COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2003

Apr 29, 2003

DEFA14A 1 a35098.htm COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

Section 240.14a-101 Schedule 14A. Information required in proxy statement. Schedule 14A Information Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

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[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement

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[ ] Definitive Proxy Statement

[X] Definitive Additional Materials

[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 240.14a-12

COLGATE-PALMOLIVE COMPANY

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which
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EXPLANATORY NOTE

On March 27, 2003, Colgate-Palmolive Company (the “Company”) filed its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Due to a clerical error, the information with respect to Stephen C. Patrick, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, set forth under the caption “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” on page 28 was incorrect. In fact, since January 1, 2002, the Company purchased from Mr. Patrick only 7,169 shares of common stock of the Company at a price of $371,820 (equal to the then current aggregate fair market value of the shares), rather than the 35,014 shares for $1,913,865 reflected in the Company’s previously filed definitive proxy statement. These sales of an aggregate of 7,169 shares were correctly reported by Mr. Patrick in a timely manner on Forms 4 filed with the SEC and were made to satisfy tax withholding obligations, above the statutory amount withheld by the Company, in connection with stock option exercises by Mr. Patrick. Mr. Patrick’s net share ownership increased as a result of these stock option exercises. The “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” section of the Company’s definitive proxy statement is hereby amended to reflect the facts set forth above.