Energizer Holdings, Inc.: Form 10-Q for the period ended Jun 30, 2024

The following discussion is meant to provide investors with information management believes is helpful in reviewing Energizer’s historical-basis results of operations, operating segment results, and liquidity and capital resources. Statements in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) that are not historical may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You should read the following MD&A in conjunction with the Consolidated (Condensed) Financial Statements (unaudited) and corresponding notes included herein.

All amounts discussed are in millions of U.S. dollars, unless otherwise indicated.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains both historical and forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts but instead reflect our expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events, including, without limitation, the future sales, gross margins, costs, earnings, cash flows, tax rates and performance of the Company. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "believe," "expect," "expectation," "anticipate," "may," "could," "will," "intend," "belief," "estimate," "plan," "target," "predict," "likely," "should," "forecast," "outlook," or other similar words or phrases. These statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or projections will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this document are only made as of the date of this document and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. Numerous factors could cause our actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements, including, without limitation:

• Global economic and financial market conditions beyond our control might materially and negatively impact us.
• Competition in our product categories might hinder our ability to execute our business strategy, achieve profitability, or maintain relationships with existing customers.
• Changes in the retail environment and consumer preferences could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
• We must successfully manage the demand, supply, and operational challenges brought on by any disease outbreak, including epidemics, pandemics, or similar widespread public health concerns.
• Loss or impairment of the reputation of our Company or our leading brands or failure of our marketing plans could have an adverse effect on our business.
• Loss of any of our principal customers could significantly decrease our sales and profitability.
• Our ability to meet our growth targets depends on successful product, marketing and operations innovation and successful responses to competitive innovation and changing consumer habits.
• We are subject to risks related to our international operations, including currency fluctuations, which could adversely affect our results of operations.
• If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, competitors may manufacture and market similar products, which could adversely affect our market share and results of operations.
• Changes in production costs, including raw material prices and transportation costs, from inflation or otherwise, have adversely affected, and in the future could erode, our profit margins and negatively impact operating results.
• Our reliance on certain significant suppliers subjects us to numerous risks, including possible interruptions in supply, which could adversely affect our business.
• Our business is vulnerable to the availability of raw materials, our ability to forecast customer demand and our ability to manage production capacity.
• The manufacturing facilities, supply channels or other business operations of the Company and our suppliers may be subject to disruption from events beyond our control.
• The Company's future results may be affected by its operational execution, including its ability to achieve cost savings as a result of any current or future restructuring events.
• If our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets become impaired, we will be required to record impairment charges, which may be significant.
• A failure of a key information technology system could adversely impact our ability to conduct business.
• We rely significantly on information technology and any inadequacy, interruption, theft or loss of data, malicious attack, integration failure, failure to maintain the security, confidentiality or privacy of sensitive data residing on our systems or

other security failure of that technology could harm our ability to effectively operate our business and damage the reputation of our brands.

• We have significant debt obligations that could adversely affect our business and our ability to meet our obligations.
• If we pursue strategic acquisitions, divestitures or joint ventures, we might experience operating difficulties, dilution, and other consequences that may harm our business, financial condition, and operating results, and we may not be able to successfully consummate favorable transactions or successfully integrate acquired businesses.
• Our business involves the potential for product liability claims, labeling claims, commercial claims and other legal claims against us, which could affect our results of operations and financial condition and result in product recalls or withdrawals.
• Our business is subject to increasing government regulations in both the U.S. and abroad that could impose material costs.
• Increased focus by governmental and non-governmental organizations, customers, consumers and shareholders on environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues, including those related to sustainability and climate change, may have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations and damage our reputation.
• We are subject to environmental laws and regulations that may expose us to significant liabilities and have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, other risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we consider immaterial could affect the accuracy of any such forward-looking statements. The list of factors above is illustrative, but by no means exhaustive. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. Additional risks and uncertainties include those discussed herein and detailed from time to time in our other publicly filed documents, including those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2023.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company reports its financial results in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. ("GAAP"). However, management believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide users with additional meaningful comparisons to the corresponding historical or future period, and are used for management incentive compensation. These non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that are not reflective of the Company's on-going operating performance, such as impairment of intangible assets, restructuring and related costs, acquisition and integration costs, the loss/(gain) on extinguishment of debt and the December 2023 Argentina Economic Reform. In addition, these measures help investors to analyze year over year comparability when excluding currency fluctuations as well as other Company initiatives that are not on-going. We believe these non-GAAP financial measures are an enhancement to assist investors in understanding our business and in performing analysis consistent with financial models developed by research analysts. Investors should consider non-GAAP measures in addition to, not as a substitute for, or superior to, the comparable GAAP measures. In addition, these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures used by other companies due to possible differences in methods and in the items being adjusted.

We provide the following non-GAAP measures and calculations, as well as the corresponding reconciliation to the closest GAAP measure:

Segment Profit. This amount represents the operations of our two reportable segments including allocations for shared support functions. General corporate and other expenses, Amortization of intangible assets, Impairment of intangible assets, Interest expense, Loss/(gain) on extinguishment of debt, Other items, net, restructuring and related costs, and the charges related to acquisition and integration costs have all been excluded from segment profit.

Adjusted Net Earnings and Adjusted Diluted Net Earnings Per Common Share (EPS). These measures exclude the impact of restructuring and related costs, acquisition and integration, Impairment of intangible assets, the Loss/(gain) on extinguishment of debt and the December 2023 Argentina Economic Reform.

Non-GAAP Tax Rate. This is the tax rate when excluding the pre-tax impact of restructuring and related costs, acquisition and integration, Impairment of intangible assets, the Loss/(gain) on extinguishment of debt and the December 2023 Argentina Economic Reform, as well as the related tax impact for these items, calculated utilizing the statutory rate for where the impact was incurred.

Organic. This is the non-GAAP financial measurement of the change in revenue, segment profit or other margins that excludes or otherwise adjusts for the change in Argentina Operations and impact of currency from the changes in foreign currency exchange rates as defined below:

Change in Argentina Operations. The Company is presenting separately all changes in sales and segment profit from our Argentina affiliate due to the designation of the economy as highly inflationary as of July 1, 2018.

Impact of currency. The Company evaluates the operating performance of our Company on a currency neutral basis. The Impact of Currency is the change in foreign currency exchange rates year-over-year on reported results, which is calculated by comparing the value of current year foreign operations at the current period USD exchange rate versus the value of current year foreign operations at the prior period USD exchange rate. The impact of currency also includes gains/(losses) of currency hedging programs, and it excludes hyper-inflationary markets.

Adjusted Selling, General & Administrative Expense (SG&A) and Adjusted Gross Margin as a percent of sales. Detail for Adjusted Gross margin and Adjusted SG&A as a percent of sales are also supplemental non-GAAP measures. These measures exclude the impact of costs related to restructuring and related costs and acquisition and integration costs.

Macroeconomic Environment

We continue to operate in an inflationary environment where macro-economic pressures and geopolitical instability are expected to continue through the remainder of fiscal year 2024. While we did not experience significant disruptions in our operations so far in fiscal year 2024, the risks of future negative impacts due to transportation, including transportation issues in the Red Sea, logistical or supply constraints and higher commodity costs for certain raw materials remain present, and the Company could continue to experience corresponding incremental costs and gross margin pressures.

Indefinite-lived Intangible Asset Impairment

During the third quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company determined a triggering event had occurred due to missed branded sales forecasts and elevated weighted average cost of capital. As a result, the Company performed an interim impairment analysis. The result of the impairment analysis indicated the carrying values of the Rayovac and Varta trade names were greater than their fair values, resulting in indefinite-lived intangible asset non-cash impairments of $85.2 and $25.4 for the Rayovac and Varta trade names, respectively.

The quantitative estimated fair value of the Rayovac trade name was determined using the multi-period excess earnings method, which requires significant assumptions, including estimates related to revenue growth rates, gross margin rates, operating expenses (SG&A, R&D, and A&P) and discount rates. The projections for the Rayovac fair value model were generated using the brand's historical performance and long-term category projections, to determine forecasted cash flows and operating data. Specifically, revenue growth assumptions were based on historical trends and management’s expectations for future growth of the category. Gross margin rate assumptions were based on historical trends, management's cost cutting strategies, and a market place participant's production capabilities. Operating expenses were based on historical trends. The discount rate used in the trade name fair value estimate was 11.5% and was based on a weighted-average cost of capital utilizing industry market data of similar companies. The new carrying value for the Rayovac trade name is $337.0.

The quantitative estimated fair value of the Varta trade name was determined using the relief from royalty model, which requires significant assumptions, including estimated related revenue growth rates, royalty rates, and discount rates. The revenue projections for the Varta fair value model were based on the brand's historical performance and long-term category projections. Royalty rate assumptions were determined based on branded profit levels and research of external royalty rates by third-party experts. The discount rate used in the trade name fair value estimate was 11.0% and was based on a weighted-average cost of capital utilizing industry market data of similar companies. The new carrying value for the Varta trade name is $11.6. Following the impairment, the Varta trade name was converted to a definite lived intangible asset with a 15 year useful life. The conversion increased annual amortization by approximately $0.8.

These fair value measurements fell within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy, see Note 11, Financial Instruments and Risk Management.

Changes in the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Company's indefinite-lived intangible assets could result in impairment charges in future periods, which could be material. Additionally, certain factors have the potential to create variances in the estimated fair values of our indefinite-lived intangible assets, which also could result in material impairment charges. These factors include (i) failure to achieve forecasted revenue growth rates, (ii) failure to achieve cost cutting and margin improvement initiatives the Company is implementing, (iii) failure to meet forecasted operating expenses, or (iv) increases in the discount rate. Specifically, a 50 basis point change in the discount rate used in the valuations would result in an additional impairment of $16.7 and $0.3 for the Rayovac and Varta trade names, respectively.

Argentina Economic Reform

In November 2023, a new president was elected in Argentina who is implementing significant economic reform. Upon his inauguration in December 2023, the government devalued the Argentine Peso (ARS) approximately 50% over night. As a result, the Company anticipates that Argentina's operating costs may rise quicker than the Company is able to implement future price increases to offset rising costs, which may result in a near term decline to operating profit during fiscal 2024. The Company had net sales of $9.4 and $10.4 in the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $28.8 and $34.3 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The Company had operating profit of $2.2 and $3.9 in the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and $8.8 and $11.7 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The December 2023 currency devaluation and economic reform resulted in $22.0 of currency and related losses recognized in Other items, net during the nine months ended June 30, 2024. This includes exchange losses of $14.7 from the December remeasurement of the Company's Argentina monetary assets and liabilities and $6.3 of transactional currency exchange losses on the ARS in December which are discussed further in Item 3 Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk. The Company also recorded a loss of $1.0 on the purchase and sale of bonds issued by the Argentina Central Bank (BCRA), named BOPREALs, which were issued to provide a USD denominated instrument for import companies to pay import debts existing before December 12, 2023, and regulate the flow of reserves from BCRA.

It is difficult to determine what continuing impact the new president and his economic reform or the use of highly inflationary accounting for Argentina may have on our consolidated financial statements as such impact is dependent upon movements in the applicable exchange rates between the local currency and the U.S. dollar and the amount of monetary assets and liabilities included in our affiliates' balance sheet, as well as any additional reforms that may be issued by the new Argentine Administration.

Centralsul Acquisition

On May 8, 2024, the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of Centralsul Ltda. (Centralsul), an auto appearance and fragrance manufacturer and distributor based in Southern Brazil (Centralsul Acquisition), which is expected to increase the Company's Auto Care presence in the region. The share purchase agreement (SPA) included a contractual purchase price of approximately $15, which was adjusted by Centralsul's outstanding debt, an indemnity holdback and working capital adjustments, resulting in an initial cash payment of $10.6, which is subject to a post closing working capital adjustment.

Belgium Acquisition

On October 27, 2023, the Company acquired certain battery manufacturing assets in Belgium from Advanced Power Solutions Belgium NV (APS) for a contractual purchase price of EUR3.5 (Belgium Acquisition). The Company also acquired certain raw materials from APS, procured by APS on the Company's behalf to facilitate the transition, for a total acquisition purchase price of $11.6 (including value added taxes). The Company assumed a building lease and the production employees as part of the acquisition, and acquired these assets to provide a battery manufacturing location in Europe.

Acquisition and Integration Costs

The Company recorded $1.6 and $4.9 of acquisition and integration costs during the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. Costs of good sold included $0.2 and $3.1 recorded in the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024, respectively. The majority of this was recorded in the first fiscal quarter as the Company was awaiting the receipt of the raw materials procured on the Company's behalf by APS as part of the Belgium Acquisition. These costs were offset by $1.0 of income during the nine months ended June 30, 2024, recorded in Other items, net, from producing inventory for APS under a transaction services agreement (TSA) entered into at the closing of the transaction. No further income is expected from this TSA. The Company also recorded $1.4 and $2.8 of legal and diligence fees in Selling, general and administrative expenses related to acquisition and integration activities during the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024, respectively.

Project Momentum Restructuring Program

In November 2022, the Board of Directors approved a profit recovery program, Project Momentum, which includes an enterprise-wide restructuring focused on recovering operating margins, optimizing our manufacturing, distribution and global supply chain networks, and enhancing our organizational efficiency across the Company. In July 2023, the Company's Board of Directors approved an expansion of this program to include an additional year, which will allow for additional optimization of our battery manufacturing, distribution and global supply chain networks, further review of our global real estate footprint and the implementation of IT systems that will allow us to streamline our organization and fully execute the program.

Following the Belgium Acquisition in the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the Company expanded the Project Momentum program and increased the savings and cost expectations, partially due to the impact the expanded manufacturing capacity will have on the Company's battery network. The restructuring component of the program is expected to generate $155 to $170 of annual pre-tax savings, and the Company estimates that it will incur one-time cash operating costs of $150 to $170, non-cash costs of approximately $30, and capital expenditures of $75 to $85 over the three year program. Additionally, along side the restructuring component of the program, Project Momentum includes continuous improvement and working capital initiatives that are designed to strengthen our balance sheet, focus on cash flow, and generate P&L savings of approximately $25 to $30 annually. Total expected pre-tax savings of Project Momentum are between $180 and $200 by the end of fiscal year 2025, with approximately $80 to $90 of those savings to be recognized in fiscal year 2024.

As of June 30, 2024, the Company has realized approximately $117 of these savings from Project Momentum, with approximately $63 in fiscal year 2024. The savings were primarily within Cost of products sold and SG&A on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income.

In the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the total Project Momentum restructuring and related pre-tax costs were $18.8 and $9.1, respectively. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, the total Project Momentum restructuring and related pre-tax costs were $64.6 and $23.2, respectively. The expenses primarily consisted of severance and other benefit related costs, accelerated depreciation, asset write-offs, environmental cleanup, consulting costs, IT enablement, decommissioning, relocation, and other exit related costs. These costs were reflected within Cost of products sold, SG&A and Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income.

Although the Company's restructuring costs are recorded outside of segment profit, if allocated to our reportable segments, the pre-tax restructuring and related costs for the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024 would be incurred within the Battery & Lights segment in the amounts of $15.7 and $56.9, respectively, and the Auto Care segment in the amount of $3.1 and $7.7, respectively. For the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2023, the pre-tax restructuring and related costs would have been incurred within the Battery & Lights segment in the amount of $8.3 and $20.9, respectively, and the Auto Care segment in the amount of $0.8 and $2.3, respectively.

Project Momentum restructuring and related costs since inception are $125.2. Refer to Note 4, Restructuring, to the Consolidated (Condensed) Financial Statements for additional discussion on the Company's restructuring costs.

Highlights / Operating Results

Financial Results (in millions, except per share data)

Energizer reported a third fiscal quarter Net loss of $43.8, or a loss of $0.61 per common share, compared to Net earnings of $31.8, or $0.44 per diluted common share, in the prior year third fiscal quarter. Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common share was $0.79 for the third fiscal quarter as compared to $0.54 in the prior year quarter, an increase of 46%.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, Energizer reported a Net loss of $9.5, or a loss of $0.13 per common share, compared to Net earnings of $120.8, or $1.67 per diluted common share, in the prior year comparable period. Adjusted diluted net earnings per common share was $2.09 for the nine months period as compared to the $1.90 in the prior year comparable period, an increase of 10%.

Net (loss)/earnings and Diluted net (loss)/earnings per common share for the time periods presented were impacted by certain items related to restructuring and related costs, acquisition and integration costs, Impairment of intangible assets, the Loss/(gain) on extinguishment of debt and the December 2023 Argentina Economic Reform as described in the tables below. The impact of these items is provided below as a reconciliation of Net (loss)/earnings and Diluted net (loss)/earnings per common share to Adjusted Net earnings and Adjusted Diluted net earnings per common share, which are non-GAAP measures. See disclosure on Non-GAAP Financial Measures above.

Currency, excluding hyperinflationary markets, had an adverse impact to the quarter ended June 30, 2024 of $1.9 in Earnings before income taxes, or $0.02 per share. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, currency benefited the period by $1.2 in Earnings before income taxes, or $0.01 per share.

(1) Restructuring and related costs were incurred as follows:

(2) For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, the acquisition and integration costs of $1.6 included costs of $0.2 recorded in Cost of goods sold and $1.4 recorded in SG&A on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statement of Earnings. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, the acquisition and integration costs of $4.9 included costs of $3.1 recorded in Costs of goods sold and $2.8 recorded in SG&A, partially offset by TSA income of $1.0 recorded in Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statement of Earnings.

(3) During December 2023, a new president was inaugurated in Argentina bringing significant economic reform to the country including devaluing the Argentine Peso by 50% in the month of December. As a result of this reform and devaluation, the Company recorded $22.0 of exchange and related losses for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 in Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statement of Earnings.

(4) The effective tax rate for the Adjusted Net earnings and Adjusted Diluted EPS for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was 23.2% and 21.9%, respectively, and for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was 23.4% and 21.4%, respectively, as calculated utilizing the statutory rate for where the costs were incurred.

(5) For the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024, the Adjusted Weighted average shares of common stock - Diluted includes the dilutive impact of our outstanding performance shares and restricted stock as they are dilutive to the calculation.

Highlights

See non-GAAP measure disclosures above.

Net sales were $701.4 for the third fiscal quarter of 2024, an increase of $2.0 as compared to the prior year quarter. Organic Net sales increased 1.2%, due to the following items:

• The Battery & Lights segment had increased volumes due to improved category trends and new distribution globally driving 3.6% of the organic growth.
• The Auto Care segment had increased volumes from favorable refrigerant sales due to warmer weather and international distribution gains resulting in organic growth of 1.0%.
• Partially offsetting these increases were pricing declines of 3.4%, primarily within Battery & Lights, driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the quarter.

Net sales were $2,081.3 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, a decrease of $67.3 as compared to the prior year period. Organic Net sales decreased 3.1%, driven by the following items:

• The Battery & Lights segment experienced volume declines of approximately 1.5% primarily due to earlier holiday orders compared to the prior year, which benefited the fourth quarter of 2023, and weaker performance at non-tracked channels, partially offset by distribution gains; and
• Pricing declines of 2.3%, primarily within Battery & Lights, driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the period.
• Increased Auto Care volumes of 0.7% largely driven by distribution gains in the period partially offset these declines.

Gross margin percentage on a reported basis for the third fiscal quarter of 2024 was 39.5%, compared to 37.9% in the prior year, an increase of 160 basis points. Excluding restructuring costs in the current and prior year of $13.4 and $6.5, respectively, and integration costs in the current year of $0.2, Adjusted Gross margin was 41.5% compared to 38.8% in the prior year, an increase of 270 basis points.

Gross margin percentage on a reported basis for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 was 38.3%, compared to 38.0%

in the prior year, an increase of 30 basis points. Excluding restructuring costs in the current and prior year of $41.7 and $12.5, respectively, and current year integration costs of $3.1, Adjusted Gross margin was 40.5% compared to 38.6% in the prior year, an increase of 190 basis points.

Adjusted Gross margin improvement in the third fiscal quarter was driven by both Project Momentum initiatives, which delivered savings of approximately $14 in the quarter, as well as lower input costs, including improved commodity and material pricing and lower ocean freight. These benefits were partially offset by the planned strategic pricing and promotional investments noted above.

Adjusted Gross margin improvement for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 was largely driven by Project Momentum, which delivered savings of approximately $41 in the period, as well as lower input costs, including improved commodities pricing and lower ocean freight. These benefits were partially offset by the planned strategic pricing and promotional investments noted above and negative product mix impact.

SG&A was $129.6 in the third fiscal quarter of 2024, or 18.5% of Net sales, as compared to $116.1, or 16.6% of Net sales, in the prior year period. Included in SG&A during the third fiscal quarter of 2024 were acquisition and integration costs of $1.4, and included in the third fiscal quarter of both 2024 and 2023 were restructuring and related costs of $9.8 and $2.8, respectively. Excluding these restructuring and related costs and acquisition and integration costs, Adjusted SG&A was $118.4, or 16.9% of Net sales in the third fiscal quarter of 2024, as compared to $113.3, or 16.2% of Net sales in the prior year period. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by an increase in labor and benefit costs, higher travel expense, increased depreciation expense related to our digital transformation initiatives and increased legal fees. This increase was partially offset by savings from Project Momentum of approximately $7.

SG&A was $380.2 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, or 18.3% of Net sales, as compared to $354.8, or 16.5% of Net sales, in the prior year period. Included in SG&A during the nine months ended June 30, 2024 were acquisition and integration costs of $2.8, and included in both the nine months ended 2024 and 2023 were restructuring and related costs of $27.3 and $10.9, respectively. Excluding these restructuring and related costs and acquisition and integration costs, Adjusted SG&A was $350.1, or 16.8% of Net sales in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $343.9, or 16.0% of Net sales in the prior year period. The year-over-year increase was primarily driven by increased labor and benefit costs, factoring fees, environmental fees, travel and legal fees. This increase was partially offset by Project Momentum savings of approximately $22 in the period.

Advertising and sales promotion expense (A&P) was $37.9, or 5.4% of net sales, in the third fiscal quarter of 2024, as compared to $37.6, or 5.4% of Net sales, in the third fiscal quarter of 2023. A&P was $106.3, or 5.1% of net sales, in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $109.4, or 5.1% of Net sales, in the prior year comparative period.

R&D was $7.4, or 1.1% of Net sales, for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $8.8, or 1.3% of Net sales, in the prior year comparative period. R&D was $23.1, or 1.1% of Net sales, for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $24.4, or 1.1% of Net sales, in the prior year comparative period.

Impairment of intangible assets was $110.6 for the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024. This included a non-cash impairment on the Rayovac trade name of $85.2 and on the Varta trade name of $25.4. The non-cash impairments were driven by missed branded sales forecasts and elevated weighted average cost of capital.

Interest expense was $38.5 for the third fiscal quarter of 2024 compared to $42.2 for the prior year comparative period. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024 interest expense was $117.9 as compared to $127.1 for the prior year comparative period. The lower interest expense was due to a lower average outstanding debt balance in the current year due to the Company's initiatives to pay down debt, partially offset by higher interest rates.

Loss on extinguishment of debt was $1.2 for the third fiscal quarter of 2024 and primarily relates to the Company's term loan repricing during the quarter. The loss on extinguishment of debt of $0.3 for the third fiscal quarter of 2023 related to the Company's early repayment of $41.0 outstanding on the term loan.

Loss on extinguishment of debt was $2.1 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024, and relates to the Company's early repayment of $141.0 outstanding on the term loan as well as the term loan repricing during the current quarter. The gain on extinguishment of debt of $1.7 for the nine months ended June 30, 2023 related to the Company's retirement of $25.0 of outstanding Senior Notes at a discount and the early repayment of $166.0 outstanding on the term loan.

Other items, net was a benefit of $5.0 and an expense of $5.2 for the third fiscal quarters of 2024 and 2023, respectively. Other items, net was expense of $19.5 and $4.6 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

(1) Foreign currency exchange loss includes the currency impact from the December 2023 Argentina economic reform. During December 2023, a new president was inaugurated in Argentina bringing significant economic reform to the country including devaluing the Argentine Peso by 50% in the month of December. As a result of this reform and devaluation, the Company recorded $21.0 of exchange losses for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 in Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statement of Earnings.

The effective tax rate on a year to date basis was expense of 66.7% as compared to 21.1% in the prior year. The current year rate was impacted by the charges from the December 2023 Argentina Reform which did not result in a statutory tax benefit as well as the non-cash intangible impairment. Excluding the impact of the Impairment of intangible assets, restructuring and related costs, acquisition and integration costs, the Loss/(gain) on extinguishment in debt and the December 2023 Argentina Economic Reform, the year to date adjusted effective tax rate was 23.4% as compared to 21.4% in the prior year. The higher current year rate is driven by the higher foreign rate differential compared to the prior year.

Segment Results

Operations for Energizer are managed via two product segments: Batteries & Lights and Auto Care. Segment performance is evaluated based on segment operating profit, exclusive of general corporate expenses (including share-based compensation costs), amortization of intangibles, impairment of intangible assets, acquisition and integration activities, restructuring and related costs, and other items determined to be corporate in nature. Financial items, such as interest income and expense and the (Loss)/gain on extinguishment of debt, are managed on a global basis at the corporate level. The exclusion of restructuring and related costs and acquisition and integration costs from segment results reflects management’s view on how it evaluates segment performance. The Company also excludes amortization of intangibles and impairment of intangible assets from segments as these are non-cash items related to the original purchase of the intangibles and not utilized to evaluate current segment performance.

Energizer’s operating model includes a combination of standalone and shared business functions between the product segments, varying by country and region of the world. Shared functions include the sales and marketing functions, as well as human resources, IT and finance shared service costs. Energizer applies a fully allocated cost basis, in which shared business functions are allocated between segments. Such allocations are estimates, and may not represent the costs of such services if performed on a standalone basis.

Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2024

Battery & Lights reported Net sales decreased 0.4% as compared to the prior year period. Organic Net sales increased $3.2, or 0.6%, for the third fiscal quarter. The organic increase was primarily due to improved category trends and distribution gains in both North America and internationally (approximately 4.9%), partially offset by global pricing declines driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the period (approximately 4.3%).

Auto Care reported Net sales increased 2.2% as compared to the prior year period, driven by an organic Net sales increase of $5.0, or 2.7%. Increased volumes from favorable refrigerant sales due to warmer weather and international distribution gains (approximately 3.8%) drove the growth. Partially offsetting the increase were pricing declines driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the quarter (approximately 1.1%).

Results for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024

Battery & Lights reported Net sales decreased 4.8% as compared to the prior year period. Organic Net sales decreased $80.2, or 4.7%, compared to prior year. The organic decrease was due to earlier holiday orders compared to the prior year, which benefited the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, and weaker performance at non-tracked channels (approximately 1.8%) and pricing declines driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the period (approximately 2.9%).

Auto Care reported Net sales increase of 3.0% as compared to the prior year period, driven by an organic Net sales increase of $13.7, or 3.0%. The increase was driven by increased distribution globally (approximately 2.8%), increased volumes from timing of refrigerant sales (approximately 0.4%), partially offset by pricing declines driven by planned strategic pricing and promotional investments in the period (approximately 0.2%).

Refer to Note 5, Segments, in the Consolidated (Condensed) Financial Statements for a reconciliation from segment profit to earnings before income taxes.

Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2024

Global reported Segment profit increased 12.1% as compared to the prior year. Organic Segment profit increased $22.9, or 16.4%. The organic increase was driven by the increase in organic Net sales discussed above, higher Gross margin and decreased R&D spending. The increase was partially offset by higher SG&A spending spending compared to the prior year.

Battery & Lights reported Segment profit increased by 6.2% as compared to the prior year. Organic Segment profit increased by $13.0, or 10.7%. The organic increase was driven by the increase in organic Net sales discussed above, higher Gross margin and decreased R&D and A&P spending compared to prior year. The increase was partially offset by higher SG&A spending spending compared to the prior year.

Auto Care reported segment profit increased by 54.0% as compared to the prior year. Organic segment profit increased by $9.9, or 56.9%. The increase was driven by higher organic Net sales discussed above and improved gross margin and lower R&D spending compared to the prior year. This was partially offset by slightly higher SG&A and A&P spending over prior year.

Results for the Nine Months Ended June 30, 2024

Global reported segment profit increased 4.0% as compared to the prior year. Organic profit increased $24.5, or 5.7%. The organic increase was driven by higher Gross margin and reduced A&P and R&D spending compared to the prior year. This was partially offset by the decline in organic Net sales discussed above as well as an increase in SG&A spending over the prior year.

Battery & Lights reported segment profit increased by 0.2% as compared to the prior year. Organic segment profit increased by $8.3, or 2.2%, due to the improved gross margin from Project Momentum savings and reduced A&P and R&D spending compared to the prior year. This was partially offset by the organic Net sales decline discussed above as well as higher SG&A spending in the current year.

Auto Care reported segment profit increased by 29.1% as compared to the prior year. Organic segment profit increased by $16.2, or 28.2%. The increase was driven by higher organic Net sales discussed above and improved gross margin due to Project Momentum savings, as well as reduced R&D spending. This was partially offset by higher SG&A and A&P spending compared to prior year.

For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, General corporate and other expenses were $29.1, an increase of $1.7 as compared to the prior year comparative period. For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, General corporate and other expenses were $86.6, an increase of $6.0 as compared to the prior year comparative period. The increase was primarily driven by increased stock compensation, travel, legal fees and factoring fees in the current year.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Energizer’s primary future cash needs will be centered on operating activities, working capital, strategic investments and debt reductions. We believe that our future cash from operations, together with our access to capital markets, will provide adequate resources to fund our operating and financing needs. Our access to, and the availability of, financing on acceptable terms in the future will be affected by many factors, including: (i) our financial condition and prospects, (ii) for debt, our credit rating, (iii) the liquidity of the overall capital markets and (iv) the current state of the economy. There can be no assurances that we will continue to have access to capital markets on terms acceptable to us. See the “Risk Factors” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2023 for additional information.

Cash is managed centrally with net earnings reinvested locally and working capital requirements met from existing liquid funds. At June 30, 2024, Energizer had $146.7 of cash and cash equivalents, approximately 93% of which was held outside of the U.S. Given our extensive international operations, a significant portion of our cash is denominated in foreign currencies. We manage our worldwide cash requirements by reviewing available funds among the many subsidiaries through which we conduct our business and the cost effectiveness with which those funds can be accessed. The repatriation of cash balances from certain of our subsidiaries could have adverse tax consequences or be subject to regulatory capital requirements; however, those balances are generally available without legal restrictions to fund ordinary business operations.

In December 2020, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement which provided for a 5-year $400.0 revolving credit facility (2020 Revolving Facility) and a $1,200.0 Term Loan due December 2027. In December 2021, the Company amended the Credit Agreement to increase the 2020 Revolving Facility to $500.0.

At June 30, 2024, the Company had $832.0 outstanding on the Term Loan. Borrowings under the Term Loan require quarterly principal payments at a rate of 0.25% of the original principal balance, or $3.0. Borrowings under the 2020 Revolving Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at the option of the Company, SOFR or the Base Rate (as defined) plus the applicable margin. The Term Loan bears interest at a rate per annum equal to SOFR plus the applicable margin. The Company completed a Term Loan reprice in the current quarter which decreased the applicable margin.

During the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024 the company pre-paid $6.0 and $141.0, respectively, of the Term Loan. The write-off of associated deferred financing fees as well as the Term Loan reprice resulted in a Loss on extinguishment of debt during the quarter and nine months ended June 30, 2024 of $1.2 and $2.1, respectively.

As of June 30, 2024, the Company had no outstanding borrowings under the 2020 Revolving Facility and $7.6 of outstanding letters of credit. Taking into account outstanding letters of credit, $492.4 remained available under the 2020 Revolving Facility as of June 30, 2024. The Company is in compliance with the provisions and covenants associated with its debt agreements, and expects to remain in compliance throughout the next twelve months.

Operating Activities

Cash flow from operating activities was $260.7 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to $296.3 in the prior year period. This decrease in cash flows of $35.6 was driven by the decline in Net (loss)/earnings excluding non-cash adjustments, as well as year over year working capital declines of approximately $9.

Investing Activities

Net cash used by investing activities was $89.0 and $34.7 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and consisted of the following:

• Capital expenditures of $70.5 and $35.4 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively;
• Proceeds from assets sales were $4.9 from selling a facility in the Dominican Republic in the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and $0.7 in the nine months ended June 30, 2023;
• Acquisitions, net of cash acquired, was an outflow of $22.4 from the purchase of battery manufacturing assets in Belgium in the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and the purchase of Centralsul in the third quarter of fiscal 2024;
• Purchase of available-for-sale securities was $5.2 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, related to the purchase of bonds issued by the Argentina Central bank, named BOPREALs; and
• Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities were $4.2 in the nine months ended June 30, 2024, related to the sale of BOPREALs.

Investing cash outflows of approximately $95 to $105 are anticipated in fiscal 2024 for capital expenditures. This includes normal maintenance, product development and cost reduction investments, as well as approximately $35 to $45 of investment from Project Momentum initiatives including IT systems.

Financing Activities

Net cash used by financing activities was $223.9 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 as compared to $261.2 in the prior fiscal year period.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2024, cash used by financing activities consists of the following:

• Payments of debt with maturities greater than 90 days of $150.6 primarily related to term loan principal payments;
• Net decrease in debt with original maturities of 90 days or less of $1.8 primarily related to international borrowings;
• Debt issuance costs of $0.9 related to the Term Loan reprice in the current quarter;
• Dividends paid on common stock of $65.8 (see below); and
• Taxes paid for withheld share-based payments of $4.8.

For the nine months ended June 30, 2023, cash used by financing activities consisted of the following:

• Payments of debt with maturities greater than 90 days of $197.0, primarily related to the early retirement of Senior notes of $21.6 and the term loan principal payments of $175.0;
• Net increase in debt with original maturities of 90 days or less of $2.5 primarily related to international borrowings;
• Dividends paid on common stock of $64.8; and
• Taxes paid for withheld share-based payments of $1.9.

Dividends

On November 6, 2023, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 of $0.30 per share of common stock, payable on December 14, 2023. On January 29, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the second fiscal quarter of 2024 of $0.30 per share of common stock, payable on March 14, 2024. On April 29, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the third quarter of fiscal 2024 of $0.30 per share of common stock, payable on June 12, 2024. Subsequent to quarter end, on July 29, 2024, the Board of Directors declared a cash dividend for the fourth fiscal quarter of 2024 of $0.30 per share of common stock, payable on September 10, 2024, to all shareholders of record as of the close of business on August 22, 2024.

Share Repurchases

In November 2020, the Company's Board of Directors put in place an authorization for the Company to acquire up to 7.5 million shares of its common stock. The Company has 5.0 million shares remaining under this authorization.

Future share repurchases, if any, will be determined by the Company based on its evaluation of the market conditions, capital allocation objectives, legal and regulatory requirements and other factors. Share repurchases may be effected through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions, including repurchase plans that satisfy the conditions of Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

The timing, declaration, amount and payment of future dividends to shareholders or repurchases of the Company’s Common stock will fall within the discretion of our Board of Directors. The Board’s decisions regarding the payment of dividends or repurchase of shares will depend on many factors, such as our financial condition, earnings, capital requirements, debt service obligations, covenants associated with certain of our debt service obligations, industry practice, legal requirements, regulatory constraints and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.

Other Matters

Environmental Matters

Accrued environmental costs at June 30, 2024 were $12.4. It is difficult to quantify with certainty the cost of environmental matters, particularly remediation and future capital expenditures for environmental control equipment. Total environmental capital expenditures and operating expenses are not expected to have a material effect on our total capital and operating expenditures, earnings or competitive position. However, current environmental spending estimates could be modified as a result of changes in our plans or our understanding of underlying facts, changes in legal requirements, including any requirements related to global climate change, or other factors.

Contractual Obligations

The Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to fund its operations and meet its short-term and long-term obligations. The Company's material future obligations include the contractual and purchase commitments described below.

The Company has a contractual commitment to repay its long-term debt of $3,203.3 based on the defined terms of our debt agreements. Within the next twelve months, the Company is obligated to pay $12.0 of this total debt. Our interest commitments based on the current debt balance and SOFR rate on drawn debt at June 30, 2024 is $641.9, with $138.7 expected within the next twelve months. The Company has entered into an interest rate swap agreement that fixed the variable benchmark component (SOFR) on $700.0 of variable rate debt. Refer to Note 9, Debt, for further details.

The Company has an obligation to pay a mandatory transition tax of $12.8. The next payment of $5.7 is due in the second quarter of fiscal 2025 with the remainder due in fiscal year 2026.

Additionally, Energizer has material future purchase commitments for goods and services which are legally binding and that specify all significant terms including price and/or quantity. Total future commitments for these obligations over the next 5 years is $13.1. Of this amount, $9.1 is due within the next twelve months. Refer to Note 14, Legal proceeding/contingencies and other obligations, for additional details.

Energizer is also party to various service and supply contracts that generally extend approximately one to three months. These arrangements are primarily individual, short-term purchase orders for routine goods and services at market prices, which are part of our normal operations and are reflected in historical operating cash flow trends. These contracts can generally be canceled at our option at any time. We do not believe such arrangements will adversely affect our liquidity position.

In connection with the Centralsul acquisition, the Company has retained an indemnity holdback of approximately $2 and expects to pay a potential earnout of up to approximately $5 if certain financial metrics are achieved during calendar year 2025. No material amounts of these obligations are expected to be paid within the next 12 months.

Finally, Energizer has operating and financing leases for real estate, equipment, and other assets that include future minimum payments with initial terms of one year or more. Total future operating and finance lease payments at June 30, 2024 are $144.1 and $90.7, respectively. Within the next twelve months, operating and finance lease payments are expected to be $20.1 and $4.0, respectively.

Market Risk Sensitive Instruments and Positions

The market risk inherent in the Company's financial instruments’ positions represents the potential loss arising from adverse changes in currency rates, commodity prices and interest rates. The following risk management discussion and the estimated amounts generated from the sensitivity analysis are forward-looking statements of market risk assuming certain adverse market conditions occur. The Company's derivatives are used only for identifiable exposures, and we have not entered into hedges for trading purposes where the sole objective is to generate profits.

Derivatives Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

A significant share of Energizer's product cost is more closely tied to the U.S. dollar than to the local currencies in which the product is sold. As such, a weakening of currencies relative to the U.S. dollar results in margin declines unless mitigated through pricing actions, which are not always available due to the economic or competitive environment. Conversely, strengthening of currencies relative to the U.S. dollar can improve reported results. The primary currencies to which Energizer is exposed include the Euro, the British pound, the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar. However, the Company also has significant exposures in many other currencies which, in the aggregate, may have a material impact on the Company's operations.

The Company has entered into a series of forward currency contracts to hedge the cash flow uncertainty of forecasted payment of inventory purchases due to short term currency fluctuations. Energizer’s foreign affiliates, which have the largest exposure to U.S. dollar purchases, have the Euro, the British pound, the Canadian dollar and the Australian dollar as their local currencies. These foreign currencies represent a significant portion of Energizer's foreign currency exposure. At June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, Energizer had an unrealized pre-tax gain of $0.4 and $3.3, respectively, on these forward currency contracts accounted for as cash flow hedges, included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated (Condensed) Balance Sheets. Assuming foreign exchange rates versus the U.S. dollar remain at June 30, 2024 levels over the next twelve months, $0.4 of the pre-tax gain included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss at June 30, 2024 is expected to be recognized in earnings. Contract maturities for these hedges extend into fiscal year 2025.

Derivatives Not Designated as Cash Flow Hedging Relationships

Energizer's foreign subsidiaries enter into internal and external transactions that create nonfunctional currency balance sheet positions at the foreign subsidiary level. These exposures are generally the result of intercompany purchases, intercompany loans and to a lesser extent, external purchases, and are revalued in the foreign subsidiary’s local currency at the end of each period. Changes in the value of the non-functional currency balance sheet positions in relation to the foreign subsidiary’s local currency results in an exchange gain or loss recorded in Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income. The primary currency to which Energizer’s foreign subsidiaries are exposed is the U.S. dollar.

The Company enters into foreign currency derivative contracts which are not designated as cash flow hedges for accounting purposes to hedge balance sheet exposures. Any gains or losses on these contracts are expected to be offset by exchange gains or losses on the underlying exposures, thus they are not subject to significant market risk. The change in estimated fair value of the foreign currency contracts resulted in a loss of $0.9 and $1.6 for the quarters ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and resulted in a loss of $0.4 and $1.0 for the nine months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These losses were recorded in Other items, net on the Consolidated (Condensed) Statements of Earnings and Comprehensive Income.

Commodity Price Exposure

The Company uses raw materials that are subject to price volatility. At times, the Company uses hedging instruments to reduce exposure to variability in cash flows associated with future purchases of certain materials and commodities.

The Company has entered into hedging contracts on future zinc purchases to reduce exposure to variability in cash flows associated with price volatility. The contracts are determined to be cash flow hedges and qualify for hedge accounting. The contract maturity for these hedges extend into fiscal 2025. There were 18 open contracts at June 30, 2024, with a total notional value of approximately $27. The Company had an unrealized pre-tax gain of $3.7 and an unrealized pre-tax loss of $0.7 on these hedges at June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, respectively, included in Accumulated other comprehensive loss on the Consolidated (Condensed) Balance Sheet.

Interest Rate Exposure

The Company has interest rate risk with respect to interest expense on variable rate debt. At June 30, 2024, Energizer had variable rate debt outstanding of $832.0 under the 2020 Term Loan.

The Company has an interest rate swap that fixes the variable benchmark component (SOFR) at an interest rate of 1.042% on variable rate debt of $700.0. The notional value of the swap will stay at this value through December 22, 2024 and then will decrease by $100.0 on December 22, 2024 and by $100.0 each year thereafter until its termination date on December 22, 2027. The notional value of the swap was $700.0 at June 30, 2024.

At June 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023, Energizer recorded a unrealized pre-tax gain of $59.0 and $79.8, respectively, on the interest rate swap. For the quarter ended June 30, 2024, our weighted average interest rate on variable rate debt, inclusive of the interest rate swap, was 3.63%.

Argentina Currency Exposure and Hyperinflation

Effective July 1, 2018, the financial statements for our Argentina subsidiary were consolidated under the rules governing the translation of financial information in a highly inflationary economy. Under U.S. GAAP, an economy is considered highly inflationary if the cumulative inflation rate for a three year period meets or exceeds 100 percent. The Argentina economy exceeded the three year cumulative inflation rate of 100 percent as of June 2018 and remains highly inflationary as of June 30, 2024. If a subsidiary is considered to be in a highly inflationary economy, the financial statements of the subsidiary must be remeasured into the Company’s reporting currency (U.S. Dollar or USD) and future exchange gains and losses from the remeasurement of monetary assets and liabilities are reflected in current earnings, rather than exclusively in the equity section of the balance sheet, until such time as the economy is no longer considered highly inflationary.

In November 2023, a new president was elected in Argentina who is implementing significant economic reform. Upon his inauguration in December 2023, the government devalued the Argentine Peso (ARS) approximately 50%. On December 13, 2023, the ARS exchange rate moved from 367:1 to 800:1 with the USD. The rate remained around this level throughout December, ending December 31, 2023 at a rate of 808:1. The rates have remained relatively consistent since then, ending June 30, 2024 at 911:5. The currency devaluation had a significant impact on the remeasurement of the Company's monetary assets and liabilities during the first quarter of fiscal 2024.

As of September 30, 2023, the Company's assets and liabilities on the Argentina legal subsidiary balance sheet translated to USD was $40.1 and $14.7, respectively. The translated asset and liability balances declined to $25.8 and $14.6, respectively, at December 31, 2023, and resulted in an exchange loss of $14.7 in Other items, net during the month of December. The Company does not manufacture in Argentina and is an importer primarily of batteries in this region. As a result, the liability balances included USD denominated debt of $10.3 and $8.8 at December 31, 2023 and September 30, 2023, respectively. In addition to the revaluation, the Company also recorded $6.3 of transactional currency exchange losses in Other items, net during December 2023. The Company also recorded a loss of $1.0 on the purchase and sale of bonds issued by the Argentina Central Bank (BCRA), named BOPREALs, which were issued to provide a USD denominated instrument for import companies to pay import debts existing before December 12, 2023, and regulate the flow of reserves from BCRA. As of June 30, 2024, the USD denominated debt has decreased to $8.6.

It is difficult to determine what continuing impact the new president and his economic reforms or the use of highly inflationary accounting for Argentina may have on our consolidated financial statements as such impact is dependent upon movements in the applicable exchange rates between the local currency and the USD and the amount of monetary assets and liabilities included in our affiliates' balance sheet, as well as any additional reforms that may be issued by the new Argentine Administration.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain a comprehensive set of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our filings under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported accurately and within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to Energizer's management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Based on that evaluation performed, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2024, to provide reasonable assurance of the achievement of these objectives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, there can be no assurance that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures will detect or uncover all failures of persons within the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries to report material information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company's reports.

The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have also determined in their evaluation that there was no change in the Company's internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended June 30, 2024 that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company's internal control over financial reporting.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2023, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 14, 2023, contains a detailed discussion of risk factors that could materially adversely affect our business, operating results or financial condition. There have been no material changes to the risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K.