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V F CORP — Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement 2006
Mar 23, 2006
30941_psi_2006-03-23_a1017829-a57f-4319-8f4e-e53e4fe8e96b.zip
Proxy Solicitation & Information Statement
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Table of Contents
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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:
| o | Preliminary Proxy Statement |
|---|---|
| o | Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
| þ | Definitive Proxy Statement |
| o | Definitive Additional Materials |
| o | Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12 |
VF CORPORATION
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
| þ | No fee required. |
|---|---|
| o | Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4) 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:
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VF CORPORATION
March 23, 2006
Dear Shareholder:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at the O.Henry Hotel, Caldwell Room, 624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, commencing at 10:30 a.m. Your Board of Directors and management look forward to greeting personally those shareholders able to attend.
At the meeting, shareholders will be asked to (i) elect four directors; (ii) ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006; and (iii) consider such other matters as may properly come before the meeting.
Your Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the election of the persons nominated to serve as directors and FOR the ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm. Regardless of the number of shares you own or whether you plan to attend, it is important that your shares be represented and voted at the meeting.
You may vote in person at the Annual Meeting or you may vote your shares via the Internet, via a toll-free telephone number, or by signing, dating and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided, as explained on page 1 of the attached proxy statement.
Your interest and participation in the affairs of VF are most appreciated.
| Sincerely, |
|---|
| ● |
| Mackey J. McDonald |
| Chairman and Chief |
| Executive Officer |
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VF CORPORATION
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
To Be Held April 25, 2006
March 23, 2006
To the Shareholders of VF CORPORATION:
The Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation will be held at the O.Henry Hotel, Caldwell Room, 624 Green Valley Road, Greensboro, North Carolina, on Tuesday, April 25, 2006, at 10:30 a.m., for the following purposes:
(1) to elect four directors to hold office until the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders;
(2) to ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006; and
(3) to transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting and any adjournments thereof.
A copy of VFs Annual Report for 2005 is enclosed for your information.
Only shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 7, 2006 are entitled to notice of and to vote at the meeting.
| By Order of the Board of Directors |
|---|
| Candace S. Cummings |
| Vice President Administration, |
| General Counsel and Secretary |
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT
You are urged to vote your shares via the Internet, through
our toll-free telephone number or by signing, dating and
promptly returning your proxy in the enclosed envelope.
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TOC
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| ABOUT THE MEETING | 1 |
|---|---|
| What is the purpose of the | |
| Meeting? | 1 |
| Who is entitled to vote at the | |
| Meeting? | 1 |
| What are the voting rights of | |
| shareholders? | 1 |
| How do shareholders vote? | 1 |
| What constitutes a quorum? | 2 |
| What are the Boards | |
| recommendations? | 2 |
| What vote is required to approve each | |
| item? | 2 |
| Other Information | 3 |
| ITEM NO. 1 ELECTION OF | |
| DIRECTORS | 4 |
| CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT VF | 7 |
| Corporate Governance | 7 |
| Board of Directors | 8 |
| Board Committees and Their | |
| Responsibilities | 8 |
| Directors Compensation | 11 |
| EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 13 |
| COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT | 13 |
| SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE | 19 |
| LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS | 20 |
| EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION | |
| TABLE | 22 |
| FUTURE REMUNERATION | 23 |
| PERFORMANCE GRAPH | 27 |
| SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL | |
| OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 28 |
| ITEM NO. 2 RATIFICATION | |
| OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING | |
| FIRM | 31 |
| OTHER INFORMATION | 33 |
| APPENDIX A INDEPENDENCE | |
| STANDARDS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | A-1 |
/TOC
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VF CORPORATION
PROXY STATEMENT
For the 2006 Annual Meeting of Shareholders
This proxy statement is furnished in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of VF Corporation to be voted at VFs Annual Meeting of Shareholders on April 25, 2006 and any adjournments of the meeting (the Meeting).
link1 "ABOUT THE MEETING"
ABOUT THE MEETING
link1 "What is the purpose of the Meeting?"
What is the purpose of the Meeting?
At the Meeting, holders of VF Common Stock and Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock (Series B ESOP Stock) will vote on the matters described in the notice of the Meeting on the front page of this proxy statement, including the election of four directors, ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006, and transaction of such other business as may properly come before the Meeting.
link1 "Who is entitled to vote at the Meeting?"
Who is entitled to vote at the Meeting?
Only shareholders of record on March 7, 2006, the record date for the Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of and vote at the Meeting.
link1 "What are the voting rights of shareholders?"
What are the voting rights of shareholders?
Each share of Common Stock is entitled to one vote and each share of Series B ESOP Stock is entitled to two votes on each matter considered at the Meeting.
link1 "How do shareholders vote?"
How do shareholders vote?
Shareholders may vote at the Meeting in person or by proxy. Proxies validly delivered by shareholders (by Internet, telephone or mail as described below) and received by VF prior to the Meeting will be voted in accordance with the instructions contained therein. If a shareholders proxy card gives no instructions, it will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors. A shareholder may change any vote by proxy before the proxy is exercised by filing with the Secretary of VF either a notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or by attending the Meeting and voting in person. Shareholders who vote by telephone or the Internet may also change their votes by re-voting by telephone or the Internet within the time periods listed below. A shareholders latest vote, including via the Internet or telephone, is the one that is counted.
There are three ways to vote by proxy:
1) BY INTERNET: Visit the web site http://www.computershare.com/expressvote. To vote your shares, you must have your proxy/voting instruction card in hand. The web site is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and will be accessible UNTIL 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on April 24, 2006;
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| 2) BY TELEPHONE: Call toll-free 1-800-652-VOTE (1-800-652-8683). Shareholders outside of the U.S. and Canada should call 1-781-575-2300. To vote
your shares, you must have your proxy/voting instruction card in
hand. Telephone voting is accessible 24 hours a day, seven
days a week, UNTIL 11:59 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on
April 24, 2006; or |
| --- |
| 3) BY MAIL: Mark your proxy/voting instruction card,
date and sign it, and return it in the postage-paid
(U.S. only) envelope provided. If the envelope is missing,
please address your completed proxy/voting instruction card to
VF Corporation, c/o Computershare Trust Company, N.A., P.O.
Box 43100, Providence, Rhode Island 02940. |
IF YOU VOTE BY INTERNET OR TELEPHONE, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RETURN YOUR PROXY/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD.
If you are a beneficial owner, please refer to your proxy card or other information forwarded by your bank, broker or other holder of record to see which of the above choices are available to you.
link1 "What constitutes a quorum?"
What constitutes a quorum?
Shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes that all shareholders are entitled to cast must be present at the Meeting in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. At the close of business on March 7, 2006, there were 110,725,132 outstanding shares consisting of 109,987,489 shares of Common Stock and 737,643 shares of Series B ESOP Stock. Holders of these outstanding shares are entitled to cast a total of 111,462,775 votes at the Meeting.
link1 "What are the Boards recommendations?"
What are the Boards recommendations?
The Board recommends a vote FOR the election of the four nominees proposed for election as directors and FOR ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006. If any other matters are brought before the Meeting, the proxy holders will vote as recommended by the Board of Directors. If no recommendation is given, the proxy holders will vote in their discretion. At the date of this proxy statement, we do not know of any other matter to come before the Meeting. Persons named as proxy holders on the accompanying form of proxy/voting instruction card are Mackey J. McDonald, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VF, and Candace S. Cummings, Vice President-Administration, General Counsel and Secretary of VF.
link1 "What vote is required to approve each item?"
What vote is required to approve each item?
The four nominees for election as directors who receive the greatest number of votes will be elected directors. Ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006 or approval of any other matter to come before the Meeting requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast on such matter at the Meeting. Shares of Common Stock and shares of Series B ESOP Stock will vote together as a single class. Withheld votes, abstentions and broker non-votes
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will not be taken into account in determining the outcome of the election of directors or ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2006.
link1 "Other Information"
Other Information
A copy of VFs Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 accompanies this proxy statement. No material contained in the Annual Report is to be considered a part of the proxy solicitation material.
VFs mailing address is P.O. Box 21488, Greensboro, North Carolina 27420. This proxy statement and the form of proxy/voting instruction card were first mailed or given to shareholders on approximately March 23, 2006.
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link1 "ITEM NO. 1"
ITEM NO. 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
VFs Board of Directors has nominated the four persons named below to serve as directors until the 2009 Annual Meeting. The persons named in the accompanying form of proxy/voting instruction card intend to vote such proxy for the election as directors of the following nominees. If any nominee becomes unable or unwilling to serve as a director, the proxy holders will vote for such other person or persons as may be nominated by the Board of Directors. The nominees named below have indicated that they are willing to serve if reelected to the VF Board. The Board of Directors may fill vacancies in the Board, and any director chosen to fill a vacancy would hold office until the next election of the class for which such director had been chosen. It is the policy of VF that a substantial majority of the members of its Board of Directors should be independent. Currently, 11 of VFs 12 directors have been determined by the Board to be independent in accordance with standards adopted by the Board, as set forth in the Boards Corporate Governance Principles and as attached hereto as Appendix A, and the Listing Standards of the New York Stock Exchange, the principal securities exchange on which VFs Common Stock is traded.
| Year in Which | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service as a | ||
| Name | Principal Occupation | Director Began |
| To Serve Until the 2009 Annual Meeting | ||
| Robert J. Hurst, 60 | Managing Director, Crestview Partners LLC | 1994 |
| W. Alan McCollough, 56 | Chairman of the Board of Circuit City Stores, Inc. | 2000 |
| M. Rust Sharp, 65 | Of Counsel to Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager | |
| (Attorneys) | 1984 | |
| Raymond G. Viault, 61 | Retired; former Vice Chairman, General Mills, Inc. | 2002 |
Mr. Hurst has been a Managing Director of Crestview Partners LLC, a private equity firm, since 2005. Previously, he was Vice Chairman of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., an international investment banking and securities firm. Mr. Hurst is a member of the Executive, Finance and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
Mr. McCollough has served as Chairman of the Board of Circuit City Stores, Inc. since 2002. He was also Chief Executive Officer of the company from 2002 until his retirement from that position at the end of February 2006, and President of the company from 2002 until 2005. In 2000, he was elected to the companys board of directors and added the title of Chief Executive Officer. Mr. McCollough is a member of the Compensation and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Sharp has been Of Counsel to Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager, a law firm located in West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, since 1999. He was Of Counsel to Pepper Hamilton LLP, a national law firm headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from 1996 to 1999.
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Mr. Sharp is a member of the Executive and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors. (Also see Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.)
Mr. Viault was Vice Chairman of General Mills, Inc. with responsibility for General Mills Meals, Baking Products, Pillsbury USA and Bakeries and Foodservice businesses until his retirement in 2005. Mr. Viault joined General Mills as Vice Chairman in 1996. Mr. Viault also serves as a director of Safeway Inc., a food and drug retailer in North America, and of Newell Rubbermaid Inc., a consumer products company. He is a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
| Year in Which | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service as a | ||
| Name | Principal Occupation | Director Began |
| Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2008 Annual Meeting | ||
| Juan Ernesto de Bedout, 61 | Group President Latin American Operations, Kimberly-Clark | |
| Corporation | 2000 | |
| Ursula O. Fairbairn, 63 | President and Chief Executive Officer, Fairbairn Group LLC | 1994 |
| Barbara S. Feigin, 68 | Consultant | 1987 |
| Mackey J. McDonald, 59 | Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of VF | 1993 |
Mr. de Bedout has served as Group President of Latin American Operations for Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a global health and hygiene company, responsible for business units in Central and South America as well as the Caribbean, since 1999. He is a member of the Audit and Finance Committees of the Board of Directors.
Mrs. Fairbairn has served as President and Chief Executive Officer, Fairbairn Group LLC, a human resources and executive management consulting company, since April 2005. She served as Executive Vice President Human Resources & Quality, American Express Co., a diversified global travel and financial services company, from 1996 until her retirement in 2005. Mrs. Fairbairn also serves as a director of Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Centex Corporation, Circuit City Stores, Inc. and Sunoco, Inc. She is a member of the Executive and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors. (Also see Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.)
Mrs. Feigin has been a Consultant specializing in strategic marketing and branding since 1999. She served as Executive Vice President and Worldwide Director of Strategic Services of Grey Advertising Inc. from 1983 until her retirement from that position in 1999. Mrs. Feigin also serves as a director of Circuit City Stores, Inc. She is a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
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Mr. McDonald has served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of VF Corporation since 1998. He also served as President from 1993 until March 2006. Mr. McDonald was elected a director of VF in 1993 and Chief Executive Officer in 1996. Mr. McDonald joined VFs Lee division in 1983 and served in various managerial positions with VFs subsidiaries until 1991 when he was named a VF Group Vice President. He is a director of Wachovia Corporation, Hershey Foods Corporation, and, since November 2002, Tyco International Ltd. Mr. McDonald is Chairman of the Executive Committee and serves as an ex officio member of all other committees of the Board, except the Audit, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees.
| Year in Which | ||
|---|---|---|
| Service as a | ||
| Name | Principal Occupation | Director Began |
| Directors Whose Terms Expire at the 2007 Annual Meeting | ||
| Edward E. Crutchfield, 64 | Retired; former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, First | |
| Union Corporation | 1992 | |
| George Fellows, 63 | President and Chief Executive Officer, Callaway Golf Company | 1997 |
| Daniel R. Hesse, 52 | Chief Executive Officer, Local Telecommunications Division of | |
| Sprint Nextel Corporation | 1999 | |
| Clarence Otis, Jr., 49 | Chief Executive Officer, Darden Restaurants, Inc. | 2004 |
Mr. Crutchfield was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Union Corporation (now known as Wachovia Corporation), a banking and financial services company, from 1985 until his retirement in 2000. Mr. Crutchfield serves as a director of The Liberty Corp., a television broadcasting company. He is a member of the Executive, Compensation and Finance Committees of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Fellows is President and Chief Executive Officer of Callaway Golf Company and a member of its Board of Directors. Previously, he served as a consultant to Investcorp International, Inc. and other private equity firms from 2000 through July 2005, and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Revlon, Inc. and of Revlon Consumer Products Corporation from 1997 through 1999. He is a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Hesse is Chief Executive Officer of the Local Telecommunications Division of Sprint Nextel Corporation. He previously served as the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Terabeam Corporation, a telecommunications company, from 2000 until 2004. Prior to his service at Terabeam, Mr. Hesse served as President and Chief Executive Officer of AT&T Wireless Services. He also serves as a director of Nokia Corporation, a mobile communications company. He is a member of the Finance and Compensation Committees of the Board of Directors.
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Mr. Otis is the Chief Executive Officer of Darden Restaurants, Inc. Previously, he served as the Executive Vice President of Darden Restaurants, Inc., and President of its Smokey Bones Restaurants division, from December 2002 until December 2004. He served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Darden Restaurants from April 2002 to December 2002 and Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Otis also serves as a director of Darden Restaurants, Inc., Verizon Communications, Inc. and St. Pauls Travelers Property Casualty Corp., a property casualty insurance company. He is a member of the Audit and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors.
link1 "CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT VF"
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AT VF
As provided by the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law and VFs By-Laws, VFs business is managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. Members of the Board are kept informed of VFs business through discussions with the Chairman and CEO and other officers, by reviewing VFs annual business plan and other materials provided to them and by participating in meetings of the Board and its committees. In addition, to promote open discussion among the independent directors, those directors meet in regularly scheduled executive sessions without management present. During 2005, the independent directors met in executive session without management present five times. The chairs of the Nominating and Governance, Audit and Compensation Committees of the Board preside at meetings or executive sessions of non-management directors on a rotating basis.
link1 "Corporate Governance"
Corporate Governance
VFs Board of Directors has a long-standing commitment to sound and effective corporate governance practices. A foundation of VFs corporate governance is the Boards policy that a substantial majority of the members of the Board should be independent. This policy is included in the Boards written Corporate Governance Principles, which address a number of other important governance issues such as:
| | qualifications for Board membership; |
|---|---|
| | mandatory retirement for Board members at age 70; |
| | a requirement that directors submit their resignation for |
| consideration upon a substantial change in principal occupation | |
| or business affiliation; | |
| | Board leadership; |
| | committee responsibilities; |
| | Board consideration of majority shareholder votes; |
| | authority of the Board to engage outside independent advisors as |
| it deems appropriate; | |
| | succession planning for the chief executive officer; and |
| | annual Board self-evaluation. |
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In addition, the Board of Directors has for many years had in place formal charters stating the powers and responsibilities of each of its committees.
The Boards Corporate Governance Principles, the Audit, Nominating and Governance, Compensation and Finance Committee charters, code of business conduct and ethics applicable to the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, and the principal accounting officer as well as other employees and all directors of VF, and other corporate governance information are available on VFs web site (www.vfc.com) and will be provided free of charge to any person upon request directed to the Secretary of VF at P.O. Box 21488, Greensboro, North Carolina 27420. Anyone wishing to communicate directly with the non-management members of the Board of Directors (including the directors who preside at meetings or executive sessions of non-management directors) may contact the Chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee, c/o the Secretary of VF at the address set forth in the preceding sentence, or call the VF Ethics Helpline at 1-877-285-4152 or send an email message to [email protected].
Management has reviewed internally and with the Board of Directors the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and the related rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards regarding corporate governance policies and procedures. We believe that the Boards Corporate Governance Principles and committee charters meet these requirements.
link1 "Board of Directors"
Board of Directors
In accordance with VFs By-Laws, the Board of Directors has set the number of directors at 12. Eleven of VFs directors are non-employee directors. The Board considered transactions and relationships between each director and members of his or her immediate family and VF and determined that 11 of VFs 12 directors are free of any material relationship with VF, other than their service as directors, and are independent directors both under the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards and the categorical standards adopted by the Board that are part of the Corporate Governance Principles and are attached hereto as Appendix A. The Board determined that Mrs. Fairbairn and Mrs. Feigin and Messrs. Crutchfield, de Bedout, Fellows, Hesse, Hurst, McCollough, Otis, Sharp and Viault are independent directors and that Mr. McDonald is not an independent director.
During 2005, VFs Board of Directors held eight meetings. Under VFs Corporate Governance Principles, directors are expected to attend all meetings of the Board, all meetings of committees of which they are members and the annual meetings of shareholders. Every member of the Board attended at least 75% of the total number of meetings of the Board and all committees on which he or she served, and every member of the Board attended the annual meeting of shareholders in 2005.
link1 "Board Committees and Their Responsibilities"
Board Committees and Their Responsibilities
The Board has Executive, Audit, Finance, Nominating and Governance, and Compensation Committees. The Board has determined that each of the members of the Audit, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees is independent. Each of these committees is governed by a written charter approved by the Board of Directors. Each is
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required to perform an annual self-evaluation and each committee may engage outside independent advisors as the committee deems appropriate. A brief description of the responsibilities of the Audit, Finance, Nominating and Governance and Compensation Committees follows.
Audit Committee: The Audit Committee monitors and makes recommendations to the Board concerning the financial policies and procedures to be observed in the conduct of VFs affairs. Its duties include:
| | selecting the independent registered public accounting firm for
VF; |
| --- | --- |
| | reviewing the scope of the audit to be conducted by the
independent registered public accounting firm; |
| | meeting with the independent registered public accounting firm
concerning the results of their audit and VFs selection
and disclosure of critical accounting policies; |
| | reviewing with management and the independent registered public
accounting firm VFs annual and quarterly statements prior
to filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission; |
| | overseeing the scope and adequacy of VFs system of
internal accounting controls; |
| | preparing a report to shareholders annually for inclusion in the
proxy statement; and |
| | serving as the principal liaison between the Board of Directors
and VFs independent registered public accounting firm. |
As of the date of this proxy statement, the members of the committee are Messrs. Fellows (Chairman), de Bedout, Otis and Viault and Mrs. Feigin. The committee held eight meetings during 2005. The Board of Directors has determined that all of the members of the Committee are independent as independence for audit committee members is defined in the New York Stock Exchange Listing Standards and the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and are financially literate. The Board of Directors has further determined that Messrs. Fellows, Otis and Viault qualify as audit committee financial experts in accordance with the definition of audit committee financial expert set forth in the Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and have accounting and related financial management expertise within the meaning of the Listing Standards of the New York Stock Exchange. Messrs. Fellows, Otis and Viault acquired those attributes through acting as or actively overseeing a principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of a public company. Each of them has experience overseeing or assessing the performance of companies with respect to the evaluation of financial statements in their roles as chairman and chief executive officer, vice chairman or president of a public company. In addition to his service as vice chairman of General Mills, Mr. Viault acted as chief financial officer of General Mills for two years and currently serves on the audit committee of another public company.
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Finance Committee: The Finance Committee monitors and makes recommendations to the Board concerning the financial policies and procedures of VF. The responsibilities of the committee include reviewing and recommending to the Board actions concerning:
| | dividend policy; |
|---|---|
| | changes in capital structure, including debt or equity issuances; |
| | the financial aspects of proposed acquisitions or |
| divestitures; and | |
| | VFs annual capital expenditure budgets and certain capital |
| projects. |
As of the date of this proxy statement, the members of the committee are Messrs. Crutchfield (Chairman), de Bedout, Hesse and Hurst. The committee held five meetings during 2005.
Nominating and Governance Committee: The responsibilities of the Nominating and Governance Committee include:
| | screening potential candidates for director and recommending
candidates to the Board of Directors; |
| --- | --- |
| | recommending to the Board a succession plan for the Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer; and |
| | reviewing and recommending to the Board governance policies and
principles for VF. |
The committee generally identifies nominees for director by engaging a third party search firm whose function is to assist in the identification of potential nominees. The search firm is paid a fee for its services. Candidates are selected for their character, judgment, business experience and acumen. The committee will consider suggestions received from shareholders regarding nominees for election as directors, which should be submitted to the Secretary of VF. If the committee does not recommend a nominee proposed by a shareholder for election as a director, then the shareholder seeking to propose the nominee would have to follow the formal nomination procedures set forth in VFs By-Laws. VFs By-Laws provide that a shareholder may nominate a person for election as a director if written notice of the shareholders intent to nominate a person for election as a director is received by the Secretary of VF (1) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than 150 days prior to the date of the annual meeting or (2) in the case of a special meeting at which directors are to be elected, not later than seven days following the day on which notice of the meeting was first mailed to shareholders. The notice must contain specified information about the shareholder and the nominee, including such information as would be required to be included in a proxy statement pursuant to the rules and regulations established by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The committees policy with regard to consideration of any potential director is the same for candidates recommended by shareholders and candidates identified by other means. As of the date of this proxy statement, the members of the committee are Mrs. Feigin (Chairman) and Messrs. Fellows, Hurst, McCollough, Otis and Viault. The committee held four meetings during 2005.
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Compensation Committee: The responsibilities of the Compensation Committee include:
| | reviewing and approving VFs goals and objectives relevant
to the Chief Executive Officers compensation, evaluating
the Chief Executive Officers performance in light of these
goals and objectives, and setting the Chief Executive
Officers compensation level based on this evaluation; |
| --- | --- |
| | annually reviewing the performance evaluations of the other
executive officers of VF; |
| | administering and interpreting VFs employee incentive
compensation plans, in accordance with the terms of each
plan; and |
| | preparing a report to shareholders annually for inclusion in the
proxy statement. |
The members of the committee are Mrs. Fairbairn (Chairman) and Messrs. Crutchfield, Hesse, McCollough and Sharp. The committee held six meetings during 2005.
| Committee Membership and Number of Meetings Held | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominating and | ||||
| Audit | Compensation | Governance | Finance | |
| Director | Committee | Committee | Committee | Committee |
| Edward E. Crutchfield | Member | Chairman | ||
| Juan Ernesto de Bedout | Member | Member | ||
| Ursula O. Fairbairn | Chairman | |||
| Barbara S. Feigin | Member | Chairman | ||
| George Fellows | Chairman | Member | ||
| Daniel R. Hesse | Member | Member | ||
| Robert J. Hurst | Member | Member | ||
| W. Alan McCollough | Member | Member | ||
| Clarence Otis, Jr. | Member | Member | ||
| M. Rust Sharp | Member | |||
| Raymond G. Viault | Member | Member | ||
| Number of Meetings | 8 | 6 | 4 | 5 |
link1 "Directors Compensation"
Directors Compensation
The components of directors compensation are cash retainer, committee fees and equity-based grants. Directors compensation increased for 2006. Effective January 1, 2006, each director other than Mr. McDonald receives an annual retainer of $45,000 (unchanged from 2005), payable in quarterly installments, plus a fee of $1,500 for each Board meeting attended (increased from $1,250 in 2005). Each director who serves on a committee is
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paid $1,500 for each meeting attended (increased from $1,250 in 2005). Each director serving as chairman of a committee also receives an additional retainer of $5,000 per year (unchanged from 2005). Each director is paid $1,000 per day (unchanged from 2005) for special assignments in connection with Board or committee activity as designated by the Chairman of the Board. Travel and lodging expenses are reimbursed. Mr. McDonald, the only director who is also an employee of VF, does not receive any compensation in addition to his regular compensation for attendance at meetings of the Board or any of its committees. Each director may elect to defer all or part of his or her retainer and fees into equivalent units of VF Common Stock under the VF Deferred Savings Plan for Non-Employee Directors. All Common Stock equivalent units receive dividend equivalents. Deferred sums, including Common Stock equivalent units, are payable in cash to the participant upon termination of service or such later date specified in advance by the participant. Eight directors elected to defer compensation in 2005. VF does not provide pension, medical or life insurance benefits to its non-employee directors. Directors traveling on VF business are covered by VFs business travel accident insurance policy which generally covers all VF employees and directors.
In order to link compensation of directors to VFs stock performance, each director is eligible to receive grants of non-qualified stock options to purchase shares of Common Stock and restricted awards (restricted stock or restricted stock units) under VFs 1996 Stock Compensation Plan. In 2006, stock options were granted to non-employee directors in the amount of 5,800 (increased from 5,400 in 2005). Such options have an exercise price equal to fair market value at the date of grant, have a stated term of ten years and become exercisable one year after the date of grant. Options are exercisable only so long as the optionee remains a director of VF except that, subject to earlier expiration of the option term, options are not forfeited and are exercisable for 36 months after the directors retirement or death and 36 months after termination due to disability. It is VFs policy to strongly encourage stock ownership by VF directors to closely align the interests of management and shareholders. Accordingly, directors are expected to accumulate, over a specific period of time, and then retain, shares having a fair market value equal to three times their annual retainer.
From time to time directors attend formal training programs in areas relevant to the discharge of their duties as directors. VF reimburses expenses incurred by directors attending such programs.
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Each director is eligible to participate in VFs matching gift program for institutions of higher learning and National Public Television and Radio up to an aggregate of $10,000 per year.
| Stock Options, Retainer and Fees Received by the Independent Directors in 2005 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock Option | Total Cash | ||||
| Director | Award | Retainer | Chair Fees | Meeting Fees | Compensation |
| Edward E. Crutchfield | 5,400 | $ 45,000 | $ 5,000 | $ 23,750 | $ 73,750 |
| Juan Ernesto de Bedout | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 26,250 | 71,250 |
| Ursula O. Fairbairn | 5,400 | 45,000 | 5,000 | 16,250 | 66,250 |
| Barbara S. Feigin | 5,400 | 45,000 | 5,000 | 25,000 | 75,000 |
| George Fellows | 5,400 | 45,000 | 5,000 | 22,500 | 72,500 |
| Daniel R. Hesse | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 18,750 | 63,750 |
| Robert J. Hurst | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 18,750 | 63,750 |
| W. Alan McCollough | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 22,500 | 67,500 |
| Clarence Otis, Jr. | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 22,500 | 67,500 |
| M. Rust Sharp | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 17,500 | 62,500 |
| Raymond G. Viault | 5,400 | 45,000 | 0 | 23,750 | 68,750 |
link1 "EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION"
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
link1 "COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT"
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee (the Committee) reports as follows with respect to compensation of executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005:
Principles of Executive Compensation Program
The goals of VFs Executive Compensation Program (the Program) are to attract and retain highly competent executives, to provide incentives for achieving and exceeding VFs short-term and long-term financial goals and to align the financial objectives of VFs executives with those of its shareholders, both in the short and long term. The Committee has retained an outside consultant to assist the Committee in developing the Program to realize these goals. The outside consultant is engaged by, and reports directly to, the Committee. The outside consultant attends all meetings of the Committee.
The Program incorporates three compensation objectives. First, the Program seeks to offer total compensation that is competitive with other large U.S.-based companies with which VF may compete for executive talent. Second, the Program aims to provide annual incentives to executives based on corporate and individual performance and to reward superior performance with superior levels of compensation. Third, the Program seeks to maximize long-term total shareholder return by providing executives with incentives tied to
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stock ownership and value, thus aligning interests of shareholders and executives. VF balances each of the Programs objectives by establishing target compensation levels for executive pay that are achieved through a combination of base salary, annual cash incentives and long-term incentives consisting of performance-contingent Common Stock units and stock options.
VFs philosophy is that a significant portion of each executives total compensation should be at-risk based on VFs financial performance. The at-risk components of total compensation are progressively greater for higher level positions. For 2005, the at-risk components of the targeted cash compensation and performance-contingent Common Stock unit packages ranged from 73% for the Chief Executive Officer to between 63% and 68% for the other executive officers named in this proxy statement. Stock options, which are not included in these at-risk calculations, are completely at risk because they have no value to recipients unless the stock price appreciates above the exercise price during the period in which the option is exercisable.
Competitive Compensation Targets
Total compensation targets, consisting of base salary, annual incentive awards and long-term incentive awards, are set annually for designated management positions. The Committee used information provided by Towers Perrin, its outside compensation consultant, regarding its executive compensation database, which includes executive compensation data for over 500 large U.S.-based companies (the Comparison Group), as well as information about companies within the S&P 1500 Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods Index to establish compensation targets for 2005. In general, VF targets total direct compensation for each VF executive officer to be competitive with compensation paid to executives in comparable positions within VFs Comparison Group based on targeted performance goals established by the Committee. Benefits and indirect compensation are set at levels intended to be competitive but are not included in the Committees evaluation of total direct compensation.
Base Salary: Salary ranges and individual salaries for senior executives are reviewed annually by the Committee. In determining individual salaries, the Committee considers the scope of job responsibilities, individual contribution, VFs salary budget, tenure, labor market conditions and current compensation, as compared to market practice, based on guidance provided by the Committees outside compensation consultant.
Annual Incentives: Under the VF Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (EIC Plan), performance goals are set each year by the Committee. In 2005, performance goals were based on VFs reported earnings per share (excluding the effects of extraordinary and non-recurring items and change in accounting policy for the expensing of stock-based compensation), net sales of existing businesses and net sales of recent acquisitions. The Committee establishes a fixed percentage of the mid-point of each executives salary grade as the executives targeted annual incentive opportunity under the EIC Plan. Depending upon the level of achievement of each of the performance goals, annual cash awards could range from 0% to 200% of the targeted incentive opportunity for each EIC Plan participant. For the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, levels of achievement of performance goals under the EIC Plan have ranged between 98% and 171% of the targeted incentive opportunity. The
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maximum individual award is $3,000,000 plus the amount of the participants unused annual limit as of the close of the previous year. The Committee may exercise discretion to reduce awards under the EIC Plan generally or for any individual participant. While it is the policy of the Committee to provide opportunities for annual incentive compensation for achievement of pre-established performance goals based primarily on financial measures, the Committee also retains discretion to pay bonuses apart from the EIC Plan reflecting its subjective assessment of the value of accomplishments of VFs executive officers which, in the Committees view, cannot always be anticipated in advance or reflected in such pre-established goals.
Long-Term Incentives: Long-term incentives consist of performance-contingent Common Stock units and stock options.
Under VFs Mid-Term Incentive Plan (implemented under the VF 1996 Stock Compensation Plan) as in effect for the three-year performance cycle 2003-2005, executives were awarded performance-contingent Common Stock units which gave them the opportunity to earn shares of VF Common Stock. Actual pay-out of these shares for the three-year performance cycle 2003-2005 could be made if VFs average total shareholder return (Common Stock price change plus dividend yield) for the three-year performance period compared favorably to that of a performance peer group, or alternatively, if a specified increase in earnings per share was achieved in the last year of the performance period. For the three-year performance period ended December 31, 2005, the performance peer group consisted of 15 companies significantly engaged in the apparel industry. Depending on the level of achievement of the performance goal, each participant may earn from 0% to 200% of the number of performance-contingent Common Stock units, plus dividend equivalents, targeted by the Committee. For the years 2003, 2004 and 2005, pay-outs have ranged from 50% to 95% of the targeted number of performance-contingent Common Stock units. Awards are paid in shares of VF Common Stock. At the election of a participant, receipt of awards may be deferred until retirement or until dates specified by the participant.
For three-year performance cycles beginning in 2004 and thereafter, awards under the 2004 Mid-Term Incentive Plan will depend on the level of achievement of performance goals set by the Committee at the beginning of each performance cycle. The Committee has determined that actual pay-out of shares awarded for the three-year performance cycles beginning in 2004, 2005 and 2006 is determined based on the average level of achievement of the performance goals under the EIC Plan during the three years of the performance period.
Stock options are typically granted annually under the VF 1996 Stock Compensation Plan. Non-qualified stock options have a stated term of ten years and become exercisable not less than one year after the date of grant. Options are exercisable only so long as the option holder remains an employee of VF or its subsidiaries, except that, subject to earlier expiration of the option term, and to the specific terms and definitions contained in the Stock Compensation Plan, options generally remain exercisable during the period severance payments (if any) are made in the case of involuntary termination of employment, for 36 months after death or retirement or for 36 months after termination of employment due to disability. The Committee determines a value of options granted to executive officers as a
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component of the total targeted compensation. This value is based on an accepted valuation methodology.
The size of individual grants of performance-contingent Common Stock units and options generally increase with the level of responsibility of the executive officer. The grants to each executive officer named in this proxy statement also depend upon the Committees assessment of the individuals performance. The Committee does not assign specific weighting to these factors.
Stock Ownership Commitment: It is VFs policy to strongly encourage stock ownership by VF senior management. This policy closely aligns the interests of management with those of the shareholders. Senior executives are subject to share ownership guidelines that require them to accumulate, over a five year period, and then retain, shares of VF Common Stock having a market value ranging from one to five times annual base salary, depending upon the position. The Chief Executive Officer and the other named executive officers are required to accumulate VF Common Stock having market values as follows:
| Share Ownership Guidelines | |
|---|---|
| Officer | VF Common Stock having a market value of |
| Chief Executive Officer | five times annual base salary |
| Other named executive officers | three times annual base salary |
Until a senior executive has met the targeted ownership level, whenever he or she exercises a stock option, he or she must retain shares equal to 50% of the after-tax value of each option exercised.
Summary of Actions Taken by the Compensation Committee
2005 Base Salary Increases
At its February 2005 meeting, the Committee approved salary increases to be effective as of January 1, 2005. The base salary increase for each executive officer was based on (i) the Committees adjustment of the executives salary grade range, if appropriate, based on market guidance provided by the Committees outside compensation consultant, (ii) the Committees assessment of the individuals salary within his or her salary grade based on the individuals performance and (iii) VFs overall merit increase budget for 2005 of approximately 3% for salaries of senior employees after adjustment for salary range changes. Also, in May 2005, Mr. Shearer, Mr. Wiseman and Mr. Derhofer received interim salary adjustments commensurate with changes in their job responsibilities.
Annual Incentive Awards
At its February 2005 meeting, the Committee established the 2005 EIC Plan performance target and the targeted annual incentive awards for each participating executive as described above. At its February 2006 meeting, the Committee granted EIC Plan awards to the named executive officers based on the level of achievement of the EIC Plan performance target for 2005, resulting in pay-outs of up to 139% of the targeted awards.
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Long-Term Incentive Awards
At its February 2005 meeting, the Committee reviewed VFs philosophy with respect to stock option grants. In order to instill an entrepreneurial spirit among its employees, it is VFs practice to grant stock-based awards to a significant number of management-level employees. In 2005, stock options were granted to 706 management-level employees. The stock options awarded to the named executive officers were based on the Committees assessment of the individuals total compensation from a competitive perspective, within the guidelines established by the Committee, and the executives performance.
At the February 2005 meeting, the Committee established target awards of performance-contingent Common Stock units for the 121 participants in the Mid-Term Incentive Plan for the 2005-2007 performance cycle. At the February 2006 meeting, the Committee approved awards to the 27 participants in the Mid-Term Incentive Plan for the three-year performance period 2003-2005. These awards were based on the level of achievement of comparative total shareholder return over the performance period. Executive officer participants were awarded 80% of the target number of shares of Common Stock potentially earnable under the Mid-Term Incentive Plan for the 2003-2005 performance period.
Compensation of the Chief Executive Officer
The fiscal year 2005 compensation for Mr. McDonald, VFs Chief Executive Officer, consisted of base salary, an annual incentive award and long-term incentive awards. The Committee determined the level for each of these elements using methods consistent with those used for other senior executives.
Mr. McDonalds base salary was increased to $1,100,000 in 2005. In determining Mr. McDonalds 2005 annual incentive the Committee noted, among other things, that for the year 2005 VFs total revenue rose 6% to $6,502.4 million from $6,124.6 million in 2004, net income rose 9% to $518.5 million from $474.7 million, before a one-time after tax cumulative effect adjustment related to the early adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement No. 123 (Revised 2004), Share-Based Payments , which requires the expensing of stock options. Earnings per share before the change in accounting were $4.69 in 2005, an increase of 11% over the $4.21 per share in 2004. Including the cumulative effect adjustment, net income in 2005 was $506.7 million or $4.44 per share. The Committee also considered Mr. McDonalds performance against pre-established goals in a number of areas including building lifestyle brands, expanding VFs share with certain major customers, stretching VFs brands to new geographies, leveraging VFs supply chain capabilities, leadership development and succession planning, and maintaining a high level of confidence in VF management by the financial community.
Based on the foregoing evaluation and the level of achievement of the EIC Plan performance target for 2005, Mr. McDonald received an annual incentive award of $1,474,000 for 2005.
Mr. McDonald was granted options for 250,000 shares of VF Common Stock in 2005 based on the Committees assessment of competitor compensation data, together with the projection of total targeted compensation within the guidelines described above, and the Committees assessment of Mr. McDonalds performance.
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Mr. McDonald was awarded 6,271 shares of Common Stock for the 2003-2005 performance period under the Mid-Term Incentive Plan. The basis for this pay-out is described above. Mr. McDonalds target award under the Mid-Term Incentive Plan for the 2005-2007 performance cycle was set at 50,100 shares. As in the case of other long-term incentive awards, this grant level was determined based on the Committees projection of total targeted compensation within the guidelines described above and the Committees assessment of Mr. McDonalds performance.
At its February 2006 meeting, the Board of Directors increased Mr. McDonalds salary to $1,140,000. The Committee granted him options to purchase 273,000 shares of VF Common Stock and set his target award under the Mid-Term Incentive Plan for the 2006-2008 performance cycle at 60,300 shares.
The Committee has reviewed all components of Mr. McDonalds compensation, including salary, bonus, equity and long-term incentive compensation, stock option and restricted stock gains, the dollar value to the executive and the cost to VF of all perquisites and other personal benefits, pay-out obligations under VFs pension plan, pay-out obligations under VFs Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP), pay-out obligations under VFs deferred compensation plan, and projected pay-out obligations under several termination of employment scenarios, including voluntary termination and change-in -control scenarios, affixing dollar amounts under the various pay-out scenarios. Tally sheets setting forth all the above components were reviewed by the Committee. Based on this review, the Committee finds Mr. McDonalds total compensation to be consistent with the overall compensation philosophy of VF, appropriate in relationship to his peers, and reflective of the Committees assessment of his performance as Chief Executive Officer.
Tax Deductibility Considerations
Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, limits the deductibility of compensation in excess of $1 million paid to the executive officers named in this proxy statement, unless certain requirements are met. Stock options and certain performance-based awards under the 1996 Stock Compensation Plan are designed to meet these requirements as are annual bonuses under VFs EIC Plan. It is the present intention of the Compensation Committee to preserve the deductibility of compensation under Section 162(m) to the extent the Committee believes that to do so is consistent with the best interests of shareholders; however, tax deductibility is only one consideration in determining the type and amount of compensation. The Board of Directors maintains discretion to set salaries and grant awards based on the Boards assessment of individual performance and other relevant factors. Such salaries and awards may not meet the requirements for full deductibility of Section 162(m). In making compensation decisions the Board takes into consideration any potential loss of deductibility.
Ursula O. Fairbairn, Chairman
Edward E. Crutchfield
Daniel R. Hesse
W. Alan McCollough
M. Rust Sharp
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The following table sets forth a summary of the compensation paid or accrued for the years 2003 through 2005 by VF to or for the benefit of the named executive officers.
link1 "SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE"
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
| Long-Term | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation | |||||||||
| Annual Compensation | Awards 1 | Payouts | |||||||
| Securities | |||||||||
| Other | Restricted | Underlying | |||||||
| Annual | Stock | Options/ | LTIP | All Other | |||||
| Name and | Compen- | Award(s) | SARs | Pay-outs | Compen- | ||||
| Principal Position | Year | Salary($) | Bonus($) | sation($) 2 | ($) | (#) | ($) | sation($) 4 | |
| Mackey J. McDonald | 2005 | $ 1,100,000 | $ 1,474,000 | | $ 550,500 | 3 | 250,000 | $ 345,971 | $ 12,500 |
| Chairman, President and | 2004 | 990,000 | 1,985,000 | | | 213,400 | 198,869 | 12,500 | |
| Chief Executive | |||||||||
| Officer 5 | 2003 | 990,000 | 1,039,500 | | | 350,000 | 169,733 | 12,500 | |
| George N. Derhofer | 2005 | 514,700 | 485,000 | | | 44,700 | 105,429 | 12,500 | |
| Senior Vice President | 2004 | 465,200 | 579,200 | | | 43,600 | 60,609 | 12,500 | |
| Global Operations | 2003 | 410,000 | 330,000 | | 44,700 | 51,710 | 12,500 | ||
| John P. Schamberger | 2005 | 557,300 | 514,000 | | | 55,700 | 126,946 | 12,500 | |
| Vice President and | 2004 | 541,100 | 614,000 | | | 54,300 | 72,994 | 12,500 | |
| Chairman | 2003 | 525,300 | 355,000 | | | 100,000 | 62,251 | 12,500 | |
| Cross Coalition | |||||||||
| Management | |||||||||
| Robert K. Shearer | 2005 | 514,400 | 449,000 | | | 44,700 | 105,429 | 12,500 | |
| Senior Vice President and | 2004 | 481,700 | 579,200 | | | 43,600 | 60,609 | 12,500 | |
| Chief Financial Officer | 2003 | 440,000 | 325,000 | | | 80,000 | 51,710 | 12,500 | |
| Eric C. Wiseman | 2005 | 575,900 | 631,000 | | | 55,700 | 126,946 | 12,500 | |
| Executive Vice | 2004 | 485,600 | 698,700 | | | 54,300 | 72,994 | 12,500 | |
| President | 2003 | 423,300 | 315,000 | | | 80,000 | 62,251 | 12,500 | |
| Global | |||||||||
| Brands 5 |
| 1 | The aggregate target number and aggregate value of
performance-contingent Common Stock units earnable for the
three-year performance cycles ending in 2006 and 2007 by the
named executive officers at December 31, 2005, were as
follows: Mr. McDonald 117,900, $6,524,586;
Mr. Derhofer 24,731, $1,368,614;
Mr. Schamberger 30,839, $1,706,630;
Mr. Shearer 24,731, $1,368,614; and
Mr. Wiseman 30,839, $1,706,630. If designated
performance levels corresponding to a maximum earning of
performance-contingent Common Stock units are achieved, the
number of units that may be earned and the related dollar values
for each executive officer in the preceding sentence would
double. Dividend equivalents accrue on these
performance-contingent Common Stock units. In the case of
Mr. McDonald, at December 31, 2005, the
performance-contingent Common Stock units potentially earnable
assuming target performance, together with restricted stock
units held at December 31, 2005 (see footnote 3
below), totaled 127,900 in number with a value at that date of
$7,077,986. |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | The incremental cost to VF of perquisites and other personal
benefits provided to each named executive officer did not exceed
the lesser of $50,000 or 10% of the executives Salary plus
Bonus. |
| 3 | Mr. McDonald received an award of 10,000 restricted stock
units on February 7, 2005. These restricted stock units
will vest on February 7, 2007. Dividend equivalents accrue
on these restricted stock units. |
| 4 | The amount in this column for 2005 represents VFs matching
contribution under the Executive Deferred Savings Plan. |
| 5 | From May 2005 until March 2006, Mr. Wiseman served as
Executive Vice President Global Brands.
Mr. Wiseman was named President and Chief Operating Officer
in March 2006. Mr. McDonald, Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer prior to Mr. Wisemans election as
President and Chief Operating Officer, continues to serve as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. |
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link1 "LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS"
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE AWARDS
Stock Options
This table sets forth for the named executive officers information regarding the grant of stock options by VF in the 2005 fiscal year and their potential realizable values. All stock options were granted under VFs 1996 Stock Compensation Plan, as amended, which is a shareholder-approved plan. This Plan is VFs only plan under which stock options and other equity awards are granted.
Options Granted in the Last Fiscal Year
| Potential Realizable Value | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| at Assumed Annual Rates | ||||||
| of Stock Price Appreciation | ||||||
| Individual Grants 1 | for Option Term 2 | |||||
| Number of | % of Total | |||||
| Securities | Options | Exercise | ||||
| Underlying | Granted to | or Base | ||||
| Options | Employees in | Price | Expiration | |||
| Name | Granted(#) | Fiscal Year | ($/Sh) | Date | 5% | 10% |
| M.J. McDonald | 250,000 | 10.4% | $ 60.20 | 2/10/2015 | $9,465,000 | $23,985,000 |
| G.N. Derhofer | 44,700 | 1.9% | $ 60.20 | 2/10/2015 | 1,691,000 | 4,288,000 |
| J.P. Schamberger | 55,700 | 2.3% | $ 60.20 | 2/10/2015 | 2,108,000 | 5,343,000 |
| R.K. Shearer | 44,700 | 1.9% | $ 60.20 | 2/10/2015 | 1,691,000 | 4,288,000 |
| E.C. Wiseman | 55,700 | 2.3% | $ 60.20 | 2/10/2015 | 2,108,000 | 5,343,000 |
| 1 | All of the options were non-qualified stock options granted in
February 2005. Each option becomes vested and exercisable in
thirds on the first, second and third anniversaries of the date
of grant, respectively. Options generally become fully vested
and exercisable upon a Change in Control. All options have a
ten-year term but, in the event of certain terminations of the
optionees employment, the option will expire on an
accelerated basis, as follows: 36 months after retirement
or death; 36 months after termination due to disability; at
the end of the period severance payments are made (if any) in
the case of involuntary termination; and at the time of any
voluntary termination. |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | The dollar gains under these columns result from calculations
assuming 5% and 10% growth rates as set by the Securities and
Exchange Commission and are not intended to forecast future
price appreciation of VF Common Stock. It is important to note
that options will result in receipt of no value to recipients,
including the named executive officers, unless the stock price
appreciates above the exercise price shown in the table during
the period in which the option is exercisable. |
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The following table sets forth for the named executive officers information regarding stock options exercised by them during the 2005 fiscal year, together with the number and value of stock options held at 2005 fiscal year end, each on an aggregate basis.
| Aggregated Option Exercises in the 2005 Fiscal Year and Fiscal Year-End Option Values | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value of | ||||||
| Number of | Unexercised | |||||
| Unexercised | In-the-Money | |||||
| Options at | Options at | |||||
| Fiscal Year-End | Fiscal Year-End 1 | |||||
| Number of | (#) | ($) | ||||
| Shares Acquired | Value | Exercisable/ | Exercisable/ | |||
| Name | on Exercise(#) | Realized($) | Unexercisable | Unexercisable | ||
| M.J. McDonald | | | 1,268,530/ | 508,932 | $22,131,866/ | $3,919,136 |
| G.N. Derhofer | 138,000 | $ 3,133,004 | 147,868/ | 100,432 | 2,414,536/ | 859,408 |
| J.P. Schamberger | 96,667 | 2,389,104 | 118,000/ | 125,233 | 1,634,774/ | 1,072,874 |
| R.K. Shearer | 36,100 | 1,182,551 | 276,768/ | 100,432 | 4,633,492/ | 859,408 |
| E.C. Wiseman | | | 273,434/ | 118,566 | 4,808,201/ | 934,601 |
1 Market value of underlying shares at fiscal year-end based on the fiscal year-end market price of $55.34 per share, minus the exercise price.
Performance-Contingent Common Stock Units
This table gives information concerning the awards to the named executive officers made in 2005 for the three-year performance period of 2005 through 2007 under the Mid-Term Incentive Plan, a subplan under the VF 1996 Stock Compensation Plan. Under this Plan, the executives were awarded performance-contingent Common Stock units, which gives them the opportunity to earn shares of VF Common Stock. Actual pay-out of these shares is determined based on the average level of achievement of the performance goals under the EIC Plan during the three years of the performance period. The EIC Plan performance goals for 2005 were, and those set for 2006 are, based on earnings per share (excluding the effects of extraordinary and non-recurring items and change in accounting policy for the expensing of stock-based compensation) and net sales. The Compensation Committee will set new EIC Plan performance goals in 2007, although the Committee retains discretion to set performance goals under this Plan that differ from those under the EIC Plan. In order for the CEO and certain other highly compensated executives to earn Common Stock units under this Plan, in addition to meeting the other goals under the Plan, the Company must have positive earnings per share throughout the performance period. These awards are forfeitable upon an executives termination of employment, except (i) a pro rata portion of the award will be deemed earned in the event of death, disability, or retirement, (ii) a pro rata portion of the award will be deemed earned in the event of a termination by the Company without cause prior to a change in control, with pro ration based on the part of the performance period in which the executive remained employed plus any period during which severance payments will be made, and (iii) the full award at the higher of target performance or actual performance achieved through the date
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of termination will be deemed earned in the event of a termination by the Company without cause or by the executive for good reason after a change in control.
| Long-Term Incentive Plans Awards in Last Fiscal Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated Future Pay-out Under | |||
| Non-Stock Price-Based Plans 1 | |||
| Name | Threshold(#) | Target(#) | Maximum(#) |
| M.J. McDonald | 0 | 50,100 | 100,200 |
| G.N. Derhofer | 0 | 11,300 | 22,600 |
| J.P. Schamberger | 0 | 14,100 | 28,200 |
| R.K. Shearer | 0 | 11,300 | 22,600 |
| E.C. Wiseman | 0 | 14,100 | 28,200 |
1 The actual number of shares, if any, that will be paid out at the end of the applicable period cannot be determined because the shares earned by the named executive officers will be based on VFs performance over the 2005-2007 performance period.
link1 "EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION TABLE"
EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION TABLE
The following table provides information as of December 31, 2005 regarding the number of shares of VF Common Stock that may be issued under VFs equity compensation plans.
| (a) | (b) | (c) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Number of securities | |||
| Number of | remaining available | ||
| securities to be | for future issuance | ||
| issued upon | Weighted-average | under equity | |
| exercise of | exercise price of | compensation plans | |
| outstanding | outstanding | (excluding securities | |
| options, warrants | options, warrants | reflected in | |
| Plan Category 1 | and rights 2 | and rights 2 | column (a)) 3 |
| Equity compensation plans approved by shareholders | 10,761,911 | $ 44.62 | 5,926,993 |
| Equity compensation plans not approved by shareholders | | | |
| Total | 10,761,911 | $ 44.62 | 5,926,993 |
1 The table does not include information regarding the following VF plans:
| | Employee Stock Ownership Plan. As of December 31, 2005,
there were 755,518 shares of Series B ESOP Stock
outstanding, all of which were allocated to the accounts of
participants in this Plan. Each share of Series B ESOP
Stock is convertible into 1.6 shares of VF Common Stock. |
| --- | --- |
| | Executive Deferred Savings Plan and Deferred Savings Plan for
Non-Employee Directors. These plans permit the deferral of
salary, bonus and director compensation into, among other
things, stock equivalent accounts. Deferrals in a stock
equivalent account are valued as if deferrals were invested in
VF Common Stock as of the deferral date, and are paid out only
in cash. VF maintains a rabbi trust that holds shares that
approximately correspond in number to the stock equivalents, and
provides pass-through voting rights with respect to those stock
equivalents. Stock equivalents are credited with dividend
equivalents. As of December 31, 2005, there were 269,043
stock equivalents outstanding in the stock equivalent accounts
under these plans. |
2 Includes 1,265,611 restricted stock units that were outstanding on December 31, 2005 under VFs Mid-term Incentive Plan, a subplan under the 1996 Stock Compensation Plan. Under this Plan, participants are awarded performance-contingent Common Stock units, which gives them the opportunity to earn shares of VF Common Stock. The number of restricted stock units included in the table assumes a maximum pay-out of shares. Actual pay-out of these shares is determined based on the level of achievement of the performance goals under the EIC Plan. The EIC Plan performance goals for 2005 were, and those set for 2006 are, based on earnings per share (excluding the effects of extraordinary and non-recurring items) and net sales. Also includes 108,096 restricted
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| | stock units that have been awarded
to participants but that participants have elected to defer.
Restricted stock unit awards do not have an exercise price
because their value is dependent upon the achievement of the
specified performance criteria and may be settled only for
shares of Common Stock on a one-for-one basis. Accordingly, the
restricted stock units have been disregarded for purposes of
computing the weighted-average exercise price. Had these
restricted stock units been included in the calculation, the
weighted-average exercise price reflected in column
(b) would have been $38.92. |
| --- | --- |
| 3 | Of the shares remaining available
for future issuance, a total of 1,658,101 shares (assuming
a maximum pay-out of shares) may be issued as restricted stock
and restricted stock units under VFs 1996 Stock
Compensation Plan, VFs only plan under which restricted
stock/unit awards may be granted. This Plan also authorizes the
grant of options and other types of equity awards, so that
shares will not necessarily be issued as restricted stock/unit
awards. |
link1 "FUTURE REMUNERATION"
FUTURE REMUNERATION
Pension Plan and Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan
VF maintains and contributes to the VF Corporation Pension Plan (the Pension Plan), a defined benefit plan that covers all of VFs domestic employees who were employed by VF on December 31, 2004, including the named executive officers. Benefits under the Pension Plan are determined based on average annual salary and bonus compensation from January 1, 2004, with no less than five years immediately preceding retirement included in the average. If an employee does not have five years of compensation from January 1, 2004, such employees compensation for a sufficient number of years immediately prior to 2004 shall be included to produce a minimum five compensation years.
The Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) is an unfunded, non-qualified plan for eligible participants primarily designed (i) to restore benefits lost under the Pension Plan due to (a) the maximum legal limit of pension benefits imposed under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Internal Revenue Code (the Code) and (b) an election to defer compensation under VFs Deferred Compensation Plan and/or Executive Deferred Savings Plan and (ii) to supplement the Pension Plan benefits of those senior executives whose tenure may be relatively short by virtue of having joined VF in mid-career or who lost pension benefits with former employers as a result of an early separation from service. The combined retirement income from the Pension Plan and the SERP for each of the named executive officers, upon retirement at age 65, would be an amount equal to his Pension Plan benefit calculated (i) without regard to any limitation imposed by the Code or ERISA, (ii) without regard to his participation in the Deferred Compensation Plan or the Executive Deferred Savings Plan, (iii) on the basis of the average of the highest three years of his salary and bonus compensation during the ten-year period immediately preceding retirement, and (iv) without deduction or offset of amounts of Social Security benefits.
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The following table reflects estimated annual benefits that would be payable under the Pension Plan and the SERP upon retirement at age 65 of individuals in the specified remuneration and years of service classifications.
| Assumed Average — Remuneration | Years of Service: | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 years | 15 years | 20 years | 25 years or more | |
| $ 600,000 | $ 105,000 | $ 157,000 | $ 210,000 | $ 262,000 |
| 800,000 | 141,000 | 211,000 | 282,000 | 352,000 |
| 1,100,000 | 195,000 | 292,000 | 390,000 | 487,000 |
| 1,250,000 | 222,000 | 333,000 | 444,000 | 555,000 |
| 1,500,000 | 267,000 | 400,000 | 534,000 | 667,000 |
| 2,000,000 | 357,000 | 535,000 | 714,000 | 892,000 |
| 2,250,000 | 402,000 | 603,000 | 804,000 | 1,005,000 |
| 2,500,000 | 447,000 | 670,000 | 894,000 | 1,117,000 |
| 2,750,000 | 492,000 | 738,000 | 984,000 | 1,230,000 |
| 3,000,000 | 537,000 | 805,000 | 1,074,000 | 1,342,000 |
| 3,250,000 | 582,000 | 873,000 | 1,164,000 | 1,455,000 |
| 3,500,000 | 627,000 | 940,000 | 1,254,000 | 1,567,000 |
| 3,750,000 | 672,000 | 1,008,000 | 1,344,000 | 1,680,000 |
| 4,000,000 | 717,000 | 1,075,000 | 1,434,000 | 1,792,000 |
The amounts in the table have been computed on a straight-life annuity basis. Final Average Compensation is based on salary and bonus as such amounts are computed and reflected in the Summary Compensation Table. Each of the named executive officers has credited years of service under the Pension Plan as follows: Mr. McDonald 23 years; Mr. Derhofer 10 years; Mr. Schamberger 34 years; Mr. Shearer 19 years; and Mr. Wiseman 10 years.
The Pension Plan provides that if it is Overfunded upon the occurrence of a Change in Control of VF (as those terms are defined in the Pension Plan), certain Pension Plan assets in excess of those needed to meet expected benefit entitlements are to be used fully and irrevocably to vest each participants accrued benefit and provide increases in accrued benefits for active participants, retired participants, surviving spouses and beneficiaries and terminated vested participants. The Pension Plan is considered Overfunded to the extent that the fair market value of Pension Plan assets exceeds Pension Plan liabilities (primarily the actuarial present value of Pension Plan benefit entitlements). As of the end of VFs most recent fiscal year, the Pension Plan was not Overfunded. SERP benefits will become funded upon a Change in Control of VF, as defined in the Change in Control Agreements described below. In this regard, VF has established a trust with Wachovia Corporation, as Trustee (the SERP Trust). VF may fund the SERP Trust at any time to secure payment of certain SERP benefits not otherwise paid by VF. Upon a Change in Control, VF is required to fund the SERP Trust, which becomes irrevocable.
Had there been a Change in Control as of March 7, 2006, the combined estimated annual benefits vested under the Pension Plan and the SERP and payable beginning at
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age 65 for each of the named executive officers would have been as follows: Mr. McDonald $1,207,740; Mr. Derhofer $181,680; Mr. Schamberger $495,504; Mr. Shearer $289,224; and Mr. Wiseman $208,716.
Change in Control and Other Arrangements
VF has entered into Change in Control Agreements with certain of its executives. These Agreements provide severance benefits to the designated executives in the event their employment is terminated within a specified period after a Change in Control of VF, as such term is defined in the Agreements. Other than these Agreements, VF does not have employment agreements with its executive officers.
The Agreements generally have a term of three years with automatic annual extensions. The Agreements may be terminated, subject to the limitations outlined below, by VF upon notice to the executive and are automatically terminated if the executives employment with VF ceases. VF may not terminate the Agreements (i) if it has knowledge that any third person has taken steps or has announced an intention to take steps reasonably calculated to effect a Change in Control or (ii) within a specified period of time after a Change in Control occurs. Severance benefits payable to the named executive officers include the lump sum payment of an amount equal to 2.99 times the sum of the executives current annual salary plus the highest amount of bonus awarded to the executive during the five fiscal years ending prior to the date on which the executives employment is terminated following a Change in Control of VF.
There are no limitations on the total payments to be made to an executive in the event of termination of employment upon a Change in Control to prevent such payments from constituting excess parachute payments (as that term is defined in the Code). Executives also receive additional payments under the Agreements to reimburse them for any increased golden parachute excise taxes, other increased taxes, penalties and interest resulting from any payments under the Agreements by reason of such payments being treated as excess parachute payments.
Had there been a Change in Control as of March 7, 2006 approximate severance payments under the Agreements upon severance of the named executive officers would have been as follows (excluding applicable reimbursements for increased taxes, penalties and interest, if any): Mr. McDonald $9,344,000; Mr. Derhofer $3,376,000; Mr. Schamberger $3,502,000; Mr. Shearer $3,346,000; and Mr. Wiseman $4,182,000.
Under the terms of the Agreements, the executives also would be entitled to supplemental benefits, such as accelerated rights to exercise stock options, accelerated lapse of restrictions on restricted stock and restricted stock units, lump sum payments under the VF SERP, continued life and medical insurance for specified periods after termination, entitlements under retirement plans and a lump sum payment upon attaining retirement age. Upon a Change in Control, VF also will pay all reasonable legal fees and related expenses incurred by the executives as a result of the termination of their employment or in obtaining or enforcing any right or benefit provided by the Agreements.
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VF maintains an Executive Deferred Savings Plan (the EDS Plan), which is an unfunded, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangement for a select group of management and highly compensated employees of VF and certain of its subsidiaries. The EDS Plan permits an eligible employee to defer the receipt of a specified portion of his or her compensation until the date of retirement, disability, death or termination of employment. In 2005, VF matched 50% of the first $25,000 deferred by each participant. Upon a Change in Control of VF, matching contributions become fully vested and VF is required to fully fund the amount accrued for each employee. As of March 7, 2006, all matching contributions made for the benefit of the named executive officers were fully vested based on their years of service with VF.
VF announced in December 2005 that Mr. Schamberger would be retiring from VF in the first quarter of 2006 after 34 years of service. In connection with the retirement of Mr. Schamberger, VF entered into an agreement with him that prohibits him from working for certain specified competitors and from hiring VF employees for two years following his retirement from VF. Subject to Mr. Schambergers compliance with his obligations, benefits under the agreement include a lump sum payment of $340,350 on September 31, 2006 and payments at the rate of $56,725 per month from October 1, 2006 through March 31, 2008, as well as health insurance and financial counseling benefits through March 31, 2008. The agreement also provided for an annual bonus for 2005 under VFs Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and a Mid-Term Incentive Plan award for the performance cycle ending in 2005, which amounts are reflected in the Summary Compensation Table.
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link1 "PERFORMANCE GRAPH"
PERFORMANCE GRAPH
The following graph compares the cumulative total shareholder return on VF Common Stock with that of the Standard & Poors (S&P) 500 Stock Index and the S&P 1500 Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods Index (S&P Apparel Index) for the five years ended December 31, 2005. The graph assumes that $100 was invested on January 1, 2001, in each of VF Common Stock, the S&P 500 Stock Index and the S&P Apparel Index, and that all dividends were reinvested. The graph plots the respective values on the five single days that are the last trading days of calendar years 2001 through 2005. Past performance is not necessarily indicative of future performance.
Comparison of Five-Year Total Return of
VF Common Stock, S&P 500 Index, and S&P Apparel Index
VF Common Stock closing price on December 31, 2005 was $55.34
TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURNS
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link1 "SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT"
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN
BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
Certain Beneficial Owners
Shown below are persons known by VF to have voting power and/or dispositive power over more than 5% of its Common Stock or Series B ESOP Stock, as well as certain other information, all as of March 7, 2006, except that information regarding the number of shares beneficially owned by certain of the shareholders (but not the calculation of the percentage of the outstanding class) is as of December 31, 2005, as indicated in the footnotes below.
| Beneficial Owner | Amount of Beneficial | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| and Nature of Ownership | Ownership 1 | of Class |
| Common Stock | ||
| Ursula O. Fairbairn, M. Rust Sharp and PNC Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 7648, Philadelphia, PA 19101, as Trustees under Deeds of Trust dated August 21, 1951 2,3,4 | 12,868,851 shares | 11.7 % |
| Ursula O. Fairbairn, M. Rust Sharp and PNC Bank, N.A., P.O. Box 7648, Philadelphia, PA 19101, as Trustees under the Will of John E. Barbey, deceased 2,3,4 | 8,977,952 shares | 8.2 % |
| Total | 21,846,803 shares | 19.9 % |
| Capital Research Management Company 333 South Hope Street Los Angeles, CA | ||
| 90071 5 | 5,750,000 shares | 5.2 % |
| Dodge & Cox One Sansome St., 35th Floor San Francisco, CA | ||
| 94104 6 | 6,772,984 shares | 6.1 % |
| JPMorgan Chase & Co. 270 Park Avenue New York, NY | ||
| 10017 7 | 9,394,185 shares | 8.4 % |
| Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock | ||
| Fidelity Management Trust Company, 82 Devonshire Street, H11D, Boston, MA 02109-3614, as Trustee of VFs Retirement Savings Plan for Salaried Employees | 737,643 shares | 100 % |
| 1 | None of the shares in this column is known to be a share with
respect to which any of the listed owners has the right to
acquire beneficial ownership, as specified in
Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the 1934 Act. |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | Mrs. Fairbairn and Mr. Sharp are directors of VF. |
| 3 | Present life tenants and remaindermen under the Will are
various. All present life tenants and all or most future life
tenants and/or remaindermen under the Deeds of Trust are, or
will be, descendants of John E. Barbey. No individual life
tenant or remainderman may, within 60 days, attain
beneficial ownership, as specified in
Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the 1934 Act, which exceeds 5% of the outstanding
shares. |
| 4 | Including shares in the above table, PNC Bank, N.A. and its
affiliates held a total of 22,080,362 shares (19.9% of the
class outstanding) of the VF Common Stock in various trust and
agency accounts on December 31, 2005, according to a
Schedule 13G/A filed by the Bank with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on February 14, 2006. As to all such
shares, the Bank and its affiliates had sole voting power over
233,559 shares, |
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| | shared voting power over
21,846,803 shares, sole dispositive power over
182,008 shares and shared dispositive power over
21,891,353 shares. |
| --- | --- |
| 5 | The information in the above table
concerning Capital Research Management Company
(Capital) was obtained from a Schedule 13G/A
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
February 10, 2006, reporting beneficial ownership at
December 31, 2005. Capital reported that it had sole
dispositive power over all of such shares, sole voting power
over 1,950,000 such shares and shared voting power over none of
such shares. |
| 6 | The information in the above table
concerning Dodge & Cox was obtained from a
Schedule 13 G/A filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on February 8, 2006, reporting beneficial
ownership at December 31, 2005. Dodge & Cox
reported that it had sole voting power over
6,351,684 shares, shared voting power over
73,600 shares and sole dispositive power over all of such
shares. |
| 7 | The information in the above table
concerning JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPMorgan)
was obtained from a Schedule 13G filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission on February 10, 2006, reporting
beneficial ownership at December 31, 2005, on behalf of JP
Morgan and its wholly owned subsidiaries Chase Manhattan Bank
USA, National Association, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National
Association, J.P. Morgan Investment Management Inc.,
J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association,
J.P. Morgan Fleming Asset Management (UK) Limited,
Bank One Trust Co., N.A., and JPMorgan Investment Advisors Inc.
JPMorgan reported that it and its subsidiaries had sole voting
power over 7,238,388 such shares, shared voting power over
1,323,301 such shares, sole dispositive power over 7,855,987
such shares and shared dispositive power over 1,400,359 such
shares. |
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Common Stock Ownership of Management
The following table reflects, as of March 7, 2006, the total beneficial ownership of VF Common Stock by each director and nominee for director, and each named executive officer, and by all directors and executive officers as a group. Each named individual and all members of the group exercise sole voting and dispositive power, except as indicated in the footnotes. Share ownership of Mrs. Fairbairn and Mr. Sharp includes 21,846,803 shares reported above under Certain Beneficial Owners, as to which they share voting and dispositive power with PNC Bank, N.A., as Trustees, as of December 31, 2005.
| Total Shares Beneficially | |
|---|---|
| Name of Beneficial Owner | Owned 1,2,3,4 |
| Directors: | |
| Edward E. Crutchfield | 29,995 |
| Juan Ernesto de Bedout | 32,771 |
| Ursula O. Fairbairn | 21,904,091 |
| Barbara S. Feigin | 53,589 |
| George Fellows | 40,000 |
| Daniel R. Hesse | 37,171 |
| Robert J. Hurst | 67,325 |
| W. Alan McCollough | 31,036 |
| Clarence Otis, Jr. | 12,371 |
| M. Rust Sharp | 21,893,109 |
| Raymond G. Viault | 22,149 |
| Named Executive Officers: | |
| Mackey J. | |
| McDonald 5 | 1,647,579 |
| George N. Derhofer | 232,734 |
| John P. Schamberger | 227,053 |
| Robert K. Shearer | 359,851 |
| Eric C. Wiseman | 375,220 |
| All Directors and Executive Officers as a Group (19 persons) | 25,442,938 |
1 Shares owned include shares held in trusts as of December 31, 2005 in connection with employee benefit plans, as to which the following participants share voting power but have no present dispositive power: Mr. McDonald 21,838 shares; Mr. Derhofer 14,660; Mr. Wiseman 3,707 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group 55,931 shares. Does not include shares of Series B ESOP Stock held in trust in connection with an employee benefit plan, as to which participants also share voting power but have no present dispositive power and no power to direct conversion into Common Stock, as follows: Mr. McDonald 121 shares; Mr. Schamberger 370 shares; Mr. Shearer 411 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group 1,184 shares. Shares owned also include shares held as of December 31, 2005 in trust in connection with employee benefit plans, as to which the following participants have no dispositive power and shared voting power: Mr. McDonald 709 shares; Mr. Derhofer 892 ; Mr. Shearer 463 shares; Mr. Schamberger 62 shares; and all directors and executive officers as a group 3,529 shares. Shares owned also include shares held in a trust in connection with the VF Deferred Savings Plan for Non-Employee Directors as to which the following directors have shared voting power but do not have dispositive power: Mr. de Bedout 6,171 shares; Mrs. Fairbairn 11,429 shares; Mrs. Feigin 5,989 shares; Mr. Hesse 7,771 shares; Mr. Hurst 14,525 shares; Mr. McCollough
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| | 6,436 shares;
Mr. Otis 2,171 shares;
Mr. Sharp 5,306 shares;
Mr. Viault 4,349 shares; and all directors
and executive officers as a group 64,147 shares. |
| --- | --- |
| 2 | Shares owned also include the
following number of stock options that are exercisable as of
March 7, 2006, or within 60 days thereafter:
Mr. McDonald 1,539,663;
Mr. Derhofer 203,967;
Mr. Schamberger 188,100;
Mr. Shearer 332,867;
Mr. Wiseman 336,767;
Mr. Crutchfield 10,200; Mr. de
Bedout 24,600; Mrs. Fairbairn
43,800; Mrs. Feigin 43,800;
Mr. Fellows 39,000; Mr. Hesse
29,400; Mr. Hurst 43,800;
Mr. McCollough 24,600;
Mr. Otis 10,200; Mr. Sharp
39,000; Mr. Viault 15,000; and all directors
and executive officers as a group
3,214,699. |
| 3 | Other than Mrs. Fairbairn and
Mr. Sharp, who are deemed to beneficially own 19.9% of the
Common Stock outstanding, and Mr. McDonald, who
beneficially owns 1.5% of the Common Stock outstanding, the
percentage of shares owned beneficially by each named person
does not exceed 1% of the Common Stock outstanding. The
percentage of shares owned beneficially by all directors and
executive officers as a group was 23% of the Common Stock
outstanding. |
| 4 | Shares owned include units of VF
Common Stock equivalents that are deferred under the VF Stock
Compensation Plan, as follows: Mr. McDonald
38,121; Mr. Derhofer 10,464;
Mr. Schamberger 14,419;
Mr. Shearer 11,959;
Mr. Wiseman 5,159; and all directors and
executive officers as a group 88,490 shares.
These units are fully vested and will be paid out in shares of
Common Stock upon expiration of the deferral period, including
upon certain types of termination of service. Holders of these
units do not have current voting or dispositive power with
respect to the shares deliverable in settlement of these units. |
| 5 | Mr. McDonald is also a
director. |
link1 "ITEM NO. 2"
ITEM NO. 2
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION
OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. The Audit Committee has retained PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm the fiscal year ending December 30, 2006. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP served as VFs independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005. In connection with its decision to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm, the Audit Committee considered whether the provision of non-audit services by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was compatible with maintaining PricewaterhouseCoopers LLPs independence and concluded that it was. A representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be present at the Meeting. The representative will be given an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so and to respond to appropriate questions. Although we are not required to do so, we believe it is appropriate to ask shareholders to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting firm. If shareholders do not ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the Audit Committee will reconsider the selection of independent registered public accounting firm.
The VF Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR ratification of the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.
Professional Fees of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The following chart summarizes the estimated fees of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for services rendered to VF during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 and the fiscal year ended January 1, 2005.
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| Type of Fees | 2005 | 2004 | Description of Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Fees | $4,084,000 | $3,500,000 | Audit Fees are fees that VF paid to |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers for the audit of VFs consolidated | |||
| financial statements included in VFs Annual Report on | |||
| Form 10-K and review of financial statements included in | |||
| the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and for services that | |||
| are normally provided by the auditor in connection with | |||
| statutory and regulatory filings and engagements; and for the | |||
| audit of VFs internal control over financial reporting; | |||
| and for the attestation of managements report on the | |||
| effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. | |||
| Audit Related Fees | 463,000 | 954,000 | Audit Related Fees are fees billed for assurance and |
| related services that are reasonably related to the performance | |||
| of the audit or review of VFs financial statements and are | |||
| not reported above under the caption Audit Fees. | |||
| Audit Related Fees in 2005 consisted primarily of | |||
| due diligence on certain acquisition efforts, employee benefit | |||
| plan audits and a social security audit and in 2004 consisted | |||
| primarily of due diligence on certain acquisition efforts and | |||
| employee benefit plan audits. | |||
| Tax Fees | 667,000 | 1,360,000 | Tax Fees are fees billed for professional services |
| for tax compliance, tax advice, and tax planning. Tax | |||
| Fees in 2005 consisted primarily of tax compliance, tax | |||
| audit assistance and VAT services, and in 2004 consisted | |||
| primarily of expatriate tax support, tax compliance, tax audit | |||
| assistance, VAT services, transfer pricing and customs and | |||
| duties matters. | |||
| All other Fees | -0- | -0- | PricewaterhouseCoopers performed no services in 2005 and 2004 |
| other than the services reported under Audit Fees, | |||
| Audit-Related Fees and Tax Fees. | |||
| Total | $5,214,000 | $5,814,000 |
All audit related services and all other permissible non-audit services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP were pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The pre-approval policies adopted by the Audit Committee provide that annual, recurring services that will be provided by VFs independent registered public accounting firm and related fees are presented to the Audit Committee for its consideration and advance approval at each
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February Audit Committee meeting. At each February Audit Committee meeting, criteria are established by the Audit Committee for its advance approval of specified categories of services and payment of fees to VFs independent registered public accounting firm for changes in scope of recurring services or additional non-recurring services during the current year. On a quarterly basis, the Audit Committee is informed of each previously approved service performed by VFs independent registered public accounting firm and the related fees.
Report of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee reports as follows with respect to the audit of VFs consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 (the 2005 Financial Statements). At the meeting of the Audit Committee held in February 2006, the Audit Committee (i) reviewed and discussed with management the 2005 Financial Statements and audit of internal control over financial reporting; (ii) discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP the matters required to be discussed by the Statement of Auditing Standards No. 61 (Communication with Audit Committees) which include, among other items, matters related to the conduct of the audit of the 2005 Financial Statements; and (iii) received from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP written disclosures regarding their independence required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1 (Independence Discussions with Audit Committees) and discussed with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP their independence from VF. Based on the foregoing review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the 2005 Financial Statements as audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be included in VFs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
George Fellows, Chairman
Juan Ernesto de Bedout
Barbara S. Feigin
Clarence Otis, Jr.
Raymond G. Viault
link1 "OTHER INFORMATION"
OTHER INFORMATION
Other Matters
The Board of Directors does not know of any other matter that is intended to be brought before the Meeting, but if any other matter is presented, the persons named in the enclosed proxy will be authorized to vote on behalf of the shareholders in their discretion and intend to vote the same according to their best judgment. As of February 7, 2006, VF had not received notice of any matter to be presented at the Meeting other than as described in this proxy statement.
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance
Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires directors and certain officers of VF, as well as persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of VFs
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equity securities (Reporting Persons), to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the New York Stock Exchange. VF believes that during the preceding year all Reporting Persons timely complied with all filing requirements applicable to them, except the following. Through an administrative oversight, on February 11, 2005, a Form 4 was filed two days late reporting the Companys payout to Mr. Schamberger of 1,332 shares of Common Stock earned from performance-contingent Common Stock Units. Through an administrative oversight, on November 10, 2005, a Form 4 was filed seven days late reporting officer Bradley Battens phantom stock investment in 290 units of ownership as a participant in the VF Common Stock Fund of the Executive Deferred Savings Plan.
Expenses of Solicitation
VF will bear the cost of this proxy solicitation. In addition to the use of mail, proxies may be solicited in person or by telephone by VF employees without additional compensation. VF has engaged D.F. King & Co., Inc. to solicit proxies in connection with the proxy statement, and employees of that company are expected to solicit proxies in person, by telephone and by mail. The anticipated cost to VF of such solicitation is approximately $11,500, plus expenses. VF will reimburse brokers and other persons holding stock in their names or in the names of nominees for their expenses incurred in sending proxy material to principals and obtaining their proxies.
2007 Shareholder Proposals
In order for shareholder proposals for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be eligible for inclusion in VFs proxy statement, VF must receive them at its principal office in Greensboro, North Carolina on or before November 23, 2006. In order for shareholder proposals that are not intended to be included in VFs proxy statement but which are to be presented at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be timely, VF must receive notice of such at its principal office in Greensboro, North Carolina on or before February 6, 2007.
| By Order of the Board of Directors |
|---|
| Candace S. Cummings |
| Vice President Administration, |
| General Counsel and Secretary |
Dated: March 23, 2006
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link1 "APPENDIX A"
APPENDIX A
V.F. CORPORATION
INDEPENDENCE STANDARDS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
To be considered independent under the Listing Standards of the NYSE, the Board must determine that a director does not have any direct or indirect (as a partner, shareholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with VF) material relationship with VF by broadly considering all relevant facts and circumstances. Material relationships can include commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting, charitable and familial relationships, among others. The Boards determination of each directors independence will be disclosed annually in the Companys proxy statement. The Board has established the following categorical standards to assist it in determining director independence in accordance with the NYSE rules:
| | No director who is an employee, or whose immediate family member
is an executive officer, of VF can be considered independent
until three years after termination of such employment
relationship. |
| --- | --- |
| | No director who is affiliated with or employed by, or whose
immediate family member is affiliated with or employed in a
professional capacity by, a present or former internal or
external auditor of the company can be considered independent
until three years after the end of the affiliation or employment
or auditing relationship. |
| | No director can be considered independent if he or she is
employed, or if his or her immediate family member is employed,
as an executive officer of another company where any of
VFs present executives serve on the other companys
compensation committee until three years after the end of such
service or employment relationship. |
| | No director can be considered independent if he or she receives,
or his or her immediate family member receives, more than
$100,000 per year in direct compensation from the Company,
other than director and committee fees and pension or other
forms of deferred compensation for prior service (provided such
compensation is not contingent in any way on continued service)
until three years after he or she or his or her immediate family
member ceases to receive more than $100,000 per year in
such compensation. |
| | No director can be considered independent if he or she is an
executive officer or employee of another company not including a
charitable organization (or an immediate family member of the
director is an executive officer of such company) that makes
payments to, or receives payments from, VF for property or
services in an amount which, in any single fiscal year, exceeds
the greater of $1 million or 2% of such other
companys consolidated gross revenues until three years
after falling below such threshold. |
| | VF will disclose, in its annual proxy statement, any charitable
contributions made by VF to a charitable organization if the
charitable organization is one in which a VF director serves as
an executive officer and, within the preceding three years,
charitable contributions made by VF in any single fiscal year
exceed the greater of $1 million or 2% of such charitable
organizations consolidated gross revenues. This |
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| | disclosure does not automatically result in a determination
against that directors independence; however, the Board
will consider the materiality of this relationship in its
overall affirmative determination of that directors
independence status. |
| --- | --- |
| | The Board, as part of its self-evaluation will review all
commercial, industrial, banking, consulting, legal, accounting,
charitable, and familial relationships between the Company and
its directors. |
| | For relationships not qualifying within the above guidelines,
the determination of whether the relationship is material, and
therefore whether the director is independent, shall be made by
the Board. The Company will explain in the next proxy statement
the basis for any Board determination that a relationship was
immaterial despite the fact that it did not meet the categorical
standards of immateriality set forth in the above guidelines. |
In addition, members of the Audit Committee of the Board are subject to heightened standards of independence under the NYSE rules and the SEC rules and regulations.
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o Mark this box with an X if you have made changes to your name or address details above.
Annual Meeting Proxy Card
PLEASE REFER TO THE REVERSE SIDE FOR TELEPHONE AND INTERNET VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.
Shares subject to this proxy/voting instruction card will be voted in the manner indicated below, when the card is properly executed and returned. If no indication is made, such shares will be voted FOR the election of all nominees as Directors and FOR ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm. For participants in the VF Corporation employee benefit plans: This card will be treated as voting instructions to the plan trustees or administrator, as explained on the reverse side of this card.
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR each of the nominees in Item No. 1 and FOR Item No. 2.
A Election of Directors
- The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the listed nominees.
| For | Withhold | |
|---|---|---|
| 01 Robert J. Hurst | o | o |
| 02 W. Alan McCollough | o | o |
| 03 M. Rust Sharp | o | o |
| 04 Raymond G. Viault | o | o |
B Issues
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the following proposal.
| 2. | Ratification of the selection of
PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP as VFs independent registered public accounting
firm for the fiscal year ending December 30, 2006. | For — o | Against — o | Abstain — o |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| o | I will attend the Annual Meeting. |
|---|---|
| o | Mark this box with an X if you have made comments below. |
C Authorized Signatures Sign Here This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.
NOTE: Please sign name(s) exactly as printed hereon. Joint owners should each sign. When signing as attorney, executor, administrator, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such.
| Signature 1 Please keep signature within the box | Signature 2 Please keep signature within the box | Date (mm/dd/yyyy) |
|---|---|---|
| / | / | / / |
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VF Corporation
PROXY SOLICITATION/VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
Proxy Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors for Annual Meeting on April 25, 2006
The undersigned hereby appoints M.J. McDonald and C S. Cummings, and each of them acting individually, proxies of the undersigned, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote, as directed on the reverse side of this card, all shares of Common Stock of VF Corporation held of record by the undersigned on March 7, 2006, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation to be held on April 25, 2006, and at any adjournments thereof, and, in their discretion, upon such other matters not specified as may come before said meeting. The undersigned hereby revokes any prior proxies.
You are encouraged to specify your choice by marking the appropriate boxes, SEE REVERSE SIDE, but you need not mark any boxes if you wish to vote in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations.
UNLESS YOU VOTE BY TELEPHONE, INTERNET, OR BY SIGNING AND RETURNING THIS CARD, THE PROXIES CANNOT VOTE YOUR SHARES.
PLEASE VOTE, DATE AND SIGN THIS PROXY ON THE OTHER SIDE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.
Voting Instructions for the VF Corporation Retirement Savings Plan for Salaried Employees (the Salaried 401(k)):
This card constitutes voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company, the Trustee for the Salaried 401(k), to vote in person or by proxy any shares of Common Stock and Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock allocated to the undersigned as of March 7, 2006 under the Salaried 401(k), at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation to be held on April 25, 2006, and at any adjournments thereof, and also constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee for a proportionate number of shares of Common Stock and Series B ESOP Convertible Preferred Stock in the Salaried 401(k) for which no instruction card has been received from other participants. If you do not return this card, the Trustee will vote any shares allocated to you in the same proportion as the shares for which instructions were received from other participants in the Salaried 401(k).
Voting Instructions for the VF Corporation Retirement Savings Plan for Hourly Employees (the Hourly 401(k)):
This card also constitutes voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company, the Trustee for the Hourly 401(k), to vote in person or by proxy any shares of Common Stock allocated to the undersigned as of March 7, 2006 under the Hourly 401(k), at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation to be held on April 25, 2006, and at any adjournments thereof, and also constitutes voting instructions to the Trustee for a proportionate number of shares of Common Stock in the Hourly 401(k) for which no instruction card has been received from other participants. If you do not return this card, the Trustee will vote any shares allocated to you in the same proportion as the shares for which instructions were received from other participants in the Hourly 401(k).
Voting Request for the VF Executive Deferred Savings Plan and the VF Executive Deferred Savings Plan II (collectively, the EDSP):
This card constitutes a voting request to the VF Corporation Pension Plan Committee (the Committee"), Administrator of the EDSP, to vote the VF Corporation shares held by the trustee of the grantor trust relating to the EDSP and credited to the participants EDSP account as of March 7, 2006, at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of VF Corporation to be held on April 25, 2006, and at any adjournments thereof, with the understanding that the Committee, pursuant to its discretionary powers under the EDSP, may reject this request and direct that the shares be voted in a contrary manner.
Telephone and Internet Voting Instructions
You can vote by telephone or Internet! Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week!
Instead of mailing your proxy, you may choose one of the two other voting methods outlined below to vote your proxy.
| | Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) in the
United States or Canada any
time on a touch
tone telephone. Shareholders
outside of the
U.S. and Canada should call
1-781-575-2300.
There is NO CHARGE to you for
the call. |
| --- | --- |
| | Follow the simple
instructions provided by
the recorded message. |
| | Go to the following web site: WWW.COMPUTERSHARE.COM/EXPRESSVOTE |
|---|---|
| | Enter the information requested on your computer screen and follow the simple instructions. |
| | Mark, sign and date the proxy card. |
|---|---|
| | Return the proxy card in the postage-paid envelope provided. |
VALIDATION DETAILS ARE LOCATED ON THE FRONT OF THIS FORM IN THE COLORED BAR.
If you vote by telephone or the Internet, please DO NOT mail back this proxy card. Proxies submitted by telephone or the Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m., Eastern Time, on April 24, 2006. THANK YOU FOR VOTING
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VOTING REQUEST
To: VF Corporation Pension Plan Committee (the Committee), Administrator of the VF Deferred Savings Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the Plan)
As a participant in the Plan with certain Deferrals being credited with gains and losses as if invested in the VF Corporation Common Stock Fund, and in accordance with the Committees procedures permitting each such participant the right to request that the VF shares held by the trustee of the grantor trust relating to the Plan and credited to the participants Plan account at the record date be voted in a specific manner, I hereby request that my VF shares so credited be voted, in person or by proxy, in the manner shown below:
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
The Board of Directors of the Corporation recommends a vote FOR the election of all nominees as Directors.
| Nominees: — o | For a 3-year term: Robert J. Hurst, W. Alan McCollough, M. Rust Sharp and Raymond G. Viault — VOTE FOR all nominees listed above, except vote withheld from individual nominees as follows: | o | VOTE WITHHELD from all nominees |
|---|---|---|---|
RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP AS VFS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 30, 2006.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation recommends a vote FOR ratification of the selection of the independent auditors.
| FOR | AGAINST | ABSTAIN |
|---|---|---|
| o | o | o |
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I understand that if I return this form properly signed but do not otherwise specify my choices, this will be deemed to be a request to vote FOR the election of all nominees as Directors and FOR ratification of the selection of the independent registered public accounting firm.
Signature of Participant:
Dated: ___, 2006
IMPORTANT: Please sign and date these instructions exactly as your name appears hereon. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THESE INSTRUCTIONS PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. NO POSTAGE REQUIRED IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES.
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