DEF 14A
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Filed by the Registrant  x                            Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ¨

Check the appropriate box:

 

¨   Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨   Confidential, for use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x   Definitive Proxy Statement
¨   Definitive Additional Materials
¨   Soliciting Materials Pursuant to sec. 240.14a-12

LOGO


ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
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LOGO

ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

533 Maryville University Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63141

Dear Shareholder:

You are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Energizer Holdings, Inc. to be held at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, January 28, 2013 at Energizer World Headquarters, 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.

We hope you will attend in person. If you plan to do so, please bring the enclosed Shareholder Admission Ticket with you.

Whether you plan to attend the meeting or not, we encourage you to read this Proxy Statement and vote your shares. You may sign, date and return the enclosed proxy as soon as possible in the postage-paid envelope provided, or you may vote by telephone or via Internet. However you decide to vote, we would appreciate you voting as soon as possible.

We look forward to seeing you at the Annual Meeting!

 

LOGO

WARD M. KLEIN

Chief Executive Officer

December 7, 2012


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ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

533 Maryville University Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63141

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS

AND INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS

To the Shareholders:

The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Energizer Holdings, Inc. will be held at 3:00 p.m. Central Time on Monday, January 28, 2013, at Energizer World Headquarters, 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.

The purpose of the meeting is:

 

 

to elect four directors to serve three-year terms ending at the Annual Meeting held in 2016, or until their respective successors are elected and qualified;

 

 

to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013;

 

 

to cast an advisory vote on executive compensation; and

 

 

to act upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.

You may vote if you are a shareholder of record on November 26, 2012. It is important that your shares be represented and voted at the Meeting. Please vote in one of the following ways:

 

 

USE THE TOLL-FREE TELEPHONE NUMBER shown on the enclosed proxy card;

 

 

VISIT www.energizerholdings.com to vote via the Internet, using the identification number indicated on the proxy card;

 

 

MARK, SIGN, DATE AND PROMPTLY RETURN the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope; OR

 

 

VOTE BY WRITTEN BALLOT at the Annual Meeting.

The attached Proxy Statement as well as the Company’s 2012 Annual Report to Shareholders, have also been posted on the Company’s website at www.energizerholdings.com. Information on our website does not constitute part of this document.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Mark S. LaVigne

Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary

December 7, 2012


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

2012 Proxy Summary

     ii   

Proxy Statement—Voting Procedures

     1   

Item 1. Election of Directors

     3   

Information about Nominees and other Directors

     3   

The Board of Directors and Energizer’s Corporate Governance

     7   

Standing Committees

     7   

Corporate Governance and Director Independence

     8   

Director Compensation

     12   

Item 2. Ratification of Appointment of Independent Auditor

     15   

Audit Committee Report

     17   

Executive Compensation

     18   

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

     18   

Compensation Policies and Practices as They Relate to Risk Management

     30   

Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee Report

     30   

Equity Compensation Plan Information

     31   

Summary Compensation Table

     32   

Grants of Plan-Based Awards

     35   

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year End

     37   

Option Exercises and Stock Vested

     41   

Pension Benefits

     42   

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation

     43   

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

     47   

Item 3. Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

     51   

Stock Ownership Information

     52   

Additional Information

     55   

 

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2012 PROXY SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained in this Proxy Statement. The summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider, and you should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting.

 

Annual Meeting of Shareholders   

•    Time and date: 3:00 p.m., Central Time, January 28, 2013

 

•    Place: Energizer World Headquarters, 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141

 

•    Record Date: November 26, 2012

 

•    Voting: Shareholders as of the record date are entitled to vote. Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote for each director nominee and one vote for each of the other proposals to be voted on

Voting matters with board recommendation in parentheses   

•    Election of four directors (FOR EACH NOMINEE)

 

•    Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013 (FOR)

 

•    Advisory vote on executive compensation (FOR)

Board nominees   

•    Daniel J. Heinrich. Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, The Clorox Company. Director since 2012.

 

•    R. David Hoover. Chairman and Former Chief Executive Officer, Ball Corporation. Director since 2000.

 

•    John C. Hunter. Former Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solutia, Inc. Director since 2005.

 

•    John E. Klein. President of Randolph College since August 2007. Director since 2003.

Other directors   

Term expiring in 2014

 

•    Ward M. Klein. Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Holdings, Inc. since 2005. Director since 2005.

 

•    W. Patrick McGinnis. Chief Executive Officer and President, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. Director since 2002.

 

•    John R. Roberts. Former Executive Director, Civic Progress St. Louis and former Managing Partner, Mid-South Region, Arthur Andersen LLP. Director since 2003.

 

Term expiring in 2015

 

•    Bill G. Armstrong. Former Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Cargill Animal Nutrition. Director since 2005.

 

•    J. Patrick Mulcahy. Chairman of the Board of Energizer Holdings, Inc. since 2007. Director since 2000.

 

•    Pamela M. Nicholson. President and Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Holdings, Inc. since 2008. Director since 2002.

 

 

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Independent registered public accounting firm    The Board recommends that shareholders ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP as our independent registered accounting firm for fiscal 2013.
Advisory vote on executive compensation    The Board recommends that shareholders approve on an advisory basis the compensation of our named executive officers. Our board recommends a FOR vote because we believe that our compensation program achieves its objective of rewarding management based upon its success in increasing shareholder value.
Key elements of our
compensation program
   •    Aggregate pay package. Our aggregate pay packages are targeted at the 50th
percentile for our peer group.

 

•    Annual cash bonus program. In 2012, bonuses were payable based on the
following components:

 

¡     70% related to the achievement of company targets, set for 2012 at a
target of 7% adjusted earnings per share growth over 2010 GAAP
earnings per share of $5.72, rather than against the lower fiscal 2011
GAAP earnings per share, resulting in a more challenging performance
goal than had the fiscal 2011 GAAP results been used, and

 

¡     30% related to the assessment of individual performance.

 

•    Long-term incentive awards. We award restricted stock equivalents with a
three year vesting period. For awards in fiscal 2012, 70% of the award was
performance-based and only vests if targets for three year compound annual
growth in earnings per share are met.

 

•    Deferred compensation plan. In 2012, the executives could defer their cash
bonus award and receive a 25% Company match with a three-year vesting
period.

 

•    Supplemental retirement plans. Our executives participate in the retirement
plans available for all employees; the supplemental retirement plans restore
retirement benefits otherwise limited by IRS regulations.

 

•    Severance and other benefits following change of control. We have change
of control employment agreements with each of the named executive
officers which provide them with increased security and allow them to
make decisions focusing on the interests of shareholders. In fiscal 2012, we
adopted a policy eliminating tax gross-up payments and adoption of the
best-of-net approach for future change of control employment agreements.

 

 

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Changes to the executive compensation program for the 2013 fiscal year   

The Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee (the “committee”) has approved several changes to our executive compensation program for fiscal 2013, including:

 

•    Adoption of multiple company performance metrics for the annual cash bonus program. Historically, the company performance portion of our annual cash bonus program targeted a single metric, growth in adjusted earnings per share. Awards under the annual cash bonus program for the 2013 fiscal year will be based on achievement of targets for four metrics:

¡     Adjusted earnings per share

¡     Adjusted pre-tax operating profit

¡     Cost savings associated with restructurings

¡     Net working capital as a percentage of sales

Additionally, the committee eliminated the individual performance component of the annual cash bonus program.

 

•    Adoption of multiple metrics for our long-term incentive awards. Historically, and in fiscal 2012, the Company performance portion of our long-term incentive awards targeted a single metric, growth in adjusted earnings per share. Vesting of the performance-based restricted stock

  

equivalent awards granted for the 2013-2015 performance period will be based on achievement of targets for two metrics:

¡     Adjusted return on invested capital

¡     Adjusted cumulative earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization

Awards will then be modified based on the Company’s relative total shareholder return performance against a peer company group.

 

•    Elimination of Company match and deferral opportunity. Effective January 1, 2013, executives will no longer have the opportunity to defer portions of their salary and bonus compensation under the Energizer Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, or to receive a Company match on the qualifying portion of the deferral.

 

•    Termination of executive health plan. Effective December 31, 2012, the Energizer Holdings, Inc. Executive Health Plan will terminate. As such, current and former executives will no longer have the opportunity to participate in this plan.

 

•    Reduction in personal aircraft use. Following fiscal year 2012 in support of Energizer’s previously announced multi-year restructuring initiative, Mr. Ward Klein and the committee agreed to reduce the number of hours Mr. Klein is permitted to use our aircraft for personal travel from 50 flight hours per year to 30 flight hours per year, beginning in 2013.

 

 

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PROXY STATEMENT—VOTING PROCEDURES

 

 

YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT

The Board of Directors is soliciting proxies to be used at the 2013 Annual Meeting. This proxy statement and the form of proxy will be mailed to shareholders beginning on or about December 7, 2012.

Who Can Vote

Record holders of Energizer Holdings, Inc. common stock on November 26, 2012 may vote at the meeting and any adjournment or postponement thereof. On November 26, 2012, there were 61,890,765 shares of common stock outstanding. The shares of common stock held in our treasury will not be voted.

How You Can Vote

There are four voting methods:

 

 

Voting by Mail. If you choose to vote by mail, simply mark the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided.

 

 

Voting by Telephone. You can vote your shares by telephone by calling the toll-free telephone number on the enclosed proxy card and using the identification code indicated. Voting is available 24 hours a day.

 

 

Voting by Internet. You can also vote via the Internet at www.energizerholdings.com. Your identification code for Internet voting is on the enclosed proxy card, and voting is available 24 hours a day.

 

 

Voting by written ballot at the meeting.

Please note that if you are a record holder and plan to vote in person at the meeting, you should bring the enclosed 2013 Annual Meeting Admission Ticket with you.

If your shares are held in the name of a bank, broker or other holder of record, you must obtain a proxy, executed in your favor from the holder of record, to be able to vote at the meeting.

If you vote by telephone or via the Internet, you should not return the proxy card.

How You May Revoke or Change Your Vote

You can revoke the proxy at any time before it is voted at the meeting by:

 

 

sending written notice of revocation to our Secretary;

 

 

submitting another proper proxy by telephone, Internet or mail; or

 

 

attending the annual meeting and voting in person.

General Information on Voting

You are entitled to cast one vote for each share of common stock you own on the record date. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of the holders of a majority of the shares of the Company’s common stock entitled to vote at the meeting is necessary to constitute a quorum. The election of each director nominee and the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013 must be approved by a majority of the voting power represented at the annual meeting in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on the matter. Shareholders do not have the right to vote cumulatively in electing directors. Shares represented by a proxy marked “against” or “abstain” on any matter, will be considered present at the meeting for purposes of determining a quorum and for purposes of calculating the vote, but will not be considered to have voted in favor of the proposal or nominee. Therefore, any proxy marked “against” or “abstain” will have the effect of a vote against such nominee or nominees or the ratification of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for 2013. If you are a shareholder of record and you do not submit a proxy or vote in person, no votes will be cast on your behalf on any of the items of business at the Annual Meeting.

While the shareholder vote on executive compensation is advisory and not binding on the Company, the Board of Directors and the Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee, which is responsible for administering the Company’s executive compensation programs, are interested in the opinions expressed by our shareholders in their vote on this proposal and will consider the outcome of the vote when making future compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

 


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All shares for which proxies have been properly submitted—whether by telephone, Internet or mail—and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you sign the enclosed proxy card but do not give voting instructions, the shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by our Board of Directors.

If any other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting for consideration, the persons named in your properly submitted proxy card will have the discretion to vote on those matters for you. As of the date this Proxy Statement went to press, no other matters had been raised for consideration at the annual meeting.

Beneficial Owners and Broker Non-Votes

If your shares are held by a bank, broker or other nominee, you are considered the “beneficial owner” of the shares, which are held in “street name.” If you hold your shares in street name, you can instruct the broker, bank or other nominee who is the shareholder of record how to vote these shares by using the voting instructions given to you by the broker, bank, or other nominee. The broker, bank, or other nominee may vote the shares in the absence of your voting instructions only with regard to “routine” matters. The election of directors and the advisory vote on executive compensation are considered “non-routine” matters and, accordingly, if you do not instruct your broker, bank or other nominee how to vote in these matters, no votes will be cast on your behalf with respect to these matters. Your broker, bank or other nominee does, however, have discretion to vote any uninstructed shares on the ratification of the appointment of our accounting firm (Item 2 of this Proxy Statement). If the broker, bank or other nominee votes the uninstructed shares on the ratification of the accounting firm (either personally or by proxy), these shares may be considered as “present” for quorum purposes but will not be deemed voted on other matters and will be considered “broker non-votes” with respect to such other matters.

Voting By Participants in the Company’s Savings Investment Plan

If you participate in our savings investment plan and had an account in the Energizer common stock fund on November 19, 2012, the enclosed proxy will also serve as voting instructions to the trustee for that plan, Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company, an affiliate of The Vanguard Group of Investment Companies, for the shares of our common stock credited to your account on that date. If the trustee does not receive directions with respect to the shares of common stock credited to your account by January 25, 2013, it will vote those shares in the same proportion as it votes shares for which directions were received.

Costs of Solicitation

We will pay for preparing, printing and mailing this proxy statement. We have engaged MacKenzie Partners, Inc. and Georgeson & Company, Inc. to help solicit proxies from shareholders (in person, by phone or otherwise) for a fee of $13,500 plus expenses. Proxies may also be solicited personally or by telephone by our employees without additional compensation. We will also reimburse banks, brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their costs of sending the proxy materials to the beneficial owners of our common stock.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

To the best of our knowledge, all filings of stock ownership and changes in stock ownership by our directors and executive officers and beneficial owners of more than 10% of our stock, which are required by rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), were made on a timely basis in fiscal 2012, except as described below.

In May 2012, two of our executive officers (Messrs. Sescleifer and Hatfield) filed late Form 4s reporting shares withheld for certain taxes due on vesting restricted stock awards in which the executives elected to defer conversion until retirement.

 

 

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ITEM 1. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our Board of Directors currently consists of ten members and is divided into three classes, with each class consisting of three members other than the class nominated for election at the 2013 Annual Meeting, which has four members. The terms of service of the classes expire at successive Annual Meetings.

Four directors will be elected at the 2013 Annual Meeting to serve for a three-year term expiring at our annual meeting in 2016. The board has nominated Daniel J. Heinrich, R. David Hoover, John C. Hunter and John E. Klein for election as directors at this meeting. Each nominee is currently serving as a director and has consented to serve for the three-year term. Each nominee elected as a director will continue in office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified. We do not know of any reason why any of the nominees for director named herein would be unable to serve; however, if any nominee is unable to serve as a director at the time of the annual meeting, your proxy may be voted for the election of another person the board may nominate in his or her place, unless you indicate otherwise.

Vote Required.    The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote is required for the election of each director.

The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the election of these nominees as directors of the Company.

INFORMATION ABOUT NOMINEES AND OTHER DIRECTORS

Please review the following information about the nominees and other directors continuing in office. The ages shown are as of December 31, 2012.

 

   
LOGO   

DANIEL J. HEINRICH, Director Since 2012, Age 56

(Standing for election at this meeting for a term expiring in 2016)

 

Mr. Heinrich served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of The Clorox Company from June 2009 through November 2011 and as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from August 2003 through June 2009. Prior to serving in this role, he was Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of The Clorox Company.

 

Mr. Heinrich has more than 34 years of experience in financial management. Prior to his employment with The Clorox Company, he was Senior Vice President and Treasurer of Transamerica Finance Corporation. Prior to that, he served in the financial services group of the Ford Motor Company, including as Senior Vice President-Controller of Ford Motor Company’s banking subsidiary and as Senior Vice President-Treasurer and Controller of Granite Management Corporation. He began his career at Ernst & Young LLP where he spent over eight years in both audit and tax roles. Mr. Heinrich previously served on the Board and was a member of the Audit & Finance Committee of Advanced Medical Optics Inc. from 2007 until its acquisition by Abbott Labs in 2009. He is also an Advisory Board member of E&J Gallo Winery.

 

Mr. Heinrich’s extensive knowledge of strategy, business development, operations, financial management, accounting principles and financial reporting rules and regulations provides an invaluable expertise to our board and audit committee, and his understanding of incentive structures that can effectively drive performance in the consumer products industry provides an important perspective on our nominating and executive compensation committee.

 

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LOGO   

R. DAVID HOOVER, Director Since 2000, Age 67

(Standing for election at this meeting for a term expiring in 2016)

 

Mr. Hoover has served as Chairman of Ball Corporation (beverage and food packaging and aerospace products and services) since January 2011. He served as the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Ball Corporation from January 2010 to January 2011; Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, April 2002 to January 2010 and President and Chief Executive Officer, January 2001 to April 2002. Also a director of Ball Corporation, Eli Lilly and Company and Steelcase, Inc. and formerly a director of Qwest Communications International, Inc. and Irwin Financial Corporation.

 

Mr. Hoover began his employment at Ball Corporation in 1970, and has served in numerous finance and administration, treasury and operational capacities during his tenure at Ball, including service as chief financial officer, chief operating officer and chief executive officer. His broad and extensive experience provides our board with valuable insight into complex business, operational and financial issues. His chairmanship of our finance and oversight committee has been significant, particularly during the recent global recession, as that committee directly advises management on financial and economic issues and strategies.

LOGO   

JOHN C. HUNTER, III, Director Since 2005, Age 65

(Standing for election at this meeting for a term expiring in 2016)

 

Mr. Hunter served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solutia, Inc. (chemical products) from 1999 to 2004. He is now retired. Solutia and certain subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy in 2003, and emerged from bankruptcy in 2008. Also a director of Penford Corporation, KMG Chemicals, Inc. and formerly a director of Hercules, Inc.

 

Mr. Hunter has a degree in chemical engineering and a Masters in business administration. During his career with Solutia and its former parent, Monsanto, Inc., he obtained many years of experience in the specialty chemicals business, as well as an in-depth knowledge of environmental issues. As a result, he provides insightful risk management experience to our board, and a practical perspective and understanding as we deal with environmental, regulatory and sustainability issues. Mr. Hunter’s extensive experience as a director also provides him with insight into effective compensation plan design and a thorough understanding of current issues, trends and concerns in executive compensation design that makes him an effective chairman of our nominating and executive compensation committee.

LOGO   

JOHN E. KLEIN, Director Since 2003, Age 67

(Standing for election at this meeting for a term expiring in 2016)

 

Mr. Klein has served as President of Randolph College (education) since August 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Klein served as Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration, Washington University in St. Louis (education) from 2004 to August 2007. From 1985 to 2004, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer, Bunge North America, Inc. (agribusiness), and formerly served as a director of Embrex, Inc.

 

Mr. Klein obtained a law degree and practiced law with a firm in New York City for several years before joining Bunge Ltd. He had a number of international postings in Europe and South America and senior positions in the United States before being named chief executive of Bunge’s North American operations. He has also obtained significant administrative experience in the field of higher education. He brings the benefits of his diverse legal, international, operational and administrative background and experience to our board, audit committee, and finance and oversight committee.

 

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LOGO   

WARD M. KLEIN, Director Since 2005, Age 57

(Continuing in office—Term expiring in 2014)

 

Mr. Klein has served as Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Holdings, Inc. since 2005. Prior to that time, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer from 2004 to 2005, as President, International from 2002 to 2004, and as Vice President, Asia Pacific and Latin America from 2000 to 2002. Also a director of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., and formerly a director of AmerUs Group Co. Mr. Klein also serves on the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and as President of Civic Progress, St. Louis.

 

Mr. Klein has over 20 years of service with Energizer, in international as well as domestic leadership positions, and has obtained extensive knowledge of our business operations and industry dynamics. In his capacity as chief executive officer, and the only management member of the board of directors, Mr. Klein provides a necessary and unique perspective to the board.

LOGO   

W. PATRICK MCGINNIS, Director Since 2002, Age 65

(Continuing in office—Term expiring in 2014)

 

Mr. McGinnis has served as Chief Executive Officer and President, Nestlé Purina PetCare Company (pet foods and related products) since 2001. Also a director of Brown Shoe Company, Inc.

 

Mr. McGinnis has almost forty years of experience in consumer products industries, including almost twenty years as chief executive of the Purina pet food business. As a result, he has expertise with respect to marketing and other commercial issues, competitive challenges, and long-term strategic planning, as well as valuable perspectives with respect to potential acquisitions of consumer products businesses.

LOGO   

JOHN R. ROBERTS, Director Since 2003, Age 71

(Continuing in office—Term expiring in 2014)

 

Mr. Roberts served as Executive Director, Civic Progress St. Louis (civic organization) from 2001 through 2006. He is now retired. From 1993 to 1998, he served as Managing Partner, Mid-South Region, Arthur Andersen LLP (public accountancy). Also a director of Regions Financial Corporation and Centene Corporation.

 

Mr. Roberts brings many years of experience as an audit partner at Arthur Andersen to our board. His extensive knowledge of financial accounting, accounting principles, and financial reporting rules and regulations, and his experience in evaluating financial results and generally overseeing the financial reporting process of large public companies from an independent auditor’s perspective, provides invaluable expertise to our board and audit committee. His service as a board member and audit committee chair for other public companies reinforces the knowledge and insight he provides to our board.

 

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LOGO   

BILL G. ARMSTRONG, Director Since 2005, Age 64

(Continuing in Office—Term expiring in 2015)

 

Mr. Armstrong is a private equity investor and is also a director of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.

 

Mr. Armstrong served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Cargill Animal Nutrition (animal feed products), from 2001 to 2004. Prior to his employment with Cargill, Mr. Armstrong served as Chief Operating Officer of Agribrands International, Inc., an international agricultural products business, and as Executive Vice President of Operations of the international agricultural products business of Ralston Purina Company. He also served as managing director of Ralston’s Philippine operations, and during his tenure there, was a director of the American Chamber of Commerce. As a result of his international and operational experience, he provides a global perspective to the board, which has become increasingly important as our international operations have grown to account for approximately half of our annual sales.

LOGO   

J. PATRICK MULCAHY, Director Since 2000, Age 68

(Continuing in Office—Term expiring in 2015)

 

Mr. Mulcahy has served as Chairman of the Board of Energizer Holdings, Inc. since 2007. Mr. Mulcahy served as Vice Chairman of the Board from January 2005 to January 2007, and prior to that time served as Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Holdings, Inc. from 2000 to 2005, and as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Eveready Battery Company, Inc. from 1987 until his retirement in 2005. He is also a director of Hanesbrands, Inc. and Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., and was formerly a director of Solutia, Inc. Solutia and certain subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for bankruptcy in 2003, and emerged from bankruptcy in 2008.

 

Mr. Mulcahy has over forty years of experience in consumer products industries, including almost twenty years as chief executive of our battery business. He was our first chief executive officer, and managed and directed the acquisition of our Schick-Wilkinson Sword business in 2003. He is very knowledgeable about the dynamics of our various businesses and the categories in which they compete. His experience with the complex financial and operational issues of consumer products businesses brings critical financial, operational and strategic expertise to our board of directors.

LOGO   

PAMELA M. NICHOLSON, Director Since 2002, Age 53

(Continuing in Office—Term expiring in 2015)

 

Ms. Nicholson has served as President and Chief Operating Officer, Enterprise Holdings, Inc. (auto rental and leasing) since 2008. She served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Enterprise from 2004 to 2008, and as Senior Vice President, North American Operations from 1999 to 2004. Ms. Nicholson is a Board member of Enterprise Holdings, Inc.

 

Ms. Nicholson has served over thirty years at Enterprise, obtaining extensive operational and management expertise. As the first woman president of Enterprise, a private company and one of the largest and most comprehensive vehicle rental businesses worldwide, she has been named six times to Fortune Magazine’s Top 50 Most Powerful Women list. Ms. Nicholson provides our board with global perspective with respect to operational and business issues, and insight with respect to executive compensation and diversity issues.

 

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THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ENERGIZER’S CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Board
Member
  Board    Audit    Executive    Nominating and 
Executive
Compensation
  Finance and 
Oversight

Bill G. Armstrong

  ü   ü       ü    

Daniel J. Heinrich

  ü   ü       ü    

R. David Hoover

  ü               ü*

John C. Hunter

  ü           ü*    

John E. Klein

  ü   ü           ü

Ward M. Klein

  ü       ü       ü

W. Patrick McGinnis

  ü       ü       ü

J. Patrick Mulcahy

  ü*       ü*       ü

Pamela M. Nicholson

  ü   ü   ü        

John R. Roberts

  ü   ü*   ü   ü    

Meetings held in 2012

  8   5   0   6   4

 

* Chairperson

Audit:    Reviews auditing, accounting, financial reporting and internal control functions. Responsible for engaging and supervising our independent accountants, resolving differences between management and our independent accountants regarding financial reporting, pre-approving all audit and non-audit services provided by our independent accountants, and establishing procedures for the receipt, retention and treatment of complaints regarding accounting, internal accounting controls or auditing matters. Our board has determined that all members are independent and financially literate in accordance with the criteria established by the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). Our board has elected John R. Roberts as chair of the audit committee, and has determined that he is both independent and an audit committee financial expert, as defined by SEC guidelines.

Executive:    May act on behalf of the Board in the intervals between board meetings.

Nominating and Executive Compensation:    Sets compensation of our executive officers, approves deferrals under our deferred compensation plan, administers our 2000 and 2009 incentive stock plans and grants equity-based awards, including performance-based awards, under those plans. Administers and approves performance-based awards under our executive officer bonus plan. Establishes

performance criteria for performance-based awards and certifies as to their achievement. Monitors management compensation and benefit programs, and reviews principal employee relations policies. The committee recommends nominees for election as directors or executive officers to the board, as well as committee memberships and compensation and benefits for directors. It is also responsible for conducting the annual self-assessment process of the board and its committees, and regular review and updating of our corporate governance principles. Our board has determined that all members are non-employee directors, and are independent, as defined in the listing standards of the NYSE.

Finance and Oversight:    Reviews our financial condition, objectives and strategies, and acquisitions and other major transactions, and makes recommendations to the board concerning financing requirements, our stock repurchase program and dividend policy, foreign currency management and pension fund performance.

During fiscal 2012, all directors except Mr. McGinnis attended 75% or more of the board meetings and meetings of the committees on which they served during their period of service. Under our corporate governance principles, each director is highly encouraged to attend our annual meeting of shareholders each year, preferably in person. All directors attended the 2012 annual meeting in accordance with the corporate governance principles.

 

 

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Board Leadership Structure and Role in Risk Oversight

Our board regularly considers the appropriate leadership structure for the Company and has concluded that the Company and its shareholders are best served by not having a formal policy on whether the same individual should serve as both chief executive officer and chairman of the board. This flexibility allows the board to utilize its considerable experience and knowledge to elect the most qualified director as chairman of the board, while maintaining the ability to separate the chairman and chief executive officer roles when necessary. This determination would be based on the way that the board believes is best to provide appropriate leadership for the Company at such time. Currently, the roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer are separate. The board believes this is currently the optimal structure for providing leadership that is both independent in its oversight of management and closely attuned to our specific business. The chief executive officer is responsible for setting the strategic direction for the Company and the day-to-day leadership and performance of the Company, while the chairman of the board provides guidance and sets the agenda for board meetings, in consultation with the chief executive officer, and presides over meetings of the full board. However, the board understands that the environment in which we operate is dynamic, and the structure that is most appropriate may change from time to time.

The board’s role in risk oversight is consistent with the Company’s leadership structure, with management having day-to-day responsibility for assessing and managing the Company’s risk exposure and the board and its committees providing oversight in connection with those efforts, with particular focus on the most significant risks facing the Company. The risk oversight responsibility of the board and its committees is enabled by management reporting processes that are designed to provide visibility to the board about the identification, assessment and management of critical risks and management’s risk mitigation strategies. These areas of focus include competitive, economic, operational, financial, accounting, tax, compensation, legal, regulatory, compliance, health, safety, environmental, political

and reputational risks. The full board, or the appropriate committee, receives this information through updates from the appropriate members of management to enable it to understand and monitor the Company’s risk management practices. Information brought to the attention of one of the committees can then be shared with management or the full board.

The audit committee performs a central oversight role with respect to financial and compliance risks, and meets independently with our independent auditors, outside the presence and without the participation of senior management. It also regularly receives reports regarding our most significant internal controls and compliance risks, along with management’s processes for maintaining compliance within a strong internal controls environment. In addition, the audit committee receives reports regarding potential legal and regulatory risks and management’s plans for monitoring and mitigating those risks. The nominating and executive compensation committee considers the potential risks posed by our compensation philosophies and programs in connection with the design of our compensation programs. The finance and oversight committee is responsible for assessing risks related to our capital structure, significant financial exposures, major insurance programs, stock repurchase program and dividend policy, foreign currency management and pension fund performance and regularly evaluates financial risks associated with such programs.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

No member of the nominating and executive compensation committee is or has been an officer or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. In addition, no member of the committee had any relationships with the Company or any other entity that require disclosure under the proxy rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC.

Determining Executive Compensation

At the beginning of each fiscal year, the nominating and executive compensation committee reviews and approves compensation for our executive officers, including any merit increases to base salary, our annual cash bonus program, long-term equity

 

 

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incentive awards, and performance targets under those programs and awards. The committee members base these determinations on their review of competitive market data from our peer group, shareholder views, including the results of the most recent advisory vote on executive compensation, and the recommendations of the chief executive officer and our human resources department. Meridian Compensation Partners LLC (“Meridian”), the committee’s compensation consultant, conducts an in-depth annual review of our compensation practices, and those of our peer group, in order to support the committee’s review process. Meridian also advises the committee during its review of compensation for non-employee directors and the competitiveness of our executive compensation programs. For more information on the committee’s review process and Meridian’s assistance to the committee, as well as on compensation consultants retained by the Company, see “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” below.

Committee Charters, Governance and Codes of Conduct

The charters of the committees of our board of directors and our corporate governance principles have been posted on our website at www.energizerholdings.com, under “Investors”. Information on our website does not constitute part of this document. Our code of business conduct and ethics applicable to the members of the board of directors, as well as the code applicable to the officers and employees, have each been posted on our website as well.

Copies of the committee charters, the corporate governance principles and the codes of conduct will be provided, without charge, to any shareholder upon request directed in writing to the Secretary, Energizer Holdings, Inc., 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141.

Director Independence

Our corporate governance principles, adopted by our board, provide that a majority of the board, and the entire membership of the audit and the nominating and executive compensation committees of the board, shall consist of independent, non-employee directors who meet the criteria for independence required by

the NYSE listing standards. In addition, our corporate governance principles provide that there may not be at any time more than two employee directors serving on the board.

A director will be considered independent if he or she does not have a material relationship with us, as determined by our board. To that end, the board, in the corporate governance principles, has established guidelines for determining whether a director is independent, consistent with the listing standards of the NYSE. A director will not be considered independent if:

 

   

within the last three years, the director was employed by us or our subsidiary, or an immediate family member of the director was employed by us or our subsidiary as an executive officer;

 

   

(A) the director is a current partner or employee of a firm that is our internal or external auditor; (B) the director has an immediate family member who is a current partner of such a firm; (C) the director has an immediate family member who is a current employee of such a firm and personally works on our audit; or (D) the director or an immediate family member was within the last three years a partner or employee of such a firm and personally worked on our audit within that time; or

 

   

any of our present executive officers served on the compensation committee of another company that employed the director or an immediate family member of the director as an executive officer within the last three years.

The following relationships will be considered material:

 

   

a director or an immediate family member is an executive officer, or the director is an employee, of another company which has made payments to, or received payments from, us and the payments to, or amounts received from, that other company in any of the last three fiscal years, exceed the greater of $1 million, or 2% of such other company’s consolidated gross revenues;

 

 

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a director or an immediate family member, during any twelve-month period within the last three years, received more than $120,000 in direct compensation from us, other than director and committee fees and pension or other forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service);

 

   

a director is an executive officer of a charitable organization and our annual charitable contributions to the organization (exclusive of gift-match payments), in any single fiscal year within any of the last three years, exceed the greater of $1,000,000 or 2% of such organization’s total charitable receipts;

 

   

a director is a partner of or of counsel to a law firm that, in any of the last three years, performed substantial legal services to us on a regular basis; or

 

   

a director is a partner, officer or employee of an investment bank or consulting firm that, in any of the last three years, performed substantial services to us on a regular basis.

For relationships not described above or otherwise not covered in the above examples, a majority of our independent directors, after considering all of the relevant circumstances, may make a determination whether or not such relationship is material and whether the director may therefore be considered independent under the NYSE listing standards.

Director affiliations and transactions are regularly reviewed to ensure that there are no conflicts or relationships with the Company that might impair a director’s independence. Every year, we submit a questionnaire to each director and executive officer, in addition to conducting our own internal review, for the purpose of identifying certain potentially material transactions or relationships between each director, or any member of his or her immediate family, and the Company, its senior management and its independent auditor.

Pursuant to that review, the board has considered the independence of W. Patrick McGinnis in light of the fact that we jointly own four corporate aircraft with

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company, for which Mr. McGinnis serves as chief executive officer and president. The aircraft are jointly owned in order to share the fixed costs associated with ownership which do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ salaries, aircraft acquisition expenses, and non-trip related maintenance and hangar fees. The aircraft are maintained and operated by employees of Nestlé, and a pro rata portion of the fixed expenses are reimbursed to Nestlé by the other owners based upon their respective percentages of ownership. Each owner is also assessed a charge per flight hour to cover all variable operating costs. No additional margin or operating fee is paid to Nestlé. The independent members of the board determined that Mr. McGinnis does not have any direct or indirect financial or other interests in our reimbursement of our aircraft expenses, or our continued ownership of our share of the aircraft, and consequently determined that the independence of Mr. McGinnis was not impacted.

In addition, the board also considered the independence of Pamela Nicholson since the Company uses Enterprise as its primary rental car provider, for which Ms. Nicholson serves as president and chief operating officer. Based upon the fact that (i) the payments to Enterprise made by the Company are immaterial to both Enterprise and the Company and only reflect actual expenses associated with our employees’ actual travel expenses; (ii) no payments are made directly to Ms. Nicholson with respect to the car rental program; (iii) Ms. Nicholson does not receive additional compensation due to the Company’s use of Enterprise as its rental car provider; and (iv) Ms. Nicholson does not personally benefit from the Company’s payment under the contract, the independent members of the board determined that Ms. Nicholson would not be conflicted with respect to any decisions expected to be made by the board, and that her independence would not be impacted.

Accordingly, based on the responses to the 2012 questionnaire and the results of its review, the board has affirmatively determined that all directors, other than Ward M. Klein, are independent from management. The following are the nine non-employee directors deemed to be independent: Bill G. Armstrong, Daniel J. Heinrich, R. David Hoover, John C. Hunter, John E. Klein, W. Patrick

 

 

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McGinnis, J. Patrick Mulcahy, Pamela M. Nicholson, and John R. Roberts.

Director Nominations

The nominating and executive compensation committee is responsible for recommending candidates for election to our board of directors, consistent with the requirements for membership set forth in our corporate governance principles. Those requirements include integrity, independence, diligence, diversity, energy, forthrightness, analytical skills and a willingness to challenge and stimulate management, and the ability to work as part of a team in an environment of trust. The principles also indicate the board’s belief that each director should have a basic understanding of (i) our principal operational and financial objectives and plans and strategies, (ii) our results of operations and financial condition, and (iii) the relative standing of the Company and our business segments in relation to our competitors. In addition to those standards, the committee seeks directors who will effectively represent the interests of our shareholders, and who bring to the board a breadth of experience from a variety of industries, geographies and professional disciplines. Although the Company does not have a formal policy with respect to diversity matters, the board also considers factors such as diversity on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, disability and sexual orientation. The committee reviews its effectiveness in balancing these considerations when assessing the composition of the board. The committee is also responsible for articulating and refining specific criteria for board and committee membership to supplement, as appropriate, the more general criteria set forth in our corporate governance principles.

The committee expects a high level of commitment from board members and evaluates each candidate’s leadership and experience, skills, expertise and character traits, including the candidate’s ability to devote sufficient time to board and committee meetings in light of other professional commitments. The committee also reviews whether a potential candidate meets board and/or committee membership requirements, as set forth in our corporate governance principles, determines whether a potential candidate is independent according to the

board’s established criteria, and evaluates the potential for a conflict of interest between the director and the Company.

Historically, when vacancies have occurred, or when our board determined that increasing its size was appropriate, candidates have been recommended to the committee by other board members or the chief executive officer. The committee, however, will consider and evaluate any shareholder-recommended candidates by applying the same criteria used to evaluate candidates recommended by directors or management. The committee also has authority to retain a recruitment firm if it deems it advisable. Shareholders who wish to suggest an individual for consideration for election to the board of directors may submit a written nomination to the Corporate Secretary of the Company, 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, along with the shareholder’s name, address and number of shares of common stock beneficially owned; the name of the individual being nominated and number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by the nominee; the candidate’s biographical information, including age, business and residential addresses, and principal occupation for the previous five years, and the nominee’s consent to being named as a nominee and to serving on the board. A description of factors qualifying or recommending the nominee for service on the board would also be helpful to the committee in its consideration. To assist in the evaluation of shareholder-recommended candidates, the committee may request that the shareholder provide certain additional information required to be disclosed in our proxy statement under Regulation 14A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). If the committee determines a candidate, however proposed, is suitable for board membership, it will make a recommendation to the board for its consideration.

Under our bylaws, shareholders may also nominate candidates for election at an annual meeting of shareholders. See Shareholder Proposals for 2014 Annual Meeting for details regarding the procedures and timing for the submission of such nominations. Director nominees submitted through this process will be eligible for election at the annual meeting, but will not be included in proxy material sent to shareholders prior to the meeting, except as described in that section.

 

 

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Stock Ownership Guidelines

In order to help align the financial interests of our non-employee directors with those of our shareholders, our corporate governance principles provide that our non-employee directors must maintain ownership of our common stock with a value of at least five times the director’s annual retainer. New directors are given a period of five years to attain full compliance with these requirements.

For purposes of these determinations, stock ownership includes shares of our common stock which are owned directly or by family members residing with the director, or by family trusts, as well as vested options, vested and deferred restricted stock equivalents and unvested restricted stock equivalents, unless they are subject to achievement of performance targets, and common stock or stock equivalents credited to a director under our savings investment plan, or our deferred compensation plan. At the current time, all of our directors are in compliance with these guidelines.

Communicating Concerns to the Board

We have established several means for shareholders or others to communicate their concerns to our board. If the concern relates to our financial statements, accounting practices or internal controls, the concern should be submitted in writing to Mr. John R. Roberts, the chairman of our audit committee, in care of the Corporate Secretary of the Company at our headquarters address. If the concern relates to our governance practices, business ethics or corporate conduct, the concern may be submitted in writing to Mr. John C. Hunter, the chairman of the nominating and executive compensation committee, or Mr. R. David Hoover, the chairman of the finance and oversight committee, in care of the Corporate Secretary of the Company at our headquarters address. If the shareholder is unsure as to which category his or her concern relates, he or she may communicate it to any one of the independent directors in care of the Company’s Corporate Secretary at our headquarters address.

Our “whistleblower” policy prohibits the Company or any of its employees from retaliating or taking any adverse action against anyone for raising a concern. If a shareholder or employee nonetheless prefers to

raise his or her concern in a confidential or anonymous manner, he or she may call Global Compliance Services’ AlertLine, our outside service provider, toll-free at 877-521-5625, or leave a confidential message at our web address: https://energizer.alertline.com. Confidential letters may also be sent to any independent director at:

AlertLine

PMB 3767

13950 Ballantyne Corporate Place

Charlotte, North Carolina 28273

U.S.A.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

We provided several elements of compensation to our directors for service on our board during fiscal 2012. The nominating and executive compensation committee, which makes recommendations to the full board regarding director compensation, strives to set director compensation at the 50th percentile of the peer group. This peer group, which can be found under “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Implementation of the Compensation Program,” has been selected for purposes of evaluating our executive compensation based on market data provided by the committee’s independent consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC. Based on the committee’s evaluation of Meridian’s analysis, the committee determined not to make any change to director compensation in the 2012 fiscal year.

Retainers and Meeting Fees

All directors, other than Mr. Ward Klein, received the following fees for serving on the board or its committees. Mr. Klein receives no compensation other than his compensation as the Chief Executive Officer for his service on the board and its committees.

 

Annual retainer

   $  65,000   

Fee for each board meeting

   $ 1,500   

Fee for each committee meeting

   $ 1,500   

The chairpersons of the committees also receive an additional annual retainer of $15,000 for each committee that they chair, and the chairman of the board receives an additional annual retainer of $35,000 for his services as chairman.

 

 

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Deferred Compensation Plan

Non-employee directors are permitted to defer all or a portion of their retainers and fees under the terms of our deferred compensation plan. Deferrals may be made into (a) the Energizer common stock unit fund, which tracks the value of our common stock; (b) the prime rate option under which deferrals are credited with interest at the prime rate quoted by The Wall Street Journal; or (c) any of the measurement fund options which track the performance of the Vanguard investment funds offered under our savings investment plan, a 401(k) savings plan available generally to our salaried U.S. employees. Deferrals in the deferred compensation plan are paid out in a lump sum in cash within 60 days following the director’s termination of service on the board.

Additional Contribution.     On December 31 of each year, each non-employee director is credited with a number of stock equivalents in the Energizer common stock unit fund of the deferred compensation plan. The value of the equivalents credited as of December 31, 2011 was $100,000. These equivalents are vested at grant, and may be transferred to any other fund of the plan.

Non-Qualified Stock Options

Each non-employee director appointed to the board between 2000 and 2005 received a non-qualified stock option to purchase 10,000 shares on the date of his or her appointment to the board. These options, which were granted under our 2000 incentive stock plan and have a ten year term, have an exercise price equal to the closing price, as of the date of grant, of our common stock on the NYSE. The options became exercisable at the rate of 20% per year, beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant, and all such options have vested. The current number of stock options held by each director is set forth in the

Common Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers table.

Restricted Stock Equivalents

In 2007, the board approved suspending the option grant for new directors that may be appointed or elected in the future, and replacing it with a grant of restricted stock equivalents with a grant-date value of $100,000, which equivalents would vest three years from the date of grant. In connection with his appointment to the Board effective April 30, 2012, Mr. Heinrich received this grant, which is reported in the Director Compensation Table below.

Personal Use of Company-Owned Aircraft

Mr. Ward Klein, the chief executive officer and a member of the board, was permitted to use our aircraft for personal travel for up to 50 flight hours per year when the aircraft are not being used on business related trips. Family members and guests are authorized to accompany him on business or personal flights on our aircraft. However, Mr. Klein is not reimbursed for any taxes associated with (i) his personal use of the aircraft, or (ii) the personal use by his family members and guests. Following fiscal 2012 in support of Energizer’s previously announced multi-year restructuring initiative, Mr. Klein and the nominating and executive compensation committee agreed to reduce the number of hours Mr. Klein is permitted to use our aircraft for personal travel from 50 flight hours per year to 30 flight hours per year, effective in 2013.

As noted under Director Independence above, our aircraft are jointly owned with two other corporations in order to share the fixed costs associated with such ownership, although we pay all variable operating costs associated with each such flight.

 

 

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DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name   Fees Earned or 
Paid in Cash
(1)
    Stock Awards
(2)(3)(4)
    Option Awards 
(5)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
    Change in Pension
Value and Non-
Qualified Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
    All Other
Compensation
(6)(7)
    Total  

B.G. Armstrong

  $ 93,500      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 193,500   

D.J. Heinrich

  $ 37,583      $ 167,402      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 204,985   

R.D. Hoover

  $ 98,000      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 198,000   

J.C. Hunter

  $ 96,000      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 196,000   

J.E. Klein

  $ 98,500      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 198,500   

W.P. McGinnis

  $ 77,000      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 177,000   

J.P. Mulcahy

  $ 118,000      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 218,000   

P.M. Nicholson

  $ 83,000      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 183,000   

J.R. Roberts

  $ 108,500      $ 100,000      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 208,500   

 

(1) This column reflects retainers and meeting fees earned during the fiscal year.
(2) This column reflects the aggregate grant date fair value, in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, of the additional contribution on December 31, 2011 of stock equivalents valued at $100,000 in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan (1,291 equivalents per director) as described in the narrative above. Refer to “Note 7. Share-Based Payments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2012 for further discussion. There were no FASB ASC Topic 718 compensation expenses associated with the vested but deferred equivalents described in footnote 3 during fiscal 2012. Mr. Heinrich received a pro rata portion of the $100,000 additional contribution of stock equivalents upon his appointment to the Board of Directors on April 30, 2012.
(3) The number of vested but deferred stock equivalents held by a director as of September 30, 2012 is as follows: Mr. Hoover, 10,000; Mr. Roberts, 10,000; Mr. J. Klein, 10,000; and Ms. Nicholson, 10,000. These equivalents represent deferrals of a restricted stock equivalent award made to each non-employee director appointed to the board between April 1, 2000 and October 1, 2003, under which the director was credited with a restricted stock equivalent for each share of our common stock he or she acquired within two years of the date of grant, up to a limit per individual. This program was discontinued in 2003.
(4) Upon his appointment, Mr. Heinrich was granted an award of 1,402 restricted stock equivalents, representing the one-time grant of restricted stock equivalents with a value of approximately $100,000
  made to all new non-management directors, which vests three years from the date of grant.
(5) No options were granted to directors in fiscal year 2012. The number of shares underlying stock options held by each director as of September 30, 2012 is as follows: Mr. Armstrong, 4,500 and Mr. Hunter, 10,000.
(6) All of the directors are also, from time to time during the fiscal year, provided with samples of our products, with an incremental cost of less than $50.
(7) The following items are not considered perquisites and are not included within the above disclosure of director compensation:
  (i) The directors are covered under the terms of our general directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies, the premiums for which are a general expense of the Company—we do not obtain a specific policy for each director, or for the directors as a group.
  (ii) We provide transportation and lodging for out-of-town directors attending board and committee meetings at our headquarters.
  (iii) The directors may make requests for contributions to charitable organizations from the Energizer charitable trust, which we have funded from time to time, and the trustees of that trust, all employees of the Company, have determined to honor such requests which are in accordance with the charitable purpose of the trust, and which do not exceed $10,000 in any year. The directors may request contributions in excess of that amount, but such requests are at the sole discretion of the trustees. All contributions are made out of the funds of the trust, and are not made in the name of the requesting director.
 

 

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ITEM 2. RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

Our audit committee, in accordance with authority granted in its charter by the board, appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PwC”) as independent auditor for the current fiscal year. PwC has served as our independent auditor for every fiscal year since 2000, and PwC has begun certain work related to the 2013 audit as approved by the audit committee. Information on independent auditor fees for the last two fiscal years is set forth below. A representative of PwC will be present at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and will have an opportunity to make a statement, if desired, as well as to respond to appropriate questions.

Although NYSE listing standards require that the audit committee be directly responsible for selecting and retaining the independent auditor, we are providing shareholders with the means to express their views on this issue. Although this vote will not be binding, in the event the shareholders fail to ratify the appointment of PwC, the audit committee will reconsider its appointment. Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee in its discretion may direct the appointment of a different independent auditing firm at any time during the year if the audit committee determines that such a change would be in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

Vote Required. The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power represented in person or by proxy and entitled to vote is required for ratification.

The members of the audit committee and the Board of Directors recommend a vote FOR ratification of PwC as the Company’s independent auditor for fiscal year 2013.

Fees Paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

(in thousands)

 

     FY 11      FY 12  

Audit Fees

   $ 4,215       $ 4,203   

Audit-Related Fees

     84         185   

Tax Fees

     

Tax Compliance/preparation

     455         242   

Other Tax Services

     1,116         1,068   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Tax Fees

     1,571         1,310   

All Other Fees

     0         0   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total Fees

   $ 5,870       $ 5,698   
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Services Provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

The table above discloses fees paid to PwC during the last two fiscal years for the following professional services:

 

 

Audit Fees—These are fees for professional services performed by PwC for the audit of our annual financial statements and review of financial statements included in our 10-Q filings, and services that are normally provided in connection with statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.

 

 

Audit-Related Fees—These are fees for assurance and related services performed by PwC that are

   

reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of our financial statements. This includes: employee benefit and compensation plan audits; due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions; internal control reviews; attestations by PwC that are not required by statute or regulation; and consulting on financial accounting/reporting standards.

 

 

Tax Fees—These are fees for professional services performed by PwC with respect to tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning. This includes preparation of original and amended tax returns for the Company and our consolidated subsidiaries; refund claims; payment planning; tax audit assistance; and tax work stemming from “Audit- Related” items.

 

 

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All Other Fees—These are fees for other permissible work performed by PwC that does not meet the above category descriptions. This includes litigation assistance, tax filing and planning for individual employees involved in our expatriate program, tax advice on international compensation issues and various local engagements that are permissible under applicable laws and regulations.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policy

The audit committee has a formal policy concerning approval of all services to be provided by our independent auditor, including audit, audit-related, tax and other services. The policy requires that all

services the auditor may provide to us must be pre-approved by the committee. The chairman of the committee has the authority to pre-approve permitted services that require action between regular committee meetings, provided he reports to the committee at the next regular meeting. Early in each fiscal year, the committee approves the list of planned audit and non-audit services to be provided by the auditor during that year, as well as a budget estimating spending for such services for the fiscal year. Any proposed services exceeding the maximum fee levels set forth in that budget must receive specific pre-approval by the audit committee. The committee approved all services provided by PwC during fiscal 2012.

 

 

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AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors consists entirely of non-employee directors that are independent, as defined in Section 303A.02 of the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual.

Management is responsible for the Company’s internal controls and the financial reporting process. The independent accountants are responsible for performing an independent audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) and issuing a report thereon. The Committee’s responsibility is to monitor and oversee these processes.

With respect to the Company’s audited financial statements for the Company’s fiscal year ended September 30, 2012, management of the Company has represented to the Committee that the financial statements were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Committee has reviewed and discussed those financial statements with management and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The Audit Committee has also discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Company’s independent accountants, the matters required to be discussed by Statement on Auditing Standards No. 114 (Communication with Audit Committees) as modified or supplemented, as adopted by the PCAOB in Rule 3200T.

In fulfilling its oversight responsibilities for reviewing the services performed by Energizer’s independent registered public accountants, the Audit Committee retains sole authority to select, evaluate and replace the outside auditors, discusses with the independent registered public accountants the overall scope of the annual audit and the proposed audit fees, and annually evaluates the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent registered public accountants and its lead audit partner.

The Audit Committee has received the written disclosures from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP required by PCAOB Rule 3526 (Communication with Audit Committees Concerning Independence), as modified or supplemented, and has discussed the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP with members of that firm. In doing so, the Committee considered whether the non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were compatible with its independence. The Audit Committee met with the internal auditors and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examination, the evaluations of Energizer’s internal controls and the overall quality of Energizer’s financial reporting.

Based on the review and discussions referred to above, the Audit Committee recommended to the Company’s Board of Directors that the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for that year and has selected PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Energizer’s independent registered public accountants for fiscal year 2013, subject to shareholder ratification.

 

John R. Roberts—Chairman

  Bill G. Armstrong

Pamela M. Nicholson

  John E. Klein

Daniel J. Heinrich

 

No portion of this Audit Committee Report shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act, through any general statement incorporating by reference in its entirety the Proxy Statement in which this report appears, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this report or a portion of it by reference. In addition, this report shall not be deemed to be filed under either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

The following narratives and tables discuss the compensation paid in fiscal 2012 to our chief executive officer, chief financial officer, our other three most highly compensated executive officers, and one former officer, whom we refer to collectively as our “named executive officers”. Our named executive officers for 2012 were:

 

 

Ward M. Klein, Chief Executive Officer;

 

Daniel J. Sescleifer, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer;

 

David P. Hatfield, President and Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Personal Care;

 

Alan R. Hoskins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Household Products;

 

Peter J. Conrad, Vice President, Human Resources; and

 

Joseph W. McClanathan, former President and Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Household Products.

Mr. McClanathan served as our President and Chief Executive Officer of Energizer Household Products until his retirement on May 31, 2012. The terms of Mr. McClanathan’s separation are discussed under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or a Change in Control.”

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

Executive Summary and Recent Key Changes to Compensation Program

Our commitment to maintaining the best compensation practices is evidenced by the following existing features and recent changes to our executive compensation program:

 

 

Our goal is to instill a “pay for performance” culture throughout our operations, with total compensation opportunities near the 50th percentile of our peer group, with base salaries targeted moderately below the 50th percentile and performance incentives moderately above the 50th percentile, through a mix of short- and long-term compensation.

 

A significant portion of targeted compensation for our named executive officers is variable—not fixed—compensation, dependent upon achievement of pre-established performance goals, and subject to forfeiture if those goals are not achieved.

 

We have adopted stock ownership guidelines for executive officers, as well as prohibitions on the hedging of company stock by employees and certain other derivative transactions.

 

The nominating and executive compensation committee determined it was appropriate to target an increase over fiscal 2010 GAAP earnings per share (“EPS”) of $5.72 for the fiscal 2012 bonus plan and 3-year equity awards, resulting in more challenging performance goals than if a similar increase over the lower fiscal year 2011 GAAP EPS had been used. If fiscal 2011 GAAP results had been used, for example, the fiscal 2012 annual bonus plan target of $6.12 would represent a 64% increase over our fiscal 2011 GAAP EPS.

 

In November 2011, we adopted a policy eliminating tax gross-up payments and adopting the best-of-net approach for future change in control employment agreements.

 

Executive compensation was approved by a significant majority of shareholders, with 87.5% of the votes cast in favor of the advisory resolution at our 2012 annual meeting.

Changes for Fiscal 2013

 

 

Our nominating and executive compensation committee determined to make several additional changes to executive officer compensation for the 2013 fiscal year. Effective for fiscal 2013:

  ¡    

we eliminated the company match for deferrals of salary and bonus by executives as well as the opportunity for executives to defer salary and bonus under the deferred compensation plan; and

  ¡    

we terminated the company’s executive health plan. As such, current and former executives will no longer have the opportunity to participate in this plan.

 

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For the 2013 fiscal year, the committee approved multiple metrics in the long-term performance incentive program, including:

  ¡    

adjusted return on invested capital, to support the Company’s focus on cash flow, including improved working capital performance, and emphasize the importance of capital allocation decisions; and

  ¡    

cumulative adjusted EBITDA, to reward growth in core operating earnings;

  ¡    

once the initial award amount is determined, the performance equivalent awards will then be subject to adjustment based on a third new metric, the Company’s relative total shareholder return during the three year performance period based on a relevant group of industrial and consumer goods companies.

 

The compensation committee also approved multiple metrics in the short-term performance incentive program for fiscal 2013:

  ¡    

company-wide cost savings associated with restructurings, which will constitute 20% of the weighting, to focus on delivering the cost savings to investors announced by the Company and be paid as cost savings are achieved;

  ¡    

adjusted earnings per share, which will constitute 30% of the weighting, to encourage the executives to deliver on bottom-line results;

  ¡    

company-wide pre-tax adjusted operating profit, which will constitute 30% of the weighting, to reward operating performance; and

  ¡    

adjusted net working capital as a percentage of sales, which will constitute 20% of the weighting, to encourage improved management of working capital.

 

Our compensation committee also determined to eliminate the individual performance component of our named executive officers’ annual cash bonus for the 2013 fiscal year, so that compensation will be entirely based on the achievement of the objective, company-wide performance goals.

 

Following fiscal 2012 in support of Energizer’s previously announced multi-year restructuring initiative, Mr. Ward Klein and the committee agreed to reduce the number of hours Mr. Ward Klein is permitted to use our aircraft for personal travel from 50 flight hours per year to 30 flight hours per year, beginning in 2013.

 

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The elements of our fiscal 2012 executive compensation program as well as the purpose of each item are shown in the following table:

 

Compensation Element    Description   Purpose
     

Base Salary

   Annual fixed salary, payable in cash.  

Helps attract and retain key

individuals.

 

Annual adjustment opportunity

motivates performance against

focal points for the year.

     

Annual Cash Bonus

   Bonuses are payable in cash upon achievement of the pre-determined company-wide adjusted EPS target (70% of the total bonus target), and assessment of individual performance (30%).   Promotes achievement of both company-wide and individual performance goals.
     

Three Year Equity Awards

   70% of the stretch target award vests based on three year compound annual growth in EPS and 30% vests on the third anniversary of the grant if the recipient remains employed with the Company.  

Promotes achievement of long-term company-wide earnings performance goals.

 

Provides a direct link to shareholder interests by tying a significant portion of executive’s personal wealth to the performance of our common stock.

 

Vesting requirements help to retain key employees.

     

Deferred Compensation Plan

   Executives may defer their annual bonus; we match 25% for deferrals into a fund tracking the performance of our common stock.   Links an executive’s personal wealth to the performance of our common stock.
     

Supplemental Retirement

Plans

   Executives participate in the retirement plans available for all employees; the supplemental retirement plans restore retirement benefits otherwise limited by federal statute.   Ensures that the executives receive the same relative value compared to other employees who are not subject to these limits.
     

Change of Control Severance

Benefits

   Executives are entitled to benefits only if they are involuntarily terminated (or they resign for good cause) following a change of control of our company.  

Allows executives to make decisions focusing on the interests of shareholders while using a “double trigger” (a change of control plus termination) to avoid a windfall.

 

 

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Objectives

The key objective of our compensation philosophy is to reward management based upon its success in increasing shareholder value. With a focus on that overarching goal, the overall executive compensation program is designed to provide a compensation package that will enable us to attract and retain highly talented executives and maintain a performance-oriented culture.

Pay for Performance

Our goal is to instill a “pay for performance” culture throughout our operations, with total compensation opportunities targeted at the 50th percentile of our peer group.

In 2012, a significant portion of targeted compensation for our named executive officers, consisting of the annual cash bonus and three-year equity awards, was variable—not fixed—compensation, with much of that dependent upon achievement of pre-established goals, subject to forfeiture if threshold goals were not achieved. These performance based incentives, which focus on long-term performance, reward the named executive officers for the achievement of outstanding and sustained company performance, which builds shareholder value. We believe this compensation structure offers high potential rewards for superior performance, and a steep reduction for results below target.

Alignment of Executive and Shareholder Interests

A significant portion of our compensation program, similarly to our peer companies, consists of equity grants that align our officers’ interests with those of shareholders by tying a significant portion of the officers’ personal wealth to the performance of our common stock.

Our incentive compensation program (both annual bonuses and three-year equity grants) has focused since its inception in 2002 on consistent improvement in profitability, measured by EPS growth. We believe that such focus has provided strong motivation for superior executive performance and aligns the interests of management with those of the shareholders in fiscal 2012. In developing our fiscal 2013 executive compensation program, we have continued to focus on profitability while adopting metrics which take a more comprehensive perspective than EPS alone. Specifically, in addition to the use of adjusted EPS and adjusted operating profit, we have added two cost savings metrics in our annual bonus plan, company-wide cost savings and net working capital as a percentage of sales, added cumulative adjusted EBITDA as a measure of long-term operating earnings and adjusted return on invested capital to encourage pursuit of project investments that are expected to generate profitable returns, and a relative total shareholder return modifier to further align our compensation with the returns delivered to shareholders.

Retention

Our executive officers are highly experienced, with average length of service with the Company of over 15 years, and have been successful in diversifying our businesses, improving operating results and sustaining long-term adjusted EPS growth. Because of management’s level of experience and successful track record, as well as the value of maintaining continuity in senior executive positions, we view retention of key executives as critical to the ongoing success of our operations. Consequently, we:

 

 

utilize benchmarking against a peer group of companies in order to ensure that we can retain key executives and remain competitive in attracting new employees; and

 

establish vesting periods for our equity-based awards and for the company match under our deferred compensation plan, so that those elements of our compensation program will provide additional retention incentives.

Our executive compensation program also includes features to address other compensation-related issues such as health, welfare, and retirement concerns of employees, including features that were retained at the time of our spin-off in 2000. While we believe these programs have played an important role in our executive compensation

 

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structure, a number of them, including the opportunity to receive a company match on deferred salary and bonus and the opportunity to participate in our executive health plan, will be terminated by the end of the 2012 calendar year.

Implementation of the Compensation Program

Our board of directors has delegated authority to the Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee to approve all compensation and benefits for our executive officers. The committee sets executive salaries and bonuses, reviews executive benefit programs, including change in control severance agreements, and grants cash bonus awards to our executive officers under our cash bonus program, as well as equity awards to all eligible employees and executives under our 2009 incentive stock plan. The committee has not delegated this authority to any other individuals or groups, except for certain administrative tasks involving our benefit programs.

To assist it in evaluating our executive and director compensation programs on a competitive market basis, the committee has directly retained an outside consultant, Meridian Compensation Partners LLC, which is asked to:

 

 

provide comparative market data for our peer group (and other companies, as needed) with respect to the compensation of the named executive officers and the directors;

 

analyze our compensation and benefit programs relative to our peer group; and

 

advise the committee on trends in compensation practice and on management proposals with respect to executive compensation.

The committee has reviewed the independence of Meridian and has determined that Meridian has no conflicts of interest. In particular, Meridian does not provide any other services to the Company. The committee has sole authority to retain or replace Meridian in its role as its consultant. The committee regularly reviews the performance and independence of Meridian, as well as fees paid. Management has retained a separate consultant, Towers Watson, which advises it (but not the committee) on market trends in executive compensation, provides ad hoc analysis and recommendations, and reviews and comments on compensation proposals. We believe that having separate consultants promotes Meridian’s independence with respect to its advice.

A representative of Meridian attends committee meetings as requested to serve as a resource on executive and director compensation matters. In order to encourage independent review and discussion of executive compensation matters, the committee meets with Meridian in executive session.

Meridian, with input from the committee, has developed a customized peer group of 20 companies based on a variety of criteria, including some or all of consumer products businesses, businesses with a strong brand focus, competitors for executive talent, and similarly-sized businesses in terms of revenues and market capitalization.

Meridian uses data provided by that peer group to determine a market comparison for our executive compensation program. Total compensation opportunities are targeted at the 50th percentile of the peer group. The market comparison is made for each key component of compensation, including base pay, target annual bonus, target total cash compensation and grant-date value of long-term incentives. Meridian also analyzes the aggregate equity utilization as compared to the peer group. In addition, Meridian annually reviews the terms of our change-in-control program for our executives for consistency with market practices.

The peer group utilized by Meridian for its review of fiscal 2012 executive compensation consists of the following companies. The industries in which the companies are engaged are noted: (1) household products; (2) personal care; (3) food and beverage; and (4) apparel.

 

Avery Dennison(1)   Del Monte Foods(3)   Herbalife(3)   Revlon(2)
Avon Products(2)   Eastman Kodak(1)   Hershey(3)   S.C. Johnson & Son(1)
Brown-Forman(3)   Elizabeth Arden(2)   Masco Corporation(1)   Scott’s Miracle-Gro(1)
Brown Shoe(4)   Estee Lauder Companies, Inc.(2)   Mattel(1)   Sherwin-Williams(1)
Church & Dwight(1)(2)   Hallmark Cards(1)   Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.(3)   Stanley Black & Decker(1)
Clorox(1)   Hanesbrands(4)   Newell Rubbermaid(1)   Tupperware(1)
Colgate-Palmolive(2)   Hasbro(1)   NuSkin Enterprises(2)    

 

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The following table provides an overview of how we compared to our peer group companies on certain financial criteria (based on publicly available information as of August, 2011):

 

(in millions of dollars)    Revenue
(FY2010)
     Market
Capitalization
(as of 6/30/11)
 

75th Percentile

     7,390         9,835   

50th Percentile

     4,327         5,890   

25th Percentile

     2,662         3,189   

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

     4,248         5,042   

Energizer Holdings, Inc. percentile

     47%         45%   

Results of 2012 Advisory Vote to Approve Executive Compensation

At our 2012 annual meeting of shareholders on January 30, 2012, we submitted two proposals to our stockholders regarding our executive compensation practices. The first proposal was an advisory vote on our fiscal year 2011 compensation awarded to our named executive officers. Our shareholders approved our fiscal year 2011 compensation awarded to our named executive officers with approximately 87.5% of the votes cast in favor of the proposal. We believe that the outcome of our say-on-pay vote signals our shareholders’ support of our nominating and executive compensation committee’s approach to executive compensation, specifically our efforts to attract, retain, and motivate our named executive officers.

We were pleased with our shareholders’ support of our compensation program in fiscal 2011, and the committee continued to review our executive compensation practices to further align our compensation practices with our pay-for-performance philosophy and shareholder interests, as we describe in “Executive Summary and Recent Key Changes to Compensation Program” above. We value the opinions of our shareholders and will continue to consider the outcome of future say-on-pay votes, as well as feedback received throughout the year, when making compensation decisions for our named executive officers.

The second proposal was a vote on the frequency of future shareholder advisory votes regarding compensation awarded to our named executive officers. Our Board’s recommendation of an annual frequency received the highest number of votes cast, as well as a majority of the votes cast. Based on these results, our Board of Directors determined to hold our say-on-pay votes on an annual basis.

Elements of Compensation

Base Pay

We benchmark base pay against our peer group annually as a guide to setting compensation, in the context of performance, for key positions, including the named executive officers. Our management and the committee believe that an important benchmark for base salaries is the 50th percentile for the peer group, but that it is important to consider the interplay of all of the benchmarked components of compensation as well as the individual’s performance, and to make adjustments as warranted.

At the beginning of each fiscal year the committee establishes the salaries of the executive officers (other than the chief executive officer) based on recommendations of the chief executive officer. These recommendations are based on an assessment of the individual’s responsibilities, experience, and individual performance against focal points. Where the recommendations of the chief executive officer and the compensation consultant for the salaries of executives (other than the chief executive officer) remain within the targeted range relative to the peer group, and the committee concurs with the assessment of performance, the committee has historically approved the recommendations made by the chief executive officer.

The salary of the chief executive officer is set by the committee, taking into account the recommendation of the committee’s compensation consultant. In connection with that review, Meridian, without input from

 

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management, provides the committee with a range of possible salary and long-term incentive award levels. The committee uses this information, along with its analysis of the performance and contributions of the chief executive officer against performance goals, to determine an appropriate salary.

The committee evaluated the base salaries of the named executive officers at its November 2011 meeting and set the base salaries of the named executive officers for fiscal 2012 as follows: Mr. Klein—$1,100,000; Mr. Sescleifer—$525,000; Mr. Hatfield—$525,000; Mr. Conrad—$375,000; and Mr. McClanathan—$525,000. At the committee’s January 2012 meeting, the committee determined that, following his assumption of his role as President and Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Household Products, Mr. Hoskins would receive a base salary of $390,000. The committee’s consultant confirmed that these salaries of our executive officers remained consistent with the Company’s overall compensation objectives.

Incentive Programs

The committee has annually approved a two-tier incentive compensation structure for our key executives, consisting of an annual performance program, paid in cash, and a three-year performance program, paid in restricted stock equivalents. In order to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “IRC”), awards to officers under our annual performance program are made under the terms of our shareholder-approved executive officer bonus plan, and the three-year performance awards are granted under the terms of our 2009 incentive stock plan.

Adjusted EPS

The performance measure used in the 2012 fiscal year, both in our annual cash bonus program and three-year equity grants, was adjusted EPS. We used EPS results, determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), subject to certain adjustments for certain limited matters, including extraordinary dividends, stock splits or stock dividends, extraordinary transactions such as acquisitions and integrations, mergers or spin-offs, reorganizations and unusual or non-recurring accounting impacts, which may include cash or non-cash restructuring charges or asset impairments such as write-downs of goodwill or tradenames, or changes in accounting standards or treatment.

The performance goals were set by the committee at the beginning of each fiscal year. In past years, the targeted adjusted EPS goal was set at an increase over the prior years’ results for the annual cash bonus program and three-year performance awards. In 2012, the targeted adjusted EPS goal was set at 7% above our 2010 results rather than the results for the 2011 fiscal year. As compared to our 2011 results, our 2012 adjusted EPS target represented a 64% increase over our fiscal 2011 adjusted EPS results.

In 2012, the committee, in consultation with management, considered whether to adjust for the negative financial impact (or whether to exercise its negative discretion to disregard the impact) of the following events when determining the achievement of targets under the previously granted equity awards or under the fiscal 2012 annual bonus plan: (i) costs associated with restructuring operations, (ii) the payment of penalties resulting from the early termination of certain interest rate swaps and (iii) various integration and transaction costs related to the acquisition of ASR which under current accounting rules are now charged as current period expenses (as opposed to being treated as part of the purchase price or as an opening balance sheet liability). The committee reviewed the adjustments and, through the use of its negative discretion, reduced the amount of the awards and amounts payable under the annual bonus plan to the amount that would have been earned had adjusted EPS been calculated without taking into account the above adjustments, because the committee did not believe that the adjustments made were appropriate to alter the compensation targets achieved in the 2012 fiscal year.

Annual Cash Bonus Program

The 2012 annual bonus was designed to promote achievement of both Company and individual performance goals, with a component equal to 70% of an individual’s annual “bonus target” focused on objective Company adjusted EPS performance, and a component equal to the remaining 30% of the annual “bonus target” focused on both objective and subjective individual performance.

 

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The committee assigned individual “bonus targets” to each of the officers, based upon historical practice at the Company and prevailing market practice information provided by the committee’s consultant. For fiscal 2012, the following “bonus targets,” defined as a percentage of the individual’s base pay, were assigned to the named executive officers:

• Mr. Klein - 115%

• Mr. Sescleifer - 80%

• Mr. Hatfield - 80%

• Mr. Hoskins - 80%

• Mr. Conrad - 60%

• Mr. McClanathan - 80%

Bonus Component Based on Company Performance

The Company performance component of the annual cash bonus program was designed to reward annual adjusted EPS growth. The following table provides information on the potential bonuses that could have been earned in fiscal 2012.

 

Goals for Annual Objective Component—
Set at Beginning of Each Fiscal Year
 

Bonus which will be Awarded

upon Achievement of Goals

Threshold: set at 2010 final GAAP results ($5.72)

 

10% of 70% of officer’s  

“bonus target”

Target: set at 7% above Threshold goal ($6.12)

 

100% of 70% of officer’s  

“bonus target”

Stretch: set at 14% above Threshold goal ($6.52)

  200% of 70% of officer’s   “bonus target”

Bonuses indicated increase proportionately in 1/10th of 1% increments for final results between the goals indicated with maximum bonus at stretch. No bonuses tied to the Company performance are paid for results below the Threshold goal.

For the 2012 fiscal year, our actual adjusted EPS was $6.22 per share resulting in performance compensation slightly above the target level.

Bonus Component Based on Individual Performance

The individual performance component of the annual cash bonus program is based upon a subjective evaluation of the officer’s performance during the year, including performance against pre-established “focal points” for business and operational improvement. Executive officers are eligible to receive from 0% to 200% of their bonus target for the individual performance component, based on the committee’s determination of the officer’s performance during the fiscal year against his or her focal points, and, for the chief executive officer, input from the chairman of the board and assessments of the chief executive officer’s performance by each director.

The board of directors establishes the focal points of the chief executive officer at the beginning of the year, and the chief executive officer sets the focal points for the other executive officers. The focal points for those other officers for 2012 generally addressed specific operational objectives, budgeted financial objectives, organizational and management objectives, and more specific objectives directly related to each officer’s position. The focal points for the chief executive officer addressed EPS performance, as well as top-line operating objectives for our businesses, sales and profit growth objectives, and organizational and management objectives.

 

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See note 4 to the “Summary Compensation Table” for amounts paid to our named executive officers with respect to the annual individual performance component.

Following its annual review of executive compensation for the 2013 fiscal year, the committee determined to eliminate the individual performance component of the annual cash bonus plan, and replace it with multiple objective company performance metrics.

Equity Awards

Our amended and restated 2009 incentive stock plan, as approved at our 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, authorizes the committee to grant various types of equity awards. Since 2005, the committee has granted to key executives primarily restricted stock equivalent awards, with achievement of Company performance targets over three years as a condition to vesting of the majority of the award, and continued employment with the Company over the same period as a condition to vesting of the remainder of the award. In November 2011, the committee continued this practice, awarding three-year incentive awards with a performance based component at stretch constituting 70% of the total award and the time-vesting component 30% of the award.

Timing and Procedures for Grants

Except for exceptional cases, such as promotions or new hires, long-term incentive awards are generally granted in the first quarter of the fiscal year (October through December), at the time when salary levels and bonus programs for the new fiscal year are determined. The committee and management have agreed that it is also an appropriate time to review and consider additional awards as part of the total compensation packages.

The size of equity awards for the executive officers was based in part upon benchmarked data from our peer group provided by Meridian, valued on the basis of grant-date present value. The size of awards also reflects other factors, such as officers’ individual performance, current dilution rates, and the market run-rate for equity grants among the peer group. The number of restricted stock equivalents (subject to both time- and performance-based vesting) awarded, as well as the mix between the two types of awards, are based on the amounts targeted to be delivered after three years, and the corresponding grant date present value of the restricted stock equivalents. The restricted stock equivalent awards are stock-settled at the end of the three-year period, when they convert into unrestricted shares of our common stock if the vesting requirements are met. The value of the performance shares that our executives received increases with achievement of performance criteria up to the stretch target due to both the increase in the number of shares vesting and stock price increases over the performance period.

The chief executive officer recommends to the committee the number of shares or share units to be awarded for each named executive officer (other than the chief executive officer). With respect to awards to the chief executive officer, Meridian, without input from the chief executive officer or other members of management, provides a range of potential awards to the committee. However, the committee considers alternatives outside the range and determines the award considering the competitive posture, performance of the Company, and experience and effectiveness of the chief executive officer’s leadership, as well as the input from Meridian.

Grants During Fiscal 2012

The threshold for payout under the three-year performance awards granted in November 2011 is 5% cumulative annual adjusted EPS growth, with approximately 16.5% of the award vesting at that threshold, and pro rata increases up to 50% vesting at 7% cumulative annual growth and a maximum of 100% vesting at 12% cumulative annual growth over the three-year period, with the base adjusted EPS of $5.72. The committee determined that $5.72, the adjusted EPS from fiscal 2010, should be used rather than the adjusted EPS from fiscal 2011, because the committee believed that the higher fiscal 2010 adjusted EPS represented a more appropriate base from which to measure performance, and that the vesting levels challenge our executives to deliver results in accordance with our growth strategy. The number of units granted to each named executive office is shown in the “Grants of Plan-Based Awards” table.

 

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Performance Awards Vesting in 2012

In fiscal 2012, the three-year vesting period for performance awards granted in October 2009 ended. The compound adjusted EPS growth for that period, 9.33%, resulted in vesting of 66.7% of the awards granted. As noted in “—Incentive Programs—Adjusted EPS,” the committee exercised its discretion to adjust the fiscal 2012 adjusted EPS result down to fiscal 2012 EPS calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Other Equity Awards

The committee has from time to time granted non-qualified stock options as well as restricted stock equivalent awards which vest over time. For example, in October 2009, because of concerns over the impact of non-attainable performance goals in outstanding performance awards on retention of key executives, the committee approved the grant to such executives, including the named executive officers, of retention stock option awards with an exercise price equal to the market value of our common stock on the date of grant. No such awards were granted in fiscal 2012.

Deferred Compensation Plan

The executive officers and other key employees are permitted to request the deferral of their annual cash bonus awards under the terms of our deferred compensation plan. Deferrals of an executive’s cash bonus into the Energizer common stock unit fund of the plan received a 25% Company match, vesting three years from the date of crediting. This match is being eliminated beginning in fiscal 2013. The plan is a legacy plan inherited from our former parent that we have retained as a part of our compensation program. The plan is more fully described in the narrative to the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table” below.

Supplemental Retirement Plans

In fiscal 2012, our named executive officers were covered, like other employees, by our defined benefit pension plan. As a qualified plan, it is subject to maximum pay and benefit limits under the tax rules. Our named executive officers were also covered by our qualified defined contribution 401(k) plan, or the savings investment plan, and entitled to a Company match on a portion of their deferrals to the plan. The amounts which may be deferred on a tax preferred basis into the qualified plan, as well as the amount of the matching contributions, are also subject to IRS limitations. We have also established supplemental plans to compensate executives for these limits. The pension restoration plan (the executive supplemental retirement plan) provides a supplement to an executive’s pension benefit equal to the amount that the executive would have received but for the tax limitations. The excess 401(k) plan (the executive savings investment plan) permits executives to defer any excess contributions and matching payments not permitted into the qualified savings investment plan. These supplemental retirement plans are legacy benefits which were also offered by our former parent. According to market data provided by Meridian, these types of benefits are generally offered by our peer group described above, often with enhanced benefit formulas (which we do not provide).

Details of pension benefits under the pension restoration plan are set forth in the “Pension Benefits Table,” including the accompanying narrative. Details of the excess 401(k) plan, including the contributions, earnings, and year-end balances, are set forth in the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table,” including the narrative.

In November 2012, we approved and communicated changes for both our qualified and supplemental U.S. pension plans so that, effective January 1, 2014, the pension benefit earned to date by active participants under the legacy Energizer U.S. pension plan will be frozen and future retirement service benefits will no longer be accrued. The elimination of the U.S. pension benefit will be partially offset by an increase in the company match to contributions made by participants into our defined contribution Savings Investment Plan.

 

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Severance and Other Benefits Following a Change of Control

Unlike many other public companies, we have not offered employment agreements to our executives. However, we have ongoing change of control employment agreements with each of our executive officers, as discussed under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control.”

The change of control employment agreements are designed to provide executives with increased security in the event of a change of control, and allow them to weigh alternative future courses for the Company focused on the interests of shareholders. The committee annually reviews the cost and the terms of the agreements in light of advice provided by Meridian, based upon surveys of Fortune 200 companies as well as our peer group, and its own internal data and expertise. We believe that the retention value provided by the agreements, and the benefit to us when the executive is provided the opportunity to focus on the interests of shareholders and not the executive’s own personal financial interests, outweighs the potential cost given that:

 

 

such protections are common among companies of our size, and allow us to offer a competitive compensation package;

 

Meridian has advised that the aggregate projected cost of the agreements is at the lower end of prevailing practice;

 

such costs will only be triggered if the new controlling entity involuntarily terminates the protected executives, or the executives are able to terminate for good reason, during the protected period;

 

the agreements include non-compete and non-solicitation covenants binding on the executives, which can provide significant benefit to the new controlling entity; and

 

the individuals with the agreements are carefully selected by the board of directors, and we believe they are critical to the process of evaluating or negotiating a potential change of control transaction or in the operation of our business during the negotiations or integration process, so that their retention would be critical to the success of any such transaction.

The committee has from time to time in the last several years initiated further limitations on the benefits provided. In November 2011, the board of directors, upon the recommendation of the committee, adopted a policy pursuant to which we will not include tax gross-up payments relating to severance payments, and instead adopt the “best-of-net” approach for future change in control employment agreements with executive officers.

A description of the projected cost if a change of control were to have occurred on the last day of fiscal 2012 and all of the named executive officers were terminated on that date is provided under “Potential Payments upon Termination or Change of Control.”

On May 31, 2012, Mr. McClanathan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Energizer Household Products since November 2007, retired from that role. The Company and Mr. McClanathan entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release, dated December 15, 2011. Under his Separation Agreement, Mr. McClanathan received a full year bonus for fiscal 2012 based on actual Company financial results. In addition, all of the time-based restricted stock equivalents awarded to Mr. McClanathan on October 12, 2009 (6,300 shares), November 1, 2010 (5,700 shares) and November 7, 2011 (6,084 shares) immediately vested upon his retirement. With respect to Mr. McClanathan’s performance-based restricted stock equivalents granted on October 12, 2009 (7,350 shares at target and 14,700 shares at stretch), such shares partially vested based on Company performance, as described in “—Incentive Programs—Equity Awards—Performance Awards Vesting in 2012.” Mr. McClanathan continues to be subject to post-employment nondisclosure, non-disparagement, non-solicit and non-competition covenants.

Perquisites

We offer a limited number of perquisites for our executive officers. As described above, our board of directors authorized the personal use of our Company-owned aircraft, for up to 50 flight hours per year by the chief

 

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executive officer, but does not permit reimbursement of taxes associated with the chief executive officer’s personal use of the aircraft. For 2013 in support of Energizer’s previously announced multi-year restructuring initiative, Mr. Ward Klein and the committee agreed that the number of flight hours available for personal use will be reduced to 30 flight hours. The board has also authorized individuals to bring family members and guests along on business flights. The remaining perquisites or executive benefits consist of the executive financial planning program, executive health plan, executive long-term disability plan, and executive excess liability plan. Of these, the executive health plan was eliminated by the committee, effective as of December 31, 2012. In addition, Mr. Hatfield is reimbursed for commuting expenses as a result of his assignment to our office in Connecticut, but he is not reimbursed for taxes associated with that reimbursement. We regularly review the benefits provided to our executives and make appropriate modifications based on peer group analysis and the committee’s evaluation of the retentive value of these benefits.

Stock Ownership Requirements

Our stock ownership guidelines provide that the chief executive officer must maintain ownership of our common stock with a value of at least five times his base salary, and other executive officers must maintain common stock ownership with a value of at least three times their base salaries. New executive officers are given a period of five years to attain full compliance with the guidelines.

For purposes of these determinations, stock ownership includes shares of our common stock which are owned directly or by family members residing with the executive, or by family trusts, as well as vested options, vested and deferred restricted stock equivalents, unvested restricted stock equivalents (other than equivalents subject to achievement of performance targets), and common stock or stock equivalents credited to an officer under our savings investment plan, our excess 401(k) plan, or our deferred compensation plan. As of September 30, 2012, each of our named executive officers was in compliance with the guidelines.

Trading in Energizer Stock

Under our insider trading policy, directors, officers and employees or their designees, are prohibited from engaging in speculative trading or hedging transactions in Energizer securities, including prohibitions on:

 

 

Investing or trading in market-traded options on Energizer securities — i.e., puts and calls; or

 

Purchasing financial instruments (including prepaid variable forward contracts, equity swaps, collars, and exchange funds) that are designed to profit from, hedge or offset any change in the market value of equity securities (1) granted to the director, officer or employee by Energizer as part of the compensation of the employee or member of the Board of Directors; or (2) held, directly or indirectly, by the director, officer or employee; or

 

Engaging in “short-sales” of Energizer securities — i.e., selling Energizer stock not owned at the time of the sale; or

 

Speculating on relatively short-term price movements of Energizer securities — i.e., engage in a purchase and sale of Energizer stock within a short period of time; or

 

Transferring funds into or out of Energizer stock equivalent funds in Energizer’s benefit plans while in possession or aware of material non-public information; or

 

Engaging in any other transaction involving Energizer securities that suggests the misuse of information that is unavailable to the general public.

Deductibility of Certain Executive Compensation

U.S. tax laws set a limit on deductible compensation of $1,000,000 per year per person for the chief executive officer and the next 3 highest paid officers (other than the chief financial officer). Performance-based awards which meet certain requirements are excluded when determining whether such an executive has received compensation in excess of this limit. The applicable plan provisions give the committee authority to require the deferral of certain bonus and salary payments to such officers in order to preserve the deductibility of those

 

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payments. By making payments under the annual cash bonus program and annual restricted stock equivalent grants contingent upon achievement of shareholder-approved performance goals, such payments may be deductible under the U.S. tax laws. We believe a significant portion of the compensation paid to the named executive officers may remain deductible as performance-based awards under shareholder-approved plans in the future. However, the committee reserves the flexibility to approve compensation arrangements that are not fully tax deductible where the committee considers such arrangements to be appropriate and in the best interests of the company.

The committee intends to continue to review and monitor its policy with respect to the deductibility of compensation.

COMPENSATION POLICIES AND PRACTICES AS THEY RELATE TO RISK MANAGEMENT

As part of its responsibilities, the committee annually reviews the Company’s compensation policies and practices for all employees, including executive officers, to determine that, in its judgment, our compensation programs do not encourage risk-taking likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company. In particular, there are several design features of those programs that the committee believes reduces the likelihood of excessive risk-taking:

 

 

the executive compensation program design provides a balanced mix of cash and equity, annual and longer-term incentives;

 

for the executive compensation program, maximum payout levels for bonuses and performance awards are capped;

 

the Company does not grant stock options on a regular basis; and

 

executive officers are subject to share ownership and retention guidelines.

The committee determined that, for all employees, the Company’s compensation programs do not encourage excessive risk and instead encourage behavior that supports sustainable value creation.

NOMINATING AND EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors consists entirely of non-employee directors that are independent under the NYSE listing standards. The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on these reviews and discussions, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this Proxy Statement and in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2012.

 

Daniel J. Heinrich

Bill G. Armstrong

  

John C. Hunter—Chairman

John R. Roberts

 

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EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

The following table gives information about the Company’s common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under all of the Company’s existing compensation plans as of September 30, 2012.

 

Plan Category   

(1)

Number of

Securities

to be Issued upon

Exercise of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants and Rights 

    

(2)

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price of

Outstanding

Options,

Warrants and Rights 

    

(3)

Number of

Securities

Remaining Available 

for Future Issuance

Under Equity

Compensation

Plans (Excluding

Securities Reflected

in Column (1),

and as Noted

Below)

 

Equity compensation plans approved by

security holders

     2,914,642       $ 51.59         3,257,842   
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders      None         N/A         None   

Total

     2,914,642       $ 51.59         3,257,842   

 

(1) The number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights shown above, as of September 30, 2012, includes 2,273,356 restricted stock equivalents which have been granted under the terms of the Energizer Holdings, Inc. 2000 Incentive Stock Plan (pursuant to which no further equity awards may be made) and the 2009 Plan. Since September 30, 2012, 528,678 of the outstanding equivalents granted under either plan, have vested and converted into outstanding shares of our common stock, and 103,197 of the outstanding equivalents as of that date, granted under either plan, have subsequently been forfeited and will not convert into outstanding shares of our common stock. 1,078,888 of the aggregate outstanding equivalents under both plans either (i) vest over varying periods of time following grant, and at that time, convert, on a one-for-one basis, into shares of common stock, or (ii) have already vested but conversion into shares of our common stock has been deferred, at the election of the recipient, until retirement or
  termination of employment. An additional 562,593 equivalents granted in 2011 and 2010 will vest only upon achievement of three-year performance measures.

Since 9/30/12 an additional 32,304 options granted under either plan have been exercised and 10,000 options have been forfeited.

Includes 102,892 restricted stock equivalents granted to individuals that are vested but will not be released until the recipients meet the required six month delay.

 

(2) The weighted average exercise price does not take into account securities which will be issued upon conversion of outstanding restricted stock equivalents.

 

(3) This number only reflects securities available under the 2009 Plan. Under the terms of that plan, any awards other than options, phantom stock options or stock appreciation rights are to be counted against the reserve available for issuance in a 1.95 to 1 ratio.
 

 

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SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name and Principal Position

  Year     Salary     Bonus
(1)
    Stock
Awards
(2)
    Option
Awards
(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan Comp.
(1)(4)
    Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqual’d
Deferred
Comp. Earnings
(5)
    All
Other
Compensation
(6)
    Total
($)
 

Ward M. Klein

    2012      $ 1,091,667      $ 0      $ 4,000,049      $ 0      $ 1,676,125      $ 2,563,614      $ 213,426      $ 9,544,881   
Chief Executive Officer     2011      $ 991,667      $ 0      $ 3,651,834      $ 0      $ 450,000      $ 1,041,563      $ 378,112      $ 6,513,176   
    2010      $ 893,750      $ 0      $ 3,768,093      $ 1,026,000      $ 1,800,000      $ 1,697,688      $ 179,594      $ 9,365,125   
Daniel J. Sescleifer     2012      $ 523,752      $ 0      $ 971,014      $ 0      $ 556,502      $ 77,188      $ 33,580      $ 2,162,036   
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer     2011      $ 507,090      $ 0      $ 1,081,376      $ 0      $ 183,600      $ 106,226      $ 71,621      $ 1,949,913   
    2010      $ 472,083      $ 0      $ 978,109      $ 675,000      $ 703,000      $ 155,265      $ 45,279      $ 3,028,736   
David P. Hatfield     2012      $ 523,787      $ 0      $ 986,318      $ 0      $ 556,538      $ 144,681      $ 42,441      $ 2,253,765   

President & CEO,

Energizer Personal Care

    2011      $ 508,371      $ 0      $ 905,626      $ 0      $ 244,800      $ 185,561      $ 103,932      $ 1,948,290   
    2010      $ 482,504      $ 0      $ 986,515      $ 810,000      $ 784,000      $ 148,462      $ 54,615      $ 3,266,096   

Alan R. Hoskins

    2012      $ 278,339      $ 0      $ 450,064      $ 0      $ 413,400      $ 119,167      $ 757,085      $ 2,018,055   

President & CEO,

Energizer Household

Products

                 
Peter J. Conrad     2012      $ 373,754      $ 0      $ 624,341      $ 0      $ 298,126      $ 75,717      $ 25,569      $ 1,397,507   
Vice President, Human Resources                  
Joseph W. McClanathan     2012      $ 413,394      $ 0      $ 970,031      $ 0      $ 556,538      $ 0      $ 33,118      $ 1,973,081   

Former President & CEO,

Energizer Household Products

    2011      $ 508,371      $ 0      $ 1,101,626      $ 0      $ 183,600      $ 317,207      $ 67,503      $ 2,178,307   
    2010      $ 488,767      $ 0      $ 938,618      $ 472,500      $ 784,000      $ 220,495      $ 30,984      $ 2,935,364   
                 

 

 

(1) All awards under our annual cash bonus program are based upon achievement of either individual or Company performance measures established at the beginning of a performance period. Consequently, the value of all bonuses earned during the fiscal year would have been included in the Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation column of this table. See footnote (4) below.

 

(2) The amounts listed for fiscal 2012 include performance-based compensation as well as compensation that vests over time (including the company match under the deferred compensation plan), assuming that the officer remains employed with the Company. The value of the performance-based compensation reflects the most probable outcome award value at the date of its grant in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. The Company records estimated expense for the performance-based grants based on target achievement for the three year period unless evidence exists that a different CAGR is likely to occur. The maximum award value, if paid, for the performance-based awards granted in 2012, would be: W. Klein—$4,307,789;
  D. Sescleifer—$996,275; D. Hatfield—$996,275; A. Hoskins $484,663; P. Conrad—$646,217; and J. McClanathan—$996,275. J. McClanathan’s performance-based grant was forfeited upon his retirement from the Company.

 

(3) The amounts listed for 2010 reflect the most probable option value at the date of its grant in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions utilized in the calculation of these amounts are set forth in “Note 9. Share-Based Payments” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of our 2011 Annual Report. No stock options were granted to the officers during fiscal 2011 or 2012.

 

(4) The amounts reported in this column reflect bonuses earned by the named executive officers during the fiscal year under our annual cash bonus program, which is described in our Compensation Discussion and Analysis. These amounts are comprised of:

 

  (i) the annual individual performance component; and

 

  (ii) the annual Company performance component.
 

 

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The specific amounts earned by each of the named executive officers under (i) and (ii) above are as follows:

 

   

Mr. Klein, (i) $569,250; (ii) $1,106,875

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, (i) $189,001; (ii) $367,501

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, (i) $189,013; (ii) $367,525

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, (i) $140,400; (ii) $273,000

 

   

Mr. Conrad, (i) $101,250; (ii) $196,876

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, (i) $189,013; (ii) $367,525

These amounts do not reflect any deferral of payment of these amounts, at the officers’ elections, under the terms of our deferred compensation plan which is described in the narrative to the Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation table below. The annual bonus program does not provide for earnings on non-equity incentive plan compensation prior to its payment or deferral under the deferred compensation plan.

 

(5) The amounts reported in this column consist of:

 

  (i) aggregate changes in the actuarial present value of accumulated benefits under our retirement plan and the supplemental executive retirement plan, our pension restoration plan, which are our defined benefit pension plans described in the narrative to the Pension Benefits Table. For the final average earnings formula benefit under the retirement plan, this amount reflects the difference in the calculated present value of the benefit during fiscal 2012. (To the extent that payments under the qualified retirement plan exceed limitations imposed by the IRS, the excess will be paid under the terms of the non-qualified supplemental executive retirement plan.)

 

   

Mr. Klein, $2,563,614

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, $77,188

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, $144,681

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, $119,167

 

   

Mr. Conrad, $75,717

Due to retirement, Mr. McClanathan’s pension value as of 9/30/12 was 0.

In fiscal 2012, the change in the actuarial present values reported for the named officers increased primarily as a result of a reduction in the discount rate used to calculate the actuarial present value, as compared to the prior fiscal year, due to a decline in market interest rates.

 

  (ii) above-market interest (120% of the applicable long-term federal rate) credited to deferrals into the prime rate fund of our deferred compensation plan:

 

   

Mr. Klein, $0

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, $0

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, $0

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, $0

 

   

Mr. Conrad, $0

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, $0

 

(6) The amounts reported in this column with respect to fiscal 2012 consist of the following:

 

  (i) Company matching contributions or accruals in our savings investment plan and executive savings investment plan:

 

   

Mr. Klein, $49,000

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, $17,646

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, $18,464

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, $7,532

 

   

Mr. Conrad, $13,635

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, $12,088

These amounts include benefits which were accrued by the named executive officers in our executive savings investment plan in lieu of the pension plus match account in our retirement plan (as described in the narrative to the “Pension Benefits Table”) due to certain limits imposed by the IRC on accruals in our retirement plan.

 

 

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  (ii) the group life insurance plan—term life insurance premiums paid by us for the first $40,000 of coverage for each of the named executive officers: $62.

 

  (iii) the incremental cost to the Company of the following perquisites provided to the named executive officers:

Personal use of Company aircraft.    In 2012, Mr. Klein was authorized to use Company-owned aircraft for up to 50 hours of personal travel per year and for travel to meetings of other boards on which he may serve, and to permit, in limited situations, the personal use of the aircraft by officers and employees. See “The Board of Directors and Energizer’s Corporate Governance—Director Compensation” for a description of the calculation of the incremental cost of these flights. Following fiscal 2012 in support of Energizer’s previously announced multi-year restructuring initiative, Mr. Klein and the nominating and executive compensation committee agreed to reduce the number of hours Mr. Klein is permitted to use our aircraft for personal travel from 50 flight hours per year to 30 flight hours per year, effective in 2013.

In fiscal 2012, the incremental cost to the Company of Mr. Klein’s personal use of our aircraft, on a variable cost basis, was $108,538, reflecting the assessed charge per flight hour for such use, and the approximate amount of disallowed federal tax deductions associated with such use was $40,702.

In fiscal 2012, the incremental cost to the Company of Mr. Hatfield’s personal use of our aircraft, on a variable cost basis, was $4,367, reflecting the assessed charge per flight hour for such use, and the approximate amount of disallowed federal tax deductions associated with such use was $1,638.

Executive Financial Planning Program.    We reimburse the executives for 80% of the cost of personal financial advisory services, up to certain annual maximums. During fiscal 2012, the following reimbursement payments were made:

 

   

Mr. Klein, $6,000

   

Mr. Sescleifer, $7,200

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, $0

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, $6,000

 

   

Mr. Conrad, $3,200

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, $12,000

Executive Health Plan.    In fiscal 2012 we paid the annual premium for certain executives, including each of the named executive officers, for an executive health insurance policy which generally covers all health care and dental expenses to the extent not covered by our medical and dental plans. The executives are required to pay for underlying coverage under our medical and dental plans at the same rate as all other employees. For fiscal 2012, we paid $11,293 in executive health premiums for each of the named executive officers. That amount was reduced by premium refunds received in fiscal 2012 for the 2011 plan year in the amount of $3,256 on average per participant. Effective as of December 31, 2012, we terminated the company’s executive health plan.

Executive Excess Liability Plan.    We pay the annual premium for a group policy providing each executive with personal excess liability coverage in excess of his or her primary personal liability insurance, the cost of which is borne by each executive. During fiscal 2012, we paid $1,087 in premiums for Mr. Klein, and $615 for each of the other named executive officers.

Retiree Plans.    The named executive officers also are or may become eligible to participate in the executive long-term disability plan and the executive retiree health plan upon their retirement from Energizer. These plans provide supplemental disability and health benefits, respectively, to eligible executive retirees. The long-term disability plan is entirely self-funded by us. We pay an annual premium for all retiree participants in our executive retiree health plan. Although there was no incremental out-of-pocket cost to us under these plans with respect to the named

 

 

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executive officers, we annually record an expense, in accordance with accounting guidelines, for changes in the anticipated cost of their participation in our executive retiree health plans. This plan is being discontinued as of December 31, 2012. As a result, the change in value for this year is to bring the special executive benefits to $0. The negative value recorded for each individual is shown below, but as these amounts are negative, they are not included in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

   

Mr. Klein, ($133,274)

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, ($163,526)

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, ($165,511)

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, ($163,526)

 

   

Mr. Conrad, ($167,524)

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, ($157,714)

Transportation and Living Expenses.    Mr. Hatfield serves as president and chief executive officer of our Energizer Personal Care division, the offices of which are located in Shelton, CT. Because his home and family are in St. Louis, MO, he regularly commutes to Connecticut, and his commuting expenses, as well as meals and lodging in Connecticut, are reimbursed by us. For fiscal 2012, the amount reimbursed to him was $9,258.

The amounts listed in the All Other Compensation column for Mr. Hoskins are comprised primarily of certain living, relocation and tax expenses in connection

with the international assignment Mr. Hoskins fulfilled prior to his current role. Mr. Hoskins received $734,839 in fiscal 2012 for housing, transportation, meals, tax-related reimbursements, living expenses, tax preparation and other services under Energizer’s policies related to long-term cross-border assignments.

Taxable Gifts.    During fiscal 2012, gifts were given to groups of employees, including executive officers, at the holidays and in appreciation of special efforts. The taxable value of such gifts for fiscal 2012 is as follows:

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, $20

 

   

Mr. Conrad, $20

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, $316

The above list of perquisites does not include any contributions made by our charitable trust which may have been made at the request of any of the named executive officers. The trustees of that trust, who are employees of the Company, review requests for contributions to charitable organizations from employees, officers, and the community at large, and, in their sole discretion, authorize contributions in accordance with the purposes of the trust. Officers are also eligible to participate in the charitable trust matching gift program, which is generally available to U.S. employees. Under this program, the foundation matches 100% of charitable donations of a minimum of $25 made to eligible charities, up to a maximum of $5,000 per year for each individual.

 

 

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS

Awards to the named executive officers, and to other key executives, were made in fiscal 2012 under three separate plans or programs:

 

 

potential cash awards under our annual cash bonus program, dependent upon achievement of Company and individual performance measures established at the beginning of each fiscal year, as described in more detail in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Incentive Programs—Annual Cash Bonus Program”;

 

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  three-year restricted stock equivalent awards under the terms of our 2009 incentive plan, which include a performance component and a time-vesting component, as described in more detail in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Incentive Programs—Equity Awards”; and
  Company-matching deferrals (payable in cash at retirement) under our deferred compensation plan, as described in more detail in the narrative to the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table” below.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS TABLE

 

                   

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Non-Equity

Incentive Plan Awards

   

Estimated Future Payouts

Under Equity

Incentive Plan Awards (#)

                         
Name   Type of Award   Grant
Date
 

Date of

Comp.

Comm.

Action(6)

  Threshold     Target     Maximum     Threshold     Target     Maximum    

All Other

Stock

Awards:

Number of 

Shares of

Stock(#)

   

All Other

Option

Awards:

Number of 

Shares

Underlying 

Options (#) 

  Exercise 
  or
Base
Price of
Option
Awards
($/Sh)
 

Grant

Date

Fair

Value

of Stock

and Option 

Awards(7)

 

W.M. Klein

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 88,550      $ 885,500      $ 1,771,000                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 284,625      $ 379,500      $ 759,000                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR   11/7/11(3)                                 10,128        30,691       61,382                      $ 2,153,894   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         26,306              $ 1,846,155   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      0              $ 0   

D.J. Sescleifer

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 29,400      $ 294,000      $ 588,000                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 94,500      $ 126,000      $ 252,000                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR    11/7/11(3)                                 2,342        7,098       14,196                      $ 498,138   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         6,084              $ 426,975   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      649              $ 45,901   

D.P. Hatfield

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 29,400      $ 294,000      $ 588,000                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 94,500      $ 126,000      $ 252,000                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR   11/7/11(3)                                 2,342        7,098        14,196                      $ 498,138   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         6,084              $ 426,975   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      866              $ 61,205   

A.R. Hoskins

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 21,840      $ 218,400      $ 436,800                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 70,200      $ 93,600      $ 187,200                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR   11/7/11(3)                                 1,139        3,453       6,906                      $ 242,332   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         2,960              $ 207,733   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      0              $ 0   

P.J. Conrad

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 15,750      $ 157,500      $ 315,000                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 50,625      $ 67,500      $ 135,000                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR   11/7/11(3)                                 1,519        4,604       9,208                      $ 323,109   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         3,946              $ 276,930   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      344              $ 24,302   

J.W. McClanathan

  Bonus: Annl.Co.Perf.   11/7/11(1)       $ 29,400      $ 294,000      $ 588,000                                                   
    Bonus: Annl.Ind.Perf.   11/7/11(2)       $ 94,500      $ 126,000      $ 252,000                                                   
    Perf.Awd.:3Yr.CAGR   11/7/11(3)                                 2,342        7,098        14,196                      $ 498,138   
    Perf.Awd.: TimeVest   11/7/11(4)                                                         6,084              $ 426,975   
    Company Match   11/30/11(5)    10/18/10                                                      649              $ 45,904   

 

(1) These amounts represent the amounts which potentially could have been earned under the Company performance component of the fiscal 2012 annual cash bonus program.

 

(2) These amounts represent the amounts which potentially could have been earned under the individual performance component of the fiscal 2012 annual cash bonus program.
(3)

Vesting of these restricted stock equivalents (the performance-linked component), awarded under the three-year performance awards granted on November 7, 2011, is subject to achievement of targets for compound annual growth in adjusted EPS over the three-year period commencing October 1, 2011. The number of stock equivalents indicated in the Threshold sub-column will vest only if the compound annual growth in adjusted EPS, using a

 

 

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  base of $5.72, over that three-year period is at least 5%. If compound annual growth is in excess of that threshold, the number of units vesting will proportionately increase, with the maximum number vesting (as indicated in the Maximum sub-column) at a compound annual growth rate of 12% for that period. The number indicated in the Target sub-column reflects the equivalents that will vest at targeted 7% compound annual growth for the period.

 

(4) These restricted stock equivalents (the time-vesting component), awarded on November 7, 2011, will vest three years from the date of grant, if the officer remains employed with us at that time. The value of the amount calculated in accordance with accounting guidance is included in the “Stock Awards” column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

 

(5) Executives are permitted to request deferral of all or a portion of the cash payments under our annual cash bonus program under the terms of our deferred compensation plan, which is described in detail in the narrative to the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table.” The amounts in this table represent 25% Company matching deferrals credited during fiscal 2012.

 

(6) The grant date is the same as the date of committee action, except in the case of the following: the Company matching deferrals described in footnote (5) were approved by the committee at the beginning of the fiscal year, prior to irrevocable elections by the officers to defer all or a portion of any bonuses they might receive at the end of the year. The actual matching deferrals were not credited until after the end of the fiscal year, when the amount of such bonuses was actually determined.

 

(7) These amounts represent the grant date fair value calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, excluding forfeiture assumptions. For the three-year performance awards, the value includes the grant date fair value of the awards computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718, applying the same valuation model and assumptions applied for financial reporting purposes, excluding any forfeiture assumptions. These amounts may not correspond to the actual value realized by the named executive officers. For three-year time-vesting awards and the company match under the deferred compensation plan, the value includes 100% of such awards, with no reduction for potential forfeiture.
 

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END

 

The following types of equity awards have been granted to the named executive officers, and remain unvested, or, in the case of non-qualified stock options, unexercised, as of September 30, 2012.

 

 

Non-qualified stock options granting the right to acquire shares of our common stock at an exercise price equal to its closing price on the date of grant. These options generally became exercisable either 100% on the third anniversary of grant or at the rate of 20% to 25% per year over a four to five year period, and remain exercisable over the ten-year period following grant. Outstanding option awards are described under Option Awards, in the table below.

 

 

Restricted stock equivalents that vest incrementally over four to nine years (as indicated below), and at vesting convert into non-restricted shares of our common stock which will then be issued to the officer. However, if the officer elected to defer receipt of such shares, they will not convert at

   

vesting and, instead, will not be issued until following the officer’s retirement or other termination of employment. Vesting of restricted stock equivalents will accelerate, however, upon the death, disability, or involuntary termination (other than for cause) of the officer, and upon a change of control of the Company. Unvested restricted stock equivalent awards are included under Stock Awards—Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested, in the table below.

 

 

Restricted stock equivalents, the vesting of which is subject to the achievement of performance-linked and time-vesting conditions over a three year period, as described in “Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Elements of Compensation—Incentive Programs—Equity Awards.” Except as noted below, the performance awards granted in 2009, 2010 and 2011 have similar terms, but the compound growth targets for those three year awards utilize a base of $4.76,

 

 

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$5.72 and $5.72, respectively. The maximum equivalents or units which would vest under the performance-linked component of these performance awards are included below under Stock Awards—Equity Incentive Plan Awards, and the number of equivalents or units that would vest under the time-vesting component is included under Stock Awards—Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested, in the table below. Fewer equivalents or units will vest for compound growth that is less than 12% but at least 5% over the applicable three-year period, and if growth for the period is below those thresholds, no performance-linked equivalents or units will vest.

 

 

In fiscal 2012, voluntary deferrals of cash bonuses under our annual bonus program into the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan received a Company matching deferral of 25%, provided that the voluntary deferrals are retained in that fund for at least a year.

   

The Company matching deferrals are also credited to the Energizer common stock unit fund, and must remain in that fund until vested, which will occur three years from the date of initial crediting, if the officer remains employed with us at that time. Company matching deferrals will also vest upon an officer’s retirement, involuntary termination, disability or death, and upon a change of control of the Company. Unvested Company matching deferrals as of September 30, 2012 are included under Stock Awards—Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested, in the table below.

Non-qualified stock options, restricted stock equivalents, and performance awards were granted under the terms of our 2009 incentive plan. Company matching contributions have been granted under the terms of our deferred compensation plan. Awards under our deferred compensation plan are payable exclusively in cash at retirement or other termination of employment.

 

 

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR END

 

     Option Awards     Stock Awards  
Name  

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)
Exercisable

   

Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options

(#)

Unexercisable 

    Option
Exercise
Price ($)
    Option
Expiration
Date
    Number of
Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested (#)
   

Market Value
of Shares or
Units of
Stock That
Have Not
Vested

($)

    Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested (#)
   

Equity
Incentive

Plan

Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights

That Have

Not Vested ($)

 

W. M. Klein

    100,000        0      $ 42.90        1/25/14        76,890 (1)    $ 5,736,763        175,012 (7)    $ 13,057,645   
      45,000        0      $ 49.18        1/13/15                 
      0        38,000      $ 65.63        10/11/19                                   

D. J. Sescleifer

    5,000        0      $ 46.13        10/18/14        22,217 (2)    $ 1,657,610        42,896 (8)    $ 3,200,471   
      0        25,000      $ 65.63        10/11/19                                   

D. P. Hatfield

    15,000        0      $ 46.13        10/18/14        20,077 (3)    $ 1,497,945        42,896 (9)    $ 3,200,471   
      0        30,000      $ 65.63        10/11/19                                   

A. R. Hoskins

    0        12,500      $ 65.63        10/11/19        13,206 (4)    $ 985,300        24,790 (10)    $ 1,849,582   

P. J. Conrad

    0        15,000      $ 65.63        10/11/19        13,803 (5)    $ 1,029,842        27,478 (11)    $ 2,050,134   

J. W. McClanathan

    50,000        0      $ 42.90        1/25/14        0 (6)    $ 0        0 (12)    $ 0   
      20,000        0      $ 46.13        10/18/14                                   

 

(1) Of this total for Mr. Klein,

 

   

1,599 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2009 vested on 11/30/12;

 

   

26,000 restricted stock equivalents granted 10/12/09 vested in full on 10/12/12;

 

   

22,985 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/1/10 will vest on 11/1/13; and

 

   

26,306 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/7/11 will vest on 11/7/14.

 

 

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(2) Of this total for Mr. Sescleifer,

 

   

682 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2009 vested on 11/30/12;

 

   

2,502 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2010 will vest on 11/30/13;

 

   

649 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2011 will vest on 11/30/14;

 

   

6,600 restricted stock equivalents granted 10/12/09 vested in full on 10/12/12;

 

   

5,700 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/1/10 will vest on 11/1/13; and

 

   

6,084 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/7/11 will vest on 11/7/14.

 

(3) Of this total for Mr. Hatfield,

 

   

827 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2009 vested on 11/30/12;

 

   

866 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2011 will vest on 11/30/14;

 

   

6,600 restricted stock equivalents granted 10/12/09 vested in full on 10/12/12;

 

   

5,700 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/1/10 will vest on 11/1/13; and

 

   

6,084 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/7/11 will vest on 11/7/14.

 

(4) Of this total for Mr. Hoskins,

 

   

1,298 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2009 vested on 11/30/12;

 

   

1,284 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our

   

deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2010 will vest on 11/30/13;

 

   

4,177 restricted stock equivalents granted 10/12/09 vested in full on 10/12/12;

 

   

3,487 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/1/10 will vest on 11/1/13; and

 

   

2,960 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/7/11 will vest on 11/7/14.

 

(5) Of this total for Mr. Conrad,

 

   

360 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2009 vested on 11/30/12;

 

   

1,323 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2010 will vest on 11/30/13;

 

   

344 restricted stock equivalent units in the Energizer common stock unit fund of our deferred compensation plan granted as Company matching deferrals in 2011 will vest on 11/30/14;

 

   

4,200 restricted stock equivalents granted 10/12/09 vested in full on 10/12/12;

 

   

3,630 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/1/10 will vest on 11/1/13; and

 

   

3,946 restricted stock equivalents granted 11/7/11 will vest on 11/7/14.

 

(6) Mr. McClanathan’s outstanding equity awards vested or were forfeited upon retirement in accordance with his Separation Agreement dated 12/15/11.

 

(7) Of this total for Mr. Klein,

 

   

60,000 restricted stock equivalent units represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/12/09—of this amount, 40,020 restricted stock equivalents vested on 11/8/12, based on annual compound growth in adjusted EPS over the preceding 3-year period;

 

   

53,630 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/1/10; and

 

 

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61,382 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/7/11.

 

(8) Of this total for Mr. Sescleifer,

 

   

15,400 restricted stock equivalent units represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/12/09—of this amount, 10,271 restricted stock equivalents vested on 11/8/12, based on annual compound growth in adjusted EPS over the preceding 3-year period;

 

   

13,300 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/1/10 and;

 

   

14,196 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/7/11.

 

(9) Of this total for Mr. Hatfield,

 

   

15,400 restricted stock equivalent units represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/12/09—of this amount, 10,271 restricted stock equivalents vested on 11/8/12, based on annual compound growth in adjusted EPS over the preceding 3-year period;

 

   

13,300 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/1/10; and

 

   

14,196 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/7/11.

(10)    Of this total for Mr. Hoskins,

 

   

9,746 restricted stock equivalent units represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/12/09—of this amount, 6,500 restricted stock equivalents vested on 11/8/12, based on annual compound growth in adjusted EPS over the preceding 3-year period;

 

   

8,138 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/18/10; and

 

   

6,906 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/7/11.

 

(11)    Of this total for Mr. Conrad,

 

   

9,800 restricted stock equivalent units represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 10/12/09—of this amount, 6,536 restricted stock equivalents vested on 11/8/12, based on annual compound growth in adjusted EPS over the preceding 3-year period;

 

   

8,470 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/1/10; and

 

   

9,208 restricted stock equivalents represent the performance-linked component of our performance awards granted 11/7/11.

 

(12) Mr. McClanathan’s outstanding equity awards vested or were forfeited upon retirement in accordance with his Separation Agreement dated 12/15/11.
 

 

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OPTION EXERCISES AND STOCK VESTED

 

      Option Awards      Stock Awards  
Name   

Number of Shares
Acquired on Exercise

(#)

     Value Realized on
Exercise ($)
    

Number of Shares
Acquired on Vesting

(#)(1)(2)(3)

    

Value Realized on
Vesting

($)

 

W. M. Klein

     0       $ 0         28,166       $ 2,049,374   

D. J. Sescleifer

     0       $ 0         11,666       $ 853,784   

D. P. Hatfield

     16,667       $ 664,860         8,333       $ 608,042   

A. R. Hoskins

     0       $ 0         7,000       $ 513,570   

P. J. Conrad

     0       $ 0         9,666       $ 708,864   

J. W. McClanathan

     0       $ 0         41,666       $ 2,960,684   

 

(1) On 5/19/12 one-third of the restricted stock equivalents granted to the officers under the terms of the 2000 Incentive Stock Plan on 5/19/03 vested in accordance with their terms. Upon vesting the equivalents converted into shares of our common stock which were then issued to the officers free of any restrictions. If the officers, however, elected in advance to defer receipt of the shares of common stock, conversion will not occur until the officer terminates with us.

 

(2) On 10/13/11, 25% of restricted stock equivalents granted to each of the officers under the terms of our three-year performance awards dated 10/13/08 vested in accordance with the terms of the awards (the time-vesting component).

On 11/3/11, the remaining 75% of the equivalents granted under those awards (the performance component) were forfeited in

accordance with the terms of the award agreements since adjusted EPS growth for the period 9/30/08 through 9/30/11 did not meet the threshold for vesting.

Mr. McClanathan’s outstanding equity awards vested or were forfeited upon retirement in accordance with his Separation Agreement dated 12/15/11.

 

(3) Receipt of the following numbers of shares was deferred, at the election of each officer, until retirement or other termination of employment:

 

   

Mr. Klein, 28,166

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer, 11,666

 

   

Mr. Hatfield, 8,333

 

   

Mr. Hoskins, 0

 

   

Mr. Conrad, 3,000

 

   

Mr. McClanathan, 0

 

 

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PENSION BENEFITS

 

Our retirement plan covers essentially all U.S. employees of Energizer after one year of service. As a qualified plan, the retirement plan is subject to maximum pay and benefit limits. In fiscal 2012, we also offered a non-qualified, unfunded pension restoration plan (the executive supplemental retirement plan) to our executive officers which, following retirement, pays those amounts which would otherwise be paid under the retirement plans but for the IRC maximum pay and benefit limits.

Effective as of January 1, 2010, the future retirement benefits of the active participants in our qualified defined benefit pension plan, including the named executive officers, are determined in accordance with a retirement accumulation formula. The participants will receive monthly credits equal to 6% of their eligible benefit earnings for each month, which amounts will be credited with monthly interest equal to the 30-year Treasury rate that is reset annually. As a transition for older/longer-tenured employees, who may have less time to adjust their retirement planning, including the named executive officers with age and years of service totaling at least 60 but not more than 74 as of December 31, 2009 receive an additional monthly credit equal to 2% of eligible benefit earnings for each month, and employees with age and years of service totaling 75 or more as of December 31, 2009 receive an additional credit equal to 4% of their eligible benefit earnings for each month. These transition credits are available to eligible plan participants through 2014 (or, if earlier, their termination of employment with the Company).

The defined benefit plan has used the following other benefit calculation formulas, all of which have been frozen as of the end of calendar year 2009:

 

 

Final Average Pay (FAP). The traditional final average pay benefit provides 1.5% of five-year average “annual earnings” multiplied by a participant’s years of service (to a maximum of 40 years), reduced by a Social Security offset. Before it was frozen, the FAP formula was applicable to Mr. Klein.

 

Pension Equity (PEP) benefit formula. Under PEP, an executive is entitled to a benefit (payable in lump sum or as a monthly annuity) based on five-year average annual earnings, which were multiplied by “pension equity credits” earned with years of service. The benefit was subject to a three year vesting period. PEP was applied for all of our named executive officers except for Mr. Klein.

 

PensionPlus Match Account (PPMA). The PPMA generally provided a 325% match under our retirement plan to those participants who made an after-tax contribution of 1% of their annual earnings to our savings investment plan. To the extent an officer’s PPMA benefit was unavailable due to the IRC limits, the benefit was restored under our excess 401(k) plan and not the pension restoration plan for executives. The benefit was generally subject to a three-year vesting requirement. The PPMA benefit was eliminated for all employees as of the end of calendar year 2009.

We do not have specific policies with regard to granting extra years of credited service, but we generally have not granted such extra credited service. However, the change of control employment agreements, described under “Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control” below, do provide, for purposes of determining the amounts to be paid under the retirement plan and the pension restoration plan, that the officers’ respective years of service with us, and their respective ages, will be deemed increased by three additional years if they are involuntarily terminated at any time prior to the expiration of the protected period of three years under the agreements.

In November 2012, we approved and communicated changes to our U.S. defined benefit pension plan so that, effective January 1, 2014, the pension benefit earned to date by active participants under the legacy Energizer U.S. pension plan will be frozen and future retirement service benefits will no longer be accrued under this retirement program.

 

 

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PENSION BENEFITS TABLE

 

Name    Plan Name   

Number of
Years Credited
Service

(#)(1)

    

Present Value
of Accumulated
Benefit

($)(2)

    

Payments

During Last
Fiscal Year

($)

 

W.M. Klein

   Energizer Retirement Plan      33       $ 1,464,235       $ 0   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      32       $ 11,483,656       $ 0   

D.J. Sescleifer

   Energizer Retirement Plan      12       $ 383,004       $ 0   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      11       $ 620,113       $ 0   

D.P. Hatfield

   Energizer Retirement Plan      27       $ 723,646       $ 0   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      26       $ 1,658,762       $ 0   

A.R. Hoskins

   Energizer Retirement Plan      29       $ 865,233       $ 0   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      28       $ 973,357       $ 0   

P.J. Conrad

   Energizer Retirement Plan      18       $ 524,692       $ 0   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      17       $ 570,352       $ 0   

J.W. McClanathan

   Energizer Retirement Plan      37       $ 0       $ 1,015,817   
     Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan      36       $ 4,357,990       $ 0   

 

(1) The number of years of credited service reflect years of actual service. For Messrs. Klein, Hatfield, Conrad and Hoskins 12 of the years shown were with us and the remainder were with Ralston Purina Company, our former parent.

For Mr. McClanathan, 12 of the years shown were with us, 14 years were with Ralston Purina Company, and the balance were with Union Carbide Company, the former owner of our battery and lighting products business.

 

(2) Based on age, benefits are available without reduction. Assumptions utilized in the valuations are set forth in “Note 8. Pension Plans and Other
  Postretirement Benefits” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for year ended September 30, 2012.

In February of 2009, in order to reduce cash outlays and bolster the Company’s compliance with its debt covenants, the committee, on a one-time basis, suspended accrual of benefits for officers in the pension restoration plan for the calendar year, and in lieu of those and other benefits, each officer was granted a 2009 performance award.

 

 

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION

 

We have adopted several plans or arrangements that provide for the deferral of compensation on a basis that is not tax-qualified.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Under the terms of our deferred compensation plan, an unfunded, non-qualified plan, executives can elect to have up to 100% of their annual cash bonus deferred until their retirement or other termination of employment, or for a shorter, 3-year period (at the executive’s election, in advance). The amounts

deferred under the terms of the plan are credited, at the election of the executive, into:

 

 

the Energizer common stock unit fund, a stock equivalent fund, with returns (based on stock price appreciation/decline) during fiscal 2012 of 12.94%,

 

a prime rate fund, which credits account balances at the prime rate quoted by The Wall Street Journal as of the first business day of the given quarter. (For fiscal 2012, the rate credited under this fund was 3.25%),

 

 

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Vanguard measurement funds which track the performance of investment funds offered in our savings investment plan, a 401(k) plan, with returns during fiscal 2012 ranging from -4.15% to 32.37%.

Interest equivalents are credited on a daily basis to the prime rate fund, and dividends and other earnings are credited to the Vanguard tracking funds and the Energizer common stock unit fund at the time, and to the extent, that they are paid with respect to the actual Vanguard funds. Units in the Vanguard tracking funds and Energizer common stock unit fund can also appreciate in value as our common stock, or the underlying Vanguard funds, appreciate in value.

Deferrals of cash bonuses into the Energizer common stock unit fund during each calendar year are increased by a 25% match from the Company (which vests three years from the date of crediting, provided the deferred bonus is kept in that fund for at least a year). Vesting will accelerate upon an executive’s retirement (which for purposes of this plan means the attainment of age 55 with ten years of service), death, permanent disability, involuntary termination, or a change in control of the Company (defined, for purposes of this plan, as the time when (i) an individual or group acquires more than 20% of our common stock, (ii) our continuing directors no longer constitute a majority of our board, or (iii) a majority of the continuing directors approve a declaration that a change of control has occurred). Effective after the 2012 fiscal year, executives will no longer have the opportunity to defer portions of their salary and bonus compensation under the Energizer Holdings, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, or to receive a company match on the qualifying portion of the deferral.

Deferrals, vested Company matches, and certain restricted stock equivalents (both performance- and time-based) may be transferred to different investment options at the executive’s discretion. Account balances for executives who were employed at our former parent, Ralston Purina Company, prior to our spin-off in 2000, also generally include amounts credited during that prior employment. (Ralston assigned liability for such amounts to us in the spin-off.) Long-term deferrals in the plan may be paid out in a lump sum in cash six months following

termination, or in five or ten-year increments commencing the year following termination of employment.

Executive Savings Investment Plan

Under the terms of our executive savings investment plan, our excess 401(k) plan, amounts that would be contributed, either by an executive or by us on the executive’s behalf, to our qualified defined contribution plan (the savings investment plan) but for limitations imposed by the IRC, are credited to the non-qualified executive savings investment plan. Under that plan, executives may elect to defer their contributions, and Company contributions, in the form of stock equivalents under the Energizer common stock unit fund, which tracks the value of our common stock, or in any of the measurement fund options which track the performance of the Vanguard investment funds offered under our qualified savings investment plan. Deferrals and vested Company contributions may be transferred to different investment options at the executive’s discretion. Deferrals in the executive savings investment plan, adjusted for the net investment return, are paid out in a lump sum payment, or in five or ten annual installments, following retirement or other termination of employment.

Deferred Equity Awards

The named executive officers were given the opportunity to elect, in advance, to defer receipt of vested restricted stock equivalent awards which they could be granted in the future. These awards, which have been granted under the terms of our 2000 and 2009 incentive stock plans, provide that upon vesting, the equivalents granted will convert into non-restricted shares of our common stock which are then issued to the officer. If deferral was elected, the equivalents will not convert into shares of our common stock until six months after the officer’s termination of employment with us. In the event that the Company would pay any dividends on its shares of common stock, these officers will also be credited with dividend equivalents with respect to their vested stock equivalents. No other earnings are credited or paid with respect to these deferrals.

 

 

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NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION TABLE

 

Name   Plan  

Executive
Contributions in
Last FY

($)(1)

   

Registrant
Contributions in
Last FY

($)(2)

   

Aggregate
Earnings in

Last FY

($)(3)

   

Aggregate
Withdrawals/

Distributions
($)

   

Aggregate
Balance at

Last FYE
($)(5)

 

W. M. Klein

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 1,870,412      $ 0      $ 15,885,266   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 75,500      $ 41,500      $ 469,255      $ 0      $ 2,449,438   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 1,999,097      $ 0      $ 735,370      $ 0      $ 7,956,385   
    Total   $ 2,074,597      $ 41,500      $ 3,075,037      $ 0      $ 26,291,089   

D.J. Sescleifer

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 183,603      $ 45,901      $ 334,054      $ 1,422,482      $ 4,209,290   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 26,175      $ 15,052      $ 303,525      $ 0      $ 1,537,272   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 835,854      $ 0      $ 204,011      $ 0      $ 2,459,954   
    Total   $ 1,045,632      $ 60,953      $ 841,590      $ 1,422,482      $ 8,206,516   

D. P. Hatfield

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 244,820      $ 61,205      $ 1,058,566      $ 5,182      $ 6,478,970   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 14,427      $ 10,964      $ 116,055      $ 0      $ 495,350   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 589,892      $ 0      $ 139,201      $ 0      $ 1,679,849   
    Total   $ 849,139      $ 72,169      $ 1,313,822      $ 5,182      $ 8,654,169   

A.R. Hoskins

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 404,140      $ 0      $ 2,524,235   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 14,898      $ 0      $ 434,903   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0      $ 0   
    Total   $ 0      $ 0      $ 419,038      $ 0      $ 2,959,138   

P.J. Conrad

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 97,207      $ 24,302      $ 302,990      $ 5,569      $ 5,609,366   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 11,944      $ 7,869      $ 46,431      $ 0      $ 343,919   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 212,815      $ 0      $ 7,490      $ 0      $ 220,305   
    Total   $ 321,966      $ 32,171      $ 356,911      $ 5,569      $ 6,173,590   

J. W. McClanathan

 

Def’d Comp. Plan

  $ 183,615      $ 45,904      $ 1,130,789      $ 3,426,596      $ 7,715,010   
   

Exec. S.I.P.

  $ 7,800      $ 4,588      $ 183,104      $ 924,813      $ 575,770   
   

Vested StockEquivs.(4)

  $ 1,270,039      $ 0      $ 341,272      $ 2,106,900      $ 2,591,745   
    Total   $ 1,461,454      $ 50,492      $ 1,655,165      $ 6,458,309      $ 10,822,525   

 

(1) The officer contributions to our deferred compensation plan during fiscal 2012 consist of deferred cash bonuses earned with respect to fiscal year 2011.

The officer contributions to our executive savings investment plan during fiscal 2012 consist of deferrals of salary earned with respect to fiscal 2012.

The officer contributions of vested stock equivalents during fiscal 2012 consist of vested but deferred restricted stock equivalents granted in previous years. The values shown are as of the date of vesting.

 

(2) Our contributions to our deferred compensation plan shown in this column consist of the 25% Company match on deferrals of fiscal year 2011 cash bonuses which would have been credited into the Energizer common stock unit fund of the plan. The annual expense associated with
  unvested Company matching contributions is included in the Stock Awards column of the Summary Compensation Table.

Our contributions to our executive savings investment plan consist of Company contributions prior to January 1, 2009 which would have otherwise been contributed to the savings investment plan and the PPMA but for limitations imposed by the IRS. These amounts, in their entirety, are included in the All Other Compensation column of the “Summary Compensation Table.”

 

(3) Aggregate earnings/(losses) shown in this column consist of:

 

   

amounts credited to each executive under the investment options of each of the plans, reflecting actual earnings on investment funds offered under our savings investment plan, a qualified 401(k) plan,

 

 

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in the case of the prime rate option of our deferred compensation plan, interest at the prime rate, quoted by the Wall Street Journal,

 

   

the appreciation or depreciation in value of each of the investment options in the plans between September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2012,

 

   

in the case of the Energizer common stock unit fund, earnings credited for dividends paid on the Energizer common stock,

 

   

the appreciation or depreciation in value of vested restricted stock equivalents (see footnote 4 below) plus earnings credited for dividends paid on the Energizer common stock between September 30, 2011 and September 30, 2012, or from the date of vesting and September 30, 2012, for awards vesting and deferred during the fiscal year. The above-market portion of interest on the prime rate option (in excess of 120% of the APR) is set forth in the column titled “Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings” of the Summary Compensation Table.

 

(4) The officers have from time to time elected to defer conversion of vesting restricted stock equivalents until their termination of employment from the Company. The total equivalents deferred for each officer is as follows:

 

   

Mr. Klein - 106,071 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer - 32,795 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Hatfield - 22,395 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Hoskins - 0 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Conrad - 2,937 equivalents; and

 

   

Mr. McClanathan -34,552 equivalents.

The values shown are as of September 30, 2012.

 

(5) Of the aggregate balances shown in this column, with respect to the deferred compensation plan the following amounts were previously reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Tables of our proxy statements for previous annual meetings:

 

   

Mr. Klein - $13,923,523

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer - $5,297,303

 

   

Mr. Hatfield - $2,459,889

   

Mr. McClanathan - $7,784,471

The balances in that plan for each of the officers also include amounts deferred by them, Company matching deferrals, and earnings thereon, in years in which they were not named executive officers and their compensation was not included in the Summary Compensation Table, and for Messrs. Klein, McClanathan and Hatfield, include amounts deferred under the terms of the Ralston Purina Company deferred compensation plan, the liabilities of which were assumed by us at the time of our spin-off. The balances also reflect earnings and losses during the past fiscal year.

Of the aggregate balances shown in this column, with respect to our executive savings investment plan the following amounts were previously reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table of our proxy statements for prior years:

 

   

Mr. Klein - $1,512,973;

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer - $957,819;

 

   

Mr. Hatfield - $253,248; and

 

   

Mr. McClanathan - $ 738,718.

The balances in that plan for each of the officers also include amounts contributed by them, Company matching contributions, and earnings thereon, in years in which they were not named executive officers and their compensation was not included in the Summary Compensation Table. The balances also reflect earnings and losses during the past fiscal year.

Of the aggregate balances shown in this column with respect to the vested stock equivalents set forth in footnote (4) above, the following number of equivalents were previously reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Table of our proxy statements for the years when the awards were granted:

 

   

Mr. Klein - 86,500 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Sescleifer - 21,834 equivalents;

 

   

Mr. Hatfield - 8,170 equivalents; and

 

   

Mr. McClanathan - 46,834 equivalents.

The balances for each of the officers also include vested but deferred equivalents granted in years in which they were not named executive officers and their compensation was not included in the Summary Compensation Table.

 

 

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POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

We have not entered into general employment agreements with any of our named executive officers, nor do we have executive severance plans or programs. However, equity awards under our 2000 and 2009 incentive stock plans and our deferred compensation plan provide for acceleration of vesting of certain awards in the event of certain terminations of employment. In addition, we have entered into change of control employment agreements with our named executive officers and certain of our other key employees which provide for severance compensation, acceleration of vesting, tax reimbursement and continuation of benefits upon certain qualified termination of employment following a change of control.

The information below reflects the value of acceleration or incremental compensation which each officer would receive upon the termination of his or her employment or upon a change in control. Because the value of awards and incremental compensation depend on several factors, actual amounts can only be determined at the time of the event.

The information is based on the following assumptions:

 

 

the event of termination (death, permanent disability, involuntary termination without cause, or voluntary termination), or a change of control of the Company, occurred on September 30, 2012, the last day of our fiscal year;

 

 

the market value of our common stock on that date was $74.61 (the actual closing price on September 30, 2012);

 

 

each of the officers were terminated on that date; and

 

 

corporate and individual federal tax rates were 35%, Missouri state tax rate was 6%, Connecticut state tax rate (for Mr. Hatfield) was 6.7%, and FICA was 1.45%.

The information does not reflect benefits that are provided under our plans or arrangements that do not discriminate in favor of executive officers and are available generally to all salaried employees-such as amounts accrued under our savings investment plan, accumulated and vested benefits under our retirement plans (including our pension restoration plan and executive savings investment plan), health, welfare and disability benefits, and accrued vacation pay.

The information below also does not include amounts under our deferred compensation plan or executive savings investment plan that would be paid, or vested stock equivalents that would be issued, all as described in the “Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Table,” except to the extent that an officer is entitled to an accelerated benefit as a result of the termination.

Death, Disability or Termination of Employment (Other Than Upon a Change of Control)

Upon an officer’s death, permanent disability, involuntary termination other than for cause (defined as termination for gross misconduct), and, in some cases, retirement, the following plans or programs provide for acceleration of awards. No awards are accelerated for voluntary termination of employment before attainment of age 55, or for involuntary termination for cause, except as noted.

 

      Involuntary
Termination
   Death    Disability    Retirement
After Age 55
Non-Qualified Stock Options granted 10/12/09    Forfeited    Accelerated    Accelerated    Forfeited
Three-year restricted stock awards granted 10/12/09, 10/18/10 or 11/1/10 and 11/7/11    Forfeited    Accelerated    Accelerated    Forfeited
Three-year performance awards granted 10/12/09, 10/18/10 or 11/1/10 and 11/7/11    Forfeited    Accelerated    Accelerated    Forfeited

Unvested 25% Company match

   Accelerated    Accelerated    Accelerated    Accelerated

 

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Upon termination of employment for any reason, vested account balances in our deferred compensation plan are paid out in cash to the participant in either a lump sum, or over a five or ten year period, commencing six months from the date of termination.

In the event an officer’s employment is terminated due to permanent disability, he or she may also be entitled to benefits under our executive long-term disability plan, which pays a supplemental benefit equal to 60% of the amount by which the officer’s previous year’s salary and bonus exceeded $150,000. (Amounts below that figure are covered by our long-term disability plan, available generally to salaried U.S. employees.) As noted in the Summary Compensation Table, the Company pays the premiums for $40,000 of term life insurance for all U.S. employees, including the named executive officers.

In fiscal 2012, upon retirement or death, the officer, or his or her surviving spouse, may have also been entitled to continued coverage under our executive health plan, which generally covers medical/dental/vision expenses and deductibles and co-pays not otherwise covered by our underlying medical insurance plan. However, in order to qualify for continued coverage under the executive health plan, the covered person must pay for retiree coverage under our underlying medical and dental insurance plans. Effective December 31, 2012, the Energizer Holdings, Inc. Executive Health Plan will terminate. As such, current and former executives will no longer have the opportunity to participate in this plan.

The value of awards which would be accelerated for our named executive officers upon death, disability, involuntary termination of employment or retirement as of September 30, 2012 is shown in the following chart. The value of accelerated restricted stock equivalents (both performance- and time-based) and 25% Company match for deferred annual bonus amounts reflects a stock price of $74.61. Stock market changes since September 30, 2012 are not reflected in these valuations.

 

      Accelerated Awards  

Officer

Termination

Events

   Stock
Options
    

Restricted

Stock

Equivalents,
Including Three-Year
Performance Awards

     Unvested 25%
Company
Match
     Total  

W. M. Klein: 1

   $ 341,240       $ 12,146,284       $ 0       $ 12,487,524   

W. M. Klein: 2

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 0       $ 0   

W.M. Klein: 3

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 0       $ 0   

D. J. Sescleifer: 1

   $ 224,500       $ 2,971,866       $ 253,635       $ 3,450,001   

D. J. Sescleifer: 2

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 253,635       $ 253,635   

D. P. Hatfield: 1

   $ 269,400       $ 2,971,866       $ 122,310       $ 3,363,576   

D. P. Hatfield: 2

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 122,310       $ 122,310   

A.R. Hoskins: 1

   $ 112,250       $ 1,717,448       $ 185,548       $ 2,015,246   

A.R. Hoskins: 2

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 185,548       $ 185,548   

P.J. Conrad: 1

   $ 134,700       $ 1,903,674       $ 146,535       $ 2,184,909   

P.J. Conrad: 2

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 146,535       $ 146,535   

Termination Events:

1—Death or permanent disability;

2—Involuntary termination of employment other than for cause;

3—Retirement following attainment of age 55 (Mr. Klein had attained age 55 as of September 30, 2012).

On May 31, 2012, Mr. McClanathan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Energizer Household Products since November 2007, retired from that role. The Company and Mr. McClanathan entered into a Separation Agreement and General Release, dated December 15, 2011. Under his Separation Agreement, Mr. McClanathan received a full year bonus for fiscal 2012 based on actual Company financial results. See footnote (4) to

 

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“Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table.” In addition, all of the time-based restricted stock equivalents awarded to Mr. McClanathan on October 12, 2009 (6,300 shares with a 9/30/12 value of $470,043), November 1, 2010 (5,700 shares with a 9/30/12 value of $425,277) and November 7, 2011 (6,084 shares with a 9/30/12 value of $453,927) immediately vested upon his retirement. With respect to Mr. McClanathan’s performance-based restricted stock equivalents granted on October 12, 2009 (7,350 shares at target and 14,700 shares at stretch), such shares partially vested based on Company performance, as described in “—Incentive Programs—Equity Awards—Performance Awards Vesting in 2012.” Mr. McClanathan continues to be subject to post-employment nondisclosure, non-solicit, non-disparagement and non-competition covenants.

Change of Control of the Company

Our change of control employment agreements with each of the named executive officers have a term of three years from their effective date (which term is automatically extended every year beginning the first year for an additional year unless our nominating and executive compensation committee elects to terminate an agreement at least 90 days prior to renewal). Each of these agreements provides that the officer will receive severance compensation in the event of his or her involuntary termination (including voluntary termination for “good reason”), other than for cause, within three years following a change in control of the Company.

“Termination for cause” means a termination for willful breach of, or failure to perform, employment duties.

“Good reason” means, among other things, certain changes in the officer’s status or duties, failure to pay certain compensation or awards or benefits, relocation of his or her office, or improper termination.

“Change of control” includes, among other things, acquisition of specified amounts of shares by any person, certain changes in the composition of our incumbent board of directors, approval of business combinations under certain circumstances, or other matters approved by our board.

Under the agreements, upon a change of control, each officer, even if not terminated, will receive a pro rata annual bonus (equal to the greater of either target bonus for the year in which the change of control occurred, or the actual bonus for the preceding year) for the portion of the year occurring prior to a change of control.

The agreements also provide that upon a change of control, outstanding equity awards held by each officer will accelerate and vest in accordance with the terms of the awards, even if the awards have a higher threshold for a “change of control”. (Our equity awards generally define a “change of control” as an acquisition of 50% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock.) The terms of our outstanding equity awards vary as to the portion of the unvested award that will accelerate and vest upon a change of control, as indicated below:

 

Non-Qualified Stock Options granted 10/12/09    100% vest upon a change of control on or after November 1, 2011
Three-year performance awards granted 10/12/09, 10/18/10 or 11/1/10 and 11/7/11    If the change of control occurs within 18 months of the date of grant, 50% of the equivalents vest. If the change of control occurs after 18 months of the date of grant, awards will vest at the greater of (i) 50% of the equivalents or (ii) the percentage of total equivalents which would have vested had the performance period ended as of the last fiscal quarter prior to the change of control and the performance been calculated on that period.
Three-year time based awards granted 10/12/09, 10/18/10 or 11/1/10 and 11/7/11    100% vest upon change of control

If the officer is terminated within 36 months of the change of control, the severance compensation payable under the agreements consists of:

 

a lump sum payment in an amount equal to three times the officer’s annual base salary and target bonus (defined as the most recent five-year actual bonus percentages multiplied by the greater of base salary at either termination or change of control);

 

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a pro rata portion of the officer’s target annual bonus for the year of termination;

 

the difference between the officer’s actual benefits under our retirement plans at the time of termination and what the officer would have received if he or she had remained employed for an additional period of three years; and

 

the continuation of other executive health, dental and welfare benefits for a period of three years following the officer’s termination.

No severance payments under the agreements would be made in the event that an officer’s termination is voluntary (other than for good reason), is due to death, disability or normal retirement, or is for cause. For a period of three years following termination of employment, the officers are each bound by a covenant not to compete, a non-solicitation covenant, and a covenant of confidentiality.

Other than for Mr. Hoskins, in the event that it is determined that a “golden parachute” excise tax is due under the IRC, we will, if total benefits payable to the officer are within 10% of the threshold for benefits at which the excise tax is triggered, reduce benefits to the point at which the tax will no longer be due, or, if total benefits are in excess of 10% of the threshold, reimburse the officer for the amount of such tax, including any excise or income taxes associated with such reimbursement. For Mr. Hoskins, in the event that it is determined that a “golden parachute” excise tax is due under the IRC, we will reduce the aggregate amount of the payments payable to an amount such that no such excise tax will be paid if the resulting amount would be greater than the after-tax amount if the payments were not so reduced.

Payments of cash would be made in a lump sum no sooner than six months following termination of employment, and benefits would be provided for a three-year period following termination, or if such continuation of benefits would not be possible under our benefit programs, the value of such benefits would also be paid in lump sum no sooner than six months following termination.

Estimated Payments and Benefits

Based on the assumptions set out above, the following chart sets forth estimated payments to our named executive officers upon termination following a change of control. If a change of control occurs but their employment is not terminated, the agreements provide a more limited value, as shown in the second chart below. The value of accelerated restricted stock equivalents, performance awards and 25% Company match reflects a stock price of $74.61 (the closing price of our common stock on September 30, 2012). Stock market declines and vesting and forfeitures of unvested restricted stock equivalents since September 30, 2012 are not reflected in these valuations.

 

      Accelerated or Additional Benefits—Termination following Change of Control  
      Cash
Severance
     Retirement
Benefits
     25%
Company
Match
     Non-Qualified
Stock Options,
Restricted
Stock Equivs.,
Three-Year
Performance
Awards
     Benefits      Excise Tax
Gross-Up/
Reduction
    Total  

W. M. Klein

   $ 7,145,703       $ 3,131,897       $ 0       $ 12,487,524       $ 112,411       $ 7,051,132      $ 29,928,667   

D. J. Sescleifer

   $ 2,930,551       $ 270,816       $ 253,635       $ 3,196,366       $ 112,411       $ 2,080,926      $ 8,844,705   

D. P. Hatfield

   $ 3,065,951       $ 446,401       $ 122,310       $ 3,241,266       $ 112,411       $ 2,287,629      $ 9,275,968   

A. R. Hoskins

   $ 2,165,948       $ 377,547       $ 185,548       $ 1,829,698       $ 94,567       $ (424,376   $ 4,228,932   

P. J. Conrad

   $ 1,884,064       $ 243,584       $ 146,535       $ 2,038,374       $ 112,411       $ 1,450,040      $ 5,875,008   

For purposes of the calculation of the excise tax gross-up in these charts, the ascribed value of accelerated vesting is based on three assumptions:

 

 

Lapse-of-further-service portion is equal to the gain at the change of control date multiplied by 1% for each full month vesting is accelerated;

 

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Early receipt portion is equal to the difference between the gain at normal vesting and the present value of the gain at the time vesting is accelerated (present value based on 120% of the IRS Applicable Federal Rates, compounded semi-annually: 0.28% for short-term and 1.12% for mid-term, using September, 2012 rates; and

 

 

Performance restricted stock equivalents, under which vesting is contingent upon achievement of certain performance goals and continued employment, have been valued assuming a 100% parachute value for the portions of awards that will vest.

 

     

Accelerated Awards Upon a Change of Control

(No Termination of Employment)

 
     

Non-Qualified Stock Options,
Restricted Stock Equivalents,

Three-Year Performance Awards

    

Excise Tax

Gross-Up

   Total  

W. M. Klein

   $ 12,487,524       $0    $ 12,487,524   

D. J. Sescleifer

   $ 3,196,366       $0    $ 3,196,366   

D. P. Hatfield

   $ 3,241,266       $0    $ 3,241,266   

A. R. Hoskins

   $ 1,829,698       $0    $ 1,829,698   

P. J. Conrad

   $ 2,038,374       $0    $ 2,038,374   

ITEM 3. ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

As required by Section 14A of the Exchange Act, we are asking our shareholders to provide non-binding advisory approval of the compensation of our named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC. We encourage shareholders to review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis for details regarding our executive compensation programs. Our 2012 shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation was approved by a significant majority of shareholders, with 87.5% of the votes cast in favor of the advisory resolution at our 2012 annual meeting.

This vote is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather the overall compensation of our named executive officers and the philosophy, policies and practices that we use. We believe that our executive compensation program was designed appropriately and is working to ensure management’s interests are aligned with our shareholders’ interests. Our compensation programs are designed to enable and reinforce our company’s overall business strategy by aligning pay with achievement of short and long term financial and strategic objectives, while providing a competitive level of compensation which is needed to recruit, retain and motivate talented executives critical to our success. In particular:

 

The Nominating and Executive Compensation Committee determined it was appropriate to target an increase over fiscal year 2010 GAAP diluted earnings per share of $5.72 for the fiscal 2012 bonus plan and 3-year equity awards, resulting in more challenging performance goals than if a similar increase over the lower fiscal year 2011 GAAP results. Had the GAAP EPS from fiscal 2011 been used as the base, for example, the fiscal 2012 annual bonus plan target would represent a 64% increase over our fiscal year 2011 diluted earnings per share.

 

In November 2011, we adopted a policy eliminating tax gross-up payments and adopting the best-of-net approach for future change in control employment agreements.

 

Effective following the end of our 2012 fiscal year, we eliminated the company match for deferrals of salary and bonus by executives as well as the opportunity for executives to defer salary and bonus under the deferred compensation plan.

 

Effective as of December 31, 2012, we terminated the company’s executive health plan. As such, current and former executives will no longer have the opportunity to participate in this plan.

 

For the 2013 fiscal year, the committee approved multiple metrics in the long-term performance incentive program, including:

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adjusted return on invested capital, to support the Company’s focus on cash flow, including improved working capital performance, and emphasize the importance of capital allocation decisions; and

 

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cumulative adjusted EBITDA, to reward growth in core operating earnings;

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once the initial award amount is determined, the performance equivalent awards will then be subject to adjustment based on a third new metric, the Company’s relative total shareholder return during the three year performance period based on a relevant group of industrial and consumer goods companies.

 

The committee also approved multiple metrics in the fiscal 2013 short-term performance incentive program:

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company-wide cost savings associated with restructurings, which will constitute 20% of the weighting, to focus on delivering the cost savings to investors announced by the Company and will be deferred pending achievement of the cost savings;