UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):

November 7, 2008

 

 

 

 

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 572-4200

 

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

---

On November 7, 2008, the stockholders of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (the “Company”) approved The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. Executive Annual Incentive Plan (the “Executive Incentive Plan”). The Executive Incentive Plan is for “Executive Officers” of the Company and is substantially identical to the Executive Incentive Plan approved by stockholders of the Company in 2003 (the “2003 Plan”), except

The Executive Incentive Plan replaces the 2003 Plan.

For purposes of the plan, “Executive Officers” means those persons who are denoted as such from time to time by the Company in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and those other persons as may be designated as such from time to time by the Company’s Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Under the Executive Incentive Plan, each participant is granted opportunities that will be paid if the performance target for the particular opportunity is achieved. Aggregate opportunities for an individual, and therefore payouts at target level, would be limited to 250% of the executive’s annual base salary or such lower level as determined by the committee administering the plan.

The annual performance target for each opportunity shall be based on achievement of hurdle rates, targets and/or growth in one or more business criteria that apply to the individual participant, one or more business units or the Company as a whole. The business criteria shall be as follows, individually or in combination: (i) net earnings; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net sales; (iv) market share; (v) net operating profit; (vi) expense control; (vii) working capital relating to inventory and/or accounts receivable; (viii) operating margin; (ix) return on equity; (x) return on assets; (xi) return on invested capital; (xii) planning accuracy (as measured by comparing planned results to actual results); (xiii) market price per share; and (xiv) total return to stockholders. In addition, the annual performance targets may include comparisons to performance at other companies, such performance to be measured by one or more of the foregoing business criteria.

The Executive Incentive Plan is administered by a committee appointed by the Board of Directors comprised, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, solely of not less than two members who shall be “outside directors” within the meaning of treasury regulation Section 1.162-27(e)(3) under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code. Payouts are

 

-2-

 

---

determined annually following the determination of the Company’s fiscal year-end results and certification by the committee that the achievement of the opportunities has been accurately determined.

No opportunity may be granted after May 29, 2018.

The Executive Incentive Plan is subject to amendment or termination at any time by the Compensation Committee, but no such action may adversely affect any rights or obligations with respect to any awards previously made under the Executive Incentive Plan and, unless the stockholders of the Company shall have first approved thereof, no amendment of the plan shall be effective which would: (i) increase the maximum amount which can be paid to any participant under the plan; (ii) change the types of business criteria on which performance targets are to be based under the plan; or (iii) modify the requirements as to eligibility for participation in the plan.

A copy of the Executive Incentive Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and is incorporated into this Item 5.02(e) by reference.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-3-

 

---

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-4-

 

---

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-5-