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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
____________________________ 
FORM 10-K
        þ
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended February 24, 2017
OR
        ¨
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 1-13873
____________________________ 
STEELCASE INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Michigan
 
38-0819050
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(IRS employer identification number)
 
 
 
901 44th Street SE
Grand Rapids, Michigan
 
49508
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (616) 247-2710
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
 
 
 
Title of each class
Name of each exchange on which registered
Class A Common Stock
New York Stock Exchange
 
 
 
 
Securities registered pursuant to 12(g) of the Act: None
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  þ         No  ¨
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  þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  þ        No   ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  þ        No  ¨
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§ 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.   þ
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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 þ      Accelerated filer ¨      Non-accelerated filer ¨      Smaller reporting company ¨ Emerging growth company ¨
(Do not check if a smaller reporting 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 Act).    Yes  ¨         No  þ
The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity of the registrant held by non-affiliates, computed by reference to the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, as of August 26, 2016 (the last day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter) was approximately $1.2 billion. There is no quoted market for registrant’s Class B Common Stock, but shares of Class B Common Stock may be converted at any time into an equal number of shares of Class A Common Stock.
As of April 10, 2017, 86,903,762 shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock and 31,097,549 shares of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock were outstanding.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Portions of the registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, to be held on July 12, 2017, are incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K.
 


Table of Contents

STEELCASE INC.
FORM 10-K
YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 24, 2017
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
  
  
Page No.   
Part I
 
 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 1B.
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
Part II
 
 
Item 5.
Item 6.
Item 7.
Item 7A.
Item 8.
Item 9.
Item 9A.
Item 9B.
Part III
 
 
Item 10.
Item 11.
Item 12.
Item 13.
Item 14.
Part IV
 
 
Item 15.
Item 16.


Table of Contents

PART I
Item 1.
Business:
The following business overview is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information included elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report on Form 10-K (“Report”). As used in this Report, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, all references to “Steelcase,” “we,” “our,” “Company” and similar references are to Steelcase Inc. and its subsidiaries in which a controlling interest is maintained. Unless the context otherwise indicates, reference to a year relates to the fiscal year, ended in February of the year indicated, rather than a calendar year. Additionally, Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 reference the first, second, third and fourth quarter, respectively, of the fiscal year indicated. All amounts are in millions, except share and per share data, data presented as a percentage or as otherwise indicated.
Overview
At Steelcase, our purpose is to unlock human promise by creating great experiences at work, wherever work happens, and in environments that include education and healthcare. Through our family of brands that include Steelcase®, Coalesse®, Designtex®, PolyVision® and Turnstone®, we offer a comprehensive portfolio of solutions that support the social, economic and sustainability needs of people and are inspired by the insights gained from our human-centered research process. We are a globally integrated enterprise, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A., with approximately 11,700 employees. Steelcase was founded in 1912 and became publicly traded in 1998, and our stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCS”.
Our growth strategy continues to focus on translating our research-based insights into products, applications and experiences that will help the world’s leading organizations amplify the performance of their people, teams and enterprise. We help our customers create workplace destinations that augment human interaction by supporting the physical, cognitive and emotional needs of their people, while also optimizing the value of their real estate investments. We continue to invest in research and product development and have launched new products, applications and experiences designed to address the significant trends that are impacting the workplace, such as global integration, disruptive technologies, worker mobility, distributed teams and the need for enhanced collaboration and innovation.
We also continue to focus on growth through leveraging our global scale. Our global scale allows us to provide local differentiation, as we serve customers around the globe through significant sales, manufacturing and administrative operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia Pacific.  We remain committed to our strategy as a globally integrated enterprise and growing our presence in emerging markets alongside our global customers and where we believe we can serve the needs of workers and organizations.
We market our products and services primarily through a network of independent and company-owned dealers and also sell directly to end-use customers. We extend our reach with a limited presence in retail and web-based sales channels.
Our Offerings
Our brands provide an integrated portfolio of furniture settings, user-centered technologies and interior architectural products across a range of price points. Our furniture portfolio includes panel-based furniture systems, storage, desks, benches, tables and complementary products such as worktools. Our seating products include task chairs which are highly ergonomic, seating that can be used in collaborative or casual settings and specialty seating for specific vertical markets such as healthcare and education. Our technology solutions support group collaboration by integrating furniture and technology. Our interior architectural products include full and partial height walls and doors. We also offer services designed to reduce costs and enhance the performance of people, wherever they work. Among these services are workplace strategy consulting, lease origination services, furniture and asset management and hosted spaces.
Steelcase
The Steelcase brand takes our insights from research and delivers high performance, sustainable work environments while striving to be a trusted partner. Being a trusted partner means understanding and helping our customers and partners who truly seek to elevate their performance. The Steelcase brand's core customers are leading organizations (such as corporations, healthcare organizations, colleges/universities and government

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entities) that are often large with ever-changing complex needs and have an increasingly global reach. We strive to meet their diverse needs while minimizing complexity by using a platform approachfrom product components to common processeswherever possible.
Steelcase sub-brands include:
Steelcase Health, which is focused on creating healthcare environments that enable empathy, empowerment and connection for patients, care partners and providers engaged in the healthcare experience.
Steelcase Education, which is focused on helping schools, colleges and universities create the most effective, rewarding and inspiring "active learning" environments to meet the evolving needs of students and educators.
Coalesse
Coalesse offers a collection of furnishings that expresses a new freedom at work. Coalesse targets the rapidly growing crossover and ancillary market—homes and offices, meeting rooms and social spaces, private retreats and public places—and is addressing the fluid intersections of work and life where boundaries are collapsing and creativity is increasing.
Designtex
Designtex offers applied materials that enhance environments and is a leading resource for applied surface knowledge, innovation and sustainability. Designtex products are premium fabrics and surface materials and imaging solutions designed to enhance seating, walls, work stations and floors and can provide privacy, way-finding, motivation, communications and artistic expression.
PolyVision
PolyVision is the world's leading supplier of ceramic steel surfaces for use in various applications including static whiteboards and chalkboards used in educational institutions and architectural panels or special applications for commercial or infrastructure projects.
Turnstone
Turnstone is based on the belief that the world needs more successful entrepreneurs and small businesses and that great spaces to work can help that happen.  Turnstone makes it easier for these companies to create insight-led places to work, going to market through our dealer channel or using web-based tools.
Reportable Segments
We operate on a worldwide basis within our Americas and EMEA reportable segments plus an Other category. Additional information about our reportable segments, including financial information about geographic areas, is contained in Item 7: Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.
Americas Segment
Our Americas segment serves customers in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada, the Caribbean Islands and Latin America. Our portfolio of integrated architecture, furniture and technology products is marketed to corporate, government, healthcare, education and retail customers through the Steelcase, Coalesse and Turnstone brands.
We serve Americas customers mainly through approximately 400 independent and company-owned dealer locations, and we also sell directly to end-use customers. Our end-use customers tend to be larger multinational, regional or local companies and are distributed across a broad range of industries and vertical markets, including healthcare, manufacturing, higher education, financial services, insurance, information technology and government. No industry or vertical market individually represented more than 13% of the Americas segment revenue in 2017.
Each of our dealers maintains its own sales force which is complemented by our sales representatives who work closely with our dealers throughout the selling process. The largest independent dealer in the Americas accounted for approximately 6% of the segment’s revenue in 2017, and the five largest independent dealers collectively accounted for approximately 18% of the segment’s revenue in 2017.

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In 2017, the Americas segment recorded revenue of $2,231.9, or 73.6% of our consolidated revenue, and as of the end of the year had approximately 7,900 employees, of which approximately 5,300 related to manufacturing.
The Americas office furniture industry is highly competitive, with a number of competitors offering similar categories of products. The industry competes on a combination of insight, product performance, design, price and relationships with customers, architects and designers. Our most significant competitors in the U.S. are Haworth, Inc., Herman Miller, Inc., HNI Corporation and Knoll, Inc. Together with Steelcase, domestic revenue from these companies represents approximately one-half of the U.S. office furniture industry.
EMEA Segment
Our EMEA segment serves customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa primarily under the Steelcase and Coalesse brands, with an emphasis on freestanding furniture systems, storage and seating solutions. Our largest presence is in Western Europe, where we believe we are among the market leaders in Germany, France and Spain. In 2017, approximately 84% of EMEA revenue was from Western Europe. The remaining revenue was from other parts of Europe, the Middle East and Africa. No individual country in the EMEA segment represented more than 6% of our consolidated revenue in 2017.
We serve EMEA customers through approximately 350 independent and company-owned dealer locations. No single independent dealer in the EMEA segment accounted for more than 3% of the segment’s revenue in 2017. The five largest independent dealers collectively accounted for approximately 11% of the segment’s revenue in 2017. In certain geographic markets, we sell directly to end-use customers. Our end-use customers tend to be larger multinational, regional or local companies spread across a broad range of industries and vertical markets, including financial services, higher education, healthcare, government and information technology.
In 2017, our EMEA segment recorded revenue of $503.9, or 16.6% of our consolidated revenue, and as of the end of the year had approximately 2,100 employees, of which approximately 1,000 related to manufacturing.
The EMEA office furniture market is highly competitive and fragmented. We compete with many local and regional manufacturers in many different markets. In several cases, these competitors focus on specific product categories.
Other Category
The Other category includes Asia Pacific, Designtex and PolyVision.
Asia Pacific serves customers in the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong), India, Australia, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia and other countries in Southeast Asia, primarily under the Steelcase brand with an emphasis on freestanding furniture systems, seating and storage solutions. We sell directly and through approximately 50 independent dealer locations to end-use customers. Our end-use customers tend to be larger multinational or regional companies spread across a broad range of industries and are located in both mature and emerging markets. Our competition in Asia Pacific is fragmented and includes large global competitors as well as many regional and local manufacturers.
Designtex primarily sells textiles, wall coverings and surface imaging solutions specified by architects and designers directly to end-use customers through a direct sales force primarily in North America.
PolyVision manufactures ceramic steel surfaces for use in various applications globally, including static whiteboards and chalkboards sold through third party fabricators and distributors to the primary and secondary education markets and architectural panels and other special applications sold through general contractors for commercial and infrastructure projects.
In 2017, the Other category accounted for $296.6, or 9.8% of our consolidated revenue, and as of the end of the year had approximately 1,700 employees, of which approximately 900 related to manufacturing.
Corporate
Corporate expenses include unallocated portions of shared service functions such as information technology, corporate facilities, finance, human resources, research, legal and customer aviation.

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Joint Ventures and Other Equity Investments
We enter into joint ventures and other equity investments from time to time to expand or maintain our geographic presence, support our distribution network or invest in new business ventures, complementary products or services. As of February 24, 2017, our investment in these unconsolidated joint ventures and other equity investments totaled $50.5. Our share of the earnings from joint ventures and other equity investments is recorded in Other income (expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income.
Customer and Dealer Concentrations
Our largest customer accounted for approximately 1% of our consolidated revenue in 2017, and our five largest customers collectively accounted for approximately 5% of our consolidated revenue. However, these percentages do not include revenue from various U.S. federal government agencies. In 2017, our sales to U.S. federal government agencies represented approximately 3% of our consolidated revenue. We do not believe our business is dependent on any single or small number of end-use customers, the loss of which would have a material adverse effect on our business.
No single independent dealer accounted for more than 5% of our consolidated revenue in 2017. The five largest independent dealers collectively accounted for approximately 13% of our consolidated revenue in 2017. We do not believe our business is dependent on any single dealer, the loss of which would have a sustained material adverse effect upon our business.
Working Capital
Our accounts receivable are from our dealers and direct-sale customers. Payment terms vary by country and region. The terms of our Americas segment, and certain markets within the EMEA segment, encourage prompt payment from dealers by offering an early settlement discount. Other international markets have, by market convention, longer payment terms. We are not aware of any special or unusual practices or conditions related to working capital items, including accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable, which are significant to understanding our business or the industry at large.
Backlog
Our products are generally manufactured and shipped within two to six weeks following receipt of an order; however, in recent years our mix of project business has increased and customer-requested shipment dates have increasingly extended beyond historical averages. Nevertheless, we do not view the amount of backlog at any particular time as a meaningful indicator of longer-term shipments.
Global Manufacturing and Supply Chain
Manufacturing and Logistics
We have manufacturing operations throughout North America (in the U.S. and Mexico), Europe (in France, Germany, Spain, the Czech Republic and Belgium) and Asia (in China, Malaysia and India). Our global manufacturing operations are centralized under a single organization to serve our customers’ needs across multiple brands and geographies.
Our manufacturing model is predominately make-to-order with lead times typically ranging from two to six weeks.  We manufacture our products using lean manufacturing principles, which allow us to achieve efficiencies and cost savings and minimize the amount of inventory on hand. As a result, we largely purchase direct materials and components as needed to meet demand. We have evolved our manufacturing and supply chain systems significantly over the last two decades by implementing continuous one-piece flow, platforming our processes and product offerings and developing a global network of integrated suppliers. We also purchase finished goods manufactured by third parties predominantly on a make-to-order basis.
These changes to our manufacturing model have reduced the capital needs of our business and the footprint of our manufacturing space and have allowed us to improve quality, delivery performance and the customer experience. We continue to identify opportunities to improve the fitness of our business and strengthen our long-term competitiveness.
In addition to our ongoing focus on enhancing the efficiency of our manufacturing operations, we also seek to reduce costs through our global sourcing effort. We have capitalized on the platforming of our product offering and

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are capturing raw material and component cost savings available through lower cost suppliers around the globe. This platforming of our product offering and global development of potential sources of supply has enhanced our leverage with supply sources, and we have been able to reduce cycle times through improvements with our partners throughout the supply chain.
Our physical distribution system utilizes commercial transport, dedicated fleet and company-owned delivery services. We have implemented a network of regional distribution centers to reduce freight costs and improve service to our dealers and customers.
Raw Materials
We source raw materials and components from a significant number of suppliers around the world. Those raw materials include steel, petroleum-based products, aluminum, other metals, wood, particleboard and other materials and components. To date, we have not experienced any significant difficulties in obtaining these raw materials.
The prices for certain commodities such as steel, petroleum-based products, aluminum, other metals, wood and particleboard have fluctuated in recent years due to changes in global supply and demand. Our global supply chain team continually evaluates current market conditions, the financial viability of our suppliers and available supply options on the basis of quality, reliability of supply and cost.
Research, Design and Development
Our extensive global research—a combination of user observations, feedback sessions and sophisticated analyses—has helped us develop social, spatial and informational insights into work effectiveness. We maintain collaborative relationships with external world-class innovators, including leading universities, think tanks and knowledge leaders, to expand and deepen our understanding of how people work.
Understanding patterns of work enables us to identify and anticipate user needs across the globe. Our design teams explore and develop prototypical solutions to address these needs. These solutions vary from furniture, architecture and technology solutions to single products or enhancements to existing products and across different vertical market applications such as professional services, healthcare and higher education. Organizationally, global design leadership directs strategy and project work, which is distributed to design studios around the world and sometimes involves external design services.
Our marketing team evaluates product concepts using several criteria, including financial return metrics, and chooses which products will be developed and launched. Designers then work closely with engineers and suppliers to co-develop products and processes that incorporate innovative user features with efficient manufacturing practices. Products are tested for performance, quality and compliance with applicable standards and regulations.
We invested $35.8, $33.0 and $35.4 in research, design and development activities in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. We continue to invest more than one percent of our revenue in research, design and development each year. In addition, we sometimes pay royalties to external designers of our products as the products are sold, and these costs are not included in research and development expenses.
Intellectual Property
We generate and hold a significant number of patents in a number of countries in connection with the operation of our business. We also hold a number of trademarks that are very important to our identity and recognition in the marketplace. We do not believe that any material part of our business is dependent on the continued availability of any one or all of our patents or trademarks or that our business would be materially adversely affected by the loss of any of such, except the “Steelcase,” “Coalesse,” “Designtex,” “PolyVision” and “Turnstone” trademarks.
We occasionally enter into license agreements under which we pay a royalty to third parties for the use of patented products, designs or process technology. We have established a global network of intellectual property licenses with our subsidiaries.

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Employees
As of February 24, 2017, we had approximately 11,700 employees, of which approximately 7,200 work in manufacturing. Additionally, we had approximately 1,900 temporary workers who primarily work in manufacturing. Approximately 100 employees in the U.S. are covered by collective bargaining agreements. Outside of the U.S., approximately 2,900 employees are represented by workers' councils that operate to promote the interests of workers. Management promotes positive relations with employees based on empowerment and teamwork.
Environmental Matters
We are subject to a variety of federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment (“Environmental Laws”). We believe our operations are in substantial compliance with all Environmental Laws. We do not believe existing Environmental Laws have had or will have any material effects upon our capital expenditures, earnings or competitive position.
Under certain Environmental Laws, we could be held liable, without regard to fault, for the costs of remediation associated with our existing or historical operations. We could also be held responsible for third-party property and personal injury claims or for violations of Environmental Laws relating to contamination. We are a party to, or otherwise involved in, proceedings relating to several contaminated properties being investigated and remediated under Environmental Laws, including as a potentially responsible party in several Superfund site cleanups. Based on our information regarding the nature and volume of wastes allegedly disposed of or released at these properties, the total estimated cleanup costs and other financially viable potentially responsible parties, we do not believe the costs to us associated with these properties will be material, either individually or in the aggregate. We have established reserves that we believe are adequate to cover our anticipated remediation costs. However, certain events could cause our actual costs to vary from the established reserves. These events include, but are not limited to: a change in governmental regulations or cleanup standards or requirements; undiscovered information regarding the nature and volume of wastes allegedly disposed of or released at these properties; and other factors increasing the cost of remediation or the loss of other potentially responsible parties that are financially capable of contributing toward cleanup costs.
Available Information
We file annual reports, quarterly reports, proxy statements and other documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). The public may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Office of FOIA Services at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549-2736. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Office of FOIA Services by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet website at www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including Steelcase, that file electronically with the SEC.
We also make available free of charge through our internet website, www.steelcase.com, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such reports with or furnish them to the SEC. In addition, our Corporate Governance Principles, Code of Ethics, Code of Business Conduct and the charters for the Audit, Compensation and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees are available free of charge through our website or by writing to Steelcase Inc., Investor Relations, GH-3E-12, PO Box 1967, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501-1967.
We are not including the information contained on our website as a part of, or incorporating it by reference into, this Report.
Item 1A.
Risk Factors:
The following risk factors and other information included in this Report should be carefully considered. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties that we do not know about currently, or that we currently believe are less significant, may also adversely affect our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, operating results, cash flows and financial condition could be materially adversely affected.

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Our industry is influenced significantly by cyclical macroeconomic factors that are difficult to predict.
Our revenue is generated predominantly from the office furniture industry, and demand for office furniture is influenced heavily by a variety of factors, including macroeconomic factors such as corporate profits, non-residential fixed investment, white-collar employment and commercial office construction and vacancy rates. According to the U.S.-based Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association and European-based Centre for Industrial Studies, the U.S. and European office furniture industries have gone through two major downturns in recent history. Consumption declined by more than 30% and 20% from calendar year 2000 to 2003, and again by over 30% and 23% from 2007 to 2009, in the U.S. and Europe, respectively. While the U.S. office furniture industry has generally recovered, the European industry has not improved significantly following the most recent downturn. During these downturns, our revenue declined in similar proportion and our profitability was significantly reduced. Although we have made a number of changes to adapt our business model to these cycles, our profitability could be impacted in the future by cyclical downturns. In addition, the pace of industry recovery, by geography or vertical market, may vary after a cyclical downturn. These macroeconomic factors are difficult to predict, and if we are unsuccessful in adapting our business as economic cyclical changes occur, our results may be adversely affected.
Failure to respond to changes in workplace trends and the competitive landscape may adversely affect our revenue and profits.
Advances in technology, the globalization of business, changing workforce demographics and shifts in work styles and behaviors are changing the world of work and may have a significant impact on the types of workplace products and services purchased by our customers, the level of revenue associated with our offerings and the geographic location of the demand. For example, in recent years, these trends have resulted in a reduction in the amount of office floor space allocated per employee, a reduction in the number, size and price of typical workstations, an increase in work occurring in more collaborative settings and in a variety of locations beyond the traditional office, an increase in residential and lounge-type settings, and broader price offering levels. The confluence of these factors has attracted new competitors from outside the traditional office furniture industry, such as real estate management service firms, technology-based firms, general construction contractors and retail and online residential furniture providers, offering products and services which compete with those offered by us and our dealers.
In addition, the traditional office furniture industry is highly competitive, with a number of competitors offering similar categories of products. We compete on a variety of factors, including: brand recognition and reputation; insight from our research; product design and features; price, lead time, delivery and service; product quality; strength of dealers and other distributors and relationships with customers and key influencers, such as architects, designers and facility managers. If we are unsuccessful in developing and offering solutions which respond to changes in workplace trends and generate revenue to offset the impact of reduced numbers, size and price of typical workstations, or we or our dealers are unsuccessful in competing with existing competitors and new competitive offerings which could arise from outside our industry, our revenue and profits may be adversely affected.
We may not be able to successfully develop, implement and manage our diversification and growth strategies.
Our longer-term success depends on our ability to successfully develop, implement and manage strategies that will preserve our position as the world’s largest office furniture manufacturer, as well as expand our offerings into adjacent and emerging markets. In particular, our diversification and growth strategies include:
translating our research regarding the world of work into innovative solutions which address market and user needs,
growing our market share with existing customers and new customers,
continuing our expansion into adjacent markets such as healthcare clinical spaces, classrooms, libraries and other educational settings and smaller companies,
expanding our product categories to include additional architecture and technology product offerings,
growing our market share in markets such as China, India and central, eastern, and southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa,
investing in acquisitions and new business ventures and
developing new alliances and additional channels of distribution.

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If these strategies to diversify and increase our revenues are not sufficient, or if we do not execute these strategies successfully, our profitability may be adversely affected.
We have been and expect to continue making investments in strategic growth initiatives and new product development. If our return on these investments is lower, or develops more slowly, than we anticipate, our profitability may be adversely affected.
We may be adversely affected by changes in raw material and commodity costs.
We procure raw materials (including steel, petroleum-based products, aluminum, other metals, wood and particleboard) from a significant number of sources globally. These raw materials are not rare or unique to our industry. The costs of these commodities, as well as fuel and energy costs, can fluctuate due to changes in global supply and demand, larger currency movements and changes in import tariffs and trade barriers, which can also cause supply interruptions. In the short-term, significant increases in raw material and commodity costs can be very difficult to offset with price increases because of existing contractual commitments with our customers, and it is difficult to find effective financial instruments to hedge against such changes. As a result, our gross margins can be adversely affected in the short-term by significant increases in these costs. If we are not successful in passing along higher raw material and commodity costs to our customers over the longer-term because of competitive pressures, our profitability could be negatively impacted.
Our global presence subjects us to risks that may negatively affect our profitability and financial condition.
We have manufacturing facilities, sales locations and offices in many countries, and as a result, we are subject to risks associated with doing business globally. Our success depends on our ability to manage the complexity associated with designing, developing, manufacturing and selling our solutions in a variety of countries. Our global presence is also subject to market risks, which in turn could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition, including:
differing business practices, cultural factors and regulatory requirements,
political, social and economic instability, natural disasters, security concerns, including terrorist activity, armed conflict and civil or military unrest, and global health issues, and
intellectual property protection challenges.
Our global footprint makes us vulnerable to currency exchange rate fluctuations and currency controls.
We primarily sell our products in U.S. dollars and euros, but we generate some of our revenues and pay some of our expenses in other currencies. Our results are affected by the strength of the currencies in countries where we manufacture or purchase goods relative to the strength of the currencies in countries where our products are sold. We use foreign currency derivatives to hedge some of the short-term volatility of these exposures. There can be no assurance that such hedging will be economically effective. If we are not successful in managing currency exchange rate fluctuations, it could have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition.
Although we operate globally in multiple currencies, we report our results in U.S. dollars, and thus our reported results may be positively or negatively impacted by the strengthening or weakening of the other currencies in which we operate against the U.S. dollar.
In addition, we face restrictions in certain countries that limit or prevent the transfer of funds to other countries or the exchange of the local currency to other currencies, which could have a negative impact on our profitability. We also face risks associated with fluctuations in currency exchange rates that may lead to a decline in the value of the funds held in certain jurisdictions, as well as the value of intercompany balances denominated in foreign currencies.
Changes in tariffs, global trade agreements or government procurement could adversely affect our business.
More than 40% of the goods we sell to customers in the U.S., including U.S. government agencies, are manufactured outside of the U.S., predominantly by our subsidiaries in Mexico.  Our Mexican manufacturing subsidiaries operate as maquiladoras, importing the majority of their raw materials and component parts from the U.S. We also operate shared services centers in several foreign locations that support our business globally,

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including our U.S. locations.  The implementation of any new tariffs or a border adjustment tax, the repeal of the North American Free Trade Agreement or other global trade agreements, or changes in U.S. government procurement rules requiring goods to be produced in the U.S. could have an adverse impact on our business, operating results or financial condition.
We are increasingly reliant on a global network of suppliers.
Our migration to a less vertically integrated manufacturing model has increased our dependency on a global network of suppliers. We are reliant on the timely flow of raw materials, components and finished goods from third-party suppliers. The flow of such materials, components and goods may be affected by:
fluctuations in the pricing, availability and quality of raw materials,
the financial solvency of our suppliers and their supply chains,
changes in international trade agreements or tariffs,
disruptions caused by labor activities and
damage and loss of production from accidents, natural disasters and other causes.
Any disruptions or fluctuations in the pricing, supply and delivery of raw materials, component parts and finished goods or deficiencies in our ability to manage our global network of suppliers could have an adverse impact on our business, operating results or financial condition.
The elimination of redundant capabilities among our regional manufacturing facilities could adversely affect our business.
Over the past two decades, we made significant changes to our manufacturing model as a result of the implementation of lean manufacturing principles, and we decreased our total manufacturing footprint globally by approximately 65%.  These changes also eliminated redundant capabilities, and many of our products are currently produced in only one location in each of the three geographic regions in which we operate (the Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific).  In addition, our manufacturing model is predominately make-to-order.  As a result, any issue which impacts the production capabilities of one of our manufacturing locations, such as natural disasters, disruptions in the supply of materials or components, equipment failures or disruptions caused by labor activities, could have an adverse impact on our business, operating results or financial condition.
We rely largely on a network of independent dealers to market, deliver and install our products, and disruptions and increasing consolidations within our dealer network could adversely affect our business.
From time to time, we or a dealer may choose to terminate our relationship, or the dealer could face financial insolvency or difficulty in transitioning to new ownership. Our business is influenced by our ability to initiate and manage new and existing relationships with independent dealers, and establishing new dealers in a market can take considerable time and resources. Disruption of dealer coverage within a specific local market could have an adverse impact on our business within the affected market. The loss or termination of a significant number of dealers or the inability to establish new dealers could cause difficulties in marketing and distributing our products and have an adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial condition. In the event that a dealer in a strategic market experiences financial difficulty, we may choose to make financial investments in the dealership, which would reduce the risk of disruption but increase our financial exposure. Alternatively, we may elect to purchase and operate dealers in certain markets which also would require use of our capital and increase our financial exposure.
Our diversification and growth strategies into adjacent markets, such as healthcare and education, and the increasing complexity of our technology and architectural products are driving the need for our dealers to develop additional capabilities and invest in additional resources to support such products and markets. Some of our smaller dealers do not have the scale to leverage such investments, and as a result, we have seen and may continue to see increased consolidation within our dealer network. This increased concentration and size of dealers could increase our exposure to the risks discussed above.
We may be adversely impacted by product defects.
Product defects can occur within our own product development and manufacturing processes or through our increasing reliance on third parties for product development, manufacturing and testing activities. We incur various expenses related to product defects, including product warranty costs, product recall and retrofit costs and product

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liability costs, which can have an adverse impact on our results of operations. In addition, the reputation of our brands may be diminished by product defects and recalls.
We maintain a reserve for our product warranty costs based on certain estimates and our knowledge of current events and actions, but our actual warranty costs may exceed our reserve, resulting in a need to increase our accruals for warranty charges. We purchase insurance coverage to reduce our exposure to significant levels of product liability claims and maintain a reserve for our self-insured losses based upon estimates of the aggregate liability using claims experience and actuarial assumptions. Incorrect estimates or any significant increase in the rate of our product defect expenses could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.
We may be required to record impairment charges related to goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets which would adversely affect our results of operations.
We have net goodwill of $106.7 as of February 24, 2017. Goodwill and other acquired intangible assets with indefinite lives are not amortized but are evaluated for impairment annually and whenever an event occurs or circumstances change such that it is more likely than not that an impairment may exist. Poor performance in portions of our business where we have goodwill or intangible assets, or declines in the market value of our equity, may result in impairment charges, which would adversely affect our results of operations.
Changes in corporate tax laws could adversely effect our business. 
We are subject to income taxes in the U.S. and various foreign jurisdictions, and more than 55% of our income tax expense in 2017 related to the U.S. federal corporate income tax. As of February 24, 2017, we had deferred tax assets of $99.5 based on the current U.S. corporate income tax rate of 35%. Corporate tax reform and tax law changes are being considered in many jurisdictions, including the U.S.  Such tax law changes, if enacted, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results or financial position.  Specifically, a reduction in applicable tax rates may require us to revalue and write-down our deferred tax assets.
There may be significant limitations to our utilization of net operating loss carryforwards to offset future taxable income.
We have deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) residing primarily in various non-U.S. jurisdictions totaling $57.0, against which valuation allowances totaling $7.9 have been recorded.  We may be unable to generate sufficient taxable income from future operations in the jurisdictions in which we maintain deferred tax assets related to NOLs, or implement tax, business or other planning strategies, to fully utilize the recorded value of our NOLs. We have NOLs in various currencies that are also subject to foreign exchange risk, which could reduce the amount we may ultimately realize. Additionally, future changes in tax laws or interpretations of such tax laws may limit our ability to fully utilize our NOLs.
Costs related to our participation in a multi-employer pension plan could increase.
Our subsidiary SC Transport Inc. contributes to the Central States, Southeast and Southwest Areas Pension Fund, a multi-employer pension plan, based on obligations arising under a collective bargaining agreement with our SC Transport Inc. employees. The plan is not administered by or in any way controlled by us. We have relatively little control over the level of contributions we are required to make to the plan, and it is substantially underfunded. As a result, contributions are scheduled to increase, and we expect that contributions to the plan may be subject to further increases. The amount of any increase or decrease in our required contributions to the multi-employer pension plan will depend upon the outcome of collective bargaining, actions taken by trustees who manage the plan, governmental regulations, the actual return on assets held in the plan, the continued viability and contributions of other employers which contribute to the plan, and the potential payment of a withdrawal liability, among other factors.
Under current law, an employer that withdraws or partially withdraws from a multi-employer pension plan may incur a withdrawal liability to the plan, which represents the portion of the plan’s underfunding that is allocable to the withdrawing employer under very complex actuarial and allocation rules. We could incur a withdrawal liability if we substantially reduce the number of SC Transport Inc. employees. There were a total of 16 SC Transport Inc. employees as of February 24, 2017. The most recent estimate of our potential withdrawal liability is $27.1 as of February 24, 2017.

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Item 1B.
Unresolved Staff Comments:
None.

11

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Item 2.
Properties:
We have operations at locations throughout the U.S. and around the world. None of our owned properties are mortgaged or are held subject to any significant encumbrance. We believe our facilities are in good operating condition and, at present, are sufficient to meet volume needs currently and for the foreseeable future. Our global headquarters is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.A. Our owned and leased principal manufacturing and distribution center locations with greater than 100,000 square feet are as follows:
Segment/Category Primarily Supported
Number of Principal
Locations
Owned
Leased
Americas
12

 
5

 
7

 
EMEA
5

 
4

 
1

 
Other
4

 
2

 
2

 
Total
21

 
11

 
10

 
In 2017, we added one leased distribution facility in EMEA and exited one leased manufacturing facility in the Americas.
Item 3.
Legal Proceedings:
We are involved in litigation from time to time in the ordinary course of our business. Based on known information, we do not believe we are a party to any lawsuit or proceeding that is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures:
Not applicable.

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Supplementary Item.    Executive Officers of the Registrant:
Our executive officers are:
Name
Age
Position
Guillaume M. Alvarez
57
Senior Vice President, EMEA
Sara E. Armbruster
46
Vice President, Strategy, Research and New Business Innovation
Ulrich H. E. Gwinner
53
President, Asia Pacific
James P. Keane
57
President and Chief Executive Officer, Director
Robert G. Krestakos
55
Vice President, Global Operations
Terrence J. Lenhardt
57
Vice President, Chief Information Officer
James N. Ludwig
53
Vice President, Global Design and Product Engineering
Mark T. Mossing
59
Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer
Gale Moutrey
58
Vice President, Communications
Lizbeth S. O’Shaughnessy
55
Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary
Eddy F. Schmitt
45
Senior Vice President, Americas
Allan W. Smith, Jr.
49
Vice President, Global Marketing
David C. Sylvester
52
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
Guillaume M. Alvarez has been Senior Vice President, EMEA since March 2014. Mr. Alvarez was Senior Vice President, Sales, EMEA from October 2011 to March 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1984.
Sara E. Armbruster has been Vice President, Strategy, Research and New Business Innovation since January 2014. Ms. Armbruster was Vice President, WorkSpace Futures and Corporate Strategy from May 2009 to January 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 2007.
Ulrich H. E. Gwinner has been President, Asia Pacific since March 2014. Mr. Gwinner was President, Steelcase Asia Pacific from May 2007 to March 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 2000.
James P. Keane has been President and Chief Executive Officer since March 2014. Mr. Keane was President and Chief Operating Officer from April 2013 to March 2014, Chief Operating Officer from November 2012 to April 2013 and President, Steelcase Group from October 2006 to November 2012. Mr. Keane has been employed by Steelcase since 1997.
Robert G. Krestakos has been Vice President, Global Operations since February 2015. Mr. Krestakos was Vice President, Chief Information Officer and Operations-Americas from December 2013 to February 2015 and Vice President, Chief Information Officer from June 2007 to December 2013. Mr. Krestakos has been employed by Steelcase since 1992.
Terrence J. Lenhardt has been Vice President, Chief Information Officer since January 2015. Mr. Lenhardt was Vice President, Finance-Americas, EMEA & Asia Pacific from February 2013 to January 2015 and Vice President, Finance-Steelcase Group Americas & EMEA from February 2011 to February 2013. Mr. Lenhardt has been employed by Steelcase since 1994.
James N. Ludwig has been Vice President, Global Design and Product Engineering since March 2014. Mr. Ludwig was Vice President, Global Design from March 2008 to March 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1999.
Mark T. Mossing has been Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer since April 2008 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1993.
Gale Moutrey has been Vice President, Communications since March 2014. Ms. Moutrey was Vice President, Brand Communications from March 2001 to March 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1984.

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Lizbeth S. O’Shaughnessy has been Senior Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, General Counsel and Secretary since June 2014. Ms. O'Shaughnessy was Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary from April 2011 to June 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1992.
Eddy F. Schmitt has been Senior Vice President, Americas since March 2014. Mr. Schmitt was Senior Vice President, Sales and Distribution, Americas from February 2011 to March 2014 and has been employed by Steelcase since 2003.
Allan W. Smith, Jr. has been Vice President, Global Marketing since September 2013. Mr. Smith was Vice President, Applications & Product Marketing-Steelcase Brand from January 2011 to September 2013 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1991.
David C. Sylvester has been Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer since April 2011 and has been employed by Steelcase since 1995.

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PART II
Item 5.
Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities:
Common Stock
Our Class A Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SCS”. Our Class B Common Stock is not registered under the Exchange Act or publicly traded. See Note 14 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information. As of the close of business on April 10, 2017, we had outstanding 118,001,311 shares of common stock with 6,055 shareholders of record. Of these amounts, 86,903,762 shares are Class A Common Stock with 5,989 shareholders of record and 31,097,549 shares are Class B Common Stock with 66 shareholders of record.
Class A Common Stock
Per Share Price Range
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
2017
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
15.89

 
$
16.36

 
$
16.35

 
$
18.14

 
Low
$
12.47

 
$
13.06

 
$
12.67

 
$
15.35

 
2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
High
$
20.45

 
$
19.79

 
$
20.30

 
$
20.37

 
Low
$
16.88

 
$
16.06

 
$
17.07

 
$
11.67

 
Dividends
The declaration of dividends is subject to the discretion of our Board of Directors and to compliance with applicable laws. Dividends in 2017 and 2016 were declared and paid quarterly. The amount and timing of future dividends depends upon our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, future business prospects, general business conditions and other factors that our Board of Directors may deem relevant at the time.
Our unsecured revolving syndicated credit facility does not include any restrictions on cash dividend payments or share repurchases. See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Total Dividends Paid
  
First
Quarter
Second
Quarter
Third
Quarter
Fourth
Quarter
Total
2017
 
$
15.2

 
$
14.4

 
$
14.5

 
$
14.4

 
$
58.5

2016
 
$
15.1

 
$
14.0

 
$
14.0

 
$
13.9

 
$
57.0

Fourth Quarter Share Repurchases
The following is a summary of share repurchase activity during Q4 2017:
Period
(a)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased
(b)
Average Price
Paid per Share
(c)
Total Number of
Shares Purchased as
Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs (1)
(d)
Approximate Dollar
Value of Shares
that May Yet be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs (1)
11/26/2016 - 12/30/2016

$


$
126.5

12/31/2016 - 01/27/2017
577

$
17.10


$
126.5

01/28/2017 - 2/24/2017

$


$
126.5

Total
577

(2)

 

_______________________________________
(1)
In January 2016, the Board of Directors approved a share repurchase program permitting the repurchase of up to $150 of shares of our common stock. This program has no specific expiration date. On October 10, 2016, we entered into a stock repurchase agreement with a third party broker under which the broker is authorized to repurchase up to 5 million shares of our common stock on our behalf during the period from October 11, 2016 through March 23, 2017, subject to certain price, market and volume constraints specified

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in the agreement. Shares purchased under the agreement are part of the Company's share repurchase program approved in January 2016.
(2)
All of these shares were repurchased to satisfy participants’ tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of restricted stock unit grants, pursuant to the terms of our Incentive Compensation Plan.

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Item 6.
Selected Financial Data:
  
Year Ended
Financial Highlights
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
February 28,
2014
February 22,
2013
Operating Results:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
$
3,032.4

 
$
3,060.0

 
$
3,059.7

 
$
2,988.9

 
$
2,868.7

 
Gross profit
1,010.4

 
971.2

 
916.0

 
945.2

 
866.0

 
Operating income
200.2

 
174.6

 
144.9

 
165.9

 
59.3

 
Income before income tax expense
196.3

 
174.8

 
137.0

 
147.2

 
54.9

 
Net income
124.6

 
170.3

 
86.1

 
87.7

 
38.8

 
Supplemental Operating Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Restructuring costs
$
(5.1
)
 
$
(19.9
)
 
$
(40.6
)
 
$
(6.6
)
 
$
(34.7
)
 
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment charges

 

 

 
(12.9
)
 
(59.9
)
 
Capital expenditures
(61.1
)
 
(93.4
)
 
(97.5
)
 
(86.8
)
 
(74.0
)
 
Share Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share
$
1.03

 
$
1.37

 
$
0.69

 
$
0.70

 
$
0.30

 
Diluted earnings per common share
$
1.03

 
$
1.36

 
$
0.68

 
$
0.69

 
$
0.30

 
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic
120.7

 
124.3

 
124.4

 
126.0

 
127.4

 
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted
121.2

 
125.3

 
126.0

 
127.3

 
129.1

 
Dividends paid per common share
$
0.48

 
$
0.45

 
$
0.42

 
$
0.40

 
$
0.36

 
Balance Sheet Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
197.1

 
$
181.9

 
$
176.5

 
$
201.8

 
$
150.4

 
Short-term investments
73.4

 
84.1

 
68.3

 
119.5

 
100.5

 
Company-owned life insurance ("COLI")
168.8

 
160.4

 
159.5

 
154.3

 
225.8

 
Working capital (1)
295.8

 
266.4

 
264.9

 
295.3

 
237.1

 
Total assets
1,792.0

 
1,808.6

 
1,719.6

 
1,724.0

 
1,686.4

 
Total debt
297.4

 
299.1

 
282.1

 
289.7

 
292.2

 
Total liabilities
1,025.5

 
1,071.7

 
1,055.8

 
1,052.3

 
1,024.8

 
Total shareholders’ equity
766.5

 
736.9

 
663.8

 
677.1

 
668.0

 
Statement of Cash Flow Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
170.7

 
$
186.4

 
$
84.2

 
$
178.8

 
$
187.3

 
Investing activities
(48.4
)
 
(87.8
)
 
(14.3
)
 
(25.2
)
 
(85.5
)
 
Financing activities
(105.9
)
 
(90.1
)
 
(89.8
)
 
(101.6
)
 
(64.2
)
 
________________________
(1)
Working capital equals current assets minus current liabilities, as presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Item 7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations:
The following review of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes thereto included elsewhere within this Report.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This item contains certain non-GAAP financial measures. A “non-GAAP financial measure” is defined as a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance that excludes or includes amounts so as to be different than the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated statements of income, balance sheets or statements of cash flows of the company. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, we have provided a reconciliation below of non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure.
The non-GAAP financial measures used are: (1) organic revenue growth (decline), which represents the change in revenue over the prior year excluding estimated currency translation effects and the impacts of acquisitions and divestitures, and (2) adjusted operating income (loss), which represents operating income (loss) excluding restructuring costs (benefits). These measures are presented because management uses this information to monitor and evaluate financial results and trends. Therefore, management believes this information is also useful for investors.
Financial Summary
Results of Operations
Our reportable segments consist of the Americas segment, the EMEA segment and the Other category. Unallocated corporate expenses are reported as Corporate.
Statement of Operations Data—
Consolidated
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
 
February 26,
2016
 
February 27,
2015
 
Revenue
$
3,032.4

 
100.0
 %
 
$
3,060.0

 
100.0
 %
 
$
3,059.7

 
100.0
 %
 
Cost of sales
2,017.8

 
66.5

 
2,075.5

 
67.8

 
2,106.2

 
68.8

 
Restructuring costs
4.2

 
0.2

 
13.3

 
0.5

 
37.5

 
1.2

 
Gross profit
1,010.4

 
33.3

 
971.2

 
31.7

 
916.0

 
30.0

 
Operating expenses
809.3

 
26.7

 
790.0

 
25.8

 
768.0

 
25.1

 
Restructuring costs
0.9

 

 
6.6

 
0.2

 
3.1

 
0.1

 
Operating income
200.2

 
6.6

 
174.6

 
5.7

 
144.9

 
4.8

 
Interest expense
(17.2
)
 
(0.5
)
 
(17.6
)
 
(0.6
)
 
(17.7
)
 
(0.6
)
 
Investment income
1.4

 

 
1.5

 
0.1

 
1.4

 

 
Other income, net
11.9

 
0.4

 
16.3

 
0.5

 
8.4

 
0.3

 
Income before income tax expense
196.3

 
6.5

 
174.8

 
5.7

 
137.0

 
4.5

 
Income tax expense
71.7

 
2.4

 
4.5

 
0.1

 
50.9

 
1.7

 
Net income
$
124.6

 
4.1
 %
 
$
170.3

 
5.6
 %
 
$
86.1

 
2.8
 %
 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.03

 
 
 
$
1.37

 
 
 
$
0.69

 
 
 
Diluted
$
1.03

 
 
 
$
1.36

 
 
 
$
0.68

 
 
 


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Organic Revenue Growth (Decline)—Consolidated
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Prior year revenue
$
3,060.0

 
$
3,059.7

 
Divestitures

 
(3.2
)
 
Currency translation effects *
(12.5
)
 
(110.1
)
 
   Prior year revenue, adjusted
3,047.5

 
2,946.4

 
Current year revenue
3,032.4

 
3,060.0

 
Acquisition
(6.8
)
 
(22.6
)
 
   Current year revenue, adjusted
3,025.6

 
3,037.4

 
Organic growth (decline) $
$
(21.9
)
 
$
91.0

 
Organic growth (decline) %
(1
)%
 
3
%
 
________________________
* Currency translation effects represent the net effect of translating prior year foreign currency revenues using the average exchange rate on a monthly basis during the current year.
Reconciliation of Operating Income to
Adjusted Operating Income
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
 
February 26,
2016
 
February 27,
2015
 
Operating income
$
200.2

 
6.6
%
 
$
174.6

 
5.7
%
 
$
144.9

 
4.8
%
 
Add: restructuring costs
5.1

 
0.2

 
19.9

 
0.7

 
40.6

 
1.3

 
Adjusted operating income
$
205.3

 
6.8
%
 
$
194.5

 
6.4
%
 
$
185.5

 
6.1
%
 
Overview
In 2017, revenue declined slightly compared to the prior year; the Americas and EMEA each experienced a modest revenue decline and the Other category achieved revenue growth of 5%, driven largely by Asia Pacific. The revenue decline reflected an ongoing shift in demand in the Americas from products for traditional private offices and cubicle spaces towards more open-plan and collaborative solutions as well as continued reduction in demand within the energy sector. This decline was partially offset by revenue generated by a number of products launched over the past 18 months to address the emerging trends and other strategic initiatives. We believe that these actions have built momentum across all segments of our business including the strengthening of our internal estimates of project orders in the Americas expected to ship over the next four quarters compared to the prior year.
Despite the decline in revenue, we recorded an operating income margin of 6.6% in 2017 which represented our highest operating income margin in over 15 years. Our restructuring actions in EMEA were completed, and we have stabilized our industrial model through the elimination of disruption costs and inefficiencies associated with operational footprint changes and other manufacturing and distribution issues experienced in the prior year. As a result, cost of sales as a percentage of revenue in EMEA improved by 640 basis points compared to the prior year, which contributed significantly to the 130 basis point improvement of consolidated cost of sales. We have been and expect to continue increasing our operating expenses and capital investments in support of our various growth initiatives.
2017 compared to 2016
We recorded net income of $124.6 and diluted earnings per share of $1.03 in 2017 compared to net income of $170.3 and diluted earnings per share of $1.36 in 2016. Net income in 2016 was positively impacted by the reversal of a valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets in France of $56.0 and the gain from the partial sale of an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate. Operating income in 2017 increased by $25.6 to $200.2 compared to the prior year. The improvement was driven by a reduction of cost of sales as a percent of revenue in EMEA and lower restructuring costs, partially offset by higher operating expenses in the Americas. After adjusting for the impact of restructuring costs, adjusted operating income of $205.3 in 2017, or 6.8% of revenue, represented an increase of $10.8 compared to the prior year.
Revenue of $3,032.4 in 2017 represented a decrease of $27.6, or less than 1%, compared to the prior year. The decrease in revenue was driven by lower revenue in the Americas and EMEA, partially offset by revenue growth in the Other category. After adjusting for a $6.8 favorable impact of an acquisition in the Americas and $12.5

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of unfavorable currency translation effects, the organic revenue decline was $21.9 or less than 1%. On an organic basis, revenue declined by 1% in the Americas and 2% in EMEA, while revenue in the Other category grew by 6%.
Cost of sales decreased by 130 basis points to 66.5% percent of revenue in 2017 compared to 2016. The improvement was primarily due to a 640 basis point improvement in EMEA, driven by the elimination of disruption costs and inefficiencies associated with operational footprint changes and other manufacturing and distribution issues experienced in the prior year, as well as benefits from cost reduction efforts, gross margin improvement initiatives and favorable shifts in business mix. Disruption costs and inefficiencies included labor premiums paid to employees during transition periods and labor inefficiencies caused by work stoppages or slowdowns resulting from restructuring activities. They also included incremental logistics costs caused by split shipments (linked to labor inefficiencies) and interim supply chains during production moves. Lastly, these costs included duplicate labor and overhead at the new Czech Republic facility and other plants impacted by production moves. Cost of sales in the Americas and Other category improved modestly compared to the prior year.
Operating expenses of $809.3 in 2017 represented an increase of 90 basis points as a percent of revenue compared to the prior year. Operating expenses increased by $13.0 in the Americas, $3.4 in EMEA and $3.3 in the Other category. The increase in the Americas was driven by higher sales, product development and marketing costs, partially offset by a reduction in variable compensation expense. The increase in EMEA was primarily driven by costs associated with the new Learning + Innovation Center in Munich, Germany partially offset by favorable currency translation effects. The increase in the Other category was driven by Designtex and Asia Pacific which posted strong revenue growth compared to the prior year.
We recorded net restructuring costs of $5.1 in 2017 compared to net restructuring costs of $19.9 in 2016. The 2017 amount included final costs related to the closure of the manufacturing facility in High Point, North Carolina, the closure of the manufacturing facility in Durlangen, Germany and the establishment of the Munich Learning + Innovation Center. The 2016 amount included costs associated with those three projects as well as the exit of a manufacturing facility in Wisches, France, partially offset by a $2.8 gain related to the sale of a facility in the Americas. See further discussion in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
Our 2017 effective tax rate was 36.5% compared to a 2016 effective tax rate of 2.6%. The 2017 effective tax rate reflected discrete tax expense associated with a change in the statutory tax rate in France which was partially offset by discrete tax benefits related to the outcome of a tax audit in EMEA. The 2016 rate reflected a discrete tax benefit related to the reversal of a valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets in France of $56.0 which resulted from the implementation of a contract manufacturing model in Q4 2015 between our U.S. parent company and our Steelcase European subsidiaries. As a result of this discrete tax benefit, our 2016 effective tax rate was significantly lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35%. See further discussion in Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.
2016 compared to 2015
We recorded net income of $170.3 and diluted earnings per share of $1.36 in 2016 compared to net income of $86.1 and diluted earnings per share of $0.68 in 2015. Net income in 2016 was positively impacted by the reversal of a valuation allowance recorded against net deferred tax assets in France and a gain from the partial sale of an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate in Q4 2016. These significant items, net of the associated variable compensation expense and income tax expense, had a combined favorable impact on net income of approximately $53 and on diluted earnings per share of approximately $0.42.  The comparison of net income from 2016 to 2015 was also positively impacted by restructuring charges which were $20.7 lower in 2016 compared to 2015.  Our 2016 results reflected strong operating performance in the Americas and improved operating performance in Asia Pacific, partially offset by higher costs in EMEA associated with manufacturing footprint changes and other operational challenges.
Revenue for 2016 of $3,060.0 represented a slight increase compared to the prior year. Growth in the Americas of 3% was offset by a decline of 13% in EMEA. The growth in the Americas was driven by increased volume, and approximately one-third of the growth rate was attributable to improved pricing. The revenue comparison in EMEA reflected $79.2 of unfavorable currency translation effects. Organic revenue growth for 2016 was $91.0 or 3%, with growth of 3% in the Americas segment, 1% in the EMEA segment and 4% in the Other category.
Operating income in 2016 of $174.6 or 5.7% of revenue compared to $144.9 or 4.8% in the prior year. The increase was driven by a $20.7 reduction in restructuring costs, strong operating performance in the Americas and improved operating performance in Asia Pacific, partially offset by an increase in cost of sales as a percent of

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revenue in EMEA and $13.7 of variable compensation expense associated with the large favorable tax item and non-operating gain recorded in Q4 2016. Adjusted operating income in 2016 increased by $9.0 or 4.9% to $194.5 compared to the prior year. The 2016 adjusted operating income margin of 6.4% represented a 30 basis point improvement compared to the prior year and reflected an impact of approximately 50 basis points from variable compensation expense associated with the two large items recorded in Q4 2016.
Cost of sales in 2016 was 67.8% as a percent of revenue, a 100 basis point decrease compared to 2015. The improvement was primarily driven by a 120 basis point improvement in the Americas, due to lower material, freight and distribution costs and improvements in negotiated customer pricing, partially offset by a 190 basis point decline in EMEA driven by manufacturing and distribution issues associated with the manufacturing footprint changes and an unfavorable shift in business mix. Cost of sales included disruption costs and inefficiencies of approximately $20 and $28 in 2016 and 2015, respectively, in EMEA.
Operating expenses of $790.0 in 2016 increased by $22.0 or 70 basis points as a percent of revenue compared to the prior year. Higher variable compensation expense of $21, additional expenses of $4 related to acquisitions, net of divestitures and other increases in operating expenses, including costs associated with establishing our new Learning + Innovation Center in Munich, were partially offset by approximately $24 of favorable currency translation effects.
We recorded net restructuring costs of $19.9 in 2016 compared to net restructuring costs of $40.6 in 2015. The 2016 amount included costs primarily associated with the closure of the Durlangen facility, and severance provisions related to the relocation of activities to the Learning + Innovation Center in Munich. The 2015 amount was primarily associated with manufacturing footprint changes in EMEA, partially offset by a gain related to the sale of an idle facility in the Americas.
In Q4 2015, we implemented changes in EMEA to align our tax structure with the management of our globally integrated business. Our U.S. parent company became the principal in a contract manufacturing model with our Steelcase European subsidiaries. During 2016, we generated taxable income for our French subsidiaries and allowed for partial utilization of the net operating loss carryforwards in France. In Q4 2016, we recognized a discrete tax benefit of $56.0 related to the reversal of the remaining valuation allowance recorded against our French net deferred tax assets. As a result of this discrete tax benefit, our 2016 effective tax rate of 2.6% was significantly lower than the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35%. Our 2015 effective tax rate was 37.2%.
Interest Expense, Investment Income and Other Income, Net
Interest Expense, Investment Income and Other Income, Net
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Interest expense
$
(17.2
)
 
$
(17.6
)
 
$
(17.7
)
 
Investment income
1.4

 
1.5

 
1.4

 
Other income (expense), net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
9.7

 
13.4

 
15.2

 
Foreign exchange gain (loss)
3.4

 
(4.0
)
 
(5.0
)
 
Miscellaneous, net
(1.2
)
 
6.9

 
(1.8
)
 
Total other income, net
11.9

 
16.3

 
8.4

 
Total interest expense, investment income and other income, net
$
(3.9
)
 
$
0.2

 
$
(7.9
)
 
Miscellaneous, net in 2016 included an $8.5 gain related to the partial sale of an unconsolidated affiliate.
Business Segment Disclosure
See Note 18 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information regarding our business segments.

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Americas
The Americas segment serves customers in the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean Islands and Latin America with a portfolio of integrated architecture, furniture and technology products marketed to corporate, government, healthcare, education and retail customers through the Steelcase, Coalesse and Turnstone brands.
Statement of Operations Data—
Americas
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Revenue
$
2,231.9

 
100.0
%
 
$
2,256.0

 
100.0
 %
 
$
2,180.7

 
100.0
 %
 
Cost of sales
1,453.4

 
65.1

 
1,473.6

 
65.3

 
1,449.3

 
66.5

 
Restructuring costs (benefits)
2.6

 
0.1

 
2.4

 
0.1

 
(10.0
)
 
(0.5
)
 
Gross profit
775.9

 
34.8

 
780.0

 
34.6

 
741.4

 
34.0

 
Operating expenses
530.7

 
23.8

 
517.7

 
23.0

 
481.5

 
22.1

 
Restructuring costs (benefits)

 

 
(2.9
)
 
(0.1
)
 

 

 
Operating income
$
245.2

 
11.0
%
 
$
265.2

 
11.7
 %
 
$
259.9

 
11.9
 %
 

Organic Revenue Growth (Decline)—Americas
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Prior year revenue
$
2,256.0

 
$
2,180.7

 
Currency translation effects *
(0.9
)
 
(19.0
)
 
   Prior year revenue, adjusted
2,255.1

 
2,161.7

 
Current year revenue
2,231.9

 
2,256.0

 
Acquisition
(6.8
)
 
(22.6
)
 
   Current year revenue, adjusted
2,225.1

 
2,233.4

 
Organic growth (decline) $
$
(30.0
)
 
$
71.7

 
Organic growth (decline) %
(1
)%
 
3
%
 
________________________
* Currency translation effects represent the net effect of translating prior year foreign currency revenues using the average exchange rate on a monthly basis during the current year.
Reconciliation of Operating Income to
Adjusted Operating Income—Americas
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Operating income
$
245.2

 
11.0
%
 
$
265.2

 
11.7
%
 
$
259.9

 
11.9
 %
 
Add: restructuring costs (benefits)
2.6

 
0.1

 
(0.5
)
 

 
(10.0
)
 
(0.5
)
 
Adjusted operating income
$
247.8

 
11.1
%
 
$
264.7

 
11.7
%
 
$
249.9

 
11.4
 %
 
2017 compared to 2016
Operating income in the Americas decreased by $20.0 in 2017 compared to the prior year. The decline was driven by lower sales volume and higher sales and marketing costs. After adjusting for the impact of restructuring costs, adjusted operating income decreased by $16.9 in 2017 compared to the prior year.
The Americas revenue represented 73.6% of consolidated revenue in 2017. Revenue for 2017 of $2,231.9 represented a decrease of $24.1 or 1% compared to 2016, and the decrease was due to lower volume. The decrease in revenue was driven by an ongoing shift in demand from products for traditional private offices and cubicle spaces towards more open-plan and collaborative solutions as well as a decline of approximately $45 in the Energy vertical market. These declines were partially offset by revenue generated by new products launched over the past 18 months. After adjusting for $0.9 of unfavorable currency translation effects and a $6.8 favorable impact of an acquisition, the organic revenue decline in 2017 was $30.0 or 1% compared to the prior year.

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Cost of sales in 2017 was 65.1% of revenue which compared to 65.3% of revenue in 2016. The slight decrease was primarily due to the benefits associated with cost reduction efforts, partially offset by unfavorable shifts in business mix.
Operating expenses in 2017 increased by $13.0, or 80 basis points as a percent of revenue, compared to the prior year. The increase was primarily due to $10.5 of higher sales, product development and marketing costs and higher corporate costs, partially offset by a reduction of $5 in variable compensation expense. We have been, and expect to continue increasing our operating expenses in support of various growth initiatives including new product introductions and other strategic actions.
Restructuring costs of $2.6 in 2017 were associated with the closure of the High Point facility and compared to net restructuring benefits of $0.5 in 2016 which included a $2.8 gain related to the sale of a facility, partially offset by costs associated with the High Point closure. See further discussion in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
2016 compared to 2015
Operating income in the Americas in 2016 improved by $5.3 compared to the prior year. Benefits associated with the revenue growth and lower cost of sales as a percent of revenue were partially offset by higher operating expenses and a reduction in net restructuring benefits compared to the prior year. The variable compensation expense associated with the large favorable tax item and non-operating gain recorded in Q4 2016 had a $10.6 impact on operating income. Adjusted operating income improved by $14.8 to 11.7% of revenue; the variable compensation expense associated with the two large items recorded in Q4 had an impact of approximately 50 basis points on adjusted operating income as a percent of revenue.
The Americas revenue represented 73.7% of consolidated revenue in 2016. Revenue for 2016 of $2,256.0 increased $75.3 or 3.5% compared to 2015 and reflected $19.0 of unfavorable currency translation effects and a $22.6 favorable impact of an acquisition. The revenue growth included higher volume and approximately one-third of the growth rate was attributable to improvements in negotiated customer pricing. Revenue growth in 2016 is categorized as follows:
Product categories — Six out of seven product categories grew in 2016, led by Furniture, Turnstone and Seating. Architectural Solutions also improved by achieving a double-digit percentage growth rate. Technology declined compared to the prior year.
Vertical markets — Federal Government, Financial Services, Technical and Professional and Manufacturing experienced strong growth rates, while Energy declined.
Geographic regions — The East and South Business Groups showed growth over 2015, while the West Business Group declined.
Contract type — Project sales and continuing business experienced growth, while marketing programs declined year-over-year.
Organic revenue growth in 2016 was $71.7 or 3% compared to the prior year.
Cost of sales decreased 120 basis points to 65.3% of revenue in 2016 compared to 66.5% of revenue in 2015. The primary drivers of the improvement were lower material, freight and distribution costs, which had an impact of approximately 200 basis points, and improvements in negotiated customer pricing, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates (Canadian dollar to U.S. dollar) and higher variable compensation costs.
Operating expenses in 2016 increased by $36.2, or 90 basis points as a percent of revenue, compared to the prior year primarily due to $14 of higher variable compensation expense of which $7.2 related to the two large items recorded in Q4 2016, $7 related to a small dealer acquisition and $5 of higher sales and marketing costs.
A net restructuring benefit of $0.5 recognized in 2016 included a $2.8 gain related to the sale of our Corporate Development Center that was closed as part of previously announced restructuring actions, partially offset by costs associated with the closure of the High Point facility. A net restructuring benefit of $10.0 in 2015 primarily related to proceeds received from the sale of an idle manufacturing facility exited as part of previously announced restructuring actions, partially offset by costs related to the closure of the High Point facility.

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EMEA
The EMEA segment serves customers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa primarily under the Steelcase and Coalesse brands, with an emphasis on freestanding furniture systems, storage and seating solutions.
Statement of Operations Data—EMEA
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Revenue
$
503.9

 
100.0
 %
 
$
520.6

 
100.0
 %
 
$
595.4

 
100.0
 %
 
Cost of sales
370.7

 
73.6

 
416.3

 
80.0

 
465.2

 
78.1

 
Restructuring costs
1.6

 
0.3

 
10.9

 
2.1

 
47.5

 
8.0

 
Gross profit
131.6

 
26.1

 
93.4

 
17.9

 
82.7

 
13.9

 
Operating expenses
151.6

 
30.1

 
148.2

 
28.5

 
162.4

 
27.3

 
Restructuring costs
0.9

 
0.1

 
9.5

 
1.8

 
3.1

 
0.5

 
Operating loss
$
(20.9
)
 
(4.1
)%
 
$
(64.3
)
 
(12.4
)%
 
$
(82.8
)
 
(13.9
)%
 

Organic Revenue Growth (Decline)—EMEA
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Prior year revenue
$
520.6

 
$
595.4

 
Divestitures

 
(3.2
)
 
Currency translation effects *
(9.0
)
 
(79.2
)
 
   Prior year revenue, adjusted
511.6

 
513.0

 
Current year revenue
503.9

 
520.6

 
Organic growth (decline) $
$
(7.7
)
 
$
7.6

 
Organic growth (decline) %
(2
)%
 
1
%
 
________________________
* Currency translation effects represent the net effect of translating prior year foreign currency revenues using the average exchange rate on a monthly basis during the current year.
Reconciliation of Operating Loss to
Adjusted Operating Loss—EMEA
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Operating loss
$
(20.9
)
 
(4.1
)%
 
$
(64.3
)
 
(12.4
)%
 
$
(82.8
)
 
(13.9
)%
 
Add: restructuring costs
2.5

 
0.4

 
20.4

 
3.9

 
50.6

 
8.5

 
Adjusted operating loss
$
(18.4
)
 
(3.7
)%
 
$
(43.9
)
 
(8.5
)%
 
$
(32.2
)
 
(5.4
)%
 
2017 compared to 2016
Operating results in EMEA improved significantly in 2017 compared to the prior year. The improvement was due to a significant decrease in cost of sales as a percent of revenue and lower restructuring costs compared to the prior year. After adjusting for the impact of restructuring costs, the adjusted operating loss improved by $25.5 compared to the prior year.
EMEA revenue represented 16.6% of consolidated revenue in 2017. Revenue declined by $16.7 or 3% compared to the prior year due to volume declines in the United Kingdom, Middle East and Africa, partially offset by revenue growth in central Europe, Iberia, Germany and France. After adjusting for $9.0 of unfavorable currency translation effects, the organic revenue decline was $7.7 or 2%.
Cost of sales as a percent of revenue decreased significantly in 2017 compared to the prior year, driven by the elimination of disruption costs and inefficiencies associated with operational footprint changes and other manufacturing and distribution issues experienced in the prior year. We incurred approximately $3 of costs related to these issues in 2017 compared to approximately $26 in 2016. The 2017 results also benefited from cost reduction efforts, gross margin improvement initiatives and favorable shifts in business mix.

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Operating expenses in 2017 increased by $3.4 compared to the prior year and reflected higher costs associated with our new Learning + Innovation Center in Munich partially offset by favorable currency translation effects. Operating expenses as a percent of revenue increased by 160 basis points in 2017.
Restructuring costs of $2.5 incurred in 2017 were related to the closure of the Durlangen facility which was completed in Q1 2017 and the establishment of the Learning + Innovation Center in Munich. Restructuring costs of $20.4 incurred in 2016 primarily related to the same two projects. See further discussion in Note 19 to the consolidated financial statements.
2016 compared to 2015
Operating results in EMEA reflected a significant decrease in restructuring costs compared to the prior year, offset by an increase in cost of sales and operating expenses as a percent of revenue compared to the prior year. EMEA's adjusted operating loss increased by $11.7.
EMEA revenue represented 17.0% of consolidated revenue in 2016. Revenue for 2016 reflected $79.2 of unfavorable currency translation effects and a $3.2 unfavorable impact from divestitures. Organic revenue growth was $7.6 or 1%, driven by growth in Iberia.
Cost of sales as a percent of revenue increased by 190 basis points in 2016 compared to the prior year. During 2016, we experienced manufacturing and distribution issues including power outages and equipment failures at our new facility in the Czech Republic and other startup related issues which resulted in incremental costs, labor inefficiencies and dealer incentives and reimbursements of approximately $6 in aggregate which were incurred in the second and third quarters of 2016. The 2016 results also reflected unfavorable shifts in product and business mix partially offset by the benefits from restructuring activities.
Cost of sales in 2016 and 2015 included $20 and $28, respectively, of disruption costs and inefficiencies associated with the manufacturing footprint changes initiated in prior years.
Operating expenses in 2016 decreased by $14.2 compared to the prior year. The 2016 operating expenses reflected favorable currency translation effects of $19. Operating expenses in local currency increased in 2016 primarily due to costs associated with establishing our new Learning + Innovation Center in Munich and higher variable compensation expense. Operating expenses as a percent of revenue increased by 120 basis points in 2016.
Restructuring costs of $20.4 incurred in 2016 primarily consisted of costs associated with the closure of the Durlangen facility and severance provisions related to the relocation of activities to the Learning + Innovation Center in Munich. Net restructuring costs of $50.6 incurred in 2015 were primarily associated with the transfer of the assets and activities of the Wisches manufacturing facility to a third party and costs related to the closure of the Durlangen facility.
Other
The Other category includes Asia Pacific, Designtex and PolyVision. Asia Pacific serves customers in Asia and Australia primarily under the Steelcase brand with an emphasis on freestanding furniture systems, seating and storage solutions. Designtex primarily sells textiles, wall coverings and surface imaging solutions specified by architects and designers directly to end-use customers through a direct sales force primarily in North America. PolyVision manufactures ceramic steel surfaces for use in various applications globally, including static whiteboards and chalkboards sold through third party fabricators and distributors to the primary and secondary education markets and architectural panels and other special applications sold through general contractors for commercial and infrastructure projects.

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Table of Contents

Statement of Operations Data—Other
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Revenue
$
296.6

 
100.0
%
 
$
283.4

 
100.0
%
 
$
283.6

 
100.0
%
 
Cost of sales
193.7

 
65.3

 
185.6

 
65.5

 
191.7

 
67.6

 
Restructuring costs

 

 

 

 

 

 
Gross profit
102.9

 
34.7

 
97.8

 
34.5

 
91.9

 
32.4

 
Operating expenses
89.9

 
30.3

 
86.6

 
30.5

 
87.1

 
30.7

 
Restructuring costs

 

 

 

 

 

 
Operating income
$
13.0

 
4.4
%
 
$
11.2

 
4.0
%
 
$
4.8

 
1.7
%
 
 
Organic Revenue Growth—Other
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Prior year revenue
$
283.4

 
$
283.6

 
Currency translation effects *
(2.6
)
 
(11.9
)
 
   Prior year revenue, adjusted
280.8

 
271.7

 
Current year revenue
296.6

 
283.4

 
Organic growth $
$
15.8

 
$
11.7

 
Organic growth %
6
%
 
4
%
 
________________________
* Currency translation effects represent the net effect of translating prior year foreign currency revenues using the average exchange rate on a monthly basis during the current year.

Reconciliation of Operating Income to
Adjusted Operating Income—Other
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Operating income
$
13.0

 
4.4
%
 
$
11.2

 
4.0
%
 
$
4.8

 
1.7
%
 
Add: restructuring costs

 

 

 

 

 

 
Adjusted operating income
$
13.0

 
4.4
%
 
$
11.2

 
4.0
%
 
$
4.8

 
1.7
%
 
2017 compared to 2016
Operating results in the Other category improved in 2017 compared to the prior year driven by improved performance in Asia Pacific, partially offset by lower income at PolyVision, while operating performance at Designtex was consistent with the prior year. The 2017 performance in Asia Pacific represented record sales and operating income levels.
Revenue in the Other category represented 9.8% of consolidated revenue in 2017. Revenue in 2017 increased by $13.2 or 5% compared to the prior year due to strong growth in Asia Pacific and Designtex partially offset by lower volume at PolyVision.
Cost of sales as a percent of revenue decreased slightly in 2017 compared to the prior year. Asia Pacific and Designtex posted improvements, while gross margin performance at PolyVision was consistent with the prior year.
Operating expenses as a percent of revenue decreased slightly in 2017 compared to the prior year. The improvement was driven by Asia Pacific, while operating expenses as a percent of revenue at Designtex and PolyVision increased modestly compared with the prior year.
2016 compared to 2015
Revenue in the Other category represented 9.3% of consolidated revenue in 2016. Operating results in the Other category in 2016 improved significantly compared to the prior year. Improved operating performance in Asia

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Table of Contents

Pacific offset lower operating performance at PolyVision, while operating performance at Designtex was comparable to the prior year.
Cost of sales as a percent of revenue decreased by 210 basis points in 2016 compared to the prior year. Improvements in Asia Pacific were partially offset by higher costs at PolyVision. The decrease in cost of sales in Asia Pacific was driven by favorable foreign currency exchange rates and improved business and product mix.
Asia Pacific recorded operating income in the 2016 compared to an operating loss in the prior year. The improvement was driven by organic revenue growth, favorable foreign currency exchange rates and improved business mix.
Operating income at PolyVision declined compared to the prior year. The decline was driven by reduced volume, an increase in cost of sales as a percent of revenue and higher operating expense.
Corporate
Corporate expenses include unallocated portions of shared service functions, such as information technology, corporate facilities, finance, human resources, research, legal and customer aviation, plus deferred compensation expense and income or losses associated with COLI.
Statement of Operations Data—Corporate
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Operating expenses
$
37.1

 
$
37.5

 
$
37.0

 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Liquidity
Based on current business conditions, we target maintaining a range of $75 to $150 in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments to fund day-to-day operations, including seasonal disbursements, particularly the annual payment of accrued variable compensation and retirement plan contributions in Q1 of each fiscal year. In addition, we may carry additional liquidity for potential investments in strategic initiatives and as a cushion against economic volatility.
Liquidity Sources
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Cash and cash equivalents
$
197.1

 
$
181.9

 
Short-term investments
73.4

 
84.1

 
Company-owned life insurance
168.8

 
160.4

 
Availability under credit facilities
150.3

 
151.7

 
Total liquidity
$
589.6

 
$
578.1

 
As of February 24, 2017, we held a total of $270.5 in cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. The majority of our short-term investments are located in the U.S. Of our total $197.1 in cash and cash equivalents, 72% was located in the U.S. and the remaining 28%, or $56.0, was located outside of the U.S., primarily in France, China (including Hong Kong), Mexico, and Canada. Amounts located outside the U.S. would be taxable if repatriated to the U.S. as dividends, but we do not anticipate repatriating such amounts or needing them for operations in the U.S. Such amounts are considered available to repay intercompany debt, available to meet local working capital requirements or permanently reinvested in foreign subsidiaries.
The majority of our short-term investments are maintained in a managed investment portfolio, which primarily consists of corporate debt securities and U.S. agency debt securities.
Our investments in COLI policies are intended to be utilized as a long-term funding source for long-term benefit obligations. However, COLI can be used as a source of liquidity. We believe the financial strength of the issuing insurance companies associated with our COLI policies is sufficient to meet their obligations. COLI investments are recorded at their net cash surrender value. See Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for more information.
Availability under credit facilities may be reduced related to compliance with applicable covenants. See Liquidity Facilities for more information.
The following table summarizes our consolidated statements of cash flows:

27

Table of Contents

Cash Flow Data
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Net cash flow provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
$
170.7

 
$
186.4

 
$
84.2

 
Investing activities
(48.4
)
 
(87.8
)
 
(14.3
)
 
Financing activities
(105.9
)
 
(90.1
)
 
(89.8
)
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(1.2
)
 
(3.1
)
 
(5.4
)
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
15.2

 
5.4

 
(25.3
)
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
181.9

 
176.5

 
201.8

 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
$
197.1

 
$
181.9

 
$
176.5

 
Cash provided by operating activities
Cash Flow Data—Operating Activities
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Net income
$
124.6

 
$
170.3

 
$
86.1

 
Depreciation and amortization
60.3

 
65.7

 
59.9

 
Gain from partial sale of investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 
(8.5
)
 

 
Deferred income taxes
26.8

 
(68.3
)
 
0.4

 
Restructuring gains on sale of fixed assets

 
(2.8
)
 
(12.0
)
 
Non-cash stock compensation
19.8

 
21.0

 
18.4

 
Equity in income of unconsolidated affiliates
(9.7
)
 
(13.4
)
 
(15.2
)
 
Dividends received from unconsolidated affiliates
9.9

 
12.4

 
10.7

 
Other
(8.8
)
 
0.3

 
(5.1
)
 
Changes in accounts receivable, inventories and accounts payable
16.3

 
3.4

 
(58.3
)
 
Assets related to derivative instruments
(1.8
)
 
22.3

 
(23.8
)
 
VAT recoverable
17.0

 
(28.9
)
 
(4.3
)
 
Long-term income taxes receivable
(18.5
)
 

 

 
Changes in employee compensation liabilities
(8.8
)
 
20.4

 
(0.8
)
 
Changes in other operating assets and liabilities
(56.4
)
 
(7.5
)
 
28.2

 
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
170.7

 
$
186.4

 
$
84.2

 
The decrease in cash provided by operating activities in 2017 compared to 2016 was partially driven by higher variable compensation payments compared to the prior year and a decrease in various accrued expense accounts offset by a reduction in VAT recoverable. 2016 also included proceeds from the settlement of foreign exchange forward contracts. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in 2016 compared to 2015 was largely due to a decrease in the use of working capital related to modest organic revenue growth in Q4 2016 compared to strong organic revenue growth in Q4 2015 and the settlement of foreign exchange contracts, partially offset by an increase in VAT recoverable.

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Cash used in investing activities
Cash Flow Data—Investing Activities
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Capital expenditures
$
(61.1
)
 
$
(93.4
)
 
$
(97.5
)
 
Proceeds from disposal of fixed assets
1.9

 
5.6

 
19.7

 
Purchases of investments
(112.6
)
 
(105.7
)
 
(91.4
)
 
Liquidations of investments
126.6

 
95.1

 
149.1

 
Proceeds from partial sale of investment in unconsolidated affiliate

 
18.0

 

 
Other
(3.2
)
 
(7.4
)
 
5.8

 
Net cash used in investing activities
$
(48.4
)
 
$
(87.8
)
 
$
(14.3
)
 
Capital expenditures in 2017 were primarily related to investments in manufacturing operations and the establishment of the Learning + Innovation Center in Munich. Capital expenditures in 2016 included $26.0 in progress payments toward a new aircraft and investments in manufacturing operations. Capital expenditures in 2015 were primarily related to investments in manufacturing operations, including a new manufacturing location in the Czech Republic, and product development.
Liquidations of short-term investments were higher in 2017 compared to 2016 in order to fund higher variable compensation payments and other liquidity needs. The net increase in investments in 2016 was related to our increase in cash provided by operating activities and the proceeds from the partial sale of an investment in an unconsolidated affiliate. The net reduction in investments in 2015 was primarily related to the funding of restructuring costs in EMEA.
Cash provided by investing activities in 2015 included the receipt of proceeds related to the sale of a former manufacturing facility.
Cash used in financing activities
Cash Flow Data—Financing Activities
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Dividends paid
$
(58.5
)
 
$
(57.0
)
 
$
(52.5
)
 
Common stock repurchases
(48.4
)
 
(56.4
)
 
(36.3
)
 
Excess tax benefit from vesting of stock awards
3.3

 
7.0

 
1.6

 
Net borrowings and repayments of debt
(2.3
)
 
16.3

 
(2.6
)
 
Net cash used in financing activities
$
(105.9
)
 
$
(90.1
)
 
$
(89.8
)
 
We paid dividends of $0.12, $0.1125 and $0.105 per common share during each quarter in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. On March 21, 2017, our Board of Directors declared a dividend of $0.1275 per common share to be paid in Q1 2018.
During 2017, 2016 and 2015, we made common stock repurchases of $48.4, $56.4, and $36.3, respectively, all of which related to our Class A Common Stock. As of February 24, 2017, we had $126.5 of remaining availability under the $150 share repurchase program approved by our Board of Directors in Q4 2016.
Share repurchases of Class A Common Stock to enable participants to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon vesting of restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance units, pursuant to the terms of our Incentive Compensation Plan, were $6.9, $13.0, and $4.9 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.
Capital Resources
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
We are contingently liable under loan and lease guarantees for certain independent dealers in the event of default or non-performance of the financial repayment of a liability. In certain cases, we also guarantee completion of contracts by our dealers. Due to the contingent nature of guarantees, the full value of the guarantees is not

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recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets; however, when necessary, we record reserves to cover potential losses. As of February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016, there were no reserves for guarantees recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations as of February 24, 2017 were as follows:
Contractual Obligations
Payments Due by Period
Total
Less than
1 Year
1-3
Years
3-5
Years
After 5
Years
Long-term debt and short-term borrowings
$
297.4

 
$
2.8

 
$
5.5

 
$
254.0

 
$
35.1

 
Estimated interest on debt obligations
68.7

 
16.8

 
33.5

 
17.4

 
1.0

 
Operating leases
211.4

 
50.3

 
71.1

 
43.5

 
46.5

 
Committed capital expenditures
21.6

 
21.6

 

 

 

 
Purchase obligations
63.6

 
39.8

 
17.1

 
6.7

 

 
Other liabilities
0.9

 
0.9

 

 

 

 
Employee benefit and compensation obligations
278.8

 
148.0

 
36.0

 
18.7

 
76.1

 
Total
$
942.4

 
$
280.2

 
$
163.2

 
$
340.3

 
$
158.7

 
Total consolidated debt as of February 24, 2017 was $297.4. Of our total debt, $248.8 is in the form of term notes due in 2021 and $48.0 is related to financing secured by two of our corporate aircraft due in 2024.
We have commitments related to certain sales offices, showrooms, warehouses and equipment under non-cancelable operating leases that expire at various dates through 2026. Minimum payments under operating leases, net of sublease rental income, are presented in the contractual obligations table above.
Committed capital expenditures represent obligations we have related to property, plant and equipment purchases.
Purchase obligations represent obligations under non-cancelable contracts to purchase goods or services beyond the needs of meeting current backlog or production.
Other liabilities represent obligations for foreign exchange forward contracts.
Employee benefit and compensation obligations represent contributions and benefit payments expected to be made for our post-retirement, pension, deferred compensation, defined contribution, severance arrangements and variable compensation plans. Our obligations related to post-retirement benefit plans are not contractual, and the plans could be amended at the discretion of the Compensation Committee of our Board of Directors. We limited our disclosure of post-retirement and pension contributions and benefit payments to 10 years as information beyond this time period was not available. See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
The contractual obligations table above is presented as of February 24, 2017. The amounts of these obligations could change materially over time as new contracts or obligations are initiated and existing contracts or obligations are terminated or modified. We anticipate the cash expected to be generated from future operations, current cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances, funds available under our credit facilities and funds available from COLI will be sufficient to fulfill our existing contractual obligations.

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Liquidity Facilities
Our total liquidity facilities as of February 24, 2017 were:
Liquidity Facilities
February 24,
2017
Global committed bank facility
$
125.0

Various uncommitted lines
25.3

Total credit lines available
150.3

Less: borrowings outstanding

Available capacity
$
150.3

We have a $125 global committed five-year bank facility which was entered into in Q3 2017. This facility amended and restated our former facility which was scheduled to expire in Q1 2018. As of February 24, 2017, there were no borrowings outstanding under the facility, our availability was not limited, and we were in compliance with all covenants under the facility.
The various uncommitted lines may be changed or canceled by the applicable lenders at any time. There were no outstanding borrowings under uncommitted facilities as of February 24, 2017.
In addition, we have credit agreements of $35.2 which can be utilized to support letters of credit, bank guarantees, or foreign exchange contracts. Letters of credit and bank guarantees of $12.3 were outstanding under these facilities as of February 24, 2017. We had no draws against our standby letters of credit during 2017 or 2016.
Total consolidated debt as of February 24, 2017 was $297.4. Our debt primarily consists of $248.8 in term notes due in Q4 2021 with an effective interest rate of 6.6%. In addition, we have a term loan with a balance as of February 24, 2017 of $48.0. This term loan has a floating interest rate based on 30-day LIBOR plus 1.20% and is due in 2024. The term notes are unsecured, and the term loan is secured by two of our corporate aircraft. The term notes and the term loan contain no financial covenants and are not cross-defaulted to our other debt facilities.
See Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Liquidity Outlook
Our current cash and cash equivalents and short-term investment balances, funds available under our credit facilities, funds available from COLI and cash generated from future operations are expected to be sufficient to finance our known or foreseeable liquidity needs. We continue to maintain a conservative approach to liquidity and have flexibility over significant uses of cash including our capital expenditures and discretionary operating expenses.
Our significant funding requirements include operating expenses, non-cancelable operating lease obligations, capital expenditures, variable compensation and retirement plan contributions, dividend payments and debt service obligations.
We expect capital expenditures to total approximately $80 to $90 in 2018 compared to $61 in 2017. This amount includes investments in our global manufacturing operations, product development and new Learning + Innovation Center in Munich, Germany. We closely manage capital spending to ensure we are making investments that we believe will sustain our business and preserve our ability to introduce innovative new products.
On March 21, 2017, we announced a quarterly dividend on our common stock of $0.1275 per share, or $15.3, to be paid in Q1 2018. Future dividends will be subject to approval by our Board of Directors.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is based upon our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Our consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These principles require the use of estimates and assumptions that affect amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although these estimates are based on historical data and management’s knowledge of current events and actions it may undertake in the future, actual results may differ

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from the estimates if different conditions occur. The accounting estimates that typically involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity are listed and explained below. These estimates were discussed with the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors and affect all of our segments.
Income Taxes
Our annual effective tax rate is based on income, statutory tax rates and tax planning strategies in various jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws are complex and subject to different interpretations by the taxpayer and respective governmental taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in determining our tax expense and in evaluating tax positions.
We are audited by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service under the Compliance Assurance Process (“CAP”). Under CAP, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service works with large business taxpayers to identify and resolve issues prior to the filing of a tax return. Accordingly, we expect to record minimal liabilities for U.S. Federal uncertain tax positions. Tax positions are reviewed regularly for state, local and non-U.S. tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions and balances are adjusted as new information becomes available. Our liability for uncertain tax positions in these jurisdictions is $0.2 as of February 24, 2017.
Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. These assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse. In evaluating our ability to recover deferred tax assets within the jurisdiction from which they arise, we consider all positive and negative evidence. These expectations require significant judgment and are developed using forecasts of future taxable income that are consistent with the internal plans and estimates we are using to manage the underlying business. Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future.
Future tax benefits of tax losses are recognized to the extent that realization of these benefits is considered more likely than not. As of February 24, 2017, we recorded tax benefits from net operating loss carryforwards of $57.0. We also have recorded valuation allowances totaling $7.9 against these assets, which reduced our recorded tax benefit to $49.1. It is considered more likely than not that a $49.1 cash benefit will be realized on these carryforwards in future periods. This determination is based on the expectation that related operations will be sufficiently profitable or various tax, business and other planning strategies will enable us to utilize the carryforwards. To the extent that available evidence raises doubt about the realization of a deferred tax asset, a valuation allowance would be established or adjusted. A change in judgment regarding our expected ability to realize deferred tax assets would be accounted for as a discrete tax expense or benefit in the period in which it occurs.
During 2017, we amended certain of our U.S. federal income tax returns for prior periods to claim an aggregate of $17.0 of foreign tax credits. We believe that the refunds generated by these amendments will not be received within the next 12 months, and we have classified them as non-current assets. As of February 24, 2017, the remaining deferred tax assets related to tax credit carryforwards was $17.4 and consisted primarily of U.S. foreign tax credits and investment tax credits granted by the Czech Republic. The U.S. foreign tax credit carryforward period is 10 years, and utilization of foreign tax credits is restricted to 35% of foreign source taxable income in that year. We have projected our pretax domestic earnings and foreign source income based on historical results and expect to fully utilize the remaining excess foreign tax credits (as well as the remaining other credits) within the allowable carryforward period. The carryforward period for the Czech Republic investment tax credits is also 10 years. We have projected our pretax earnings in the Czech Republic and also expect to fully utilize these credits within the allowable carryover period. Similar to our treatment of operating loss carryforwards, a valuation allowance would be established on the credit carryforwards if available evidence raises doubt about their expected realization.
A 10% decrease in the expected amount of cash benefit to be realized on the carryforwards would have resulted in a decrease in net income for 2017 of approximately $6.7.
See Note 15 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

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Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the difference between the purchase price and the related underlying tangible and identifiable intangible net asset values resulting from business acquisitions. Annually in Q4, or earlier if conditions indicate it is necessary, the carrying value of the reporting unit is compared to an estimate of its fair value. If the estimated fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, goodwill is impaired and is written down to its estimated fair value. Goodwill is assigned to and the fair value is tested at the reporting unit level. In 2017, we evaluated goodwill and intangible assets using six reporting units: the Americas, Red Thread, EMEA, Asia Pacific, Designtex and PolyVision.
Annually in Q4, or earlier if conditions indicate it is necessary, we also perform an impairment analysis of our intangible assets not subject to amortization using an income approach based on the cash flows attributable to the related products. An impairment loss is recognized if the carrying amount of a long-lived asset exceeds its estimated fair value. In testing for impairment, we first determine if the asset is recoverable and then compare the discounted cash flows over the asset’s remaining life to the carrying value.
During Q4 2017, we performed our annual impairment assessment of goodwill in our reporting units. In the first step to test for potential impairment, we measured the estimated fair value of our reporting units using a discounted cash flow (“DCF”) valuation method. The DCF analysis calculated the present value of projected cash flows and a residual value using discount rates that ranged from 10.0% to 15.0%. Considerable management judgment is necessary to evaluate the impact of operating changes and to estimate future cash flows in measuring fair value. Assumptions used in our impairment valuations, such as forecasted growth rates, expected levels of operating income and estimated capital investment, are consistent with our current internal projections. These assumptions could change over time, which may result in future impairment charges.
There were no impairments for any reporting units in 2017.
As of February 24, 2017, we had remaining goodwill and net intangible assets recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as follows:
Reportable Segment
Goodwill
Other Intangible
Assets, Net
Americas
$
88.2

 
$
12.6

 
EMEA

 
0.3

 
Other category
18.5

 
3.9

 
Total
$
106.7

 
$
16.8

 
As of the valuation date, the enterprise value available for goodwill determined as described above is in excess of the underlying reported value of goodwill as follows:
Reportable Segment
Enterprise Value
Available in Excess
of Goodwill
Americas
$
1,297.0

Other category
33.0

For each reporting unit, the excess enterprise value available for goodwill is primarily driven by the residual value of future years. Thus, increasing the discount rate by 1%, leaving all other assumptions unchanged, would reduce the enterprise value in excess of goodwill to the following amounts:
Reportable Segment
Enterprise Value
Available in Excess
of Goodwill
Americas
$
1,094.0

Other category
25.0

As of February 24, 2017, no reporting unit had goodwill balances in excess of enterprise value available for goodwill based on the sensitivity analysis above.
See Note 2 and Note 10 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

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Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits
We sponsor a number of domestic and foreign plans to provide pension, medical and life insurance benefits to retired employees. As of February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016, the benefit obligations, fair value of plan assets and funded status of these plans were as follows:
 
Defined Benefit
Pension Plans
Post-Retirement
Plans
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
Fair value of plan assets
$
46.7

 
$
47.3

 
$

 
$

 
Benefit plan obligations
96.8

 
93.4

 
46.0

 
66.2

 
Funded status
$
(50.1
)
 
$
(46.1
)
 
$
(46.0
)
 
$
(66.2
)
 
The post-retirement medical and life insurance plans are unfunded. As of February 24, 2017, approximately 67% of our unfunded defined benefit pension obligations is related to our non-qualified supplemental retirement plan that is limited to a select group of management approved by the Compensation Committee. Our investments in whole life and variable life COLI policies with a net cash surrender value of $168.8 as of February 24, 2017 are intended to be utilized as a long-term funding source for post-retirement medical benefits, deferred compensation and defined benefit pension plan obligations. The asset values of the COLI policies are not segregated in a trust specifically for the plans and thus are not considered plan assets. Changes in the values of these policies have no effect on the post-retirement benefits expense, defined benefit pension expense or benefit obligations recorded in the consolidated financial statements.
We recognize the cost of benefits provided during retirement over the employees’ active working lives. Inherent in this approach is the requirement to use various actuarial assumptions to predict and measure costs and obligations many years prior to the settlement date. Key actuarial assumptions that require significant management judgment and have a material impact on the measurement of our consolidated benefits expense and benefit obligations include, among others, the discount rate and health care cost trend rates. These and other assumptions are reviewed with our actuaries and updated annually based on relevant external and internal factors and information, including, but not limited to, benefit payments, expenses paid from the plan, rates of termination, medical inflation, regulatory requirements, plan changes and governmental coverage changes.
To conduct our annual review of discount rates, we perform a matching exercise of projected plan cash flows against spot rates on a yield curve comprised of high quality corporate bonds as of the measurement date (the Ryan ALM Top Third curve). The measurement dates for our retiree benefit plans are consistent with the last day in February. Accordingly, we select discount rates to measure our benefit obligations that are consistent with market indices at the end of February.
Based on consolidated benefit obligations as of February 24, 2017, a one percentage point decline in the weighted-average discount rate used for benefit plan measurement purposes would have changed the 2017 consolidated benefits expense by less than $1 and the consolidated benefit obligations by less than $7. All obligation-related experience gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line method over the average remaining service period of active plan participants.
To conduct our annual review of healthcare cost trend rates, we model our actual claims cost data over a historical period, including an analysis of the pre-65 age group and other important demographic components of our covered retiree population. This data is adjusted to eliminate the impact of plan changes and other factors that would tend to distort the underlying cost inflation trends. Our initial healthcare cost trend rate is reviewed annually and adjusted as necessary to remain consistent with recent historical experience and our expectations regarding short-term future trends. As of February 24, 2017, our initial rate of 7.28% for pre-age 65 retirees was trended downward by each year, until the ultimate trend rate of 4.50% was reached. The ultimate trend rate is adjusted annually, as necessary, to approximate the current economic view on the rate of long-term inflation plus an appropriate healthcare cost premium. Post-age 65 trend rates are not applicable as our plan provides a fixed subsidy for post-age 65 benefits.
Based on consolidated benefit obligations as of February 24, 2017, a one percentage point increase or decrease in the assumed healthcare cost trend rates would have changed the 2017 consolidated benefits expense by less than $1 and changed the consolidated benefit obligations by less than $1. All experience gains and losses are amortized using a straight-line method, over at least the minimum amortization period prescribed by accounting guidance.

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Despite the previously described policies for selecting key actuarial assumptions, we periodically experience material differences between assumed and actual experience. Our consolidated net unamortized prior service credits and net experience losses are recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets.
See Note 13 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Forward-Looking Statements
From time to time, in written and oral statements, we discuss our expectations regarding future events and our plans and objectives for future operations. These forward-looking statements discuss goals, intentions and expectations as to future trends, plans, events, results of operations or financial condition, or state other information relating to us, based on current beliefs of management as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, us. Forward-looking statements generally are accompanied by words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “may,” “possible,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” or other similar words, phrases or expressions. Although we believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are based upon a number of assumptions concerning future conditions, any or all of which may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to vary from our expectations because of factors such as, but not limited to, competitive and general economic conditions domestically and internationally; acts of terrorism, war, governmental action, natural disasters and other Force Majeure events; changes in the legal and regulatory environment; changes in raw materials and commodity costs; currency fluctuations; changes in customer demands; and the other risks and contingencies detailed in this Report and our other filings with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to update, amend or clarify forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Recently Issued Accounting Standards
See Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements for information regarding recently issued accounting standards.
Item 7A.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk:
We are exposed to market risks from foreign currency exchange, interest rates, commodity prices and fixed income and equity prices, which could affect our operating results, financial position and cash flows.
Foreign Currency Exchange Risk
We are exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risk primarily on sales commitments, anticipated sales and purchases and assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar. In 2017, 2016 and 2015, we transacted business in 17 primary currencies worldwide, of which the most significant were the U.S. dollar, the euro, the Canadian dollar, the United Kingdom pound sterling, the Mexican peso, the Chinese renminbi and the Malaysian ringgit. Revenue from foreign locations represented approximately 31% of our consolidated revenue in 2017, 30% in 2016 and 32% in 2015. We actively manage the foreign currency exposures that are associated with committed foreign currency purchases and sales created in the normal course of business at the local entity level. Exposures that cannot be naturally offset within a local entity to an immaterial amount are often hedged with foreign currency derivatives or netted with offsetting exposures at other entities. We do not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes. Our results are affected by the strength of the currencies in countries where we manufacture or purchase goods relative to the strength of the currencies in countries where our products are sold.
We estimate that an additional 10% strengthening of the U.S. dollar against local currencies would have decreased operating income by less than $5 in 2017 and increased operating income by less than $5 in 2016 and 2015. These estimates assume no changes other than the exchange rate itself. However, this quantitative measure has inherent limitations. The sensitivity analysis disregards the possibility that rates can move in opposite directions and that gains from one currency may or may not be offset by losses from another currency.
The translation of the assets and liabilities of our international subsidiaries is made using the foreign currency exchange rates as of the end of the fiscal year. Translation adjustments are not included in determining net income but are included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) within shareholders’ equity on the Consolidated Balance Sheets until a sale or substantially complete liquidation of the net investment in the international subsidiary takes place. In certain markets, we could recognize a significant gain or loss related to unrealized cumulative translation adjustments if we were to exit the market and liquidate our net investment. As of February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016, the cumulative net currency translation adjustments reduced shareholders’ equity by $63.3 and $50.9, respectively.
Foreign currency exchange gains and losses reflect transaction gains and losses, which arise from monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than a business unit’s functional currency and are recorded in Other income (expense), net on the Consolidated Statements of Income. In 2017 net foreign exchange gains were $3.4. In 2016 and 2015, net foreign currency exchange losses were $4.0 and $5.0, respectively.
See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Interest Rate Risk
We are exposed to interest rate risk primarily on our short-term and long-term investments and short-term and long-term borrowings. Our short-term investments are primarily invested in U.S. agency debt securities, U.S. government debt securities and highly-rated corporate debt securities. The risk on our short-term and long-term borrowings is primarily related to a floating interest rate loan with a balance of $48.0 and $50.1 as of February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016, respectively. This loan bears a floating interest rate based on 30-day LIBOR plus 1.20%.
We estimate a 1% increase in interest rates would have increased our net income by less than $1 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, mainly as a result of higher interest income on our investments. Significant changes in interest rates could have an impact on the market value of our managed fixed-income investment portfolio. However, this quantitative measure has inherent limitations since not all of our investments are in similar asset classes. In addition, our investment manager actively manages certain investments, thus our results could be better or worse

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than market returns. As of February 24, 2017, approximately 57% of our fixed-income investments mature within one year, approximately 10% in two years, approximately 10% in three years and approximately 23% in four or more years.
See Note 6 and Note 12 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.
Commodity Price Risk
We are exposed to commodity price risk primarily on our raw material purchases. These raw materials are not rare or unique to our industry. The cost of steel, petroleum-based products, aluminum, other metals, wood, particleboard and other commodities, such as fuel and energy, has fluctuated in recent years due to changes in global supply and demand. Our gross margins could be affected if these types of costs continue to fluctuate. We actively manage these raw material costs through global sourcing initiatives and price increases on our products. However, in the short-term, rapid increases in raw material costs can be very difficult to offset with price increases because of contractual agreements with our customers, and it is difficult to find effective financial instruments to hedge against such changes.
As a result of changes in commodity costs, cost of sales decreased approximately $6 and $40 during 2017 and 2016, respectively, and cost of sales increased approximately $6 in 2015. The decrease in commodity costs during 2017 was driven primarily by lower transportation and other costs, partially offset by higher steel costs. The decrease in commodity costs during 2016 was driven primarily by lower steel costs. We estimate that a 1% increase in commodity prices, assuming no offsetting benefit of price increases, would have decreased our operating income by approximately $12 in 2017, 2016 and 2015. This quantitative measure has inherent limitations given the likelihood of implementing pricing actions to offset significant increases in commodity prices.
Fixed Income and Equity Price Risk
We are exposed to fixed income and equity price risk primarily on the cash surrender value associated with our investments in variable life COLI policies. Our variable life COLI policies were allocated at approximately 40% fixed income and 60% equity investments as of February 24, 2017.
We estimate a 10% adverse change in the value of the equity portion of our variable life COLI investments would reduce our net income in 2017, 2016 and 2015 by approximately $3, $3 and $2, respectively. However, given that a portion of the investments in COLI policies are intended to be utilized as a long-term funding source for deferred compensation obligations, any adverse change in the equity portion of our variable life COLI investments may be partially offset by favorable changes in deferred compensation liabilities. We estimate that the risk of changes in the value of the variable life COLI investments due to other factors, including changes in interest rates, yield curve and portfolio duration, would not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition. This quantitative measure has inherent limitations since not all of our investments are in similar asset classes.
See Note 6 and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements for additional information.

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Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data:
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting. This system is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Our internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of our assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, a system of internal control over financial reporting can provide only reasonable assurance and may not prevent or detect all misstatements. Further, because of changes in conditions, effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting may vary over time.
Management assessed the effectiveness of the system of internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management determined that our system of internal control over financial reporting was effective as of February 24, 2017.
Deloitte & Touche LLP, the independent registered certified public accounting firm that audited our financial statements included in this annual report on Form 10-K, also audited the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as stated in their report which is included herein.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
STEELCASE INC.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Steelcase Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of February 24, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company's management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel 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 (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) 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 (3) 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 the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of February 24, 2017, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended February 24, 2017 of the Company and our report dated April 14, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.
 
/s/    Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
 
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
 
April 14, 2017
 

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
STEELCASE INC.
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Steelcase Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016, and the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February 24, 2017. Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15. These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Steelcase Inc. and subsidiaries at February 24, 2017 and February 26, 2016 and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February 24, 2017, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of February 24, 2017, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated April 14, 2017 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company's internal control over financial reporting.
 
/s/    Deloitte & Touche LLP
 
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
 
 
 
Grand Rapids, Michigan
 
April 14, 2017
 

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STEELCASE INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(in millions, except per share data)
 
Year Ended
February 24,
2017
February 26,
2016
February 27,
2015
Revenue
$
3,032.4

 
$
3,060.0

 
$
3,059.7

 
Cost of sales
2,017.8

 
2,075.5

 
2,106.2

 
Restructuring costs
4.2

 
13.3

 
37.5

 
Gross profit
1,010.4

 
971.2

 
916.0

 
Operating expenses
809.3

 
790.0

 
768.0

 
Restructuring costs
0.9

 
6.6

 
3.1

 
Operating income
200.2

 
174.6

 
144.9

 
Interest expense
(17.2
)
 
(17.6
)
 
(17.7
)
 
Investment income
1.4

 
1.5

 
1.4

 
Other income, net
11.9

 
16.3

 
8.4

 
Income before income tax expense
196.3

 
174.8

 
137.0

 
Income tax expense
71.7

 
4.5

 
50.9

 
Net income
$
124.6

 
$
170.3

 
$
86.1

 
Earnings per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
1.03

 
$
1.37

 
$
0.69

 
Diluted