As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2009

Registration Statement No. 333-      

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

533 Maryville University Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63141

(314) 985-2000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Daniel J. Sescleifer

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Energizer Holdings, Inc.

533 Maryville University Drive

St. Louis, Missouri 63141

(314) 985-2000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:

 

R. Randall Wang, Esq.

C. Brendan Johnson, Esq.

Bryan Cave LLP

One Metropolitan Square

211 North Broadway, Suite 3600

St. Louis, Missouri 63102

(314) 259-2000

Fax: (314) 552-8149

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:  o

 

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:  þ

 

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  þ

 

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  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. (Check one):

 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

533 Maryville University Drive,

St. Louis, Missouri 63141

(314) 985-2000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Depositary Shares

Warrants

Purchase Contracts

Rights

Units

 

 

We may offer and sell from time to time our securities in one or more classes, separately or together in any combination and as separate series, and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the times of the offerings. Selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement may offer and sell from time to time securities in such amounts as set forth in a prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from the sale of such securities by any selling security holders.

 

We will provide specific terms of any offering in supplements to this prospectus. The supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest.

 

We or any selling security holder may offer the securities independently or together in any combination for sale directly to purchasers or through underwriters, dealers or agents to be designated at a future date. The supplements to this prospectus will provide the names of any underwriters, the specific terms of the plan of distribution, the underwriting discounts and commissions, and the terms of any overallotment options.

 

Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ENR.”

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 1 of this prospectus.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

 

 

The date of this prospectus is May 11, 2009

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. For further information about our business and the securities, you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. The registration statement and the exhibits can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we or selling security holders may offer. Each time we or such security holders offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. When we refer to a “prospectus supplement,” we are also referring to any free writing prospectus or other offering material authorized by us. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement, or any other offering material that we authorize, including the information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus, or any other offering material that we authorize, is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents or the date of the statement contained in any incorporated documents, respectively. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities referred to in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should not interpret the delivery of this prospectus, or any sale of securities, as an indication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus. You should also be aware that information in this prospectus may change after this date. Unless the context otherwise requires, in this prospectus “Energizer,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “ours” refer to Energizer Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009 and in the other documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus (which risk factors are incorporated by reference herein), as well as the additional risk factors and other information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement hereto before making a decision to invest in our securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Energizer Holdings, Inc., incorporated in Missouri in 1999, together with its subsidiaries (“Energizer”) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of primary batteries, flashlights and personal care products in the wet shave, skin care, feminine care and infant care product categories.

 

Our executive offices are located at 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, and our telephone number is (314) 985-2000.

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on their public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Our common stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”). You may also inspect the information we file with the SEC at the NYSE’s offices at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Information about us, including our SEC filings, is also available at our Internet site at http://www.energizer.com. However, the information on our Internet site is not a part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement.

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than the portions provided pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC) after the date of this prospectus and before the end of the offering of the securities pursuant to this prospectus (SEC File No. 001-15401):

 

 

We encourage you to read our SEC reports, as they provide additional information about us which prudent investors find important. We will provide to each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus at no charge upon request in writing or by telephone to Energizer Holdings, Inc., Attn: Corporate Secretary, 533 Maryville University Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63141, telephone: (314) 985-2000.

 

We may register securities covered by this prospectus for re-offers and resales by any selling security holders to be named in a prospectus supplement. Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the “Securities Act,” we may add secondary sales of securities by any selling security holders by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC. We may register these securities to permit selling security holders to resell their securities when they deem appropriate. A selling security holder may resell all, a portion or none of such security holder’s securities at any time and from time to time. Selling security holders may also sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of some or all of their securities in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We do not know when or in what amounts any selling security holders may offer securities for sale under this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We may pay some or all expenses incurred with respect to the registration of the securities owned by the selling security holders. We will provide a prospectus supplement naming any selling security holders, the amount of securities to be registered and sold and any other terms of securities being sold by each selling security holder.

 

Unless we specify another use in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of any securities offered by us for general corporate purposes. Such general corporate purposes may include working capital additions, investments in or extensions of credit to our subsidiaries, capital expenditures, stock repurchases, debt repayment or financing for acquisitions. Pending such use, the proceeds may be invested temporarily in short-term, interest-bearing, investment-grade securities or similar assets. Except as may otherwise be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not receive any proceeds from any sales of securities by any selling security holder.

 

The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for the periods indicated.

 

Earnings consist principally of income from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges include interest expense, capitalized interest and implied interest included in operating leases. We were not required to pay any preference security dividend for the periods indicated.

 

 

This document and the documents incorporated by reference contain both historical and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect our expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “may,” “could,” “intend,” “intent,” “belief,” “estimate,” “plan,” “foresee,” “likely,” “will,” “should” or other similar words or phrases. These statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed in or indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or projections will be achieved.

 

The risk factors set forth or incorporated by reference above in the section entitled “Risk Factors” could affect future results, causing our results to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking statements.

 

The forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this document are only made as of the date of this document or the respective document incorporated by reference herein, as applicable, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Numerous factors could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

 

 

 

The list of factors above is illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements concerning the matters addressed in this document and attributable to us or any person acting on our behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements.

 

The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and the provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Amended Bylaws. It also summarizes some relevant provisions of the Missouri General and Business Corporation Law, which we refer to as Missouri law or GBCL. Since the terms of our articles of incorporation, bylaws, and Missouri law are more detailed than the general information provided below, you should only rely on the actual provisions of those documents and Missouri law. If you would like to read those documents, they are on file with the SEC as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

General

 

Energizer’s authorized capital stock consists of 310 million shares, of which:

 

 

As of May 4, 2009, Energizer had 58,359,170 shares of common stock issued and outstanding and no shares of preferred stock issued and outstanding. The outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

Common Stock

 

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by shareholders. The holders are not entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors. Generally, all matters on which shareholders vote must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any preferred stock. However, Energizer’s articles of incorporation include some supermajority requirements, including:

 

 

Subject to the prior rights of the holders of any shares of preferred stock which later may be issued and outstanding, holders of common stock are entitled to receive dividends as and when declared by us out of legally available funds, and, if we liquidate, dissolve, or wind up Energizer, to share ratably in all remaining assets after we pay liabilities. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters presented to a vote of shareholders, including the election of directors. Holders of common stock have no cumulative voting rights or preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any stock or other securities and there are no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions for the common stock.

 

We may issue additional shares of authorized common stock without shareholder approval, subject to applicable rules of the NYSE.

 

The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. Information about Continental may be obtained at (888) 509-5580. Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ENR”.

 

Preferred Stock

 

The following is a description of general terms and provisions of the preferred stock. The particular terms of any series of preferred stock will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

All of the terms of the preferred stock are, or will be contained in our articles of incorporation or in one or more certificates of designation relating to each series of the preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC at or prior to the issuance of the series of preferred stock, and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

Our board of directors is authorized, without further shareholder approval but subject to applicable rules of the NYSE and any limitations prescribed by law, to issue up to 10 million shares of preferred stock from time to time in one or more series, with such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications,

limitations or restrictions thereof, as may be stated in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such stock adopted from time to time by the board of directors. Our board of directors is expressly authorized to determine, for each series of preferred stock, and the prospectus supplement will set forth with respect to the series, the following information:

 

 

All shares of the same series of preferred stock will be identical and of equal rank except as to the times from which cumulative dividends, if any, on those shares will be cumulative. The shares of different series may differ, including as to rank, as may be provided in our articles of incorporation, or as may be fixed by our board of directors as described above. We may from time to time amend our articles of incorporation to increase or decrease the number of authorized shares of preferred stock.

 

Before we issue any shares of preferred stock of any series, a certificate setting forth a copy of the resolutions of the board of directors, fixing the voting power, designations, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other rights, if any, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions, if any, appertaining to the shares of preferred stock of such series, and the number of shares of preferred stock of such series, authorized by our board of directors to be issued will be made and filed in accordance with applicable law and set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Voting Rights.  Except as indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material and subject to provisions in our articles of incorporation relating to the rights of our common stock, the holders of voting preferred stock will be entitled to one vote for each share of preferred stock held by them on all matters properly presented to shareholders. Except as otherwise provided in the amendment to our articles of incorporation or the directors resolution that creates a specified class of preferred stock, the holders of common stock and the holders of all series of preferred stock will vote together as one class. In addition, currently under Missouri law, even if shares of a particular class or series of stock are not otherwise entitled to a vote on any matters submitted to the shareholders, amendments to the articles of incorporation which adversely affect those shares require a vote of the class or series of which such shares are a part, including amendments which would:

 

 

 

Dividend Rights.  One or more series of preferred stock may be preferred as to payment of dividends over our common stock or any other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock as to dividends. In that case, before any dividends or distributions on our common stock or stock of junior rank, other than dividends or distributions payable in common stock, are declared and set apart for payment or paid, the holders of shares of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors. We will pay those dividends either in cash, shares of common stock or preferred stock or otherwise, at the rate and on the date or dates indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. With respect to each series of preferred stock entitled to cumulative dividends, the dividends on each share of that series will be cumulative from the date of issue of the share unless some other date is set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the series.

 

Rights upon Liquidation.  The preferred stock may have priority over common stock, or any other stock ranking junior to the preferred stock with respect to distribution of assets, as to our assets so that the holders of each series of preferred stock will be entitled to be paid, upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, and before any distribution is made to the holders of common stock or stock of junior rank, the amount set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up, our net assets are insufficient to permit the payment in full of the respective amounts to which the holders of all outstanding preferred stock are entitled, our entire remaining net assets will be distributed among the holders of each series of preferred stock in an amount proportional to the full amounts to which the holders of each series are entitled.

 

Redemption.  All shares of any series of preferred stock will be redeemable, if at all, to the extent set forth in the prospectus supplement or other offering material relating to the series.

 

Conversion or Exchange.  Shares of any series of preferred stock will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or preferred stock or other securities, if at all, to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering material.

 

Preemptive Rights.  No holder of shares of any series of preferred stock will have any preemptive or preferential rights to subscribe to or purchase shares of any class or series of stock, now or hereafter authorized, or any securities convertible into, or warrants or other evidences of optional rights to purchase or subscribe to, shares of any series, now or hereafter authorized.

 

A portion of our operations are conducted through our subsidiaries, and thus our ability to pay dividends on any series of preferred stock is dependent on their financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements and other related factors. Our subsidiaries may also be subject to restrictions on dividends and other distributions.

 

Depending upon the rights of holders of the preferred stock, an issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect holders of common stock by delaying or preventing a change of control of Energizer, making removal of the management of Energizer difficult, or restricting the payment of dividends and other distributions to the holders of common stock.

 

As described under “Description of Depositary Shares,” we may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing an interest, to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for the particular series of the preferred stock, in a share of the particular series of the preferred stock issued and deposited with a preferred stock depositary. All shares of preferred stock offered by this prospectus, or issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of securities, will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable.

Certain Effects of Authorized but Unissued Stock

 

We may issue additional shares of common stock or preferred stock without shareholder approval, subject to applicable rules of the NYSE and Missouri law, for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public or private offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions, and employee benefit plans and equity grants. The existence of unissued and unreserved common and preferred stock may enable us to issue shares to persons who are friendly to current management, which could discourage an attempt to obtain control of Energizer by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise. We will not solicit approval of our shareholders for issuance of common and preferred stock unless our board of directors believes that approval is advisable or is required by applicable stock exchange rules or Missouri law.

 

Common Stock Purchase Rights

 

The Energizer board of directors has declared a dividend distribution of one common stock purchase right for each outstanding share of our common stock. Each right entitles the registered holder to purchase, under certain circumstances, one share of common stock from Energizer at an initial exercise price of $150 per share, subject to adjustment in some circumstances.

 

The rights are attached to all shares of our common stock issued before the date on which the rights separate from the common stock with which they are associated, as described below. No separate certificates or book-entries evidencing the rights have been distributed or made. The terms of the rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the “Rights Agreement”) between Energizer and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, dated March 16, 2000.

 

Until the rights separate from the shares of common stock, the rights will be evidenced by the shareholder’s physical stock certificates, and the transfer of shares of common stock will also be a transfer of the associated rights.

 

As soon as practicable after the rights separate from the shares of common stock, separate certificates (“Rights Certificates”) evidencing the rights will be mailed and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificate alone will evidence the rights.

 

The rights will separate from the shares of common stock upon the earlier to occur of:

 

 

However, the rights will not separate in the event of acquisitions of common stock by Energizer or any of its subsidiaries, or any employee benefit plan of Energizer Holdings, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries.

 

The rights are not exercisable until after they have separated from the shares of common stock with which they are associated. They will expire at the close of business on March 31, 2010, unless they are redeemed at an earlier time by the board of directors.

 

If a third party triggers a separation of the rights from the shares of common stock by acquiring beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding stock, each holder of a right (other than the party triggering the separation) will then be able to exercise the right to acquire a share of common stock at one-third of its then-current market price. Alternatively, the board of directors may elect, if the third party has not acquired over 50% of the outstanding common stock, to exchange each outstanding right (other than those held by the third party) for a share of common stock without any other payment of the exercise price.

 

If, at any time after the separation of the rights is triggered, (i) Energizer is acquired in a merger, statutory share exchange or other business combination in which Energizer is not the surviving corporation or (ii) 50% or more of Energizer’s assets or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder of a right will have the right to receive, upon exercise and payment of the exercise price, common stock of the acquiring company

having a value equal to twice the exercise price. The exercise price payable, and the number of shares of common stock or other securities which will be issued, upon the exercise of the rights are subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution in the event of a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the common stock (i) upon the grant to holders of the common stock of certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase common stock at a price, or securities convertible into common stock with a conversion price, less than the then current market price of the common stock, or (ii) upon the distribution to holders of the common stock of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or dividends payable in common stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those referred to above).

 

No adjustments in the exercise price will be required unless, cumulatively, they would result in an adjustment of at least 1% to the exercise price. The board of directors may redeem the rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.01 per right, at any time prior to the time that the rights separate from the shares of common stock. Upon redemption, the rights will terminate.

 

Until a right is exercised, the holder will have no rights as a shareholder of Energizer, including the right to vote or to receive dividends. All of the terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the board of directors prior to the time that the rights separate from the shares of common stock, for any reason the board deems appropriate. Prior to that time, the board of directors is also authorized, if it deems appropriate, to lower the threshold for causing the rights to separate, as long as the threshold is not lowered to less than 10% of the outstanding common stock or any percentage of the outstanding common stock then held by any shareholder.

 

After the rights separate, the terms of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the board in order to:

 

 

The rights may have certain anti-takeover effects. The rights will cause substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire Energizer on terms not approved by the board of directors. The rights should not interfere with any merger or other business combination approved by the board since the rights may be redeemed by Energizer prior to the time that the rights become exercisable.

 

Limitation on Liability of Directors; Indemnification

 

Our articles of incorporation limit the liability of our directors to Energizer and its shareholders to the fullest extent permitted by Missouri law. Our articles of incorporation provide that Energizer will indemnify each person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her own behalf or in the right of Energizer) who at any time is serving or has served as a director, officer, or employee of Energizer against any claim, liability or expense incurred as a result of such service, or as a result of any other service on behalf of Energizer, or service at the request of Energizer (which request need not be in writing) as a director, officer, employee, member, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or industry association, or other enterprise (whether incorporated or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Energizer will indemnify any such person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her behalf or in the right of Energizer), who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of Energizer) by reason of such service against expenses (including, without limitation, costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. We have entered into indemnification contracts with our directors and officers. Pursuant to those agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the directors to the full extent authorized or permitted by the GBCL. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses of defending any civil or criminal action, claim, suit or proceeding against the director and for repayment of such

expenses by the director if it is ultimately judicially determined that the director is not entitled to such indemnification.

 

The inclusion of these provisions in our articles of incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and may discourage or deter Energizer or its shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have benefited Energizer and its shareholders.

 

Anti-Takeover Provisions in the Energizer Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Some of the provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws, as well as our rights plan, and Missouri law could have the following effects, among others:

 

 

The following is a summary of some of the provisions in our articles of incorporation and bylaws that could have the effects described above.

 

Supermajority Voting Requirements for Certain Business Combinations.  Our articles of incorporation contain a restriction on transactions defined as “business combinations.” No business combination may be consummated without first being approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of our then outstanding voting stock and a majority of the voting stock of shares not owned by a substantial shareholder (as described below). This approval requirement is in addition to any other requirement of law, our articles of incorporation and our bylaws. This approval requirement does not apply to a business combination that:

 

 

Our articles of incorporation generally define a “business combination” as:

 

 

 

Our articles of incorporation define a “substantial shareholder” as any individual or entity which, together with its affiliates and associates, is the beneficial owner of shares of voting stock constituting in the aggregate twenty percent or more of the outstanding voting stock.

 

Other Supermajority Voting Requirements.  Generally, all matters on which shareholders vote must be approved by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by all shares of common stock present in person or represented by proxy, subject to any voting rights granted to holders of any preferred stock. However, in addition to the supermajority requirement for certain business combinations discussed above, Energizer’s articles of incorporation also contain other supermajority requirements, including:

 

 

Classified Board of Directors.  Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that our board of directors will be divided into three classes of directors serving staggered three-year terms. Each class, to the extent possible, will be equal in number. The size of our board of directors will not be less than six nor more than fifteen and our board of directors can amend the number of directors by majority vote. Each class holds office until the third annual shareholders’ meeting for election of directors following the most recent election of such class.

 

Directors, and Not Shareholders, Fix the Size of the Board of Directors.  Our articles of incorporation and bylaws provide that the number of directors will be fixed from time to time exclusively pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our board of directors, but in no event will it consist of less than six nor more than fifteen directors. In accordance with our bylaws, our board of directors has fixed the number of directors at eleven.

 

Directors are Removed for Cause Only.  Missouri law provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the holders of a majority of the corporation’s voting stock may remove any director from office. Our articles of incorporation provide that shareholders may remove a director only “for cause” and with the approval of the holders of two-thirds of Energizer’s voting stock.

 

Board Vacancies to Be Filled by Remaining Directors and Not Shareholders.  Any vacancy created by any reason prior to the expiration of the term in which the vacancy occurs will by filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum. A director elected to fill a vacancy will be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor.

 

Shareholders May Only Act by Written Consent Upon Unanimous Written Consent.  Under our bylaws and Missouri law, shareholder action by written consent must be unanimous.

 

No Special Meetings Called by Shareholders.  Our bylaws provide that special meetings may only be called by the chairman of our board of directors, our president, or a majority of our board of directors. Only such business will be conducted, and only such proposals acted upon, as are specified in the notice of the special meeting.

 

Advance Notice for Shareholder Proposals.  Our bylaws contain provisions requiring that advance notice be delivered to Energizer of any business to be brought by a shareholder before an annual meeting and providing for procedures to be followed by shareholders in nominating persons for election to our board of directors. Ordinarily, the shareholder must give notice not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to

the date of the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such date, notice by the shareholder must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the seventh day following the day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or on which such public notice was given. The notice must include a description of the proposal, the reasons for the proposal, and other specified matters. Our board of directors may reject any proposals that have not followed these procedures or that are not a proper subject for shareholder action in accordance with the provisions of applicable law.

 

Missouri Statutory Provisions

 

Missouri law also contains certain provisions which may have an anti-takeover effect and otherwise discourage third parties from effecting transactions with us, including control share acquisition and business combination statutes.

 

Business Combination Statute.  Missouri law contains a “business combination statute” which restricts certain “business combinations” between us and an “interested shareholder,” or affiliates of the interested shareholder, for a period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person becomes an interested shareholder, unless either such transaction or the interested shareholder’s acquisition of stock is approved by our board on or before the date the interested shareholder obtains such status.

 

The statute also prohibits business combinations after the five-year period following the transaction in which the person becomes an interested shareholder unless the business combination or purchase of stock prior to becoming an interested shareholder is approved by our board prior to the date the interested shareholder obtains such status.

 

The statute also provides that, after the expiration of such five-year period, business combinations are prohibited unless:

 

 

A “business combination” for this purpose includes a merger or consolidation, some sales, leases, exchanges, pledges and similar dispositions of corporate assets or stock and any reclassifications or recapitalizations that generally increase the proportionate voting power of the interested shareholder. An “interested shareholder” for this purpose generally means any person who, together with his or her affiliates and associates, owns or controls 20% or more of the outstanding shares of the corporation’s voting stock.

 

A Missouri corporation may opt out of coverage by the business combination statute by including a provision to that effect in its governing corporate documents. We have not done so.

 

The business combination statute may make it more difficult for a 20% beneficial owner to effect other transactions with us and may encourage persons that seek to acquire us to negotiate with our board prior to acquiring a 20% interest. It is possible that such a provision could make it more difficult to accomplish a transaction which shareholders may otherwise deem to be in their best interest.

 

Control Share Acquisition Statute.  Missouri also has a “control share acquisition statute.” This statute may limit the rights of a shareholder to vote some or all of his shares. Generally, a shareholder whose acquisition of shares results in that shareholder having voting power, when added to the shares previously held by him, to exercise or direct the exercise of more than a specified percentage of our outstanding stock (beginning at 20%), will lose the right to vote some or all of his shares in excess of such percentage unless the shareholders approve the acquisition of such shares.

 

In order for the shareholders to grant approval, the acquiring shareholder must meet disclosure requirements specified in the statute. In addition, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote must

approve the acquisition. Furthermore, a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, but excluding all “interested shares,” such as shares held by the acquiring shareholder or employee directors and officers, must approve the acquisition.

 

Not all acquisitions of shares constitute control share acquisitions. The following acquisitions do not constitute control share acquisitions:

 

 

Takeover Bid Disclosure Statute.  Missouri’s “takeover bid disclosure statute” requires that, under some circumstances, before making a tender offer that would result in the offeror acquiring control of us, the offeror must file certain disclosure materials with the Commissioner of the Missouri Department of Securities.

 

The description of certain provisions of any deposit agreement and any related depositary shares and depositary receipts in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of that deposit agreement and of the depositary shares and depositary receipts. These descriptions do not restate those agreements and do not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as a holder of the depositary shares. For more information, please review the form of deposit agreement and form of depositary receipts relating to each series of the preferred stock, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of that series of preferred stock and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

General

 

We may elect to have shares of preferred stock represented by depositary shares. The shares of any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a bank or trust company that we select. The prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares will set forth the name and address of this preferred stock depositary. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, proportionately, to all the rights, preferences and privileges of the preferred stock represented by such depositary share, including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion, exchange and liquidation rights.

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will represent the applicable interest in a number of shares of a particular series of the preferred stock described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

A holder of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the shares of preferred stock, but only in whole shares of preferred stock, underlying those depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the whole number of shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to that holder at the same time a new depositary receipt for the excess number of depositary shares.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The preferred stock depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions in respect of the series of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, to the extent possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders. The depositary, however, will distribute only the amount that can be distributed without attributing to any depositary share a fraction of one cent, and any undistributed balance will be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary receipts then outstanding.

 

If there is a distribution other than in cash in respect of the preferred stock, the preferred stock depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary receipts in proportion, insofar as possible, to the number of depositary shares owned by those holders, unless the preferred stock depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such a distribution. In that case, the preferred stock depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method that it deems equitable and practicable to effect the distribution, including a public or private sale of the property and distribution of the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

 

The amount distributed in any of the above cases will be reduced by any amount we or the preferred stock depositary are required to withhold on account of taxes.

 

Conversion and Exchange

 

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as set forth in an applicable prospectus supplement, each record holder of depositary receipts will have the right or obligation to convert or exchange the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts pursuant to those provisions.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

If any series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the preferred stock depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary. Whenever we redeem a share of preferred stock held by the preferred stock depositary, the preferred stock depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock that were redeemed. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or proportionately as we may determine.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the redemption price. Any funds that we deposit with the preferred stock depositary relating to depositary shares which are not redeemed by the holders of the depositary shares will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are deposited by us.

Voting

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the preferred stock depositary will mail the information contained in the notice to the record holders of the depositary receipts. Each record holder of the depositary receipts on the record date, which will be the same date as the record date for the preferred stock, may then instruct the preferred stock depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying that holder’s depositary shares. The preferred stock depositary will try to vote the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action which the preferred stock depositary deems necessary to enable the preferred stock depositary to do so. The preferred stock depositary will abstain from voting the preferred stock to the extent that it does not receive specific written instructions from holders of depositary receipts representing the preferred stock.

 

Record Date

 

Subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement, whenever:

 

 

 

Withdrawal of Preferred Stock

 

Upon surrender of depositary receipts at the principal office of the preferred stock depositary, upon payment of any unpaid amount due the preferred stock depositary, and subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, the owner of the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipts is entitled to delivery of the number of whole shares of preferred stock and all money and other property, if any, represented by the depositary shares. Partial shares of preferred stock will not be issued. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the preferred stock depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. Holders of preferred stock that are withdrawn will not be entitled to deposit the shares that have been withdrawn under the deposit agreement or to receive depositary receipts.

 

Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

We and the preferred stock depositary may at any time agree to amend the form of depositary receipt and any provision of the deposit agreement. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us or by the preferred stock depositary only if all outstanding shares have been redeemed or if a

final distribution in respect of the underlying preferred stock has been made to the holders of the depositary shares in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

 

Charges of Preferred Stock Depositary

 

We will pay all charges of the preferred stock depositary including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock, the initial issuance of the depositary receipts, the distribution of information to the holders of depositary receipts with respect to matters on which preference stock is entitled to vote, withdrawals of the preferred stock by the holders of depositary receipts or redemption or conversion of the preferred stock, except for taxes (including transfer taxes, if any) and other governmental charges and any other charges expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be at the expense of holders of depositary receipts or persons depositing preferred stock.

 

Miscellaneous

 

Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond our control in performing any obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the preferred stock depositary under the deposit agreement are limited to performing its duties under the agreement without negligence or bad faith. Our obligations under the deposit agreement are limited to performing our duties in good faith. Neither we nor the preferred stock depositary is obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the preferred stock depositary may rely on advice of or information from counsel, accountants or other persons that they believe to be competent and on documents that they believe to be genuine.

 

The preferred stock depositary may resign at any time or be removed by us, effective upon the acceptance by its successor of its appointment. If we have not appointed a successor preferred stock depositary and the successor depositary has not accepted its appointment within 60 days after the preferred stock depositary delivered a resignation notice to us, the preferred stock depositary may terminate the deposit agreement. See “— Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement” above.

 

We may issue warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus. We may issue warrants independently or as part of a unit with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to or separate from the other securities. We will issue warrants under separate warrant agreements between us and a warrant agent that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will describe specific terms relating to the offering, including a description of any other securities sold together with the warrants. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

 

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrant units.

 

The descriptions of the warrant agreements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and do not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the warrants or any warrant units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of warrants or warrant units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from us, and us to sell to the holders, a number or amount of shares of our common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, rights, or warrants at a future date or dates. The price per equity security and the number of securities may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by reference to a specific formula stated in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts. The payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis to be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any purchase contracts we are offering will describe the material terms of the purchase contracts and any applicable pledge or depository arrangements, including one or more of the following:

 

 

 

The descriptions of the purchase contracts and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depository arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the purchase contracts. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of purchase contracts or purchase contract units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We may issue rights to purchase common stock, preferred stock, depositary shares, purchase contracts, or warrants. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security and may or may not be transferable by the person receiving the rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

 

Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement which we will enter into with a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any offering of rights for which this prospectus is being delivered, including the following:

 

 

 

The descriptions of the rights and any applicable underlying security in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

 

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The prospectus supplement will describe:

 

 

The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying security or pledge or depository arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

We or any selling security holder may sell any of the securities being offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:

 

 

We will describe the details of any such offering and the plan of distribution for any securities offering by us or any selling security holder in a prospectus supplement.

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Gayle G. Stratmann, Vice President and General Counsel of Energizer, will issue an opinion about the validity of the securities. We pay Ms. Stratmann a salary and a bonus and she is a participant in various employee benefit plans offered by Energizer and owns and has options to purchase shares of our common stock. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, Bryan Cave LLP, St. Louis, Missouri, is also representing us in connection with some of the aspects of the applicable offering.

 

The consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2008 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

 

The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. Other than the SEC registration fee, all the amounts listed are estimates.

 

 

 

 

 

We are a Missouri corporation. Sections 351.355(1) and (2) of the GBCL provide that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, no person shall be indemnified as to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his or her duty to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability and in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for expenses which the court shall deem proper.

 

Our articles of incorporation generally provide that Energizer shall indemnify each person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her own behalf or in the right of Energizer) who at any time is serving or has served as a Director, officer or employee of Energizer against any claim, liability or expense incurred as a result of such service, or as a result of any other service on behalf of Energizer, or service at the request of Energizer (which request need not be in writing) as a director, officer, employee, member, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or industry association, or other enterprise (whether incorporated or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum extent permitted by law. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Energizer shall indemnify any such person (other than a party plaintiff

suing on his or her behalf or in the right of Energizer), who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of Energizer) by reason of such service against expenses (including, without limitation, costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding.

 

Our articles of incorporation further generally provide that Energizer may, if it deems appropriate and as may be permitted by the articles of incorporation, indemnify any person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her own behalf or in the right of Energizer) who at any time is serving or has served as an agent of Energizer against any claim, liability or expense incurred as a result of such service, or as a result of any other service on behalf of Energizer, or service at the request of Energizer as a director, officer, employee, member or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, trade or industry association, or other enterprise (whether incorporated or unincorporated, for-profit or not-for-profit), to the maximum extent permitted by law or to such lesser extent as Energizer, in its discretion, may deem appropriate. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Energizer may indemnify any such person (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her own behalf or in the right of Energizer), who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of Energizer) by reason of such service, against expenses (including, without limitation, costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. To the extent that an agent of Energizer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any such action, suit, or proceeding, or in defense of any such claim, issue, or matter, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding.

 

Section 351.355(3) of the GBCL provides that, except as otherwise provided in the corporation’s articles of incorporation or the bylaws, to the extent a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding or any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys’ fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit or proceeding. Our articles of incorporation provide that such indemnification shall be mandatory.

 

Section 351.355(5) of the GBCL provides that expenses incurred in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in that section.

 

Section 351.355(7) of the GBCL provides that a corporation may provide additional indemnification to any indemnifiable person, provided such additional indemnification is authorized by the corporation’s articles of incorporation or an amendment thereto or by a shareholder-approved bylaw or agreement, provided further that no person shall thereby be indemnified against conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.

 

Our articles of incorporation and restated bylaws provide that the liability of our directors to us, its shareholders or otherwise is limited to the fullest extent permitted by the GBCL. Consequently, should the GBCL or any other applicable law be amended or adopted hereafter so as to permit the elimination or limitation of such liability, the liability of the directors of the corporation shall be so eliminated or limited without the need for amendment to our articles of incorporation or further action on the part of the shareholders of the corporation.

 

Our articles of incorporation provide that the corporation is authorized from time to time, without further action by the shareholders of the corporation, to enter into agreements with any director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation providing such rights of indemnification as the corporation may deem appropriate, up

to the maximum extent permitted by law. We have entered into indemnification contracts with its directors and officers. Pursuant to those agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the directors to the full extent authorized or permitted by the GBCL. The agreements also provide for the advancement of expenses of defending any civil or criminal action, claim, suit or proceeding against the director and for repayment of such expenses by the director if it is ultimately judicially determined that the director is not entitled to such indemnification.

 

Section of 351.355(8) of the GBCL provides that a corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or another arrangement on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of that section. Without limiting the power of the corporation to procure or maintain any kind of insurance or other arrangement the corporation may for the benefit of persons indemnified by the corporation create a trust fund, establish any form of self insurance, secure its indemnity obligation by grant of a security interest or other lien on the assets of the corporation, or establish a letter of credit, guaranty, or surety arrangement. The insurance or other arrangement may be procured, maintained, or established within the corporation or with any insurer or other person deemed appropriate by the board of directors regardless of whether all or part of the stock or other securities of the insurer or other person are owned in whole or in part by the corporation. That section also provides that in the absence of fraud the judgment of the board of directors as to the terms and conditions of the insurance or other arrangement and the identity of the insurer or other person participating in an arrangement shall be conclusive and the insurance or arrangement shall not be voidable and shall not subject the directors approving the insurance or arrangement to liability on any ground regardless of whether directors participating in the approval are beneficiaries of the insurance arrangement.

 

Our articles of incorporation provide that the corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or who is or was otherwise serving on behalf or at the request of the corporation in any capacity against any claim, liability, or expense asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability. We have purchased directors’ and officers’ insurance which protects each director and officer from liability for actions taken in their capacity as directors or officers. This insurance may provide broader coverage for such individuals than may be required by the provisions of our restated articles of incorporation.

 

The foregoing represents a summary of the general effect of the indemnification provisions of the GBCL, our articles of incorporation and such agreements and insurance. Additional information regarding indemnification of directors and officers can be found in Section 351.355 of the GBCL, our articles of incorporation and any pertinent agreements.

 

 

A list of exhibits filed herewith or incorporated by reference herein is contained in the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if

the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;

 

Provided, however, that: paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

 

(A) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

(B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the

following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7) That it will supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of any subscription period of an offering of securities to existing security holders, to set forth the results of such subscription offering, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof, whether to the public or otherwise. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus supplement relating to such subscription offering, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

 

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Town and Country, State of Missouri, on the 11th day of May, 2009.

 

ENERGIZER HOLDINGS, INC.

 

Name:     Daniel J. Sescleifer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Daniel J. Sescleifer, Gayle G. Stratmann, Timothy L. Grosch, John J. McColgan, and any one or more of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place, and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and any additional registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

EXHIBIT INDEX