in 2018, $163 in 2019, $143 in 2020, $106 in 2021, $93 in 2022 and $44 thereafter. Rental expense amounted to $211 in 2017, $204 in 2016 and $214 in 2015. Capital leases included in fixed assets, contingent rentals and sublease income are not significant. The Company has various contractual commitments to purchase raw, packaging and other materials totaling approximately $467 at December 31, 2017.

103

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below for which the amount of any potential losses can be reasonably estimated, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $250 (based on current exchange rates). The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company’s analysis of currently available information and, as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.

Brazilian Matters

There are certain tax and civil proceedings outstanding, as described below, related to the Company’s 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (the “Seller”).

The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees, at the current exchange rate, are approximately $165. This amount includes additional assessments received from the Brazilian internal revenue authority in April 2016 relating to net operating loss carryforwards used by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary to offset taxable income that had also been deducted from the authority’s original assessments. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments since October 2001. Appeals are currently pending at the administrative level. In the event the Company is ultimately unsuccessful in its administrative appeals, further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts.

104

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest, penalties and any court-mandated fees of approximately $74, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company had been disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority’s administrative appeals process. However, in November 2015, the Superior Chamber of Administrative Tax Appeals denied the Company’s final administrative appeal and the Company has filed a lawsuit in the Brazilian federal court. In the event the Company is unsuccessful in this filing, further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail. The Company is challenging this assessment vigorously.

Competition Matters

Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries have historically been subject to investigations, and, in some cases, fines by governmental authorities in a number of countries related to alleged competition law violations. Substantially all of these matters also involved other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The Company’s policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. The status of pending competition law matters as of December 31, 2017 is set forth below.

▪

In December 2014, the French competition law authority found that 13 consumer goods companies, including the Company’s French subsidiary, exchanged competitively sensitive information related to the French home care and personal care sectors, for which the Company’s French subsidiary was fined $57. In addition, as a result of the Company’s acquisition of the Sanex personal care business in 2011 from Unilever N.V. and Unilever PLC (together with Unilever N.V., “Unilever”), pursuant to a Business and Share Sale and Purchase Agreement (the “Sale and Purchase Agreement”), the French competition law authority found that the Company’s French subsidiary, along with Hillshire Brands Company (formerly Sara Lee Corporation (“Sara Lee”)), were jointly and severally liable for fines of $25 assessed against Sara Lee’s French subsidiary. The Company is entitled to indemnification for this fine from Unilever as provided in the Sale and Purchase Agreement. The fines were confirmed by the Court of Appeal in October 2016. The Company is appealing the decision of the Court of Appeal on behalf of the Company and Sara Lee in the French Supreme Court.


▪	In July 2014, the Greek competition law authority issued a statement of objections alleging a restriction of parallel imports into Greece. The Company responded to this statement of objections. In July 2017, the Company received the decision from the Greek competition law authority in which the Company was fined $11. The Company is appealing the decision to the Greek courts.

Talcum Powder Matters

The Company has been named as a defendant in civil actions alleging that certain talcum powder products that were sold prior to 1996 were contaminated with asbestos. Most of these actions involve a number of co-defendants from a variety of different industries, including suppliers of asbestos and manufacturers of products that, unlike the Company’s products, were designed to contain asbestos. As of December 31, 2017, there were 193 individual cases pending against the Company in state and federal courts throughout the United States as compared to 115 cases as of December 31, 2016. During the year ended December 31, 2017, 132 new cases were filed and 54 cases were resolved by voluntary dismissal, appeal in the Company’s favor or settlement. The value of settlements in the years presented was not material, either individually or in the aggregate, to each such period’s results of operations.

105

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

ERISA Matter

106

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

14. Venezuela

Effective December 31, 2015, the Company concluded it no longer met the accounting criteria for consolidation of CP Venezuela and began accounting for CP Venezuela using the cost method of accounting. As such, effective December 31, 2015, the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet no longer includes the assets and liabilities of CP Venezuela. As a result of this change in accounting, the Company recorded an aftertax charge of $1,058 ($1,084 pretax) or $1.16 per diluted share in 2015. The charge primarily consists of an impairment of the Company’s investment in CP Venezuela of $952, which includes intercompany receivables from CP Venezuela, and $111 related to the reclassification of cumulative translation losses. Prior periods have not been restated and CP Venezuela’s Net sales, Operating profit and Net income are included in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income through December 31, 2015.

Since January 1, 2016, under the cost method of accounting, the Company no longer includes the local operating results of CP Venezuela in its Consolidated Financial Statements and includes income relating to CP Venezuela only to the extent it receives cash for sales of inventory to CP Venezuela or for dividends or royalties remitted by CP Venezuela, all of which have been immaterial. Although CP Venezuela’s local operating results are no longer included in the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for accounting purposes, under current tax rules, the Company is required to continue including CP Venezuela in its consolidated U.S. federal income tax return. In the first quarter of 2016, provision for income taxes included a $210 U.S. income tax benefit principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime implemented in March 2016. See Note 11, Income Taxes for additional details.

Included in the remeasurement losses during 2015 were charges related to the devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and held by CP Venezuela. Because the official exchange rate remained at 6.30 bolivares per dollar, the devaluation-protected bonds did not revalue at the SICAD rate but remained at the official exchange rate, resulting in an impairment in the fair value of the bonds.

15. Segment Information

The Company operates in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.

The operations of the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment are managed geographically in five reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Africa/Eurasia.

The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including Operating profit. The Company uses Operating profit as a measure of operating segment performance because it excludes the impact of Corporate-driven decisions related to interest expense and income taxes.

The accounting policies of the operating segments are generally the same as those described in Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies. Intercompany sales have been eliminated. Corporate operations include costs related to stock options and restricted stock units, research and development costs, Corporate overhead costs, restructuring and related implementation costs and gains and losses on sales of non-core product lines and assets. The Company reports these items within Corporate operations as they relate to Corporate-based responsibilities and decisions and are not included in the internal measures of segment operating performance used by the Company to measure the underlying performance of the operating segments.

107

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

Approximately 75% of the Company’s Net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with approximately 50% of the Company’s Net sales coming from emerging markets (which consist of Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe). Oral, Personal and Home Care sales to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and its affiliates represent approximately 11% of the Company’s Net sales in 2017. No other customer represents more than 10% of Net sales.

In 2017, Corporate Operating profit (loss) includes charges of $333 resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. In 2016, Corporate Operating profit (loss) includes charges of $228 resulting from the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and $17 for a litigation matter and a gain of $97 on the sale of land in Mexico. In 2015, Corporate Operating profit (loss) included charges of $1,084 related to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations, $254 related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, $34 related to the remeasurement of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets as a result of effective devaluations and $14 for a litigation matter and a gain of $187 on the sale of the Company’s laundry detergent business in the South Pacific.



	2017		2016		2015
Net sales
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America⁽¹⁾	$	3,117	$	3,183	$	3,149
Latin America	3,887		3,650		4,327
Europe	2,394		2,342		2,411
Asia Pacific	2,781		2,796		2,937
Africa/Eurasia	983		960		998
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	13,162		12,931		13,822
Pet Nutrition⁽²⁾	2,292		2,264		2,212
Total Net sales	$	15,454	$	15,195	$	16,034

_________


⁽¹⁾	Net sales in the U.S. for Oral, Personal and Home Care were $2,865, $2,932 and $2,896 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


⁽²⁾	Net sales in the U.S. for Pet Nutrition were $1,246, $1,243 and $1,223 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

108

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)



	2017			2016			2015
Operating profit
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	986		$	1,030		$	974
Latin America	1,162			1,132			1,209
Europe	599			579			615
Asia Pacific	841			887			888
Africa/Eurasia	179			186			178
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	3,767			3,814			3,864
Pet Nutrition	653			653			612
Corporate	(831		)	(630		)	(1,687		)
Total Operating profit	$	3,589		$	3,837		$	2,789



	2017		2016		2015
Capital expenditures
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	74	$	151	$	207
Latin America	127		94		110
Europe	63		51		40
Asia Pacific	125		120		121
Africa/Eurasia	13		17		12
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	402		433		490
Pet Nutrition	33		38		34
Corporate	118		122		167
Total Capital expenditures	$	553	$	593	$	691



	2017		2016		2015
Depreciation and amortization
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	58	$	54	$	47
Latin America	82		76		88
Europe	74		64		67
Asia Pacific	101		96		99
Africa/Eurasia	8		7		8
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	323		297		309
Pet Nutrition	53		53		52
Corporate	99		93		88
Total Depreciation and amortization	$	475	$	443	$	449

109

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)



	2017		2016		2015
Identifiable assets
Oral, Personal and Home Care
North America	$	2,608	$	2,685	$	2,622
Latin America	2,423		2,314		2,314
Europe	3,781		3,554		3,308
Asia Pacific	2,244		2,006		2,031
Africa/Eurasia	544		499		476
Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	11,600		11,058		10,751
Pet Nutrition	1,026		1,009		1,006
Corporate⁽¹⁾	50		56		178
Total Identifiable assets⁽²⁾	$	12,676	$	12,123	$	11,935

____________


⁽¹⁾	In 2017, Corporate identifiable assets primarily consist of derivative instruments (5%) and investments in equity securities (86%). In 2016, Corporate identifiable assets primarily consist of derivative instruments (24%) and investments in equity securities (68%). In 2015, Corporate identifiable assets primarily consist of derivative instruments (76%) and investments in equity securities (23%).


⁽²⁾	Long-lived assets in the U.S., primarily property, plant and equipment and goodwill and other intangibles represented approximately one-third of total long-lived assets of $7,908, $7,642 and $7,420 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

16. Supplemental Income Statement Information



Other (income) expense, net	2017			2016			2015
Global Growth and Efficiency Program	$	169		$	105		$	170
Amortization of intangible assets	35			33			33
Gain on sale of land in Mexico	—			(97		)	—
Charges for litigation matters	—			17			14
Venezuela remeasurement charges	—			—			34
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	—			—			(187		)
Equity income	(11		)	(10		)	(8		)
Other, net	1			(11		)	6
Total Other (income) expense, net	$	194		$	37		$	62



Interest (income) expense, net	2017			2016			2015
Interest incurred	$	156		$	155		$	139
Interest capitalized	(3		)	(6		)	(6		)
Interest income	(51		)	(50		)	(107		)
Total Interest (income) expense, net	$	102		$	99		$	26



	2017		2016		2015
Research and development	$	285	$	289	$	274
Advertising	$	1,573	$	1,428	$	1,491

110

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

17. Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

Inventories by major class are as follows at December 31:



Inventories	2017		2016
Raw materials and supplies	$	267	$	266
Work-in-process	42		42
Finished goods	912		863
Total Inventories	$	1,221	$	1,171

Inventories valued under LIFO amounted to $289 and $278 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The excess of current cost over LIFO cost at the end of each year was $63 and $30, respectively. The liquidations of LIFO inventory quantities had no material effect on income in 2017, 2016 and 2015.



Property, plant and equipment, net	2017			2016
Land	$	159		$	147
Buildings	1,655			1,544
Manufacturing machinery and equipment	5,165			4,971
Other equipment	1,481			1,280
	8,460			7,942
Accumulated depreciation	(4,388		)	(4,102		)
Total Property, plant and equipment, net	$	4,072		$	3,840



Other accruals	2017		2016
Accrued advertising and coupon redemption	$	510	$	491
Accrued payroll and employee benefits	325		309
Accrued taxes other than income taxes	123		112
Restructuring accrual	181		112
Pension and other retiree benefits	81		80
Accrued interest	34		29
Derivatives	20		4
Other	557		590
Total Other accruals	$	1,831	$	1,727



Other liabilities	2017		2016
Pension and other retiree benefits	$	1,724	$	1,794
Restructuring accrual	53		69
Other	478		172
Total Other liabilities	$	2,255	$	2,035

111

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

18. Supplemental Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Information

Other comprehensive income (loss) components attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company before tax and net of tax during the years ended December 31 were as follows:



	2017						2016						2015
	Pre-tax			Net of Tax			Pre-tax			Net of Tax			Pre-tax			Net of Tax

Cumulative translation adjustments	$	218		$	285		$	(97	)	$	(125	)	$	(721	)	$	(745	)
Reclassification due to Venezuela deconsolidation⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			111			111
Cumulative translation adjustments	218			285			(97		)	(125		)	(610		)	(634		)
Pension and other benefits:
Net actuarial gain (loss), prior service costs and settlements during the period	21			9			(231		)	(152		)	182			115
Amortization of net actuarial loss, transition and prior service costs⁽²⁾	71			45			63			43			82			52
Reclassification due to Venezuela deconsolidation⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			44			29
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	92			54			(168		)	(109		)	308			196
Available-for-sale securities:
Unrealized gains (losses) on available- for-sale securities⁽³⁾	—			—			—			—			(18		)	(12		)
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on available- for-sale securities⁽⁴⁾	—			—			(1		)	(1		)	14			11
Reclassification due to Venezuela deconsolidation⁽¹⁾	—			—			—			—			(10		)	(6		)
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	—			—			(1		)	(1		)	(14		)	(7		)
Cash flow hedges:
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(25		)	(16		)	11			8			18			12
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on cash flow hedges⁽⁵⁾	3			2			(4		)	(3		)	(16		)	(10		)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(22		)	(14		)	7			5			2			2
Total Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	288		$	325		$	(259	)	$	(230	)	$	(314	)	$	(443	)

_________


⁽¹⁾	Represents reclassifications from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) due to the deconsolidation of the Company’s Venezuelan operations. Cumulative translation, net actuarial gain (loss) and unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities were reclassified into the Charge for Venezuela accounting change on the Consolidated Statement of Income.


⁽²⁾	These components of Other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of total pension cost. See Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits for additional details.


⁽³⁾	For the year ended December 31, 2015, these amounts included pretax net losses of $50 related to the remeasurement of the bolivar-denominated fixed interest rate bonds and the devaluation-protected bonds in Venezuela.

112

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)


⁽⁴⁾	Represents reclassification of losses on the Venezuela bonds into Other (income) expense, net due to an impairment in the fair value of the bonds as a result of the effective devaluations in the second and third quarters of 2015.


⁽⁵⁾	These (gains) losses are reclassified into Cost of sales. See Note 7, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.

There were no tax impacts on Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling interests.

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) is comprised of cumulative foreign currency translation gains and losses, unrecognized pension and other retiree benefit costs, unrealized gains and losses from derivative instruments designated as cash flow hedges and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) consisted primarily of aftertax unrecognized pension and other retiree benefit costs of $923 and $977, respectively, and cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments of $2,927 and $3,212, respectively. Foreign currency translation adjustments in 2017 primarily reflect gains from the Euro. In 2016, foreign currency translation adjustments primarily reflect losses from the Mexican peso and the Euro, partially offset by gains from the Brazilian real.

113

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

19. Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)



	Total			First Quarter			Second Quarter			Third Quarter			Fourth Quarter
2017
Net sales	$	15,454		$	3,762		$	3,826		$	3,974		$	3,892
Gross profit	9,280		⁽¹⁾	2,269		⁽³⁾	2,300		⁽⁵⁾	2,383		⁽⁷⁾	2,328		⁽⁹⁾
Net income including noncontrolling interests	2,174		⁽²⁾	611		⁽⁴⁾	560		⁽⁶⁾	650		⁽⁸⁾	353		⁽¹⁰⁾
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	2,024		⁽²⁾	570		⁽⁴⁾	524		⁽⁶⁾	607		⁽⁸⁾	323		⁽¹⁰⁾
Earnings per common share:
Basic	2.30		⁽²⁾	0.64		⁽⁴⁾	0.59		⁽⁶⁾	0.69		⁽⁸⁾	0.37		⁽¹⁰⁾
Diluted	2.28		⁽²⁾	0.64		⁽⁴⁾	0.59		⁽⁶⁾	0.68		⁽⁸⁾	0.37		⁽¹⁰⁾

2016
Net sales	$	15,195		$	3,762		$	3,845		$	3,867		$	3,721
Gross profit	9,123		⁽¹¹⁾	2,248		⁽¹³⁾	2,304		⁽¹⁶⁾	2,324		⁽¹⁸⁾	2,247		⁽²⁰⁾
Net income including noncontrolling interests	2,586		⁽¹²⁾	574		⁽¹⁴⁾	638		⁽¹⁷⁾	746		⁽¹⁹⁾	628		⁽²¹⁾
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	2,441		⁽¹²⁾	533		^{(14) (15)}	600		⁽¹⁷⁾	702		⁽¹⁹⁾	606		⁽²¹⁾
Earnings per common share:
Basic	2.74		⁽¹²⁾	0.60		⁽¹⁴⁾	0.67		⁽¹⁷⁾	0.79		⁽¹⁹⁾	0.68		⁽²¹⁾
Diluted	2.72		⁽¹²⁾	0.59		⁽¹⁴⁾	0.67		⁽¹⁷⁾	0.78		⁽¹⁹⁾	0.68		⁽²¹⁾

____________


Note:	Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each quarter and the year-to-date period presented. Accordingly, the sum of the quarterly earnings per common share may not necessarily equal the earnings per share for the year-to-date period.


⁽¹⁾	Gross profit for the full year of 2017 includes $75 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽²⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the full year of 2017 include $246 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and a $275 charge related to U.S. tax reform.


⁽³⁾	Gross profit for the first quarter of 2017 includes $14 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽⁴⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2017 include $31 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽⁵⁾	Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 includes $21 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽⁶⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the second quarter of 2017 include $115 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽⁷⁾	Gross profit for the third quarter of 2017 includes $16 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

114

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)

(Dollars in Millions Except Share and Per Share Amounts)


⁽⁸⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the third quarter of 2017 include $39 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽⁹⁾	Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2017 includes $24 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽¹⁰⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2017 include $61 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and a $275 charge related to U.S. tax reform.


⁽¹¹⁾	Gross profit for the full year of 2016 includes $46 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

⁽¹²⁾

Net income including noncontrolling interests for the full year of 2016 includes $169 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the full year of 2016 include $168 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a $63 aftertax gain on the sale of land in Mexico, $11 of aftertax charges for a litigation matter and $35 of benefits from tax matters.


⁽¹³⁾	Gross profit for the first quarter of 2016 includes $8 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽¹⁴⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2016 include $38 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.

⁽¹⁵⁾

In the first quarter of 2016, provision for income taxes included a $210 U.S. income tax benefit principally related to changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime implemented in March 2016. In order to fully utilize the above mentioned $210 tax benefit in 2016, the Company repatriated an incremental $1,500 of earnings of foreign subsidiaries it previously considered indefinitely reinvested outside of the U.S., and accordingly, recorded a tax charge of $210 during the first quarter of 2016. See Note 11, Income Taxes.


⁽¹⁶⁾	Gross profit for the second quarter of 2016 includes $12 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽¹⁷⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests for the second quarter of 2016 includes $45 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program. Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the second quarter of 2016 include $44 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and a $13 benefit from a tax matter.


⁽¹⁸⁾	Gross profit for the third quarter of 2016 includes $11 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽¹⁹⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the third quarter of 2016 include $32 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a $63 aftertax gain on the sale of land in Mexico, a $4 aftertax charge for a litigation matter and $22 of benefits from tax matters.


⁽²⁰⁾	Gross profit for the fourth quarter of 2016 includes $15 of charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program.


⁽²¹⁾	Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and Earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2016 include $54 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and a $7 aftertax charge for a litigation matter.

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COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(Dollars in Millions)




			Additions
	Balance at Beginning of Period		Charged to Costs and Expenses		Other		Deductions		Balance at End of Period
Year Ended December 31, 2017
Allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated returns	$	73	$	8	$	—	$	4	$	77
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	$	—	$	9	$	—	$	—	$	9

Year Ended December 31, 2016
Allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated returns	$	59	$	18	$	—	$	4	$	73
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

Year Ended December 31, 2015
Allowance for doubtful accounts and estimated returns	$	54	$	7	$	—	$	2	$	59
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—	$	—

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COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Market and Dividend Information

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and its trading symbol is CL. Dividends on the common stock have been paid every year since 1895, and the Company’s regular common stock dividend payments have increased for 55 consecutive years.



Market Price of Common Stock
	2017				2016
Quarter Ended	High		Low		High		Low
March 31	$	74.44	$	64.53	$	70.72	$	62.45
June 30	77.23		70.76		73.20		68.96
September 30	73.94		70.78		75.27		70.86
December 31	75.99		69.20		73.62		64.63
Year-end Closing Price	$75.45				$65.44

Dividends Paid Per Common Share



Quarter Ended	2017		2016
March 31	$	0.39	$	0.38
June 30	0.40		0.39
September 30	0.40		0.39
December 31	0.40		0.39
Total	$	1.59	$	1.55

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COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Market and Dividend Information

Stock Price Performance Graphs

The following graphs compare cumulative total shareholder returns on Colgate-Palmolive Company common stock against the S&P Composite-500 Stock Index and two peer company indices for the twenty-year, ten-year and five-year periods each ended December 31, 2017. The peer company indices are comprised of consumer products companies that have both domestic and international businesses. For 2017, the peer company index consisted of Campbell Soup Company, The Clorox Company, The Coca-Cola Company, ConAgra Brands, Inc., The Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, The Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and Unilever N.V. This index is identified as the “New Peer Group” on the graphs. Last year, the peer company index consisted of Avon Products, Inc., Campbell Soup Company, The Clorox Company, Coca-Cola Company, ConAgra Foods, Inc., Estee Lauder Companies, Inc., General Mills, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Kellogg Company, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, The Kraft Heinz Company, Mondelez International, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc., The Procter & Gamble Company, Reckitt Benckiser Group plc and Unilever N.V. The prior year index is identified as the “Old Peer Group” on the graphs.

These performance graphs do not constitute soliciting material, are not deemed filed with the SEC and are not incorporated by reference in any of the Company’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, whether made before or after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K and irrespective of any general incorporation language in any such filing, except to the extent the Company specifically incorporates these performance graphs by reference therein.

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COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Historical Financial Summary

For the years ended December 31,

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)




	2017				2016				2015				2014			2013			2012			2011			2010			2009		2008
Continuing Operations
Net sales	$	15,454			$	15,195			$	16,034			$	17,277		$	17,420		$	17,085		$	16,734		$	15,564		$	15,327	$	15,330
Results of operations:
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	2,024			⁽¹⁾	2,441			⁽²⁾	1,384			⁽³⁾	2,180		⁽⁴⁾	2,241		⁽⁵⁾	2,472		⁽⁶⁾	2,431		⁽⁷⁾	2,203		⁽⁸⁾	2,291		1,957		⁽⁹⁾
Earnings per common share, basic	2.30			⁽¹⁾	2.74			⁽²⁾	1.53			⁽³⁾	2.38		⁽⁴⁾	2.41		⁽⁵⁾	2.60		⁽⁶⁾	2.49		⁽⁷⁾	2.22		⁽⁸⁾	2.26		1.91		⁽⁹⁾
Earnings per common share, diluted	2.28			⁽¹⁾	2.72			⁽²⁾	1.52			⁽³⁾	2.36		⁽⁴⁾	2.38		⁽⁵⁾	2.57		⁽⁶⁾	2.47		⁽⁷⁾	2.16		⁽⁸⁾	2.18		1.83		⁽⁹⁾
Depreciation and amortization expense	475				443				449				442			439			425			421			376			351		348

Financial Position
Current ratio	1.4				1.3				1.2				1.2			1.1			1.2			1.2			1.0			1.1		1.3
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,072				3,840				3,796				4,080			4,083			3,842			3,668			3,693			3,516		3,119
Capital expenditures	553				593				691				757			670			565			537			550			575		684
Total assets	12,676				12,123				11,935				13,440			13,968			13,379			12,711			11,163			11,125		9,970
Long-term debt	6,566				6,520				6,246				5,625			4,732			4,911			4,417			2,806			2,812		3,576
Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders’ equity	(60		)		(243		)		(299		)		1,145			2,305			2,189			2,375			2,675			3,116		1,923

Share and Other
Book value per common share	0.28				0.03				(0.04		)		1.55			2.79			2.60			2.71			2.95			3.26		2.04
Cash dividends declared and paid per common share	1.59				1.55				1.50				1.42			1.33			1.22			1.14			1.02			0.86		0.78
Closing price	75.45				65.44				66.62				69.19			65.21			52.27			46.20			40.19			41.08		34.27
Number of common shares outstanding (in millions)	874.7				883.1				892.7				906.7			919.9			935.8			960.0			989.8			988.4		1,002.8
Number of common shareholders of record	22,700				23,600				24,400				25,400			26,900			27,600			28,900			29,900			30,600		31,400
Number of employees	35,900				36,700				37,900				37,700			37,400			37,700			38,600			39,200			38,100		36,600

_________


Note:	All per share amounts and numbers of shares outstanding were adjusted for the two-for-one stock split of the Company’s common stock in 2013.


⁽¹⁾	Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the full year of 2017 include $246 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program and a $275 charge related to U.S. tax reform.

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COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Historical Financial Summary

For the years ended December 31,

(Dollars in Millions Except Per Share Amounts)

(Unaudited)


⁽²⁾	Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the full year of 2016 include $168 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a $63 aftertax gain on the sale of land in Mexico, $11 of aftertax charges for a litigation matter and $35 of benefits from tax matters.

⁽³⁾

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the full year of 2015 include a $1,058 aftertax charge related to the change in accounting for the Company’s Venezuelan operations, $183 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, $22 of aftertax charges related to the remeasurement of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets as a result of effective devaluations, $120 aftertax gain on the sale of the South Pacific laundry detergent business, a $14 aftertax charge for a litigation matter and a $15 charge for a tax matter.

⁽⁴⁾

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2014 include $208 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, $214 of aftertax charges related to the remeasurement of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets as a result of effective devaluations, $41 of charges for litigation matters, $3 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and a $66 charge for a tax matter.

⁽⁵⁾

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2013 include $278 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, a $111 aftertax charge related to the remeasurement of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets as a result of a devaluation, a $23 charge for a litigation matter and $12 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico.


⁽⁶⁾	Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2012 include $70 of aftertax charges related to the Global Growth and Efficiency Program, $18 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and $14 of aftertax costs associated with various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives.

⁽⁷⁾

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2011 include an aftertax gain of $135 on the sale of the non-core laundry detergent business in Colombia, offset by $147 of aftertax costs associated with various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives, $9 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and a $21 charge for a litigation matter.

⁽⁸⁾

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2010 include a $271 one-time charge related to the transition to hyperinflationary accounting in Venezuela, $61 of aftertax charges for termination benefits related to overhead reduction initiatives, a $30 aftertax gain on sales of non-core product lines and a $31 benefit related to the reorganization of an overseas subsidiary.


⁽⁹⁾	Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share in 2008 include $113 of aftertax charges related to the 2004 Restructuring Program.

120