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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 (Amendment No.          )

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Preliminary Proxy Statement

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Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))

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Definitive Proxy Statement

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Definitive Additional Materials

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Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12

 

ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

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LOGO


ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
100 Overlook Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To Be Held On May 9, 2014

March 28, 2014

To our stockholders:

        On behalf of your board of directors, we are pleased to invite you to attend the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. (the "Company"). The meeting will be held on Friday, May 9, 2014, at 9:00 a.m., local time, at our offices located at 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

        At the meeting, you will be asked to:

        (1)   Elect the two Class III directors listed herein to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

        (2)   Ratify the appointment of Deloitte &Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014;

        (3)   Conduct an advisory vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers;

        (4)   Approve the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan;

        (5)   Approve the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan; and

        (6)   Transact any other business properly brought before the meeting.

        Stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 14, 2014 are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting. To assure your representation at the meeting, please execute and return the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided, whether or not you plan to attend the meeting.

   

This proxy statement is first being mailed to stockholders on or about March 28, 2014.



Table of Contents

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ROCKWOOD'S ANNUAL MEETING

  1

Stockholders Entitled to Vote

  1

Required Vote

  1

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on May 9, 2014

  1

BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

 
2

OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING

 
3

PROXIES AND VOTING PROCEDURES

 
4

How Proxies are Voted

  4

How to Revoke or Change Your Proxy

  4

Method and Cost of Proxy Solicitation

  4

Stockholder Director Nominations and Proposals for the 2015 Annual Meeting

  4

PROPOSAL ONE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 
6

General Information

  6

Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting

  6

Directors Whose Terms Do Not Expire This Year

  7

PROPOSAL TWO RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 
8

PROPOSAL THREE NON-BINDING VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 
9

PROPOSAL FOUR APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 
11

Background and Reasons for the Proposal

  11

Administration/Eligible Participants

  12

Number of Shares Authorized Under the Stock Incentive Plan

  13

Limitations

  13

Terms and Conditions of Options

  14

Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

  15

Terms and Conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards

  16

Transferability

  17

Change in Control

  17

Adjustments

  18

Amendments to New Stock Incentive Plan

  18

Plan Benefits Under New Stock Incentive Plan

  19

Stock Awards Previously Granted under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan

  20

Section 409A of the Code

  20

Federal Income Tax Consequences Relating to Awards Under the Stock Incentive Plan

  20

PROPOSAL FIVE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

 
22

Background and Reason for the Proposal

  22

Description of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan

  23

OTHER MATTERS

 
25

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS

 
25

Director Independence

  25

Meetings of the Board of Directors

  26

Board Role in Risk Management

  26

Audit Committee

  27

Audit Committee Report

  28

Compensation Committee

  30

Risk Analysis of Performance-Based Compensation Plans

  32

Compensation Committee Report

  32

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

  32

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

  32

Board Structure

  34

Presiding Director of Non-Management Executive Sessions

  35

Corporate Governance Guidelines

  35

Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics

  35

Director Candidate Recommendations by Stockholders

  35

Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with the Board of Directors

  36

AUDIT AND RELATED FEES

 
37

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 
37

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

 
38

Individual Non-Employee Director Compensation for 2013

  38

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 
40

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

  40

Summary Compensation Table

  61

Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2013

  63

Employment and Other Agreements

  63

Outstanding Equity Awards at 2013 Fiscal Year-End

  66

Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2013

  68

Pension Benefits for 2013

  68

Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2013

  68

Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

  69

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

 
78

STOCK OWNERSHIP

 
79

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

  79

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

  81

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

 
82

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

  82

ANNUAL REPORT AND HOUSEHOLDING

 
83

APPENDIX A

 
 

Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan

  A-1

APPENDIX B

 
 

Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan

  B-1


ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
100 Overlook Center
Princeton, New Jersey 08540

PROXY STATEMENT
For the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be Held On
May 9, 2014

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT ROCKWOOD'S ANNUAL MEETING

        We are providing this proxy statement in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the board of directors of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. for use at Rockwood's 2014 annual meeting of stockholders and at any adjournment of the annual meeting. You are cordially invited to attend the annual meeting, which will be held at our offices located at 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, on May 9, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. local time. For driving directions to our offices, please call (609) 514-0300.


Stockholders Entitled to Vote

        The record date for the annual meeting is March 14, 2014. Only stockholders of record as of the close of business on that date are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the annual meeting. As of March 14, 2014, there were 74,097,280 shares of common stock outstanding.


Required Vote

        The presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares outstanding on the record date is necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at the meeting. Each stockholder is entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy, for each share of common stock held as of the record date on each matter to be voted upon. Abstentions and broker non-votes are included in determining whether a quorum is present. A broker non-vote occurs when a nominee holding shares for a beneficial owner does not vote on a particular proposal because the nominee does not have discretionary power with respect to that item and has not received instructions from the beneficial owner.

        Directors will be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director's election at the annual meeting, unless the election is a "contested election" as defined in our by-laws, in which case directors will be elected by a plurality of votes cast. Abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as either a vote cast "for" or "against" and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on election of directors at the annual meeting. Each of the other proposals requires the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter. In determining the results of such other proposals, abstentions will have the same effect as a vote against the respective proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of these proposals.

        The vote on the proposal for the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP and the non-binding vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers are advisory in nature and are non-binding.


Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to Be Held on May 9, 2014.

        We have elected to provide access to our proxy materials both by sending you this full set of proxy materials, including a proxy card, and by notifying you of the availability of our proxy materials on the internet. This proxy statement and our 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders are available on our website at http://www.rockwoodspecialties.com/rock_english/ir/irdownld.asp which may be moved to the "Featured Documents" section of the Company's homepage, http://www.rocksp.com, at a later date. In addition, in accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") rules, you may access our proxy statement at https://materials.proxyvote.com/774415, which does not have "cookies" that identify visitors to the site.

1



BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AND APPROVAL REQUIREMENTS

        Delaware law and Rockwood's certificate of incorporation and by-laws govern the vote on each proposal. The board of directors' recommendation is set forth together with the description of each item in this proxy statement. In summary, the board of directors' recommendations and approval requirements are:


Proposal 1.
Election of Directors

        The first item to be voted on is the election of the two Class III directors listed herein to serve until our annual meeting in 2017 and their successors are duly elected and qualified. The board of directors has nominated two people as directors, each of whom is currently serving as a director of Rockwood.

        You may find information about these nominees—Douglas L. Maine and Ambassador Alejandro Wolff—beginning on page 6.

        On August 28, 2013, the board of directors approved an amendment to the Company's by-laws to change the vote standard for the election of directors from a plurality of votes cast to a majority of votes cast with respect to that director's election at the annual meeting in uncontested elections at which a quorum is present. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes cast "for" a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast "against" that director nominee. In "contested elections" our directors are elected by a plurality of votes cast. Under our Bylaws, a "contested election" is an election in which, as of the tenth day preceding the date we first transmit our notice of meeting to our stockholders, the number of nominees for director is greater than the number to be elected. Each incumbent director standing for re-election at our annual meeting has agreed to resign, upon acceptance of such resignation by the board of directors, if he or she does not receive a majority vote.

        Assuming a quorum is present, each share of common stock may be voted for as many nominees as there are directors to be elected. Stockholders may not cumulate their votes. Abstentions and broker non-votes are not counted as votes "for" or "against" a director nominee and will have no effect on the outcome of the vote on election of directors at the annual meeting.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR each director nominee listed herein.


Proposal 2.
Ratification of Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

        The second item to be voted on is the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

        You may find information about this proposal beginning on page 8.

        You may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal will pass if approved by a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. We believe that there can be no broker non-votes with respect to Proposal 2 because brokers should have discretion under current stock exchange rules to vote uninstructed shares on Proposal 2.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood's independent registered public accounting firm.

2



Proposal 3.
Non-Binding Vote on the Compensation Paid to Our Named Executive Officers

        The third item to be voted on is a non-binding vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

        You may find information about this proposal beginning on page 9.

        You may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal will pass if approved by a majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Broker non-votes will have no effect on the proposal, as they are not counted as "entitled to vote on the subject matter" for voting purposes.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the compensation paid to our named executive officers.


Proposal 4.
Approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan

        The fourth item to be voted on is the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.

        You may find information about this proposal beginning on Page 11.

        You may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal will pass if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered "shares present" for voting purposes.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.


Proposal 5.
Approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan

        The fifth item to be voted on is the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan.

        You may find information about this proposal beginning on Page 22.

        You may vote in favor of the proposal, vote against the proposal, or abstain from voting. Assuming a quorum is present, the proposal will pass if it receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares present in person or represented and entitled to vote on the matter. Abstentions will have the same effect as votes against the proposal. Broker non-votes are not considered "shares present" for voting purposes and will not affect the vote.

        The board of directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan.


OTHER MATTERS TO COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL MEETING

        As of the date of this proxy statement, the board of directors was not aware of any other business to be presented for a vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting. If any other matters are properly presented for a vote, the people named as proxies will have discretionary authority, to the extent permitted by law, to vote on such matters according to their best judgment.

3



PROXIES AND VOTING PROCEDURES

        Your vote is important and you are encouraged to vote your shares promptly.


How Proxies are Voted

        You may vote by completing and mailing the enclosed proxy card or by voting in person at the annual meeting. Mailed proxy cards must be received by May 8, 2014. Each proxy will be voted as directed. However, if a proxy solicited by the board of directors does not specify how it is to be voted, it will be voted as the board of directors recommends—that is, FOR the election of the two nominees for Class III director named in this proxy statement, FOR the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014, FOR the approval of the compensation paid to our named executive officers, FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, and FOR the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan. If any other matters are properly presented at the annual meeting for consideration, such as consideration of a motion to adjourn the annual meeting to another time or place, the persons named as proxies will have discretion, to the extent permitted by law, to vote on those matters according to their best judgment to the same extent as the person delivering the proxy would be entitled to vote. As of the date of this proxy statement, we did not anticipate that any other matters would be raised at the annual meeting.


How to Revoke or Change Your Proxy

        If you submit a proxy and then wish to change your vote or vote in person at the annual meeting, you will need to revoke the proxy that you have submitted. You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted by delivery of a properly executed, later-dated proxy or a written revocation of your proxy. A later-dated proxy or written revocation of your proxy must be received before the annual meeting by the Corporate Secretary of Rockwood, Thomas J. Riordan, at Rockwood Holdings, Inc., 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, or it must be delivered to the Corporate Secretary at the annual meeting before proxies are voted. You will be able to change your proxy as many times as you wish prior to its being voted at the annual meeting, and the last proxy received chronologically will supersede any prior proxies.


Method and Cost of Proxy Solicitation

        This proxy solicitation is being made on behalf of Rockwood and the expense of preparing, printing and mailing this proxy statement is being paid by us. Proxies may be solicited by officers, directors and employees of Rockwood in person, by mail, telephone, facsimile or other electronic means. We will not specifically compensate those persons for their solicitation activities. In accordance with the regulations of the SEC and the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE"), we will reimburse brokerage firms and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for their expense incurred in sending proxies and proxy materials to beneficial owners of our common stock.


Stockholder Director Nominations and Proposals for the 2015 Annual Meeting

        Pursuant to Rockwood's by-laws, stockholders may present director nominations and proposals that are proper subjects for consideration at an annual meeting. Rockwood's by-laws require all stockholders who intend to nominate persons for election to the board of directors or make proposals at an annual meeting to give timely notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary of Rockwood, Thomas J. Riordan, at Rockwood Holdings, Inc., 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540. Our by-laws require advance notice by any stockholder who proposes director nominations or any other business for consideration at a stockholders' meeting. To be timely, notice to our Corporate Secretary

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must be received at the above address not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which Rockwood first mailed its proxy materials for the previous year's annual meeting, after which point a stockholder proposal will be considered untimely. Therefore, to be presented at the 2015 annual meeting, such a proposal must be received by the Corporate Secretary on or after November 29, 2014 but no later than December 29, 2014. In the event that the date of the 2015 annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the previous year's meeting, stockholder notice must be so delivered not earlier than 120 days prior to the 2015 annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the 2015 annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the 2015 annual meeting is first made. However, if the number of directors to be elected to the board of directors of Rockwood is increased and there is no public announcement by Rockwood naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased board of directors at least 100 calendar days prior to the anniversary of the mailing of proxy materials for the prior year's annual meeting, then a stockholder notice only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase must be received by the Corporate Secretary of Rockwood not later than the close of business on the 10th calendar day following such public announcement. Please refer to our by-laws for certain other related requirements.

        If any stockholder wishes to propose a matter for consideration at our 2015 annual meeting of stockholders, the proposal should be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to our Corporate Secretary at the address in the previous paragraph. To be eligible under the SEC's stockholder proposal rule (Rule 14a-8(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) for inclusion in our 2015 annual meeting proxy statement and form of proxy card, a proposal must be received by our Corporate Secretary on or before November 28, 2014.

5



PROPOSAL ONE
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

        The first agenda item to be voted on is the election of two Class III directors to serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.


General Information

        The board of directors currently consists of six directors, and is divided into three classes—Class I, Class II and Class III. Directors are generally elected for three-year terms on a staggered term basis, so that each year the term of office of one class will expire and the terms of office of the other classes will extend for additional periods of one and two years, as applicable. The term of office for current Class III directors expires at the 2014 annual meeting. The term of office for Class I and Class II directors will expire at the 2015 and 2016 annual meeting of stockholders, respectively. In connection with Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P's sale of substantially all of its remaining equity investment it held in the Company in late 2012, Todd A. Fisher and Brian F. Carroll resigned from the board of directors of the Company on January 8, 2013.

        The full board of directors has considered and nominated this year's nominees to serve for a three-year term expiring at the 2017 annual meeting of stockholders. It is intended that the proxies delivered pursuant to this solicitation will be voted in favor of the election of the nominees designated below, except in cases of proxies bearing contrary instructions. We have inquired of the nominees and confirmed that they will serve if elected. If, for any reason, any nominee becomes unavailable for election and the board of directors selects a substitute nominee, the proxies will be voted for the substitute nominee selected by the board of directors. The board of directors has no reason to believe that any of the named nominees is not available or will not serve if elected.

        The nominees are current directors of Rockwood, and a description of the background of each is set forth below. Immediately thereafter is a description of the background of each of the existing directors whose terms of office extend beyond the annual meeting.


Nominees for Election at the Annual Meeting

Name
  Age   Position   Class

Douglas L. Maine

  65   Director   III

Ambassador Alejandro Wolff

  57   Director   III

        Douglas L. Maine has been a director of Rockwood since August 2005. Mr. Maine joined International Business Machines in 1998 as Chief Financial Officer following a 20 year career with MCI, where he was Chief Financial Officer from 1992-1998. He was named General Manager of ibm.com in 2000, General Manager of Consumer Products Industry in 2003 and retired in 2005. Mr. Maine also serves on the boards of directors of Alliant Techsystems, Inc. and Broadsoft, Inc., and is audit committee Chairman of both companies' boards. Mr. Maine was recently appointed to a three-year term on the "Standing Advisory Group" for the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB).Mr. Maine is a Limited Partner and Senior Advisor with Brown Brothers Harriman. Mr. Maine has a B.S. from Temple University and a M.B.A. from Hofstra University.

        Ambassador Alejandro Wolff has been a director of Rockwood since August 2013. As U.S. Ambassador to Chile from September 2010 until August 2013, Ambassador Wolff is a 33-year veteran of the Department of State since joining as a Foreign Service Officer in 1979. His most recent prior assignment was Ambassador and Deputy Permanent U.S. Representative to the United Nations (2005-2010). Ambassador Wolff retired from the U.S. Department of State on August 23, 2013. Ambassador Wolff also served in Algeria, Morocco, Chile, Cyprus, the U.S. Mission to the European Union in Brussels, and France from 2001 to 2005. His assignments in Washington included tours on the

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Policy Planning Staff (1981-1982), in the Office of Soviet Union Affairs (1988-1989), in the Office of the Under Secretary for Political Affairs (1989-1991), as Deputy Executive Secretary of the Department (1996-1998), and as the Executive Assistant to Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Colin Powell (1998-2001). Ambassador Wolff is the recipient of the Department of State's Distinguished, Superior, and Meritorious Honor Awards. Ambassador Wolff is currently Managing Director of Gryphon Partners LLC. He graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978 from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE NOMINEES LISTED ABOVE.


Directors Whose Terms Do Not Expire This Year

Name
  Age   Position   Class

Seifi Ghasemi

  69   Director   II

Sheldon Erikson

  72   Director   II

Nance K. Dicciani

  66   Director   I

J. Kent Masters

  53   Director   I

        Seifi Ghasemi has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Rockwood and our subsidiary, Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., since November 2001. From 1997 to 2001 he was with GKN, plc, a $6.0 billion revenue per year global industrial company during that time. He served as a director of the Main Board of GKN, plc and was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of GKN Sinter Metals, Inc. and Hoeganes Corporation. Before that, for 18 years, Mr. Ghasemi was with BOC Group, plc, a $7.0 billion revenue per year global industrial gas company at that time, which is now part of Linde AG. He was a director of the Main Board of BOC Group, plc, President, BOC Gases Americas and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BOC Process Plants, Ltd. and Cryostar. Mr. Ghasemi also serves on the board of directors of EnerSys, since 2010, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. since 2013, and serves as Chairman of the Electrification Coalition, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit group of business leaders committed to reducing oil dependence through the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale. Mr. Ghasemi has a Master of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

        Sheldon R. Erikson has been a director of Rockwood since November 2005. Mr. Erikson is currently a director and was the Chairman of the Board of Cameron International Corporation, a global manufacturer, provider and servicer of petroleum equipment from 1996 to 2011 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 2008. He was Chairman of the Board from 1988 to 1995, and President from 1987 to 1995, of The Western Company of North America, an international petroleum service company. He also serves on the boards of directors of Frank's International N.V., a leading global oil industry service company, and Endeavour International Corporation, an oil and gas exploration and development company headquartered in Houston, Texas with operations in the United States and United Kingdom North Sea. Mr. Erikson studied at the University of Illinois and has a M.B.A. from Harvard University.

        Nance K. Dicciani has been a director of Rockwood since June 2008 and lead independent director since October 2009. From 2001 until her retirement in April 2008, Dr. Dicciani was the President and Chief Executive of Honeywell International Inc.'s $4.9 billion revenue per year specialty materials business. Prior to joining Honeywell in 2001, she was with Rohm and Haas Company, serving as Senior Vice President and Business Group Executive of chemical specialties and Director, European Region. In 2006, President George W. Bush appointed Dr. Dicciani to the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Dr. Dicciani also serves on the boards of directors of Praxair Inc., LyondellBasell Industries and Halliburton Co. and the board of Trustees of Villanova University. Dr. Dicciani earned degrees in chemical engineering, including a B.S. from Villanova University, an

7


M.S. from the University of Virginia and a Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. She also earned a M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

        J. Kent Masters has been a director of Rockwood since May 2007. Mr. Masters was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Foster Wheeler AG, a global engineering and construction contractor and power equipment supplier, in October 2011. Mr. Masters was also elected to the board of directors of Foster Wheeler AG in November 2011. Prior to joining Foster Wheeler, Mr. Masters was a member of the executive board of Linde AG, a global leader in manufacturing and sales of industrial gases, with responsibility for the Americas, Africa and the South Pacific since 2006. Prior to joining Linde AG, Mr. Masters was a member of the board of directors of BOC Group, plc, a global industrial gas company, which was acquired by Linde AG in 2006. At BOC Group, plc, he served as President, Process Gas Solutions-Americas, from 2002-2005, and as Chief Executive, Industrial and Special Products, from 2005 until 2006. Mr. Masters was the non-executive Chairman of African Oxygen Limited from 2005 until 2011. Mr. Masters has a B.Sc. degree in chemical engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology and a M.B.A. from New York University.


PROPOSAL TWO

RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT
REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The second agenda item to be voted on is the ratification of the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood's independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

        In making a decision to reappoint Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company's independent auditor, the audit committee took into consideration a number of factors, including the fact that Deloitte & Touche LLP has been the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company since before our initial public offering in 2005, the quality of the firm and its professional qualifications, its ability to service our global operations and the past performance of the firm. Based upon this analysis, the audit committee determined it should reappoint Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm to audit our consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. We are asking our stockholders to ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm.

        Even if the appointment is ratified, the audit committee may in its discretion select a different independent registered public accounting firm at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of Rockwood and our stockholders. If the appointment is not ratified by our stockholders, the audit committee will reconsider the appointment.

        A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP is expected to attend the annual meeting and be available to respond to appropriate questions. The representative will be afforded an opportunity to make a statement if he or she desires to do so.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP AS ROCKWOOD'S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2014.

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PROPOSAL THREE

NON-BINDING ADVISORY VOTE ON THE COMPENSATION PAID
TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        The third agenda item to be voted on is a non-binding vote on the compensation paid to our named executive officers.

        In accordance with the requirements of Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, we are including in these proxy materials a separate resolution subject to an advisory non-binding vote on the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed on pages 40 to 77.

        The text of the resolution in respect of Proposal Three is as follows:

        "RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company's named executive officers as discussed and disclosed pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, the compensation tables and any related material disclosed in this proxy statement, is hereby approved."

        In considering their vote, we encourage stockholders to review the information on Rockwood's compensation policies and decisions regarding the named executive officers presented in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 40 to 77, as well as the discussion regarding the Compensation Committee on pages 30 to 32.

        In particular, stockholders should consider the following in determining whether to vote for this proposal:

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ROC 6-Year CEO TDC versus TSR

GRAPHIC


Note:
The indexed TSR tracks the value of a $100 investment in Company stock (at the beginning of the performance period) during the subsequent five-year period, inclusive of stock price performance and dividends.

Total Shareholder Return—Our Stock has Outperformed Related Stock Indices:  One, three and five year cumulative total shareholder returns were at 49.19%, 93.06% and 599.32%, respectively, as compared to the one, three and five year cumulative total shareholder returns of 30.77%, 56.07% and 222.43%, respectively, for the Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index and 32.27%, 97.28% and 291.93%, respectively, for the S&P Supercomposite Specialty Chemicals Index; and

Other Compensation Practices:  

Objective Performance Criteria:    Our performance-based compensation for our named executive officers is based upon objective criteria—Adjusted EBITDA, working capital and relative and absolute total shareholder return.

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Retention Requirements:    We have stock ownership guidelines and retention requirements to more closely align the interests of our named executive officers and our shareholders.

Compensation Recovery Claw-backs:    The employment agreements and equity award agreements of our named executive officers contain claw-back provisions related to certain awards under specified circumstances.

Prohibition on Re-pricing of Underwater Stock Options Without Shareholder Approval:    In 2013, the Board amended our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan to prohibit re-pricing of equity awards without stockholder approval.

Tax Gross-Ups:    In 2010, the Committee eliminated tax gross-ups on all benefits except for those related to change in control provisions granted in 2001 under grandfathered agreements with our named executive officers. The Committee did not in 2013 enter into new agreements or amend grandfathered agreements with such gross-ups, nor does it intend to award tax gross-ups in the future.

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        This advisory resolution, commonly referred to as a "say-on-pay" resolution, is non-binding. Although this resolution is non-binding, the board of directors and the Compensation Committee value the opinions of our stockholders and will take into account the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation decisions.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPENSATION PAID TO OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.


PROPOSAL FOUR

APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

        The fourth agenda item to be voted on is the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan.

        The compensation committee (the "Committee") approved the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the "New Stock Incentive Plan"), subject to approval of the board of directors and the stockholders, and the board of directors approved the New Stock Incentive Plan, subject to approval of the stockholders.

        The following is a summary description of the New Stock Incentive Plan. While the material features of the New Stock Incentive Plan are summarized below, the summary is in all respects subject to the complete text of the New Stock Incentive Plan contained in Appendix A.


Background and Reasons for the Proposal

        The 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan was originally adopted in April 2009 ("Existing Stock Incentive Plan"). As of March 14, 2014, the total number of shares of our common stock that remains available for issuance under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan is approximately 9,957,800 (which number includes 1,001,660 shares of our common stock subject to awards previously granted under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan and outstanding as of the date the New Stock Incentive Plan will be effective). The Committee has decided not to increase the authorized shares under the New Stock Incentive Plan, therefore, the New Stock Incentive Plan does not change the number of shares authorized under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan. The Company is seeking stockholder approval of the New Stock Incentive Plan at this time to achieve the following purposes and other technical amendments (certain of which amendments have been previously made to the Existing Stock Incentive Plan by the board of directors through amendment and restatement in February 2012 and amendment in 2013):

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        The purposes of the New Stock Incentive Plan are to promote the interests of the Company and its stockholders by:

If the stockholders do not approve the New Stock Incentive Plan, the New Stock Incentive Plan will not be implemented and we will continue to grant awards under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan, provided that, as a result of the application of Section 162(m) of the Code, a portion of the compensation paid to our Chief Executive Officer and certain other executive officers and key employees may exceed the $1 million threshold, and may not be tax deductible.


Administration/Eligible Participants

        The New Stock Incentive Plan shall be administered by the Committee or any other subcommittee appointed by the board of directors or the full board of directors, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof consisting solely of at least two individuals who are intended to qualify as "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (or any successor rule thereto), "independent directors" within the meaning of the applicable principal national exchange listed company rules, and "outside directors"

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within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereof). Additionally, the Committee, which the Company expects to be its compensation committee, may delegate the authority to grant awards under the New Stock Incentive Plan to any employee or group of employees of the Company or an affiliate; provided that such delegation and grants are consistent with applicable law and guidelines established by the board of directors from time to time.

        Eligible participants include employees, directors or independent contractors who are selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, to participate in the New Stock Incentive Plan. As of March 1, 2014, there were approximately 6,500 employees, 5 directors and no independent contractors who were eligible participants. The closing price of our common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange was $77.07 on March 20, 2014.


Number of Shares Authorized Under the New Stock Incentive Plan

        The New Stock Incentive Plan does not change the number of shares authorized under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan. The New Stock Incentive Plan authorizes the grant of awards to participants with respect to a maximum of 9,957,800 shares of our common stock (which number includes 1,001,660 shares of our common stock subject to awards previously granted under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan and outstanding as of the date the New Stock Incentive Plan will be effective), subject to adjustment to avoid dilution or enlargement of intended benefits in the event of certain significant corporate events, which awards may be made in the form of:

        The maximum number of shares with respect to which options and stock appreciation rights may be granted to any individual participant in the New Stock Incentive Plan in any calendar year may not exceed 1,000,000. The maximum number of shares which may be paid to any individual participant in the New Stock Incentive Plan in connection with the settlement of any award(s) designated as a "performance-based award" in respect of a single performance period shall be $20 million worth of our common stock (based on the grant date fair market value of such shares) or, in the event such performance-based award is paid in cash, $20 million.

        The issuance of shares or the payment of cash upon the exercise of an award or in consideration of the cancellation or termination of an award shall reduce the total number of shares available under the New Stock Incentive Plan, as applicable. If, after the effective date of the New Stock Incentive Plan, any shares covered by an award granted under the Existing or New Stock Incentive Plan, or to which such an award relates, are forfeited, or if an award has expired, terminated or has been canceled for any reason whatsoever (other than by reason of exercise or vesting), then the shares covered by such award shall again be, or shall become, shares with respect to which awards may be granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan.


Limitations

        The effective date of the New Stock Incentive Plan shall be the date it is approved by the stockholders of the Company.

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Terms and Conditions of Options

        Options granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, non-qualified or incentive stock options for federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related award agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions (including, without limitation, prices, expiration dates and other material terms), not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:

        Option Exercise Price.    The option exercise price per share shall be determined by the Committee, but shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date an option is granted. Furthermore, no incentive stock option may be granted to any participant who, at the time of such grant, owns more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, unless:

        Exercisability.    Options granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan shall be exercisable at such time and upon such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Committee, but in no event shall an option be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted; provided, however, that (other than with respect to any incentive stock options or as would otherwise result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder) to the extent an option would expire at a time when the holder of such option is prohibited by applicable law or the Company's insider trading policy from selling or otherwise disposing of shares that he or she would otherwise acquire upon exercise of such option, then such option shall nevertheless be exercisable until the thirtieth (30th) day following the date such prohibition lapses.

        Exercise of Options.    Except as otherwise provided in the New Stock Incentive Plan or in an award agreement, an option may be exercised for all, or from time to time any part, of the shares for which it is then exercisable. The exercise date of an option shall be the later of the date a notice of exercise is received by the Company and, if applicable, the date payment is received by the Company pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii) (iv) or (v) in the following sentence. The purchase price for the shares as to which an option is exercised shall be paid to the Company as designated by the Committee, pursuant to one or more of the following methods:

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        No participant shall have any rights to dividends or other rights of a stockholder with respect to shares subject to an option until the participant has given written notice of exercise of the option, paid in full for such shares and, if applicable, has satisfied any other conditions imposed by the Committee pursuant to the New Stock Incentive Plan.

        Incentive Stock Options.    Incentive stock options shall comply with the requirements of Section 422 of the Code (or any successor section thereto). No incentive stock option may be granted to any participant who, at the time of such grant, owns more than ten percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries, unless (i) the option exercise price for such incentive stock option is at least 110% of the fair market value of a share on the date the incentive stock option is granted and (ii) the date on which such incentive stock option terminates is a date not later than the day preceding the fifth anniversary of the date on which the incentive stock option is granted. Any participant who disposes of shares acquired upon the exercise of an incentive stock option either (i) within two years after the date of grant of such incentive stock option or (ii) within one year after the transfer of such shares to the participant, shall notify the Company of such disposition and of the amount realized upon such disposition.

        All options granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan are intended to be non-qualified stock options, unless the applicable award agreement expressly states that the option is intended to be an incentive stock option. If an option is intended to be an incentive stock option, and if for any reason such option (or portion thereof) shall not qualify as an incentive stock option, then, to the extent of such non-qualification, such option (or portion thereof) shall be regarded as a non-qualified stock option granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan; provided that such option (or portion thereof) otherwise complies with the New Stock Incentive Plan's requirements relating to non-qualified stock options. In no event shall any member of the Committee, the Company or any of its affiliates (or their respective participants, officers or directors) have any liability to any participant (or any other person) due to the failure of an option to qualify for any reason as an incentive stock option.


Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

        Grants.    The Committee may grant (i) a stock appreciation right independent of an option or (ii) a stock appreciation right in connection with an option, or a portion thereof. A stock appreciation right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be granted at the time the related option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or cancellation of the related option, (B) shall cover the same number of shares covered by an option (or such lesser number of shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated below (or such additional limitations as may be included in an award agreement).

        Terms.    The exercise price per share of a stock appreciation right shall be an amount determined by the Committee, but in no event shall such amount be less than 100% of the fair market value of a share on the date the stock appreciation right is granted; provided, however, that in the case of a stock appreciation right granted in conjunction with an option, or a portion thereof, the exercise price may not be less than the option exercise price of the related option.

        Each stock appreciation right granted independent of an option shall entitle a participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the fair market value on the exercise date of one share over (B) the exercise price per share, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares covered by the stock appreciation right. Each stock appreciation right granted in conjunction with an option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange therefore an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the fair market value on the exercise date of one share over (B) the option exercise price per share, multiplied by (ii) the number of shares covered by the option, or portion thereof, which is

15


surrendered. Payment shall be made in shares or in cash, or partly in shares and partly in cash (any such shares valued at such fair market value), all as shall be determined by the Committee.

        Stock appreciation rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of shares with respect to which the stock appreciation right is being exercised. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of shares will be rounded downward to the next whole share.

        Limitations.    The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the exercisability of stock appreciation rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a stock appreciation right be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted; provided, however, that (other than as would otherwise result in a violation of Section 409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder) to the extent a stock appreciation right would expire at a time when the holder of such stock appreciation right is prohibited by applicable law or the Company's insider trading policy from selling or otherwise disposing of shares that he or she would otherwise acquire upon exercise of such stock appreciation right, then such stock appreciation right shall nevertheless be exercisable until the thirtieth (30th) day following the date such prohibition lapses.


Terms and Conditions of Other Stock-Based Awards

        Generally.    The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell awards of shares, awards of restricted stock, restricted stock units and awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on the fair market value of, shares. Such other stock-based awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more shares (or the equivalent cash value of such shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other stock-based awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other awards granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan. Subject to the provisions of the New Stock Incentive Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when other stock-based awards will be made; the number of shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such other stock-based awards; whether such other stock-based awards shall be settled in cash, shares or a combination of cash and shares; and all other terms and conditions of such awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

        Performance-Based Awards.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain other stock-based awards may be granted in a manner which is intended to be deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto) ("performance-based awards"). A participant's performance-based award shall be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Committee for a performance period established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the relevant performance period.

        The performance goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria:

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        The amount of the performance-based award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to the participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period; provided, however, that a participant may, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee and consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, elect to defer payment of a performance-based award.


Transferability

        Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an award shall not be transferable or assignable by a participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it determines) may permit an award to be transferred or transferable to heirs, legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the participant, in each case, for no consideration and only to the extent permissible by law and, in the case of an ISO, to the extent permissible under Section 422 of the Code.


Change in Control

        With respect to grants awarded under the New Stock Incentive Plan, in the event of a change in control after the effective date of the New Stock Incentive Plan, unless otherwise determined by the Committee in the applicable award agreement:

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For the avoidance of doubt, not all awards will be required to be treated in a uniform manner.


Adjustments

        In the event of any change in the outstanding shares after the effective date of the New Stock Incentive Plan by reason of any share dividend or split, reorganization, recapitalization, merger, consolidation, spin-off, combination, combination or transaction or exchange of shares or other corporate exchange, or any distribution to stockholders of shares other than regular cash dividends or any transaction similar to the foregoing, the Committee in its sole discretion and without liability to any person shall make such substitution or adjustment, if any, as it deems to be equitable, as to:


Amendments to New Stock Incentive Plan

        The board of directors may amend, alter or discontinue the New Stock Incentive Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made:

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        Any award granted under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan that is outstanding on or after the effective date of the New Stock Incentive Plan will be subject to the New Stock Incentive Plan, but if any term of the New Stock Incentive Plan conflicts with or materially diminishes the rights of the participant with respect to any such outstanding award, then the conflicting terms of the Existing Stock Incentive Plan (or award agreement, as applicable) will instead apply.

        Additionally, without stockholder approval other than certain specified adjustments;


Plan Benefits under the New Stock Incentive Plan

        Because future awards under the New Stock Incentive Plan will be granted at the discretion of the Committee, the type, number, recipients, and other terms of such awards cannot be determined at this time, other than, at this time, we anticipate that if the New Stock Incentive Plan is approved by our stockholders, the quarterly grants of common stock to our non-employee directors with a value equal to approximately $80,000 per year, as described under "Director Compensation" below, would be made under the New Stock Incentive Plan.

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Stock Awards Previously Granted under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan

        The following table sets forth information on long-term equity awards under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan since its adoption in 2009 assuming maximum performance levels for outstanding awards.

Name & Position
  Stock Option
Grants
(# of Shares
Covered)
  Restricted
Stock Unit
Grants
(# of Shares
Covered)
  Total of all
Columns in
Table
(# of Shares
Covered)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

    131,358     481,333     612,691  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

                   

Robert J. Zatta

   
21,448
   
116,587
   
138,035
 

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

                   

Thomas J. Riordan

   
18,650
   
112,883
   
131,533
 

Senior Vice President, Law and Administration, and Secretary

                   

Nance Dicciani

   
0
   
0
   
0
 

Sheldon R. Erikson

    0     0     0  

Douglas L. Maine

    0     0     0  

J. Kent Masters

    0     0     0  

Alejandro D. Wolff

    0     0     0  

All Current Executive Officers as a Group

    171,456     710,803     882,259  

Each nominee for election as a director

    0     0     0  

All Current Directors Who are not Executive Officers as a Group          

    0     0     0  

All Non-Executive Directors as a Group

    0     0     0  

All Employees, Other than Executive Officers, as a Group

    105,963     1,211,879     1,317,842  


Section 409A of the Code

        Notwithstanding other provisions of the New Stock Incentive Plan or any award agreements thereunder, no award shall be granted, deferred, accelerated, extended, paid out or modified under the New Stock Incentive Plan in a manner that would result in the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code upon a participant. In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code, payments in respect of any award under the New Stock Incentive Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the New Stock Incentive Plan or the relevant award agreement, as the case may be, without causing the participant holding such award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will make such payment on the first day that would not result in the participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code.


Federal Income Tax Consequences Relating to Awards Under the New Stock Incentive Plan

        The following summary of the federal income tax consequences of awards under the New Stock Incentive Plan (and exercise, where applicable, of awards under the New Stock Incentive Plan) is intended to reflect the current provisions of the Code and the regulations thereunder. This summary is not intended to be a complete statement of applicable law, nor does it address state and local tax considerations.

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        Certain of the United States federal income tax consequences to holders of non-qualified and incentive stock options and the company of options granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan should generally be as set forth in the following summary:

        A participant to whom an incentive stock option that qualifies under Section 422 of the Code is granted will not recognize income at the time of grant or exercise of such option. No federal income tax deduction will be allowable to the participant's company upon the grant or exercise of such incentive stock option. However, upon the exercise of an incentive stock option, special alternative minimum tax rules apply for the participant.

        When the participant sells shares of the Company's common stock acquired through the exercise of an incentive stock option more than one year after the date the participant receives such shares upon the exercise of such incentive stock option and more than two years after the date of grant of such incentive stock option, the participant will normally recognize a long-term capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between the sale prices of such shares and the incentive stock option exercise price of the incentive stock option. If the participant does not hold such shares for this period, when the participant sells such shares, the participant will recognize ordinary compensation income and possibly capital gain or loss in such amounts as are prescribed by the Code and regulations thereunder, and the participant's company will generally be entitled to a federal income tax deduction in the amount of such ordinary compensation income.

        An individual to whom an option that is not an incentive stock option (a "non-qualified option") is granted will not recognize income at the time of grant of such option. When such individual exercises such non-qualified option, the individual will recognize ordinary compensation income equal to the excess, if any, of the fair market value, as of the date of option exercise, of the shares the individual receives over the option exercise price. The tax basis of such shares to such individual will be equal to the option exercise price paid plus the amount includable in the individual's gross income, and the individual's holding period for such shares will commence on the day after which the individual recognized taxable income in respect of such shares. Subject to applicable provisions of the Code and regulations thereunder, the Company will generally be entitled to a federal income tax deduction in respect of the exercise of non-qualified options in an amount equal to the ordinary compensation income recognized by the individual. Any such compensation includable in the gross income of a participant in respect of a non-qualified option will be subject to appropriate federal, state, local and foreign income and employment taxes.

        The federal income tax consequences of stock appreciation rights are similar to the tax consequences of the non-qualified options described above.

        The discussion set forth below does not purport to be a complete analysis of all potential tax consequences relevant to recipients of awards under the New Stock Incentive Plan of the Company or to describe tax consequences based on particular circumstances and does not address the consequences of all possible forms of awards that may be granted under the New Stock Incentive Plan. It is based on United States federal income tax law and interpretational authorities as of the date of this proxy statement, which is subject to change at any time.

        Generally, the Company receives a deduction and a participant recognizes taxable income equal to the fair market value of the restricted stock at the time or times that restrictions on shares awarded lapse, unless the participant elects to recognize the full fair market value of the restricted stock awarded as income immediately upon grant of the shares, by so electing not later than 30 days after the

21


date of grant by the Company to the participant of a restricted stock award as permitted under Section 83(b) of the Code (such an election, a "Section 83(b) election"). In the event the participant makes such an election, the participant is taxed at ordinary income tax rates, and the Company is entitled to a deduction for an equivalent amount at the same time. Upon disposition by a participant of any restricted shares following the lapse of any restrictions, any difference between the participant's tax basis in the shares (e.g., the amount of the ordinary income recognized, if any, by the participant upon either the making of the Section 83(b) election or upon the lapsing of the restrictions, as applicable) and the amount realized on the participant's disposition of shares is treated as short-term or long-term capital gain or loss. Whether or not a participant recognizes a short-term or long-term capital gain or loss depends upon whether the participant held our shares before disposition thereof for less than or more than one year after the earlier to occur of the date the participant made the Section 83(b) election or the lapsing of the restrictions on the relevant shares, as applicable, and whether or not the participant recognized a gain or loss upon such disposition.

        Cash and/or the fair market value of stock received by participants in connection with any part of a stock-based award (i.e., a restricted stock unit) will generally be taxable as ordinary income to those participants in the year in which cash and/or stock, as applicable, is actually received for such award, and the Company will be entitled to a corresponding tax deduction.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED 2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDING, INC. STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN.


PROPOSAL FIVE

APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED
2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

        The fifth agenda item to be voted on is the approval of the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan.

        The compensation committee approved the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan (the "New Short-Term Incentive Plan"), subject to approval of the board of directors and the stockholders, and the board of directors approved the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, subject to approval of the stockholders.

        The following is a summary description of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan. While the material features of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan are summarized below, the summary is in all respects subject to the complete text of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan contained in Appendix B.

        The stockholders are being asked to approve the New Short-Term Incentive Plan. If the stockholders do not approve the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, the New Short-Term Incentive Plan will not be implemented and the existing short-term incentive plan would remain in place solely with respect to incentive bonus opportunities granted prior to the expiration of such plan, but no new incentive bonus opportunities would be granted under such plan.

        Background and Reason for the Proposal.    The New Short-Term Incentive Plan is intended to allow for the continuation (as amended and restated) of the existing short-term incentive plan, the 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan. The New Short-Term Incentive Plan, like the existing plan as in effect prior to the amendment and restatement, permits the Company to provide performance-based bonuses to certain executive officers and key employees of the Company that will qualify for income tax deduction by the Company. Upon approval of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, future incentive bonus opportunities will be granted pursuant to the terms of the New Short-Term

22


Incentive Plan. The Company is seeking stockholder approval of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan at this time to achieve the following purposes and other technical amendments:

        In general, Section 162(m) of the Code disallows a publicly held corporation a deduction for federal income tax purposes for compensation in excess of $1 million for a taxable year paid to any individual who, on the last day of the taxable year, is the chief executive officer or is among its three other most highly compensated officers (excluding the principal financial officer). Certain compensation is not subject to this deduction limit, including compensation that is paid solely on account of the attainment of one or more pre-established, objective performance goals (performance-based compensation). For compensation to qualify for the performance-based compensation exception, in addition to other requirements, the material terms under which the performance-based compensation is to be paid, including the performance goals, must be disclosed to, and approved by, the stockholders of the corporation prior to the payment of any award under the plan (accordingly, the Company is also seeking stockholder approval prior to any award being made under the New Stock Incentive Plan).

        The New Short-Term Incentive Plan is intended to provide performance-based incentive compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Participation in the New Short-Term Incentive Plan is not exclusive, and the New Short-Term Incentive Plan does not limit the ability of the board of directors to adopt any additional short-term incentive plan or to pay any other compensation, including any additional bonus or performance-based stock- based award, to certain executive officers and key employees. It is possible that any such additional bonus would not be deductible, and it is also possible that any such additional bonus would not be considered performance-based compensation or would not be deductible.

        If the stockholders of the Company do not approve the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, the New Short-Term Incentive Plan will not be implemented, and no new incentive awards will be granted thereunder.


Description of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan

        Administration/Eligible Participants.    The New Short-Term Incentive Plan is administered and interpreted by the Committee; provided, however, that the board of directors may, in its sole discretion, take any action designated to the Committee as it may deem necessary. The New Short-Term Incentive Plan is intended to be administered and interpreted in a manner which will cause awards granted thereunder to qualify as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent so intended. Any determination made by the Committee under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan shall be final and conclusive. The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents (including counsel or agents who are employees of the Company, a subsidiary or any other service recipient) as it may deem desirable for the administration of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant or agent and any computation received from such consultant or agent. All expenses incurred in the administration of the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, including, without limitation, for the engagement of any counsel, consultant or agent, shall be paid by the Company. No member or former member of the board of directors or the Committee shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in connection with the New Short-Term Incentive Plan other than as a result of such individual's willful misconduct.

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        The Committee may delegate its authority under this Plan; provided that, to the extent Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to the Company and the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, the Committee shall not delegate its authority with respect to any "covered employee" (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code) of the Company or any other individual who the board of directors or the Committee reasonably believes may become a covered employee if it would cause any award due to be payable under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan intended to be qualified as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify; provided, further, that, for purposes of establishing performance goals, any such delegation must be to a committee comprising solely of two or more "outside directors" (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code).

        Establishing Bonus Opportunities.    Under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, the Committee will establish objective performance goals that must be satisfied in order for a participant to receive a bonus for the given performance period. The performance goals based on one or more of the objective performance factors listed below, will be established by the Committee while the outcome of the performance period is still substantially uncertain and not later than 90 days after the commencement of the period to which the performance goals relate (or such other date as may be required or permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable).

        Objective Performance Goals.    Under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, the objective performance goals, which may differ for each participant, must be based on relative or comparative achievement of one or more of the following: earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); net income; operating income; earnings per share; book value per share; return on equity; expense management; return on investment; improvements in capital structure; profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; maintenance or improvement of profit margins; stock price; market share; revenues or sales; costs; cash flow; working capital; return on assets; assets under management; and total return. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries or one or more of its divisions or units or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies of indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may adjust, modify or amend the above business criteria either in establishing any performance goal or in determining the extent to which any performance goal has been achieved. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (and to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall have the authority, at the time it establishes the performance goals for the applicable performance period, to make equitable adjustments in the business criteria in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or its operating units, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment or a business or related to a change in generally accepted accounting principles, or as the Committee determines to be appropriate to reflect a true measurement of the profitability of the Company or its operating units, as applicable, and to otherwise satisfy the objectives of the Plan. The maximum amount of an award to any participant with respect to a fiscal year of the Company shall be $10 million.

        Committee Certification.    At the end of the applicable performance period, the Committee must certify the attainment of the applicable performance goals prior to payment of any bonus under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, and may reduce (but not increase) the amount of any bonus.

        Form of Payment.    All bonuses payable under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan will be payable in cash.

        Termination of Employment.    If a participant dies or becomes disabled prior to the last day of the applicable performance period for which the bonus is payable, such participant may receive an annual bonus equal to the bonus otherwise payable, pro-rated for the number of days in the performance

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period prior to the date of the participant's death or disability, to such participant based upon actual Company performance for the applicable performance period, as determined by the Committee. Other than as provided above and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, no bonuses will be payable under the New Short-Term Incentive Plan to any participant whose employment with the Company terminates prior to the last day of the applicable performance period.

        Change in Control.    The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, provide for bonuses to be payable upon the occurrence of a "change in control" (as such term may be defined and amended from time to time by the Committee or the board of directors).

        Effectiveness of the Plan.    The New Short-Term Incentive Plan will become effective on the date on which it is approved by the stockholders of the Company and will expire on the fifth anniversary of such effective date.

        Amendment and Termination.    The board of directors or the Committee may amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the New Short-Term Incentive Plan, except that (i) any amendments must comply with the applicable requirements for exemption, to the extent necessary, under Section 162(m) of the Code, and (ii) no amendment, suspension, discontinuance or termination can materially adversely affect the rights of any participant in respect of any calendar year which has already commenced as of the date such action is taken.

        THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS THAT STOCKHOLDERS VOTE "FOR" THE APPROVAL OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED ROCKWOOD HOLDING, INC. SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN.


OTHER MATTERS

        As of the date of this proxy statement, we know of no business that will be presented for consideration at the annual meeting other than the items referred to above. If any other matter is properly brought before the annual meeting for action by stockholders, proxies in the enclosed form returned to Rockwood will be voted in accordance with the recommendation of the board of directors, or in the absence of such a recommendation, in accordance with the judgment of the proxy holder.


CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND RELATED MATTERS

Director Independence

        Currently, in accordance with NYSE rules, the audit, the compensation, and the corporate governance and nominating committees are each comprised entirely of independent directors. The board of directors has determined that Nance K. Dicciani, Sheldon R. Erikson, Douglas L. Maine, J. Kent Masters and Ambassador Alejandro Wolff are independent directors within the meaning of applicable NYSE listing standards, the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and our categorical standards of independence described below.

        When making "independence" determinations, the board of directors broadly considers all relevant facts and circumstances as well as any other facts and considerations specified by the NYSE, including those related to board and committee service, our by-laws or by any rule or regulation of any other regulatory body or self-regulatory body applicable to Rockwood. When assessing the materiality of a director's relationship with Rockwood, the board of directors considers the issue not merely from the standpoint of the director, but also from that of persons or organizations with which the director has an affiliation. The board of directors has adopted categorical standards designed to assist them in assessing director independence. The categorical standards can be found in the Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines, which are available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section. The categorical standards set forth certain relationships between the Company

25


and the directors and their immediate family members, or entities with which they are affiliated, that the board of directors, in its judgment, has determined to be material or immaterial in assessing director independence. The Company's Corporate Governance Guidelines and the categorical standards have been designed to align with the independence standards of the NYSE.

        The board of directors has determined that the following relationships will not be considered material relationships that would impair a director's independence:

        On an annual basis, each member of the board of directors is required to complete a questionnaire designed in part to provide information to assist the board of directors in determining whether the director is independent under NYSE rules and our Corporate Governance Guidelines. In addition, the directors or potential directors have an affirmative duty to disclose to our corporate governance and nominating committee relationships which may impair their independence.

        Our corporate governance and nominating committee reviews all relationships and transactions for compliance with the standards described above and makes a recommendation to the board of directors regarding the independence of the directors of the Company. For those directors identified as independent, the Company and the board of directors are aware of no relationships or transactions with the Company or management.


Meetings of the Board of Directors

        The board of directors is required to meet at least four times annually or more frequently as circumstances dictate. The board of directors met twelve times in 2013, either in person or by telephone. All directors are expected to participate whether in person or by telephone in all meetings of the board of directors. Each incumbent director attended at least 91% of all applicable board of directors meetings and at least 75% of all applicable committee meetings during 2013. All directors attended the 2013 annual meeting of stockholders held on May 21, 2013.


Board Role in Risk Management

        Rockwood is exposed to a number of risks, including geo-political risks, financial risks, strategic risks, operational risks, risks relating to general economic conditions and their effect on certain industries, and risks relating to regulatory and legal compliance. The board of directors oversees the company-wide risk management function of the Company with the assistance of the audit committee, the corporate governance and nominating committee, the compensation committee and a risk management committee comprised of a group of management employees from various functional

26


groups. The senior executives manage and mitigate, to the extent possible, material risks on a day-to-day basis. The roles of each of these director and management committees are as follows:

        Each of these committees along with our senior executives are responsible for periodically reporting to the board of directors the material risks facing the Company and highlighting any new material risks that may have arisen since they last met.


Audit Committee

        Our audit committee currently consists of Sheldon R. Erikson, Douglas L. Maine and J. Kent Masters. Mr. Maine is the chairperson of our audit committee. The board of directors has determined that all of the members of the audit committee are financially literate and meet the independence requirements mandated by the applicable NYSE listing standards, Section 10A(m)(3) of the Exchange Act and our independence standards and that Mr. Maine is an audit committee financial expert. Our audit committee is responsible for:

        In accordance with SEC rules and Deloitte & Touche policy, audit partners are subject to rotation requirements to limit the number of consecutive years an individual partner may provide service to the

27


Company. For lead and concurring partners, the maximum number of consecutive years of service is five years. The process for selection of a replacement lead partner to address such rotation involves a meeting between the chairperson of the audit committee and the candidate for lead partner, as well as meeting with various members of management and the candidate for the role. The full audit committee and senior management discuss the candidates as well prior to their appointment.

        The audit committee has adopted a formal policy concerning the pre-approval of audit and non-audit services to be provided by our independent registered public accounting firm. The policy requires that all services to be performed by Deloitte & Touche and its affiliates, including audit services, audit-related services and permitted non-audit services, be pre-approved by the audit committee. Pre-approval is generally provided for up to one year, and any pre-approval is detailed as to the particular service or category of services and is subject to a budget. Specific services being provided by the independent accountants are regularly reviewed in accordance with the pre-approval policy and the audit committee may pre-approve particular services on a case-by-case basis. The audit committee has delegated the authority to grant pre-approvals to Mr. Maine, the audit committee chairperson, when the full audit committee is unable to do so. At each subsequent audit committee meeting, the audit committee reviews these pre-approvals, receives updates on the services actually provided by the independent accountants, and management may present additional services for approval. For 2013, the audit committee pre-approved all audit, audit-related and non-audit services performed by Deloitte & Touche. The audit committee considers the impact of fees for non-audit services on the independence of Deloitte & Touche.

        The audit committee has reviewed and approved the amount of fees paid to the independent auditors for audit, audit-related and tax compliance services. The audit committee has concluded that Deloitte & Touche providing such services is consistent with maintaining Deloitte & Touche's independence. Audit fees represent fees for professional services provided in connection with the audit of our consolidated annual financial statement and internal controls over financial reporting and reviews of our quarterly financial statements, as well as audits of subsidiary financial statements (including statutory audits), regulatory filings, consents and other SEC-related matters. Audit fees increased in 2013 primarily due to the audits of standalone financial statements necessary in connection with the sales of certain of our businesses.

        The audit committee annually reviews the performance of Deloitte & Touche. Deloitte & Touche also conducts a client services assessment that is based upon the results of questionnaires completed by key members of management of the Company to garner data about service quality, sufficiency of resources and objectivity. Deloitte & Touche compiles the results of those questionnaires and reports the findings to the audit committee, including providing representative comments from management. The audit committee, the external auditor and management discuss the comments and incorporate the feedback into the following years audit plan.

        Our audit committee is required to meet at least four times annually or more frequently as circumstances dictate. The committee met eight times in 2013.

        Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the audit committee, which is available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.


Audit Committee Report

        The audit committee reviews Rockwood's financial reporting process on behalf of the board of directors. Management has the primary responsibility for the financial statements and the reporting process, including the system of internal controls. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for expressing an opinion on those audited consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

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        The audit committee is also responsible for the engagement of the independent auditor and appointed Deloitte & Touche to serve in that capacity during 2013 and 2014. As part of that role, the audit committee:

        Among other matters, the audit committee also:

        Based on the reviews and discussions referred to above, the audit committee approved the audited consolidated financial statements and recommended to the board of directors that they be included in

29


Rockwood's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 for filing with the SEC. The audit committee has also appointed Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood's independent registered public accounting firm and is presenting its appointment to the stockholders for ratification.


 

 

AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

 

Douglas L. Maine, Chairperson
Sheldon Erikson
J. Kent Masters

        The preceding audit committee report is provided only for the purpose of this proxy statement. This report shall not be incorporated, in whole or in part, in any other Rockwood filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act.


Compensation Committee

        The compensation committee (the "Committee") currently consists of Nance K. Dicciani, Sheldon R. Erikson, J. Kent Masters and Ambassador Alejandro Wolff. Mr. Erikson is the chairperson of the Committee. The Committee is comprised solely of independent directors.

        The Committee is responsible for:

        The Committee may form one or more subcommittees. The Committee shall be entitled to delegate any or all of its responsibilities to any subcommittee of the Committee and each subcommittee may take such actions as may be delegated by the Committee.

        The Committee is required to meet at least two times annually, or more frequently, as circumstances dictate. The Committee met six times in 2013.

        Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the Committee which is available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.

        The Committee reviews and approves our executive compensation program on an annual basis. The Committee has sole discretion and adequate funding to engage consultants in connection with compensation-related matters. In 2013, the Committee retained the firm of Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc. ("Cook & Co."), an internationally recognized human resources consultant to assist the Committee in evaluating the compensation of our directors, named executive officers and certain

30


key employees and to assess our compensation program against other companies in our industry and related industries. In connection with its review, Cook & Co. generally evaluated the following elements of our compensation program:

        Cook & Co. compared these elements of compensation for our named executive officers to our peer group. Cook & Co. also compiled and presented published survey data, which is used as a broader industry reference for compensation of general industrial organizations. This data reflected industry information for functionally comparable positions at organizations of similar size to Rockwood and was referenced by the Committee as general information in evaluating compensation. Specifically, Cook & Co. provided data for public companies of comparable business character and size, including companies in the chemical industry, which include Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Albemarle Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Celanese Corporation, Cytec Industries Inc., Eastman Chemical Company, FMC Corporation, RPM International Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, W.R. Grace & Co. and The Valspar Corporation. In addition, Cook & Co. compared the compensation of our named executive officers to published compensation survey data for similar executive job descriptions. Finally, Cook & Co. evaluated the compensation of our non-employee directors. After considering the relevant factors, we determined that no conflicts of interest have been raised in connection with the services Cook & Co. performed for the Company in 2013. In 2013, Rockwood paid Cook & Co. $66,272 for assessing the amount and form of compensation for our non-employee directors and named executive officers.

        The Committee sets the primary components of compensation for our chairman and chief executive officer based on our overall compensation philosophy and following consultation with Cook & Co. For compensation decisions related to our other named executive officers and key employees, our chairman and chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Committee which, in consultation with Cook & Co., ultimately determines such compensation.

        Interactions between Cook & Co. and management are generally limited to discussions on behalf of the Committee or as required to compile information at the Committee's direction. During 2013, Cook & Co. did not provide any other services to the Company or its affiliates. Based on these factors, its own evaluation of Cook & Co.'s independence pursuant to the requirements approved and adopted by the SEC & NYSE, and information provided by Cook & Co., the Committee has determined that the work performed by Cook & Co. does not raise any conflicts of interest. The Committee took into account that Cook & Co. is also the lead compensation consultant for Enersys where Mr. Ghasemi serves as an independent director and as one of three members of the compensation committee.

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Risk Analysis of Performance-Based Compensation Plans

        The vast majority of compensation provided to our named executive officers and key employees is performance-based variable compensation. Our compensation programs encourage our named executive officers and key employees to remain focused on both short- and long-term financial measures. In recent years, under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan, our equity awards have been, in part, performance-based restricted stock unit awards which vest based on relative stockholder return. In addition, the market-based restricted stock and nature of restricted stock unit awards generally encourage our named executive officers and key employees to focus on sustained stock price appreciation. Similarly, in most years under the existing short-term incentive plan, the performance targets measure our financial performance against annual budget targets for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and certain other adjustments ("Adjusted EBITDA"), as more fully described under Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Definition of Adjusted EBITDA", of Rockwood's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2013, and working capital and focus primarily on short-term financial measures. Accordingly, we believe the mix of compensation is such that it does not encourage excessive risk taking. Rockwood also has stock ownership guidelines that require long-term equity ownership by senior executives and "claw-back" provisions related to our annual cash incentive and recent long-term incentive grants that discourage excessive risk-taking.


Compensation Committee Report

        The Committee has reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis with management. Based on its review and discussion with management, the Committee recommended to the board of directors that the Compensation Discussion and Analysis be included in this proxy statement and incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.


 

 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

 

 

Sheldon R. Erikson, Chairperson
Nance K. Dicciani
J. Kent Masters
Alejandro Wolff


Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

        The compensation levels of our executive officers are currently determined by the Committee as described in this proxy statement. None of our executive officers currently serves or has served as a director or member of the compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any entity of which an executive officer currently serves or is expected to serve as a director or a member of the Committee.


Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee

        Our corporate governance and nominating committee currently consists of Nance K. Dicciani, Douglas L. Maine and Ambassador Alejandro Wolff. Dr. Dicciani is the chairperson of our corporate governance and nominating committee. The corporate governance and nominating committee is comprised solely of independent directors.

        The corporate governance and nominating committee is responsible for:

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        In nominating candidates to serve as directors, the board of directors' objective, with the assistance of the corporate governance and nominating committee, is to select individuals whose particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills can be of assistance to management in operating our business and enable the board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibility effectively. In identifying prospective director candidates, the corporate governance and nominating committee may seek referrals from other members of the board of directors, management, stockholders and other sources. When evaluating the recommendations of the corporate governance and nominating committee, the board of directors considers, among other things, whether individual directors possess the following personal characteristics: high ethical standards, integrity, accountability, informed judgment, financial literacy, mature confidence and high performance standards. The board of directors believes that, as a whole, it should possess all of the following core competencies, with each candidate contributing knowledge, experience and skills in at least one domain: accounting and finance, business judgment, management, industry knowledge, leadership, international business experience and strategic vision. In addition, although the board of directors does not have a policy with regard to the consideration of diversity in identifying director nominees, among the many factors that the corporate governance and nominating committee carefully considers, are the benefits to the Company of national origin, gender, race, global business experience and cultural diversity in board composition.

        When considering whether the directors and nominees have the experience, qualifications, attributes and skills, taken as a whole, to enable the board of directors to satisfy its oversight responsibilities effectively in light of the Company's business and structure, the board of directors focused primarily on the information discussed in each of the board members' biographical information set forth on pages 6 through 8. In addition, the corporate governance and nominating committee considered the following characteristics about each director:

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        For a description of the procedures for stockholders to submit proposals regarding director nominations, see "Director Candidate Recommendations by Stockholders" below.

        Our corporate governance and nominating committee is required to meet at least two times annually or more frequently as circumstances dictate. Our corporate governance and nominating committee met four times in 2013.

        Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the corporate governance and nominating committee which is available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.


Board Structure

        The board of directors has reviewed the board leadership structure of Rockwood and determined that the combined role of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer is appropriate in light of, among other things, the market capitalization and size of the Company. Mr. Ghasemi's leadership abilities, as exemplified by his ability to transform the Company, and his other accomplishments since joining Rockwood makes him qualified to fill both positions. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines require the independent directors of the board of directors to elect a lead independent director when the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are combined. Such lead independent director will be elected annually by plurality vote of the independent directors at the meeting of the board of directors immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders. Although elected for a term of one year, the lead director is generally expected to serve for more than one year. Generally, no independent director may serve as a lead director for more than five consecutive years. The lead independent director is responsible for:

Our independent directors elected Nance K. Dicciani to serve as lead independent director, and she has been serving since October 2009.

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Presiding Director of Non-Management Executive Sessions

        As described above, the board of directors has determined that at each executive session of non-management members of the board of directors, the lead independent director will preside at such session, and in the absence of the lead independent director, the non-management members in attendance will determine which member will preside at such session.


Corporate Governance Guidelines

        The board of directors has adopted Corporate Governance Guidelines which set forth the board of directors' core principles of corporate governance and categorical standards of independence and are designed to promote its effective functioning and assist the board of directors in fulfilling its responsibilities. The board of directors will review and amend these guidelines from time to time as it deems necessary and appropriate. The Corporate Governance Guidelines are available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.


Codes of Business Conduct and Ethics

        We are committed to conducting business in accordance with the highest ethical standards and all applicable laws, rules and regulations. We have adopted a Code of Business Conduct and Ethics that applies to our employees, executive officers and directors and provide training on such Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and other compliance issues. In addition, we have adopted a Code of Ethics for Executive Officers and Financial Officers that applies to our executive officers and our financial officers. In accordance with, and to the extent required by, the rules and regulations of the SEC, we intend to post on our website at www.rocksp.com waivers or implicit waivers (as such terms are defined in Item 5.05 of Form 8-K of the Exchange Act) and amendments to the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics and the Code of Ethics for Executive Officers and Financial Officers that apply to any of our executive officers, including our chairman and chief executive officer, senior vice president and chief financial officer, senior vice president, law & administration and vice president—corporate finance and principal accounting officer or other persons performing similar functions. Both codes are available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Codes of Conduct" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.


Director Candidate Recommendations by Stockholders

        The corporate governance and nominating committee has adopted policies and procedures for director candidate recommendations by stockholders. The corporate governance and nominating committee will consider candidates recommended by stockholders in the same manner as candidates recommended to, or identified by, the corporate governance and nominating committee through other sources. Acceptance of a recommendation does not imply, however, that the committee will nominate the recommended candidate.

        Each recommendation should be accompanied by certain information relating to the stockholder making such recommendation, including, among other things, the full name and address of the stockholder and beneficial owner and information about the stock ownership and intentions of the recommending stockholder regarding the solicitation of proxies, as well as information concerning the recommended candidate, including the name, address and relevant qualifications of the recommended candidate, as well as a description of arrangements with respect to the nomination, if any, involving or affecting the recommending stockholder or beneficial owner and/or their respective affiliates. A stockholder who wishes to recommend a candidate for election to the board of directors should complete and submit a director recommendation form (which is attached as an exhibit to the policies

35


and procedures for director candidate recommendations by stockholders) and submit it to the corporate governance and nominating committee:

By mail:

  Stockholder Director Recommendation
Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee
c/o: Senior Vice President, Law & Administration, and Secretary
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
100 Overlook Center
Princeton, NJ 08540

By fax:

 

(609) 514-8722

        Stockholders who are recommending candidates for nomination in connection with the next annual meeting of stockholders should submit their completed director recommendation forms not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to (A) the anniversary of the mailing of proxy materials for the prior year's annual meeting of stockholders ("Anniversary Date"); or (B) the date of the annual meeting if such date is changed by more than thirty (30) days from the Anniversary Date. However, where the number of directors to be elected to the board of directors of the Company at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Company at least one hundred (100) days prior to the Anniversary Date, then the Director Recommendation Form shall be considered timely with respect to nominees for new positions if received by the Secretary of the Company within ten (10) calendar days following the Company's public announcement of such increase. Therefore, to be presented at the 2015 annual meeting, such a director recommendation form must be received by the Corporate Secretary on or after November 28, 2014, but no later than December 28, 2014.

        A copy of these policies and procedures is available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.


Stockholder and Interested Party Communications with the Board of Directors

        The corporate governance and nominating committee has adopted procedures for stockholders, employees and other interested parties to communicate with Rockwood's board of directors. Stockholders and other interested parties may communicate with (i) the board of directors as a whole, (ii) the independent directors as a group, (iii) the lead independent director or other independent director, (iv) any other individual member of the board of directors or (v) any committee of the board of directors by submitting their communications to the appropriate person or group:

By mail:

  Communication to the Board of Directors
[Name of Appropriate Person or Group]
c/o: Senior Vice President, Law & Administration
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
100 Overlook Center
Princeton, NJ 08540

By fax:

 

(609) 514-8722

        All appropriate communications received by the senior vice president, law & administration, will be forwarded to the appropriate person or group. Inappropriate communications include those not related to the duties or responsibilities of the board of directors. In addition, the receipt of any accounting, internal controls or audit-related complaints or concerns will be forwarded to the audit committee.

        A copy of these procedures is available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Corporate Governance" section, and upon written request by our stockholders at no cost.

36



AUDIT AND RELATED FEES

        The following table summarizes aggregate fees billed or expected to be billed by Deloitte & Touche LLP and its affiliates for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2013 and 2012, with the following notes explaining the services underlying the table captions:

 
  2013   2012  
 
  (millions)
 

Audit fees(1)

  $ 8.1   $ 7.4  

Audit related fees(2)

  $ 5.1   $ 0.8  

Tax fees(3)

  $ 2.1   $ 0.7  
           

Total

  $ 15.3   $ 8.9  
           
           

(1)
Includes fees for the integrated audit of our annual consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting, audits required by federal regulatory bodies, audits of certain businesses, review of the consolidated financial statements included in our Form 10-Qs and foreign subsidiary statutory audits.

(2)
Includes fees for services related to audits and related interim review procedures in connection with numerous divestitures during 2013, various services in connection with our other SEC filings, senior notes issuance in 2012, comfort letters and due diligence reviews of potential and consummated mergers, acquisitions and dispositions.

(3)
Includes fees for services related to tax consulting services related to numerous divestitures during 2013, tax compliance, including preparation of U.S. and foreign tax returns, responses to tax authorities and assistance on tax appeals and audits; tax planning and advice, including potential and completed restructuring of existing organizations and advice related to tax structuring for mergers, acquisitions and divestitures.

        For additional information, please see "Audit Committee" beginning on page 27.


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

        In addition to Seifi Ghasemi, Rockwood's chairman and chief executive officer, whose biography is included on page 7, Rockwood also has the following executive officers who are not directors.

        Robert J. Zatta (64) has been Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Rockwood and our subsidiary, Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc., since April 2001. Prior to joining Rockwood, he spent twelve years with the Campbell Soup Company, where he held several significant financial management positions, including his final position as Vice President responsible for Corporate Development and Strategic Planning. Prior to joining Campbell Soup Company in 1990, he worked for General Foods Corporation and Thomas J. Lipton, Inc. Mr. Zatta has a B.S. in Business Administration and a M.B.A. in Finance.

        Thomas J. Riordan (64) has been Senior Vice President, Law & Administration of Rockwood and Rockwood Specialties Group, Inc. since 2000. Prior to that, he was Vice President, Law & Administration of Laporte Inc. since 1992 and joined Laporte in 1989. Mr. Riordan worked for UOP from 1975 to 1989 where he held various positions, most recently Chief Litigation Counsel. Mr. Riordan has a B.A. in Liberal Arts, a M.B.A. and a J.D. He is also admitted to the Illinois Bar, has a New Jersey Limited In-House Counsel License, is a member of the American Bar Association and has taken part in the Wharton/Laporte Business Program.

37



DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

        During 2013, we compensated our non-employee directors as follows:

Position
 
Annual Compensation:
Non-Employee Directors

Board Member

   

Cash(1)

  $65,000

Equity

  $80,000
($20,000 in value at grant date per quarter)

Audit Committee Chairperson

  $25,000

Audit Committee Member

  $10,000

Compensation Committee Chairperson

  $12,500

Compensation Committee Member

  $5,000

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Chairperson

  $10,000

Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee Member

  $5,000

Lead Independent Director(2)

 

(1)
We also reimburse our directors for travel, education and other expenses incurred in connection with service on the board of directors.

(2)
The lead independent director does not receive additional compensation for serving in such capacity.

        The Committee continues to believe that this mix of cash-based and equity-based non-employee director compensation best serves Rockwood because it aligns the interests of our non-employee directors with the interests of our stockholders and allows us to be competitive in a tight market for the services of qualified non-employee directors. In addition, the Committee, with assistance from Cook & Co., established stock ownership guidelines for our independent directors. According to these guidelines, each independent director is required to own at least four times the annual cash compensation paid to such director by the Company and has five years after appointment to meet these guidelines. For the purposes of compliance with the guidelines, the value of the common stock owned is based upon an average of the last three months of the previous fiscal year's month-end closing stock prices determined in January of each year. Each independent director is currently in compliance with these guidelines.


Individual Non-Employee Director Compensation for 2013

        The following table provides summary information concerning compensation paid to each of our non-employee directors for services rendered to us during the year ended December 31, 2013. Our chief executive officer is not separately compensated for his service on the board of directors.

38



Director Compensation for 2013

Name
  Fees Earned or
Paid in Cash
($)(1)
  Stock Awards
($)(8)
  Total
($)
 

Brian F. Carroll

    (—) (2)   (— )   (— )

Nance K. Dicciani

  $ 87,500 (3) $ 79,918   $ 167,418  

Sheldon R. Erikson

  $ 83,750 (4) $ 79,918   $ 163,668  

Todd A. Fisher

    (—) (2)   (— )   (— )

Douglas L. Maine

  $ 95,000 (5) $ 79,918   $ 174,918  

J. Kent Masters

  $ 80,000 (6) $ 79,918   $ 159,918  

Alejandro Wolff

  $ 37,500 (7) $ 39,994   $ 77,494  

(1)
Committee assignments changed effective as of the third quarter of 2013. Therefore, fees earned for service on individual committees may be pro-rated.

(2)
Brian F. Carroll and Todd A. Fisher resigned from our board of directors on January 8, 2013.

(3)
Represents (a) $65,000 annual retainer for service on the board of directors, (b) a pro rata portion of the $10,000 annual retainer for service as a member of the audit committee in the amount of $7,500, (c) $5,000 for service as a member of the compensation committee, and (d) $10,000 annual retainer for service as chairperson of the corporate governance and nominating committee.

(4)
Represents (a) $65,000 annual retainer for service on the board of directors, (b) a pro rata portion of the $10,000 annual retainer for service as a member of the audit committee in the amount of $2,500, (c) $12,500 for service as chairperson of the compensation committee and (d) a pro rata portion of the $5,000 annual retainer for service as a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee in the amount of $3,750.

(5)
Represents (a) $65,000 annual retainer for service on the board of directors, (b) $25,000 for service as chairperson of the audit committee and (c) $5,000 for service as a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee.

(6)
Represents (a) $65,000 annual retainer for service on the board of directors, (b) $10,000 for service as a member of the audit committee and (c) $5,000 for service as a member of the compensation committee.

(7)
Ambassador Wolff was appointed to the board of directors effective as of August 28, 2013. Represents (a) a pro rata portion of the $65,000 annual retainer for service on the board of directors in the amount of $37,500, (b) a pro rata portion of the $5,000 annual retainer for service as a member of the compensation committee in the amount of $2,500, and (c) a pro rata portion of the $5,000 annual retainer for service as a member of the corporate governance and nominating committee in the amount of $2,500.

(8)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718, Compensation—Stock Compensation ("FASB ASC Topic 718") of quarterly grants of a fixed value of $20,000 (rounding down to the nearest whole share) in shares on the date of grant (as opposed to a fixed number of shares) of our common stock to each of our non-employee directors. The grant date fair value of each grant computed in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 718 were $19,955 on March 15, 2013; $19,968 on June 14, 2013; $19,995 on September 13,

39



EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

        This executive summary highlights key information from this Compensation Discussion and Analysis section. Please carefully review the more detailed disclosure below in order to gain a better understanding of our executive compensation program. Our named executive officers are Seifi Ghasemi, our chairman and chief executive officer, Robert J. Zatta, our senior vice president and chief financial officer, and Thomas J. Riordan, our senior vice president, law & administration and secretary. The following highlights our approach to executive compensation:

40



ROC 6-Year CEO TDC versus TSR

GRAPHIC


Note:
The indexed TSR tracks the value of a $100 investment in Company stock (at the beginning of the performance period) during the subsequent five-year period, inclusive of stock price performance and dividends.

Other Compensation Practices:

Objective Performance Criteria:    Our performance-based compensation for our named executive officers is based upon objective criteria- Adjusted EBITDA, working capital and relative and absolute total shareholder return. All long-term equity incentives are performance-based restricted stock units.

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Retention Requirements:    We have stock ownership guidelines and retention requirements to more closely align the interests of our named executive officers and our shareholders.

Compensation Recovery Claw-backs:    The employment agreements and equity award agreements of our named executive officers contain claw-back provisions related to certain awards under specified circumstances.

Prohibition on Re-pricing of Underwater Stock Options Without Shareholder Approval:    In 2013, the Board amended our 2009 Stock Incentive Plan to prohibit re-pricing of equity awards without stockholder approval.

Tax Gross-Ups:    In 2010, the Committee eliminated tax gross-ups on all benefits except for those related to change in control provisions granted in 2001 under grandfathered agreements with our named executive officers. The Committee did not in 2013 enter into new agreements or amend grandfathered agreements with such gross-ups, nor does it intend to award tax gross-ups in the future.

        We accomplished important strategic and financial objectives in 2013. Our results reflect the focus and efforts of our named executive officers and key employees and their ability to manage the Company during a year of continued economic uncertainty and a slow growth economy—low growth and high unemployment in the U.S. economy and a fragile European economy. Our named executive officers focused on executing our business plan and strategic objectives for 2013, which included divesting certain non-core businesses, growing revenue and earnings per share, reducing debt, share

41


repurchases and increasing cash flow and margins, based upon expectations for the economy. The following summarizes our 2013 strategic accomplishments and financial performance:

42


        We compensate our senior management in a manner designed to be competitive with our peer group and comparable companies in related industries and to align management's incentives with the interests of our stockholders. The objectives of our executive compensation program are:

43


To achieve these objectives, compensation for our senior management is allocated between base salary, short-term variable compensation tied to short-term performance measures and long-term variable compensation tied to long-term performance of our common stock. The philosophy of the Committee is to generally set target total direct compensation for our named executive officers in a range around the median of benchmarked compensation, with deviation as appropriate by executive based on individual factors including tenure, historical performance, expected performance and criticality to the organization.

        In order to ensure that our senior management's compensation is competitive within our industry, the Committee reviews and approves our executive compensation program on an annual basis. In 2013, the Committee retained Cook & Co. to assist in evaluating the compensation of our executive officers and certain key employees and to assess our compensation program against other companies in our industry and related industries. In connection with its review, Cook & Co. evaluated the following elements of our executive compensation program:

        Cook & Co. compared these components of compensation for our named executive officers to our peer group. In addition, Cook & Co. compiled and presented published survey data, which is used as a broader industry reference for compensation by general industry. These data reflected industry information for comparable positions at organizations of similar size to Rockwood and was referenced by the Committee as general information in evaluating our named executive officers' compensation.

        Specifically, in 2013, to assist the Committee's review, Cook & Co. provided data from a peer group of eleven companies that was designed to reflect the compensation practices for public companies of comparable business character and size, including companies in the chemicals industry. The peer group generally consists of specialty chemicals and materials companies with the following characteristics at the time of evaluation:

44


        The companies used in this chemical industry peer group are: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Albemarle Corporation, Cabot Corporation, Celanese Corporation, Cytec Industries Inc., Eastman Chemical Company, FMC Corporation, RPM International Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, The Valspar Corporation and W.R. Grace & Co. In addition, as a supplemental reference, Cook & Co. compared the compensation of our named executive officers to published compensation survey data for similar executive job descriptions at general industrial organizations of comparable size.

        Based upon the compensation review, Cook & Co. advised the Committee:

        Cook & Co. also summarized the pay and performance relationship for our named executive officers by comparing total cash compensation (salary and annual cash incentives) and total direct compensation (total cash compensation and long-term equity-based incentives) to various performance measures, such as total shareholder return, revenue growth, operating income growth, and return on invested capital and equity, over one-year and three-year periods. The Committee evaluated and considered these data in setting the compensation for our named executive officers.

        In 2013, Cook & Co. compiled, and the Committee reviewed, tally sheets that detail all of the elements of our named executive officers' compensation at target and actual levels for 2011 and 2012. The tally sheets include base salary, annual cash incentives, the value of long-term equity awards, including grant date fair value as well as unrealized gains, and other benefits and the amounts payable upon various termination scenarios, including a change in control. The tally sheets are used as a means along with the peer group and related industry data to evaluate total direct compensation and benefits for our named executive officers. Based upon its review, the Committee made no material changes in the primary components of compensation for our named executive officers for 2014.

        In our most recent say-on-pay vote, at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a substantial majority of our stockholders (approximately 98% of the votes cast by stockholders) approved the compensation of our named executive officers. The Committee considered the highly positive result of the advisory, non-binding "say-on-pay" vote in connection with the discharge of its duties, including determining executive compensation for 2012, 2013 and 2014.

        In light of the voting results with respect to the frequency of stockholder votes on executive compensation at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders in which a majority of the votes cast voted for "say-on-pay" proposals to occur every three years, our board of directors decided that the Company will hold, in accordance with the vote, an advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers every three years. As a result, we are conducting our "say-on-pay" vote in this proxy. In addition, we currently expect to hold our next stockholder vote on "say-on-pay" frequency at the Company's 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

45


        The Committee sets the three primary components of compensation for our chairman and chief executive officer based on our overall compensation philosophy and following consultation with Cook & Co. The Committee also advises the board of directors of its deliberations on our named executive officers' compensation, including equity-based incentive awards, and considers any input from the board of directors. For compensation decisions related to our other named executive officers, our chairman and chief executive officer makes recommendations to the Committee, which ultimately determines such compensation in consultation with Cook & Co. The Committee believes that a substantial portion of our named executive officers' total compensation should be variable and tied to performance measures that correlate with stockholder value.

        The following charts provide summary information concerning the 2013 and 2014 total compensation mix of our named executive officers at target performance levels:


Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

2013

 

2014


GRAPHIC

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

2013

 

2014


GRAPHIC

46



Senior Vice President, Law & Administration and Secretary

2013

 

2014


GRAPHIC

As the above charts illustrate, more than 80% of the total target direct compensation of our chairman and chief executive officer is variable at-risk compensation and more than 73% of the total target direct compensation of our other named executive officers is variable at-risk compensation. We believe our pay mix, which has a substantial emphasis on pay for performance, contributed to stockholder approval of our named executive officer compensation by greater than 98% of the votes cast in such proposal in 2011

        Rockwood's financial results were impacted by a slow growth global economy, but nevertheless, we accomplished important strategic and financial objectives in 2013. Our results reflect the focus and efforts of our named executive officers and key employees and their ability to manage the Company during a year of continued economic uncertainty and a slow growth economy—low growth and high unemployment in the U.S. economy and a fragile European economy. Our named executive officers focused on executing our business plan and strategic objectives for 2013, which included divesting certain non-core businesses, growing revenue and earnings per share, reducing debt, share repurchases and increasing cash flow and margins, based upon expectations for the economy. We achieved several significant strategic objectives, including:

47


In addition, the following summarizes our 2013 financial performance:

        In our most recent say-on-pay vote, at our 2011 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, more than 98% of the votes cast approved of the compensation program for our named executive officers. We believe that the highly favorable result confirms the overall design of our compensation program is consistent with the concept of pay for performance. For example, a substantial part of compensation (more than 80% for our chairman and chief executive officer and more than 74% for our other named executive officers at target compensation levels) is variable, at-risk compensation tied to our financial performance. Rockwood achieved solid total shareholder return ("TSR") on a one-, three- and five-year basis, as set forth below:

48


The following graphs reflect the one-, three- and five-year performance of our common stock in 2013 in relation to the indicated indices:

One-Year TSR

GRAPHIC

Three-Year TSR

GRAPHIC

49


Five-Year TSR

GRAPHIC


(1)
Dow Jones Industrial Index

(2)
S&P 500 Index

(3)
Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index

(4)
S&P Supercomposite Specialty Chemicals Index

(5)
Rockwood Holdings, Inc.

        In early 2014, at the request of the Committee, Cook & Co. evaluated the alignment of executive compensation, in particular, the compensation of our chairman and chief executive officer, to our performance based upon the following three quantitative measures: relative degree of pay alignment, multiple of median pay and pay-TSR alignment. Cook & Co. analyzed our chairman and chief executive officer's compensation and our performance compared to the 18 companies listed below. Cook & Co. selected these companies because they had the same Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) code as Rockwood and revenue in the approximate range of 50% to 270% of our revenue. The following companies were included in this analysis:

Eastman Chemical Company
Celanese Corporation
Valhi, Inc.
Ashland Inc.
The Valspar Corporation
Westlake Chemical Corporation
RPM International Inc.
FMC Corporation
Cabot Corporation
  Cytec Industries Inc.
A. Schulman, Inc.
PolyOne Corporation
International Flavors & Fragrances, Inc.
Albemarle Corporation
Sigma-Aldrich Corporation
NewMarket Corporation
Olin Corporation
W.R. Grace & Co.

50


This comparison group included some of the same companies that are included in the peer group used for the benchmarking of the compensation of our named executive officers discussed above; however, Cook & Co. elected to select for purposes of their evaluation a group based upon criteria that are frequently used by outside proxy advisory firms to evaluate peer performance. Using data for these companies, Cook & Co. performed the following analyses:

Based upon these analyses by Cook & Co., the Committee evaluated the pay for performance related to our chairman and chief executive officer and determined that the compensation of our chairman and chief executive officer is appropriately aligned with our performance.

        In addition, Cook & Co. evaluated our compensation program to see whether it includes features that are generally viewed as poor pay practices, including:

Based on Cook & Co.'s analysis, the Committee determined that our compensation program did not include any such features.

        The Committee believes that the levels, ranges and mix for total compensation for 2013 and 2014 are appropriate and are consistent with our stated philosophy for our named executive officers, and in particular, our chairman and chief executive officer, and are appropriately aligned with our performance.

        Base salaries are set at levels designed to be competitive in the labor markets in which we compete for talented senior executives, using the median of our peer group and survey data as guidance for setting base salary targets. The Committee annually reviews the performance of our executive officers, including our chairman and chief executive officer, based on quantitative and qualitative criteria as well as comparisons to the peer group and survey data references discussed above and establishes appropriate increases or decreases, if any, in base salaries. Our chairman and chief executive officer participates in the evaluation of our senior management and makes recommendations to the Committee regarding changes in the base salaries of our executive officers and other key executives. Any changes in base salaries typically commence in April of a given year. Factors considered in determining base salary (including any increases or decreases) include responsibility, experience, our financial performance and the qualitative performance of the named executive officer, such as leadership in completing strategic or other business objectives and the survey data regarding our peers and related industries.

51


        Our chairman and chief executive officer's base salary is greater than that of our other named executive officers due to a number of factors, including his substantial experience in managing industrial companies, his strategic expertise, his past performance and his significant role and responsibilities at Rockwood. In early 2010, the salary of our chairman and chief executive officer was decreased from $1,300,000 to $1,100,000 and has not increased since such time. Effective as of April 1, 2013, our senior vice president and chief financial officer's salary was increased to $500,000 and our senior vice president, law & administration and secretary's salary was increased to $435,000.

        See "Executive Compensation—Summary Compensation Table" for further information on base salaries paid to our named executive officers.

        Annual cash incentives are awarded under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan, and are designed to provide our named executive officers with the opportunity to achieve cash incentive awards based on predetermined quantitative financial performance criteria. Our incentive payments under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan are typically made in the first quarter following the year of performance after our audited financial statements for such year are completed. The Committee has authority to use negative discretion in administering the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan.

        The Committee sets the performance criteria based on our consolidated annual budgets at budgeted exchange rates that are approved by the board of directors. At the end of the performance period, the Committee evaluates our results, including the impact of acquisitions and divestitures, converted to budgeted exchange rates, as compared to the performance criteria. Cash incentives under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan have typically represented a larger component of total compensation for our named executive officers than for similarly situated executives in our peer group. The Committee believes that the weighting of annual cash incentives in our compensation mix is appropriate and in line with our philosophy given that cash payments under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan are tied directly to financial performance which ultimately correlates to stockholder value.

        The annual cash incentives are substantially based upon Adjusted EBITDA performance, because it is an important financial measure for us and is a basis for specified covenants under our debt agreements. In addition, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is the appropriate financial measure to assess our operating performance because it excludes items that have been deemed by management and the board of directors to have little or no bearing on the evaluation of our day-to-day operating performance.

        For 2013, the Committee determined the performance criteria for awards under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan to our named executive officers would be predominately based upon Adjusted EBITDA. The annual cash incentives for our named executive officers, however, would be decreased by 10% if our net working capital as a percentage of sales increased above 24.1% and would be increased by 5% if our net working capital as a percentage of sales decreases below 21.7%. The Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan provides for a range of potential awards to participants, including our named executive officers, both above and below their target incentive amounts based on actual results at budgeted exchange rates as compared to targeted performance. In addition, in 2011, the Committee adopted a cap on payments under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan of three times the

52


named executive officers' target award. For 2013, the target cash incentive percentage of base salary for our named executive officers was:

Named Executive Officer
  Target Annual Cash Incentive  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    200 %

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    115 %

Senior Vice President, Law & Administration

    115 %

        The table below sets forth details for the 2013 annual cash incentives based on varying levels of achievement of the performance criteria, prior to any adjustment relating to net working capital, as described above:

Actual Adjusted EBITDA vs.
Targeted Adjusted EBITDA
  Percent of Targeted Award  

Less than 90% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA

    0 %

90% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA

    50 %

95% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA

    75 %

100% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA

    100 %

110% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA

    200 %

120% of targeted Adjusted EBITDA or greater

    300 %

The incentive award is interpolated for results between 90% and 120% of the targeted levels of Adjusted EBITDA.

        The Committee reviewed the Company's financial performance for the fiscal year ended 2013 with and without the divested Clay-Additives and Advanced Ceramics businesses and the Titanium Dioxide Pigments and other businesses, which are subject to an agreement to divest (the "Discontinued Operations"). The performance-based target for our named executive officers for purposes of determining cash incentives for 2013 was an aggregate Adjusted EBITDA of $844.79 million (at a constant exchange rate of $1.45=€ 1.00 and $2.00=£1.00). The Adjusted EBITDA target comprised of the target for the Discontinued Operations of $501.9 million and the Adjusted EBITDA target for continuing operations of $342.9 million (at a constant exchange rate of $1.45=€ 1.00 and $2.00=£1.00). For 2013, our actual Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations was $323.3 million and at constant exchange rates was $346.4 million and our actual Adjusted EBITDA for Discontinued Operations was $270.3 million and at constant exchange rates was $292.9 million. The Committee evaluated several factors in determining whether to award the named executive officers annual cash incentives under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan, including the Adjusted EBITDA results with and without the Discontinued Operations. In light of the fact that the core strategic businesses of the Company performed in accordance with their targeted performance, the Committee determined that the Company achieved 101.9% of budgeted performance for our continuing operations. As a result, the Committee determined the cash incentives under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan for our chairman and chief executive officer and our other named executive officers for 2013 is 118.59% of their targeted incentive amount for continuing operations. Although the working capital as a percentage of sales for continuing operations was below the target for an increase set by the Committee of 21.7%, the Committee did not award an increase for annual cash incentive of our named executive officers for working capital performance. The Committee, in line with our philosophy to compensate our named executive officers for performance aligned with creating shareholder value, has determined that the 2013 annual cash incentive will be paid to the named executive officers contingent upon the successful completion of the sale of our Titanium Dioxide Pigments and other non-strategic businesses, which is expected to close in the first half of 2014. As a result of our 2013 performance, and upon the closing of the sale of our Titanium Dioxide Pigments and other non-strategic businesses,

53


Mr. Ghasemi will be awarded $2,609,079, Mr. Zatta will be awarded $681,918 and Mr. Riordan will be awarded $593,269.

        For 2014, the Committee determined that it would not modify the structure utilized for the 2013 annual cash incentives. The incentive award is interpolated for results between 90% and 120% of the targeted levels of Adjusted EBITDA. The performance-based target for our named executive officers for 2014 is Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations of $406.9 million (at a constant exchange rate of $1.45=€1.00 and $2.00=£1.00). Similar to 2013, the annual cash incentive payment for our named executive officers, however, will be decreased by ten percent if our net working capital as a percent of sales increases above 22.0% and will be increased by five percent if our net working capital as a percent of sales decreases below 20.0%.

        Long-term compensation is equity-based and over the years has been provided through stock options, restricted stock units and market stock units granted under our Existing Stock Incentive Plan. Ownership of equity interests by our named executive officers is a fundamental part of our compensation philosophy and furthers the goal of aligning management's interests with the interests of stockholders in value creation. In addition, our long-term equity compensation is designed to reward sustained financial performance and provide our executive officers and key employees with a retention incentive, which in turn, contributes to stability in key leadership roles. Over the last three years, the Committee has granted the following types of awards pursuant to our Existing Stock Incentive Plan:

        Upon vesting, each restricted stock unit and market stock unit represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, which aligns the interests of management with the interests of stockholders in stock price appreciation and value creation. In the future, the Committee may use a combination of these or other types of equity awards. Dividend equivalent rights accrue for these awards but do not vest unless the underlying awards vest. In early 2013, the Committee amended our Existing Stock Incentive Plan to prohibit the re-pricing of stock options or other equity awards without obtaining stockholder approval.

        As a result of the use of these types of performance-based stock units, the Committee believes the long-term equity compensation program is entirely based upon the concept of pay for performance. We believe that this equity-based pay for performance philosophy, coupled with our stock ownership guidelines, aligns the interests of senior management with stockholders by tying compensation to our financial performance and stockholder return over the three-year incentive period, while also simultaneously providing incentives designed to attract and retain highly qualified senior managers.

        The Committee has adopted an annual program of awarding equity grants in order to tie a significant portion of an executive's compensation to our long-term performance to further align

54


management's interests with those of our stockholders. The table below sets forth the nature of these recent equity awards:

Grant Date
  Performance Period   Performance Measure   Types of Awards   Vesting/
Service Period
December 2010   Fiscal 2011-2013   Relative and Absolute Stock Performance   Performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units   Fiscal 2011-2013

December 2011

 

Fiscal 2012-2014

 

Relative and Absolute Stock Performance

 

Performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units

 

Fiscal 2012-2014

December 2012

 

Fiscal 2013-2015

 

Relative and Absolute Stock Performance

 

Performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units

 

Fiscal 2013-2015

December 2013

 

Fiscal 2014-2016

 

Relative and Absolute Stock Performance

 

Performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units

 

Fiscal 2014-2016

        In determining the aggregate number of equity awards to grant in a particular year, the Committee considers, among other things, quantitative factors such as share usage, burn rate and the compensation cost associated with the awards. For example, the table below presents the burn rate for recent awards, which is the aggregate award to all employees at target achievement without regard to cancellations divided by the shares of common stock outstanding:

Grant Date
  Burn Rate  

December 2011

    0.34 %

December 2012

    0.39 %

December 2013

    0.21 %

        The information below sets forth the performance results for long-term equity incentive awards that were granted in December 2010 and vested in 2014. As described above, this grant vested based upon the market value of the Company's common stock and continued employment through 2013. In evaluating the absolute TSR performance and consistent with the award agreements for these MSUs, the Committee reviewed the stock price multiplier, which is the percentage change in the price of the Company's common stock over the vesting period, using the closing stock price for the 60 trading days prior to January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2014, which resulted in a stock price multiplier of 184%. As a result, the named executive officers achieved 150% of the targeted award, which is the maximum amount of the award. In evaluating the relative TSR performance and consistent with the award agreements for the RSUs, the Committee reviewed a ranking of the Company's three-year TSR against that of the component companies of the Dow Jones U.S. Chemical index on December 31, 2013, using the closing stock price per share of the common stock for each of the components and the Company for the 60 trading days prior to January 1, 2011 and January 1, 2014. The Company's TSR was 24.48% annually, resulting in a ranking in the 63.9th percentile. Interpolated for results between the

55


50th percentile and 75thpercentile, this performance resulted in an award of 127.8% of the targeted award. As a result, our named executive officers vested in the following awards:

Named Executive Officer
  Award
Type
  Performance
Measure
  Target #
of Shares
(a)
  Vesting
Percentage
(b)
  Vested Shares
(Product of (a) and
(b))
 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  MSU   Absolute TSR     29,322     150 %   43,983 (1)

  RSU   Relative TSR     30,318     127.8 %   38,746 (2)

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 
MSU
 
Absolute TSR
   
6,912
   
150

%
 
10,368

(1)

  RSU   Relative TSR     7,146     127.8 %   9,133 (2)

Senior Vice President, Law & Administration

 
MSU
 
Absolute TSR
   
6,912
   
150

%
 
10,368

(1)

  RSU   Relative TSR     7,146     127.8 %   9,133 (2)

(1)
Dividend equivalent rights under the award agreements increased the number of shares awarded to each of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Law & Administration and Secretary in the amounts of 2,200; 519; and 519, respectively.

(2)
Dividend equivalent rights under the award agreements increased the number of shares awarded to each of the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President, Law & Administration and Secretary in the amounts of 1,938; 457; and 457, respectively.

        Please see "Employment and Other Agreements" and "Outstanding Equity Awards at 2013 Fiscal Year-End" for additional information regarding the awards granted to our named executive officers in previous years.

        In late 2013, the Committee, with the assistance of Cook & Co., evaluated our long-term equity incentive program and determined that it was prudent to continue to utilize award targets that measure absolute and relative stockholder return. Accordingly, for the 2014 equity program, the Committee again utilized performance-based restricted stock units, which vest based upon relative performance of our common stock to a pre-determined index, and performance-based market stock units, which vest based upon absolute performance of our common stock.

        The aggregate value of the equity awards granted in December 2013 to each recipient was set by the Committee based upon individual valuations recommended by Cook & Co. In 2013, the Committee, after consultation with Cook & Co. and in recognition of the significant strategic accomplishments in 2013, increased the grant date value of the awards for our named executive officers. The value of the awards granted to Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan in December 2013 was split nearly equally on a value basis between performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units, with the number of units awarded calculated based upon the 20-trading-day average closing price of our common stock prior to the date of grant. The Committee determined that the size and nature of the award was appropriate in light of our goal to retain executives, drive financial performance and align management's interests with the interests of

56


stockholders in creating value. The following table summarizes the allocation of 2014 awards for our named executive officers:

 
   
  Type of Award  
Named Executive Officer
  Target Award   Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units
(% of Total Award
Value)
  Performance-Based
Market Stock Units
(% of Total Award
Value)
 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  $ 4,300,000     50 %   50 %

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  $ 1,250,000     50 %   50 %

Senior Vice President, Law & Administration

  $ 1,250,000     50 %   50 %

In addition, the Committee included a claw-back provision in the December 2013 grant whereby participant awards may be reduced or recouped in certain situations. See "—Other Policies—Claw-Back—Stock Incentive Plan."

        Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units.    The number of performance-based restricted stock units awarded in December 2013 represents a targeted number of shares to be received upon vesting. The number of shares which vest, if any, is determined based upon the Company's TSR (using the average closing stock price per share of the common stock of the Company for the 60 trading days prior to the beginning and end of the period) from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016 as compared to the TSR for companies that compose the Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index. No restricted stock units are earned if the Company's rank relative to such companies is less than the 25th percentile. The maximum number of restricted stock units that may vest upon the achievement of such performance measure is one and a half times the target amount of the restricted stock units granted. The performance-based restricted stock unit award is interpolated for results between performance targets. Vesting of performance-based restricted stock units earned, if any, generally occurs upon Committee review following the end of the performance period, subject to continued service on January 1, 2017, except in the event of death, disability or retirement, based upon the below table.

Performance of Rockwood TSR relative to the TSR of
the components of Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index
  % of Vesting  

Less than 25th percentile

    0 %

25th percentile

    25 %

50th percentile

    100 %

Greater than or equal to 75th percentile

    150 %

        In connection with this award in December 2013, Mr. Ghasemi was awarded a target award of 29,145 performance-based restricted stock units and Messrs. Zatta and Riordan were each awarded a target award of 8,472 performance-based restricted stock units.

        Performance-Based Market Stock Units.    The number of performance-based market stock units awarded in December 2013 represents a number of shares to be received upon vesting. The number of stock units which vest, if any, is determined based upon the product of (a) the Company's stock price multiplier, which is the percentage change in the price of the Company's common stock over the period January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2016, and (b) the target amount of shares. The stock price multiplier is the quotient of the average closing stock price for the 60 trading days prior to December 31, 2016 divided by the average closing stock price for the 60 days prior to January 1, 2014. No market stock units are earned if the Company's stock price at the end of the award period is less than 50% of the Company's stock price at the beginning of the award period. The maximum number of market stock units that may vest upon the achievement of such performance measures is up to one and a half times the target amount of the market stock units granted. The performance-based market stock unit award is interpolated for results between performance targets. Vesting of performance-based market stock units earned, if any, generally occurs upon Committee review following the end of the

57


performance period, subject to continued service on January 1, 2017, except in the event of death, disability or retirement, based upon the below table.

Company Stock Price Multiplier
  % of Vesting  

Less than 50%

    0 %

50%

    50 %

100%

    100 %

Greater than or equal to 150%

    150 %

        In December 2013, Mr. Ghasemi was awarded a target award of 27,376 performance-based market stock units and Messrs. Zatta and Riordan were each awarded a target award of 7,958 performance-based market stock units.

        Total Equity Awards to Named Executive Officers in 2013.    The following table summarizes the equity awards at targeted levels to our named executive officers in December 2013:

 
  Type of Award  
Named Executive Officer
  Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units
(# of Units at Target)
  Performance-Based
Market Stock Units
(# of Units at Target)
 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    29,145     27,376  

Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

    8,472     7,958  

Senior Vice President, Law &Administration

    8,472     7,958  

        The Committee believes our long-term equity compensation program is entirely based upon the concept of pay for performance. In addition, the Committee and board of directors believe that these equity awards strike an appropriate balance by rewarding our named executive officers primarily for creating stockholder value and to a lesser extent for their continued service and dedication to Rockwood. We believe that this approach best aligns the interests of our named executive officers with those of our stockholders and is consistent with current trends in executive compensation as measured by our peer group and survey data. We therefore intend to continue to make annual equity compensation grants to our named executive officers and other key employees and may further modify the structure to adapt to changing economic conditions and market practices.

        In accordance with current guidelines for stock ownership by our named executive officers, Mr. Ghasemi is required to own stock valued at an amount equal to at least six times his base salary, and Messrs. Zatta and Riordan are required to own stock valued at an amount equal to at least three times their respective base salaries. In evaluating stock ownership under these guidelines, the Committee includes shares actually owned by such named executive officer and excludes stock options, performance-based restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units that are either unearned or earned but not vested. Further, the Committee has adopted a retention ratio whereby each named executive officer is required to hold 50% of all shares received, net of taxes and exercise price, if any, upon the exercise of stock options or vesting of restricted stock units until such named executive officer has satisfied the ownership guidelines. For the purposes of compliance with these guidelines, the value of the common stock owned is based upon an average of the month-end closing stock prices for the last three months of the previous fiscal year, and is tested in January each year. As of January 1, 2014, all named executive officers held equity in excess of the amounts required under our guidelines.

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        All grants since 2007 have been made pursuant to a policy of the Committee under which the Committee has established a pre-determined schedule for equity grants during certain periods that correspond to "window periods" under our securities trading policy. These window periods begin at the opening of business on the second trading day on the New York Stock Exchange after the day we make a public news release of our quarterly earnings for the prior fiscal quarter, and close on the earlier of (a) 45 calendar days thereafter or (b) 75 calendar days after the end of the prior fiscal quarter. The date of grant for any equity awards pertaining to any given year will generally be in December of the previous year on the last business day of the corresponding window period. The exercise price of any stock option must equal the fair market value of our common stock on the date of grant, which is currently determined by the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on the grant date.

        The Company has a policy that prohibits our directors and named executive officers from entering into any hedging arrangements with respect to our securities or pledging our securities as collateral for a loan, including holding our securities in margin accounts.

        We offer our named executive officers and other key employees selected perquisites and general health and welfare benefits. Our perquisites and other benefits include an automobile allowance and company-wide life insurance. We provide these benefits as an incentive for our named executive officers to remain competitive in the general marketplace for executive talent. Commencing in 2010, Rockwood no longer reimburses our named executive officers for tax gross-ups on life insurance and Company autos or auto allowances. The Committee does not intend to award tax gross-ups in the future.

        Our named executive officers participate in the following retirement plans, which are the same plans offered to all other Company employees located in the United States:

In each of the above cases, such contributions are subject to the Internal Revenue Service's ("IRS") annual contribution limit.

        We also offer our senior vice president and chief financial officer and our senior vice president, law & administration and secretary participation in a supplemental savings plan in which a participant can defer up to 20% of his annual cash compensation (base salary and annual cash incentive) and in which we match the lesser of: (x) 50% of such participant's contribution or (y) 3% of such employee's annual cash compensation. In addition, amounts above IRS contribution limits in respect of our 401(k) plan are also contributed to the supplemental savings plan for our named executive officers, except for our chairman and chief executive officer. The participant balances in the supplemental savings plan earn interest on a quarterly basis at the prime rate in effect at the beginning of each quarter and are

59


only distributed on a termination event with no enhancement of benefits under any such event. We also make monthly payments to our chairman and chief executive officer in the amount of $53,000 as a supplemental pension benefit in lieu of contributions into a non-qualified supplemental pension pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement which is based upon similar benefits he was entitled to receive from his previous employer. For additional information, please see "Employment and Other Agreements", "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control" and "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2013."

        Our named executive officers are also entitled to participate in our health and welfare programs. For our named executive officers, in addition to the plans offered to all employees, we provide an executive medical plan, which pays for annual expenses not covered by our standard health plans up to $10,000 per participant, per plan (for each of medical, dental, vision, prescription and over-the-counter drugs), per year. The named executive officers also participate in company-wide life insurance plans, with Rockwood providing an additional life insurance policy for our chairman and chief executive officer. In addition, we provide an auto allowance to our named executive officers.

        We believe it is important to provide reasonable severance benefits to our named executive officers both to remain competitive within our industry and in acknowledgement that it may be difficult for these executive officers to find comparable positions in a short amount of time. Each named executive officer is entitled to a severance payment in the event that he is terminated by us without "cause" or if he terminates employment with Rockwood for "good reason," as defined in their respective employment agreements. Each of our named executive officers is also entitled to a severance payment in the event that he is terminated following a change in control. In addition, certain awards under our Existing Stock Incentive Plan accelerate upon a change in control. However, under the terms of the employment agreements with such officers, the amounts payable to such named executive officers are not payable solely in the event of a change in control.

        We believe our arrangements are reasonable in light of the fact that cash severance is limited to an amount equal to two years of salary and annual cash incentives for each of our named executive officers. Further, there are no severance payments unless such named executive officers are terminated within two years following a change in control of Rockwood except for a termination without cause or resignation for good reason by such executive. For additional information, please see "Employment and Other Agreements" and "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control."

        The Committee determined that the employment agreements for our named executive officers should include "claw-back" provisions related to our annual cash incentive payments. Under such employment agreements, if Rockwood is required to restate its financial statements and the board of directors in good faith determines that such restatement is due to the intentional misconduct of one or more of our named executive officers, such named executive officers will be required to reimburse Rockwood, net of taxes, for the excess of the annual cash incentive paid to such executive officer for the year(s) of restatement over the payment such executive officer would have received if annual cash incentive payments had been calculated using Rockwood's restated financial results.

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        In December 2013, the Committee again included a claw-back provision as part of the award agreements under the Existing Stock Incentive Plan whereby participants' awards may be recouped or reduced in specified situations based upon a policy to be adopted by the Committee after final rules related to executive claw-backs have been adopted by the SEC under the Dodd-Frank Act. In addition, under the awards granted since December 2010, the Committee may recoup awards for a participant's failure to follow our Code of Ethics for Executive Officers and Financial Officers and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics (both codes are available on our website at www.rocksp.com in the "Codes of Conduct" section).

        Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code generally allows publicly-traded companies to take tax deductions for particular qualifying performance-based compensation. Section 162(m) disallows a deduction to the extent that particular non-performance-based compensation over $1 million is paid to the chief executive officer or any of the three other most highly compensated executive officers other than the chief financial officer. Rockwood believes that our Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan and our Existing Stock Incentive Plan, each of which was approved by our stockholders at the 2009 Annual Stockholders Meeting, and the Short-Term Incentive Plan and the Stock Incentive Plan we are submitting for stockholder approval at the 2014 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, satisfy the requirements for exemption under Section 162(m) as a performance-based plan. To maintain flexibility in compensating executive officers in a manner consistent with its goals, the Committee has not adopted a policy that all compensation must be deductible. In making its compensation decisions, however, the Committee will consider the impact of Section 162(m).


Summary Compensation Table

        The following table provides summary information concerning compensation paid or accrued by us to or on behalf of our named executive officers for services rendered to us during the fiscal years 2013, 2012 and 2011.

Name and Principal
Position
  Year   Salary
($)(1)
  Stock
Awards
($)(2)
  Option
Awards
($)
  Non-Equity
Incentive
Plan
Compensation
($)(3)
  Change in
Pension
Value and
Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(4)
  All Other
Compensation
($)
  Total
($)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

    2013   $ 1,100,000   $ 4,386,796       $ 2,609,079       $ 715,639 (5) $ 8,811,514  

Chairman and Chief

    2012   $ 1,100,000   $ 3,137,373       $ 0       $ 862,946   $ 5,100,319  

Executive Officer

    2011   $ 1,100,000   $ 2,360,704       $ 6,005,672       $ 725,065   $ 10,191,441  

Robert J. Zatta,

   
2013
 
$

493,450
 
$

1,275,192
   
 
$

681,918
   
 
$

86,453

(6)

$

2,537,013
 

Senior Vice President

    2012   $ 473,800   $ 840,405       $ 0       $ 203,704   $ 1,517,909  

and Chief Financial

    2011   $ 473,800   $ 556,442       $ 1,487,414       $ 279,411   $ 2,797,067  

Officer

                                                 

Thomas J. Riordan,

   
2013
 
$

429,250
 
$

1,275,192
   
 
$

593,269
   
 
$

93,901

(7)

$

2,391,612
 

Senior Vice President,

    2012   $ 412,000   $ 840,405       $ 0       $ 192,392   $ 1,444,797  

Law & Administration

    2011   $ 412,000   $ 556,442       $ 1,293,403       $ 246,292   $ 2,508,137  

and Secretary

                                                 

(1)
Effective April 1, 2013, our senior vice president and chief financial officer's salary was increased to $500,000 and our senior vice president, law & administration and secretary's salary was increased to $435,000, a 5.5% increase for each.

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(2)
Represents the aggregate grant date fair value of stock awards granted in the specified fiscal years computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. All amounts are in respect of performance-based awards. Assuming the highest level of performance is achieved, the number of performance-based restricted stock units and/or market stock units, if applicable, granted in the specified fiscal year would result in up to one and a half times the amount shown in the table for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants. Assumptions used in determining the FASB ASC Topic 718 values can be found in Rockwood's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 in footnote 13, "Stock-Based Compensation—Restricted Stock." Please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for additional information on these restricted stock units, including vesting requirements.

(3)
Represents annual cash incentives earned under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan. The Committee, in line with our philosophy to compensate our named executive officers for performance aligned with creating shareholder value, has determined that the 2013 annual cash incentive will be paid to the named executive officers contingent upon the successful completion of the sale of our Titanium Dioxide Pigments and other non-strategic businesses, which is expected to close in the first half of 2014. Please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—2013 Annual Cash Incentives."

(4)
There was no above market interest earned on non-qualified deferred compensation.

(5)
Reflects the following:

$636,000 (paid in monthly payments of $53,000), in lieu of contributions into a non-qualified supplemental pension pursuant to the terms of Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement;

Auto allowance of $38,769;

Company-provided life insurance with premiums of $14,280;

Company contributions into a 401(k) plan of (x) $7,650, (y) $7,650 as a 3% non-discretionary contribution, and (z) $7,650as a profit-sharing contribution; and

Basic and executive medical premiums of $750 and company-paid medical claims of $2,890.

(6)
Reflects the following:

Company contributions into non-qualified plans of $21,808;

Auto allowance of $31,886;

Company contributions into a 401(k) plan of (x) $7,440, (y) $7,650 as a 3% non-discretionary contribution, and (z) $7,650 as a profit-sharing contribution; and

Basic and executive medical premiums of $750 and company-paid medical claims of $9,269.

(7)
Reflects the following:

Company contributions into non-qualified plans of $15,894;

Auto allowance of $31,641;

Company contributions into a 401(k) plan of (x) $7,304, (y) $7,650 as a 3% non-discretionary contribution, and (z) $7,650 as a profit-sharing contribution; and

Basic and executive medical premiums of $750 and company-paid medical claims of $23,012.

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Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2013

        The following table provides supplemental information relating to grants of plan-based awards in 2013.

 
   
   
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards(1)
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Grant Date
Fair Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)(4)
 
Name
  Grant
Date
  Approval
Date
  Threshold
($)(2)
  Target
($)
  Maximum
($)
  Threshold
(#)(2)
  Target
(#)(3)
  Maximum
(#)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

              $ 1,100,000   $ 2,200,000   $ 6,600,000                          

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       7,286     29,145     43,718   $ 2,147,987  

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       13,688     27,376     41,064   $ 2,238,809  

Robert J. Zatta

             
$

287,500
 
$

575,000
 
$

1,725,000
                         

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       2,118     8,472     12,708   $ 624,386  

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       3,979     7,958     11,937   $ 650,806  

Thomas J. Riordan

             
$

250,125
 
$

500,250
 
$

1,500,750
                         

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       2,118     8,472     12,708   $ 624,386  

    12/13/2013     12/13/2013                       3,979     7,958     11,937   $ 650,806  

(1)
Represents the potential payments to our named executive officers based on a range of 2013 performance under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan. For additional information relating to our annual cash incentives, please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Annual Cash Incentives."

(2)
Represents the minimum amount payable at a level of performance triggering payment under this grant. No payouts are awarded for performance below such levels.

(3)
In December 2013, in connection with the 2014 long-term equity compensation program, the Company awarded 29,145 performance-based restricted stock units to Mr. Ghasemi, 8,472 performance-based restricted stock units to each of Messrs. Zatta and Riordan, 27,376 performance-based market stock units to Mr. Ghasemi and 7,958 performance-based market stock units to each of Messrs. Zatta and Riordan. For additional information relating to our performance-based restricted stock units and market stock units, please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation—2014 Equity Compensation Program—Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units", "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation—2014 Equity Compensation Program—Performance-Based Market Stock Units" and "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control."

(4)
Represents the grant date fair value for the performance-based restricted stock unit award and the performance-based market stock unit award computed in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718. Assumptions used in determining the FASB ASC Topic 718 values can be found in Rockwood's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013 in footnote 13, "Stock-Based Compensation—Restricted Stock."


Employment and Other Agreements

        We entered into an employment agreement with Mr. Ghasemi, originally dated as of September 28, 2001, which was amended and restated on November 13, 2008, and further amended as of October 28, 2010, pursuant to which he is serving as our chairman and chief executive officer. This agreement automatically renews for successive one-year periods, unless either party gives 60 days advance written notice not to renew the term of the agreement prior to any such extension date, and otherwise terminates in August 2020. Either party may terminate the agreement at any time; however, Mr. Ghasemi must give at least 180 days advance written notice to terminate his employment (other

63


than in connection with his notice not to renew the terms of the employment agreement described above).

        The employment agreement provides Mr. Ghasemi with an annual base salary of $1,100,000 effective April 1, 2010 and a target annual cash incentive award equal to 200% of his base salary (subject to our achievement of specified performance-based targets), both of which may be increased in the discretion of our board of directors. Pursuant to the employment agreement, the amount of cash payments as a supplemental pension benefit payment (in lieu of contributions into a non-qualified supplemental pension) to Mr. Ghasemi was increased effective as of April 1, 2010 from $50,000 to $53,000 per month. The employment agreement also provides Mr. Ghasemi with a company automobile or auto allowance and entitles Mr. Ghasemi to participate in our health, welfare and retirement programs.

        In his original employment agreement with us, Mr. Ghasemi agreed to purchase a certain number of shares of our common stock, and in connection therewith, received: (1) a grant of 68,452 time-based restricted stock units (payable in shares of our common stock) which vested in equal quarterly installments over a three-year period and (2) a grant of time-based stock options to purchase a certain number of shares of our common stock which vested over a five-year period. The shares of common stock underlying those vested restricted stock units are issuable upon the later of (1) the date such shares can be sold in the public market without restrictions on transfer or (2) the termination of Mr. Ghasemi's employment. Pursuant to the agreement governing those restricted stock units, each time a cash dividend is paid on the outstanding shares of common stock, Mr. Ghasemi will receive, at the time he becomes entitled to receive the shares of our common stock underlying those restricted stock units, an additional number of shares of our common stock equal to the quotient of (a) the product of the amount of each dividend paid with respect to one share of our common stock multiplied by the number of restricted stock units then held by Mr. Ghasemi divided by (b) the fair market value per share of our common stock at the time each dividend is paid. Accordingly, Mr. Ghasemi received 1,811 additional restricted stock units in connection with the Company's cash dividends paid in 2013 and 3,424 in the aggregate since the inception of the Company's dividend program in 2012. The number of shares of our common stock issuable is subject to adjustment in the event of a stock dividend, split, combination, recapitalization, change in control or other similar event.

        In addition, under his employment agreement, Mr. Ghasemi is entitled to a gross-up payment equal to any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code on any payment in the event of a change in control of Rockwood. Such payment is structured to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the terms of his amended employment agreement, Mr. Ghasemi is no longer entitled to a tax gross-up on his auto allowance and related expenses. His employment agreement also obligates Rockwood to indemnify Mr. Ghasemi to the fullest extent permitted by law or the by-laws of Rockwood during the employment term and after the employment term while potential liability exists.

        Under the terms of Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement, in the event that Rockwood is required to restate its financial statements due to the intentional misconduct of any of the senior executive officers of Rockwood (as determined in good faith by the board of directors), Mr. Ghasemi will be required to reimburse Rockwood the amount by which his annual cash incentive, calculated under the misstated financial statements exceeds the incentives he would have received under the restated financial statements. See "Compensation Discussions and Analysis—Other Policies—Claw-Back" section for a summary of the "claw-back" provisions related to our annual and long-term incentives.

        Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement also provides that if his employment is terminated under specified conditions he will be entitled to receive severance payments and benefits as described below under "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control—Chairman and Chief Executive

64


Officer." Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement also contains certain restrictive covenants relating to confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation.

        On November 13, 2008, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Zatta, which was amended as of October 28, 2010, pursuant to which he is serving as our senior vice president and chief financial officer. The following summarizes the compensation arrangements in Mr. Zatta's employment agreement:

        Under the terms of Mr. Zatta's employment agreement, in the event Rockwood is required to restate its financial statements due to the intentional misconduct of any of the senior executive officers of Rockwood (as determined in good faith by the board of directors), Mr. Zatta will be required to reimburse Rockwood the amount by which his annual cash incentive calculated under the misstated financial statements exceeds the annual cash incentive he would have received under the restated financial statements. See "Compensation Discussions and Analysis—Other Policies—Claw-Back" sections for a summary of the "claw-back" provisions related to our annual and long-term incentives.

        Mr. Zatta's employment constitutes "at will" employment and may be terminated at any time for any reason. Mr. Zatta will be entitled to receive severance payments and benefits resulting from his termination under specified conditions as described below under "Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control—Other Named Executive Officers." In addition, Mr. Zatta is entitled to a tax gross-up payment equal to any excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Internal Revenue Code on any benefit or payment due to him in the event of a change in control of Rockwood. Such payment is structured to comply with the provisions of Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Under the terms of his amended agreement, Mr. Zatta is no longer entitled to a tax gross-up on his auto allowance and related expenses. The employment agreement also contains customary restrictive covenants relating to confidentiality, non-competition and non-solicitation.

        On November 13, 2008, we entered into a new employment agreement with Mr. Riordan, which was amended as of October 28, 2010, pursuant to which he is serving as our senior vice president, law & administration. Other than Mr. Riordan's base annual salary of $435,000 (effective as of April 1, 2013), the material terms under the new employment agreement are identical to those in the employment agreement with Mr. Zatta that are summarized above, including the subsequent increase in his annual target incentive award from 110% to 115% of base salary.

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Outstanding Equity Awards at 2013 Fiscal Year-End

        The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2013:

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Grant Date   Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Exercisable
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)
  Option
Exercise
Price
($)
  Option
Expiration
Date
  Number
of Shares
or Units
of Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
(#)
  Market
Value of
Shares or
Units of
Stock
That
Have Not
Vested
($)
  Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
(#)(1)
  Equity
Incentive Plan
Awards:
Market or
Payout Value
of Unearned
Shares, Units
or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(2)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

    12/14/2007     140,426 (3)             $ 32.39     12/14/2014                          

    12/12/2008     317,737 (3)             $ 9.18     12/12/2015                          

    12/11/2009     131,358 (3)             $ 23.79     12/11/2016                          

    12/10/2010                                   40,684 (4) $ 2,925,993              

    12/10/2010                                   46,183 (5) $ 3,215,975              

    12/2/2011                                               30,099 (6) $ 2,164,720  

    12/2/2011                                               42,141 (7) $ 3,030,781  

    12/12/12                                               48,621 (8) $ 3,496,822  

    12/12/12                                               43,031 (9) $ 3,094,790  

    12/13/13                                               29,145 (10) $ 2,096,108  

    12/13/13                                               27,376 (11) $ 1,968,882  

Robert J. Zatta

    12/10/2010                                   9,590 (4) $ 689,713              

    12/10/2010                                   10,887 (5) $ 758,109              

    12/2/2011                                               7,095 (6) $ 510,272  

    12/2/2011                                               9,933 (7) $ 714,381  

    12/12/2012                                               13,024 (8) $ 936,686  

    12/12/2012                                               11,527 (9) $ 829,022  

    12/13/13                                               8,472 (10) $ 609,306  

    12/13/13                                               7,958 (11) $ 572,339  

Thomas J. Riordan

    12/10/2010                                   9,590 (4) $ 689,713              

    12/10/2010                                   10,887 (5) $ 758,109              

    12/2/2011                                               7,095 (6) $ 510,272  

    12/2/2011                                               9,933 (7) $ 714,381  

    12/12/2012                                               13,024 (8) $ 936,686  

    12/12/2012                                               11,527 (9) $ 829,022  

    12/13/13                                               8,472 (10) $ 609,306  

    12/13/13                                               7,958 (11) $ 572,339  

(1)
Represents either the threshold, target or maximum amount that may be earned under the respective awards considering performance trends for such awards as of December 31, 2013 and include dividend equivalent rights expected to be included in such award, in connection with the Company's quarterly dividend.

(2)
Based on the closing price of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2013 of $71.92 per share at target amounts.

(3)
These time-based stock options vested and become exercisable by the holder in three equal annual installments beginning on the December 31st of the year following the grant date. These options expire on the seventh anniversary of their grant date if not otherwise forfeited or terminated prior to such date.

(4)
These performance-based restricted stock units were awarded on December 10, 2010, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vested (including dividend equivalent rights), based upon our TSR from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 as compared to TSR for companies that comprise the Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index and are similar to the performance-based restricted

66


(5)
These performance-based market stock units were awarded on December 10, 2010, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vested (including dividend equivalent rights), based upon the absolute performance of our common stock from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2013 and are similar to the performance-based market stock units awarded in December 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information regarding vesting.

(6)
These performance-based restricted stock units are presented at target amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 1,594, 376 and 376 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 2, 2011, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vest, if at all, based upon our TSR from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014 as compared to TSR for companies that comprise the Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index and are similar to the performance-based restricted stock units awarded in December 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information regarding vesting.

(7)
These performance-based market stock units are presented at maximum amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 1,489, 351 and 351 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 2, 2011, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vest, if at all, based upon the absolute performance of our common stock from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2014 and are similar to the performance-based market stock units awarded in December 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information regarding vesting.

(8)
These performance-based restricted stock units are presented at maximum amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 976, 261 and 261 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 12, 2012, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vest, if at all, based upon our TSR from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015 as compared to TSR for companies that comprise the Dow Jones U.S. Chemicals Index and are similar to the performance-based restricted stock units awarded in December 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information regarding vesting.

(9)
These performance-based market stock units are presented at maximum amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 879, 235 and 235 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 12, 2012, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. These awards vest, if at all, based upon the absolute performance of our common stock from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2015 and are similar to the performance-based market stock units awarded in December 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information regarding vesting.

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(10)
These performance-based restricted stock units are presented at target amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 165, 48 and 48 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 13, 2013, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation—2014 Equity Compensation Program—Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units" for further information regarding vesting.

(11)
These performance-based market stock units are presented at target amount and include dividend equivalents expected to be included in such awards in the amount of 155, 45 and 45 for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan respectively. These awards were awarded on December 13, 2013, and each represents the right to receive one share of our common stock, subject to adjustment based on vesting criteria. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation—2014 Equity Compensation Program—Performance-Based Market Stock Units" for further information regarding vesting.


Option Exercises and Stock Vested in 2013

        The following table provides information concerning each stock option exercise and each unit of restricted stock that vested during the last completed fiscal year for our named executive officers:

 
  Option Awards   Stock Awards  
Name
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Exercise
(#)(1)
  Value Realized on
Exercise
($)(1)
  Number of
Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)(2)
  Value
Realized on
Vesting
($)(3)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

    625,384   $ 33,390,090     0   $ 0  

Robert J. Zatta

    32,500   $ 1,118,056     0   $ 0  

Thomas J. Riordan

    66,477   $ 2,307,410     0   $ 0  

(1)
Represents exercises of stock options and the value realized on exercise, computed based on the closing prices of our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on applicable exercise dates.

(2)
The named executive officers did not vest in any restricted stock awards in 2013. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for further information.


Pension Benefits for 2013

        We do not sponsor a defined benefit pension plan for our named executive officers.


Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation for 2013

        The following table provides information regarding contributions, earnings, withdrawals and distributions and balances for our named executive officers under our non-qualified deferred

68


compensation plan, and with respect to Mr. Ghasemi, his vested but undelivered restricted stock units and related dividend equivalent units, during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013:

Name
  Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(1)
  Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(2)
  Aggregate
Earnings
in Last FY
($)
  Aggregate
Withdrawals/
Distributions
($)
  Aggregate
Balance
Last FYE
($)
 

Seifi Ghasemi

          $ 1,717,288 (3)     $ 5,169,322 (5)

Robert J. Zatta

  $ 26,300   $ 21,808   $ 42,759 (4)     $ 1,377,572 (6)

Thomas J. Riordan

  $ 16,325   $ 15,894   $ 77,029 (4)     $ 2,406,339 (6)

(1)
Contributions of non-qualified deferred compensation in 2013 by Mr. Zatta and Mr. Riordan consisted of contributions to a supplemental savings plan. All amounts are distributed within three to six months of a termination event. All of these amounts were reported in the "Salary" column of our Summary Compensation Table. See "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Executive Benefits and Perquisites—Retirement Plans" for a description of the non-qualified deferred compensation plan.

(2)
These amounts include Rockwood's contributions to the supplemental savings plan that would otherwise have been made to qualified plans if not for the IRS's annual compensation limits for such plans. For Mr. Zatta, this amount is $14,308 and for Mr. Riordan, this amount is $10,456. The amounts in this column also include matching contributions by Rockwood for each of Mr. Zatta and Mr. Riordan under the supplemental savings plan in the amounts of $7,500 and $5,438, respectively. All of these amounts were reported in the "All Other Compensation" column of our Summary Compensation Table.

(3)
Represents: (A) the market appreciation value of 68,452 vested restricted stock units (and 1,613 related dividend equivalents for periods prior to 2013) granted to Mr. Ghasemi pursuant to his original employment agreement, calculated based on the difference between the closing price of our common stock between January 2, 2013 and the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2013 on the New York Stock Exchange multiplied by the number of securities underlying the restricted stock units; and (B) the value of 1,811 dividend equivalent units accrued to Mr. Ghasemi during 2013 on such vested restricted stock units.

(4)
Represents interest accruals calculated on a quarterly basis at the prime rate in effect at the beginning of each quarter on cash balances. None of these amounts were reported in the "Change in Pension Value and Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Earnings" column of the Summary Compensation Table, as they do not constitute above-market earnings.

(5)
Represents the value of 68,452 vested restricted stock units (and 3,424 related dividend equivalent units) granted to Mr. Ghasemi pursuant to his original employment agreement, calculated based on the closing price of our common stock on December 31, 2013 on the New York Stock Exchange of $71.92 multiplied by the number of securities underlying such units.

(6)
The accumulated balances reported as compensation in the Summary Compensation Tables of Rockwood's proxy statements for this year and prior years amounted to $1,068,623 and $1,354,746 for Messrs. Zatta and Riordan, respectively.


Potential Payments upon Termination or Change in Control

        Each of our named executive officers is entitled to a severance payment in the event that he is terminated, including a termination within a specified period following a change in control. However, under the terms of the employment agreements with such named executive officers, the amounts payable to such named executive officers are not enhanced solely in the event of a change in control. Hence, there is no increase in severance payments unless such named executive officers are terminated following a change in control of Rockwood.

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        The employment agreements for Messrs. Ghasemi, Zatta and Riordan include in their respective definitions of "cause," an employee's willful and continued failure or refusal to perform his duties. Mr. Zatta's and Mr. Riordan's employment agreements also include any act of fraud, embezzlement or theft on their part against Rockwood, while Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement defines "cause" to include certain other acts which harm Rockwood, including a conviction, plea of guilty or no contest to fraud or, under specified conditions, a misdemeanor as defined in each of these employment agreements. "Good reason" will generally exist if the named executive officer's (1) responsibilities or compensation has been reduced, (2) benefits have been materially reduced, (3) primary workplace has been moved beyond 35 miles from its current location or (4) the agreement is materially breached by Rockwood. Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement also includes in its definition of "good reason" the failure of Rockwood's successor to assume Rockwood's obligations under his employment agreement.

        Our named executives officers' employment agreements generally define a change in control of Rockwood as (1) the date at which any person or entity other than Rockwood or its employee benefit plans becomes the beneficial owner of 30% or more of the combined voting power of its outstanding securities other than through a purchase of such securities directly from Rockwood through a private placement, (2) the date at which the members of Rockwood's board of directors at signing (the "Incumbent Board") no longer represent a majority of Rockwood's board of directors; provided that a member approved by a majority of the Incumbent Board will be counted as a member of the Incumbent Board, (3) a merger or consolidation of Rockwood with or into another entity, unless immediately following such transaction, 70% or more of the voting securities of the surviving entity are beneficially owned by beneficial owners of Rockwood prior to such transaction or (4) all or substantially all of the assets of Rockwood are sold or transferred and the (x) Incumbent Board does not directly control the buyer or transferee and (y) financial results of Rockwood and such buyer or transferee are not consolidated for financial reporting purposes.

        For the awards in December 2011, 2012 and 2013, the number of shares earned is calculated based upon the change in control price and (1) our common stock's performance relative to companies composing the comparison group for the performance-based restricted stock units and (2) the related stock price multiplier for performance-based market stock units. All amounts in respect of accelerated vesting for the December 2011 awards would be paid on December 31, 2014, for the December 2012 awards would be paid on January 1, 2016, and for the December 2013 awards would be paid on January 31, 2017, unless the named executive officer is terminated without cause or resigns for good reason on or after a change in control but before the vesting date, in which case the amount would be paid in a lump sum at such termination. In the event of a change in control, all restricted stock units and performance-based market stock units are converted into a cash value and paid to holders on the applicable dates.

        Our named executive officers' agreements related to equity awards generally define a change in control of Rockwood as:

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        Under the terms of Mr. Ghasemi's employment agreement, Rockwood may terminate Mr. Ghasemi's employment at any time. Unless otherwise terminated, his employment agreement terminates automatically on the August 1st following Mr. Ghasemi's attainment of age 75, which is August 1, 2020. The summary below sets forth the other termination provisions in his employment agreement:

        If Mr. Ghasemi's employment is terminated for cause or by him without good reason, Mr. Ghasemi will be entitled to receive the following accrued rights (the "Accrued Rights"):

        If Mr. Ghasemi's employment is terminated without cause by Rockwood or by him with good reason, including a termination following a change in control (as defined above) of Rockwood, Mr. Ghasemi will be entitled to receive the following:

71


        If Mr. Ghasemi's employment is terminated due to death, disability or retirement, he or his estate will be entitled to receive the following:

        The following table provides summary information concerning vesting of equity awards granted to our chairman and chief executive officer and his entitlement to certain other benefits upon a change in control or the termination scenarios described below assuming such hypothetical event occurred on December 31, 2012:

Name & Principal
Position
  Type of Compensation   Death or
Disability
  Retirement   Termination
without Cause
or Resignation
for Good Reason
  Change in
Control
  Change in
Control &
Termination
 

Seifi Ghasemi,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  Base Salary

2013 Cash Incentive

Average Incentive
  $0

$2,609,079

$0


(2)

$0

$2,609,079

$0


(2)

$2,200,000

$2,609,079

$2,609,079
(1)

(2)

(3)
$0

$0

$0
  $2,200,000

$2,609,079

$2,609,079
(1)

(2)

(3)

 

Supplemental Pension Benefit Contribution

 
$0
 
$0
 
$636,000

(4)

$0
 
$636,000

(4)

 

Salary Continuation

 
$565,522

(5)

$0
 
$0
 
$0
 
$0
 

 

Life Insurance Proceeds

 
$2,100,000

(6)

$0
 
$0
 
$0
 
$0
 

 

Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units

 
$2,235,781

(7)

$2,235,781

(7)

$2,235,781

(7)

$6,366,358

(8)

$6,366,358

(8)

 

Performance-Based
Market Stock Units

 
$2,061,621

(9)

$2,061,621

(9)

$2,061,621

(9)

$5,882,265

(10)

$5,882,265

(10)

 

Total

 
$9,572,003
 
$6,906,481
 
$12,351,560
 
$12,248,623
 
$20,302,781
 

*
All values are based on the closing price of our common stock on the last business day of the year ended December 31, 2013 on the New York Stock Exchange of $71.92.

**
Under all of such events, Mr. Ghasemi will be entitled to receive the Accrued Rights except solely in the event of a change in control without termination.

(1)
Represents an amount equal to two times Mr. Ghasemi's 2013 base salary of $1,100,000.

72


(2)
Represents the pro rata portion of the cash incentive payable based upon 2013 financial performance under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan.

(3)
Represents an amount equal to two times the average of the cash incentives awarded to Mr. Ghasemi for 2013 and 2012, which were $2,609,079 and $0, respectively.

(4)
Represents twelve monthly supplemental pension benefit contributions of $53,000 each.

(5)
In the event of disability only, represents six months of salary continuation and welfare benefits until long-term disability benefits apply. This amount assumes Mr. Ghasemi is not eligible for any such long-term disability benefits.

(6)
Represents $2.1 million in life insurance proceeds payable in case of death. An additional payment of 21/2 times his base salary would be payable if death occurs during business travel up to a maximum of £2.0 million, but for purposes of this disclosure, we assumed Mr. Ghasemi's hypothetical death does not occur during business travel.

(7)
Represents the pro rata portion of outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards that would vest upon such event. For any outstanding awards for which the actual performance against the relevant target is not yet known, such pro rata portion is based upon the targeted award from the grant date through the hypothetical termination date. For a termination without cause under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, the vesting of any amount is subject to the sole discretion of the Committee. This amount assumes the Committee awarded such pro rata portion to Mr. Ghasemi at target amounts. For a resignation by Mr. Ghasemi for good reason, none of the outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards would vest.

(8)
Represents the vesting of all outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards that would vest upon such event. Under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, these performance-based restricted stock units generally become vested and converted into the right to receive a cash payment based on the sum of (x) the product of (a) the price per share paid in the Rockwood change in control transaction, (b) a stockholder return multiplier based on Rockwood's stock price performance in relation to its peers and (c) the number of securities underlying the performance-based restricted stock units and (y) interest on such amount from the closing of such change in control transaction through the end of the relevant vesting period. For purposes of this table, awards are assumed to vest at targeted amounts. In the event of a termination of employment without cause by Rockwood or a resignation by the employee for good reason on or after a change in control, but prior to the respective vesting date, the cash payment will be accelerated.

(9)
Represents the pro rata portion of outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards that would vest upon such event based upon the targeted award from the grant date through the hypothetical termination date. For a termination without cause under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, the vesting of any amount is subject to the sole discretion of the Committee. This amount assumes the Committee awarded such pro rata portion to Mr. Ghasemi at target amounts. For a resignation by Mr. Ghasemi for good reason, none of the outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards would vest.

(10)
Represents the vesting of all outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards that would vest upon such event. However, under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, these performance-based market stock units generally become vested and converted into the right to receive a cash payment based on the sum of (x) the product of (a) the price per share paid in the Rockwood change in control transaction (b) a stock multiplier calculated as the quotient of (i) the change in control price, divided by (ii) the beginning stock price and (c) the number of securities underlying the performance-based market stock units and (y) interest on such amount from the closing of such change in control transaction through the end of the relevant vesting period. For purposes of this table, awards are assumed to vest at targeted amounts. In the event of a

73


        Under the terms of the employment agreements with Messrs. Zatta and Riordan (each, a "Senior Executive"), Rockwood may terminate the employment of such Senior Executive at any time. Unless otherwise terminated, the respective employment agreements for Messrs. Zatta and Riordan terminate automatically on the August 1st following each of their attainment of age 70, which is August 1, 2019 and August 1, 2020, respectively. The summary below sets forth the other termination provisions in the employment agreements for Messrs. Zatta and Riordan:

        If the Senior Executive's employment is terminated by Rockwood for cause or by him without good reason, he will be entitled to receive the following accrued rights (the "Senior Executive Accrued Rights"):

        If prior to or following a change in control the Senior Executive's employment is terminated by Rockwood without cause or by him with good reason, he will be entitled to receive the following:

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        If the Senior Executive's employment is terminated due to disability or death, he or his estate will be entitled to receive the following:

        The below table provides summary information concerning vesting of equity awards granted to our named executive officers other than our chairman and chief executive officer and entitlement to certain other benefits upon a change in control or the termination scenarios described below assuming such hypothetical event occurred on December 31, 2013:

Name & Principal Position
  Type of
Compensation
  Death or
Disability
  Retirement   Termination without
Cause or Resignation
for Good Reason
  Change in
Control
  Change in
Control &
Termination
 

Robert J. Zatta,
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

  Auto Allowance

Severance Payment

Retirement Payment

Healthcare Benefits
  $0

$0

$0

$0
  $0

$0

$0

$0
  $31,886

$1,181,918

$137,285

$17,434
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)
$0

$0

$0

$0
  $31,886

$1,181,918

$137,285

$17,434
(1)

(2)

(3)

(4)

 

2013 Cash Incentive

 
$681,918

(5)

$681,918

(5)

$681,918

(5)

$0
 
$681,918

(5)

 

Benefit Replacement Payment

 
$0
 
$0
 
$50,000

(6)

$0
 
$50,000

(6)

 

Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units

 
$554,051

(7)

$554,051

(7)

$554,051

(7)

$1,687,243

(8)

$1,687,243

(8)

 

Performance-Based
Market Stock Units

 
$510,391

(9)

$510,391

(9)

$510,391

(9)

$1,559,082

(10)

$1,559,082

(10)

 

Total

 
$1,746,360
 
$1,746,360
 
$3,164,883
 
$3,246,325
 
$5,346,766
 

Thomas J. Riordan,
Senior Vice President,
Law & Administration

 

Auto Allowance

Severance Payment

Retirement Payment

 
$0

$0

$0
 
$0

$0

$0
 
$31,641

$1,028,269

$119,378

(1)

(2)

(3)

$0

$0

$0
 
$31,641

$1,028,269

$119,378

(1)

(2)

(3)

 

Healthcare Benefits

 
$0
 
$0
 
$24,055

(4)

$0
 
$24,055

(4)

 

2013 Cash Incentive

 
$593,269

(5)

$593,269

(5)

$593,269

(5)

$0
 
$593,269

(5)

 

Benefit Replacement Payment

 
$0
 
$0
 
$50,000

(6)

$0
 
$50,000

(6)

 

Performance-Based
Restricted Stock Units

 
$554,051

(7)

$554,051

(7)

$554,051

(7)

$1,687,243

(8)

$1,687,243

(8)

 

Performance-Based
Market Stock Units

 
$510,391

(9)

$510,391

(9)

$510,391

(9)

$1,559,082

(10)

$1,559,082

(10)

 

Total

 
$1,657,711
 
$1,657,711
 
$2,911,054
 
$3,246,325
 
$5,092,937
 

*
All values are based on the closing price of our common stock on the last business day of the year ended December 31, 2013 on the New York Stock Exchange of $71.92.

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**
Under all of such events, other than a change in control without termination, the named executive officer will be entitled to receive the Senior Executive Accrued Rights discussed above. In the event of death, Messrs. Zatta and Riordan would also receive life insurance proceeds of $600,000 under a plan available to employees generally and an additional payment of 21/2 times his base salary would be payable if death occurs during business travel up to a maximum of £2.0 million.

(1)
Represents auto allowance for a 12-month period.

(2)
Represents the aggregate amount of monthly payments over 24 months equal to the sum of (x) monthly base salary and (y) 1/12th of average annual cash incentive over the last two full fiscal years, which were $681,918 and $0, respectively for Mr. Zatta and $593,269 and $0, respectively for Mr. Riordan.

(3)
Represents the amount of Rockwood contributions to qualified and non-qualified plans based upon 2013 deferral elections and salary.

(4)
Assumes continuation of health care coverage for one year from the effective date of termination (or until COBRA eligibility ceases).

(5)
Represents the pro rata portion of the cash incentive payable based upon 2013 financial performance under the Existing Short-Term Incentive Plan.

(6)
Represents a cash payment of $50,000 in lieu of other benefits such person was entitled to while employed with Rockwood.

(7)
Represents the pro rata portion of outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards that would vest upon such event from the grant date through the hypothetical termination date. For a termination without cause under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, the vesting of any amount is subject to the sole discretion of the Committee. This amount assumes the Committee awarded such pro rata portion to such named executive officer at target amounts. For a resignation by such named executive officer for good reason, none of the outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards would vest.

(8)
Represents the vesting of all outstanding performance-based restricted stock unit awards that would vest upon such event. However, under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, these performance-based restricted stock units generally become vested and converted into the right to receive a cash payment based on the sum of (x) the product of (a) the price per share paid in the Rockwood change in control transaction, (b) a stockholder return multiplier based on Rockwood's stock price performance in relation to its peers and (c) the number of securities underlying the performance-based restricted stock units and (y) interest on such amount from the closing of such change in control transaction through the end of the relevant vesting period. For purposes of this table, awards are assumed to vest at targeted amounts. In the event of a termination of employment without cause by Rockwood or a resignation by the employee for good reason on or after a change in control, but prior to the respective vesting date, the cash payment will be accelerated.

(9)
Represents the pro rata portion of outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards that would vest upon such event based upon the targeted award from the grant date through the hypothetical termination date. For a termination without cause under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, the vesting of any amount is subject to the sole discretion of the Committee. This amount assumes the Committee awarded such pro rata portion to such named executive officer at target amounts. For a resignation by such named executive officer for good reason, none of the outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards would vest.

(10)
Represents the vesting of all outstanding performance-based market stock unit awards that would vest upon such event. However, under the December 2011, 2012 and 2013 grants, these performance-based market stock units generally become vested and converted into the right to receive a cash payment based on the sum of (x) the product of (a) the price per share paid in the Rockwood change in control transaction (b) a stock multiplier calculated as the quotient of (i) the change in control price, divided by (ii) the beginning stock price and (c) the number of securities

76


77



EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION

        The following table provides information as of December 31, 2013 with respect to our compensation plan (including individual compensation arrangements) under which our equity securities are authorized for issuance:

Plan Category
  Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
(a)(1)
  Weighted average exercise
price of outstanding
options, warrants and
rights
(b)(2)
  Number of securities
remaining available
for future issuance
under the equity
compensation plan
(excluding securities
reflected in column (a)) (c)
 

Equity compensation plan approved by stockholders

    1,654,977   $ 19.10     8,811,703  

Equity compensation plan not approved by stockholders

    0   $ 0     0  

(1)
Includes an aggregate of 854,499 shares of common stock underlying performance-based market and restricted stock units. The amount of shares included represents a targeted amount of shares to be issued upon vesting of the performance-based restricted stock units. The number of shares actually awarded at the time of vesting may range from zero to one and one-half the targeted amount based upon the achievement or failure to achieve certain targets. For a further discussion of these performance-based restricted stock units, please see the "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation."

(2)
The performance-based market and restricted stock units included in column (a) are not included in this calculation of weighted average exercise price as such units, by their nature, have no exercise price. Please see "Compensation Discussion and Analysis—Long-Term Equity Compensation" for additional information on performance-based market and restricted stock units.

78



STOCK OWNERSHIP

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

        The following table and accompanying footnotes show information as of March 14, 2014, regarding the beneficial ownership of our common stock by:

        Unless otherwise indicated, the address of each person named in the table below is c/o Rockwood Holdings, Inc., 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
  Beneficial Ownership
of Our Common
Stock(1)
  Percentage of Our
Common Stock
 

T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(2)

    11,112,050     15.0 %

First Eagle Investment Management, LLC(3)

    5,002,758     6.8 %

Iridian Asset Management LLC(4)

    4,093,603     5.5 %

The Vanguard Group(5)

    4,049,875     5.5 %

Orbis Investment Management Limited(6)

    3,698,223     5.0 %

Seifi Ghasemi(7)

    1,255,567     1.8 %

Robert J. Zatta(8)

    102,893     *  

Thomas J. Riordan(9)

    98,749     *  

Nance K. Dicciani(10)

    34,252     *  

Sheldon R. Erikson(11)

    34,724     *  

Douglas L. Maine(12)

    45,352     *  

J. Kent Masters(13)

    24,752     *  

Alejandro Wolff(14)

    850     *  

All directors and executive officers of Rockwood Holdings as a group (8 persons)(15)

    1,847,206     2.5 %

*
Indicates ownership of less than 1%

(1)
The amounts and percentages of our common stock beneficially owned are reported on the basis of regulations of the SEC governing the determination of beneficial ownership of securities. Under the rules of the SEC, a person is deemed to be a "beneficial owner" of a security if that person has or shares "voting power," which includes the power to vote or to direct the voting of such security, or "investment power," which includes the power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of such security. A person is also deemed to be a beneficial owner of any securities of which that person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities as to which such person has an economic interest.

(2)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 13, 2014 with the SEC by this beneficial owner with respect to shares shown as beneficially owned by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. ("Price Associates") as of December 31, 2013 of which it has sole voting power over 2,273,320 shares and sole dispositive power over 11,112,050 shares. The address of Price Associates is 100 E. Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. These securities are owned by various individuals and institutional investors which Price Associates serves as investment advisor with power to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities. For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such

79


(3)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2014 with the SEC by First Eagle Investment Management, LLC with respect to shares shown as beneficially owned by these beneficial owners as of December 31, 2013, of which they have sole voting power over 2,231,918 shares, shared voting power over 1,627,370 and sole dispositive power over 5,002,758 shares. The address of First Eagle is 1345 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10105.

(4)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 4, 2014 with the SEC by and on behalf of Iridian Asset Management LLC ("Iridian"), David L. Cohen ("Cohen") and Harold J. Levy ("Levy") with respect to shares shown as beneficially owned by Iridian as of December 31, 2013. Iridian is indirectly majority owned by Cohen and Levy and family trusts owned by them. The address of Iridian, Cohen and Levy is 276 Post Road West, Westport CT 06880-4704.

Messrs. Cohen and Levy disclaim beneficial ownership of the 4,044,540 shares over which Iridian has shared voting and dispositive power. Levy has direct beneficial ownership of 49,063 shares owned by him.

(5)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed on February 12, 2014 with the SEC by The Vanguard Group with respect to shares shown as beneficially owned by these beneficial owners as of December 31, 2013, of which they have sole voting power over 46,988 shares, shared dispositive power over 41,688 and sole dispositive power over 4,008,187 shares. The address of The Vanguard Group is 100 Vanguard Blvd., Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355.

(6)
Based solely on a Schedule 13G filed on February 14, 2014 with the SEC by Orbis Investment Management Limited ("OIML") and Orbis Asset Management Limited ("OAML") with respect to shares shown as beneficially owned by these beneficial owners as of December 31, 2013, of which they have sole voting and sole dispositive power over 3,698,223 shares. The address of OIML and OAML is Orbis House, 25 Front Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda.

(7)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Ghasemi include 589,521 shares underlying exercisable stock options held by him and 666,046 shares held by him, but excludes 170,309 shares underlying unvested restricted stock units (assuming no increase or decrease in the grant of restricted stock units in connection with the achievement of or failure to achieve certain performance measures) held by him.

(8)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Zatta include 102,893 shares, but excludes 45,138 shares underlying unvested restricted stock units (assuming no increase or decrease in the grant of restricted stock units in connection with the achievement of or failure to achieve certain performance measures) held by him.

(9)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Riordan include 98,749 shares, but excludes 45,138 shares underlying unvested restricted stock units (assuming no increase or decrease in the grant of restricted stock units in connection with the achievement of or failure to achieve certain performance measures) held by him.

(10)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Dr. Dicciani include 6,211 shares underlying exercisable stock options held by her, 13,000 shares purchased by her and 15,041 shares awarded to her for service on the board of directors.

(11)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Erikson include 17,850 shares purchased by him and 16,874 shares awarded to him for service on the board of directors.

(12)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Maine include 28,478 shares purchased by him and 16,874 shares awarded to him for service on the board of directors.

80


(13)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Mr. Masters include 7,878 shares underlying exercisable stock options held by him and 16,874 shares awarded to him for service on the board of directors.

(14)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by Ambassador Wolff include 850 shares awarded to him for service on the board of directors.

(15)
Shares of our common stock shown as beneficially owned by the directors and executive officers as a group include 603,610 shares underlying exercisable stock options.


Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

        Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, requires Rockwood's executive officers, directors, persons who beneficially own more than 10% of a registered class of the Rockwood's equity securities and certain entities associated with the foregoing to file reports of ownership and changes in ownership on Forms 3, 4 and 5 with the SEC. These parties are required by SEC rules to furnish Rockwood with copies of all Forms 3, 4 and 5, and amendments thereto, that they file with the SEC.

        Based solely on Rockwood's review of the copies of such forms and amendments thereto it has received, we believe that with respect to the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, all of these parties complied with all applicable filing requirements, except for the following untimely Form 4 filings: (a) for each of our named executive officers, (i) the acquisition of dividend equivalent units on restricted stock units, on four occasions each, (ii) in connection with our annual equity awards to our named executive officers in December 2013; and (b) for each of our independent directors, reports reflecting our quarterly grant in December 2013 that is part of the Company's non-management director compensation.

81



CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Review and Approval of Transactions with Related Persons

        The board of directors has adopted a written policy for review, approval and monitoring of transactions involving the Company and "related persons," who are defined as directors and executive officers or their immediate family members, or stockholders owning five percent or more of our outstanding common stock. The policy covers any related person transaction that meets the minimum required threshold for disclosure in the proxy statement under the relevant SEC rules (generally, transactions involving amounts exceeding $120,000 in which a related person has a direct or indirect material interest). In considering a transaction involving the Company and a related person, the corporate governance and nominating committee or the board of directors, as applicable, will consider, among other things, factors such as:

        Under the policy, the affected director or executive officer will bring the matter to the attention of the senior vice president, law & administration, who will communicate such information to the corporate governance and nominating committee, which will review the related party transaction. Under the policy, related party transactions must be approved by the corporate governance and nominating committee, although the chairperson of the corporate governance and nominating committee may approve any related party transaction that involves an amount less than $1 million. However, any related party transaction that involves an amount in excess of $5 million requires the approval of the board of directors. The board is not aware of any related party transactions between the Company and any person deemed a "related party" during 2013.

        The Delaware General Corporation Law authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors' fiduciary duties. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that no director shall be personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws provide that we must indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware General Corporation Law. We are also expressly authorized to advance certain expenses (including attorneys' fees and disbursements and court costs) and carry directors' and officers' insurance providing indemnification for our directors, officers and employees for some liabilities. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and officers.

82



ANNUAL REPORT AND HOUSEHOLDING

        A copy of the Annual Report of the Company for the 2013 Fiscal Year is being made available concurrently with this Proxy Statement to all stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at the annual meeting. The Annual Report is not incorporated into this Proxy Statement and is not considered proxy solicitation material.

        In order to reduce printing and postage costs, only one Annual Report, one Proxy Statement and/or one Notice of Internet Availability of Proxy Materials, as applicable, generally will be mailed to multiple stockholders sharing an address unless the Company receives contrary instructions from one or more of the stockholders sharing an address. If your household has received only one Annual Report or one Proxy Statement and you wish to receive an additional copy or copies of these documents now and/or in the future, or if your household is receiving multiple copies of these documents and you wish to request that future deliveries be limited to a single copy, please call (609) 514-0300 or send a written request to the Senior Vice President, Law & Administration, and Secretary of the Company, at the Company's principal executive offices at 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540.

*********************

83


        It is important that your shares be represented at the annual meeting, regardless of the number of shares that you hold. YOU, THEREFORE, ARE URGED TO EXECUTE PROMPTLY AND RETURN THE ACCOMPANYING PROXY IN THE ENVELOPE THAT HAS BEEN ENCLOSED FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE. Stockholders who are present at the annual meeting may revoke their proxies and vote in person or, if they prefer, may abstain from voting in person and allow their proxies to be voted.

March 28, 2014
Princeton, New Jersey

84



APPENDIX A

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

1.     Purpose of the Plan

        This Plan (as defined below) amends and restates the 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan, as previously amended and restated (and further amended) and in effect prior to the Effective Date (as defined below) (such prior plan, the "Prior Plan"). The purpose of the Plan (as defined below) is to aid Rockwood Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and its Affiliates in recruiting and retaining key employees, directors or other independent contractors and to motivate such employees, directors or other independent contractors to exert their best efforts on behalf of the Company and its Affiliates and align their interests with those of the stockholders of the Company by providing incentives through the granting of Awards. The Company expects that it will benefit from the added interest which such key employees, directors or independent contractors will have in the welfare of the Company as a result of their proprietary interest in the Company's success.

2.     Definitions

        The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section:

A-1


A-2


3.     Shares Subject to the Plan

        Subject to Section 9, the total number of Shares which may be issued under the Plan is 9,957,800 (which number is inclusive of Shares subject to Awards that are outstanding as of the Effective Date), of which the maximum number of Shares for which Options and Stock Appreciation Rights, collectively, may be granted to any one Participant in any given calendar year is 1,000,000. The Shares may consist, in whole or in part, of unissued Shares or treasury Shares. The issuance of Shares, Shares delivered in exchange for the payment of cash or other property upon the exercise of an Award, or Shares subject to Awards that are cancelled or terminated in exchange for cash or other property, shall, in each case, reduce the total number of Shares available under the Plan, as applicable. Shares which are subject to Awards which terminate or lapse without the payment of consideration, Shares withheld by the Company in payment of taxes or exercise prices, or Shares subject to Awards that are replaced, exchanged or otherwise forfeited, may, in each case, be granted again under the Plan.

4.     Administration

        (a)    Delegation.    The Plan shall be administered by the Committee, which may delegate its duties and powers in whole or in part to any subcommittee thereof consisting solely of at least two individuals who are intended to qualify as "Non-Employee Directors" within the meaning of Rule 16b-3 under the Act (or any successor rule thereto), "independent directors" within the meaning of the applicable principal national exchange listed company rules and "outside directors" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto). Additionally, the Committee may delegate the authority to grant Awards under the Plan to any employee or group of employees of the Company or an Affiliate; provided that such delegation and grants are consistent with applicable law and guidelines established by the Board from time to time and in no event may such authority be delegated with respect to the granting of Awards to employees who are subject to Section 16 of the Act nor if the delegation of any such authority would result in Awards that are otherwise intended to qualify as "performance-based compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code failing to so qualify.

        (b)    Interpretation.    The Committee is authorized to interpret the Plan, to establish, amend and rescind any rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to make any other determinations that it deems necessary or desirable for the administration of the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and/or any Award agreement in the manner and to the extent the Committee deems necessary or desirable. Any decision of the Committee in the interpretation and administration of the Plan and/or any Award agreement, as described herein, shall lie within its sole and absolute discretion and shall be final, conclusive and binding on all parties concerned (including, but not limited to, Participants and their beneficiaries or successors).

        (c)    Terms.    The Committee shall have the full power and authority to establish the terms and conditions of any Award consistent with the provisions of the Plan and to waive any such terms and conditions at any time (including, without limitation, accelerating or waiving any vesting conditions).

A-3


        (d)    Taxes.    The Committee shall require payment of any amount it may determine to be necessary to withhold for federal, state, local or other taxes as a result of the exercise, grant or vesting of, or delivery of Shares subject to, an Award. Subject to the following proviso (including due to applicable law or accounting rules), the Participant may pay such withholding taxes upon, or in advance of, the taxable event under any Award in cash (in cash, by check or by a combination thereof), or in Shares or in a combination of cash and Shares; provided that, with respect to any payment in whole or in part in Shares, any such Shares have been held by the Participant for such period, if any, as established by the Committee in order to avoid adverse accounting treatment applying generally accepted accounting principles, or have been withheld by the Company from Shares that would have otherwise been received by the Participant upon exercise or settlement of the Award.

        (e)   Notwithstanding the foregoing, without stockholder approval, except as otherwise permitted under Section 9 of the Plan, (i) no waiver, amendment or modification of an Award may reduce the Option Price of any Option or the exercise price of any Stock Appreciation Right, (ii) the Committee may not cancel any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right and replace it with a new Option or Stock Appreciation Right (with a lower Option Price or exercise price, as the case may be) or other Award or cash (or otherwise cause the Award to fail to qualify for equity accounting treatment) and (iii) the Committee may not take any other action which is considered a "repricing" for purposes of the stockholder approval rules of any securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system on which the securities of the Company are listed or quoted.

        (f)    Rounding.    For the purposes of a full or partial payment of the exercise price and/or applicable withholding taxes in Shares in the event that the quotient of the aggregate amount owed to pay the exercise price and/or applicable withholding taxes divided by the Fair Market Value shall include a fractional share, the Participant (or any other person authorized pursuant to the applicable Award agreement) shall round up and provide the Company with a full share.

5.     Limitations

        No Award may be granted under the Plan after the tenth anniversary of the Effective Date, but Awards theretofore granted may extend beyond that date.

6.     Terms and Conditions of Options

        Options granted under the Plan shall be, as determined by the Committee, non-qualified or incentive stock options for federal income tax purposes, as evidenced by the related Award agreements, and shall be subject to the foregoing and the following terms and conditions and to such other terms and conditions, not inconsistent therewith, as the Committee shall determine:

A-4


A-5


7.     Terms and Conditions of Stock Appreciation Rights

        (a)    Grants.    The Committee may grant (i) a Stock Appreciation Right independent of an Option or (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right in connection with an Option, or a portion thereof. A Stock Appreciation Right granted pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence (A) may be granted at the time the related Option is granted or at any time prior to the exercise or cancellation of the related Option, (B) shall cover the same number of Shares covered by the related Option (or such lesser number of Shares as the Committee may determine) and (C) shall be subject to the same terms and conditions as such Option except for such additional limitations as are contemplated by this Section 7 (or such additional limitations as may be included in an Award agreement).

        (b)    Terms.    The exercise price per Share of a Stock Appreciation Right shall be an amount determined by the Committee, but in no event shall such amount be less than 100% of the Fair Market Value of a Share on the date the Stock Appreciation Right is granted; provided, however, that in the case of a Stock Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, the exercise price may not be less than the Option Price of the related Option. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted independent of an Option shall entitle a Participant upon exercise to an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the exercise price per Share, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Stock Appreciation Right. Each Stock Appreciation Right granted in conjunction with an Option, or a portion thereof, shall entitle a Participant to surrender to the Company the unexercised Option, or any portion thereof, and to receive from the Company in exchange thereof an amount equal to (i) the excess of (A) the Fair Market Value on the exercise date of one Share over (B) the Option Price per Share, multiplied by (ii) the number of Shares covered by the Option, or portion thereof, which is surrendered. Payment shall be made in Shares or in cash, or partly in Shares and partly in cash (any such Shares valued at such Fair Market Value), all as shall be determined by the Committee. Stock Appreciation Rights may be exercised from time to time upon actual receipt by the Company of written notice of exercise stating the number of Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right is being exercised. The date a notice of exercise is received by the Company shall be the exercise date. No fractional Shares will be issued in payment for Stock Appreciation Rights, but instead cash will be paid for a fraction or, if the Committee should so determine, the number of Shares will be rounded down to the next whole Share.

        (c)    Limitations.    The Committee may impose, in its discretion, such conditions upon the exercisability of Stock Appreciation Rights as it may deem fit, but in no event shall a Stock Appreciation Right be exercisable more than ten years after the date it is granted; provided, however, that (other than as would otherwise result in a violation of Section 409A and the guidance issued thereunder) to the extent a Stock Appreciation Right would expire at a time when the holder of such Stock Appreciation Right is prohibited by applicable law or the Company's insider trading policy from selling or otherwise disposing of Shares that he or she would otherwise acquire upon exercise of such Stock Appreciation Right, then such Stock Appreciation Right shall nevertheless be exercisable until the thirtieth (30th) day following the date such prohibition lapses.

8.     Other Stock-Based Awards

        (a)    Generally.    The Committee, in its sole discretion, may grant or sell Awards of Shares, Awards of restricted Shares, restricted Share units and other Awards that are valued in whole or in part by reference to, or are otherwise based on, the Fair Market Value of Shares ("Other Stock-Based Awards"). Such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be in such form, and dependent on such conditions, as the Committee shall determine, including, without limitation, the right to receive, or vest with respect to, one or more Shares (or the equivalent cash value of such Shares) upon the completion of a specified period of service, the occurrence of an event and/or the attainment of performance objectives. Other Stock-Based Awards may be granted alone or in addition to any other Awards granted under the Plan. Subject to the provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall determine to whom and when Other Stock-

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Based Awards will be made, the number of Shares to be awarded under (or otherwise related to) such Other Stock-Based Awards; whether such Other Stock-Based Awards shall be settled in cash, Shares or a combination of cash and Shares; and all other terms and conditions of such Awards (including, without limitation, the vesting provisions thereof and provisions ensuring that all Shares so awarded and issued shall be fully paid and non-assessable).

        (b)    Performance-Based Awards.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, certain Other Stock-Based Awards granted under this Section 8 may be granted in a manner which is intended to be deductible by the Company under Section 162(m) of the Code (or any successor section thereto) ("Performance-Based Awards"). A Participant's Performance-Based Award shall be determined based on the attainment of written performance goals approved by the Committee for a performance period established by the Committee (i) while the outcome for that performance period is substantially uncertain and (ii) no more than 90 days after the commencement of the performance period to which the performance goal relates or, if less, the number of days which is equal to 25 percent of the relevant performance period. The performance goals, which must be objective, shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: (i) consolidated earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per Share; (v) book value per Share; (vi) return on stockholders' equity; (vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment; (ix) improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) return on assets and (xix) total stockholder return. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its Affiliates or one or more of its or their divisions or units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (and to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall have the authority, at the time it establishes the performance objectives for any given performance period, to make equitable adjustments in the business criteria in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or its operating units, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in generally accepted accounting principles, or as the Committee determines to be appropriate to reflect a true measurement of the profitability of the Company or its operating units, as applicable and to otherwise satisfy the objectives of the Plan. The maximum amount of a Performance-Based Award that may be granted during any calendar year to any Participant shall be: (x) with respect to Performance-Based Awards that are settled in Shares, $20 million worth of Shares (based on the Fair Market Value on the date of grant) Shares and (y) with respect to Performance-Based Awards that are not settled in Shares, $20 million. The Committee shall determine whether, with respect to a performance period, the applicable performance goals have been met with respect to a given Participant and, if they have, shall so certify and ascertain the amount of the applicable Performance-Based Award. No Performance-Based Awards will be paid for such performance period until such certification is made by the Committee. The amount of the Performance-Based Award actually paid to a given Participant may be less (but not more) than the amount determined by the applicable performance goal formula, at the discretion of the Committee. The amount of the Performance-Based Award determined by the Committee for a performance period shall be paid to the Participant at such time as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion after the end of such performance period; provided, however, that a Participant may, if and to the extent permitted by the Committee and consistent with the provisions of Section 409A of the Code, elect to defer payment of a Performance-Based Award.

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9.     Adjustments Upon Certain Events

        Notwithstanding any other provisions in the Plan to the contrary, the following provisions shall apply to all Awards granted under the Plan:

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10.   No Right to Employment, Awards or Compensation

        The granting of an Award under the Plan shall impose no obligation on the Company or any Affiliate to continue the Employment of a Participant and shall not lessen or affect the Company's or Affiliate's right to terminate the Employment of such Participant. No Participant or other Person shall have any claim to be granted any Award, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants, or holders or beneficiaries of Awards. The terms and conditions of Awards and the Committee's determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not such Participants are similarly situated). Absent express provisions to the contrary, any grant under this Plan shall not be deemed compensation for purposes of computing benefits or contributions under any retirement plan of the Company or its Subsidiaries and shall not affect any benefits under any other benefit plan of any kind now or subsequently in effect under which the availability or amount of benefits is related to level of compensation. This Plan is not a "retirement plan" or "welfare plan" under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

11.   Successors and Assigns

        The Plan shall be binding on all successors and assigns of the Company and a Participant, including without limitation, the estate of such Participant and the executor, administrator or trustee of such estate, or any receiver or trustee in bankruptcy or representative of the Participant's creditors.

12.   Nontransferability of Awards

        Unless otherwise determined by the Committee, an Award shall not be transferable or assignable by the Participant otherwise than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Committee (on such terms, conditions and limitations as it determines) may permit an Award to be transferred or transferable to heirs, legatees, personal representatives or distributees of the Participant, in each case, for no consideration and only to the extent permissible by law and, in the case of an ISO, to the extent permissible under Section 422 of the Code.

13.   Amendments or Termination; Prior Plan

        (a)    Amendments or Termination of Plan.    The Board may amend, alter or discontinue the Plan, but no amendment, alteration or discontinuation shall be made (a) without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, if such action would (except as is provided in Section 9(a) of the Plan) increase the total number of Shares reserved for the purposes of the Plan, change the maximum number of Shares for which Awards may be granted to any Participant or otherwise be required to be

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approved by such stockholders under applicable law or applicable securities exchange listing requirements or (b) without the consent of a Participant, if such action would materially diminish any of the rights of the Participant under any Award theretofore granted to such Participant under the Plan; provided, however, that the Board may amend the Plan without the consent of any Participant if it deems necessary to amend the Plan to satisfy the requirements of applicable laws.

        (b)    Prior Plan.    This Plan shall govern all Awards granted pursuant to the Prior Plan, as well as any Awards granted on and after the Effective Date hereunder; except, for the avoidance of doubt, in the event that any term of this Plan conflicts with and would cause a material diminution in the rights of a Participant with respect to any Award held by the Participant that was granted pursuant to the Prior Plan and outstanding on or after the Effective Date, the conflicting terms of such Award agreement (or the Prior Plan, as applicable), shall govern in lieu of the terms of this Plan.

14.   International Participants

        With respect to Participants who reside or work outside the United States of America and who are not (and who are not expected to be) "covered employees" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, subject to Section 13(a) above, in its sole discretion, amend the terms of the Plan or Awards with respect to such Participants in order to conform such terms to the requirements of local law or to obtain more favorable tax or other treatment for a Participant, the Company or an Affiliate. In addition, to the provisions of Section 10 above, there are no acquired rights which will accrue to such Participants from the granting of Awards under the Plan.

15.   Choice of Law

        The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware without regard to conflicts of laws.

16.   Section 409A Compliance

        This Plan and Awards issued hereunder shall be interpreted in accordance with Section 409A of the Code and Department of Treasury regulations and other interpretative guidance issued thereunder, including without limitation any such regulations or other guidance that may be issued after the Effective Date. In the event that the Committee determines that any amounts payable hereunder will be taxable to a Participant under Section 409A of the Code and related Department of Treasury guidance prior to actual payment to such Participant of such amount, the Company may, subject to Section 13(a) above, (a) adopt such amendments to the Plan and Awards and appropriate policies and procedures, including amendments and policies with retroactive effect, that the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the benefits provided by the Plan and Awards hereunder and/or (b) take such other actions as the Committee determines necessary or appropriate to avoid the imposition of an additional tax under Section 409A of the Code.

        In the event that it is reasonably determined by the Committee that, as a result of Section 409A of the Code, payments in respect of any Award under the Plan may not be made at the time contemplated by the terms of the Plan or the relevant Award agreement, as the case may be, without causing the Participant holding such Award to be subject to taxation under Section 409A of the Code, the Company will make such payment on the first day that would not result in the Participant incurring any tax liability under Section 409A of the Code which, with respect to any Participant who is a "specified employee" within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code, will be no earlier than the first day following six months after termination of Employment (other than due to death), if such payment is payable in respect of such termination. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to implement the provisions of this Section 16 in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the

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Committee nor any of the Company's employees, directors, representatives or agents shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 16.

17.   Effectiveness of the Plan

        The Plan shall be effective as of the Effective Date.

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APPENDIX B

AMENDED AND RESTATED 2009 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
SHORT-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

1.     Purpose of the Plan

        The purpose of this Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan is to enable the Company, its Subsidiaries and any Service Recipient to attract, retain, motivate and reward executive officers and key employees by providing them with the opportunity to earn competitive compensation directly linked to the Company's performance.

2.     Definitions

        The following capitalized terms used in the Plan have the respective meanings set forth in this Section:

3.     Administration

        The Plan shall be administered and interpreted by the Committee; provided, however, that the Board may, in its sole discretion, take any action designated to the Committee under this Plan as it may deem necessary; provided that, to the extent Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to the Company and the Plan, in no event is the Plan intended to be administered or interpreted in a manner which would cause any award intended to be qualified as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify. Any determination made by the Committee under the Plan shall be final and conclusive. The Committee may employ such legal counsel, consultants and agents (including counsel or agents who are employees of the Company, a Subsidiary or any other Service Recipient) as it may deem desirable for the administration of the Plan and may rely upon any opinion received from any such counsel or consultant or agent and any computation received from such

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consultant or agent. All expenses incurred in the administration of the Plan, including, without limitation, for the engagement of any counsel, consultant or agent, shall be paid by the Company. No member or former member of the Board or the Committee shall be liable for any act, omission, interpretation, construction or determination made in connection with the Plan other than as a result of such individual's willful misconduct. The Committee may delegate its authority under this Plan; provided that, to the extent Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to the Company and the Plan, the Committee shall not delegate its authority with respect to any Covered Employee of the Company or any other individual who the Board or Committee reasonably believes may become a Covered Employee, if it would cause any award due to be payable hereunder intended to be qualified as "performance-based compensation" under Section 162(m) of the Code to fail to so qualify; provided, further, that, for purposes of establishing performance objectives as set forth in Section 4(a) herein, any such delegation must be to a committee comprising solely of two or more "outside directors" (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code).

4.     Bonuses

        (a)    Performance Criteria.    No later than 90 days after each Performance Period begins (or such other date as may be required or permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable to the Company and the Plan), the Committee shall establish the performance objective or objectives that must be satisfied in order for a Participant to receive a bonus for each such Performance Period. Any such performance objectives will be based upon the relative or comparative achievement of one or more of the following criteria, as determined by the Committee: (i) earnings before or after taxes (including earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization consistent with historical practices and as otherwise required by any indebtedness); (ii) net income; (iii) operating income; (iv) earnings per Share; (v) book value per Share; (vi) return on stockholders' equity; (vii) expense management; (viii) return on investment; (ix) improvements in capital structure; (x) profitability of an identifiable business unit or product; (xi) maintenance or improvement of profit margins; (xii) stock price; (xiii) market share; (xiv) revenues or sales; (xv) costs; (xvi) cash flow; (xvii) working capital; (xviii) return on assets; (xix) assets under management; and (xx) total return. The foregoing criteria may relate to the Company, one or more of its Subsidiaries, one or more of its divisions or units, any other Service Recipient or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer group companies or indices, or any combination thereof, all as the Committee shall determine. In addition, to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may adjust, modify or amend the above business criteria, either in establishing any performance objective or in determining the extent to which any performance objective has been achieved. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing (and to the degree consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee shall have the authority, at the time it establishes the performance objectives for the applicable Performance Period, to make equitable adjustments in the business criteria in recognition of unusual or non-recurring events affecting the Company or its operating units, in response to changes in applicable laws or regulations, or to account for items of gain, loss or expense determined to be extraordinary or unusual in nature or infrequent in occurrence or related to the disposal of a segment of a business or related to a change in generally accepted accounting principles, or as the Committee determines to be appropriate to reflect a true measurement of the profitability of the Company or its operating units, as applicable and to otherwise satisfy the objectives of the Plan.

        (b)    Incentive Bonuses.    No later than 90 days after each Performance Period begins (or such other date as may be required or permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code to the extent applicable to the Company and the Plan), the Committee shall establish incentive bonus opportunities (whether as a specified target dollar amount, percentage of a bonus pool, or otherwise) for each individual Participant in respect of such Performance Period which can be earned upon the achievement of the performance objective or objectives established for such Performance Period.

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        (c)    Maximum Amount Payable.    As soon as practicable after the Performance Period ends, the Committee shall determine (i) whether and to what extent any of the performance objectives established for the relevant Performance Period under Section 4(a) have been satisfied and (ii) for each Participant who is employed by the Company, one of its Subsidiaries or any other Service Recipient on the last day of the Performance Period for which the bonus is payable, the actual bonus to which such Participant shall be entitled, taking into consideration the extent to which the performance objectives have been met and such other factors as the Committee may deem appropriate. Any provision of this Plan notwithstanding, in no event shall any Participant receive a bonus under this Plan in respect of any fiscal year of the Company in excess of $10 million.

        (d)    Negative Discretion.    Notwithstanding anything else contained in Section 4(c) to the contrary, the Committee shall have the right, in its absolute discretion, (i) to reduce or eliminate the amount otherwise payable to any Participant under Section 4(c) based on individual performance or any other factors that the Committee, in its discretion, shall deem appropriate and (ii) to establish rules or procedures that have the effect of limiting the amount payable to each Participant to an amount that is less than the maximum amount otherwise authorized under Section 4(c).

        (e)    Death or Disability.    If a Participant dies or becomes disabled prior to the last day of the Performance Period for which the bonus is payable, such Participant may receive an annual bonus equal to the bonus otherwise payable to such Participant based upon actual achievement of the applicable performance objectives, for the applicable Performance Period as determined by the Committee under the terms of this Plan multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days that have elapsed during the Performance Period in which the Participant's death or Disability occurs prior to and including the date of the Participant's death or Disability, and the denominator of which is the total number of days in the Performance Period.

        (f)    Other Termination of Employment.    Unless otherwise determined by the Committee and except as may otherwise be provided in Section 4(e) above, no bonuses shall be payable under this Plan to any Participant whose employment terminates prior to the last day of the Performance Period.

        (g)    Change in Control.    The Committee may, in its absolute discretion, provide for bonuses to be payable upon the occurrence of a "change in control" (as such term may be defined by the Committee or the Board).

5.     Payment

        (a)    In General.    Except as otherwise provided hereunder, payment of any bonus amount determined under Section 4 above shall be made to each Participant as soon as practicable after the Committee certifies that one or more of the applicable performance objectives have been attained or, in the case of any bonus payable under the provisions of Section 4(d), after the Committee determines the amount of any such bonus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of any bonus shall be made no later than 75 days following the end of the Performance Period in respect of which the applicable bonus is payable.

        (b)    Form of Payment.    All bonuses payable under this Plan shall be payable in cash.

6.     General Provisions

        (a)    Effectiveness of the Plan.    The Plan shall become effective on the date on which it is approved by the stockholders of the Company (the "Effective Date"). The Plan shall expire on the fifth anniversary of the Effective Date.

        (b)    Code Section 409A Compliance.    The Plan is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code and will be interpreted in a manner intended to comply with Section 409A of the Code. In furtherance thereof, no payments may be accelerated under the Plan, other than to the extent

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permitted under Section 409A of the Code. To the extent that any provision of the Plan violates Section 409A of the Code such that amounts would be taxable to a Participant prior to payment thereof or would otherwise subject a Participant to a penalty tax under Section 409A of the Code, such provision shall be automatically reformed or stricken to preserve the intent hereof. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, (i) if at the time of a Participant's termination of employment the Participant is a "specified employee" as defined in Section 409A of the Code (and any related regulations or other pronouncements thereunder) and the deferral of the commencement of any payments otherwise payable hereunder as a result of such termination of employment is necessary in order to prevent any accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, then the Company shall defer the commencement of the payment of any such payments hereunder (without any reduction in such payments ultimately paid or provided to the Participant) until the date that is six months and one day following the Participant's termination of employment (or the earliest date as is permitted under Section 409A of the Code) and (ii) if any other payments due to a Participant hereunder could cause the application of an accelerated or additional tax under Section 409A of the Code, such payments shall be deferred if deferral will make such payment compliant under Section 409A of the Code, or otherwise such payment shall be restructured, to the extent possible, in a manner, determined by the Committee, that does not cause such an accelerated or additional tax. The Committee shall implement the provisions of this section in good faith; provided that neither the Company, the Committee nor any of the employees or representatives of the Company, its Subsidiaries or any other Service Recipient shall have any liability to Participants with respect to this Section 6(b).

        (c)    Amendment and Termination.    The Board or the Committee may at any time amend, suspend, discontinue or terminate the Plan; provided, however, that no such amendment, suspension, discontinuance or termination shall materially adversely affect the rights of any Participant in respect of any calendar year which has already commenced and, to the extent Section 162(m) of the Code is applicable to the Company and the Plan, no such action shall be effective without approval by the stockholders of the Company to the extent necessary to continue to qualify the amounts payable hereunder to Covered Employees as under Section 162(m) of the Code.

        (d)    Designation of Beneficiary.    Each Participant may designate a beneficiary or beneficiaries (which beneficiary may be an entity other than a natural Person) to receive any payments which may be made following the Participant's death. Such designation may be changed or canceled at any time without the consent of any such beneficiary. Any such designation, change or cancellation must be made in a form approved by the Committee and shall not be effective until received by the Committee. If no beneficiary has been named, or the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries shall have predeceased the Participant, the beneficiary shall be the Participant's spouse or, if no spouse survives the Participant, the Participant's estate. If a Participant designates more than one beneficiary, the rights of such beneficiaries shall be payable in equal shares, unless the Participant has designated otherwise.

        (e)    No Right to Continued Employment or Awards.    Nothing in this Plan shall be construed as conferring upon any Participant any right to continue in the employment of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any other Service Recipient. No Participant shall have any claim to be granted any award or bonus, and there is no obligation for uniformity of treatment of Participants or beneficiaries. The terms and conditions of awards and the Committee's determinations and interpretations with respect thereto need not be the same with respect to each Participant (whether or not the Participants are similarly situated).

        (f)    No Limitation on Corporate Actions.    Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Service Recipient from taking any corporate action which is deemed by it to be appropriate or in its best interest, whether or not such action would have an adverse effect on any awards made under the Plan. No employee, beneficiary or other person shall have any claim against the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Service Recipient as a result of any such action.

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        (g)    Nonalienation of Benefits.    Except as expressly provided herein, no Participant or beneficiary shall have the power or right to transfer, anticipate, or otherwise encumber the Participant's interest under the Plan. The Company's obligations under this Plan are not assignable or transferable except to (i) a corporation which acquires all or substantially all of the Company's assets or (ii) any corporation with which the Company may be merged or consolidated. The provisions of the Plan shall inure to the benefit of each Participant and the Participant's beneficiaries, heirs, executors, administrators or successors in interest.

        (h)    Withholding.    A Participant may be required to pay to the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Service Recipient, and the Company, any Subsidiary or any other Service Recipient shall have the right and is hereby authorized to withhold from any payment due under this Plan or from any compensation or other amount owing to the Participant, applicable withholding taxes with respect to any payment under this Plan and to take such action as may be necessary in the opinion of the Company to satisfy all obligations for the payment of such withholding taxes.

        (i)    Severability.    If any provision of this Plan is held unenforceable, the remainder of the Plan shall continue in full force and effect without regard to such unenforceable provision and shall be applied as though the unenforceable provision were not contained in the Plan.

        (j)    Governing Law.    The Plan shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflicts of laws.

        (k)    Headings.    Headings are inserted in this Plan for convenience of reference only and are to be ignored in a construction of the provisions of the Plan.

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ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. May 9, 2014 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE STOCKHOLDER MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 2014. The Notice of Meeting, proxy statement, proxy card and 2013 Annual Report to Stockholders are available at https://materials.proxyvote.com/774415 For driving directions to the 2014 Annual Meeting, please call (609) 514-0300 Please sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. Signature of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date: Note: Please sign exactly as your name or names appear on this Proxy. When shares are held jointly, each holder should sign. When signing as executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, please give full title as such. If the signer is a corporation, please sign full corporate name by duly authorized officer, giving full title as such. If signer is a partnership, please sign in partnership name by authorized person. To change the address on your account, please check the box at right and indicate your new address in the address space above. Please note that changes to the registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via this method. 1. To elect the Class III directors listed below: Doug Maine Ambassador Alejandro Wolff 2. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as Rockwood’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014. 3. To approve, in a non-binding, advisory vote, the compensation paid to our named executive officers. 4. To approve the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan. 5. To approve the Amended and Restated 2009 Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Short-Term Incentive Plan. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Rockwood. This proxy, when properly executed, will be voted in accordance with the instructions given above. If no instructions are given, this proxy will be voted "FOR" the election of the director nominees listed above, "FOR" proposal two, "FOR" proposal three, "FOR" proposal four and "FOR" proposal five, and it will be voted in the discretion of the proxies upon such other matters as may properly come before the Annual Meeting. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE "FOR" ALL NOMINEES LISTED BELOW, "FOR" PROPOSAL TWO, "FOR" PROPOSAL THREE, "FOR" PROPOSAL FOUR AND "FOR" PROPOSAL FIVE. PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE x Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. 00003330303030000000 9 050914 GO GREEN e-Consent makes it easy to go paperless. With e-Consent, you can quickly access your proxy material, statements and other eligible documents online, while reducing costs, clutter and paper waste. Enroll today via www.amstock.com to enjoy online access.

 

 

14475 ROCKWOOD HOLDINGS, INC. ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 9, 2014 THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS The undersigned hereby appoints Seifi Ghasemi and Thomas J. Riordan, and each of them, the undersigned’s true and lawful agents and proxies, each with full power of substitution, to represent the undersigned and vote as designated on the reverse side, all the shares of common stock of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. held of record by the undersigned as of the close of business on March 14, 2014, at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held at the offices of the Company located at 100 Overlook Center, Princeton, New Jersey 08540, on May 9, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. local time, or any adjournments or postponements thereof, as the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present, on all matters properly coming before the Annual Meeting, including but not limited to the matters set forth on the reverse side of this proxy. The signer(s) hereby acknowledge(s) receipt of the Company’s proxy statement. The signer(s) hereby revoke(s) all proxies heretofore given by the signer(s) to vote at the Annual Meeting and any adjournments or postponements thereof. (CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON THE REVERSE SIDE)