Form 4: Church & Dwight Executive Acquires Phantom Stock Under Deferred Compensation Plan

Carlen Hooker, EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Church & Dwight, acquired phantom stock shares under the company's Deferred Compensation Plan on April 15, 2024.

Summary

• On April 15, 2024, Carlen Hooker, the EVP and Chief Commercial Officer of Church & Dwight Co., Inc., acquired 12.601 phantom stock shares.
• The acquisition was made under the Church & Dwight Co., Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan.
• These phantom stock shares are convertible to common stock on a 1-for-1 basis and will be settled in cash as prescribed by the Plan.
• Following the transaction, Hooker directly owns 1,634.788 derivative securities.

Sentiment

Score: 7

Explanation: The sentiment is neutral to positive. It reflects a routine executive compensation transaction, indicating alignment of interests between the executive and the company's performance.

Positives

• The acquisition of phantom stock aligns the executive's interests with the long-term performance of the company.
• The Deferred Compensation Plan provides a tax-advantaged way for executives to save for retirement.

Future Outlook

The phantom stock shares will be settled in cash at a future date as prescribed by the Deferred Compensation Plan.

Industry Context

Executive compensation packages often include phantom stock or similar instruments to incentivize performance and align executive interests with shareholder value. This filing is a routine disclosure of such a transaction.

Comparison to Industry Standards

• Deferred compensation plans are a common component of executive compensation packages in publicly traded companies like Church & Dwight.
• Companies such as Procter & Gamble (PG) and Unilever (UL) also utilize similar deferred compensation strategies to attract and retain top talent.
• The specific terms of the Church & Dwight plan, such as the conversion ratio and settlement method, would need to be compared to those of peer companies to assess its relative competitiveness.

Stakeholder Impact

• The acquisition of phantom stock by an executive can positively influence shareholder confidence by aligning management's interests with the company's long-term success.

Key Dates