Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549-1004

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

x   Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2009

 

OR

 

o   Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

For the transition period from               to              

 

Commission file number: 1-14064

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

11-2408943

(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

 

 

767 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

10153

(Zip Code)

 

212-572-4200

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Not Applicable

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No o

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer x

 

Accelerated filer o

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Smaller reporting company o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o No x

 

At October 23, 2009, 118,669,945 shares of the registrant’s Class A Common Stock, $.01 par value, and 78,067,261 shares of the registrant’s Class B Common Stock, $.01 par value, were outstanding.

 

 

 



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

INDEX

 

 

Page

 

 

Part I. Financial Information

 

 

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Earnings — Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

2

 

 

Consolidated Balance Sheets — September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009

3

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — Three Months Ended September 30, 2009 and 2008

4

 

 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

5

 

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

23

 

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

37

 

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

38

 

 

Part II. Other Information

 

 

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

38

 

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

38

 

 

Item 6. Exhibits

39

 

 

Signatures

40

 



Table of Contents

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements.

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions, except per share data)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales

 

$

1,833.4

 

$

1,903.5

 

Cost of sales

 

445.1

 

500.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross Profit

 

1,388.3

 

1,403.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

1,149.7

 

1,310.8

 

Restructuring and other special charges

 

18.2

 

0.1

 

 

 

1,167.9

 

1,310.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

220.4

 

92.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

19.6

 

15.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before Income Taxes

 

200.8

 

77.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

63.0

 

27.6

 

Net Earnings

 

137.8

 

49.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

2.9

 

1.5

 

Net Earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

$

140.7

 

$

51.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

.72

 

$

.26

 

Diluted

 

.71

 

.26

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

196.7

 

195.3

 

Diluted

 

198.2

 

198.8

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

2



Table of Contents

 

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2009

 

 

 

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

799.2

 

$

864.5

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

1,097.4

 

853.3

 

Inventory and promotional merchandise, net

 

844.2

 

795.0

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

422.2

 

399.7

 

Total current assets

 

3,163.0

 

2,912.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

 

1,017.9

 

1,026.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Investments, at cost or market value

 

13.1

 

12.7

 

Goodwill

 

763.4

 

759.9

 

Other intangible assets, net

 

152.2

 

150.1

 

Other assets

 

357.2

 

314.7

 

Total other assets

 

1,285.9

 

1,237.4

 

Total assets

 

$

5,466.8

 

$

5,176.6

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term debt

 

$

19.5

 

$

33.8

 

Accounts payable

 

342.6

 

329.8

 

Accrued income taxes

 

59.1

 

33.2

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

1,118.5

 

1,062.4

 

Total current liabilities

 

1,539.7

 

1,459.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Noncurrent Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt

 

1,389.4

 

1,387.6

 

Accrued income taxes

 

267.8

 

259.1

 

Other noncurrent liabilities

 

413.3

 

406.7

 

Total noncurrent liabilities

 

2,070.5

 

2,053.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contingencies (Note 7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, $.01 par value; 650,000,000 shares Class A authorized; shares issued: 183,964,687 at September 30, 2009 and 183,921,350 at June 30, 2009; 240,000,000 shares Class B authorized; shares issued and outstanding: 78,067,261 at September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009

 

2.6

 

2.6

 

Paid-in capital

 

1,166.3

 

1,145.6

 

Retained earnings

 

3,335.7

 

3,195.0

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(83.5

)

(117.1

)

 

 

4,421.1

 

4,226.1

 

Less: Treasury stock, at cost; 65,306,165 Class A shares at September 30, 2009 and 65,294,477 Class A shares at June 30, 2009

 

(2,586.5

)

(2,586.1

)

Total stockholders’ equity – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

1,834.6

 

1,640.0

 

Noncontrolling interests

 

22.0

 

24.0

 

Total equity

 

1,856.6

 

1,664.0

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

5,466.8

 

$

5,176.6

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

3



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

137.8

 

$

49.6

 

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash flows from operating   activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

65.3

 

62.6

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(21.8

)

(7.1

)

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

19.2

 

22.6

 

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements

 

 

(1.4

)

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

 

5.4

 

4.0

 

Non-cash charges associated with restructuring activities

 

9.7

 

 

Other non-cash items

 

0.4

 

0.8

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in accounts receivable, net

 

(218.7

)

(177.6

)

Increase in inventory and promotional merchandise, net

 

(42.6

)

(96.8

)

Increase in other assets, net

 

(24.5

)

(23.0

)

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

 

6.1

 

(18.6

)

Increase (decrease) in accrued income taxes

 

36.0

 

(25.2

)

Increase in other liabilities

 

30.4

 

13.9

 

Net cash flows provided by (used for) operating activities

 

2.7

 

(196.2

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

(45.4

)

(75.9

)

Acquisition of businesses and other intangible assets, net of cash acquired

 

(9.3

)

(63.5

)

Proceeds from the disposition of long-term investments

 

 

0.9

 

Purchases of long-term investments

 

 

(0.4

)

Net cash flows used for investing activities

 

(54.7

)

(138.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

 

 

 

 

Increase (decrease) in short-term debt, net

 

(6.3

)

220.3

 

Repayments and redemptions of long-term debt

 

(13.9

)

(3.1

)

Net proceeds from stock-based compensation transactions

 

0.4

 

109.3

 

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation arrangements

 

 

1.4

 

Payments to acquire treasury stock

 

(0.4

)

(57.0

)

Dividends paid to stockholders

 

(0.1

)

(0.1

)

Net cash flows provided by (used for) financing activities

 

(20.3

)

270.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

7.0

 

(8.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

(65.3

)

(72.9

)

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

 

864.5

 

401.7

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

 

$

799.2

 

$

328.8

 

 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

4



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 1 —SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Company”).  All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.  Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. GAAP for complete financial statements.  In the opinion of management, all adjustments of a normal recurring nature considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.  The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the full fiscal year.  For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

In accordance with recently adopted accounting guidance, net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests are disclosed separately on the face of the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.  In addition, noncontrolling interests are reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheets.  Except as otherwise indicated, references to net earnings or components of stockholder’s equity in the notes to consolidated financial statements will represent amounts attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.  Accordingly, certain amounts in the consolidated financial statements of prior periods have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

 

In preparing these consolidated financial statements, the Company has evaluated events and transactions for potential recognition or disclosure through October 30, 2009, the date the consolidated financial statements were issued.

 

Management Estimates

 

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses reported in those financial statements.  Certain significant accounting policies that contain subjective management estimates and assumptions include those related to revenue recognition, inventory, pension and other post-retirement benefit costs, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, income taxes and derivatives.  Descriptions of these policies are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.  Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, and makes adjustments when facts and circumstances dictate.  Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity markets, changes in foreign currency exchange rates and declines in consumer spending have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions.  As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from those estimates and assumptions.  Significant changes, if any, in those estimates resulting from continuing changes in the economic environment will be reflected in the consolidated financial statements in future periods.

 

Currency Translation and Transactions

 

All assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and affiliates are translated at period-end rates of exchange, while revenue and expenses are translated at weighted average rates of exchange for the period.  Unrealized translation gains or losses are reported as cumulative translation adjustments through other comprehensive income (loss).  Such adjustments amounted to $33.6 million of unrealized translation gains, net of tax, and $84.0 million of unrealized translation losses, net of tax, during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The accompanying consolidated statements of earnings include net exchange losses on foreign currency transactions of $0.4 million and $19.9 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

Accounts Receivable

 

Accounts receivable is stated net of the allowance for doubtful accounts and customer deductions totaling $41.8 million and $41.4 million as of September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively.

 

5



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

The Company is a worldwide manufacturer, marketer and distributor of skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products.  Domestic and international sales are made primarily to department stores, perfumeries and specialty retailers.  The Company grants credit to all qualified customers and does not believe it is exposed significantly to any undue concentration of credit risk.

 

The Company’s largest customer sells products primarily within the United States and accounted for $246.1 million, or 13% and $264.3 million, or 14%, of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  This customer accounted for $175.4 million, or 16%, and $97.1 million, or 11%, of the Company’s accounts receivable at September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively.

 

Inventory and Promotional Merchandise

 

 

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2009

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Inventory and promotional merchandise, net consists of:

 

 

 

 

 

Raw materials

 

$

188.2

 

$

188.5

 

Work in process

 

35.7

 

43.8

 

Finished goods

 

425.4

 

375.6

 

Promotional merchandise

 

194.9

 

187.1

 

 

 

$

844.2

 

$

795.0

 

 

Property, Plant and Equipment

 

Property, plant and equipment consists of:

 

 

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2009

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Assets (Useful Life)

 

 

 

 

 

Land

 

$

14.6

 

$

14.5

 

Buildings and improvements (10 to 40 years)

 

186.7

 

183.2

 

Machinery and equipment (3 to 10 years)

 

1,106.1

 

1,080.2

 

Furniture and fixtures (5 to 10 years)

 

87.6

 

86.1

 

Leasehold improvements

 

1,141.7

 

1,112.8

 

 

 

2,536.7

 

2,476.8

 

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

 

1,518.8

 

1,450.1

 

 

 

$

1,017.9

 

$

1,026.7

 

 

The cost of assets related to projects in progress of $138.3 million and $144.9 million as of September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, respectively, is included in their respective asset categories in the table above.  Depreciation and amortization of property, plant and equipment was $62.0 million and $59.3 million during the three months ended September 30 , 2009 and 2008, respectively.  Depreciation and amortization related to the Company’s manufacturing process is included in cost of sales and all other depreciation and amortization is included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings.

 

6



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Income Taxes

 

The effective rate for income taxes was 31.4% and 35.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.  The decrease in the effective income tax rate was primarily attributable to a lower effective tax rate relating to the Company’s foreign operations.

 

As of September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009, the gross amount of unrecognized tax benefits, exclusive of interest and penalties, totaled $266.1 million and $259.1 million, respectively.  The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $135.7 million.  The total gross interest and penalties accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits during the three months ended September 30, 2009 in the accompanying consolidated statement of earnings was $3.0 million.  The total gross accrued interest and penalties in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009 was $71.7 million and $67.9 million, respectively.  On the basis of the information available as of September 30, 2009, it is reasonably possible that the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits could decrease in a range of $30 million to $60 million within 12 months as a result of projected resolutions of global tax examinations and controversies and a potential lapse of the applicable statutes of limitations.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

 

In June 2009, the FASB established the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM  (the “Codification”) as the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  Rules and interpretive releases of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants.  The Codification did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements upon adoption.  Accordingly, the Company’s notes to consolidated financial statements will explain accounting concepts rather than cite the topics of specific U.S. GAAP.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that principally requires publicly traded companies to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information.  The adoption of this disclosure-only guidance for the Company’s September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements is included in Note 5 — Fair Value Measurements and did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial results.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to require that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value if fair value can be reasonably determined.  If the fair value of such assets or liabilities cannot be reasonably determined, then they would generally be recognized in accordance with certain other pre-existing accounting standards.  This guidance also amends the subsequent accounting for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination and certain other disclosure requirements.  This guidance became effective for assets or liabilities arising from contingencies in business combinations that are consummated during the Company’s fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on the Company’s September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the accounting for defensive intangible assets.  Defensive intangible assets are assets acquired in a business combination that the acquirer (a) does not intend to use or (b) intends to use in a way other than the assets’ highest and best use as determined by an evaluation of market participant assumptions.  While defensive intangible assets are not being actively used, they are likely contributing to an increase in the value of other assets owned by the acquiring entity.  This guidance will require defensive intangible assets to be accounted for as separate units of accounting at the time of acquisition and the useful life of such assets would be based on the period over which the assets will directly or indirectly affect the entity’s cash flows.  This guidance is to be applied prospectively for defensive intangible assets acquired on or after the beginning of the Company’s fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on the Company’s September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to address questions about equity-method accounting.  The primary issues include how the initial carrying value of an equity method investment should be determined, how to account for any subsequent purchases and sales of additional ownership interests, and whether the investor must separately assess its underlying share of the investee’s indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.  This guidance became effective beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on the Company’s September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

7



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to amend the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset and to require additional disclosures.  The guidance for determining useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date.  The disclosure requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of the effective date.  This guidance became effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2010 and did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that permitted the delayed application of fair value measurement accounting to nonrecurring nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities.  The Company’s nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities principally consist of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, long-lived assets when assessing potential impairment, and liabilities associated with restructuring activities.  This guidance became effective beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2010.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company did not have significant measurements of nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to affirm that the acquisition method of accounting (previously referred to as the purchase method) be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination.  This guidance defines the acquirer as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control.  Among other requirements, this guidance requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their acquisition-date fair values, with limited exceptions; acquisition-related costs generally will be expensed as incurred.  This guidance requires certain financial statement disclosures to enable users to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  This guidance must be applied prospectively to business combinations that are consummated on or after July 1, 2009.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company did not have significant business combinations.  Accordingly, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  Among other requirements, this guidance clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is to be reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated financial statements.  This guidance also requires consolidated net income to include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and to disclose those amounts on the face of the consolidated statement of earnings.  This guidance must be applied prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2010, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to address accounting for collaborative arrangement activities that are conducted without the creation of a separate legal entity for the arrangement.  Revenues and costs incurred with third parties in connection with the collaborative arrangement should be presented gross or net by the collaborators pursuant to pre-existing accounting standards.  Payments to or from collaborators should be presented in the income statement based on the nature of the arrangement, the nature of the company’s business and whether the payments are within the scope of other accounting literature.  Other detailed information related to the collaborative arrangement is also required to be disclosed.  The requirements under this guidance must be applied to collaborative arrangements in existence at the beginning of the Company’s fiscal 2010 using a modified version of retrospective application.  The Company is currently not a party to significant collaborative arrangement activities, as defined by this guidance, and therefore the adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

8



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

 

In August 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to provide clarification on measuring liabilities at fair value when a quoted price in an active market is not available.  In these circumstances, a valuation technique should be applied that uses either the quote of the liability when traded as an asset, the quoted prices for similar liabilities or similar liabilities when traded as assets, or another valuation technique consistent with existing fair value measurement guidance, such as an income approach or a market approach.  The new guidance also clarifies that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability.  This guidance is effective for the first reporting period beginning after issuance (the Company’s fiscal 2010 second quarter).  The Company does not anticipate this guidance will have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to eliminate the exception to consolidate a qualifying special-purpose entity, change the approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and require companies to more frequently re-assess whether they must consolidate variable interest entities.  Under the new guidance, the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is identified qualitatively as the enterprise that has both (a) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity.  This guidance becomes effective for the Company’s fiscal 2011 year-end and interim reporting periods thereafter.  The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to require employers to provide additional disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plan.  These disclosures should principally include information detailing investment policies and strategies, the major categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets and an understanding of significant concentrations of risk within plan assets.  While earlier application of this guidance is permitted, the required disclosures shall be provided for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009 (the Company’s fiscal 2010, the anticipated period of adoption).  Upon initial application, this guidance is not required to be applied to earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes.  The Company does not expect this guidance to have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

 

NOTE  2 — OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

 

Other intangible assets consists of the following:

 

 

 

September 30, 2009

 

June 30, 2009

 

(In millions)

 

Gross
Carrying
Value

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Total Net
Book
Value

 

Gross
Carrying
Value

 

Accumulated
Amortization

 

Total Net
Book
Value

 

Amortizable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Customer lists and other

 

$

198.6

 

$

113.8

 

$

84.8

 

$

199.2

 

$

115.9

 

$

83.3

 

License agreements

 

43.2

 

43.0

 

0.2

 

43.2

 

43.0

 

0.2

 

 

 

$

241.8

 

$

156.8

 

85.0

 

$

242.4

 

$

158.9

 

83.5

 

Non-amortizable intangible assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trademarks and other

 

 

 

 

 

67.2

 

 

 

 

 

66.6

 

Total intangible assets

 

 

 

 

 

$

152.2

 

 

 

 

 

$

150.1

 

 

The aggregate amortization expense related to amortizable intangible assets for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $2.5 million and $2.8 million, respectively.  The estimated aggregate amortization expense for the remainder of fiscal 2010 and each of fiscal years ending June 30, 2011 to 2014 is $7.4 million, $9.7 million, $9.3 million, $8.9 million and $6.6 million, respectively.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 3 — CHARGES ASSOCIATED WITH RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

 

In an effort to drive down costs and achieve synergies within the organization, in February 2009, the Company announced the implementation of a multi-faceted cost savings program (the “Program”) to position itself to achieve long-term profitable growth.  The Company anticipates the Program will result in related restructuring and other special charges, inclusive of cumulative charges recorded to date and over the next few fiscal years, totaling between $350 million and $450 million before taxes.

 

The Program focuses on a redesign of the Company’s organizational structure in order to integrate it in a more cohesive way and operate more globally across brands and functions.  The principal aspect of the Program is the reduction of the workforce by approximately 2,000 employees.  Specific actions taken during the three months ended September 30, 2009 included:

 

·                   Resize and Reorganize the Organization — The Company continued the realignment and optimization of its organization to better leverage scale, improve productivity and reduce complexity in each region and across various functions.  This included reduction of the workforce which occurred through the consolidation of certain functions through a combination of normal attrition and job eliminations.

 

·                   Exit Unprofitable Operations — To improve the profitability in certain of the Company’s brands and regions, the Company has selectively exited certain channels of distribution, categories and markets.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, the Company approved the exit from the global wholesale distribution of its Prescriptives brand by January 31, 2010.  In connection with these activities, the Company recorded a reserve for anticipated product returns, wrote off inventory and incurred costs to reduce workforce and terminate contracts.

 

·                   Outsourcing — In order to balance the growing need for information technology support with the Company’s efforts to provide the most efficient and cost effective solutions, the Company continued the outsourcing of certain information technology processes.  The Company incurred costs to transition services to an outsource provider.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, aggregate restructuring charges of $14.7 million were recorded in the accompanying consolidated statements of earnings related to the Program.  These charges reflected employee-related costs, asset write-offs, contract terminations and other exit costs.

 

The following table presents accrued restructuring and the related activity as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2009 under the Program:

 

( In millions)

 

Employee-
Related

 Costs

 

Asset
 Write-offs

 

Contract
Terminations

 

Other Exit
Costs

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2009

 

$

51.6

 

$

 

$

2.9

 

$

0.2

 

$

54.7

 

Charges

 

13.4

 

0.2

 

0.6

 

0.5

 

14.7

 

Cash payments

 

(14.8

)

 

(0.8

)

(0.7

)

(16.3

)

Non-cash write-offs

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.2

)

Translation adjustments

 

0.5

 

 

 

 

0.5

 

Balance at September 30, 2009

 

$

50.7

 

$

 

$

2.7

 

$

 

$

53.4

 

 

Accrued restructuring charges at September 30, 2009 are expected to result in cash expenditures funded from cash provided by operations of approximately $37 million, $14 million and $2 million in fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Cumulative restructuring charges related to the Program as of September 30, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30

 

( In millions)

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

Employee-related costs

 

$

74.3

 

Asset write-offs

 

4.4

 

Contract terminations

 

4.0

 

Other exit costs

 

2.3

 

Total

 

$

85.0

 

 

The total amount of restructuring charges incurred, plus other initiatives approved through September 30, 2009, include approximately $90 million for employee-related costs, approximately $7 million in asset write-offs and approximately $12 million of contract terminations and other exit costs.

 

The Company incurred other special charges in connection with the implementation of the Program for the three months ended September 30, 2009 of $3.5 million related to consulting, other professional services, and accelerated depreciation.  The total amount of other special charges expected to be incurred to implement these initiatives, including those incurred through September 30, 2009, is approximately $38 million.  In addition to the other special charges, and predominantly related to the exit from the global wholesale distribution of the Prescriptives brand, the Company recorded $18.5 million reflecting anticipated sales returns (less a related cost of sales of $3.9 million) and a write-off of inventory associated with exiting unprofitable operations of $9.5 million.  The total amounts expected to be incurred, including those incurred through September 30, 2009, related to sales returns is between $29 million to $33 million and approximately $10 million related to inventory write-offs.

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities included in operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $42.3 million.

 

NOTE 4 — DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

The Company addresses certain financial exposures through a controlled program of risk management that includes the use of derivative financial instruments.  The Company primarily enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts to reduce the effects of fluctuating foreign currency exchange rates and interest rate derivatives to manage the effects of interest rate movements on the Company’s aggregate liability portfolio.  The Company also enters into foreign currency forward and option contracts, not designated as hedging instruments, to mitigate the change in fair value of specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet.  The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.  Costs associated with entering into these derivative financial instruments have not been material to the Company’s consolidated financial results.

 

For each derivative contract entered into where the Company looks to obtain special hedge accounting treatment, the Company formally documents all relationships between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk-management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedge transaction, the nature of the risk being hedged, how the hedging instruments’ effectiveness in offsetting the hedged risk will be assessed prospectively and retrospectively, and a description of the method of measuring ineffectiveness.  This process includes linking all derivatives to specific assets and liabilities on the balance sheet or to specific firm commitments or forecasted transactions.  The Company also formally assesses, both at the hedge’s inception and on an ongoing basis, whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of hedged items.  If it is determined that a derivative is not highly effective, or that it has ceased to be a highly effective hedge, the Company will be required to discontinue hedge accounting with respect to that derivative prospectively.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The fair values of the Company’s derivative financial instruments included in the consolidated balance sheets as of September 30, 2009 and June 30, 2009 are presented as follows:

 

 

 

Asset Derivatives

 

Liability Derivatives

 

(In millions)

 

Balance Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value (1)

 

Balance Sheet
Location

 

Fair Value (1)

 

 

 

 

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

 

 

September 30

 

June 30

 

 

 

 

 

2009

 

2009

 

 

 

2009

 

2009

 

Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

$

13.2

 

$

13.9

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

$

(27.1

)

$

(24.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

Other assets

 

30.5

 

24.5

 

Not applicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Derivatives Designated as Hedging Instruments

 

 

 

43.7

 

38.4

 

 

 

(27.1

)

(24.9

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

3.8

 

2.8

 

Other accrued liabilities

 

(6.4

)

(1.3

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Derivatives

 

 

 

$

47.5

 

$

41.2

 

 

 

$

(33.5

)

$

(26.2

)

 


(1)              See Note 5 — Fair Value Measurements for further information about how the fair value of derivative assets and liabilities are determined.

 

The amounts of the gains and losses related to the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as hedging instruments for the three months ended September 30, 2009 are presented as follows:

 

(In millions)

 

Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
Recognized in
OCI on
Derivatives
(Effective
Portion)

 

Location of Gain or
(Loss) Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI into
Earnings (Effective
Portion)

 

Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Earnings (Effective Portion)
  (1)  

 

Derivatives in Cash Flow Hedging Relationships:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

(4.9

)

Selling, general and administrative

 

$

(2.3

)

 


(1)      The amount of loss recognized in earnings related to the amount excluded from effectiveness testing was $0.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2009.  There was no gain (loss) recognized in earnings related to the ineffective portion of the hedging relationships for the three months ended September 30, 2009.

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(In millions)

 

Location of Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Earnings on
Derivatives

 

Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
 Recognized in
Earnings on
Derivatives
(1)

 

Derivatives in Fair Value Hedging Relationships:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

6.0

 

 


(1)              Changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap agreements are exactly offset by changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt.

 

The amounts of the gains and losses related to the Company’s derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments for the three months ended September 30, 2009 are presented as follows:

 

(In millions)

 

Location of Gain or (Loss)
Recognized in Earnings on
Derivatives

 

Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
Recognized in
Earnings on
Derivatives

 

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

$

(4.2

)

 

Foreign Currency Cash-Flow Hedges

 

The Company enters into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge anticipated transactions, as well as receivables and payables denominated in foreign currencies, for periods consistent with the Company’s identified exposures.  The purpose of the hedging activities is to minimize the effect of foreign exchange rate movements on costs and on the cash flows that the Company receives from foreign subsidiaries.  The majority of foreign currency forward contracts are denominated in currencies of major industrial countries.  The Company may also enter into foreign currency option contracts to hedge anticipated transactions where there is a high probability that anticipated exposures will materialize.  The foreign currency forward contracts entered into to hedge anticipated transactions have been designated as foreign currency cash-flow hedges and have varying maturities through the end of June 2010.  Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency forward contracts is based on a hypothetical derivative methodology and excludes the portion of fair value attributable to the spot-forward difference which is recorded in current-period earnings.  Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency option contracts is based on a dollar offset methodology.  The ineffective portion of both foreign currency forward and option contracts is recorded in current-period earnings.  For hedge contracts that are no longer deemed highly effective, hedge accounting is discontinued and gains and losses accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction occurs.  If it is probable that the forecasted transaction will no longer occur, then any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to current-period earnings.  As of September 30, 2009, the Company’s foreign currency cash-flow hedges were highly effective, in all material respects.  The estimated net loss as of September 30, 2009 that is expected to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) into earnings within the next nine months is $13.0 million.

 

At September 30, 2009, the Company had foreign currency forward contracts in the amount of $1,138.7 million.  The foreign currencies included in foreign currency forward contracts (notional value stated in U.S. dollars) are principally the British pound ($198.6 million), Euro ($197.7 million), Swiss franc ($173.8 million), Canadian dollar ($160.3 million), Hong Kong dollar ($80.6 million), Australian dollar ($74.1 million) and Japanese yen ($56.6 million).

 

13



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Fair Value Hedges

 

The Company enters into interest rate derivative contracts to manage its exposure to interest rate fluctuations on its funded indebtedness and anticipated issuance of debt for periods consistent with the identified exposures.  The Company has interest rate swap agreements, with a notional amount totaling $250.0 million, to effectively convert the fixed rate interest on its 2017 Senior Notes to variable interest rates based on six-month LIBOR.  These interest rate swap agreements are designated as fair value hedges of the related long-term debt and the changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap agreements are exactly offset by changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt.  As of September 30, 2009, these fair-value hedges were highly effective in all material respects.

 

Credit Risk

 

As a matter of policy, the Company only enters into derivative contracts with counterparties that have at least an “A” (or equivalent) credit rating.  The counterparties to these contracts are major financial institutions.  Exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by any of the counterparties is limited to the gross fair value of contracts in asset positions, which totaled $47.5 million at September 30, 2009, of which 84% were attributable to two counterparties.  To manage this risk, the Company has established strict counterparty credit guidelines that are continually monitored and reported to management.  Accordingly, management believes risk of loss under these hedging contracts is remote.

 

Certain of the Company’s derivative financial instruments contain credit-risk-related contingent features.  As of September 30, 2009, the Company was in compliance with such features and there were no derivative financial instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position.

 

NOTE 5 — FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Company records its financial assets and liabilities at fair value, which is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability, in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date.  Effective beginning in the Company’s fiscal 2010, the accounting for fair value measurements must be applied to nonrecurring nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, which principally consist of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, long-lived assets when assessing potential impairment, and liabilities associated with restructuring activities.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company did not have significant measurements of nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.  The Company is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value.  The three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value are as follows:

 

Level 1:       Inputs based on quoted market prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.

 

Level 2:       Observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, such as quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets and liabilities in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

 

Level 3:       Inputs reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date. The inputs are unobservable in the market and significant to the instrument’s valuation.

 

14



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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of September 30, 2009:

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

(Level 3)

 

Total

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

 

$

17.0

 

$

 

$

17.0

 

Interest rate swap contracts

 

 

30.5

 

 

30.5

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

6.0

 

 

 

6.0

 

Total

 

$

6.0

 

$

47.5

 

$

 

$

53.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts

 

$

 

$

33.5

 

$

 

$

33.5

 

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s other classes of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

 

Cash and cash equivalents - The carrying amount approximates fair value, primarily because of the short maturity of cash equivalent instruments.

 

Available-for-sale securities - Available-for-sale securities are generally comprised of mutual funds and are valued using quoted market prices on an active exchange.  Available-for-sale securities are included in investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.

 

Foreign currency forward contracts - The fair values of the Company’s foreign currency forward contracts were valued using pricing models, with all significant inputs derived from or corroborated by observable market data such as yield curves, currency spot and forward rates and currency volatilities.

 

Interest rate swap contracts - The fair values of the Company’s outstanding interest rate swap contracts were determined based on non-binding offers from the counterparties that are corroborated by observable market data.

 

Short-term and long-term debt - The fair value of the Company’s debt was estimated based on the current rates offered to the Company for debt with the same remaining maturities.  To a lesser extent, debt also includes capital lease obligations for which the carrying amount approximates the fair value.

 

The estimated fair values of the Company’s financial instruments at September 30, 2009 are as follows:

 

(In millions)

 

Carrying
Amount

 

Fair
Value

 

Nonderivatives

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

799.2

 

$

799.2

 

Available-for-sale securities

 

6.0

 

6.0

 

Short-term and long-term debt

 

1,408.9

 

1,461.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Derivatives

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency forward contracts — asset (liability)

 

(16.5

)

(16.5

)

Interest rate swap contracts — asset (liability)

 

30.5

 

30.5

 

 

15



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 6 — PENSION AND POST-RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

 

The Company maintains pension plans covering substantially all of its full-time employees for its U.S. operations and a majority of its international operations.  The Company also maintains a domestic post-retirement benefit plan which provides certain medical and dental benefits to eligible employees.  Descriptions of these plans are discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

The components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 consisted of the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other than

 

 

 

Pension Plans

 

Pension Plans

 

 

 

U.S.

 

International

 

Post-retirement

 

(In millions)

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Service cost

 

$

5.6

 

$

5.2

 

$

4.4

 

$

4.4

 

$

0.8

 

$

1.0

 

Interest cost

 

7.3

 

7.0

 

4.9

 

5.1

 

2.0

 

1.8

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

(8.0

)

(8.3

)

(5.0

)

(5.3

)

 

 

Amortization of:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prior service cost

 

0.2

 

0.2

 

0.6

 

0.7

 

 

 

Actuarial loss

 

1.0

 

0.4

 

0.4

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost

 

$

6.1

 

$

4.5

 

$

5.3

 

$

5.1

 

$

2.9

 

$

2.8

 

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company made contributions to its international pension plans totaling approximately $14 million.

 

NOTE 7 — CONTINGENCIES

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is involved, from time to time, in litigation and other legal proceedings incidental to its business.  Management believes that the outcome of current litigation and legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect upon the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.  However, management’s assessment of the Company’s current litigation and other legal proceedings could change in light of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against the Company not presently known to the Company or determinations by judges, juries or other finders of fact which are not in accord with management’s evaluation of the possible liability or outcome of such litigation or proceedings.

 

In 1999, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (the “State”) notified the Company and ten other entities that they had been identified as potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) with respect to the Blydenburgh landfill in Islip, New York.  Each PRP may be jointly and severally liable for the costs of investigation and cleanup, which the State estimated in 2006 to be approximately $19.7 million for all PRPs.  In 2001, the State sued other PRPs (including Hickey’s Carting, Inc., Dennis C. Hickey and Maria Hickey, collectively the “Hickey Parties”), in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to recover such costs in connection with the site, and in September 2002, the Hickey Parties brought contribution actions against the Company and other Blydenburgh PRPs.  These contribution actions seek to recover, among other things, any damages for which the Hickey Parties are found liable in the State’s lawsuit against them, and related costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.  In June 2004, the State added the Company and other PRPs as defendants in its pending case against the Hickey Parties.  In April 2006, the Company and other defendants added numerous other parties to the case as third-party defendants.  Settlement negotiations with the new third-party defendants, the State, the Company and other defendants began in July 2006 and have resulted in a proposed consent decree to resolve the case.  The consent decree requires court approval, which the parties are seeking.  The Company has accrued an amount which it believes would be necessary to resolve its share of this matter.  If the settlement is not successfully completed, the Company intends to vigorously defend the pending claims.  While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome, management believes that the resolution of the Blydenburgh matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial condition.

 

16



Table of Contents

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 8 — STOCK PROGRAMS

 

As of September 30, 2009, the Company has two active equity compensation plans which include the Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Fiscal 2002 Plan”) and the Non-Employee Director Share Incentive Plan (collectively, the “Plans”).  These Plans currently provide for the issuance of 23,653,440 shares of Class A Common Stock, which consist of shares originally provided for and shares transferred to the Fiscal 2002 Plan from other inactive plans and employment agreements, to be granted in the form of stock-based awards to key employees, consultants and non-employee directors of the Company.  As of September 30, 2009, approximately 6,732,100 shares of Class A Common Stock were reserved and available to be granted pursuant to these Plans.  The Company may satisfy the obligation of its stock-based compensation awards with either new or treasury shares.  The Company’s equity compensation awards outstanding at September 30, 2009 include stock options, performance share units (“PSU”), restricted stock units (“RSU”) and share units.

 

Total net stock-based compensation expense is attributable to the granting of, and the remaining requisite service periods of, stock options, PSUs, RSUs and share units.  Compensation expense attributable to net stock-based compensation during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $19.2 million and $22.6 million, respectively.  As of September 30, 2009, the total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based awards was $75.6 million and the related weighted-average period over which it is expected to be recognized is approximately 2.0 years.

 

Stock Options

 

A summary of the Company’s stock option programs as of September 30, 2009 and changes during the three months then ended, is presented below:

 

(Shares in thousands)

 

Shares

 

Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price Per
Share

 

Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(1)
(in millions)

 

Weighted-
Average
Contractual Life
Remaining in
Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2009

 

18,914.7

 

$

43.50

 

 

 

 

 

Granted at fair value

 

2,122.8

 

34.01

 

 

 

 

 

Exercised

 

(12.2

)

32.03

 

 

 

 

 

Expired

 

(4,455.8

)

51.89

 

 

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(8.1

)

45.26

 

 

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2009

 

16,561.4

 

40.04

 

$

26.6

 

5.3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exercisable at September 30, 2009

 

11,222.0

 

39.07

 

$

19.9

 

3.6

 

 


(1)              The intrinsic value of a stock option is the amount by which the market value of the underlying stock exceeds the exercise price of the option.

 

The exercise period for all stock options generally may not exceed ten years from the date of grant.  Stock option grants to individuals generally become exercisable in three substantively equal tranches over a service period of up to four years.  The Company attributes the value of option awards on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award as if the award was, in substance, multiple awards.

 

The per-share weighted-average grant date fair value of stock options granted during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $10.53 and $17.47, respectively.  The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 was $0.1 million and $24.7 million, respectively.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

Weighted-average expected stock-price volatility

 

30%

 

28%

 

Weighted-average expected option life

 

8 years

 

8 years

 

Average risk-free interest rate

 

3.1%

 

3.4%

 

Average dividend yield

 

2.0%

 

1.2%

 

 

The Company uses a weighted-average expected stock-price volatility assumption that is a combination of both current and historical implied volatilities of the underlying stock which are obtained from public data sources.  For the weighted-average expected option life assumption, the Company considers the exercise behavior of past grants and models the pattern of aggregate exercises.  The average risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury strip rate for the expected term of the options and the average dividend yield is based on historical experience.

 

Performance Share Units

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, the Company granted 165,300 PSUs, which will be settled in stock subject to the achievement of the Company’s net sales, net earnings per share and return on invested capital goals for the three fiscal years ending June 30, 2012.  Settlement will be made pursuant to a range of opportunities relative to the net sales and diluted net earnings per common share targets of the Company and, as such, the compensation cost of the PSU is subject to adjustment based upon the attainability of these target goals.  No settlement will occur for results below the applicable minimum threshold and additional shares shall be issued if performance exceeds the targeted performance goals.  Certain PSUs are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights that will be payable in cash upon settlement of the PSU.  Other PSUs granted in fiscal 2010 are not accompanied by dividend equivalent rights and, as such, were valued at the closing market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant less the discounted present value of the dividends expected to be paid on the shares during the vesting period.  These awards are subject to the provisions of the agreement under which the PSUs are granted.  The PSUs were valued at the closing market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant and generally vest at the end of the performance period.  In September 2009, 31,100 shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock were issued and related accrued dividends were paid, relative to the target goals set at the time of issuance, in settlement of 96,100 PSUs which vested as of June 30, 2009.

 

The following is a summary of the status of the Company’s PSUs as of September 30, 2009 and activity during the three months then ended:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

(Shares in thousands)

 

Shares

 

Fair Value Per
Share

 

Nonvested at June 30, 2009

 

224.2

 

$

48.57

 

Granted

 

165.3

 

33.42

 

Vested

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Nonvested at September 30, 2009

 

389.5

 

42.14

 

 

Restricted Stock Units

 

The Company granted approximately 974,800 RSUs during the three months ended September 30, 2009 which, at the time of grant, were scheduled to vest as follows: 39,800 on July 1, 2010, 484,300 on November 1, 2010, 39,800 on July 2, 2011, 271,300 on October 31, 2011, 39,800 on July 2, 2012 and 99,800 on October 31, 2012, all subject to the continued employment or retirement of the grantees.  Certain RSUs granted in fiscal 2010 are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights that will be payable in cash upon settlement of the RSU and, as such, were valued at the closing market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant.  Other RSUs granted in fiscal 2010 are not accompanied by dividend equivalent rights and, as such, were valued at the closing market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock on the date of grant less the discounted present value of the dividends expected to be paid on the shares during the vesting period.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

The following is a summary of the status of the Company’s RSUs as of September 30, 2009 and activity during the three months then ended:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

(Shares in thousands)

 

Shares

 

Fair Value Per
Share

 

Nonvested at June 30, 2009

 

922.5

 

$

48.31

 

Granted

 

974.8

 

33.36

 

Vested

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

(8.9

)

49.42

 

Nonvested at September 30, 2009

 

1,888.4

 

40.59

 

 

Share Units

 

The Company grants share units to certain non-employee directors under the Non-Employee Director Share Incentive Plan.  The share units are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock as provided for in that plan.  Share units are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights that are converted to additional share units when such dividends are declared.  The following is a summary of the status of the Company’s share units as of September 30, 2009 and activity during the fiscal year then ended:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-Average

 

 

 

 

 

Grant Date

 

(Shares in thousands)

 

Shares

 

Fair Value Per
Share

 

Outstanding at June 30, 2009

 

22.6

 

$

38.02

 

Granted

 

 

 

Dividend equivalents

 

 

 

Converted

 

 

 

Outstanding at September 30, 2009

 

22.6

 

38.02

 

 

Cash Units

 

Certain non-employee directors defer cash compensation in the form of cash payout share units, which are not subject to the Plans.  These share units are classified as liabilities and, as such, their fair value is adjusted to reflect the current market value of the Company’s Class A Common Stock.  The Company recorded $0.4 million and $0.3 million as compensation expense to reflect additional deferrals and the change in the market value for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively.

 

NOTE 9 — NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC. PER COMMON SHARE

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. per common share (“basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding and contingently issuable shares (which satisfy certain conditions).  Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. per common share assuming dilution (“diluted EPS”) is computed by reflecting potential dilution from stock-based awards.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

A reconciliation between the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations is as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions, except per share data)

 

Numerator:

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

$

140.7

 

$

51.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Denominator:

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Basic

 

196.7

 

195.3

 

Effect of dilutive stock options

 

0.7

 

2.9

 

Effect of restricted stock units

 

0.8

 

0.6

 

Weighted-average common shares outstanding – Diluted

 

198.2

 

198.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. per common share:

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

.72

 

$

.26

 

Diluted

 

.71

 

.26

 

 

As of September 30, 2009 and 2008, outstanding options to purchase 11.7 million and 7.4 million shares, respectively, of Class A Common Stock were not included in the computation of diluted EPS because their inclusion would be anti-dilutive.  As of September 30, 2009 and 2008, 0.4 million of PSUs have been excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS because the number of shares ultimately issued is contingent on the achievement of certain performance targets of the Company, as discussed in Note 8.

 

NOTE 10 – COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

 

The components of accumulated other comprehensive income (“OCI”) included in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets consist of net unrealized investment gain (loss), net gain (loss) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as cash-flow hedging instruments, net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service (costs) credits associated with pension and other post-retirement benefits, and cumulative translation adjustments as of the end of each period.

 

Comprehensive income (loss) and its components, net of tax, are as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Net earnings

 

$

137.8

 

$

49.6

 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Net unrealized investment gain (loss)

 

0.2

 

(0.1

)

Net derivative instruments gain (loss)

 

(1.7

)

8.7

 

Amounts included in net periodic benefit cost, net

 

1.5

 

4.9

 

Translation adjustments

 

34.5

 

(86.0

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

34.5

 

(72.5

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

 

172.3

 

(22.9

)

Comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests:

 

 

 

 

 

Net loss

 

2.9

 

1.5

 

Translation adjustments

 

(0.9

)

2.0

 

 

 

2.0

 

3.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

$

174.3

 

$

(19.4

)

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 11 – CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

 

Total Stockholders’ Equity – The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

Non-

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Common
Stock

 

Paid-in
Capital

 

Retained
Earnings

 

AOCI

 

Treasury
Stock

 

Total

 

controlling
Interests

 

Total
Equity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance – June 30, 2009

 

$

2.6

 

$

1,145.6

 

$

3,195.0

 

$

(117.1

)

$

(2,586.1

)

$

1,640.0

 

$

24.0

 

$

1,664.0

 

Net earnings (loss)

 

 

 

140.7

 

 

 

140.7

 

(2.9

)

137.8

 

Other comprehensive income

 

 

 

 

33.6

 

 

33.6

 

0.9

 

34.5

 

Common stock issued

 

0.0

 

 

 

 

 

0.0

 

 

0.0

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

20.7

 

 

 

(0.4

)

20.3

 

 

20.3

 

Balance – September 30, 2009

 

$

2.6

 

$

1,166.3

 

$

3,335.7

 

$

(83.5

)

$

(2,586.5

)

$

1,834.6

 

$

22.0

 

$

1,856.6

 

 

NOTE 12 – STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

 

Supplemental cash flow information for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

Cash:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid during the period for interest

 

$

10.5

 

$

11.9

 

Cash paid during the period for income taxes

 

$

42.0

 

$

59.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-cash investing and financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt issued upon acquisition of business

 

$

0.3

 

$

 

Liabilities incurred for acquisitions

 

$

4.1

 

$

1.4

 

Incremental tax benefit from the exercise of stock options

 

$

 

$

(7.8

)

Capital lease obligations incurred

 

$

0.3

 

$

14.0

 

Interest rate swap derivative mark to market

 

$

6.0

 

$

3.3

 

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NOTE 13 – SEGMENT DATA AND RELATED INFORMATION

 

Reportable operating segments include components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker (the “Chief Executive”) in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance.  Although the Company does business in one operating segment, beauty products, management also evaluates performance on a product category basis, before total charges associated with restructuring activities.  Performance is measured based upon net sales and operating income.  Operating income represents earnings before income taxes and net interest expense.  The accounting policies for the Company’s reportable segments are substantially the same as those for the consolidated financial statements, as described in the segment data and related information footnote included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.  The assets and liabilities of the Company are managed centrally and are reported internally in the same manner as the consolidated financial statements; thus, no additional information is produced for the Chief Executive or included herein.  There has been no significant variance in the total or long-lived asset value associated with the Company’s segment data since June 30, 2009.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

PRODUCT CATEGORY DATA

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Care

 

$

730.3

 

$

716.8

 

Makeup

 

717.9

 

742.9

 

Fragrance

 

291.5

 

327.8

 

Hair Care

 

97.9

 

98.8

 

Other

 

14.3

 

17.2

 

Returns associated with restructuring activities

 

(18.5

)

 

 

 

$

1,833.4

 

$

1,903.5

 

Operating Income (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Care

 

$

114.3

 

$

43.5

 

Makeup

 

107.8

 

54.4

 

Fragrance

 

28.2

 

(5.5

)

Hair Care

 

9.6

 

(1.0

)

Other

 

2.8

 

1.2

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities

 

(42.3

)

(0.1

)

 

 

220.4

 

92.5

 

Reconciliation:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

19.6

 

15.3

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

$

200.8

 

$

77.2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GEOGRAPHIC DATA

 

 

 

 

 

Net Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

The Americas

 

$

892.3

 

$

939.0

 

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

 

601.9

 

641.5

 

Asia/Pacific

 

357.7

 

323.0

 

Returns associated with restructuring activities

 

(18.5

)

 

 

 

$

1,833.4

 

$

1,903.5

 

Operating Income (Loss):

 

 

 

 

 

The Americas

 

$

113.9

 

$

56.5

 

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

 

93.3

 

7.6

 

Asia/Pacific

 

55.5

 

28.5

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities

 

(42.3

)

(0.1

)

 

 

$

220.4

 

$

92.5

 

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

We manufacture, market and sell beauty products including those in the skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care categories which are distributed in over 140 countries and territories.  The following is a comparative summary of operating results for the three months ended September 30, 2009 and 2008, and reflects the basis of presentation described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements — Summary of Significant Accounting Policies for all periods presented.  Sales of products and services that do not meet our definition of skin care, makeup, fragrance or hair care have been included in the “other” category.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

NET SALES

 

 

 

 

 

By Region:

 

 

 

 

 

The Americas

 

$

892.3

 

$

939.0

 

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

 

601.9

 

641.5

 

Asia/Pacific

 

357.7

 

323.0

 

Returns associated with restructuring activities

 

(18.5

)

 

 

 

$

1,833.4

 

$

1,903.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Product Category:

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Care

 

$

730.3

 

$

716.8

 

Makeup

 

717.9

 

742.9

 

Fragrance

 

291.5

 

327.8

 

Hair Care

 

97.9

 

98.8

 

Other

 

14.3

 

17.2

 

Returns associated with restructuring activities

 

(18.5

)

 

 

 

$

1,833.4

 

$

1,903.5

 

OPERATING INCOME (LOSS)

 

 

 

 

 

By Region:

 

 

 

 

 

The Americas

 

$

113.9

 

$

56.5

 

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

 

93.3

 

7.6

 

Asia/Pacific

 

55.5

 

28.5

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities

 

(42.3

)

(0.1

)

 

 

$

220.4

 

$

92.5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Product Category:

 

 

 

 

 

Skin Care

 

$

114.3

 

$

43.5

 

Makeup

 

107.8

 

54.4

 

Fragrance

 

28.2

 

(5.5

)

Hair Care

 

9.6

 

(1.0

)

Other

 

2.8

 

1.2

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities

 

(42.3

)

(0.1

)

 

 

$

220.4

 

$

92.5

 

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

The following table presents certain consolidated earnings data as a percentage of net sales:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

100.0

%

100.0

%

Cost of sales

 

24.3

 

26.3

 

Gross profit

 

75.7

 

73.7

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

62.7

 

68.9

 

Restructuring and other special charges

 

1.0

 

 

 

 

63.7

 

68.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

12.0

 

4.8

 

Interest expense, net

 

1.1

 

0.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Earnings before income taxes

 

10.9

 

4.0

 

Provision for income taxes

 

3.4

 

1.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

7.5

 

2.6

 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests

 

0.2

 

0.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

7.7

%

2.7

%

 

In order to meet the demands of consumers, we continually introduce new products, support new and established products through advertising, sampling and merchandising and phase out existing products that no longer meet the needs of our consumers.  The economics of developing, producing, launching and supporting products influence our sales and operating performance each period.  The introduction of new products may have some cannibalizing effect on sales of existing products, which we take into account in our business planning.

 

Overview

 

Global economic challenges and uncertainties have had a significant impact on our business since our fiscal 2009 second quarter.  These challenges and uncertainties have negatively affected consumer demand, which had an adverse impact on our customers that are retailers as well as on our own retail stores.  These events have led to significant retailer destocking and changes in their ordering patterns for the products that we sell, which has contributed to the overall decline in our net sales during the current-year period.  Despite these conditions, some of which continue to exist today, our results for the current-year period exceeded our original net sales expectations and reflected lower spending levels in each of the Company’s geographic regions.  The higher than expected results, in part, stem from strong sell-in of new product launches, an improvement in our profitable travel retail business, improved foreign currency translation and cautionary spending from most brands in light of the uncertainty surrounding the global economic environment and the potential impact of the H1N1 virus.

 

In the Americas region, the U.S. department store channel was negatively impacted by a soft retail environment.  As a result of the economic downturn, the spending patterns of consumers has changed, which has resulted in lower net sales of many of our higher-end prestige products.  We are taking action to recapture sales of these products, as well as our other product offerings, by emphasizing value, quality and innovation.  While our business continued to suffer from lower store traffic and destocking, we gained share in the skin care and makeup categories at U.S. department stores during the current-year period.  Our net sales also benefited from new product offerings.  Net sales results in alternative channels were generally mixed.  Trends at our freestanding retail stores followed those in department stores while sales of our products online and via direct response television (“DRTV”) grew moderately.

 

Global economic uncertainty has also impacted our business in Europe, the Middle East & Africa.  Net sales in many markets declined during the current-year period as retailer destocking and tighter working capital management activities by the retailer continued.  Sales and profits in our travel retail business have exceeded our expectations as a result of successful product launches, select trade re-stocking and new points of distribution.  While passenger traffic remains at lower levels from the prior-year period, the current trends appear to be improving.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

At this time, our business in the Asia/Pacific region has been least affected by the global financial crisis, with net sales growing in substantially all countries in the region.  Net sales in China grew at a faster pace than in the other countries in the region as we continue our expansion in this emerging market.  Strong constant currency net sales increases in Korea and Australia were lessened by unfavorable currency translation.

 

In addition to the ongoing global financial crisis, net sales during the current-year period have been negatively impacted by foreign currency translation, though to a lesser extent than we anticipated.

 

We operate on a global basis, with the majority of our net sales generated outside the United States.  Accordingly, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can affect our results of operations.  If the U.S. dollar strengthens, there would be an adverse impact on our future results.

 

We have continued to aggressively implement Company-wide cost containment efforts and a more measured approach to spending during the current-year period.  Despite the significant improvement in our operating results, we remain cautious regarding the uncertain duration of the global economic downturn as well as the potential impact of the H1N1 virus.  For the remainder of the fiscal year, we expect to accelerate investment spending above first quarter levels behind our brands and key priorities.

 

Charges Associated with Restructuring Activities

 

In an effort to drive down costs and achieve synergies within our organization, in February 2009, we announced the implementation of a multi-faceted cost savings program (the “Program”) to position the Company to achieve long-term profitable growth.  We anticipate the Program will result in related restructuring and other special charges, inclusive of cumulative charges recorded to date and over the next few fiscal years, totaling between $350 million and $450 million before taxes.

 

We expect that the implementation of this Program, combined with other on-going cost savings efforts, will result in savings of approximately $450 million to $550 million (beginning with approximately $175 million to $200 million in fiscal 2010) including the reduction of certain costs relative to an assumed normalized spending pattern.  Our long-range forecast for operating margin reflects these anticipated savings, net of strategic reinvestments.

 

The Program focuses on a redesign of our organizational structure in order to integrate the Company in a more cohesive way and operate more globally across brands and functions.  The principal aspect of the Program is the reduction of the workforce by approximately 2,000 employees.  Specific actions taken during the three months ended September 30, 2009 included:

 

·                   Resize and Reorganize the Organization – We continued the realignment and optimization of our organization to better leverage scale, improve productivity and reduce complexity in each region and across various functions.  This included reduction of the workforce which occurred through the consolidation of certain functions through a combination of normal attrition and job eliminations.

 

·                   Exit Unprofitable Operations – To improve the profitability in certain of our brands and regions, we have selectively exited certain channels of distribution, categories and markets.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2010, we approved the exit from the global wholesale distribution of our Prescriptives brand by January 31, 2010.  In connection with these activities, we recorded a reserve for anticipated product returns, wrote off inventory and incurred costs to reduce workforce and terminate contracts.

 

·                   Outsourcing – In order to balance the growing need for information technology support with our efforts to provide the most efficient and cost effective solutions, we continued the outsourcing of certain information technology processes.  We incurred costs to transition services to an outsource provider.

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, aggregate restructuring charges of $14.7 million were recorded in our consolidated statements of earnings related to the Program.  These charges reflected employee-related costs, asset write-offs, contract terminations and other exit costs.

 

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The following table presents accrued restructuring and the related activity as of and for the three months ended September 30, 2009 under the Program:

 

( In millions)

 

Employee-
Related

Costs

 

Asset
Write-offs

 

Contract
Terminations

 

Other Exit
Costs

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance at June 30, 2009

 

$

51.6

 

$

 

$

2.9

 

$

0.2

 

$

54.7

 

Charges

 

13.4

 

0.2

 

0.6

 

0.5

 

14.7

 

Cash payments

 

(14.8

)

 

(0.8

)

(0.7

)

(16.3

)

Non-cash write-offs

 

 

(0.2

)

 

 

(0.2

)

Translation adjustments

 

0.5

 

 

 

 

0.5

 

Balance at September 30, 2009

 

$

50.7

 

$

 

$

2.7

 

$

 

$

53.4

 

 

Accrued restructuring charges at September 30, 2009 are expected to result in cash expenditures funded from cash provided by operations of approximately $37 million, $14 million and $2 million in fiscal 2010, 2011 and 2012, respectively.

 

Cumulative restructuring charges related to the Program as of September 30, 2009 were as follows:

 

 

 

September 30

 

( In millions)

 

2009

 

 

 

 

 

Employee-related costs

 

$

74.3

 

Asset write-offs

 

4.4

 

Contract terminations

 

4.0

 

Other exit costs

 

2.3

 

Total

 

$

85.0

 

 

The total amount of restructuring charges incurred plus other initiatives approved through September 30, 2009, include approximately $90 million for employee-related costs, approximately $7 million in asset write-offs and approximately $12 million of contract terminations and other exit costs.

 

We incurred other special charges in connection with the implementation of the Program for the three months ended September 30, 2009 of  $3.5 million related to consulting, other professional services, and accelerated depreciation.  The total amount of other special charges expected to be incurred to implement these initiatives, including those incurred through September 30, 2009, is approximately $38 million.  In addition to the other special charges, and predominantly related to the exit from the global wholesale distribution of the Prescriptives brand, we recorded $18.5 million reflecting anticipated sales returns (less a related cost of sales of $3.9 million) and a write-off of inventory associated with exiting unprofitable operations of $9.5 million.  The total amounts expected to be incurred, including those incurred through September 30, 2009, related to sales returns is between $29 million to $33 million and approximately $10 million related to inventory write-offs.

 

Total charges associated with restructuring activities included in operating income for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $42.3 million.

 

While our business strategies are designed to strengthen the Company over the long-term, we believe the uncertainty about future market conditions, consumer spending patterns and the financial strength of some of our retail customers, coupled with retailer working capital management, will continue to negatively affect our net sales and operating results.  In line with our strategic plan, we will continue to seek ways to contain costs and reduce our inventory levels.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

First Quarter Fiscal 2010 as Compared with First Quarter Fiscal 2009

 

NET SALES

 

Net sales decreased 4%, or $70.1 million, to $1,833.4 million, primarily reflecting declines in Europe, the Middle East & Africa and in the Americas, partially offset by growth in Asia/Pacific.  Net sales decreases in the fragrance, makeup and hair care product categories were partially offset by growth in the skin care category.  Excluding the $54.3 million impact of foreign currency translation, net sales decreased slightly.  The following discussions of Net Sales by Product Categories and Geographic Regions exclude the impact of anticipated returns associated with restructuring activities of $18.5 million recorded during the current-year period.  We believe the following analysis of net sales better reflects the manner in which we conduct and view our business.

 

Product Categories

 

Skin Care

 

Net sales of skin care products increased 2%, or $13.5 million, to $730.3 million.  The recent launches of Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex and the new Time Zone line of moisturizing products from Estée Lauder contributed incremental sales of approximately $63 million, combined.  These increases were partially offset by approximately $47 million of lower sales from existing products in the Perfectionist, Advanced Night Recovery, Idealist and Future Perfect lines from Estée Lauder and products from Good Skin Labs TM , as well as Clinique’s 3-Step Skin Care System, which anniversaried a program that featured value-driven introductory kits.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, skin care net sales increased 5%.

 

Makeup

 

Makeup net sales decreased 3%, or $25.0 million, to $717.9 million, primarily reflecting lower combined net sales from our heritage brands.  These declines reflected a challenging comparison to the prior-year period which featured a greater number of new launches.  Among those prior-year launches were High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15, reformulated Superfit Makeup and Defining Liner for Lips from Clinique and Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara from Estée Lauder, which collectively had lower sales of approximately $26 million in the current-year period.  Sales declines in most other product lines were mostly offset by approximately $25 million of incremental sales from the recent launches of Even Better Makeup SPF 15 and Superbalanced Powder Makeup SPF 15 from Clinique and Double Wear Stay-in-Place Lip and Eye Pencils from Estée Lauder.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, makeup net sales decreased 1%.

 

Fragrance

 

Net sales of fragrance products decreased 11%, or $36.3 million, to $291.5 million, due in part to the continued economic downturn, coupled with competitive dynamics.  This decline reflected lower sales of DKNY Delicious Night and Estée Lauder Sensuous, which were launched in the prior-year period, of approximately $17 million combined.  Also contributing to the decrease were certain Sean John and Clinique fragrances, as well as DKNY Red Delicious Women and Estée Lauder pleasures delight , which collectively reflected lower sales of approximately $23 million.  The recent launches of DKNY Be Delicious Fresh Blossom and Very Hollywood Michael Kors partially offset these declines by collectively contributing sales of approximately $13 million to the category.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, fragrance net sales decreased 8%.

 

Hair Care

 

Hair care net sales decreased 1%, or $0.9 million, to $97.9 million, primarily reflecting a soft salon retail environment in the United States.  These declines were partially offset by overall growth in the Asia/Pacific region, as well as an increase in net sales of styling and hair color products and sales generated from direct-response television programs.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, hair care net sales increased 1%.

 

Geographic Regions

 

Net sales in the Americas decreased 5%, or $46.7 million, to $892.3 million.  This decrease was mostly driven by lower net sales in the United States.  Net sales in Canada and Latin America were relatively flat as compared with the prior-year period and reflected the adverse impact of the strengthening of the U.S. dollar.  Economic conditions in the Americas region, particularly in the department store channel, have negatively impacted our businesses.  Ongoing challenges faced by certain of our department store customers in the United States may continue to affect our net sales for the short and medium term.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, net sales in the Americas decreased 4%.

 

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In Europe, the Middle East & Africa, net sales decreased 6%, or $39.6 million, to $601.9 million, primarily reflecting the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation.  Net sales decreases of approximately $34 million were reported in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy and the Balkans, reflecting the stronger dollar, a soft retail environment and customer destocking.  Partially offsetting these decreases were higher net sales of approximately $6 million in the Middle East, from our travel retailing business and in South Africa.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, net sales in Europe, the Middle East & Africa were flat as compared with the prior-year period.

 

Net sales in Asia/Pacific increased 11%, or $34.7 million, to $357.7 million, reflecting growth from substantially all countries in the region.  China, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea contributed approximately $31 million to the increase.  Net sales growth in China, Hong Kong, Korea and Australia benefited from the launches of new skin care products while the sales increase in Japan was generated from the strengthening of the Japanese yen.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, Asia/Pacific net sales increased 12%.

 

We believe the unfavorable global economic conditions will continue to adversely impact our financial performance.  We cannot predict with certainty the magnitude or duration of the impact or how it will vary across each of our geographic regions.

 

We strategically stagger our new product launches by geographic market, which may account for differences in regional sales growth.

 

COST OF SALES

 

Cost of sales as a percentage of total net sales decreased to 24.3% as compared with 26.3% in the prior-year period.  This improvement primarily reflected favorable changes in the mix of our business of approximately 90 basis points, as well as lower obsolescence charges and favorable manufacturing variances of approximately 50 basis points, each.  Also contributing to the improvement in cost of sales margin was a decrease in the level and timing of promotional activities of approximately 40 basis points and the favorable effect of exchange rates of approximately 20 basis points.  Partially offsetting these improvements was the impact of charges associated with restructuring activities of approximately 50 basis points.

 

Since certain promotional activities are a component of sales or cost of sales and the timing and level of promotions vary with our promotional calendar, we have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, fluctuations in the cost of sales percentage.  In addition, future cost of sales mix may be impacted by the inclusion of new brands or channels of distribution which have margin and product cost structures different from those of our current mix of business.

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

 

Operating expenses decreased to 63.7% of net sales as compared with 68.9% of net sales in the prior-year period.  In light of the uncertainty surrounding the global economic environment and the potential impact of the H1N1 virus, we aggressively applied various Company-wide cost containment efforts and a more measured approach to spending.  The implementation of these initiatives helped reduce selling, general and administrative costs by approximately 270 basis points and advertising, merchandising and sampling costs by approximately 200 basis points.  Also contributing to the improvement in operating expense margin were lower net losses from foreign exchange transactions of approximately 100 basis points and an adjustment associated with incentive-based compensation of approximately 80 basis points.  Partially offsetting these improvements were charges associated with restructuring activities, as previously discussed, of approximately 100 basis points and higher costs of global information technology systems and infrastructure of approximately 80 basis points.

 

Changes in advertising, sampling and merchandising spending result from the type, timing and level of activities related to product launches and rollouts, as well as the markets being emphasized.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

OPERATING RESULTS

 

Operating income increased over 100%, or $127.9 million, to $220.4 million.  Operating margin improved to 12.0% of net sales as compared with 4.8% in the prior-year period, reflecting our higher gross margin and the decrease in our operating expense margin as previously discussed.  The following discussions of Operating Results by Product Categories and Geographic Regions exclude the impact of total charges associated with restructuring activities of $42.3 million, or 2.3% of net sales.  We believe the following analysis of operating results better reflects the manner in which we conduct and view our business.

 

Product Categories

 

All product categories benefited from Company-wide cost containment initiatives and a more measured approach to spending, as well as strict inventory management, resulting in significant improvements in their operating income.  Skin care operating income increased over 100%, or $70.8 million, to $114.3 million, primarily reflecting improved results from certain of our heritage brands driven by increased net sales from higher-margin product launches.  Makeup operating income increased 98%, or $53.4 million, to $107.8 million, primarily reflecting improved results from certain of our heritage brands and from our makeup artist brands.  Fragrance operating results increased over 100%, or $33.7 million, to $28.2 million, primarily reflecting a favorable comparison to the prior-year period’s support spending behind the launches of Estée Lauder Sensuous and DKNY Delicious Night.  Hair care operating results increased over 100%, or $10.6 million, to $9.6 million, primarily reflecting savings generated from cost containment initiatives.

 

Geographic Regions

 

Operating income in the Americas increased over 100%, or $57.4 million, to $113.9 million, driven by Company-wide cost containment efforts and a more measured approach to spending, particularly from certain of our heritage brands and our makeup artist brands, partially offset by lower net sales as previously discussed.

 

In Europe, the Middle East & Africa, operating income increased over 100%, or $85.7 million, to $93.3 million, reflecting improvements in travel retail and substantially all countries in the region.  This increase reflected higher results from our travel retail business and in the United Kingdom, Russia, France, Spain and Germany of approximately $67 million, combined.

 

In Asia/Pacific, operating income increased 95%, or $27.0 million, to $55.5 million.  All countries in the region reported higher operating results, led by approximately $21 million in China, Australia, Japan and Korea, combined.

 

INTEREST EXPENSE, NET

 

Net interest expense was $19.6 million as compared with $15.3 million in the prior-year period.  Interest expense increased primarily due to a shift in debt balances from short-term instruments to long-term notes, which carry higher interest rates.

 

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

 

The provision for income taxes represents Federal, foreign, state and local income taxes.  The effective rate differs from statutory rates due to the effect of state and local income taxes, tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and certain nondeductible expenses.  Our effective tax rate will change from quarter to quarter based on recurring and non-recurring factors including, but not limited to, the geographical mix of earnings, enacted tax legislation, state and local income taxes, tax audit settlements, the ultimate disposition of deferred tax assets relating to stock-based compensation and the interaction of various global tax strategies.  In addition, changes in judgment from the evaluation of new information resulting in the recognition, derecognition or remeasurement of a tax position taken in a prior annual period are recognized separately in the quarter of the change.

 

The effective rate for income taxes for the three months ended September 30, 2009 was 31.4% as compared with 35.8% in the prior-year period.  The decrease in the effective income tax rate of 440 basis points was primarily attributable to a lower effective tax rate relating to our foreign operations.

 

NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

Net earnings attributable to The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. as compared with the prior-year period increased over 100%, or $89.6 million, to $140.7 million and diluted net earnings per common share increased over 100% from $.26 to $.71.  The results in the current-year period include the impact of total charges associated with restructuring activities of $27.3 million, after tax, or $.14 per diluted common share.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Overview

 

Our principal sources of funds historically have been cash flows from operations, borrowings pursuant to our commercial paper program, borrowings from the issuance of long-term debt and committed and uncommitted credit lines provided by banks and other lenders in the United States and abroad.  At September 30, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $799.2 million compared with $864.5 million at June 30, 2009.  Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained at a number of financial institutions.  As of September 30, 2009, less than 10% of the total balance is insured by governmental agencies.  To mitigate the risk of uninsured balances, we select financial institutions based on their credit ratings and financial strength and perform ongoing evaluations of these institutions to limit our concentration risk exposure.

 

Our business is seasonal in nature and, accordingly, our working capital needs vary.  From time to time, we may enter into investing and financing transactions that require additional funding.  To the extent that these needs exceed cash from operations, we could, subject to market conditions, issue commercial paper, issue long-term debt securities or borrow under our revolving credit facilities.  We do not anticipate protracted difficulties in securing these forms of working capital financing.

 

Based on past performance and current expectations, we believe that cash on hand, cash generated from operations, available credit lines and access to credit markets will be adequate to support currently planned business operations, information systems enhancements, capital expenditures, potential stock repurchases, commitments and other contractual obligations on both a near-term and long-term basis.

 

The effects of inflation have not been significant to our overall operating results in recent years.  Generally, we have been able to introduce new products at higher selling prices or increase selling prices sufficiently to offset cost increases, which have been moderate.

 

Debt

 

At September 30, 2009, our outstanding borrowings were as follows:

 

 

 

Long-term
Debt

 

Short-term
Debt

 

Total Debt

 

 

 

(In millions)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

6.00% Senior Notes, due May 15, 2037 (“2037 Senior Notes”) (1)

 

$

296.3

 

$

 

$

296.3

 

5.75% Senior Notes, due October 15, 2033 (“2033 Senior Notes”) (2)

 

197.6

 

 

197.6

 

5.55% Senior Notes, due May 15, 2017 (“2017 Senior Notes”) (3)

 

330.1

 

 

330.1

 

7.75% Senior Notes, due November 1, 2013 (“2013 Senior Notes”) (4)

 

299.8

 

 

299.8

 

6.00% Senior Notes, due January 15, 2012 (“2012 Senior Notes”) (5)

 

244.8

 

 

244.8

 

$13.5 million promissory note due August 31, 2012 (6)

 

15.0

 

 

15.0

 

Turkish lira overdraft facility

 

 

6.2

 

6.2

 

Other borrowings

 

5.8

 

13.3

 

19.1

 

 

 

$

 1,389.4

 

$

19.5

 

$

1,408.9

 

 


(1)

 

Consists of $300.0 million principal and unamortized debt discount of $3.7 million.

(2)

 

Consists of $200.0 million principal and unamortized debt discount of $2.4 million.

(3)

 

Consists of $300.0 million principal, unamortized debt discount of $0.4 million and a $30.5 million adjustment to reflect the fair value of outstanding interest rate swaps.

(4)

 

Consists of $300.0 million principal and unamortized debt discount of $0.2 million.

(5)

 

Consists of $250.0 million principal, unamortized debt discount of $0.3 million and a $4.9 million adjustment to reflect the remaining termination value of an interest rate swap that is being amortized to interest expense over the life of the debt.

(6)

 

Consists of $13.5 million face value and unamortized premium of $1.5 million.

 

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We have a $750.0 million commercial paper program under which we may issue commercial paper in the United States.  Our commercial paper is currently rated A-1 by Standard & Poor’s and P-1 by Moody’s.  Our long-term credit ratings are A with a negative outlook by Standard & Poor’s and A2 with a negative outlook by Moody’s.  At September 30, 2009, there was no commercial paper outstanding.  We also have $200.4 million in additional uncommitted credit facilities, of which $10.4 million was used as of September 30, 2009.

 

We have an undrawn $750.0 million senior unsecured revolving credit facility that expires on April 26, 2012.  This facility may be used primarily to provide credit support for our commercial paper program, to repurchase shares of our common stock and for general corporate purposes.  Up to the equivalent of $250 million of the credit facility is available for multi-currency loans.  The interest rate on borrowings under the credit facility is based on LIBOR or on the higher of prime, which is the rate of interest publicly announced by the administrative agent, or ½% plus the Federal funds rate.  We incurred costs of approximately $0.3 million to establish the facility which will be amortized over the term of the facility.  The credit facility has an annual fee of $0.4 million, payable quarterly, based on our current credit ratings.  This facility also contains a cross-default provision whereby a failure to pay other material financial obligations in excess of $50.0 million (after grace periods and absent a waiver from the lenders) would result in an event of default and the acceleration of the maturity of any outstanding debt under this facility.  As of September 30, 2009, we were in compliance with all related financial and other restrictive covenants, including limitations on indebtedness and liens, and expect continued compliance.  The financial covenant of this facility requires an interest expense coverage ratio of greater than 3:1 as of the last day of each fiscal quarter.  The interest expense coverage ratio is defined in the credit agreement as the ratio of Consolidated EBITDA (which does not represent a measure of our operating results as defined under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles) to Consolidated Interest Expense and is calculated as stipulated in the agreement as follows:

 

 

 

Twelve Months Ended
September 30, 2009
(1)

 

 

 

($ in millions)

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated EBITDA:

 

 

 

Net earnings

 

$

308.0

 

Add:

 

 

 

Provision for income taxes

 

151.3

 

Interest expense, net

 

80.0

 

Depreciation and amortization (2)

 

254.1

 

Extraordinary non-cash charges (3)

 

85.0

 

Less:

 

 

 

Extraordinary non-cash gains

 

 

 

 

$

 878.4

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated Interest Expense:

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

$

80.0

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense coverage ratio

 

11 to 1

 

 


(1)

In accordance with the credit agreement, this period represents the four most recent quarters.

(2)

Excludes amortization of debt discount, and derivative and debt issuance costs as they are already included in Interest expense, net.

(3)

Includes goodwill, intangible asset and other long-lived asset impairments and non-cash charges associated with restructuring activities.

 

We have a fixed rate promissory note agreement with a financial institution pursuant to which we may borrow up to $150.0 million in the form of loan participation notes through one of our subsidiaries in Europe.  The interest rate on borrowings under this agreement is at an all-in fixed rate determined by the lender and agreed to by us at the date of each borrowing.  At September 30, 2009, no borrowings were outstanding under this agreement.  Debt issuance costs incurred related to this agreement were de minimis.

 

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We have an overdraft borrowing agreement with a financial institution pursuant to which our subsidiary in Turkey may be credited to satisfy outstanding negative daily balances arising from its business operations.  The total balance outstanding at any time shall not exceed 40.0 million Turkish lira ($26.9 million at the exchange rate at September 30, 2009).  The interest rate applicable to each such credit shall be up to a maximum of 175 basis points per annum above the spot rate charged by the lender or the lender’s floating call rate agreed to by us at each borrowing.  There were no debt issuance costs incurred related to this agreement.  The outstanding balance at September 30, 2009 ($6.2 million at the exchange rate at September 30, 2009) is classified as short-term debt in our consolidated balance sheet.

 

Our 3.0 billion Japanese yen revolving credit facility expired on March 24, 2009.  This facility was replaced with a 1.5 billion Japanese yen ($16.6 million at the exchange rate at September 30, 2009) revolving credit facility that expires on March 31, 2010 and a 1.5 billion Japanese yen ($16.6 million at the exchange rate at September 30, 2009) revolving credit facility that expires on March 31, 2012.  The interest rates on borrowings under these credit facilities are based on TIBOR (Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate) plus .45% and .75%, respectively and the facility fees incurred on undrawn balances are 15 basis points and 25 basis points, respectively.  At September 30, 2009, no borrowings were outstanding under these facilities.

 

Total debt as a percent of total capitalization (excluding noncontrolling interests) decreased to 43% at September 30, 2009 from 46% at June 30, 2009.

 

Cash Flows

 

Cash and cash equivalents have increased significantly as compared with the prior-year period.  In light of the uncertain duration of the global economic downturn, we took a defensive approach to preserve our liquidity by issuing long-term bonds in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 and reduced our share repurchases.

 

Net cash provided by operating activities was $2.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with net cash used of $196.2 million in the prior-year period.  The change in operating cash outflows in the first quarter of this fiscal year, as compared with the first quarter of the prior fiscal year, primarily reflected higher net earnings and lower inventory levels.  The decrease also reflected higher tax payments in the prior-year period.  These changes were partially offset by the timing of collections and the levels of accounts receivable balances.

 

Net cash used for investing activities was $54.7 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with $138.9 million in the prior-year period.  The decrease in investing cash outflows primarily reflected lower acquisition activity in the current-year period as compared with the acquisitions of Applied Genetics Incorporated Dermatics and businesses engaged in the wholesale distribution and retail sale of Aveda products in the prior-year period.  The change also reflected lower cash payments in the current-year period related to counters and leasehold improvements, and global information technology systems and infrastructure.

 

Net cash used for financing activities was $20.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2009 as compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $270.8 million in the prior-year period.  Cash used for financing activities in the current-year period primarily reflected the repayment of a promissory note due July 31, 2009 related to the fiscal 2008 acquisition of Ojon Corporation as well as repayments of other short-term debt.  Cash provided by financing activities in the prior-year period primarily reflected proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper and from employee stock transactions, partially offset by the repurchase of treasury shares under our share repurchase program.

 

Commitments, Contingencies and Contractual Obligations

 

There have been no significant changes to our commitments, contingencies and contractual obligations as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities

 

There have been no significant changes to our derivative financial instruments and hedging activities as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009.

 

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THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

Foreign Exchange Risk Management
 

We enter into foreign currency forward contracts to hedge anticipated transactions, as well as receivables and payables denominated in foreign currencies, for periods consistent with our identified exposures.  The purpose of the hedging activities is to minimize the effect of foreign exchange rate movements on costs and on the cash flows that we receive from foreign subsidiaries.  The majority of foreign currency forward contracts are denominated in currencies of major industrial countries.  We may also enter into foreign currency option contracts to hedge anticipated transactions where there is a high probability that anticipated exposures will materialize.  The foreign currency forward contracts entered into to hedge anticipated transactions have been designated as foreign currency cash-flow hedges and have varying maturities through the end of June 2010.  Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency forward contracts is based on a hypothetical derivative methodology and excludes the portion of fair value attributable to the spot-forward difference which is recorded in current-period earnings.  Hedge effectiveness of foreign currency option contracts is based on a dollar offset methodology.  The ineffective portion of both foreign currency forward and option contracts is recorded in current-period earnings.  For hedge contracts that are no longer deemed highly effective, hedge accounting is discontinued and gains and losses accumulated in other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to earnings when the underlying forecasted transaction occurs.  If it is probable that the forecasted transaction will no longer occur, then any gains or losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to current-period earnings.  As of September 30, 2009, these foreign currency cash-flow hedges were highly effective, in all material respects.

 

At September 30, 2009, we had foreign currency forward contracts in the amount of $1,138.7 million.  The foreign currencies included in foreign currency forward contracts (notional value stated in U.S. dollars) are principally the British pound ($198.6 million), Euro ($197.7 million), Swiss franc ($173.8 million), Canadian dollar ($160.3 million), Hong Kong dollar ($80.6 million), Australian dollar ($74.1 million) and Japanese yen ($56.6 million).

 

Interest Rate Risk Management

 

We enter into interest rate derivative contracts to manage the exposure to interest rate fluctuations on our funded indebtedness and anticipated issuance of debt for periods consistent with the identified exposures.  We have interest rate swap agreements, with a notional amount totaling $250.0 million, to effectively convert the fixed rate interest on our 2017 Senior Notes to variable interest rates based on six-month LIBOR.  These interest rate swap agreements are designated as fair value hedges of the related long-term debt and meet the accounting criteria that permit changes in the fair values of the interest rate swap agreements to exactly offset changes in the fair value of the underlying long-term debt.  As of September 30, 2009, these fair-value hedges were highly effective in all material respects.

 

Credit Risk

 

As a matter of policy, we only enter into derivative contracts with counterparties that have at least an “A” (or equivalent) credit rating.  The counterparties to these contracts are major financial institutions.  Exposure to credit risk in the event of nonperformance by any of the counterparties is limited to the gross fair value of contracts in asset positions, which totaled $47.5 million at September 30, 2009.  To manage this risk, we have established strict counterparty credit guidelines that are continually monitored and reported to management.  Accordingly, management believes risk of loss under these hedging contracts is remote.

 

Certain of our derivative financial instruments contain credit-risk-related contingent features.  As of September 30, 2009, we were in compliance with such features and there were no derivative financial instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that were in a net liability position.

 

Market Risk

 

Using the value-at-risk model, as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year, ended June 30, 2009, the high, low and average measured value-at-risk for the twelve months ended September 30, 2009 related to our foreign exchange and interest rate contracts are as follows:

 

(In millions)

 

High

 

Low

 

Average

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign exchange contracts

 

$

28.4

 

$

17.3

 

$

22.5

 

Interest rate contracts

 

34.2

 

17.6

 

28.4

 

 

There have been no significant changes in market risk since June 30, 2009 that would have a material effect on our calculated value-at-risk exposure, as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

 

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We do not maintain any off-balance sheet arrangements, transactions, obligations or other relationships with unconsolidated entities that would be expected to have a material current or future effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

As disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009, the discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations are based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses reported in those financial statements.  These judgments can be subjective and complex, and consequently actual results could differ from those estimates and assumptions.  Our most critical accounting policies relate to revenue recognition, inventory, pension and other post-retirement benefit costs, goodwill, intangible assets and other long-lived assets, income taxes and derivatives.  Since June 30, 2009, there have been no significant changes to the assumptions and estimates related to our critical accounting policies.

 

RECENTLY ADOPTED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In June 2009, the FASB established the FASB Accounting Standards Codification TM  (the “Codification”) as the single source of authoritative U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.  Rules and interpretive releases of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under authority of federal securities laws are also sources of authoritative U.S. GAAP for SEC registrants.  The Codification did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.  Accordingly, our disclosures will explain accounting concepts rather than cite specific topics of U.S. GAAP.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that principally requires publicly traded companies to provide disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial information.  The adoption of this disclosure-only guidance for our September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements did not have an impact on our consolidated financial results.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to require that assets acquired and liabilities assumed in a business combination that arise from contingencies be recognized at fair value if fair value can be reasonably determined.  If the fair value of such assets or liabilities cannot be reasonably determined, then they would generally be recognized in accordance with certain other pre-existing accounting standards.  This guidance also amends the subsequent accounting for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination and certain other disclosure requirements.  This guidance became effective for assets or liabilities arising from contingencies in business combinations that are consummated during our fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on our September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

In November 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the accounting for defensive intangible assets.  Defensive intangible assets are assets acquired in a business combination that the acquirer (a) does not intend to use or (b) intends to use in a way other than the assets’ highest and best use as determined by an evaluation of market participant assumptions.  While defensive intangible assets are not being actively used, they are likely contributing to an increase in the value of other assets owned by the acquiring entity.  This guidance will require defensive intangible assets to be accounted for as separate units of accounting at the time of acquisition and the useful life of such assets would be based on the period over which the assets will directly or indirectly affect the entity’s cash flows.  This guidance is to be applied prospectively for defensive intangible assets acquired on or after the beginning of our fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on our September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

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In November 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to address questions about equity-method accounting.  The primary issues include how the initial carrying value of an equity method investment should be determined, how to account for any subsequent purchases and sales of additional ownership interests, and whether the investor must separately assess its underlying share of the investee’s indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment.  This guidance became effective beginning in our fiscal 2010 and did not have an impact on our September 30, 2009 interim consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to amend the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset and to require additional disclosures.  The guidance for determining useful lives must be applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date.  The disclosure requirements must be applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of the effective date.  This guidance became effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in our fiscal 2010 and did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that permitted the delayed application of fair value measurement accounting to nonrecurring nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities.  Our nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities principally consist of intangible assets acquired through business combinations, long-lived assets when assessing potential impairment, and liabilities associated with restructuring activities.  This guidance became effective beginning in our fiscal 2010.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we did not have significant measurements of nonfinancial assets or nonfinancial liabilities at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to affirm that the acquisition method of accounting (previously referred to as the purchase method) be used for all business combinations and for an acquirer to be identified for each business combination.  This guidance defines the acquirer as the entity that obtains control of one or more businesses in the business combination and establishes the acquisition date as the date that the acquirer achieves control.  Among other requirements, this guidance requires the acquiring entity in a business combination to recognize the identifiable assets acquired, liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at their acquisition-date fair values, with limited exceptions; acquisition-related costs generally will be expensed as incurred.  This guidance requires certain financial statement disclosures to enable users to evaluate and understand the nature and financial effects of the business combination.  This guidance must be applied prospectively to business combinations that are consummated on or after July 1, 2009.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, we did not have significant business combinations.  Accordingly, the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and for the deconsolidation of a subsidiary.  Among other requirements, this guidance clarifies that a noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary, which is sometimes referred to as minority interest, is to be reported as a separate component of equity in the consolidated financial statements.  This guidance also requires consolidated net income to include the amounts attributable to both the parent and the noncontrolling interest and to disclose those amounts on the face of the consolidated statement of earnings.  This guidance must be applied prospectively for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning in our fiscal 2010, except for the presentation and disclosure requirements, which will be applied retrospectively for all periods presented.  The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to address accounting for collaborative arrangement activities that are conducted without the creation of a separate legal entity for the arrangement.  Revenues and costs incurred with third parties in connection with the collaborative arrangement should be presented gross or net by the collaborators pursuant to pre-existing accounting standards.  Payments to or from collaborators should be presented in the income statement based on the nature of the arrangement, the nature of the company’s business and whether the payments are within the scope of other accounting literature.  Other detailed information related to the collaborative arrangement is also required to be disclosed.  The requirements under this guidance must be applied to collaborative arrangements in existence at the beginning of our fiscal 2010 using a modified version of retrospective application.  We are currently not a party to significant collaborative arrangement activities, as defined by this guidance, and therefore the adoption of this guidance did not have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

 

In August 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to provide clarification on measuring liabilities at fair value when a quoted price in an active market is not available.  In these circumstances, a valuation technique should be applied that uses either the quote of the liability when traded as an asset, the quoted prices for similar liabilities or similar liabilities when traded as assets, or another valuation technique consistent with existing fair value measurement guidance, such as an income approach or a market approach.  The new guidance also clarifies that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of the liability.  This guidance is effective for the first reporting period beginning after issuance (our fiscal 2010 second quarter).  We do not anticipate this guidance will have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to eliminate the exception to consolidate a qualifying special-purpose entity, change the approach to determining the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity and require companies to more frequently re-assess whether they must consolidate variable interest entities.  Under the new guidance, the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity is identified qualitatively as the enterprise that has both (a) the power to direct the activities of a variable interest entity that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance, and (b) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could potentially be significant to the variable interest entity.  This guidance becomes effective for our fiscal 2011 year-end and interim reporting periods thereafter.  We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to require employers to provide additional disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other post-retirement plan.  These disclosures should principally include information detailing investment policies and strategies, the major categories of plan assets, the inputs and valuation techniques used to measure the fair value of plan assets and an understanding of significant concentrations of risk within plan assets.  While earlier application of this guidance is permitted, the required disclosures shall be provided for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2009 (our fiscal 2010, the anticipated period of adoption).  Upon initial application, this guidance is not required to be applied to earlier periods that are presented for comparative purposes.  We do not expect this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

 

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

 

We and our representatives from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, in our press releases and in our reports to stockholders.  The words and phrases “will likely result,” “expect,” “believe,” “planned,” “may,” “should,” “could,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “forecast” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These statements include, without limitation, our expectations regarding sales, earnings or other future financial performance and liquidity, product introductions, entry into new geographic regions, information systems initiatives, new methods of sale, our long-term strategy, restructuring and other charges and future operations or operating results.  Although we believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions within the bounds of our knowledge of our business and operations, actual results may differ materially from our expectations.  Factors that could cause actual results to differ from expectations include, without limitation:

 

(1) increased competitive activity from companies in the skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care businesses, some of which have greater resources than we do;

 

(2) our ability to develop, produce and market new products on which future operating results may depend and to successfully address challenges in our business;

 

(3) consolidations, restructurings, bankruptcies and reorganizations in the retail industry causing a decrease in the number of stores that sell our products, an increase in the ownership concentration within the retail industry, ownership of retailers by our competitors or ownership of competitors by our customers that are retailers and our inability to collect receivables;

 

(4) destocking and tighter working capital management by retailers;

 

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(5) the success, or changes in timing or scope, of new product launches and the success, or changes in the timing or the scope, of advertising, sampling and merchandising programs;

 

(6) shifts in the preferences of consumers as to where and how they shop for the types of products and services we sell;

 

(7) social, political and economic risks to our foreign or domestic manufacturing, distribution and retail operations, including changes in foreign investment and trade policies and regulations of the host countries and of the United States;

 

(8) changes in the laws, regulations and policies (including the interpretations and enforcement thereof) that affect, or will affect, our business, including those relating to our products, changes in accounting standards, tax laws and regulations, trade rules and customs regulations, and the outcome and expense of legal or regulatory proceedings, and any action we may take as a result;

 

(9) foreign currency fluctuations affecting our results of operations and the value of our foreign assets, the relative prices at which we and our foreign competitors sell products in the same markets and our operating and manufacturing costs outside of the United States;

 

(10) changes in global or local conditions, including those due to the volatility in the global credit and equity markets, natural or man-made disasters, real or perceived epidemics, or energy costs, that could affect consumer purchasing, the willingness or ability of consumers to travel and/or purchase our products while traveling, the financial strength of our customers, suppliers or other contract counterparties, our operations, the cost and availability of capital which we may need for new equipment, facilities or acquisitions, the returns that we are able to generate on our pension assets and the resulting impact on funding obligations, the cost and availability of raw materials and the assumptions underlying our critical accounting estimates;

 

(11) shipment delays, depletion of inventory and increased production costs resulting from disruptions of operations at any of the facilities that manufacture nearly all of our supply of a particular type of product (i.e., focus factories) or at our distribution or inventory centers, including disruptions that may be caused by the implementation of SAP as part of our Strategic Modernization Initiative or by restructurings;

 

(12) real estate rates and availability, which may affect our ability to increase or maintain the number of retail locations at which we sell our products and the costs associated with our other facilities;

 

(13) changes in product mix to products which are less profitable;

 

(14) our ability to acquire, develop or implement new information and distribution technologies and initiatives on a timely basis and within our cost estimates;

 

(15) our ability to capitalize on opportunities for improved efficiency, such as publicly-announced restructuring and cost-savings initiatives, and to integrate acquired businesses and realize value therefrom;

 

(16) consequences attributable to the events that are currently taking place in the Middle East, including terrorist attacks, retaliation and the threat of further attacks or retaliation;

 

(17) the timing and impact of acquisitions and divestitures, which depend on willing sellers and buyers, respectively; and

 

(18) additional factors as described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.

 

We assume no responsibility to update forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

 

The information required by this item is set forth in Item 2 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the caption “Liquidity and Capital Resources - Market Risk” and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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Item 4. Controls and Procedures.

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Securities and Exchange Commission and to ensure that information required to be disclosed is accumulated and communicated to management, including our principal executive and financial officers, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.  The Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, with assistance from other members of management, have reviewed the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2009 and, based on their evaluation, have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of such date.

 

As part of our Strategic Modernization Initiative, we anticipate the continued migration of our operations to SAP, with the majority of our locations being implemented through fiscal 2012.  Based on management’s evaluation, the necessary steps have been taken to monitor and maintain appropriate internal control over financial reporting during this period.

 

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the first quarter of fiscal 2010 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

We are involved, from time to time, in litigation and other legal proceedings incidental to our business.  Management believes that the outcome of current litigation and legal proceedings will not have a material adverse effect upon our results of operations or financial condition.  However, management’s assessment of our current litigation and other legal proceedings could change in light of the discovery of facts with respect to legal actions or other proceedings pending against us not presently known to us or determinations by judges, juries or other finders of fact which are not in accord with management’s evaluation of the possible liability or outcome of such litigation or proceedings.

 

In 1999, the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York (the “State”) notified the Company and ten other entities that they had been identified as potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) with respect to the Blydenburgh landfill in Islip, New York.  Each PRP may be jointly and severally liable for the costs of investigation and cleanup, which the State estimated in 2006 to be approximately $19.7 million for all PRPs.  In 2001, the State sued other PRPs (including Hickey’s Carting, Inc., Dennis C. Hickey and Maria Hickey, collectively the “Hickey Parties”), in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York to recover such costs in connection with the site, and in September 2002, the Hickey Parties brought contribution actions against the Company and other Blydenburgh PRPs.  These contribution actions seek to recover, among other things, any damages for which the Hickey Parties are found liable in the State’s lawsuit against them, and related costs and expenses, including attorneys’ fees.  In June 2004, the State added the Company and other PRPs as defendants in its pending case against the Hickey Parties.  In April 2006, the Company and other defendants added numerous other parties to the case as third-party defendants.  Settlement negotiations with the new third-party defendants, the State, the Company and other defendants began in July 2006 and have resulted in a proposed consent decree to resolve the case.  The consent decree requires court approval, which the parties are seeking.  We have accrued an amount which we believe would be necessary to resolve our share of this matter.  If the settlement is not successfully completed, we intend to vigorously defend the pending claims.  While no assurance can be given as to the ultimate outcome, management believes that the resolution of the Blydenburgh matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

We are authorized by the Board of Directors to repurchase up to 88.0 million shares of Class A Common Stock in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions, depending on market conditions and other factors.  As of September 30, 2009, the cumulative total of acquired shares pursuant to the authorization was 65.3 million, reducing the remaining authorized share repurchase balance to 22.7 million.  During the three months ended September 30, 2009, no shares were repurchased pursuant to the authorization.  However, in September 2009, we repurchased approximately 11,700 shares at a price per share of $34.21 in connection with tax withholding obligations upon the settlement of performance share units earned as of June 30, 2009.

 

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Sales of Unregistered Securities

 

Shares of Class B Common Stock may be converted immediately into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis by the holder and are automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis upon transfer to a person or entity that is not a “Permitted Transferee” or soon after a record date for a meeting of stockholders where the outstanding Class B Common Stock constitutes less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company.  There is no cash or other consideration paid by the holder converting the shares and, accordingly, there is no cash or other consideration received by the Company.  The shares of Class A Common Stock issued by the Company in such conversions are exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to Section 3(a)(9) thereof.

 

During the three months ended September 30, 2009, no holders of Class B Common Stock converted such shares into Class A Common Stock.

 

Item 6. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.2

 

Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.3

 

Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Employees other than Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.4

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.5

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers for grants related to bonuses (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.6

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Employees other than Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.7

 

Amendment No. 7 to Stockholders’ Agreement.

10.8

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement with Leonard A. Lauder †

10.9

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement with Cedric Prouvé †

31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (CEO).

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (CFO).

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (CEO). (furnished)

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (CFO). (furnished)

 


†  Exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: October 30, 2009

By:

/s/RICHARD W. KUNES

 

 

Richard W. Kunes

 

 

Executive Vice President

 

 

and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

(Principal Financial and

 

 

Accounting Officer)

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

10.1

 

Form of Stock Option Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.2

 

Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.3

 

Form of Performance Share Unit Award Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Employees other than Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.4

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.5

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Executive Officers for grants related to bonuses (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.6

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan for Employees other than Executive Officers (including Form of Notice of Grant). †

10.7

 

Amendment No. 7 to Stockholders’ Agreement

10.8

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement with Leonard A. Lauder †

10.9

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement with Cedric Prouvé †

31.1

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (CEO).

31.2

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) (CFO).

32.1

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (CEO). (furnished)

32.2

 

Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (CFO). (furnished)

 


†  Exhibit is a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 


Exhibit 10.1

 

Domestic

 

Stock Option Agreement

Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) provides for the granting of options by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “Employee” or the “Participant”), to purchase shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “Shares”), subject to the terms below (the “Stock Options” or “Options”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the aggregate number of Shares that may be purchased pursuant to this Agreement, and the “Exercise Price” per Shares are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant,” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of the Options are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan.  Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

The Stock Options described in this Agreement are granted pursuant to the Company’s Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan, as may be amended from time to time (the “Plan”), and are subject in all respects to the provisions of the Plan.  The Stock Options granted under this Agreement are not Incentive Stock Options (as defined in Section 422(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)).

 

1.  Payment of Exercise Price.  The Company will provide and communicate to the Employee various methods of exercise.  In all cases, upon exercise, the Employee must deliver or cause to be delivered to the Company (or its agent designated for the purpose) upon settlement of the exercise sufficient cash or sufficient number of Shares with value equal to or exceeding the Exercise Price per Share.  The Employee also is required to deliver or cause to be delivered sufficient cash to cover the applicable tax withholding in accordance with Section 5 of this Agreement and fees in connection with the exercise.  To facilitate exercise, the Company may enter into agreements for coordinated procedures with one or more brokerage firms or financial institutions.

 

2.   Exercise Period.

 

a.  General .  Subject to other provisions contained in this Agreement and in the Plan, Stock Options granted under this Agreement will be exercisable in installments as specified under “Exercise Period” in the attached “Notice of Grant”.

 

Stock Options awarded under this Agreement are exercisable until the close of business on the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date; after this date, the Stock Options expire.

 

b.  Death or Disability .  If the Employee dies or becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long term disability program), each Stock Option awarded but not yet exercisable as of the Employee’s date of death or disability determination will become immediately exercisable.  The period during which the Stock Option may be exercised will commence on the day after the Employee’s date of death or disability determination and end on the earlier of the close of business on the date of (i) the first anniversary of the Employee’s death or disability determination or (ii) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.

 

c.  Retirement .  Subject to Section 3, if the Employee formally retires under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), each Stock Option awarded but not yet exercisable as of the date of retirement will become immediately exercisable. Each Stock Option awarded may thereafter be exercised until the close of business on the date of the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.  If the Employee dies during active employment after the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 10 or more years of service, or after the attainment of age 65 and the completion of 5 or more years of service, without formally retiring under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Employee will have deemed to be retired as of the date of death and this

 



 

Section 2(c) will apply rather than Section 2(b).  If the Employee dies or becomes disabled after retirement as contemplated by this Section 2(c), the provisions of this section shall apply.

 

d.  Termination of Employment Without Cause .

 

(1) Subject to Section 3, if the Employee is terminated at the instance of the Employee (e.g., resigns voluntarily), each Stock Option exercisable but unexercised as of the effective date of such termination may be exercised until the close of business on the date first to occur of (i) ninety (90) days after the effective date of such termination and (ii) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.  Each Stock Option awarded but unexercisable as of the date of such termination will be forfeited.

 

(2) Subject to Section 3, if the Employee is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below), each Stock Option awarded but unexercisable as of the date of termination will become immediately exercisable.  Each Stock Option awarded may be exercised until the close of business on the date first to occur of (i) ninety (90) days after the effective date of such termination and (ii) the tenth anniversary of the Grant Date.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Employee and the Company or any subsidiary, including an employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date.  In the absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Employee of any of his or her material obligations under any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Corporate Conduct and the Policy on Avoidance of Insider Trading.

 

3.  Post-Employment Exercises.   No Stock Option represented by this Agreement may be exercised after termination of the Employee’s employment with the Company (or any of its subsidiaries) unless as provided for in Section 2b, 2c or 2d hereof.  The exercise of any Stock Option after termination of the Employee’s employment by reason of retirement in accordance with Section 2c, or due to termination by the Employee or termination by the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause in accordance with Section 2d, is subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Employee neither (i) competes with, takes other employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts herself or himself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.  All Stock Options that cannot be exercised after termination of the Employee’s employment will be forfeited.

 

4.  Adjustment Provisions; Change in Control.

 

a.  If there shall be any change in the Class A Common Stock of the Company, through merger, consolidation, reorganization, recapitalization, stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split, split up, spin-off, combination of Shares, exchange of Shares, dividend in kind or other like change in capital structure or distribution (other than normal cash dividends) to stockholders of the Company, the Company shall adjust, in a fair and equitable manner, the Plan and each outstanding Stock Option to prevent dilution or enlargement of Participant’s rights under the Plan.  The Company will make this adjustment each time one of the changes identified above occurs by either adjusting the number of shares of Class A Common Stock and/or kind of shares of common stock of the Company or other securities that may be issued with respect to any Stock Option under the Plan, adjusting the number of Class A Common Stock and/or kind of shares of common stock of the Company or other securities that are subject to outstanding Stock Options, and/or where applicable, adjusting the exercise price or purchase price applicable to outstanding Stock Options.  Appropriate adjustments may also be made by the Company to the terms of any Stock Options to reflect such changes or distributions (and any extraordinary dividend or distribution of cash or other assets) and to modify any other terms of outstanding Stock Options on an equitable basis.  In addition, the Company is authorized to make adjustments to the terms and conditions of Stock Options, in recognition of unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or the financial statements of the Company, or in response to changes in applicable laws, regulations, or accounting principles.  However, no adjustment or change can be made to the terms of a Stock Option that will cause that Stock Option to fail to be exempt from Code Section 409A.  For purposes of this Section 4, the Market Value of the Shares shall be equal to 100% of the closing price of the Class A Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange (or, if not traded thereon, then on any other national securities exchange or other market system on which the Class A

 

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Common Stock is then traded) as reported by the Wall Street Journal for the date on which such Market Value is being fixed, or, if there shall be no trading on such date, the date next preceding on which trading occurred.

 

b.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereunder, in the event of a Change in Control (as defined below), the Committee, in its discretion, may take such actions as it deems appropriate with respect to outstanding Benefits, including, without limitation, accelerating the exercisability or vesting of such Benefits, or such other actions provided in an agreement approved by the Board in connection with a Change in Control and such Benefits shall be subject to the terms of such agreement as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine.  The Committee, in its discretion, may determine that, upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of the Company each Stock Option outstanding hereunder shall terminate within a specified number of days after notice to the holder, and such holder shall receive, with respect to each share of Common Stock subject to such Stock Option an amount equal to the excess of the Market Value of such shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the occurrence of such Change in Control over the exercise price per share of such Stock Option such amount to be payable in cash, in one or more kinds of property (including the property, if any, payable in the transaction) or in a combination thereof, as the Committee, in its discretion, shall determine.  For purposes of this Section 4b, a “Change in Control” of the Company shall be deemed to have occurred upon any of the following events:

 

(i)            On or after the date there are no shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company outstanding, any person as such term is used in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act or person(s) acting together which would constitute a “group” for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act (other than the Company, any subsidiary, any employee benefit plan sponsored by the Company or any member of the Lauder family or any family-controlled entities (collectively, the “Lauder Family”)) shall acquire (or shall have acquired during the 12-month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person(s)) and shall “beneficially own” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, at least 30% of the total voting power of all classes of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board; or

 

(ii)           During any period of twelve consecutive months, either (A) the individuals who at the beginning of such period constitute the Board of Directors or any individuals who would be “Continuing Directors” (as hereinafter defined) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority thereof (B) at any meeting of the shareholders of the Company called for the purpose of electing directors, a majority of the persons nominated by the Board for election as directors shall fail to be elected; or

 

(iii)          Consummation of a sale or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of transactions) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

(iv)          Consummation of a merger or consolidation of the Company (A) in which the Company is not the continuing or surviving corporation (other than a consolidation or merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company in which all shares of the Company’s common stock outstanding immediately prior to the effectiveness thereof are changed into or exchanged for common stock of the subsidiary) or (B) pursuant to which all shares of the Company’s common stock are converted into cash, securities or other property, except in either case, a consolidation or merger of the Company in which the holders of the shares of Common Stock immediately prior to the consolidation or merger have, directly or indirectly, at least a majority of the shares of Common Stock of the continuing or surviving corporation immediately after such consolidation or merger or in which the Board immediately prior to the merger or consolidation would, immediately after the merger or consolidation, constitute a majority of the board of directors of the continuing or surviving corporation.

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the following shall constitute a Change in Control of the Company: (A) changes in the relative beneficial ownership among members of the Lauder Family, without other changes that would constitute a Change in Control; or (B) any spin-off of a division or subsidiary of the Company to its stockholders.

 

For purposes of this Section 4(b), “Continuing Directors” shall mean (x) the directors of the Company in office on November 10, 2005 and (y) any successor to any such director and any additional director who after the Effective Date whose appointment or election is endorsed by a majority of the Continuing Directors at the time of his or her nomination or election.

 

5.  Withholding.   Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Stock Options, including the grant of the Stock Options, the exercise of the Stock Options, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Stock Options or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at exercise, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this Section.

 

6.   Transferability. Stock Options granted under this Agreement may be transferred under laws of descent and distribution or, during Employee’s lifetime, solely to the Employee’s spouse, siblings, parents, children and grandchildren or trusts for the benefits of such persons, or partnerships, corporations, limited liability companies, or other entities owned solely by such persons, including trusts for such persons.  Any transfer of Stock Options will have no effect until written notice (providing sufficient details relating to the proposed transfer, as required by the Company at that time) is received and confirmed by the Company.  The Employee will remain liable for all obligations of Employee and his or her transferee or transferees.  Each transferee will also be subject the Employee’s obligations under this Agreement relating to the Stock Options transferred to him or her.

 

7.  Limitations.   The Employee’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award under this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Employee any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any subsidiary to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Stock Options are not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Employee does not have any interest in any fund or

 

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specific asset of the Company by reason of this award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Stock Option award confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Employee.

 

8.  Specific Restrictions Upon Option Shares.  The Employee and the Company agree to each of the following:

 

a.  The Employee will acquire Shares hereunder for investment purposes only and not with a view to reselling or otherwise distributing the Shares to the public in violation of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and will not dispose of any such Shares in transactions which, in the opinion of counsel to the Company, violate the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations thereunder, or any applicable state or national securities or “blue sky” laws.

 

b.  If any Shares are registered under the 1933 Act, no public offering (other than on a national securities exchange, as defined in the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of any Shares acquired under this Agreement will be made by the Employee (or any other person) under circumstances where he or she (or such person) may be deemed an underwriter, as defined in the 1933 Act.

 

c.  The Employee agrees that the Company has the authority to endorse upon the certificate or certificates representing the Shares acquired under this Agreement any legends referring to the restrictions described under this Section 8 and any other application restrictions, as the Company may deem appropriate.

 

9.   Notices.   Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Employee at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records, or (b) to the Company, attention Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.  Disclosure and Use of Information .

 

a.   By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Stock Options, the Employee hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this Section by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Employee’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.   The Employee understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Employee, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Stock Options or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Employee’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

c.   The Employee also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior transfer made with the Employee’s consent in respect of any previous grant of stock options or other awards.

 

d.   The Employee further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

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e.   The Employee understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Employee authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and Data Recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form, to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.    The Employee understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.   The Employee understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Employee further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

11.  Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Employee agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.     The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended, or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement.

 

b.     The award of the Stock Options is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future grants of Stock Options, or benefits in lieu of Stock Options, even if Stock Options have been granted repeatedly in the past;

 

c.     All decisions with respect to future Stock Option grants, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.     Employee’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.     Employee’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Employee’s employment at any time;

 

f.    The Stock Option is an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

g.   The Stock Option is not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.   In the event the Participant is not an Employee of the Company, the Stock Option and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Stock Option and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.    The future value of the Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

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j.    If the Shares decrease in value, the Stock Option will have no value;

 

k.   If Participant exercises the Stock Option and obtains Shares, the value of the Shares obtained upon exercise may increase or decrease in value, even below the Exercise Price;

 

l.    In consideration of the award of the Stock Option, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Stock Option or diminution in value of the Stock Option, or Shares purchased through exercise of the Stock Option, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the grant of the Stock Option, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

m.  In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Stock Options under the Plan and to vest in such Stock Options, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); furthermore, in the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to exercise the Stock Options after termination of employment, if any, will be measured by the date of termination of active employment and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law; the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

n.   The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

o.   Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

12.  Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

13.  Governing Law.   This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under this Stock Option or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where this Stock Option is made and/or to be performed.

 

14.  Partial Invalidity.   The invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.  Section 409A.   The Stock Options are intended to be exempt from Code Section 409A.  The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant to prevent taxation under Code Section 409A.

 

16.  Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Stock Options awarded under the Plan or future Stock Options that may be awarded

 

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under the Plan by electronic means or request Employee’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Employee hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

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Exhibit 10.2

 

Each of the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. reserves the right to change provisions of this Agreement to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 or other applicable laws or regulations.

 

Performance Share Unit Award Agreement Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) provides for the granting of performance share unit awards by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “Participant”), representing a notional account equal to a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “Shares”), subject to the terms below (the “Performance Share Units”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the aggregate number of Shares representing the Target Award, and the Plan Achievement (as defined below) goals are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant,” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of this Performance Share Unit Award are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan. Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

1.     Award Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant a target award of Performance Share Units in respect of the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Target Award”), representing a Stock Unit and Performance-Based Award under the terms of the Plan.

 

2.     Right to Payment of Performance Share Units . It is understood that the percentage of the Target Award earned and paid will be established by the Committee based on the plan achievement (the “Plan Achievement”) during the period specified in the Notice of Grant (the “Award Period”).  The Plan Achievement is comprised of, and is measured separately with respect to the components stated in the attached Notice of Grant.  Actual payment of the Performance Share Units awarded will be determined for each component in accordance with the table attached hereto as Schedule “A.”

 

3.     Payment of Awards . Payments under this Agreement will be made in the number of Shares that is equivalent to the number of Performance Share Units earned and payable to the Participant pursuant to paragraph 2 above. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 4 below, payments will be made as soon as practicable after the Award Period ends, but in no event later than 2 and 1/2 months following the last day of the calendar year in which the Award Period ends. The form of payout will be in Shares.  In addition, each Performance Share Unit that becomes earned and payable pursuant to paragraph 2 above carries a Dividend Equivalent Right, payable in cash at the same time as the payment of Shares in accordance with this paragraph 3 and paragraph 4.

 

Upon a Change in Control, each Performance Share Unit will become payable to the Participant with the total number of Shares to be paid equal to the Target Award.  Payments upon a Change in Control will be made within two weeks following the Change in Control.  If the Shares cease to be outstanding immediately after the Change in Control (e.g., due to a merger with and into another entity), then the consideration to be received per Share will equal the consideration paid to each stockholder per Share generally upon the Change in Control.

EO

 



 

4.     Termination of Employment . If the Participant’s employment terminates during the Award Period, payouts will be as follows:

 

(a)                       Death.  If the Participant dies, the Performance Share Units will be paid as a pro rata Target Award for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (i.e., the proration of the Target Award equals a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full calendar months of service completed during the Award Period through the Participant’s death and the denominator of which is the number of full calendar months in the Award Period).  Payment will occur as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death and in accordance with any applicable laws or Company procedures regarding the payments.

 

(b)                      Retirement.  If the Participant formally retires under the terms of The Estée Lauder Companies Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid based on actual Plan Achievement, at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.  If the Participant dies during active employment after the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 10 or more years of service, or after the attainment of age 65 and the completion of 5 or more years of service, without formally retiring under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Participant will have deemed to be retired as of the date of death and this Section 4(b) will apply rather than Section 4(a).  If the Participant dies or becomes disabled after retirement as contemplated by this Section 4(b), the provisions of this section shall apply.

 

(c)                       Disability.  If the Participant becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long-term disability program), the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid a pro rata amount for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) based on actual Plan Achievement.  Payment will occur at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.

 

(d)                      Termination of Employment Without Cause.  If the Participant’s employment is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below) on or prior to the end of the first year of the Award Period, the Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.  If such termination occurs after the end of the first year of the Award Period, the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid a pro rata amount for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) based on actual Plan Achievement.  Payment will occur at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.

 

(e)                       Termination of Employment By Employee.  If the Participant terminates his or her employment ( e.g. , by voluntary resigning) other than by retirement, which is subject to paragraph 4(b) above, the Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.

 

(f)                         Termination of Employment With Cause.  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the

 

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Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Participant and the Company or any subsidiary, including any employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date.  In the absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Participant of any of his or her material obligations under any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Conduct.

 

(g)                      Post Employment Conduct.  Payout of any Performance Share Unit Award after termination of employment is subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

 

If the Participant’s employment terminates after the expiration of the Award Period but prior to payout, payout will be subject to the above.

 

5.     No Rights of Stock Ownership . This grant of Performance Share Units does not entitle the Participant to any interest in or to any voting or other rights normally attributable to Share ownership other than the Dividend Equivalent Rights granted under paragraph 3 above.

 

6.     Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Performance Share Units, including the grant of the Performance Share Units, the vesting of the Performance Share Units, the delivery of Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Performance Share Units or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at vesting, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

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Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this paragraph.

 

7.     Nonassignability . This award may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred except, if the Participant dies, to a designated beneficiary or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to transfers under a court order, including, but not limited to, any domestic relations order.

 

8.     Effect Upon Employment . The Participant’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award under this Agreement.   Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with any right the Company or any subsidiary may have to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Payment of Shares is not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Participant does not have any interest in any fund or specific asset of the Company by reason of this Award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Performance Share Unit confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant.

 

9.     Notices.   Any notice required or permitted under this Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Participant at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records or (b) to the Company, attention Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.  Disclosure and Use of Information.

 

a.     By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Performance Share Units, the Participant hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.     The Participant understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Performance Share Units or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

c.     The Participant also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or

 

4



 

incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior transfer made with the Participant’s consent in respect of any previous grant of performance share units or other awards .

 

d.     The Participant further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

e.     The Participant understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Participant authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.      The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.     The Participant understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Participant further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

11.  Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.     The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

 

b.     The award of Performance Share Units is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future awards of Performance Share Units, or benefits in lieu of Performance Share Units, even if Performance Share Units have been awarded repeatedly in the past.

 

c.     All decisions with respect to future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.     Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.     Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Participant’s employment at any time;

 

5



 

f.      Performance Share Units are an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

g.     The Performance Share Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.     In the event the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Performance Share Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Performance Share Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.      The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

j.      In consideration of the award of the Performance Share Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Performance Share Units or diminution in value of the Performance Share Units, or Shares acquired upon vesting of the Performance Share Units, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the award of the Performance Share Units, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

k.     In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Performance Share Units under the Plan and to vest in such Performance Share Units, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

l.      The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

m.    Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

12.  Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

6



 

13.  Governing Law.   The Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under the Performance Share Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where the Performance Share Units are made and/or to be performed.

 

14.  Partial Invalidity.   The invalidity or illegality of any provision of the Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.  Section 409A Compliance.   This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations, rulings, or guidance provided thereunder.  The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant to prevent taxation under Code section 409A.

 

16.  Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Performance Share Units awarded under the Plan or future Performance Share Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

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Schedule “A”

 

For Net Sales Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

For Net Earnings Per Share Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

For ROIC Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

(*)%

 

(*)%

 

 

Payout amount for levels of Plan Achievement between the maximum and threshold achievement shall be interpolated on a straight line basis (rounded up to the nearest integer).  In no event shall the Participant receive a payout in excess of (*)% of the Target Award for any component.  No payout shall be made in the event of component Plan Achievement less than the threshold achievement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated above, the Committee may reduce the payment based on other factors at the discretion of the Committee unless a Change of Control has occurred.

 

For purposes of this Performance Share Unit Award Agreement, “Net Sales” has the meaning utilized by the Company in its consolidated financials in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the first day of the Award Period, excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations,  “Earnings Per Share” means “diluted earnings per share” as utilized by the Company in its consolidated financials and ROIC represents Return on Invested Capital with invested capital defined as assets less liabilities (excluding debt).  Actual payment of the Performance Share Units awarded will be determined for each component in accordance with the table above.

 

8



 

In measuring Plan Achievement, financial performance measures (e.g., “Earnings Per Share”, “Net Sales” and “ROIC”) will be calculated without regard to the following:

 

·                   Changes in accounting principles (i.e., cumulative effect of GAAP changes)

·                   Extraordinary items as defined in accordance with US GAAP or which are the result of a change in the law or the Company’s response thereto

·                   Income/loss from discontinued operations and income/loss on sale of discontinued operations

·                   Non-recurring operating income/expenses (separately stated and disclosed in the financial statements — e.g., restructuring charges, legal settlement charges, goodwill write-off)

·                   Impairment of intangibles

 

In calculating net sales during the Award Period, net sales in currencies other than U.S. dollars shall be translated into U.S. dollars at the Company’s budget exchange rate at the beginning of the Award Period.

 

Earnings Per Share will be calculated based on the weighted average number of Shares outstanding as of the measurement date and will be adjusted to eliminate the effect of material changes in the number or type of outstanding Shares due to events such as:

 

·                   Stock splits

·                   Stock dividends

·                   Recapitalizations

·                   Acquisitions involving stock of the Company

 

No adjustment will be made for the impact of stock repurchases under any plans approved by the Board.

 

9


Exhibit 10.3

 

Each of the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. reserves the right to change provisions of this Agreement to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 or other applicable laws or regulations.

 

Performance Share Unit Award Agreement Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This PERFORMANCE SHARE UNIT AWARD AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) provides for the granting of performance share unit awards by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “Participant”), representing a notional account equal to a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “Shares”), subject to the terms below (the “Performance Share Units”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the aggregate number of Shares representing the Target Award, and the Plan Achievement (as defined below) goals are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant,” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of this Performance Share Unit Award are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan. Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

1.     Award Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant a target award of Performance Share Units in respect of the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant (the “Target Award”), representing a Stock Unit and Performance-Based Award under the terms of the Plan.

 

2.     Right to Payment of Performance Share Units . It is understood that the percentage of the Target Award earned and paid will be established by the Committee based on the plan achievement (the “Plan Achievement”) during the period specified in the Notice of Grant (the “Award Period”).  The Plan Achievement is comprised of, and is measured separately with respect to the components stated in the attached Notice of Grant.  Actual payment of the Performance Share Units awarded will be determined for each component in accordance with the table attached hereto as Schedule “A.”

 

3.     Payment of Awards . Payments under this Agreement will be made in the number of Shares that is equivalent to the number of Performance Share Units earned and payable to the Participant pursuant to paragraph 2 above. Except as otherwise provided in paragraph 4 below, payments will be made as soon as practicable after the Award Period ends, but in no event later than 2 and 1/2 months following the last day of the calendar year in which the Award Period ends. The form of payout will be in Shares.

 

Upon a Change in Control, each Performance Share Unit will become payable to the Participant with the total number of Shares to be paid equal to the Target Award.  Payments upon a Change in Control will be made within two weeks following the Change in Control.  If the Shares cease to be outstanding immediately after the Change in Control (e.g., due to a merger with and into another entity), then the consideration to be received per Share will equal the consideration paid to each stockholder per Share generally upon the Change in Control.

 

4.     Termination of Employment . If the Participant’s employment terminates during the Award Period, payouts will be as follows:

 



 

(a)                       Death.  If the Participant dies, the Performance Share Units will be paid as a pro rata Target Award for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (i.e., the proration of the Target Award equals a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full calendar months of service completed during the Award Period through the Participant’s death and the denominator of which is the number of full calendar months in the Award Period).  Payment will occur as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death and in accordance with any applicable laws or Company procedures regarding the payments.

 

(b)                      Retirement.  If the Participant formally retires under the terms of The Estée Lauder Companies Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid based on actual Plan Achievement, at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.  If the Participant dies during active employment after the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 10 or more years of service, or after the attainment of age 65 and the completion of 5 or more years of service, without formally retiring under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Participant will have deemed to be retired as of the date of death and this Section 4(b) will apply rather than Section 4(a).  If the Participant dies or becomes disabled after retirement as contemplated by this Section 4(b), the provisions of this section shall apply.

 

(c)                       Disability.  If the Participant becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long-term disability program), the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid a pro rata amount for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) based on actual Plan Achievement.  Payment will occur at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.

 

(d)                      Termination of Employment Without Cause.  If the Participant’s employment is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below) on or prior to the end of the first year of the Award Period, the Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.  If such termination occurs after the end of the first year of the Award Period, the Performance Share Unit Award will continue through the Award Period and the Participant will be paid a pro rata amount for the number of full months employed during the Award Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) based on actual Plan Achievement.  Payment will occur at the same time the awards are paid to active employees.

 

(e)                       Termination of Employment By Employee.  If the Participant terminates his or her employment ( e.g. , by voluntary resigning) other than by retirement, which is subject to paragraph 4(b) above, the Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.

 

(f)                         Termination of Employment With Cause.  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, the Performance Share Unit Award will be forfeited.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Participant and the Company or any subsidiary, including any employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date.  In the

 

2



 

absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Participant of any of his or her material obligations under any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Conduct.

 

(g)                      Post Employment Conduct.  Payout of any Performance Share Unit Award after termination of employment is subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

 

If the Participant’s employment terminates after the expiration of the Award Period but prior to payout, payout will be subject to the above.

 

5.     No Rights of Stock Ownership . This grant of Performance Share Units does not entitle the Participant to any interest in or to any voting or other rights normally attributable to Share ownership.

 

6.     Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Performance Share Units, including the grant of the Performance Share Units, the vesting of the Performance Share Units, the delivery of Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Performance Share Units or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at vesting, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this paragraph.

 

3



 

7.     Nonassignability . This award may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred except, if the Participant dies, to a designated beneficiary or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to transfers under a court order, including, but not limited to, any domestic relations order.

 

8.     Effect Upon Employment . The Participant’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award under this Agreement.   Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with any right the Company or any subsidiary may have to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Payment of Shares is not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Participant does not have any interest in any fund or specific asset of the Company by reason of this Award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Performance Share Unit confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant.

 

9.     Notices.   Any notice required or permitted under this Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Participant at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records or (b) to the Company, attention Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.  Disclosure and Use of Information.

 

a.     By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Performance Share Units, the Participant hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.     The Participant understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Performance Share Units or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

c.     The Participant also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior transfer made with the Participant’s consent in respect of any previous grant of performance share units or other awards .

 

d.     The Participant further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in

 

4



 

turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

e.     The Participant understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Participant authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.      The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.     The Participant understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Participant further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

11.  Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.     The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

 

b.     The award of Performance Share Units is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future awards of Performance Share Units, or benefits in lieu of Performance Share Units, even if Performance Share Units have been awarded repeatedly in the past.

 

c.     All decisions with respect to future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.     Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.     Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Participant’s employment at any time;

 

f.      Performance Share Units are an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

5



 

g.     The Performance Share Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.     In the event the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Performance Share Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Performance Share Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.      The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

j.      In consideration of the award of the Performance Share Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Performance Share Units or diminution in value of the Performance Share Units, or Shares acquired upon vesting of the Performance Share Units, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the award of the Performance Share Units, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

k.     In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Performance Share Units under the Plan and to vest in such Performance Share Units, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

l.      The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

m.    Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

12.  Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

13.  Governing Law.   The Performance Share Unit Award Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that

 

6



 

arises under the Performance Share Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where the Performance Share Units are made and/or to be performed.

 

14.  Partial Invalidity.  The invalidity or illegality of any provision of the Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.  Section 409A Compliance.   This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations, rulings, or guidance provided thereunder.  The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant to prevent taxation under Code section 409A.

 

16.  Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Performance Share Units awarded under the Plan or future Performance Share Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

7



 

Schedule “A”

 

For Net Sales Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

110%

 

150%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100%

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

90%

 

50%

 

 

For Net Earnings Per Share Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

115%

 

150%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100%

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

85%

 

50%

 

 

For ROIC Cumulative Annual Growth Rate:

 

 

 

Component Plan Achievement

 

Component Payout ( Percentage of Target Award )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

115%

 

150%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100%

 

100%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Threshold

 

85%

 

50%

 

 

Payout amount for levels of Plan Achievement between the maximum and threshold achievement shall be interpolated on a straight line basis (rounded up to the nearest integer).  In no event shall the Participant receive a payout in excess of 150% of the Target Award for any component.  No payout shall be made in the event of component Plan Achievement less than the threshold achievement.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary stated above, the Committee may reduce the payment based on other factors at the discretion of the Committee unless a Change of Control has occurred.

 

For purposes of this Performance Share Unit Award Agreement, “Net Sales” has the meaning utilized by the Company in its consolidated financials in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the first day of the Award Period, excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations,  “Earnings Per Share” means “diluted earnings per share” as utilized by the Company in its consolidated financials and ROIC represents Return on Invested Capital with invested capital defined as assets less liabilities (excluding debt).  Actual payment of the Performance Share Units awarded will be determined for each component in accordance with the table above.

 

8



 

In measuring Plan Achievement, financial performance measures (e.g., “Earnings Per Share”, “Net Sales” and “ROIC”) will be calculated without regard to the following:

 

·                   Changes in accounting principles (i.e., cumulative effect of GAAP changes)

·                   Extraordinary items as defined in accordance with US GAAP or which are the result of a change in the law or the Company’s response thereto

·                   Income/loss from discontinued operations and income/loss on sale of discontinued operations

·                   Non-recurring operating income/expenses (separately stated and disclosed in the financial statements — e.g., restructuring charges, legal settlement charges, goodwill write-off)

·                   Impairment of intangibles

 

In calculating net sales during the Award Period, net sales in currencies other than U.S. dollars shall be translated into U.S. dollars at the Company’s budget exchange rate at the beginning of the Award Period.

 

Earnings Per Share will be calculated based on the weighted average number of Shares outstanding as of the measurement date and will be adjusted to eliminate the effect of material changes in the number or type of outstanding Shares due to events such as:

 

·                   Stock splits

·                   Stock dividends

·                   Recapitalizations

·                   Acquisitions involving stock of the Company

 

No adjustment will be made for the impact of stock repurchases under any plans approved by the Board.

 

9


Exhibit 10.4

 

Each of the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. reserves the right to change provisions of this Agreement to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) provides for the granting by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “ Participant ”), of Stock Units under the Plan representing a notional account equal to a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Shares ”), subject to the terms below (the “ Restricted Stock Units ”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the “Number of Restricted Stock Units,” the “Vesting Commencement Date,” the “Vesting Schedule,” and the “Vesting Period” are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of this award are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan. Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

1.      Award Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant an award of Restricted Stock Units in respect of the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant.

 

2.      Vesting .   The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Participant will vest and become payable in accordance with the Vesting Schedule in the Notice of Grant.  This schedule indicates the vesting date upon which the Participant will be entitled to receive Shares.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Restricted Stock Units that are unvested when the Participant terminates employment with the Company will be forfeited.

 

3.      Payment of Awards .  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one Share when the Restricted Stock Unit vests.

 

In addition, each Restricted Stock Unit carries a Dividend Equivalent Right, payable in cash at the same time as payment of Restricted Stock Units in Shares in accordance with this paragraph 3 and paragraph 4.  Dividend Equivalent Rights are deemed part of the related Restricted Stock Units under this Agreement.

 

Upon a Change in Control, each Restricted Stock Unit will vest and become payable to the Participant.  Payments upon a Change in Control will be made within two weeks following the Change in Control.  If the Shares cease to be outstanding immediately after the Change in Control (e.g., due to a merger with and into another entity), then the consideration to be received per Share will equal the consideration paid to each stockholder per Share generally upon the Change in Control.

 

EO

 



 

4.      Termination of Employment . If the Participant’s employment terminates during the Vesting Period, all Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited except as follows:

 

(a)                       Death .  If the Participant dies, the Restricted Stock Units will vest pro rata for the number of full months the Participant was employed during the Vesting Period (i.e., the proration equals a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full calendar months of service completed during the Vesting Period through the Participant’s death and the denominator of which is the number of full calendar months in the Vesting Period).  Payment of the Restricted Stock Units will occur as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death and in accordance with any applicable laws or Company procedures regarding the payments.

 

(b)                      Retirement .  If the Participant formally retires under the terms of The Estée Lauder Companies Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.  If the Participant dies during active employment after the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 10 or more years of service, or after the attainment of age 65 and the completion of 5 or more years of service, without formally retiring under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Participant will have deemed to be retired as of the date of death and this Section 4(b) will apply rather than Section 4(a).  If the Participant dies or becomes disabled after retirement as contemplated by this Section 4(b), the provisions of this section shall apply.

 

(c)                       Disability .  If the Participant becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long-term disability program), the Restricted Stock Units will vest pro rata for full months employed during the Vesting Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)).  The Restricted Stock Units will be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.

 

(d)                      Termination of Employment Without Cause .  If the Participant’s employment is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below), any unvested Restricted Stock Units will vest pro rata for full months employed during the Vesting Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) on the next vesting date during the Vesting Period. Restricted Stock Units will be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.

 

(e)                       Termination of Employment By Employee .  If the Participant voluntarily terminates his or her employment (e.g . , by voluntary resigning) other than by retirement, which is subject to paragraph 4(b) above, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of resignation will be forfeited.

 

(f)                         Termination of Employment With Cause .  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of termination will be forfeited.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Participant and the Company or any subsidiary, including an employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date. In the absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Participant of any of his or her material obligations under

 

2



 

any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Corporate Conduct.

 

(g)                      Post Employment Conduct .  Payment in respect of any Restricted Stock Unit after termination of employment is subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

 

5.      No Rights of Stock Ownership . This grant of Restricted Stock Units does not entitle the Participant to any interest in or to any voting or other rights normally attributable to Share ownership other than the Dividend Equivalent Rights granted under paragraph 3 above.

 

6.      Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, the delivery of Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at vesting, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this paragraph.

 

7.      Nonassignability . This award may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred, except, if the Participant dies, to a designated beneficiary or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to transfers under a court order, including, but not limited to, any domestic relations order.

 

3



 

8.      Effect Upon Employment . The Participant’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award under this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with any right the Company or any subsidiary may have to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Payment of Shares is not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Participant does not have any interest in any fund or specific asset of the Company by reason of this Award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Restricted Stock Unit award confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant.

 

9.      Notices. Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, or mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Participant at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records, or (b) to the Company, attention Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.   Disclosure and Use of Information.

 

a.      By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the Participant hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.      The Participant understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other  subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

c.      The Participant also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior  transfer made with the Participant’s consent in respect of any previous grant of restricted stock units or other awards .

 

d.      The Participant further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

e.      The Participant understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Participant authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients to receive, possess, use,

 

4



 

retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.       The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.      The Participant understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Participant further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

11.   Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.      The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

 

b.      The award of Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future awards of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units, even if Restricted Stock Units have been awarded repeatedly in the past.

 

c.      All decisions with respect to future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.      Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.      Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Participant’s employment at any time;

 

f.       Restricted Stock Units are an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

g.      The Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.      In the event the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s

 

5



 

participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.       The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

j.       In consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Restricted Stock Units or diminution in value of the Restricted Stock Units, or Shares acquired upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

k.      In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Restricted Stock Units under the Plan and to vest in such Restricted Stock Units, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

l.       The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

m.     Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan

 

12.   Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

13.   Governing Law.   This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under the Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where the Restricted Stock Units are made and/or to be performed.

 

14.   Partial Invalidity.   The invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.   Section 409A Compliance . This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations, rulings, or guidance provided thereunder. The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant to prevent taxation under Code section 409A.

 

6



 

16.   Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

7


Exhibit 10.5

 

Each of the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. reserves the right to change provisions of this Agreement to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) provides for the granting by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “ Participant ”), of Stock Units under the Plan representing a notional account equal to a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Shares ”), subject to the terms below (the “ Restricted Stock Units ”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the “Number of Restricted Stock Units,” the “Vesting Commencement Date,” the “Vesting Schedule,” and the “Vesting Period” are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of this award are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan. Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

1.      Award Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant an award of Restricted Stock Units in respect of the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant.

 

2.      Vesting .   The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Participant will vest and become payable in accordance with the Vesting Schedule in the Notice of Grant.  This schedule indicates the vesting date upon which the Participant will be entitled to receive Shares.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Restricted Stock Units that are unvested when the Participant terminates employment with the Company will be forfeited.

 

3.      Payment of Awards .  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one Share when the Restricted Stock Unit vests.

 

In addition, each Restricted Stock Unit carries a Dividend Equivalent Right, payable in cash at the same time as payment of Restricted Stock Units in Shares in accordance with this paragraph 3 and paragraph 4.  Dividend Equivalent Rights are deemed part of the related Restricted Stock Units under this Agreement.

 

Upon a Change in Control, each Restricted Stock Unit will vest and become payable to the Participant.  Payments upon a Change in Control will be made within two weeks following the Change in Control.  If the Shares cease to be outstanding immediately after the Change in Control (e.g., due to a merger with and into another entity), then the consideration to be received per Share will equal the consideration paid to each stockholder per Share generally upon the Change in Control.

 

EO

 



 

4.      Termination of Employment . If the Participant’s employment terminates during the Vesting Period, all Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited except as follows:

 

(a)                       Death .  If the Participant dies, the unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.  Payment of the Restricted Stock Units will occur in accordance with any applicable laws or Company procedures regarding the payments.

 

(b)                      Retirement .  If the Participant formally retires under the terms of The Estée Lauder Companies Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.

 

(c)                       Disability .  If the Participant becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long-term disability program), the unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.

 

(d)                      Termination of Employment Without Cause .  If the Participant’s employment is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below), any unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.

 

(e)                       Termination of Employment By Employee .  If the Participant voluntarily terminates his or her employment (e.g . , by voluntary resigning) other than by retirement, which is subject to paragraph 4(b) above, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of resignation will be forfeited.

 

(f)                         Termination of Employment With Cause .  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of termination will be forfeited.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Participant and the Company or any subsidiary, including an employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date. In the absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Participant of any of his or her material obligations under any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Corporate Conduct.

 

(g)                      Post Employment Conduct .  Payment in respect of any Restricted Stock Unit after termination of employment is subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

 

5.      No Rights of Stock Ownership . This grant of Restricted Stock Units does not entitle the Participant to any interest in or to any voting or other rights normally attributable to Share ownership other than the Dividend Equivalent Rights granted under paragraph 3 above.

 

6.      Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-

 

2



 

Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, the delivery of Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at vesting, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this paragraph.

 

7.      Nonassignability . This award may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred, except, if the Participant dies, to a designated beneficiary or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to transfers under a court order, including, but not limited to, any domestic relations order.

 

8.      Effect Upon Employment . The Participant’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award under this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with any right the Company or any subsidiary may have to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Payment of Shares is not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Participant does not have any interest in any fund or specific asset of the Company by reason of this Award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Restricted Stock Unit award confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant.

 

9.      Notices. Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, or mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Participant at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records, or (b) to the Company, attention

 

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Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.   Disclosure and Use of Information.

 

a.      By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the Participant hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.      The Participant understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

c.      The Participant also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior transfer made with the Participant’s consent in respect of any previous grant of restricted stock units or other awards .

 

d.      The Participant further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

e.      The Participant understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Participant authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.       The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.      The Participant understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Participant further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

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11.   Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.      The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

 

b.      The award of Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future awards of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units, even if Restricted Stock Units have been awarded repeatedly in the past.

 

c.      All decisions with respect to future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.      Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.      Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Participant’s employment at any time;

 

f.       Restricted Stock Units are an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

g.      The Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.      In the event the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.       The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

j.       In consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Restricted Stock Units or diminution in value of the Restricted Stock Units, or Shares acquired upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

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k.      In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Restricted Stock Units under the Plan and to vest in such Restricted Stock Units, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

l.       The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

m.     Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan

 

12.   Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

13.   Governing Law.   This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under the Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where the Restricted Stock Units are made and/or to be performed.

 

14.   Partial Invalidity.   The invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.   Section 409A Compliance . This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations, rulings, or guidance provided thereunder. The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant to prevent taxation under Code section 409A.

 

16.   Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

6


Exhibit 10.6

 

Domestic

 

Each of the Stock Plan Subcommittee of the Compensation Committee and the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. reserves the right to change provisions of this Agreement to comply with the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

 

Restricted Stock Unit Agreement Under

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

Amended and Restated Fiscal 2002 Share Incentive Plan (the “Plan”)

 

This RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT AGREEMENT (“ Agreement ”) provides for the granting by The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), to the participant, an employee of the Company or one of its subsidiaries (the “ Participant ”), of Stock Units under the Plan representing a notional account equal to a corresponding number of shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 (the “ Shares ”), subject to the terms below (the “ Restricted Stock Units ”).  The name of the “Participant,” the “Grant Date,” the “Number of Restricted Stock Units,” the “Vesting Commencement Date,” the “Vesting Schedule,” and the “Vesting Period” are stated in the attached “Notice of Grant” and are incorporated by reference.  The other terms of this award are stated in this Agreement and in the Plan. Terms not defined in this Agreement are defined in the Plan, as amended.

 

1.      Award Grant . The Company hereby awards to the Participant an award of Restricted Stock Units in respect of the number of Shares set forth in the Notice of Grant.

 

2.      Vesting .   The Restricted Stock Units granted to the Participant will vest and become payable in accordance with the Vesting Schedule in the Notice of Grant.  This schedule indicates the vesting date upon which the Participant will be entitled to receive Shares.  Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any Restricted Stock Units that are unvested when the Participant terminates employment with the Company will be forfeited.

 

3.      Payment of Awards .  Each Restricted Stock Unit represents the right to receive one Share when the Restricted Stock Unit vests.

 

Upon a Change in Control, (a) each unvested Restricted Stock Unit will vest and become payable to the Participant in accordance with the Plan and this paragraph and (b) each vested Restricted Stock Unit not paid will become payable to the Participant in accordance with the Plan and this paragraph. Payments upon a Change in Control will be made within two weeks following the Change in Control.  If the Shares cease to be outstanding immediately after the Change in Control (e.g., due to a merger with and into another entity), then the consideration to be received per Share will equal the consideration paid to each stockholder per Share generally upon the Change in Control.  If the Participant dies before the Change in Control, vested Restricted Stock Units will become payable in accordance with this paragraph.  If the Participant becomes disabled or is terminated without Cause before the Change in Control, the Restricted Stock Units that were to vest pro rata due to disability or termination without Cause will vest and become payable in accordance with this paragraph.  All other unvested Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited.

 



 

4.      Termination of Employment . If the Participant’s employment terminates during the Vesting Period, all unvested Restricted Stock Units will be forfeited except as follows, subject to Paragraph 3:

 

(a)                       Death .  If the Participant dies, unvested Restricted Stock Units will vest on the date of death pro rata based on the number of full months the Participant was employed during the Vesting Period after the last vesting date (i.e., the proration equals a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of full calendar months of service completed during the Vesting Period after the last vesting date through the Participant’s death and the denominator of which is the number of full calendar months after the last vesting date that are remaining in the Vesting Period).  For this purpose, “last vesting date” is the grant date if the first vesting date has not yet occurred.  As an example, assume a grant to Participant X of Restricted Stock Units for 300 shares with a three-year Vesting Period and one-third of the units vesting at the end of each twelve-month period.  If Participant X dies 18 months after the grant date and six months after the last vesting date, then the estate or beneficiary of Participant X would be entitled to payment of 50 Shares (before withholding).  Participant X would have already received 100 Shares (before withholding) on the first anniversary of the grant date. Payment of the vested Restricted Stock Units will occur as soon as practicable following the Participant’s death and in accordance with any applicable laws or Company procedures regarding the payments.

 

(b)                      Retirement .  If the Participant formally retires under the terms of The Estée Lauder Companies Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the unvested Restricted Stock Units will continue to vest and be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule.   Vesting and payment in respect of any unvested Restricted Stock Unit after retirement will be subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.  If the Participant dies during active employment after the attainment of age 55 and the completion of 10 or more years of service, or after the attainment of age 65 and the completion of 5 or more years of service, without formally retiring under the terms of the Estée Lauder Inc. Retirement Growth Account Plan (or an affiliate or a successor plan or program of similar purpose), the Participant will have deemed to be retired as of the date of death and this Section 4(b) will apply rather than Section 4(a).  If the Participant dies or becomes disabled after retirement as contemplated by this Section 4(b), the provisions of this section shall apply.

 

(c)                       Disability .  If the Participant becomes totally and permanently disabled (as determined under the Company’s long-term disability program), the unvested Restricted Stock Units will vest pro rata for full months employed during the Vesting Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) on the next vesting date during the Vesting Period.  The vested Restricted Stock Units will be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule (i.e., on the next vesting date during the Vesting Period).

 

(d)                      Termination of Employment Without Cause .  If the Participant’s employment is terminated at the instance of the Company or relevant subsidiary without Cause (as defined below), any unvested Restricted Stock Units will vest pro rata for full months employed during the

 

2



 

Vesting Period (determined under the proration methodology in paragraph 4(a)) on the next vesting date during the Vesting Period. Restricted Stock Units will be paid in accordance with the Vesting Schedule and payment in respect of any unvested Restricted Stock Unit after last day of active employment will be subject to satisfaction of the conditions precedent that the Participant neither (i) competes with, takes employment with, or renders services to a competitor of the Company, its subsidiaries, or affiliates without the Company’s written consent, nor (ii) conducts himself or herself in a manner adversely affecting the Company.

 

(e)                       Termination of Employment By Employee .  If the Participant voluntarily terminates his or her employment (e.g., by voluntarily resigning) other than due to retirement or disability, which are subject to paragraphs 4(b) and 4(c) above, respectively, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of resignation will be forfeited.

 

(f)                         Termination of Employment With Cause .  If the Participant is terminated for Cause, all Restricted Stock Units that are not vested as of the effective date of resignation will be forfeited.  For this purpose, “Cause” is defined in the employment agreement in effect between the Participant and the Company or any subsidiary, including an employment agreement entered into after the Grant Date.  In the absence of an employment agreement, “Cause” means any breach by the Participant of any of his or her material obligations under any Company policy or procedure, including, without limitation, the Code of Corporate Conduct.

 

5.      No Rights of Stock Ownership . This grant of Restricted Stock Units does not entitle the Participant to any interest in or to any voting or other rights normally attributable to Share ownership.

 

6.      Withholding . Regardless of any action the Company or the Participant’s employer (the “Employer”) takes with respect to any or all income tax, social security, payroll tax, or other tax-related withholding (“Tax-Related Items”), Participant acknowledges that the ultimate liability for all Tax-Related Items legally due by Participant is and remains his or her responsibility.  Furthermore, Participant acknowledges that the Company and/or the Employer (i) make no representations or undertakings regarding the treatment of any Tax-Related Items in connection with any aspect of the Restricted Stock Units, including the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, the delivery of Shares, the subsequent sale of Shares acquired under the Plan and the receipt of any dividends; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units or any aspect of Participant’s participation in the Plan to reduce or eliminate his or her liability for Tax-Related Items.

 

Prior to the relevant taxable event, Participant shall pay or make adequate arrangements satisfactory to the Company and/or the Employer to satisfy all withholding obligations of the Company and/or the Employer.  In this regard, Participant authorizes the Company and/or the Employer to withhold all applicable Tax-Related Items legally payable by Participant from his or her wages or other cash compensation paid by the Company and/or the Employer or from proceeds of the sale of the Shares acquired under the Plan.  Alternatively, or in addition, the Company may (i) sell or arrange for the sale of Shares that Participant acquires under the Plan to meet the withholding obligation for the Tax-Related Items, and/or (ii) withhold in Shares, provided that the Company only withholds the amount of Shares necessary to satisfy the minimum withholding amount.  If the Company satisfies the Tax-Related Item withholding obligation by withholding a number of Shares as described herein, Participant will be

 

3



 

deemed to have been issued the full number of Shares due to Participant at vesting, notwithstanding that a number of the Shares is held back solely for purposes of such Tax-Related Items.

 

Finally, Participant shall pay to the Company or the Employer any amount of Tax-Related Items that the Company or the Employer may be required to withhold as a result of his or her participation in the Plan that cannot be satisfied by the means previously described.  The Company may refuse to issue Shares under the Plan and refuse to deliver the Shares if Participant fails to comply with his or her obligations in connection with the Tax-Related Items as described in this paragraph.

 

7.      Nonassignability . This award may not be assigned, pledged, or transferred, except, if the Participant dies, to a designated beneficiary or by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The foregoing restrictions do not apply to transfers under a court order, including, but not limited to, any domestic relations order.

 

8.      Effect Upon Employment . The Participant’s right to continue to serve the Company or any of its subsidiaries as an officer, employee, or otherwise, is not enlarged or otherwise affected by an award hereunder.   Nothing in this Agreement or the Plan gives the Participant any right to continue in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or to interfere in any way with any right the Company or any subsidiary may have to terminate his or her employment at any time.  Payment of Shares is not secured by a trust, insurance contract or other funding medium, and the Participant does not have any interest in any fund or specific asset of the Company by reason of this Award or the account established on his or her behalf.  A Restricted Stock Unit award confers no rights as a shareholder of the Company until Shares are actually delivered to the Participant.

 

9.      Notices.   Any notice required or permitted under this Agreement is deemed to have been duly given if delivered, telecopied, or mailed (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) or sent by internationally-recognized courier guaranteeing next day delivery (a) to the Participant at the address on file in the Company’s (or relevant subsidiary’s) personnel records or (b) to the Company, attention Stock Plan Administration at its principal executive offices, which are currently located at 767 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10153.

 

10.   Disclosure and Use of Information.

 

a.      By signing and returning the attached Notice of Grant, and as a condition of the grant of the Restricted Stock Units, the Participant hereby expressly and unambiguously consents to the collection, use, and transfer of personal data as described in this paragraph by and among, as necessary and applicable, the Employer, the Company and its subsidiaries and by any agent of the Company or its subsidiaries for the exclusive purpose of implementing, administering and managing Participant’s participation in the Plan.

 

b.      The Participant understands that the Employer, the Company and/or its other  subsidiaries holds, by means of an automated data file or otherwise, certain personal information about the Participant, including, but not limited to, name, home address and telephone number, date of birth, social insurance number, salary, nationality, job title, any shares or directorships held in the Company, details of all Restricted Stock Units or other entitlement to shares awarded, canceled, exercised, vested, unvested, or outstanding in the Participant’s favor, for purposes of managing and administering the Plan (“Data”).

 

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c.      The Participant also understands that part or all of his or her Data may be held by the Company or its subsidiaries in connection with managing and administering previous award or incentive plans or for other purposes, pursuant to a prior  transfer made with the Participant’s consent in respect of any previous grant of restricted stock units or other awards .

 

d.      The Participant further understands that the Employer may transfer Data to the Company or its subsidiaries as necessary to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan.  The Company and its subsidiaries may transfer data among themselves, and each, in turn, may further transfer Data to any third parties assisting the Company in the implementation, administration, and management of the Plan (“Data Recipients”).

 

e.      The Participant understands that the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients are or may be located in his or her country of residence or elsewhere. The Participant authorizes the Employer, the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Data Recipients to receive, possess, use, retain, and transfer Data in electronic or other form to implement, administer, and manage his or her participation in the Plan, including any transfer of Data that the Administrator deems appropriate for the administration of the Plan and any transfer of Shares on his or her behalf to a broker or third party with whom the Shares may be deposited.

 

f.       The Participant understands that he or she may request a list with the names and addresses of any potential recipients of the Data by contacting his or her local human resources representative.

 

g.      The Participant understands that Data will be held as long as is reasonably necessary to implement, administer and manage his or her participation in the Plan and he or she may oppose the processing and transfer of his or her Data and may, at any time, review the Data, request that any necessary amendments be made to it, or withdraw his or her consent by notifying the Company in writing. The Participant further understands that withdrawing consent may affect his or her ability to participate in the Plan.

 

11.   Disc retionary Nature and Acceptance of Award .  By accepting this Award, the Participant agrees to be bound by the terms of this Agreement and acknowledges that:

 

a.      The Plan is established voluntarily by the Company, it is discretionary in nature, and it may be modified, amended, suspended or terminated by the Company at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Plan and this Agreement;

 

b.      The award of Restricted Stock Units is voluntary and occasional, and does not create any contractual or other right to receive future awards of Restricted Stock Units, or benefits in lieu of Restricted Stock Units, even if Restricted Stock Units have been awarded repeatedly in the past.

 

c.      All decisions with respect to future awards, if any, will be at the sole discretion of the Company;

 

d.      Participant’s participation in the Plan is voluntary;

 

e.      Participant’s participation in the Plan shall not create a right to further employment with the Employer and shall not interfere with the ability of the Company or the Employer to terminate Participant’s employment at any time;

 

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f.       Restricted Stock Units are an extraordinary item that does not constitute compensation of any kind for services of any kind rendered to the Company or any subsidiary, and which is outside the scope of Participant’s employment or service contract, if any;

 

g.      The Restricted Stock Units are not part of normal or expected compensation or salary for any purposes, including, but not limited to, calculating any severance, resignation, termination, redundancy, end of service payments, bonuses, long-service awards, pension or retirement or welfare benefits or similar payments and in no event should be considered as compensation for, or relating in any way to, past services for the Company or any subsidiary;

 

h.      In the event the Participant is not an employee of the Company, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract or relationship with the Company; and furthermore, the Restricted Stock Units and Participant’s participation in the Plan will not be interpreted to form an employment or service contract with any subsidiary of the Company;

 

i.       The future value of the underlying Shares is unknown and cannot be predicted with certainty;

 

j.       In consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, no claim or entitlement to compensation or damages shall arise from termination of the Restricted Stock Units or diminution in value of the Restricted Stock Units, or Shares acquired upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units, resulting from termination of Participant’s employment by the Company or any subsidiary (for any reason whatsoever and whether or not in breach of local labor laws) and in consideration of the award of the Restricted Stock Units, Participant irrevocably releases the Company and any subsidiary from any such claim that may arise; if, notwithstanding the foregoing, any such claim is found by a court of competent jurisdiction to have arisen, then, by signing the Notice of Grant, Participant shall be deemed irrevocably to have waived his or her right to pursue or seek remedy for any such claim or entitlement;

 

k.      In the event of termination of Participant’s employment (whether or not in breach of local labor laws), Participant’s right to receive Restricted Stock Units under the Plan and to vest in such Restricted Stock Units, if any, will terminate effective as of the date that Participant is no longer actively employed and will not be extended by any notice period mandated under local law ( e.g., active employment would not include a period of “garden leave” or similar period pursuant to local law); the Administrator shall have the exclusive discretion to determine when Participant is no longer actively employed for purposes of this Agreement;

 

l.       The Company is not providing any tax, legal or financial advice, nor is the Company making any recommendations regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan or Participant’s acquisition or sale of the underlying Shares; and

 

m.     Participant is hereby advised to consult with Participant’s own personal tax, legal and financial advisors regarding Participant’s participation in the Plan before taking any action related to the Plan.

 

12.   Failure to Enforce Not a Waiver.   The Company’s failure to enforce at any time any provision of this Agreement does not constitute a waiver of that provision or of any other provision of this Agreement.

 

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13.   Governing Law.   This Agreement is governed by and is to be construed according to the laws of the State of New York, that apply to agreements made and performed in that state, without regard to its choice of law provisions.  For purposes of litigating any dispute that arises under the Restricted Stock Units or this Agreement, the parties hereby submit to and consent to the jurisdiction of the State of New York, and agree that such litigation will be conducted in the courts of New York County, New York, or the federal courts for the United States for the Southern District of New York, and no other courts, where the Restricted Stock Units are made and/or to be performed.

 

14.   Partial Invalidity.   The invalidity or illegality of any provision of this Agreement will be deemed not to affect the validity of any other provision.

 

15.   Section 409A Compliance . This Agreement is intended to comply with section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any regulations, rulings, or guidance provided thereunder.  The Company reserves the unilateral right to amend this Agreement upon written notice to the Participant in order to prevent taxation under Code section 409A.

 

16.   Electronic Delivery.  The Company may, in its sole discretion, decide to deliver any documents related to Restricted Stock Units awarded under the Plan or future Restricted Stock Units that may be awarded under the Plan by electronic means or request Participant’s consent to participate in the Plan by electronic means.  Participant hereby consents to receive such documents by electronic delivery and agrees to participate in the Plan through any on-line or electronic system established and maintained by the Company or another third party designated by the Company.

 

 

 

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Amy DiGeso

 

 

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

7


Exhibit 10.7

 

AMENDMENT NO. 7 TO STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT

 

AMENDMENT NO. 7 (this “ Amendment ”), effective as of September 2, 2009, to that certain STOCKHOLDERS’ AGREEMENT (the “ Stockholders’ Agreement ”), dated November 22, 1995, as amended by that Amendment No. 1, effective September 11, 1996, and as amended by that Amendment No. 2, effective as of December 10, 1996, and as amended by that Amendment No. 3, effective as of February 4, 1997, and as amended by that Amendment No. 4, effective as of June 30, 2000, and as amended by that Amendment No. 5, effective as of April 5, 2002, and as amended by that Amendment No. 6, effective as of December 17, 2004 by and among Leonard A. Lauder, Ronald S. Lauder, William P. Lauder, Gary M. Lauder, LAL Family Partners L.P., The Ronald S. Lauder Foundation, Gary M. Lauder as Custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act f/b/o Rachel Lauder, Gary M. Lauder as Custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act f/b/o Danielle Lauder and the trustees of the various trusts set forth on the signature pages hereof (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “ Stockholders ”), and THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Corporation ”).  Capitalized terms defined in the Stockholders’ Agreement and not otherwise defined herein being used herein as therein defined.

 

W I T N E S S E T H :

 

WHEREAS, the Stockholders desire to amend the Stockholders’ Agreement to (i) delete certain Stockholders as parties thereto, (ii) provide for certain additional Permitted Transfers thereunder and (iii) clarify the rights of certain Stockholders party thereto.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

Article 1.                Amendment .

 

(a)           Amendment .  The Stockholders’ Agreement is hereby amended to delete The Rockefeller Trust Company as a party to the Stockholders’ Agreement.

 

(b)           Amendment to Section 2.1 .  Section 2.1 of the Stockholders’ Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

 

“2.1.  Public Sales and Certain Gifts, Bequests and Distributions. Any Stockholder may Transfer shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to a widely distributed public offering of such shares registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”), or pursuant to Rule 144 (or any successor rule or regulation to Rule 144) under the Securities Act, without regard to the limitations imposed by this Agreement.  In addition, any Stockholder may Transfer to persons who are not Family Members (as defined below) shares of Class A Common Stock in connection with a marital dissolution of such Stockholder’s marriage or by gift, bequest or, in the case of Stockholders who are the trustees of a Family Controlled Trust (as defined below) or the executors of the estate of a Lauder Descendant (as defined below), by distribution from such Family Controlled Trust or such estate to one or more beneficiaries thereof who are not Family Members without regard to the limitations imposed by this Agreement; provided , however , that the aggregate amount of shares of Class A

 



 

Common Stock so Transferred by any one Stockholder to all such transferees of that Stockholder in a 90-day period may not exceed 1% of the outstanding Shares.  When two or more Stockholders act in concert for the purpose of making gifts or distributions of shares of Class A Common Stock to a person who is not a Family Member (including his, her or its affiliates that are not Family Members), such shares shall be aggregated for the purposes of the limitation in the immediately preceding sentence.  For purposes of this Section 2.1 , the trustees of a Family Controlled Trust in their capacity as trustees of such Family Controlled Trust shall be deemed to be a single Stockholder and the executors of the estate of a Lauder Descendant in their capacity as executors of such estate shall be deemed a single stockholder.”

 

(c)           Amendment to Section 2.2 Section 2.2 of the Stockholders’ Agreement is hereby amended by replacing the period after “an undertaking in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A” with “; provided , further , that, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 2.2 , the trustees, in their respective capacities as such, of a Family Controlled Trust the primary beneficiary of which is a Spouse of a Lauder Descendant that are not parties to this Agreement in their capacities as trustees of that trust and to whom are Transferred shares of Class A Common Stock from a Stockholder in connection with a marital dissolution of a Lauder Descendant shall not be required to execute and deliver such undertaking solely as a consequence of such Transfer if, immediately after such Transfer, the aggregate amount of shares of Class A Common Stock Transferred by all Stockholders in connection with such same marital dissolution to any Family Controlled Trust the primary beneficiary of which is a Spouse of a Lauder Descendant would be less than 1% of the outstanding Shares (but, for the avoidance of doubt, would be required to execute and deliver such undertaking to the Corporation if they received in such capacity any shares of Class B Common Stock).  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5(c)  of this Agreement and solely for purposes of the second proviso of this Section 2.2 , the “primary beneficiary” of a Family Controlled Trust will be deemed to be a Spouse of a Lauder Descendant if such Spouse of a Lauder Descendant is the sole income beneficiary and, if principal may be distributed, the sole principal beneficiary of such trust for his or her life.”

 

(d)           Amendment to Article 4 .

 

(i)            Subsection 4(b) of the Stockholders’ Agreement is hereby amended and restated as follows:

 

“(b)  In the event that a designee of LAL or RSL ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors by virtue of resignation, removal, death or disability, then the Stockholder who designated such person, so long as he has the right to designate a nominee, shall designate another person to fill that vacancy.”

 

(ii)           Article 4 of the Stockholders’ Agreement is hereby amended by adding the following after clause (d) thereof:

 

“(e)  In the event that LAL is not a member of the Board of Directors for any reason other than his death or disability, he may designate WPL or GML to replace him as a person to be voted a director under subsection (a) of Article 4.  In the event of LAL’s death or disability after he ceases to be a member of the Board

 

2



 

of Directors, LAL shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the Board of Directors by reason of such death or disability for purposes of subsection (c) of Article 4.

 

(f)  In the event that RSL is not a member of the Board of Directors for any reason other than his death or disability, he may designate AL or JL to replace him as a person to be voted a director under subsection (a) of Article 4.  In the event of RSL’s death or disability after he ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors, RSL shall be deemed to have ceased to be a member of the Board of Directors by reason of such death or disability for purposes of subsection (d) of Article 4.”

 

Article 2.                Miscellaneous .

 

(a)           Upon the effectiveness of this Amendment, each reference in the Stockholders’ Agreement to “this agreement,” “hereunder,” “hereof,” “herein,” or words of like import, shall mean and be a reference to the Stockholders’ Agreement as amended hereby.

 

(b)           This Amendment shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the provisions, policies or principles thereof respecting conflict or choice of laws.

 

(c)           This Amendment shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Corporation, its successors and assigns and to the Stockholders and their respective heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

(d)           This Amendment may not be changed orally, but only by an agreement in writing as signed by the party against whom enforcement of any waiver, change, modification or discharge is sought.

 

(e)           With respect to obligations of trustees who are parties hereto in their capacity as trustees of one or more trusts, this Amendment shall be binding upon such trustees only in their capacities as trustees, not individually and not with respect to any Shares, other than Shares held by them in their capacity as trustees of such trusts.

 

(f)            This Amendment may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one instrument.  Each counterpart may consist of a number of copies each signed by less than all, but together signed by all, the parties hereto.

 

[ The remainder of this page intentionally left blank .]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed and delivered this Amendment as of the date first above written.

 

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Sara E. Moss

 

 

Name:

Sara E. Moss

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President and General Counsel

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Leonard A. Lauder

 

Leonard A. Lauder, (a) individually and (b) as Trustee of The Estée Lauder 2002 Trust

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Ronald S. Lauder

 

Ronald S. Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of The Descendents of RSL 1966 Trust, (c) as Chairman of the Ronald S. Lauder Foundation and (d) as Trustee of The Estée Lauder 2002 Trust

 

 

 

 

 

/s/William P. Lauder

 

William P. Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder and (c) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder

 



 

 

/s/Gary M. Lauder

 

Gary M. Lauder, (a) individually, (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder, (c) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder, (d) as custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for the benefit of Danielle Lauder, (e) as custodian under the New York Uniform Transfers to Minors Act for the benefit of Rachel Lauder and (f) as Trustee of the Gary M. Lauder Revocable Trust u/a/d as of August 10, 2000, Gary M. Lauder, Settlor

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Joel S. Ehrenkranz

 

Joel S. Ehrenkranz, (a) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o William Lauder, (b) as Trustee of the 1992 GRAT Remainder Trust f/b/o Gary Lauder and (c) as Vice President and Director of LAL Family Corporation, the sole general partner of LAL Family Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Richard D. Parsons

 

Richard D. Parsons, (a) as Trustee of the Trust f/b/o Aerin Lauder and Jane Lauder u/a/d December 15, 1976, created by Estée Lauder and Joseph H. Lauder, as Grantors, (b) as Trustee of the Trust f/b/o Aerin Lauder and Jane Lauder u/a/d December 15, 1976, created by Ronald S. Lauder, as Grantor, (c) as Trustee of the Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2000 Revocable Trust u/a/d April 24, 2000, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, as Grantor, (d) as Trustee of the Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2004 GRAT and (e) as Trustee of the Jane A. Lauder 2003 Revocable Trust u/a/d November 6, 2003, Jane A. Lauder, as Grantor

 



 

 

/s/George W. Schiele

 

George W. Schiele, as President and Director of LAL Family Corporation, the sole general partner of LAL Family Partners, L.P.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Ira T. Wender

 

Ira T. Wender, as Trustee of The Estée Lauder 2002 Trust

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer

 

Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, as Trustee of The Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust

 


Exhibit 10.8

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement

 

THIS AMENDMENT (“Amendment”), dated as of July 1, 2009, to the Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2000 and amended as of July 1, 2002,  November 16, 2005 and December 31, 2008 (the “Agreement”), between The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Leonard A. Lauder, a resident of [ omitted ], (the “Executive”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are parties to the Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to reflect the mutually agreed upon changes;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1.                                        Effectiveness .  All changes to the Agreement set forth in this Amendment shall be effective as of July 1, 2009, assuming continued employment by the Executive as of such date.

 

2.                                        Title and Duties .  Section 1 of the Agreement shall be amended such that there will be no obligation of the Company to sustain and continue the Executive’s election as Chairman of the Board.  Section 2(a) shall be amended to add the following sentence to the end thereof:  From and after July 1, 2009, Executive shall serve the Company as Chairman Emeritus.

 

3.                                        Base Salary .  Section 3(a) of the Agreement shall be amended by to read in its entirety as follows:

 

As compensation for all services to be rendered pursuant to this Agreement and as payment for the rights and interests granted by the Executive hereunder, the Company shall pay or cause any of its subsidiaries to pay the Executive a per diem of $10,000, provided, however, that the maximum amount that may be earned in any Contract Year is $900,000.  For purposes of the remainder of this Agreement, Base Salary shall mean the amounts payable to the Executive for his services in the applicable Contract Year.

 



 

4.                                        Miscellaneous .

 

a.                                        Except as provided above, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain the same.

b.                                       Capitalized terms used in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement, except to the extent the term is modified herein.

c.                                        This Amendment shall be subject to, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

 

 

 

/s/Leonard A. Lauder

 

By:

/s/Amy DiGeso

Leonard A. Lauder

Name:

Amy DiGeso

 

Title:

Executive Vice President –

 

 

Global Human Resources

 

2


Exhibit 10.9

 

Amendment to Employment Agreement

 

THIS AMENDMENT (“Amendment”), dated as of July 1, 2009, to the Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2008 (the “Agreement”), between The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and Marc Cedric Yann Prouve, a resident of [OMITTED] (the “Executive”).

 

W I T N E S S E T H:

 

WHEREAS, the Executive and the Company are parties to the Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the Company and the Executive wish to amend the Agreement to maintain the aggregate target bonus payout under the Executive Annual Incentive Plan for fiscal 2010 at the rate for fiscal 2009 and the aggregate target bonus payout for fiscal 2011 at the rate provided in fiscal 2010 as set forth herein.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the mutual covenants and obligations hereinafter set forth, the parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree to amend the Agreement as follows:

 

1.                                        Incentive Bonus Compensation .  The Compensation Committee has established for the Executive the target bonus payout for the aggregate opportunities that may be awarded to the Executive (i.e., the target bonus that may be awarded in respect of a fiscal year of the Company) under the Bonus Plan equal to $1,500,000 for the Contract Year ending June 30, 2010 (i.e., the Second Contract Year), and $1,750,000 for the Contract Year ending June 30, 2011 (i.e., the Third Contract Year), subject to the terms and conditions of the Bonus Plan, which are incorporated herein by reference.

 



 

2.                                        Miscellaneous .

 

a.                                        Except as provided above, all other terms and conditions of the Agreement shall remain the same.

 

b.                                       Capitalized terms used in this Amendment shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Agreement, except to the extent the term is modified herein.

 

c.                                        This Amendment shall be subject to, and governed by, the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed therein.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Amendment as of the date first written above.

 

 

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/Amy DiGeso

 

 

Name:

Amy DiGeso

 

 

Title:

Executive Vice President – Global Human Resources

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/Marc Cedric Yann Prouve

 

 

Marc Cedric Yann Prouve

 

2


EXHIBIT 31.1

 

Certification

 

I, Fabrizio Freda certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.;

 

2.                                        Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.                                        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b)                                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)                                       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)                                      Disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                                       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

October 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ FABRIZIO FREDA

 

 

Fabrizio Freda

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 


EXHIBIT 31.2

 

Certification

 

I, Richard W. Kunes certify that:

 

1.                                        I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.;

 

2.                                        Based on my knowledge, this quarterly report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this quarterly report;

 

3.                                        Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this quarterly report;

 

4.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)                                       Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this quarterly report is being prepared;

 

b)                                      Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)                                       Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this quarterly report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this quarterly report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)                                      Disclosed in this quarterly report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.                                        The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)                                       All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)                                      Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

Date:

October 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

/s/ RICHARD W. KUNES

 

Richard W. Kunes

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 


EXHIBIT 32.1

 

Certification

Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or

Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), the undersigned officer of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (the “10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)), and the information contained in the 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date:

October 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

/s/ FABRIZIO FREDA

 

Fabrizio Freda

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and for no other purpose.

 


EXHIBIT 32.2

 

Certification

Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) or

Rule 15d-14(b) and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

(as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the

Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)

 

Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), the undersigned officer of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), does hereby certify, to such officer’s knowledge, that:

 

The Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 (the “10-Q”) of the Company fully complies with the requirements of section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (15 U.S.C. 78m or 78o(d)), and the information contained in the 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

Date:

October 30, 2009

 

 

 

 

/s/ RICHARD W. KUNES

 

Richard W. Kunes

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) and for no other purpose.