UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
(Rule 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the registrant þ
Filed by a party other than the registrant o
Check the appropriate box:
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Preliminary proxy statement |
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Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive proxy statement |
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Definitive additional materials |
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Soliciting material pursuant to section 240.14a-12 |
THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Registrant
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
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No fee required. |
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Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11. |
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act
Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined):
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total fee paid:
o Fee paid previously with preliminary materials:
o Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and
identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing
by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing Party:
(4) Date Filed:
THE
FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
515 North State Street
Suite 2225
Chicago, Illinois 60654
NOTICE OF
ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE HELD MARCH 25, 2010
To the Shareholders of The Female Health Company:
Notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the
Shareholders (the Annual Meeting) of The Female
Health Company (the Company) will be held in the
Printers Row Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Embassy Suites
Hotel Chicago Downtown, 600 North State Street, Chicago, IL
60610, on March 25, 2010 at 10:00 a.m., local time,
for the following purposes:
1. To elect eight members to the Board of Directors, the
names of whom are set forth in the accompanying proxy statement,
to serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of the Shareholders.
2. To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the
appointment of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent
registered public accounting firm, as the Companys
auditors for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.
3. To transact such other business as may properly come
before the Annual Meeting and any adjournments thereof.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
William R. Gargiulo,
Jr.
Secretary
Chicago, Illinois
February 26, 2010
Shareholders of record at the close of business on
February 15, 2010 are entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. Your vote is important to ensure that a majority of the
stock is represented. Whether or not you plan to attend the
meeting in person, please vote your shares by phone, via the
internet or by completing, signing, dating and returning the
enclosed proxy card at your earliest convenience, which vote is
being solicited by the Board of Directors of the Company. If you
later find that you may be present at the meeting or for any
other reason desire to revoke your proxy, you may do so at any
time before it is voted. Shareholders holding shares in
brokerage accounts (street name holders) who wish to
vote at the meeting will need to obtain a proxy form and voting
instructions from the institution that holds their shares.
Shareholders of record may also vote by the Internet or
telephone. Voting by the Internet or telephone is fast,
convenient, and your vote is immediately confirmed and
tabulated. Most important, by using the Internet or telephone,
you help us reduce postage and proxy tabulation costs. The
Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at
11:59 p.m. eastern time on March 24, 2010.
Or, if you prefer, you can return the enclosed proxy card in
the envelope provided.
PLEASE DO NOT RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IF YOU ARE
VOTING OVER THE INTERNET OR BY TELEPHONE.
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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THE
FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
515 North State Street
Suite 2225
Chicago, Illinois 60654
PROXY
STATEMENT
FOR THE 2010 ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
Important
Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the
2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be Held on March 25,
2010:
This Proxy Statement and the Accompanying Annual Report
are Available at: www.proxyvote.com
This Proxy Statement is furnished in connection with the
solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of The Female
Health Company (the Company) to be voted at the
Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the Annual Meeting)
to be held in the Printers Row Board Room on the 2nd floor of
the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown, 600 North State
Street, Chicago, IL 60610, 10:00 a.m., local time, on
Thursday, March 25, 2010, and at any adjournments thereof,
for the purposes set forth in the accompanying Notice of
Meeting. The mailing to shareholders of this Proxy Statement and
accompanying form of proxy will take place on or about
February 26, 2010.
GENERAL
INFORMATION
Proxies
and Voting Procedures
Shareholders can vote by completing and returning a proxy card
in the form accompanying this Proxy Statement or, if shares are
held in street name, by completing a voting
instruction form provided by your broker. Shareholders of record
can also vote over the Internet or by telephone. If Internet and
telephone voting are available to you, you can find voting
instructions in the materials accompanying this Proxy Statement.
The Internet and telephone voting facilities will close at
11:59 p.m. (eastern time) on March 24, 2010. Please be
aware that if you vote over the Internet or by telephone, you
may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges
for which you will be responsible.
The Board of Directors knows of no business which will be
presented at the Annual Meeting other than the matters referred
to in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting. However, if any
other matters are properly presented at the Annual Meeting, it
is intended that the persons named in the proxy will vote on
such matters in accordance with their judgment. Shares
represented by properly executed proxies received on behalf of
the Company will be voted at the Annual Meeting (unless revoked
prior to their vote) in the manner specified therein. A
shareholder will be able to revoke his or her proxy until it is
voted. If no instructions are specified in a signed proxy
returned to the Company, the shares represented thereby will be
voted FOR: (1) the election of the directors listed
in the enclosed proxy; and (2) ratification of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the Companys
independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2010.
Shareholders may revoke proxies (including an Internet or
telephone vote) at any time to the extent they have not been
exercised by giving written notice to the Company or by a later
executed proxy via the Internet, by telephone or by mail.
Attendance at the Annual Meeting will not automatically revoke a
proxy, but a shareholder attending the Annual Meeting may
request a ballot and vote in person, thereby revoking a prior
granted proxy.
Shareholders
Entitled to Vote
Only holders of the Companys Common Stock, par value $0.01
per share (the Common Stock), whose names appear of
record on the books of the Company at the close of business on
February 15, 2010, are entitled to vote at the Annual
Meeting. On that date, there were 27,499,980 shares of
Common Stock outstanding. Each share of Common Stock is entitled
to one vote on each matter to be presented at the Annual Meeting.
Quorum;
Required Vote
A majority of the votes entitled to be cast with respect to each
matter submitted to the shareholders, represented either in
person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum with respect to
such matter. Under Wisconsin law, directors are elected by
plurality, meaning that the eight individuals receiving the
largest number of votes are elected as directors, and the
ratification of the appointment of the independent registered
public accounting firm requires the number of votes cast in
favor of this proposal to exceed the number of votes cast
against this proposal, assuming a quorum is present. Abstentions
and broker nonvotes (i.e., shares held by brokers in
street name, voting on certain matters due to discretionary
authority or instruction from the beneficial owners but not
voting on other matters due to lack of authority to vote on such
matters without instructions from the beneficial owners) will
count toward the quorum requirement but will not count toward
the determination of whether directors are elected or the
appointment of the independent registered public accounting firm
is ratified.
ELECTION
OF DIRECTORS
(Item 1)
The Board of Directors has established the number of directors
at eight. The Board of Directors has nominated O.B. Parrish,
Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., William R. Gargiulo, Jr.,
David R. Bethune, Stephen M. Dearholt,
Michael R. Walton, Richard E. Wenninger and Mary
Margaret Frank, Ph.D. for election as directors, all to
serve until the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
As indicated below, all persons nominated by the Board of
Directors are incumbent directors. The Company anticipates that
all of the nominees listed in this Proxy Statement will be
candidates when the election is held. However, if for any reason
any nominee is not a candidate at that time, proxies will be
voted for any substitute nominee designated by the Company
(except where a proxy withholds authority with respect to the
election of directors).
NOMINEES
FOR ELECTION AS DIRECTORS
O.B.
Parrish
Age: 76; Elected Director: 1987; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
O.B. Parrish has served as Chief Executive Officer of the
Company since 1994, as acting President since May 2006, as
acting Chief Financial and Accounting Officer from February 1996
to March 1999 and as the Chairman of the Board and a Director of
the Company since 1987. Mr. Parrish is a shareholder and
has served as the President and as a Director of Phoenix Health
Care of Illinois, Inc. (Phoenix of Illinois) since
1987. Phoenix of Illinois owns approximately 233,501 shares
of the Common Stock. Mr. Parrish also is Chairman and a
Director of Abiant, Inc., a neuroimaging company.
Mr. Parrish is also a trustee of Lawrence University. From
1977 until 1986, Mr. Parrish was the President of the
Global Pharmaceutical Group of G.D. Searle & Co.
(Searle), a pharmaceutical/consumer products
company. From 1974 until 1977, Mr. Parrish was the
President of Searle International, the foreign sales operation
of Searle. Prior to that, Mr. Parrish was Executive Vice
President of Pfizers International Division.
Mary Ann
Leeper, Ph.D.
Age: 69; Elected Director: 1987; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
Dr. Leeper has served as Senior Strategic Adviser since May
2006. Dr. Leeper served as the President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Company from February 1996 to April
2006, as President and Chief Executive Officer of The Female
Health Company Division from May 1994 until January 1996, as
Senior Vice President Development of the Company
from 1989 until January 1996 and as a Director of the Company
since 1987. Dr. Leeper is a shareholder and has served as a
Vice President and Director of Phoenix of Illinois since 1987.
From 1981 until 1986, Dr. Leeper served as Vice
President Market Development for Searles
Pharmaceutical Group and in various Searle research and
development management positions. As Vice President
Market Development, Dr. Leeper was responsible for
worldwide licensing and acquisition, marketing and market
research. In earlier
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positions, she was responsible for preparation of new drug
applications and was a liaison with the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. Dr. Leeper serves on the Board of Neenah
Paper, Inc. and is chair of its nominating and governance
committee. She is also an adjunct professor at the University of
Virginia Darden School of Business.
William
R. Gargiulo, Jr.
Age: 81; Elected Director: 1987; Present Terms Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
William R. Gargiulo, Jr. has served as Secretary of the
Company from 1996 to present, as Vice President of the Company
from 1996 to September 30, 1998, as Assistant Secretary of
the Company from 1989 to 1996, as Vice President
International of The Female Health Company Division from 1994
until 1996, as Chief Operating Officer of the Company from 1989
to 1994, and as General Manager of the Company from 1988 to
1994. Mr. Gargiulo has also served as a Director of the
Company since 1987. Mr. Gargiulo is a trustee of a trust
which is a shareholder of Phoenix of Illinois. From 1984 until
1986, Mr. Gargiulo was the Executive Vice-President of the
Pharmaceutical Group of Searle, in charge of Searles
European operations. From 1976 until 1984, Mr. Gargiulo was
the Vice President of Searles Latin American operations.
David R.
Bethune
Age: 69; Elected Director: 1996; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
Mr. Bethune has served as a Director of the Company since
January 1996. He was Chairman of Zila, Inc., an oral cancer
screening company, from August 2007 to September 2009 and Chief
Executive Officer of Zila, Inc. from March 2008 to September
2009. Additionally, he is a member of the Board of Directors of
the CAMBREX Corporation, a life sciences company dedicated to
providing products and services that accelerate and improve the
discovery and commercialization of human therapeutics.
Mr. Bethune served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
of Atrix Laboratories, Inc. from 1999 until his retirement in
2004. From 1997 to 1998, Mr. Bethune held the positions of
President and Chief Operating Officer of the IVAX Corporation.
From 1996 to 1997, Mr. Bethune was a consultant to the
pharmaceutical industry. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Bethune was
President and Chief Executive Officer of Aesgen, Inc., a generic
pharmaceutical company. From 1992 to 1995, Mr. Bethune was
Group Vice President of American Cyanamid Company and a member
of its Executive Committee until the sale of the company to
American Home Products. He had global executive authority for
human biologicals, consumer health products, pharmaceuticals and
opthalmics, as well as medical research. Mr. Bethune is a
founding trustee of the American Cancer Society Foundation. He
is the founding chairman of the Corporate Council of the
Childrens Health Fund in New York City and served on the
Arthritis Foundation Corporate Advisory Council.
Stephen
M. Dearholt
Age: 63; Elected Director: 1996; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
Mr. Dearholt has served as a Director of the Company since
April 1996. Mr. Dearholt is a co-founder of, and partner
in, Insurance Processing Center, Inc., one of the largest
privately owned life insurance marketing organizations in the
United States, since 1972. He has over 36 years of
experience in direct response advertising and data based
marketing of niche products. In late 1995, Mr. Dearholt
arranged, on very short notice, a $1 million bridge loan
which assisted the Company in its purchase of Chartex. He is a
past board member of the Childrens Hospital Foundation of
Wisconsin, the Zoological Society of Milwaukee, Planned
Parenthood Association of Wisconsin, and past Chairman of the
Board of the New Day Club, Inc.
Michael
R. Walton
Age: 72; Elected Director: 1999; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual
Meeting
Mr. Walton has served as a Director of the Company since
April 1999. Mr. Walton is President and owner of Sheboygan
County Broadcasting Co., Inc., a company he founded in 1972. The
company has focused on
start-up
situations, and growing value in under-performing, and
undervalued radio stations and newspapers. Sheboygan County
Broadcasting Co. has owned and operated businesses in Wisconsin,
Illinois, Michigan and New York. It has specialized in creating,
building and managing news media properties and has acquired
existing companies as well. Prior to 1972, Mr. Walton was
owner and President of Walton Co., an advertising representative
firm he founded in New York City. He has held sales and
management positions with Forbes Magazine, The Chicago Sun Times
and
3
Gorman Publishing Co. Mr. Walton has served on the Boards
of the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the Sheboygan
County Chamber of Commerce and the Rogers Memorial Hospital
Foundation.
Richard
E. Wenninger
Age: 62; Director: 2001; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual Meeting
Mr. Wenninger has served as a Director of the Company since
July 2001. Mr. Wenninger is former Chairman of Wenninger
Company, Inc., a mechanical contracting and engineering company.
From 1976 to 2001, Mr. Wenninger served as President and
Chief Executive Officer of Wenninger Company, Inc. He is also
Secretary of Wenn Soft, Inc., a software development, sales and
service company he founded in 1997. From 1992 to 1999,
Mr. Wenninger served as Secretary of Liftco, Inc.
Mr. Wenninger is a former board member of the
Boys & Girls Club of Milwaukee, a former President and
board member of the Milwaukee Athletic Club, a former board
member of the Wisconsin Psychoanalytic Foundation, a former
board member of University Lake School, the former President and
a former board member of the Plumbing and Mechanical Contractors
Association of Milwaukee, the former President and a former
board member of the Sheet Metal Contractors Association of
Milwaukee and a former board member of the Mechanical
Contractors Association of America.
Mary
Margaret Frank, Ph.D.
Age: 41; Director: 2004; Present Term Ends: 2010 Annual Meeting
Dr. Frank has served as a Director of the Company since
October 2004. Dr. Frank has served as an Associate
Professor of Accounting at the Darden Graduate School of
Business at the University of Virginia where she teaches
financial and tax accounting since 2002. From 1999 to 2002,
Dr. Frank was an Assistant Professor at the Graduate School
of Business at the University of Chicago. During 1997,
Dr. Frank was an accounting instructor at the
Kenan-Flagler
Business School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel
Hill. From 1992 to 1994, Dr. Frank served as a Senior Tax
Consultant at Arthur Andersen. She has her masters degree and
Ph.D. in accounting from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill and was issued her CPA in 1994.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR
all nominees.
DIRECTORS
MEETINGS AND COMMITTEES
Directors
and Director Attendance
The Board of Directors currently consists of eight members: O.B.
Parrish, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.,
William R. Gargiulo, Jr., Stephen M. Dearholt,
David R. Bethune, Michael R. Walton, Richard E. Wenninger and
Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D. At each annual meeting of
shareholders, directors are elected for a term of one year to
succeed those directors whose terms are expiring.
Our Board of Directors has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
The Board of Directors held six meetings during the
Companys fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. All of
the incumbent directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate
of (1) the total number of meetings of the Board of
Directors and (2) the total number of meetings held by all
committees of the Board of Directors on which he or she served,
if any.
4
The chart below identifies the members of each of these
committees as of the date of this Proxy Statement, along with
the number of meetings held by each committee during the fiscal
year ended September 30, 2009:
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Nominating and
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Corporate
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Audit
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Compensation
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Governance
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Number of Meetings:
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7
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1
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Name of Director:
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David R. Bethune
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X
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X
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Stephen M. Dearholt
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X
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*
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Michael R. Walton
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X
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X
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X
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Richard R. Wenninger
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X
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Mary Margaret Frank
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X
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X
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X = committee member; * = committee chairperson
Audit
Committee
The responsibilities of the Audit Committee, in addition to such
other duties as may be specified by our Board of Directors,
include the following: (1) responsibility for selecting,
evaluating and, where appropriate, replacing the independent
registered public accounting firm for the Company;
(2) review of the timing, scope and results of the
independent registered public accounting firms audit
examination; (3) review of periodic comments and
recommendations by the independent registered public accounting
firm and of our response thereto; (4) review of our balance
sheet, statement of operations and statement of cash flows; and
(5) review of the scope and adequacy of our internal
accounting controls. The Boards Audit Committee is an
audit committee for purposes of section 3(a)(58)(A) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Audit Committees
report required by the rules of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) appears on page 7. We have
placed a current copy of the charter of the Audit Committee on
our web site located at www.femalehealth.com.
Compensation
Committee
The Compensation Committee, in addition to such other duties as
may be specified by our Board of Directors, evaluates and
determines the compensation for our directors, executive
officers and key employees. The Compensation Committee also
administers our stock incentive and other employee benefit
plans. We have placed a current copy of the charter of the
Compensation Committee on our web site located at
www.femalehealth.com.
Our
Compensation Process
Compensation for our executive officers and other senior
managers is reviewed and evaluated by the Compensation Committee
of our Board of Directors. The Compensation Committee then makes
recommendations to the Board for its final approval. Our
Compensation Committee views compensation as an ongoing process.
The Compensation Committee receives and reviews materials in
advance of each meeting, including materials that management
believes will be helpful to the Committee and well as materials
specifically requested by members of the Committee.
Our management plays a significant role in assisting the
Compensation Committee in its oversight of compensation.
Managements role includes assisting the Compensation
Committee with evaluating employee performance, establishing
individual performance targets and objectives, recommending
salary levels and equity incentive grants, and providing
financial data on company performance, calculations and reports
on achievement of performance objectives, and other information
requested by the Committee. Our Chief Executive Officer works
with the Compensation Committee in making recommendations
regarding our overall compensation policies and plans as well as
specific compensation levels for our executive officers and
other key employees, other than the Chief Executive Officer.
Members of management who were present during Compensation
Committee meetings in fiscal 2009 and the first part of fiscal
2010 included our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief
Financial Officer.
5
The Compensation Committee makes all decisions regarding the
compensation of our Chief Executive Officer without our Chief
Executive Officer or any other member of our management present.
The Compensation Committees charter requires that we
provide the Committee with adequate funding to engage any
compensation consultants or other advisers the Committee deems
it appropriate to engage. During fiscal 2009 and 2010 to date,
the Compensation Committee did not engage any consultants to
assist it in reviewing our compensation practices and levels.
Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, in addition
to such other duties as may be specified by our Board of
Directors, identifies and recommends to our Board of Directors
nominees for election to the Board of Directors, reviews and
makes recommendations to our Board of Directors regarding the
size and composition of the Board of Directors and the
committees of our Board of Directors and reviews and recommends
to our Board of Directors corporate governance policies and
practices for the Company. We have placed a current copy of the
charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee on
our web site located at www.femalehealth.com.
CORPORATE
GOVERNANCE MATTERS
We are committed to establishing and maintaining high standards
of corporate governance, which are intended to serve the
long-term interests of the Company and our shareholders. Our
Board of Directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines
which can be found on our web site at www.femalehealth.com.
Director
Independence
Our Board of Directors has reviewed the independence of the
nominees for election to the Board at the Annual Meeting under
the applicable standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market. Based on
this review, our Board of Directors determined that each of the
following directors is independent under the listing standards
of the NASDAQ Stock Market:
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(1) David R. Bethune
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(4) Richard E. Wenninger
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(2) Stephen M. Dearholt
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(5) Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D.
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(3) Michael R. Walton
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Based upon such standards, O.B. Parrish, Mary Ann
Leeper, Ph.D., and William R Gargiulo, Jr. are the
only directors who are not independent because Mr. Parrish
is our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Gargiulo receives
compensation as a consultant and Dr. Leeper is currently
employed as our Senior Strategic Adviser.
Director
Nominations
We have a standing Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee. Based on the review described under Corporate
Governance Matters Director Independence, our
Board of Directors has determined that each member of the
Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee is independent
under the applicable standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
director nominees recommended by our shareholders. A shareholder
who wishes to recommend a person or persons for consideration as
a nominee for election to the Board of Directors must send a
written notice by mail,
c/o Secretary,
The Female Health Company, 515 North State Street,
Suite 2225, Chicago, Illinois 60654, that sets forth:
(1) the name, address (business and residence), date of
birth and principal occupation or employment (present and for
the past five years) of each person whom the shareholder
proposes to be considered as a nominee; (2) the number of
shares of our Common Stock beneficially owned (as defined by
section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) by each such proposed nominee; (3) any other
information regarding such proposed nominee that would be
required to be disclosed in a definitive proxy statement to
shareholders prepared in connection with an election of
directors pursuant to section 14(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934; and (4) the name and address
(business and residential) of the
6
shareholder making the recommendation and the number of shares
of our Common Stock beneficially owned (as defined by
section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) by the shareholder making the recommendation. We may
require any proposed nominee to furnish additional information
as may be reasonably required to determine the qualifications of
such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company.
Shareholder recommendations will be considered only if received
no less than 120 days nor more than 150 days before
the date of the proxy statement sent to shareholders in
connection with the previous years annual meeting of
shareholders.
The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider
any nominee recommended by a shareholder in accordance with the
preceding paragraph under the same criteria as any other
potential nominee. The Nominating and Corporate Governance
Committee believes that a nominee recommended for a position on
our Board of Directors must have an appropriate mix of director
characteristics, experience, diverse perspectives and skills.
For new potential board members, the Nominating and Corporate
Governance Committee will in the first instance consider the
independence of the potential member and the appropriate size of
the board and then the qualifications of the proposed member.
Qualifications of a prospective nominee that may be considered
by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee include:
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personal integrity and high ethical character;
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professional excellence;
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accountability and responsiveness;
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absence of conflicts of interest;
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fresh intellectual perspectives and ideas; and
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relevant expertise and experience and the ability to offer
advice and guidance to management based on that expertise and
experience.
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Communications
between Shareholders and the Board of Directors
We have placed on our web site located at www.femalehealth.com a
description of the procedures for shareholders to communicate
with our Board of Directors, a description of our policy for our
directors and nominee directors to attend the Annual Meeting and
the number of directors who attended last years annual
meeting of shareholders.
Code of
Business Ethics
We have adopted a Code of Business Ethics that applies to all of
our employees, including our principal executive officer,
principal financial officer and principal accounting officer. A
copy of the Code of Business Ethics is available on our web site
which is located at www.femalehealth.com. We also intend to
disclose any amendments to, or waivers from, the Code of
Business Ethics on our web site.
AUDIT
COMMITTEE MATTERS
Report of
the Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is comprised of three members of our Board
of Directors. Based upon the review described above under
Corporate Governance Matters Director
Independence, our Board of Directors has determined that
each member of the Audit Committee is independent as defined in
the listing standards of the NASDAQ Stock Market and the rules
of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The
duties and responsibilities of our Audit Committee are set forth
in the Audit Committee Charter.
The Audit Committee has:
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reviewed and discussed our audited financial statements for the
fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, with our management
and with our independent registered public accounting firm;
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7
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discussed with our independent registered public accounting firm
the matters required to be discussed by statement on Auditing
Standards No. 61, as amended (AICPA, Professional
Standards, Vol. 1 AU section 380), as adopted by the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board in
Rule 3200T; and
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received and discussed with our independent registered public
accounting firm the written disclosures and the letter from our
independent registered public accounting firm required by
applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board regarding the independent registered public
accounting firms communications with the audit committee
concerning independence.
|
Based on such review and discussions with management and the
independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit
Committee recommended to our Board of Directors that the audited
financial statements be included in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 for filing
with the SEC.
AUDIT COMMITTEE:
Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D. (Chairperson)
David R. Bethune
Michael R. Walton
Fees of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The following table summarizes the fees we paid for audit and
non-audit services rendered by our independent registered public
accounting firm, McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, during
fiscal years 2009 and 2008:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service Type
|
|
Fiscal 2009
|
|
|
Fiscal 2008
|
|
|
Audit Fees(1)
|
|
$
|
259,075
|
|
|
$
|
287,017
|
|
Audit-Related Fees(2)
|
|
|
12,025
|
|
|
|
12,211
|
|
Tax Fees(3)
|
|
|
46,083
|
|
|
|
12,481
|
|
All Other Fees
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Fees Billed
|
|
$
|
317,183
|
|
|
$
|
311,709
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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(1) |
|
Consists of fees for professional services rendered in
connection with the audit of our financial statements for the
fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and
September 30, 2008; the reviews of the financial statements
included in each of our quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
during those fiscal years; and consents and assistance with
documents filed by the Company with the SEC. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists of costs incurred for consultation on various
accounting matters in support of our financial statements and
comment letters from the SEC. |
|
(3) |
|
For the fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 and
September 30, 2008, consists of fees for professional
services rendered in connection with preparation of federal and
state income tax returns, including foreign tax filings, and
assistance with foreign tax structuring. |
The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company
considered that the provision of the services and the payment of
the fees described above are compatible with maintaining the
independence of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP.
The Audit Committee is responsible for reviewing and
pre-approving any non-audit services to be performed by our
independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit
Committee has delegated its pre-approval authority to the
Chairperson of the Audit Committee to act between meetings of
the Audit Committee. Any pre-approval given by the Chairperson
of the Audit Committee pursuant to this delegation is presented
to the full Audit Committee at its next regularly scheduled
meeting. The Audit Committee or Chairperson of the Audit
Committee reviews and, if appropriate, approves non-audit
service engagements, taking into account the proposed scope of
the non-audit services, the proposed fees for the non-audit
services, whether the non-audit services are permissible under
applicable law or regulation and the likely impact of the
non-audit services on the independence of the independent
registered public accounting firm.
8
Each new engagement of our independent registered public
accounting firm to perform non-audit services set forth in the
table above has been approved in advance by the Audit Committee
or the Chairperson of the Audit Committee pursuant to the
foregoing procedures.
Audit
Committee Financial Expert
Our Board of Directors has determined that one of the members of
the Audit Committee, Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D., qualifies
as an audit committee financial expert as defined by
the rules of the SEC based on her work experience and education.
EXECUTIVE
OFFICERS
The names of, and certain information regarding, executive
officers and certain key employees of the Company who are not
directors of the Company, are set forth below.
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Name
|
|
Age
|
|
Position
|
|
Donna Felch
|
|
|
62
|
|
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
|
Michael Pope
|
|
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52
|
|
|
Vice President and General Manager of The Female Health Company
(UK) Plc.
|
Janet Lee
|
|
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45
|
|
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Controller
|
Donna
Felch
Age: 62; Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Ms. Felch has served as our Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer since February 2006. Prior to joining the
Company, Ms. Felch was Vice President and Treasurer of
American Pharmaceutical Partners, Inc., a pharmaceutical company
that develops, manufactures and markets injectible
pharmaceutical products, from November 2002 until June 2005. In
these positions, she directed the treasury, tax, financial
planning and analysis, credit and collections and risk
management functions. Ms. Felch joined American
Pharmaceutical Partners in 1998 and during such time held the
positions of Senior Director of Corporate Accounting and
Director in General Accounting and Tax. In these roles her
responsibilities included internal and external financial
reporting, tax, treasury, financial planning, credit and risk
management. Previously, Ms. Felch served as Director of
Corporate Tax with Fujisawa USA, a subsidiary of a major
Japanese pharmaceutical company. Ms. Felch had formerly
worked as a Tax Manager for LyphoMed, Inc., a generic
pharmaceutical manufacturer.
Michael
Pope
Age: 52; Vice President, General Manager The Female
Health Company (UK) Plc.
Mr. Pope has served as our Vice President since 1996 and as
General Manager of The Female Health Company (UK) Plc. (formerly
Chartex International, Plc.) since our 1996 acquisition of
Chartex. Mr. Pope has also served as a Director of The
Female Health Company, Ltd. (formerly Chartex Resources Limited)
and The Female Health Company (UK) Plc. since 1995. From 1990
until 1996, Mr. Pope was Director of Technical Operations
for Chartex with responsibility for manufacturing, engineering,
process development and quality assurance. Mr. Pope was
responsible for the development of the high speed proprietary
manufacturing technology for the female condom and securing the
necessary approvals of the manufacturing process by regulatory
organizations, including the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. Mr. Pope was also instrumental in
developing and securing Chartexs relationship with its
Japanese marketing partner. Prior to joining Chartex, from 1986
to 1990, Mr. Pope was Production Manager and Technical
Manager for Franklin Medical, a manufacturer of disposable
medical devices. From 1982 to 1986, Mr. Pope was Site
Manager, Engineering and Production Manager, Development Manager
and Silicon Manager for Warne Surgical Products.
9
Janet
Lee
Age: 45; Controller
Ms. Lee has served as our Controller since May 2007. From
November 2002 until May 2007, Ms. Lee served the Society of
Thoracic Surgeons as Accounting Manager/Analyst. Previously, she
held various financial positions at RR Donnelley and Sons
Company and ServiceMaster.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP
The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial
ownership of our Common Stock as of February 15, 2010 with
respect to (1) each person known to the Company to own
beneficially more than 5% of our Common Stock, (2) each
named executive officer and each director of the Company and
(3) all directors and executive officers as a group.
We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the
rules of the SEC. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons and
entities included in the table have sole voting and investment
power with respect to all shares beneficially owned, except to
the extent authority is shared by spouses under applicable law.
Shares of our Common Stock subject to options or warrants that
are either currently exercisable or exercisable within
60 days of February 15, 2010 are treated as
outstanding and beneficially owned by the holder for the purpose
of computing the percentage ownership of the holder. However,
these shares are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of
computing the percentage ownership of any other person. As of
February 15, 2010, we had outstanding
27,499,980 shares of our Common Stock.
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Shares Beneficially Owned
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner(1)
|
|
Number
|
|
Percent
|
|
O.B. Parrish(2)
|
|
|
1,295,401
|
|
|
|
4.6
|
%
|
William R. Gargiulo, Jr.(3)
|
|
|
111,953
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D.(4)
|
|
|
1,009,500
|
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
Stephen M. Dearholt(5)
|
|
|
3,442,991
|
|
|
|
12.4
|
%
|
David R. Bethune(6)
|
|
|
210,833
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Michael R. Walton(7)
|
|
|
491,389
|
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
Richard E. Wenninger(8)
|
|
|
2,808,604
|
|
|
|
10.2
|
%
|
Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D.(9)
|
|
|
68,333
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Michael Pope(10)
|
|
|
84,797
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Donna Felch(11)
|
|
|
125,000
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
All directors, nominees and executive officers, as a group
(10 persons) (2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11)
|
|
|
9,648,801
|
|
|
|
33.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
* |
|
Less than 1 percent. |
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner
is 515 North State Street, Suite 2225, Chicago, IL 60654;
the address of Mr. Dearholt is 36365 Trail Ridge Road,
Steamboat Springs, CO 80488; the address of Mr. Walton is
929 North Astor, Unit 2101, Milwaukee, WI 53202; the address of
Mr. Wenninger is 14000 Gypsum Creek Road, Gypsum, CO 81637;
and the address of Dr. Frank is P.O. Box 6550,
Charlottesville, VA 22906. |
|
(2) |
|
Includes 233,501 shares owned by Phoenix of Illinois. Under
the rules of the SEC, Mr. Parrish may be deemed to have
voting and dispositive power as to such shares since
Mr. Parrish is an officer, director and the majority
shareholder of Phoenix of Illinois. Also includes
372,900 shares of Common Stock owned directly by
Mr. Parrish, 225,000 shares of Common Stock owned by
the Geneva O. Parrish 1996 Living Trust of which
Mr. Parrish is beneficiary and for which Mr. Parrish
may be deemed to share voting and investment power and
464,000 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options
held by Mr. Parrish. |
|
(3) |
|
Consists of 111,953 shares of Common Stock owned directly
by Mr. Gargiulo. |
10
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Consists of 219,500 shares of Common Stock owned directly
by Dr. Leeper and 790,000 shares of Common Stock
subject to stock options held by Dr. Leeper. |
|
(5) |
|
Includes 2,472,738 shares of Common Stock owned directly by
Mr. Dearholt. Also includes 69,500 shares of Common
Stock held by the Dearholt, Inc. Profit Sharing Plan,
28,500 shares of Common Stock held in a self-directed IRA,
275,820 shares of Common Stock held by the Mary C. Dearholt
Trust of which Mr. Dearholt, a sibling and his mother are
trustees, and 418,100 shares of Common Stock held by the
John W. Dearholt Trust of which Mr. Dearholt is a
co-trustee with a sibling. Mr. Dearholt shares the power to
vote and dispose of 693,920 shares of Common Stock held by
the Mary C. Dearholt Trust and the John W. Dearholt Trust.
Mr. Dearholt has sole power to vote and dispose of the
remaining shares of Common Stock. Also includes
178,333 shares of Common Stock subject to stock options. |
|
(6) |
|
Consists of 32,500 shares of Common Stock owned directly by
Mr. Bethune and 178,333 shares of Common Stock subject
to stock options held by Mr. Bethune. |
|
(7) |
|
Consists of 483,056 shares of Common Stock owned directly
by Mr. Walton and 8,333 shares of Common Stock subject
to stock options held by Mr. Walton. |
|
(8) |
|
Consists of (a) 2,456,023 shares of Common Stock owned
directly by Mr. Wenninger, (b) 34,248 shares of
Common Stock held by Mr. Wenningers spouse
(Mr. Wenninger disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares
held by his spouse), (c) 250,000 shares of Common
Stock held by a trust of which Mr. Wenninger is trustee and
a beneficiary and (d) 68,333 shares of Common Stock
subject to stock options. |
|
(9) |
|
Consists of 68,333 shares of Common Stock subject to stock
options held by Dr. Frank. |
|
(10) |
|
Consists of 84,797 shares of Common Stock owned directly by
Mr. Pope. |
|
(11) |
|
Consists of 125,000 shares of Common Stock owned directly
by Ms. Felch. |
The above beneficial ownership information is based on
information furnished by the specified person and is determined
in accordance with
Rule 13d-3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as
required for purposes of this Proxy Statement. This information
should not be construed as an admission of beneficial ownership
for other purposes.
Section 16(a)
Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
requires the Companys officers and directors, and persons
who own more than 10% of a registered class of the
Companys equity securities, to file reports of ownership
and changes in ownership with the SEC on Forms 3, 4 and 5.
Officers, directors and greater than 10% shareholders are
required by SEC regulation to furnish the Company with copies of
all Forms 3, 4 and 5 they file.
Based solely on a review of the copies of such forms furnished
to the Company, or written representations that no Forms 5
were required, the Company believes that during the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2009 all section 16(a) filing
requirements applicable to its officers, directors and greater
than 10% beneficial owners were complied with.
11
EXECUTIVE
COMPENSATION
The table below provides information for our last two fiscal
years regarding compensation paid by the Company to our Chief
Executive Officer and our other two most highly compensated
executive officers based upon total compensation for services
rendered during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.
The individuals listed in this table are referred to elsewhere
in this proxy statement as the named executive
officers.
Summary
Compensation Table
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nonequity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fiscal
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock
|
|
Incentive Plan
|
|
All Other
|
|
|
Name and Principal Position
|
|
Year
|
|
Salary
|
|
Bonus(1)
|
|
Awards(2)
|
|
Compensation(3)
|
|
Compensation(4)
|
|
Total
|
|
O.B. Parrish,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
$
|
152,825
|
|
|
$
|
31,250
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
555,500
|
|
|
$
|
25,426
|
|
|
$
|
765,001
|
|
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
and Acting President
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$
|
145,100
|
|
|
$
|
93,750
|
|
|
$
|
66,063
|
|
|
$
|
366,000
|
|
|
$
|
22,073
|
|
|
$
|
692,986
|
|
Donna Felch,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
$
|
191,244
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
63,849
|
|
|
$
|
151,500
|
|
|
$
|
12,610
|
|
|
$
|
419,203
|
|
Chief Financial Officer and
Vice President
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$
|
185,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
15,188
|
|
|
$
|
122,000
|
|
|
$
|
9,504
|
|
|
$
|
331,692
|
|
Michael Pope,
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
$
|
171,900
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
63,849
|
|
|
$
|
151,500
|
|
|
$
|
28,870
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
416,119
|
|
Vice President and General
Manager of the Female Health
Company (UK) Plc.
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
$
|
211,725
|
(5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
15,188
|
|
|
$
|
122,000
|
|
|
$
|
34,468
|
(5)
|
|
$
|
383,381
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Bonus amount for 2009 represents the last three months of the
retention bonus paid to Mr. Parrish for his continued
service through calendar-year end 2008. Bonus amount for 2008
represents a retention bonus payable monthly to Mr. Parrish
based on continued service from January 1, 2008 through
September 30, 2008. |
|
(2) |
|
These amounts reflect the dollar value of the compensation cost
of all outstanding restricted stock awards and outstanding
rights to receive shares of Common Stock recognized over the
requisite service period, computed in accordance with Accounting
Standards Codification Topic
718-10
(formerly FAS No. 123R). The stock awards are valued
at the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of
grant. |
|
(3) |
|
Amounts for 2009 represent payouts under our Key Executive
Incentive Program based on achieving net income objectives for
2009. Under this program, each named executive officer is
entitled to a payout based on our exceeding a target amount of
net income for 2009, with the amount of the payout based on the
value of our Common Stock on September 30, 2009. Amounts
for 2008 represent payouts under our Key Executive Incentive
Program based on achieving net income objectives for 2008. Under
this program, each named executive officer is entitled to a
payout based on our exceeding a target amount of net income for
2008 and an additional payout for exceeding 110% of such target
amount, with the amount of the payout based on the value of our
Common Stock on September 30, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
The amount of All Other Compensation for
Mr. Parrish consists of premiums paid by us for term life
insurance and disability insurance under which Mr. Parrish
or his designee is the beneficiary; for Ms. Felch consists
of matching contributions by us under our Simple Individual
Retirement Account plan for our employees and disability
insurance; and for Mr. Pope consists of an automobile
allowance. |
|
(5) |
|
Mr. Popes salary and automobile allowance are paid in
U.K. pounds. Amounts shown for Mr. Popes salary are
based on the
12-month
average exchange rate for the year, which was 1.5516 U.S.
dollars per U.K. pound in fiscal 2009 and 1.9756 U.S. dollars
per U.K. pound in fiscal 2008. |
Stock
Awards
No stock options were granted to any of our named executive
officers during the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009.
On December 10, 2008, Ms. Felch was issued
60,000 shares of restricted Common Stock by our Board of
Directors, of which 30,000 shares vest on each of
December 10, 2010 and December 10, 2011. None of the
shares were vested on September 30, 2009. Unvested shares
are subject to forfeiture if Ms. Felch voluntarily leaves
the Company or is terminated for cause. All shares will vest
immediately if there is a change in control of the Company.
12
On December 10, 2008, our Board of Directors granted
Mr. Pope the right to receive 60,000 shares of Common
Stock, of which 30,000 shares will be issued on each of
December 10, 2010 and December 10, 2011, unless
Mr. Pope voluntarily leaves the Company or his employment
is terminated for cause prior to such dates. None of the shares
had been issued as of September 30, 2009. Any remaining
grants will be immediately issued if there is a change in
control of the Company.
The following table provides information regarding unexercised
options, unvested restricted stock and the right to receive
shares of Common Stock held by the named executive officers at
September 30, 2009. All of these option awards are fully
vested. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009,
Mr. Pope exercised 185,000 options.
OUTSTANDING
EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Underlying
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Market Value of
|
|
|
|
Unexercised
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
Shares of
|
|
|
Shares of
|
|
|
|
Options(#)
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Expiration
|
|
|
Stock that
|
|
|
Stock that
|
|
Name
|
|
Exercisable
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Date
|
|
|
have not Vested
|
|
|
have not Vested
|
|
|
O.B. Parrish
|
|
|
464,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
04/22/13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Donna Felch
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
(1)
|
|
$
|
303,000
|
(2)
|
Michael Pope
|
|
|
185,000
|
|
|
$
|
1.40
|
|
|
|
04/22/13
|
|
|
|
60,000
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(3)
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$
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303,000
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(4)
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30,000 shares vest on each of December 10, 2010 and
December 10, 2011. |
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(2) |
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Market value equals the number of shares of restricted stock
that have not vested multiplied by the closing price of our
Common Stock on September 30, 2009, which was $5.05 per
share. |
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(3) |
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Represents the right to receive 30,000 shares on
December 10, 2010 and 30,000 shares on
December 10, 2011. |
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(4) |
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Market value equals the number of shares of Common Stock that
Mr. Pope has the right to receive multiplied by the closing
price of our Common Stock on September 30, 2009, which was
$5.05 per share. |
Employment
and Change of Control Agreements
Effective October 1, 2005, we entered into Amended and
Restated Change of Control Agreements with each of O.B. Parrish,
our Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Acting President and
Michael Pope, our Vice President, and effective February 8,
2006, we entered into a Change of Control Agreement with Donna
Felch, our Chief Financial Officer and Vice President. These
agreements essentially act as springing employment agreements
which provide that, upon a change of control, as defined in the
agreement, we will continue to employ the executive for a period
of three years in the same capacities and with the same
compensation and benefits as the executive was receiving prior
to the change of control, in each case as specified in the
agreements. If the executive is terminated without cause or if
he or she quits for good reason, in each case as defined in the
agreements, after the change of control, the executive is
generally entitled to receive the following benefits:
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a lump sum payment equal to the sum of the executives base
salary through the termination date, a prorated payment of bonus
which the executive is eligible to receive and any compensation
previously deferred by the executive;
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a lump sum payment equal to three times the sum of the
executives base salary and the amount of the
executives prorated bonus;
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continuation of health and other similar benefits for a period
of three years after the termination date; and
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a
gross-up
payment which will, in general, effectively reimburse the
executive for any amounts paid under federal excise taxes
relating to change of control benefits.
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13
DIRECTOR
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
Directors who are executive officers or employees of the Company
do not receive compensation for serving as directors. In fiscal
2009, we paid fees to certain of our directors who are not
executive officers or employees of the Company for their
committee participation. As described below, one of our
directors, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., receives compensation as
our Senior Strategic Adviser pursuant to an employment
agreement, and another director, William R. Gargiulo, Jr.
receives consulting fees. They do not receive compensation as
directors. The following table provides information concerning
the compensation paid by the Company in 2009 to each of its
directors who are not executive officers of the Company.
Director
Summary Compensation Table
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Nonequity
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Fees Earned or
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Incentive Plan
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All Other
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Name
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Paid in Cash(1)
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Stock Awards(2)
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Option Awards(3)
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Compensation(4)
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Compensation(5)
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Total
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Mary Ann Leeper
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$
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63,849
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$
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151,500
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$
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187,600
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$
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402,949
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William R. Gargiulo, Jr.
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$
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101,000
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$
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60,000
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$
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161,000
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David R. Bethune
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$
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10,000
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$
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15,555
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$
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25,555
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Stephen M. Dearholt
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$
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15,555
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$
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15,555
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Mary Margaret Frank
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$
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12,000
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$
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15,555
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$
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27,555
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Michael R. Walton
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$
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15,555
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$
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15,555
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Richard E. Wenninger
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$
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15,555
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$
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15,555
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(1) |
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The amounts in this column reflect fees paid to board members
for their committee participation. |
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(2) |
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On December 10, 2008, Dr. Leeper was issued
60,000 shares of restricted Common Stock by our Board of
Directors of which 30,000 shares vest on each of
December 10, 2010 and December 10, 2011. None of the
shares were vested on September 30, 2009. The closing price
of our Common Stock on December 10, 2008 was $3.16 per
share. As of September 30, 2009, the value of
Dr. Leepers restricted stock was $303,000 based on a
value of $5.05 per share, the closing price of our Common Stock
on that date. The shares of restricted stock have all the rights
of the Common Stock, including voting and dividend rights. The
amount in the table reflects the dollar value of the
compensation cost of the restricted stock award recognized over
the requisite service period, computed in accordance with
Accounting Standards Codification Topic
718-10
(formerly FAS No. 123R). The stock award is valued at
the closing market price of our Common Stock on the date of
grant. |
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(3) |
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The amounts in this column reflect the dollar amount recognized
for financial statement reporting purposes for the fiscal year
ended September 30, 2009, in accordance with Accounting
Standards Codification Topic
718-10
(formerly FAS No. 123R), of stock option awards
granted to the listed directors both in 2009 and prior to fiscal
2009 that vested in fiscal 2009. The assumptions made in valuing
the stock option awards are included under Note 7,
Share-based Payments in the Notes to our Consolidated
Financial Statements filed with the SEC on December 17,
2009 as part of our 2009 Annual Report on
Form 10-K. |
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On October 12, 2006, each of our directors other than O.B.
Parrish, Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D., and William
Gargiulo, Jr. received a grant of options to purchase
30,000 shares of Common Stock with an exercise price of
$1.27 per share. All such stock options vest on the 12th of
each month commencing on November 12, 2006 and ending on
October 12, 2009 and have a ten year term. |
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On May 29, 2009, we granted 30,000 stock options under the
2008 Stock Incentive plan to each of our independent board
members with an excerise price of $3.92 per share. The options
will vest evenly over 36 months, at a rate of
1/36
of the grant per month. The options have a ten year term. |
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(4) |
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Amounts for 2009 represent payouts under our Key Executive
Incentive Program based on achieving net income objectives for
2009. Under this program, each participant is entitled to a
payout based on the Company exceeding a target amount of net
income for the fiscal year and an additional payout for
exceeding 110% of such target amount, with the amount of the
payout based on the value of our Common Stock as of fiscal year
end. In 2009, the Key Executive Incentive Program payment was
based on achieving at least 100% of the annual goal. |
14
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(5) |
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The amount of All Other Compensation for
Dr. Leeper consists of salary of $164,237 as well as $8,587
in matching contributions by the Company under our Simple
Individual Retirement Account plan for our employees and $14,776
of premiums paid by us for term life insurance and disability
insurance under which Dr. Leeper or her designee is the
beneficiary. Dr. Leeper is employed as a Senior Strategic
Advisor. She had specific responsibility for the preparation,
submission and presentation of the FC2 PMA to the FDA. She
is presently responsible for the FC2 launch in the United
States. In addition, she participates as a member of the
Executive Operation Committee. Dr. Leepers
compensation is for the execution of these responsibilities. She
does not receive compensation for her role as a director of the
Company. Mr. Gargiulo is a consultant to the Company and
serves as the Corporate Secretary. In this role, he is
responsible for scheduling all board and board committee
meetings and distribution of material and preparation and
approval of minutes for each meeting. In addition, he is
responsible for our relationship with our transfer agent and the
issuance of shares. Mr. Gargiulo also assists
Ms. Felch with investor relations. Mr. Gargiulos
compensation for the execution of these responsibilities was
$60,000. He does not receive compensation for being a director
of the Company. |
Dr. Leeper has served as our Senior Strategic Adviser since
May 2006 when she retired from the positions of President and
Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Dr. Leepers
services as Senior Strategic Adviser are governed by the terms
of an employment agreement dated January 20, 2006, between
the Company and Dr. Leeper. The employment agreement took
effect as of May 1, 2006, and originally was to expire on
September 30, 2006, but has been extended a number of times
with the most recent extension lasting until December 31,
2007. Pursuant to the employment agreement, Dr. Leeper
receives an annual base salary of at least $150,000 and is
entitled to participate in our bonus plans, stock incentive plan
and other employee benefit plans. Additionally, Dr. Leeper
is eligible to participate in any medical, health, dental,
disability and life insurance policy that is in effect for our
other senior management. Pursuant to the employment agreement,
Dr. Leeper has agreed not to compete with the Company
during employment and for a period of two years following
termination of employment (six months if employment is
terminated by the Company after a change of control)
and has agreed to maintain the confidentiality of the
Companys proprietary information and trade secrets during
the term of employment and for three years thereafter. The
employment agreement provides that if Dr. Leepers
employment is terminated by us without cause or by
Dr. Leeper for good reason, Dr. Leeper
will be entitled to a severance payment of $125,000 and a
payment of $50,000 in consideration of the noncompetition and
confidentiality covenants, except that if such termination
occurs at any time after or in anticipation of a change of
control with respect to the Company, Dr. Leeper will
be entitled solely to those amounts to which she is entitled
under the Amended and Restated Change of Control Agreement dated
October 1, 2005 by and between the Company and
Dr. Leeper. The terms of such Amended and Restated Change
of Control Agreement are substantially the same as those
summarized under the heading Employment and Change of
Control Agreements. If the termination of
Dr. Leepers employment occurs as a result of the
death or disability of Dr. Leeper, then she shall be
entitled to receive the greater of (a) her base salary or
(b) the remaining amounts due her under the terms of the
employment agreement. Since the contract expiration, the Company
has continued to employ Dr. Leeper based on the same terms.
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
It has been and currently is the policy of the Company that
transactions between the Company and its officers, directors,
principal shareholders or affiliates are to be on terms no less
favorable to the Company than could be obtained from
unaffiliated parties. We intend that any future transactions
between the Company and our officers, directors, principal
shareholders or affiliates will be approved by a majority of the
directors who are not financially interested in the transaction.
15
RATIFICATION
OF APPOINTMENT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
(Item 2)
The Audit Committee of our Board of Directors has appointed
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP, independent registered public
accounting firm, as auditors to audit our financial statements
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. Our Board of
Directors proposes that the shareholders ratify this
appointment. McGladrey & Pullen, LLP audited our
financial statements for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2009. We expect that representatives of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP will be present at the Annual
Meeting, with the opportunity to make a statement if they so
desire, and will be available to respond to appropriate
questions.
In the event that ratification of the appointment of
McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the independent registered
public accounting firm for the Company is not obtained at the
Annual Meeting, the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors
will reconsider its appointment, and may retain that firm or
another firm without resubmitting the matter to our
shareholders. Even if the appointment is ratified, the Audit
Committee may, in its discretion, direct the appointment of a
different firm at any time during the fiscal year if it
determines that such change would be in our best interests.
Under Wisconsin law, the ratification of the appointment of the
independent registered public accounting firm requires the
number of votes cast in favor of this proposal, whether in
person or by proxy, to exceed the number of votes cast against
this proposal, assuming a quorum is present.
The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote FOR
the ratification of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the
independent registered public accounting firm for the Company
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010.
PROPOSALS FOR
2011 ANNUAL MEETING
Any shareholder who desires to submit a proposal for inclusion
in our 2011 Proxy Statement in accordance with
Rule 14a-8
must submit the proposal in writing to O.B. Parrish, Chief
Executive Officer, The Female Health Company, 515 North State
Street, Suite 2225, Chicago, Illinois 60654. We must
receive a proposal by October 29, 2010 (120 days prior
to the anniversary of the mailing date of this Proxy Statement)
in order to consider it for inclusion in our 2011 Proxy
Statement.
Proposals submitted other than pursuant to
Rule 14a-8
that are not intended for inclusion in the Companys 2011
Proxy Statement will be considered untimely if received after
January 12, 2011 (45 days prior to the anniversary of
the mailing date of this Proxy Statement). If a shareholder
gives notice of such a proposal after this deadline, SEC rules
allow our proxy holders discretionary voting authority to vote
against the shareholder proposal to the extent it is properly
presented for consideration at the 2011 Annual Meeting of
Shareholders.
ANNUAL
REPORT
We are required to file an Annual Report, called a
Form 10-K,
with the SEC. A copy of the Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended September 30, 2009 will be provided
without charge on written request of any shareholder whose proxy
is being solicited by the Board of Directors. The written
request should be directed to: Corporate Secretary, The Female
Health Company, 515 North State Street, Suite 2225,
Chicago, Illinois 60654.
16
EXPENSES
OF SOLICITATION
The cost of this solicitation of proxies will be paid by the
Company. It is anticipated that the proxies will be solicited
only by mail, except that solicitation personally or by
telephone may also be made by our regular employees who will
receive no additional compensation for their services in
connection with the solicitation. Arrangements will be made with
brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries
for the forwarding of solicitation material and annual reports
to beneficial owners of stock held by such persons. We will
reimburse such parties for their expenses in so doing.
By Order of the Board of Directors,
William R. Gargiulo, Jr.,
Secretary
Chicago, Illinois
February 26, 2010
17
THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
515 NORTH STATE STREET
SUITE 2225
CHICAGO, IL 60654
VOTE BY INTERNET - www.proxyvote.com
Use the Internet to transmit your voting instructions and for electronic delivery of information up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time March 24, 2010. Have your
proxy card in hand when you access the web site and follow the instructions to obtain your records and to create an electronic voting instruction form.
VOTE BY PHONE - 1-800-690-6903
Use any touch-tone telephone to transmit your voting instructions up until 11:59 P.M. Eastern Time March 24, 2010. Have your proxy card in hand when you call
and then follow the instructions.
VOTE BY MAIL
Mark, sign and date your proxy card and return it in the postage-paid envelope we have provided or return it to Vote Processing, c/o Broadridge, 51 Mercedes
Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.
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TO VOTE, MARK BLOCKS BELOW IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS FOLLOWS: |
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M19260-P89088
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KEEP THIS PORTION FOR YOUR RECORDS |
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THIS PROXY CARD IS VALID ONLY WHEN SIGNED AND DATED. |
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DETACH AND RETURN THIS PORTION ONLY |
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THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY |
For |
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Withhold
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For All
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To withhold
authority to vote for any individual nominee(s), mark For All Except
and write the number(s) of the nominee(s) on the line below.
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All
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All
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Except
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The Board of Directors recommends that you vote FOR the following: |
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Vote on Directors |
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1. |
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Election of Directors
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Nominees: |
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01) David R. Bethune |
05) Mary Ann Leeper, Ph.D |
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02) Stephen M. Dearholt |
06) O.B. Parrish |
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03) Mary Margaret Frank, Ph.D |
07) Michael R. Walton |
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04) William R. Gargiulo, Jr. |
08) Richard E. Wenninger |
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Vote on Proposal |
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For
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2. |
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To ratify the appointment of McGladrey & Pullen, LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010. |
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3. |
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In their discretion, the Proxies are authorized to vote upon such other matters as may properly come before
the meeting. |
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For address changes and/or comments, please check this box and write them on the back where indicated. |
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Signature [PLEASE SIGN WITHIN BOX] |
Date |
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Signature (Joint Owners) |
Date
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Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Annual
Meeting:
The Notice and Proxy Statement and Annual Report are available at www.proxyvote.com.
M19261-P89088
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PROXY
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THE FEMALE HEALTH COMPANY
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PROXY |
THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The undersigned hereby appoints O.B. Parrish and William R. Gargiulo, Jr., or either one of them, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, as
proxy or proxies of the undersigned to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of The Female Health Company to be held on Thursday March 25, 2010 at 10:00
a.m., local time, in the Printers Row Board Room on the 2nd floor of the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown, 600 North State Street, Chicago, IL 60610 and
at any adjournment thereof, there to vote all shares of Common Stock, which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present as specified upon
the matters listed on the reverse side and in their discretion upon such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges receipt of the Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders
and accompanying Proxy Statement, ratifies all that said proxies or their substitutes may lawfully do by virtue hereof, and revokes all former proxies.
Please sign exactly as your name appears hereon, date and return this Proxy.
UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED TO GRANT AUTHORITY TO ELECT THE
NOMINATED DIRECTORS AND TO RATIFY THE APPOINTMENT OF MCGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP AS THE COMPANYS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM. IF OTHER MATTERS
COME BEFORE THE MEETING, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BEST JUDGMENT OF THE PROXIES APPOINTED.
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Address Changes/Comments: |
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(If you noted any Address Changes/Comments above, please mark corresponding box on the reverse
side.)
Continued and to be signed on reverse side