Edgar Filing: SCHWEITZER MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL INC

Compensation Element

Method for Establishing its Value

Form of Payment

Who Establishes Objectives and Participation

Restricted Stock Plan

Competitive Compensation Analysis for performance share award opportunities based on a percentage of base salary; achievement is performance-based

Restricted stock performance shares are banked in each year of an award cycle and generally vest one year after grant. Dividends and voting rights attach when banked.

Chief Executive Officer recommends performance share objectives; Compensation Committee approves (i) performance share objectives and (ii) evaluation of performance against objectives.

Chief Executive Officer recommendation on targeted grants for retention, special recognition and recruitment.

Targeted grants are typically time-based with cliff vesting.

Chief Executive Officer recommends and Compensation Committee approves any targeted grants.

SWM DEF14A 2012

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. )

Filed by the Registrant T

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant o

Check the appropriate box:



o	Preliminary Proxy Statement



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



T	Definitive Proxy Statement



o	Definitive Additional Materials



o	Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):



T	No fee required.



o	Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.


(1)	Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:


(2)	Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:


(3)	Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):


(4)	Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:


(5)	Total fee paid:



o	Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.



o	Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.


(1)	Amount Previously Paid:


(2)	Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:


(3)	Filing Party:


(4)	Date Filed:



	March 14, 2013

Frédéric Villoutreix

Chairman of the Board and

Chief Executive Officer

TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS:

On behalf of the Board of Directors and management of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., I cordially invite you to the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Company’s corporate headquarters located at 100 North Point Center East, Suite 600, Alpharetta, Georgia.

Details about the Annual Meeting, nominees for election to the Board of Directors and other matters to be acted on at the Annual Meeting are presented in the Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement that follow.

It is important that your stock be represented at the meeting regardless of the number of shares you hold. You are encouraged to specify your voting preferences by so marking and dating the enclosed proxy card. But, if you wish to vote in accordance with the directors’ recommendation, all you need do is sign and date the card.

Please complete and return the proxy card in the enclosed envelope whether or not you plan to attend the meeting. If you do attend and wish to vote in person, you may revoke your proxy at that time.

If you plan to attend the meeting, please check the card in the space provided. This will assist us with meeting preparations and will enable us to expedite your admittance. If your shares are not registered in your own name and you would like to attend the meeting, please ask the broker, trust, bank or other nominee which holds the shares to provide you with evidence of your share ownership, which will enable you to gain admission to the meeting.

Sincerely,

Frédéric Villoutreix

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

100 North Point Center East, Suite 600

Alpharetta, Georgia 30022-8246

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS

April 25, 2013

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. will be held at the Company’s corporate headquarters located at 100 North Point Center East, Suite 600, Alpharetta, Georgia, on Thursday, April 25, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. for the following purposes:


1.	To elect as directors the 2 nominees named in the attached proxy statement, each to serve for a term of 3 years ending at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders;


2.	To ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche as our independent registered public accounting firm for our fiscal year ending December 31, 2013;


3.	To transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting or any adjournment thereof.

We currently are not aware of any other business to be brought before the Annual Meeting.

You may vote all shares that you owned as of February 28, 2013, which is the record date for the Annual Meeting. Since a majority of the outstanding shares of our Common Stock must be represented either in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum for the conduct of business, I urge you to sign, date and promptly return the enclosed proxy card in the enclosed business reply envelope. No postage is required if mailed in the United States.



	John W. Rumely, Jr.
	Secretary and General Counsel

March 14, 2013

TABLE OF CONTENTS



LETTER TO SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
PROXY STATEMENT		1
STOCK OWNERSHIP		3
	Significant Beneficial Owners	3
	Directors and Executive Officers	5
	Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance	6
PROPOSAL ONE – ELECTION OF DIRECTORS		7
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION		15
	Compensation Discussion & Analysis	15
	Compensation Committee Report	30
SUMMARY COMPENSATION		31
BOARD AND COMMITTEE GOVERNANCE		45
PROPOSAL TWO: RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM		50
	Audit Committee Report	51
OTHER INFORMATION		52
	Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 2013 Annual Meeting	53
	Form 10-K, Annual Report and Proxy Statement	55
	Communicating with the Board	56

SCHWEITZER-MAUDUIT INTERNATIONAL, INC.

100 North Point Center East, Suite 600

Alpharetta, Georgia 30022-8246

PROXY STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION

This Proxy Statement and the accompanying proxy card are furnished to the stockholders of Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, referred to as either the Company or SWM, in connection with the solicitation of proxies by the Board of Directors of the Company for use at the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (Annual Meeting). The Company intends to mail this Proxy Statement and proxy card, together with the 2012 Annual Report to Stockholders, on or about March 14, 2013.

GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

Date, Time, and Place of Meeting

The Annual Meeting will be held on April 25, 2013, at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, at our corporate headquarters located at 100 North Point Center East, Suite 600, Alpharetta, Georgia 30022 and at any adjournment thereof.

How Can I Vote?

You can vote by completing, signing, dating, and mailing the enclosed proxy card in the envelope provided. Cards received in time for the meeting will be voted as instructed.

If your shares are held in “street name” (through a broker, bank or other nominee), you may receive a separate voting instruction form with this proxy statement, or you may need to contact your broker, bank or other nominee to determine whether you will be able to vote electronically by using the internet or by telephone.

If your vote is received before the Annual Meeting the named proxies will vote your shares as you direct.

For Proposal One – Election of Directors, you may:


▪	Vote FOR all nominees;


▪	WITHHOLD your vote from all nominees; or


▪	Vote FOR all nominees except one of the nominees you designate.

For Proposal Two – Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, you may:


▪	Vote FOR the proposal;


▪	Vote AGAINST the proposal; or


▪	ABSTAIN from voting on the proposal.

How Does the Board Recommend that I Vote?

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that you vote:


▪	FOR all nominees for election to the Board of Directors in Proposal One – Election of Directors; and


▪	FOR Proposal Two – Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Quorum Requirement

Pursuant to Section 216 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Company’s By-Laws, a quorum for the Annual Meeting will be a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock, present in person or represented by proxy.

What If I Don’t Vote?

Voting is an important stockholder right and we encourage you to do so. It is also important that you vote to establish a quorum for the conduct of business.

Under the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, rules, if your shares are held in “street name” and you do not indicate how you wish to vote, your broker is permitted to exercise its discretion to vote your shares only on certain “routine” matters. Proposal One, Election of Directors is not a “routine” matter. Accordingly, if you do not direct your broker how to vote, your broker may not exercise discretionary voting authority and may not vote your shares. This is called a “broker non-vote” and although your shares will be considered to be represented by proxy at the Annual Meeting, as previously discussed above under “Quorum Requirements,” they are not considered to be shares “entitled to vote” at the Annual Meeting and will not be counted as having been voted on the applicable proposal. Proposal Two, Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, is a “routine” matter and, as such, your broker is permitted to exercise discretionary voting authority to vote your shares “For” or “Against” the proposal in the absence of your instruction. Proxies marked “Withheld” on Proposal One – Election of Directors or “Abstain” on Proposal Two –Ratification of Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm will be counted in determining the total number of shares “entitled to vote” on such proposal and will have the effect of a vote “Against” a director or a proposal.

Vote Required

Proposal One: Election of Directors will be decided by a plurality of shares of SWM’s Common Stock as of the record date present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the election of directors. A “plurality” for Proposal One means the individuals who receive the greatest number of votes cast “For”, up to the maximum number of directors to be chosen at the meeting, are elected as directors. Votes may be cast in favor of or withheld from each nominee; votes that are withheld will be excluded entirely from the vote and will have no effect.

Proposal Two: Ratification of the Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm will be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on the subject matter.

Who Can Vote?

Each stockholder of record at the close of business on February 28, 2013 will be entitled to 1 vote for each share registered in such stockholder’s name. Proxies cannot be voted for a greater number of persons than the number of nominees named in this Proxy Statement.

On August 21, 2012, the Company paid a two-for-one stock split of its common stock effected as a stock dividend to shareholders of record on August 13, 2012. All shares and per-share amounts in this Proxy have been adjusted for the stock split for all periods presented.

As of February 28, 2013, there were 31,385,404 shares outstanding of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”).

Participants in the Company’s Retirement Savings Plan (“Plan”) may vote the number of shares they hold in that plan. The number of shares shown on your proxy card includes the stock units you hold in the Retirement Savings Plan and serves as a voting instruction to the trustee of the Plan for the account in the participant’s name.

Information as to the voting instructions given by individuals who are participants in the Plan will not be disclosed to the Company.

How Can I Change My Vote?

Any proxy may be revoked by the stockholder granting it at any time before it is voted by delivering to the Secretary of the Company another signed proxy card, or a signed document revoking the earlier proxy, or by attending the meeting and voting in person.

Who Pays For the Proxy Solicitation?

The Company will pay the entire cost of the proxy solicitation. The Company has retained American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, the Company’s transfer agent, to aid in the solicitation of proxies. Proxy solicitation services on routine proxy matters are included in the fees paid to American Stock Transfer & Trust Company to act as the Company’s stock transfer agent and registrar. Only reasonable out-of-pocket expenses on proxy solicitation services are charged separately. The Company will reimburse brokers, fiduciaries and other nominees for their reasonable expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners. In addition to solicitation by mail, directors, officers and employees of the Company may solicit proxies in person, by telephone or by other means of communication.

Who Will Count the Vote?

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company has been engaged to tabulate stockholder votes and act as our independent inspector of elections for the Annual Meeting.

Discretionary Voting and Adjournments

We currently are not aware of any business to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting other than that described in the Proxy Statement. If, however, other matters are properly brought before the Annual Meeting, or any adjournment or postponement of the Annual Meeting, your proxy includes discretionary authority on the part of the individuals appointed to vote your shares to act on those matters according to their best judgment.

Adjournment of the Annual Meeting may be made for the purpose of, among other things, soliciting additional proxies. Any adjournment may be made from time to time by the chairman of the meeting of stockholders.

STOCK OWNERSHIP

Significant Beneficial Owners

The following table sets forth certain information as of December 31, 2012 regarding the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company beneficially owned by each person who is known to the Company to own, directly or indirectly, more than 5% of the outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock, as reflected in the Schedule 13G (and amendments, if any, thereto) as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in February 2013 and provided to the Company by such persons.



Title of Class	Name and Address of Beneficial Owner	Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership	Percent of Class	Sole Voting Power	Shared Voting Power	Sole Investment Power	Shared Investment Power

Common Stock	Capital World Investors 333 South Hope Street Los Angles, CA 90071	3,415,784	11.00	3,415,784	0	3,415,784	0

Common Stock	BlackRock Inc. 40 East 52nd Street New York, NY 10022	2,639,068	8.50	2,639,068	0	2,639,068	0

Common Stock	The Vanguard Group ⁽¹⁾ 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355	2,001,800	6.45	46,198	0	1,957,002	44,798

_________

⁽¹⁾

Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company ("VFTC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc., is the beneficial owner of 44,798 shares or 0.14% of the Common Stock outstanding of the Company as a result of its serving as investment manager of collective trust accounts. Vanguard Investments Australia, Ltd. ("VIA"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc., is the beneficial owner of 1,400 shares or 0.00% of the Common Stock outstanding of the Company as a result of its serving as investment manager of Australian investment offerings.

Directors and Executive Officers

To assure that the interests of directors and executives are aligned with stockholders, the Company requires both directors and key executives (including all Named Executive Officers) to own minimum amounts of common stock. Either directly or through deferred compensation accounts, each director must hold equity equal to five times the value of the directors' annual Board cash retainer. Each Named Executive Officer must hold equity equal to a multiple (from two to five), depending on the position held,of his or her annual base salary. The requirements are effective in 2017 or within five years after the individual becomes subject to the policy.

The Company prohibits directors and key executives (including all Named Executive Officers) from hedging any of the Company's equity securities or from pledging a significant number of the Company's equity securities.

The following table sets forth information as of February 14, 2013, unless otherwise noted, regarding the number of shares of common stock beneficially owned by all directors and nominees, each Named Executive Officer, and by all directors and executive officers as a group. In addition to stock they own beneficially, all directors have deferred part of their compensation from the Company to a deferred compensation plan for non-employee directors, explained in more detail in "Compensation of Directors," below. Each director holds the equivalent of stock units in a deferral account. Unless otherwise indicated in a footnote, each person listed below possesses sole voting and investment power with respect to the shares indicated as beneficially owned by that person. No shares are pledged as security.



Title of Class	Name of Individual or Identity of Group	Amount and Nature of Beneficial Ownership		Percent of Class⁽¹⁾

Common Stock	Claire L. Arnold	8,420	⁽²⁾	*

Common Stock	K.C. Caldabaugh	4,000	⁽³⁾	*

Common Stock	Jeffrey A. Cook	10,000	⁽⁴⁾	*

Common Stock	Michel Fievez	126,782	⁽⁵⁾	*

Common Stock	William A. Finn	12,202	⁽⁶⁾	*

Common Stock	Otto R. Herbst	80,424	⁽⁷⁾	*

Common Stock	Wilfred A. Martinez	42,114	⁽⁸⁾	*

Common Stock	Robert F. McCullough	2,000	⁽⁹⁾	*

Common Stock	John D. Rogers	2,004	⁽¹⁰⁾	*

Common Stock	Mark A. Spears	4,930	⁽¹¹⁾	*

Common Stock	Frédéric P. Villoutreix	265,137	⁽¹²⁾	*

Common Stock	Anderson D. Warlick	5,218	⁽¹³⁾	*

Common Stock	All Directors, Named Executive Officers and executive officers as a group	563,231		1.8	%

_____


⁽¹⁾	Percentages are calculated on the basis of the amount of outstanding securities on February 14, 2013, 31,210,212 shares, excluding securities held by or for the account of SWM or its subsidiaries, plus securities deemed outstanding pursuant to Rule 13d-3(d)(1). An asterisk shows ownership of less than 1% of the shares outstanding.


⁽²⁾	Ms. Arnold has the equivalent of 38,898 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.


⁽³⁾	Mr. Caldabaugh has the equivalent of 22,547 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.


⁽⁴⁾	Includes 10,000 shares of restricted stock which vest in February 2016.


⁽⁵⁾	In February 2011 and February 2013, 102,076 and 13,838 shares vested, respectively, but continue to have a two-year restriction on transfer. All vested shares include the power to vote such shares.


⁽⁶⁾	Mr. Finn has the equivalent of 3,944 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.


⁽⁷⁾	Includes 17,572 shares of restricted stock which vest on February 20, 2012.


⁽⁸⁾	Includes 8,706 shares of restricted stock which vest on February 20, 2012.


⁽⁹⁾	Mr. McCullough has the equivalent of 19,620 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.


⁽¹⁰⁾	Mr. Rogers owns 2,004 shares jointly with his wife, Kyle E. Koehler. He has the equivalent of 7,827 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.


⁽¹¹⁾	Includes 2,686 shares of restricted stock which vest on February 20, 2012.


⁽¹²⁾	Includes 55,550 shares of restricted stock which vest on February 20, 2012.


⁽¹³⁾	Mr. Warlick has the equivalent of 4,538 stock units, including accumulated dividends, in deferral accounts.

Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance

Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 requires the Company’s directors and executive officers and persons who own more than 10% of a registered class of the Company’s equity securities to file reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding beneficial ownership of Common Stock and other equity securities of the Company. Executive Officers, directors and greater than 10% stockholders are required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations to furnish the Company with copies of all forms they file pursuant to Section 16(a).

To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on a review of copies of such reports filed during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, all executive officers, directors and greater than 10% beneficial owners timely complied with Rule 16(a).

PROPOSAL ONE

ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Number of Directors; Board Structure

SWM’s By-Laws provide that the number of directors on its Board of Directors shall be fixed by resolution of the Board from time to time. The Board of Directors presently has seven members, six of whom are independent. As indicated in the table below, the Board of Directors is divided into three staggered classes of directors of the same or nearly the same number.



Class I - Current Term Ending at 2014 Annual Meeting	Class II - Current Term Ending at 2015 Annual Meeting	Class III - Current Term Ending at 2013 Annual Meeting

Claire L. Arnold	K.C. Caldabaugh	Frédéric P. Villoutreix
Robert F. McCullough	William A. Finn	Anderson D. Warlick
	John D. Rogers

Nominees for Director

The Board has nominated Messrs. Frédéric P. Villoutreix and Anderson D. Warlick for election to the Board to serve a three-year term ending at the 2016 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until their successors are elected and have qualified. Each of these nominees is a current member of the Board and has consented to serve if elected. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. Warlick is independent. Should the nominees become unable to serve, proxies may be voted for another person designated by the Board of Directors. Proxies can only be voted for the number of persons named as nominee in this Proxy Statement, which is two.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR the election to the Board of the two nominees for director.

Background Information on Nominees and Continuing Directors

The names of the nominees and the directors continuing in office, their ages as of the date of the Annual Meeting, their principal occupations and directorships during the past five years, and certain other biographical information are set forth on the following pages.

Nominees For Election to the Board of Directors



Name	Age	Period Served as a Director	Principal Occupations and Businesses and Directorships During Last 5 Years

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	48	2007 – Present	Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of SWM, presently and since January 1, 2009

			Chief Operating Officer of SWM, February 2006 –December 2008

			Vice President, Abrasives Europe and Coated Abrasives World, Compagnie de Saint-Gobain 2004 – 2005

Anderson D. Warlick	55	2009 – Present	Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Parkdale and its subsidiaries, a privately held textile and consumer products company presently and since 2000

Members of the Board of Directors Continuing in Office



Name	Age	Period Served as a Director	Principal Occupations and Businesses and Directorships During Last 5 Years

Claire L. Arnold	66	1995 – Present	Chief Executive Officer of Leapfrog Services, Inc., a computer support company and network integrator, presently and since 1998
			Director – Ruby Tuesday, Inc. resigned in 2012

K.C. Caldabaugh	66	1995 – Present	Principal, Heritage Capital Group, an investment banking firm, presently and since July 2001

William A. Finn	67	2008 – Present	Chairman, AstenJohnson Holding Ltd., a holding company that has interests in paper machine clothing manufacturers, presently and since 2006
			Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AstenJohnson, Inc., a paper machine clothing manufacturer, 1999 – 2006

Robert F. McCullough	70	2006 – Present	Private investor, presently and since January 2007
			Senior Partner, Invesco Ltd. (formerly AMVESCAP PLC), an investment fund manager, June 2004 – December 2006
			Chief Financial Officer, AMVESCAP PLC, April 1996 – May 2004
			Director – Primerica
			Director – Acuity Brands, Inc.
			Director – Comverge, Inc., resigned June 2009
			Director – Mirant Corporation from February 2003 through January 3, 2006 when it emerged from bankruptcy

John D. Rogers	51	2009 – Present	President and Chief Executive Officer of CFA Institute, presently and since January 2009
			Founding Partner of Jade River Capital Management, LLC., presently and since May 2007
			President and Chief Executive Officer, Invesco Institutional N.A., Senior Managing Director and Head of Worldwide Institutional Business, AMVESCAP Plc., a mutual fund company, January 2003 – January 2006

			Director - CFA Institute

Director Qualifications for Service on the Company’s Board

The particular experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led the Board to conclude that the nominees should sit on the Board of Directors is summarized below:

Frédéric P. Villoutreix

As current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and former Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Villoutreix brings a unified vision and depth of understanding of the operational, financial, and strategic elements of the Company to the Board. He also serves as the primary liaison between management and the Board as well as filling the core leadership role for both groups. His experience, both within the Company and in the various management positions and international assignments he held with his previous manufacturing-based employer, enhanced his ability to perform these functions.

Anderson D. Warlick

As the vice chairman and chief executive officer of a company that utilizes domestic and foreign manufacturing sites to produce and compete world-wide in primarily commodity product lines, Mr. Warlick brings experience to the Board in operational excellence, operating in less developed countries, and effective management and deployment of fixed assets situated in different positions along the cost curve of competitive facilities. These skills and experience are directly related to developing and guiding the implementation of solutions to the Company’s current and strategic challenges.

Mr. Warlick also currently serves on the boards of three private corporations, one of which he serves as lead director, and is a member of their compensation and nominating & governance committees. He previously served as a director of an additional private company, including as the lead director and member of the audit committee. The experience he acquired in these roles contributes to his service on the Company’s compensation and nominating & governance committees.

The background relevant to their service on the Company’s Board of Directors for each of the Directors continuing in office is summarized below:

Claire L. Arnold

Ms. Arnold has served as a director with five New York Stock Exchange-listed small capitalization companies, including service as the chair of nominating & governance, compensation and audit committees. As a member of the Company's Board she has also served in the capacity of lead director, and currently serves as chair of its compensation committee. Ms. Arnold’s broad experience on other boards and board committees allows her to provide substantial value and insight into best governance practices on such critical topics as executive compensation and governance. From a business perspective, Ms. Arnold was the chief executive officer of a large, private distribution company for 15 years, building it from $30mm in sales when acquired in a leveraged buy-out to sales of $1.6 billion, accomplishing that equally through organic growth and through a series of acquisitions. The company distributed tobacco products, among other things, giving Ms. Arnold direct insight into dealing with SWM’s major customers. Ms. Arnold is currently the chief executive officer of Leapfrog Services Inc., a managed services company and network integrator. Her experience with information technology management systems has been directly relevant to an area in which the Company has and continues to make substantial capital investment. Ms. Arnold’s direct experience running a large enterprise, as well as her role in identifying, negotiating, and managing the integration of acquisitions, makes Ms. Arnold a valuable asset to the Board in exercising its oversight and input on strategic planning.

K.C. Caldabaugh

Mr. Caldabaugh has served as the chief financial officer of publicly traded companies outside the paper industry and as the chief executive officer of a private company in the paper industry, including turnaround and distressed company situations. Subsequently, he has served as a principal in a consulting firm that provides strategic planning advice and as an advisor in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Caldabaugh’s background provides the Board with experience related to the Company’s restructuring programs, evaluation and implementation of growth opportunities and strategic planning in addition to his experience with financial controls and reporting.

Mr. Caldabaugh is one of the Company’s three financial experts and his experience as a chief financial officer provides experience directly relevant to his participation on the Company’s audit committee.

William A. Finn

Mr. Finn has served on eight private company boards and is currently the chairman of two boards and the vice chair of one board. He has extensive experience with service on non-profit boards. He served as the chief executive officer of a paper machine clothing manufacturer with international production sites, including in China. His background as

chief executive officer for 24 years of an international manufacturing enterprise and his board experience has given him deep familiarity with management, human resources, financial, sales, and general administrative issues. His experience and perspective as an operator of a manufacturing enterprise and with operational and safety excellence initiatives implemented domestically and internationally is of particular relevance to the Board.

Mr. Finn also brings a wealth of experience relative to audit committee and compensation committee matters, having dealt with both throughout his career as chief executive officer of AstenJohnson and as a director on other company or non-profit boards. In these roles he has dealt with chief financial officers, controllers, treasury, information technology, audit and cash management issues as well as the interaction with and management of independent outside auditors. He has also served directly on two other compensation committees and a human resources committee. Presently, he is the chair of the audit committee for Seaman Corp. and the Trident United Way.

Robert F. McCullough

Mr. McCullough served as a partner in an international accounting firm and subsequently as the chief financial officer of a large investment fund management company from which he developed a deep understanding of accounting, internal control and disclosure rules applicable to public enterprises. His experience also includes work with companies engaged in several fields of manufacture and financial services.

Mr. McCullough’s experience related to his role as chair of the audit committee is also deep and wide, having been the chair of five other audit committees as well as having interacted with audit committees, both in the capacity as chief financial officer of a public company and as the outside independent auditor and audit partner in charge. He has also served on other companies’ compensation committees, providing him with background in the areas of executive compensation and related plan designs. He brings to the Board strong accounting, financial control and reporting expertise, as well as broad experience in consulting with companies on strategic planning, cost controls, and mergers and acquisitions. The depth of his experience, including being a certified public accountant in good standing, working in the auditing profession for over 30 years, and 10 years as a chief financial officer, provides him with a singular set of skills for service on SWM’s board and audit committee and as one of the Company’s three financial experts.

John D. Rogers

Mr. Rogers has extensive experience with large investment fund management firms, ranging from chief investment officer to president and chief executive officer. For the past four years he has served as president and chief executive officer of the CFA Institute, the world's leading association of investment professionals. Mr. Rogers has served for eight years on the boards of New York Stock Exchange-registered firms and as a director of multiple non-profit organizations. His chief executive officer level experience and extensive experience in the investment management industry, including as an equity and fixed income investor and analyst, has equipped him with a range of skills that relate directly to identifying and driving the elements that create value and maximize the effective utilization of capital. Mr. Rogers is a Chartered Financial Analyst. His perspective enhances the Board’s ability to relate to and represent the interests of the Company’s stockholders. Mr. Rogers is one of our three financial experts and contributes these skills as a member of the Company’s audit committee.

Nomination of Directors

Directors may be nominated by the Board of Directors or by stockholders in accordance with the By-Laws of the Company. The Nominating & Governance Committee, which is composed of three independent directors, identifies potential candidates and reviews all proposed nominees for the Board of Directors, including those proposed by stockholders. The candidate review process includes an assessment of the person’s judgment, experience, independence, understanding of the Company’s business or other related industries, commitment and availability to prepare for and attend Board and Board Standing Committee meetings and such other factors as the Nominating & Governance Committee determines are relevant in light of the needs of the Board of Directors and the Company. The Nominating & Governance Committee selects qualified candidates and presents them to the full Board of Directors, which body decides whether to invite the candidate to be a nominee for election to the Board of Directors. The Nominating & Governance Committee Charter authorizes the Nominating & Governance Committee to retain such outside experts as it deems necessary and appropriate to assist it in the execution of its duties. A further discussion of the process for stockholder nominations for director is found under the caption “How Stockholders May Nominate Directors.”

Board Diversity

The Company does not have a formal policy concerning the diversity of its directors. In practice, the Nominating & Governance Committee establishes a list of criteria it seeks to address when filling a board seat and then searches for candidates that best meet those criteria without limitations imposed on the basis of race, gender or national origin. Diversity of experience and perspective is considered in reviewing the composition of the Board.

Director Independence

All of the Directors, with the exception of Frédéric Villoutreix, who also serves as the Chief Executive Officer, are independent under applicable rules, New York Stock Exchange regulations and the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines.

Certain Transactions and Business Relationships

No director had any business relationship or engaged in any transactions resulting in any direct or indirect compensation from the Company or its affiliates except for services and expenses incurred in performing their duties as directors.

Board Exercise of Risk Oversight

The Board exercises oversight of enterprise risk at a number of levels and utilizes formal and informal mechanisms to do so.

The Audit Committee plays a material role in oversight of financial, disclosure, and liquidity risk issues, as well as being the main overseer of the internal control mechanisms used by management in both the financial and non-financial areas. Aspects of risk review occur at virtually every Audit Committee meeting, including ongoing review of financial results, control issues, compliance audit processes and results, debt covenant compliance, hedging activities, and liquidity measures. The Audit Committee has regular interaction with the Company’s independent auditors throughout the year, including independent sessions to address internal control and other matters.

The Nominating & Governance Committee assesses governance controls and compliance with related Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Stock Exchange listing requirements at least annually. It also undertakes an ongoing review of succession planning, both at the management and board levels, to assure an appropriate process exists to maintain the continuity of management and the necessary skill sets for the successful operation and oversight of the Company.

The Compensation Committee assesses compensation design and levels from the perspectives of market reasonableness and appropriateness to the objectives of retaining the quantity and level of management expertise and depth required for the successful execution of the Company’s business goals. The Compensation Committee also assesses the risk posed by the Company’s compensation program design and practices and the probability that they might result in adverse impacts on the Company.

The Board as a whole regularly reviews financial performance and risks to that performance, competitive market situations, risks to operations and operating capabilities, regulatory change, and strategic planning. These reviews are provided through regularly scheduled financial and operations reviews, as well as through the Committee Chair reports to the Board that also occur on a regular basis. More in-depth reviews are provided, at least annually, on selected topics such as litigation and regulatory compliance, customer satisfaction and performance assessments, and strategic planning. In 2010, the Board also instituted an in-depth discussion with management of each of the major risk factors, including those identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In 2011, the Company created an internal audit department which, among other things, is tasked with the development, implementation and ongoing refinement of a comprehensive Enterprise Risk Management program. In 2012, the Company conducted an Enterprise Risk Management process of analyzing risks according to severity and developing mitigation and response plans.

Board Succession Planning

The Board, though its Nominating & Governance Committee, regularly reviews the particular skill sets required by the Board based on the nature of the Company’s business, strategic plans and regulatory changes as well as the current performance of the incumbent directors. The Company also has an age limit on service as a director. This is an added institutionalized mechanism for periodic change in directors to provide fresh insight.

How Stockholders May Nominate Directors

Any stockholder of record entitled to vote generally in the election of directors may submit a candidate for consideration by the Nominating & Governance Committee by notifying the Secretary and General Counsel in writing at the address noted on the face page of this Proxy Statement. The notice of intent to nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors must satisfy the requirements described below and must be delivered, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary and General Counsel of the Company and received by the Company not less than 120 calendar days before the anniversary date of the Company’s Proxy Statement released to stockholders in connection with the previous year’s Annual Meeting. If the Annual Meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences 30 days before such anniversary date and ends 30 days after such anniversary date (an Annual Meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Meeting Date”), such stockholder notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date 90 days prior to such Other Meeting date or (ii) the 10^th day following the date such Other Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed.

The stockholder’s notice of intent to nominate a candidate for the Board of Directors shall state the following:


▪	the name and address of record of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination


▪	a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice


▪	the name, age, business and residence addresses, and principal occupation or employment of each nominee


▪	a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder


▪	such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and


▪	the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so elected

Notices from stockholders under this section must comply with all applicable laws, including but not limited to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company.

In the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company is increased and either all of the nominees for director or the size of the increased Board of Directors is not publicly announced or disclosed by the Company at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting, a stockholder notice shall also be considered timely hereunder, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive office of the Company not later than the close of business on the 10^th day following the first date all of such nominees or the size of the increased Board of Directors shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPREHENSIVE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION & ANALYSIS

Compensation Philosophy

The Company’s compensation philosophy centers on three tenets:


▪	Pay for performance


▪	Alignment with stockholders


▪	Total compensation set at market median value for like skills and responsibilities.

Implementation of Philosophy

The Company implements its compensation philosophy by:


▪	Allocating most total compensation to incentive-based compensation opportunities


▪	Setting incentive plan objectives that directly or indirectly contribute to increased shareholder value


▪	Awarding a material portion of total compensation in the form of equity


▪	Utilizing an annual competitive compensation study to guide total and individual compensation components and values


▪	Requiring Named Executive Officers and other executives to acquire and hold a significant equity interest in the Company. This equity ownership requirement is new for 2012.

The Company's Named Executive Officers are:



Name	Position	Years in Current Position	Years with Company

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	Chief Executive Officer	4	7

Otto R. Herbst	Chief Operating Officer and EVP, Global Papers	4	13

Jeffrey A. Cook	Chief Financial Officer	1	1

Michel Fievez	EVP, Reconstituted Tobacco	3	5

Wilfred A. Martinez	VP, LIP Operations	2	4

Mark A. Spears	Corporate Controller	4	17

During 2012, compensation to the Company's Named Executive Officers adhered to the Compensation Committee’s compensation philosophy in most material respects.

Pay for Performance

In 2012, management continued to deliver strong results for stockholders:



$ in millions, except per share amounts	2010		2011		2012

Net Sales	$	727.3	$	801.0	$	788.1
Net Income	$	65.3	$	92.6	$	79.6
Operating Profit from continuing operations	$	110.8	$	119.0	$	133.4
Diluted Net Income Per Share	$	1.76	$	2.73	$	2.51

(Indonesia and Malaucene are treated as discontinued operations for all periods; all per-share calculations reflect the stock split.)


•	Adjusted operating profit from continuing operations at constant currency was $173.4 million during 2012 an increase of $24.5 million from 2011.


•	The Company continued to expand sales of higher-margin products in 2012. Sales of LIP paper volumes grew by 13%, and reconstituted tobacco grew by 6% compared to 2011.


•	Cash provided by operations increased from $81.5 million in 2011 to $171.6 million in 2012.


•	Quarterly dividend payouts to stockholders effectively doubled with the August 2012 stock split.

Alignment with Stockholders

Most of the Named Executive Officers' total compensation in 2012 was incentive-based, namely, the Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) and the long-term incentive opportunity to earn performance-based restricted stock under the Restricted Stock Plan (RSP). Both these forms of compensation reward achievement of key drivers of stockholder value, including earnings per share, return on invested capital, operating profit, net sales and free cash flow.

2012 Named Executive Officer Incentive Pay as Percentage of Total Compensation

Additionally, a substantial portion of the Named Executive Officers' compensation is in the form of equity, rather than cash, to further align their interests with the interests of stockholders.

Named Executive Officer Equity Opportunity as Percentage of Total Compensation

Market-Based Competitive Compensation Levels

The Compensation Committee continues its philosophy of setting compensation at the market median for each position, which experience has shown is the level at which the Company can recruit and retain the level of talent the Committee deems to be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders. Compensation paid to the executive team is based on competitive market data developed annually by an independent compensation consultant retained by the Committee. For the 2012 analysis, the Committee retained Towers Watson, which has no other ties to management or business with the Company that could impair its assessment. The Committee periodically obtains competitive bids for this consulting assignment.

Non-executives are compensated based on a market-based evaluation system. The Committee does not evaluate the relationship of the market-based determinants for the executive and non-executive groups as part of its executive compensation evaluation.

Market Value Determination

The competitive compensation analysis prepared by Towers Watson for 2012 is intended to reflect the scope of an executive's responsibility, experience in the position, and labor market conditions. Its main basis for comparison is published survey data. Used for all SWM executives as the primary tool for market comparisons, this source provides larger sample sizes and more direct matching between positions. All published survey data is aged to a common date of July 1, 2013 using an annual aging factor of 3.0% per year.

The compensation analysis also relies on proxy statement data from a peer group of 15 companies to evaluate the Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer positions. Unchanged from the 2011 and 2010 analyses, this peer group was originally developed by Towers Watson and includes the companies identified as peers by RiskMetrics in its 2011 review, as follows: RTI International Metals, Inc., Neenah Paper, Inc., Innospec Inc., KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, Headwaters, Inc., OMNOVA Solutions Inc., Amcol International Corp., Buckeye Technologies Inc., OM Group Inc., Wausau Paper Corp., Louisiana-Pacific Corp., HB Fuller Co., Clearwater Paper Corporation, PH Glatfelter Co. and Verso Paper Corp.

Included in the compensation analysis is an overview of the peer group companies' performance compared to that of the Company for fiscal years 2009 through 2011, based on these companies' public filings. The median of the peer group's 3-year average return on capital was 8.4%. In comparison, the Company's 3-year average return on capital was 13.9%, higher than 94% of its peers.

The Committee uses the compensation analysis as a guide to determine whether executives' compensation is competitive. The analysis evaluates the following components: base salary; annual incentive bonus (Annual Incentive Plan compensation assuming attainment of the Target objective level, as a percentage of base salary); target total cash compensation (base salary plus AIP); long-term incentive compensation (assuming attainment of the Target objective level); and target total direct compensation, which is the sum of base salary plus AIP plus long-term incentive compensation at the Target level. Based on industry practice, Towers Watson considers executives to be competitively paid and within the “market median” if their compensation components are within the noted range of market median: base salary +/- 15%, annual bonus +/- 5%, long-term incentives +/- 10%, target total cash +/- 15% and target total direct compensation +/- 15%. The analysis provides the 25^th, 50^th and 75^th percentile values for each compensation component and indicates how much compensation is paid in cash or equity. Data developed from this process is also used to determine initial compensation when a new executive is hired between studies. Recruiting and tax consultants provide supplementary information to test the reasonableness of any recruitment incentives that may be offered to attract new talent.

The compensation analysis states each Named Executive Officer’s projected total cash compensation and total direct compensation (assuming attainment of Target objectives) relative to the market median, as follows:



Name	Position	FY 2012 Target Total Cash Compensation	Position Against FY 2012 Market 50^thPercentile (Target Total Cash)	FY 2012 Target Total Direct Compensation	Position Against FY 2012 Market 50th Percentile (Target Total Direct)

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	Chief Executive Officer	$1,365,000	13% below	$2,691,000	17% below

Otto R. Herbst	Chief Operating Officer and EVP, Paper	$718,400	0% at Target	$1,251,500	3% above

Jeffrey A. Cook	Chief Financial Officer	$485,800	23% below	$787,300	26% below

Michel Fievez	EVP, Reconstituted Tobacco	$600,812(1)	47% above	$858,303	49% above

Wilfred A. Martinez	VP, LIP Operations	$467,600	13% below	$668,000	26% below

Mark A. Spears	Controller	$280,800	3% below	$353,600	6% below

⁽¹⁾ Mr. Fievez's compensation is paid in euro and was converted at the December 31, 2012 exchange rate of 1.3225

euro to the U.S. dollar.

The Committee reviewed more closely the Named Executive Officers whose compensation varied by more than 15% from the market median. Michel Fievez, Executive Vice President, Reconstituted Tobacco, is based in France. His compensation exceeds the +/- 15% variance because the benchmark data was based on a position that had more limited responsibility. Mr. Fievez not only has responsibility for the Reconstituted Tobacco business (including the U.S.-based wrapper and binder business) but also serves as country manager of France, which has multiple profit centers and half of all SWM employees. Mr. Fievez also has responsibilities related to the startup of our reconstituted tobacco leaf (RTL) joint venture in China. Therefore, the position has more responsibility and retention risk than the benchmarked positions and the Committee, in consultation with Towers Watson, determined that the adjustment from the market median was appropriate to reflect these differences from the benchmarked positions.

Compensation for Wilfred Martinez, Vice President, LIP Operations, has increased from 2011 to 2012 corresponding to growth in the business line he heads. His target total cash compensation is now within 15% of the market median.

The competitive compensation analysis indicated that total direct compensation for both Frédéric Villoutreix, Chief Executive Officer, and Jeffrey Cook, Chief Financial Officer, was more than 15% below the market median for 2012. For 2013, the Compensation Committee is adjusting compensation for these positions and certain other officers to correspond more closely with competitive practices. Total direct compensation for Messrs. Villoutreix and Cook at the Target objective level in 2013 is expected to be closer to market median identified in the competitive compensation analysis. In particular, the base salary for these positions and certain other executives will comprise a smaller portion of their pay, and incentive opportunities through the Annual Incentive Plan and the Restricted Stock Plan will comprise a larger portion of their pay. This adjustment will strengthen alignment between executives' interests and interests of stockholders.

Executive Compensation Plans, Form of Payment and Approval Process

The elements of and the processes for setting executive compensation have not changed in any material way over the past years and consist of the following components:



Compensation Element	Method for Establishing its Value	Form of Payment	Who Establishes Objectives and Participation
Base Salary	Competitive Compensation Analysis is primary; subjective evaluation of performance applied to adjust +/− 15% from 50^th percentile of the market reference point.	Cash	Chief Executive Officer recommends, Compensation Committee approves for all officers other than Chief Executive Officer who is approved by full Board of Directors; full Board evaluates Chief Executive Officer annually, Chief Executive Officer evaluates other officers annually.

Annual Incentive Plan	Competitive Compensation Analysis; AIP opportunity is based on a percentage of base salary; attainment is performance-based and measured over a year.	Cash	Chief Executive Officer recommends and Compensation Committee approves: (i) business unit objectives at beginning of cycle and (ii) performance against corporate and business unit objectives at year end. Chief Executive Officer approves officer individual objectives and performance against same. Board approves corporate unit objectives and Chief Executive Officer individual objectives and performance against same.



Compensation Element	Method for Establishing its Value	Form of Payment	Who Establishes Objectives and Participation
Executive Severance Plan ⁽¹⁾	Board of Directors' judgment. Provides a value equal to 3 times highest base salary and incentive compensation earned under the Annual Incentive Compensation Plan and certain other benefits over prior 3 years in case of a change of control and between 6-24 months salary in the event of a termination for other than cause or voluntary departure.	Cash	Participation in the Executive Severance Plan and the terms of the plan were approved by the full Board of Directors. The multiples of annual compensation awarded by the plan were initially established based on a market assessment. The plan was revised in 2012 to eliminate excise tax gross-up payments for new participants.

Deferred Compensation Plan	In addition to a participant’s voluntary deferral of salary or bonus that has been earned, Company contributions may be made to participant accounts, typically to offset tax liabilities associated with targeted restricted stock grants.	Cash deposit to participant’s account.	The Chief Executive Officer recommends and the Compensation Committee must approve any Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan.

Perquisites	U.S.-based officers get a maximum of $1,500 for a medical exam and financial planning/tax preparation services; foreign officers and officers in expatriate status may get other perquisites based on market conditions where they are assigned. Such benefits are determined in consultation with independent consultants.	Typically a cash reimburse-ment of certain expenses and company car if normally provided in the country.	The Chief Executive Officer recommends and the Compensation Committee must approve any perquisites provided to officers.

Retirement Plan ⁽²⁾ and Retirement Savings Plan (401(k))	Provided on the same basis as to all other employees.	Per plan terms.	Compensation Committee or the Board of Directors approves the plans.

Health, Welfare and Vacation Benefits	Provided on the same basis as to all other employees.	Per plan terms.	Company policy.

Long-Term Incentive Plan	Competitive Compensation Analysis; performance-based and measured over 2-3 fiscal years. This plan remains in effect, but has not been utilized the past few years.	Cash	Chief Executive Officer recommends and Compensation Committee approves (i) unit objectives at beginning of cycle and (ii) performance against unit objectives at end of each year in award cycle.

_________

Based on the Board’s judgment, severance benefits reflect the fact that it may be difficult for very senior employees to find comparable employment within a short period of time and the value placed on being able to quickly disentangle the Company from an executive employee in the event of a termination by payment of a lump sum. Change of control benefits are contingent upon providing continued services, as requested, through a change of control thereby increasing the ability of the Company to accomplish that task with an intact management team, while recognizing a degree of security must be provided to retain officers who may well be out of a position following their implementation of such a change in control. Further information concerning the severance benefits are found in the "Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change in Control" section.


²	Retirement Plan benefits for all U.S. salaried employees, including officers, were frozen effective January 1, 2006. Presently, only the Corporate Controller has a grandfathered cash balance-based benefit payable under the Retirement Plan. Further details concerning the pension plan benefit are provided in the narrative following the "2012 Pension Benefits" table.

Base Salary – 2012

The 2012 base salary for each Named Executive Officer relative to the 2012 market median base salary is set forth below:



Name	Position	2012 Base Salary		Position Against FY2012 Market 50th Percentile
Frederic Villoutreix	Chief Executive Officer	$	780,000	1% above
Otto Herbst	Chief Operating Officer & EVP Paper Business	$	463,500	9% above
Jeff Cook	EVP, CFO & Treasurer	$	335,000	13% below
Michel Fievez	EVP, Reconstituted Tobacco ⁽¹⁾	$	429,151	41% above
Wilfred Martinez	VP, LIP Operations	$	334,000	2% below
Mark Spears	Corporate Controller	$	208,000	1% below

______


⁽¹⁾	See the discussion on basis for variance from market median under section captioned “Market Value Determination.”

Annual Incentive Plan: 2012 Objectives and Results; 2013 Objectives

The Annual Incentive Plan provides a cash-based award opportunity that may be earned if performance objectives are achieved over a fiscal year period. AIP compensation is intended to reward the performance of executive officers as well as non-executive participants who have meaningfully contributed to the attainment of the Company's objectives. Maximum AIP opportunities for officers in 2012 ranged from 70% to 150% of a participant’s base salary, depending on the position held by the participant. Each year, objectives are established for corporate unit, business unit and individual performance, with the individual award component for officers not exceeding 40% of the total award opportunity. The full Board of Directors approves the corporate unit objective and the Chief Executive Officer’s individual objectives. All other business unit objectives are approved by the Compensation Committee. The Chief Executive Officer approves each of the other officers' individual objectives.



	A.	2012 Performance Measures, Weightings, Goals and Achievement

Annual Incentive Plan objectives for the Named Executive Officers' 2012 incentive award opportunities are set out below. These objectives were selected because they were deemed to be the primary drivers for delivering increased stockholder value. As in previous years, the Threshold level objective generally reflects the prior year's actual results, and the Target, Outstanding and Maximum performance objectives are set at progressively more aggressive levels. For example, for the Corporate Unit component of 2012 AIP, the Threshold level objective was set at the prior year's actual results, the Target level objective was set at 10% to 13% above Threshold, the Outstanding objective was set at 22% to 25% above Threshold, and the Maximum objective was set at 28% to 32% above Threshold.

AIP business unit objectives are based on product lines (Global Paper Unit, consisting of Base Paper and LIP Paper, and Reconstituted Tobacco Unit). AIP awards to participants in Shared Services (financial, legal, human resources, information technology and research) are based on achievement by the Corporate Unit and by each individual. The Committee established different objective levels for each of the business units. Additionally, to encourage ongoing growth, at least 20% of each manager's Individual objectives must be directed to employee development. All 2012 corporate and business unit objectives exclude the impact of impairment and restructuring charges.



	2012 Objectives
MEASUREMENT METRICS	Threshold		Target (100%)		Outstanding		Maximum

Corporate Unit Metrics
75% Earnings per share	$5.94		$6.71		$7.26		$7.60
25% Return on invested capital	20.1	%	22.1	%	25.1	%	26.6	%
Business Unit Metrics
Global Paper Unit Metrics (Base Paper and LIP Paper)
30% Operating Profit	$86.1		$96.0		$103.2		$108.0
30% Net Sales	$545.3		$562.2		$579.6		$597.0
40% Free Cash Flow	$45.2		$62.3		$73.9		$83.3
Reconstituted Tobacco Unit Metrics
30% Operating Profit	$86.0		$88.0		$90.8		$95.0
30% Net Sales	$213.5		$220.1		$226.9		$234.0
40% Free Cash Flow	$56.9		$60.9		$65.3		$69.5
Individual	80% to individual objectives and 20% to employee development objectives

The Committee weighted each component of the Named Executive Officers' AIP incentive opportunity differently, to reflect their differing responsibilities and opportunities to affect business outcomes. For 2012, weighting between the Corporate, Business Unit and Individual components for each of the Named Executive Officers' total AIP award opportunity was as follows:



Name	Corporate	Business Unit	Individual	Business Unit

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	85%	n/a	15%	n/a
Jeffrey A. Cook	70%	n/a	30%	Shared Services
Otto R. Herbst	40%	40%	20%	Global Paper
Michel Fievez	20%	40%	40%	Reconstituted Tobacco
Wilfred A. Martinez	20%	40%	40%	LIP Papers
Mark A. Spears	70%	n/a	30%	Shared Services

Actual performance achieved in 2012 against the Corporate and Business Unit measurement metrics, stated as a percentage of the Target objective, is summarized in the following table:



Corporate Unit Metric	Earnings Per Share		Return on Invested Capital
	114	%	124	%
Business Unit Metric	Net Sales		Operating Profit		Free Cash Flow
Global Paper *	129	%	87	%	138	%

Reconstituted Tobacco	200	%	200	%	188	%

* For some Named Executive Officers, the Target objectives are tied to LIP Paper or Base Paper performance rather than aggregated Global Paper performance. Since separate LIP Paper and Base Paper performance are not disclosed publicly, they are not being provided here.

The total earned payout for each of the Named Executive Officers is reflected in the column labeled “Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation" in the "Summary Compensation"table.



	B.	2013 AIP Award Opportunity Metrics

The Compensation Committee established a 2013 AIP award opportunity utilizing performance metrics that are generally consistent with the metrics used in 2012, with two minor changes. First, the Corporate Unit objective area will be based entirely on earnings per share, rather than 75% on earnings per share and 25% on return on invested capital. Consistent with recommended best practices, this change eliminates overlap with the Corporate Unit metrics for earning performance shares under the Restricted Stock Plan. Second, as before, each supervisory participant's Individual objectives must include one employee development objective, but this objective need not be weighted 20% of the Individual objective area.

A third change to the 2013 AIP award opportunity will not affect any Named Executive Officers. In addition to the Corporate, Business Unit, and Individual objective areas, some participants will have an objective area based on their Site, Sales or Financial Unit. New for 2013, this change is intended to link individual participants' reward opportunities more closely to matters they affect.

Objective Areas & Applicable Metrics as a % of Total Award Opportunity

Corporate Unit

Earnings per share: 100%

Global Paper Unit:

Base Paper

LIP Paper

Operating profit: 30%

Net sales: 30%

Free cash flow: 40%

Reconstituted Tobacco Unit

Operating profit: 30%

Net sales: 30%

Free cash flow: 40%

Individual

Up to 4 Individual objectives, including one employee development objective

Because actual 2013 performance objectives at Target performance level have not been disclosed publicly, they are not being provided here. Certain objectives set for the performance metrics are considered to be confidential because their disclosure could be harmful to the Company and its stockholders. This is particularly true of quantitative business unit objectives that would allow our customers and competitors to gain insight into our margins and other financial metrics on specific product groups, information which could be used to the Company’s detriment in competitive bid situations and contract negotiations with our large customers. The Compensation Committee considers the performance levels necessary to earn the annual incentive award to be challenging at the Target objective level and increasingly more difficult at the Outstanding and Maximum award levels. The award payout that may be achieved at each of the performance levels is set commensurate with its difficulty.

Restricted Stock Plan–Performance Shares: Year 2012 of the 2011-2012 Award Opportunity



	Performance Objectives

The Company completed the second year of the two-year Performance Share award opportunity under the Restricted Stock Plan that began January 1, 2011 and ended December 31, 2012. The purpose of the Restricted Stock Plan is to enhance retention of the senior management team and other key employees, and to increase the equity stake the Company's senior management team holds in the Company so that their interests are further aligned with interests of stockholders.

The Restricted Stock Plan provides opportunities to earn Performance Shares based on achievement of Corporate and Business Unit continuing operations objectives (that is, return on invested capital or ROIC), as well as achievement of Business Unit strategic initiatives. As with AIP compensation, objectives for 2012 were set according to Threshold level (prior year's actual results), Target level, and Outstanding and Maximum levels (progressively more difficult than Target). The Continuing Operations metric is defined by Corporate and product line Business Units. The 2011-2012 Restricted Stock Plan award opportunity also provides more focused incentives, assigning greater weight to Strategic Initiatives and lesser weight to Corporate ROIC in determining Performance Shares for several executives. Additionally, to encourage retention, the second year of the Plan will vest after one year, rather than immediately at the end of the plan cycle. The performance objectives, performance metrics and assignment of same to the Named Executive Officers are summarized in the following tables:



Named Executive Officer Metric (% total award assigned to metric)	2012 Objectives								Achievement & Rating
	Threshold		Target (100%)		Outstanding		Maximum
Corporate Unit Metric: Improvement in ROIC
Chief Executive Officer (60%) Chief Financial Officer (60%) Chief Operating Officer (20%) VP, LIP Operations (20%) EVP, Recon. Tobacco (20%) Corporate Controller (60%)	20	%	22	%	25	%	27	%	25	%
Business Unit Continuing Operations Metric: Improvement in ROIC
Chief Operating Officer (Global Papers - 40%)	13	%	18	%	21	%	22	%	19	%
VP, LIP Operations (LIP Paper - 30%)	*		*		*		*		*
EVP, Recon. Tobacco (Recon Tobacco - 30%)	52	%	55	%	57	%	60	%	61	%
Business Unit Strategic Initiatives
Chief Executive Officer (40%) Chief Financial Officer (40%) Controller (40%)
Oracle deployment and optimization	Successful deployment of R12 in Americas, Poland and France (Shared Services)		Automation interface R12/R11 for supply chain and Finance; Make to Stock for LIP Europe and Base paper France		Target + Global Research ready to market test new products		Target + Global Research ready to market test new products + China research JV + concept validation of new product		75	%



Named Executive Officer Metric (% total award assigned to metric)	2012 Objectives				Achievement & Rating
	Threshold	Target (100%)	Outstanding	Maximum
Lean 6 Sigma deployment	Deploy Lean 6 Sigma program across 6 sites and target savings of $20 million	Deploy Lean 6 Sigma program across all sites and target savings of $22 million for OE/LSS	Deploy Lean 6 Sigma program across all sites and target savings of $24 million for OE/LSS	Deploy Lean 6 Sigma program across all sites and target savings of $26 million for OE/LSS + have 1 site 100% belt trained	200	%

Alpha Initiatives	Confidential; qualitative assessment by Compensation Committee
Chief Operating Officer (40%)
LIP Paper expansion outside North America and operational optimization (cost, quality, service)	Operating profit at prior year level + good quality and service + acceptable waste + reduce LIP conversion cost by 3% YOY + agreement with contractor to transfer operations in 2013	Operating profit increase over Threshold + very good quality and service + reduce waste by 5 to 9% + reduce LIP conversion cost by 6% YOY + reach agreement with contractor to transfer US and EU operations in 2013	Operating profit 4% over Target + excellent quality and service + reduce waste by 9 to 28% + reduce LIP conversion cost by 9% YOY + reach agreement with contractor to transfer US and EU operations in 2012	Operating profit 8% over Target + best quality and service + reduce waste by 9 to 28% + reduce LIP conversion cost by 12% YOY + transfer one machine from contractor before year end	115	%

Base Paper France: service and OP improvement year-on-year	Good net OTIF at least 8 months of year + good operating profit	Net OTIF 6% over Threshold + OP 33% above Threshold	Net OTIF same as Target + Good gross OTIF at least 8 months of year + OP 20% above Target	Net OTIF same as Target + gross OTIF 3% over Outstanding + OP 50% above Target	0%

Base Paper southeast Asia: sales and OP improvement year-on-year	Good sales and small operating loss	Sales 12% over Threshold + OP improvement	Sales 2.7% over Target + additional OP improvement	Sales 5.4% over Target + additional OP improvement	0%
Lean 6 Sigma deployment	See above

Oracle deployment and optimization	See above



Named Executive Officer Metric (% total award assigned to metric)	2012 Objectives				Achievement & Rating
	Threshold	Target (100%)	Outstanding	Maximum
VP, LIP Operations (50%)
LIP expansion	See above
Oracle deployment and optimization
Lean 6 Sigma deployment	See above
EVP Recon Tobacco (50%)
Reconstituted Tobacco in Asia	Reach agreement on matters pertaining to RTL China	Progress construction RTL China for target start at end 2013 + sales to Yunnan + minimize equipment transfer costs	Target + additional sales to Yunnan + cash by year end	Outstanding + 30% more cash by year end	0%
Lean 6 Sigma deployment	See above
Oracle deployment and optimization	See above

* Since separate LIP Paper performance is not disclosed publicly, this metric is not being provided here.

Corporate Income Tax Treatment

The incentive compensation earned under the Annual Incentive Plan and the Performance Shares earned under the Restricted Stock Plan qualify as performance-based compensation under Code Section 162(m). To date, the Company has not lost any income tax deductions associated with executive compensation. The Compensation Committee and the Board of Directors evaluate the objective of maximizing the Company’s income tax deductions but do not have a firm policy prohibiting payment of compensation that would not qualify for favorable tax treatment under Code Section 162(m).

“Say on Pay”: Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation

In 2011 the Board asked the Company's stockholders to indicate on a non-binding, advisory basis whether they approve the Company's executive compensation (“say on pay”) and how frequently they prefer the Company to hold an advisory vote on executive compensation. These proposals were contained in the proxy dated March 10, 2011, as required by section 14A of the Securities Exchange Act, amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. As set forth in the proxy dated March 15, 2012, almost 97% of votes cast by stockholders approved the Company's executive compensation arrangements.

Additionally, over 83% of stockholders favored having a non-binding vote on executive compensation every three years, rather than more frequently.

Taking these results into account, the Board of Directors resolved to hold a non-binding vote on executive compensation in conjunction with the proxy for the Company's annual meeting of stockholders every three years. The next vote will be held next year, in conjunction with the proxy for the 2014 annual meeting of stockholders. The Compensation Committee has considered these results in its analysis of compensation, and accordingly has retained the Named Executive Officers' compensation structure with only minor changes.

Compensation Approval Process

Each year, the Chief Executive Officer meets with the Chairman of the Compensation Committee and the Committee’s independent consultant to develop and review an executive compensation package for the upcoming year. The annual competitive compensation analysis is also reviewed at that time and any questions concerning its conclusions or the process are vetted. At the Compensation Committee Chairman’s discretion, she may meet separately with the independent compensation consultant. Based on this pre-meeting and any follow-up work identified at that time, an executive compensation proposal is prepared and provided to the full Committee in November for their review. At the November meeting, the Committee discusses the executive compensation program, evaluates whether elements of compensation for officers and key employees are competitive, and reviews and approves targeted grants of restricted stock. Either in November or December, the Committee approves officers' base salaries for the coming year. The Committee meets again in February to review and take action concerning results of incentive plans for the year just ended as well as performance level objectives for the upcoming year. The Committee concludes its recommendations to the full Board of Directors at the February meeting concerning the establishment of the Corporate Unit objectives under the Annual Incentive Plan for the upcoming award cycle. The Committee also provides recommendations for the Chief Executive Officer’s base salary and individual performance objectives for the upcoming year and evaluates his performance against the current year objectives.

Commencing in 2010 and continuing in 2012, the Compensation Committee undertook an evaluation of the design of the executive compensation program relative to risk and whether it creates a reasonable probability of an adverse impact on the Company. The Committee concluded that the program design, metrics and objectives, taken as a whole and considered within the other financial control and approval processes in place at the Company, do not present a risk of a reasonable probability of an adverse impact on the Company.

At the February Board of Directors meeting, the Compensation Committee provides a full report on its actions on executive compensation for the upcoming year as well as its estimate of payouts, if any, under the incentive compensation award opportunities for the just-completed year. The Committee also reports on any targeted equity grants made during the year outside the equity opportunity provided by the incentive compensation plan awards. The Board of Directors takes action on the Corporate Unit objective under the Annual Incentive Plan for the upcoming year and addresses the current and upcoming year compensation for the Chief Executive Officer in the non-management directors meeting. When audited financial results are available, or known, the Compensation Committee completes its evaluation of the performance attained against objectives and approves the final award payments.

Compensation Committee Report

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the Comprehensive Compensation Discussion & Analysis with management.

Based on the review and discussions, the Compensation Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Comprehensive Compensation Discussion & Analysis be included in the Company’s Proxy Statement and incorporated by reference in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.



	COMPENSATION COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
	Claire L. Arnold (Chair)
	William A. Finn
	Anderson D. Warlick

SUMMARY COMPENSATION

The executive compensation information reported in the Summary Compensation Table set forth below is for services rendered to the Company and its subsidiaries commencing on January 1, 2012 and ending on December 31, 2012, the last day of the Company’s 2012 fiscal year. All compensation earned in the 2012 fiscal year is reported in that year without regard to when actually paid by the Company or deferred by the recipient and therefore not technically received by the recipient in the 2012 fiscal year. For an explanation of salary and bonus to total compensation see the graph captioned “2012 Named Executive Officer Equity Opportunity as Percentage of Total Compensation” in the CD&A.



Name and Principal Position(a)	Year (b)	Salary ($)(c)	Bonus ($)(d)	Stock Awards ($)(e)⁽¹⁾	Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation ($)(g)	Change in Pension Value and Non-qualified Deferred Compensation Earnings ($)(h)	All Other Compensation ($)(i)	Total ($) (j)
Frédéric P. Villoutreix	2012	780,000	0	1,905,893	810,986	0	130,867	3,627,746
Chief Executive	2011	755,000	0	1,252,062	964,536	0	82,036	3,053,634
Officer⁽²⁾	2010	725,000	29,042	0	574,064	0	193,566	1,521,672

Jeffrey A. Cook	2012	299,108	0	387,036	151,090	0	100,023	937,257
EVP, CFO and
Treasurer ⁽³⁾

Mark A. Spears	2012	208,000	0	104,640	80,990	1,821	24,656	420,107
Controller and	2011	202,000	0	58,296	112,926	2,424	19,359	395,005
CFO⁽⁴⁾

Michel Fievez	2012	459,623	109,659	363,061	252,924	12,796	68,458	1,266,521
EVP, Recon Tobacco	2011	440,570	8,313	315,108	272,569	3,058	57,370	1,096,988
Business⁽⁵⁾	2010	416,357	109,914	0	167,234	0	25,983	719,487

Otto R. Herbst	2012	463,500	0	766,174	280,297	0	55,884	1,565,855
COO & EVP	2011	450,000	0	424,185	327,839	0	58,469	1,260,493
Paper Business ⁽⁶⁾	2010	435,000	12,046	0	267,828	0	90,499	805,373

Wilfred A. Martinez	2012	334,000	0	288,058	192,518	0	37,938	852,514
Vice President,	2011	315,000	0	221,401	159,806	0	32,516	728,723
LIP Operations ⁽⁷⁾	2010	298,700	4,387	0	170,976	0	47,878	521,941

____________________

⁽¹⁾

Values for the Restricted Stock Plan Performance Share award for the year 2012 of the 2011-2012 award cycle are estimates of the award value deemed most probable to be earned in year two of the 2011-2012 award cycle calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on the February 20, 2012 grant share price of $69.90, adjusted here for the stock split. The probable outcome as of the grant date was considered to be performance at the target award level. Utilizing these assumptions, the maximum award values that might be earned by each of the Named Executive Officers for year two of the two-year cycle are: Frédéric Villoutreix ($3,811,937), Jeffrey Cook ($774,143), Mark Spears ($209,281), Michel Fievez ($726,121), Otto Herbst ($1,532,278), and Wilfred Martinez ($576,116). Depending on 2012 performance against objectives the Named Executive Officers could earn no additional value or up to one-half of the maximum potential earnings noted above, excluding the effect of a share price multiplier. The Named Executive Officer forfeits all shares if he is not actively employed by the Company at the vesting date in 2014, except in very limited circumstances which include death or permanent

disability. The share price multiplier is calculated by taking the base shares times current share price/average base share price to determine the number of shares earned in a performance year subject to the limitation that the result of the ratio of the current share price/the average base share price shall not be less than 50% nor more than 200% of the current share price and, if it is, the share prices shall be set at the 50% floor or the 200% ceiling, as applicable. Values for the Restricted Stock Plan Performance Share award for the 2011-2012 award cycle are estimates of the award value deemed most probable to be earned in the 2011-2012 award cycle calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on the February 15, 2011 grant date and a grant share price of $56.93, adjusted here for the stock split. The probable outcome as of the grant date was considered to be performance at the target award level. Other assumptions underlying the valuation were a share price multiplier of 1.0, no increase in 2011 base salary and performance against objectives in line with the 2011 and 2012 budget projections. No adjustments for changes in exchange rates or in the long-term incentive compensation multiples over the two-year award period were considered. Utilizing these same assumptions, the maximum award values that might be earned by each of the Named Executive Officers for the full two-year cycle are: Frédéric Villoutreix ($2,581,605), Mark Spears ($142,211), Michel Fievez ($508,271), Otto Herbst ($1,040,908) and, Wilfred Martinez ($380,179). Depending on 2012 performance against objectives the Named Executive Officers could earn no additional value or up to one-half of the maximum potential earnings noted above, excluding the effect of a share price multiplier. The Named Executive Officer forfeits all shares if he is not actively employed by the Company at the vesting date in 2014, except in very limited circumstances which include death or permanent disability. The share price multiplier is calculated by taking the base shares times current share price/average base share price to determine the number of shares earned in a performance year subject to the limitation that the result of the ratio of the current share price/the average base share price shall not be less than 50% nor more than 200% of the current share price and, if it is, the share prices shall be set at the 50% floor or the 200% ceiling, as applicable. Values for the Restricted Stock Plan Performance Share award for the 2009-2010 award cycle are estimates of the award value deemed most probable to be earned in the 2009-2010 award cycle calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on a February 12, 2009 grant date and a grant date share price of $18.57, adjusted here for the stock split. The probable outcome as of the grant date was considered to be performance at the target award level. Other assumptions underlying the valuation were a share price multiplier of 1.0, no increase in 2010 base salary and performance against objectives in line with the 2009 and 2010 budget projections. No adjustments for changes in exchange rates or in the long-term incentive compensation multiples over the two-year award period were considered. Utilizing these same assumptions, the maximum award values that might be earned by each of the Named Executive Officers for the full two-year cycle are: Frédéric Villoutreix ($4,658,000), Michel Fievez ($1,052,628), Otto Herbst ($1,932,000) and Wilfred Martinez ($696,000). Depending on 2010 performance against objectives the Named Executive Officers could earn no additional value or up to one-half of the maximum potential earnings noted above, excluding the effect of a share price multiplier. The Named Executive Officer forfeits all shares, including those that have been banked for 2009, if he is not actively employed by the Company at the completion of the full-award cycle at the vesting date, except in very limited circumstances which include death or permanent disability. The share price multiplier is calculated by taking the base shares times current share price/average base share price to determine the number of shares earned in a performance year subject to the limitation that the result of the ratio of the current share price/the average base share price shall not be less than 50% nor more than 200% of the current share price and, if it is, the share prices shall be set at the 50% floor or the 200% ceiling, as applicable.


⁽²⁾	Mr. Villoutreix became Chief Executive Officer on January 1, 2009. Column (i): Includes $24,998 in dividends on restricted stock, $15,000 in 401(k) savings plan matching contributions, $89,672 in Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan that exceeded IRS limitations on qualified plan contributions, and $497 for $200,000 worth of company-provided life insurance.


⁽³⁾	Mr. Cook became Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer on February 9, 2012. Column (i): Includes $4,500 in dividends on restricted stock, $78,651 in relocation expenses, $16,375 in 401(k) savings plan matching contributions, and $497 for $200,000 worth of company provided life insurance.

⁽⁴⁾

Mr. Spears was interim Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer from November 28, 2011 to February 9, 2012. He has been Controller since March 2008. Column (h): An increase representing market-based interest on his cash balance retirement fund account balance in the Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Retirement Plan. Column (i): Includes $1,209 in dividends on restricted stock, $11,575 in 401(k) savings plan matching contributions, $9,056 in Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan that exceeded IRS limitations on qualified plan contributions, $1,620 in matching charitable contributions, $700 for a physical, and $497 for $200,000 worth of company provided life insurance.

⁽⁵⁾

Mr. Fievez was President – European Operations until April 2010 when he became EVP Reconstituted Tobacco Business. His compensation is paid in euro and it has been converted at the December 31, 2012 exchange rate of 1.3225 euro to the U.S. dollar for 2012 compensation, December 31, 2011 exchange rate of 1.2973 euro to the U.S. dollar for 2011 compensation and the December 31, 2010 exchange rate of 1.311 euro to the U.S. dollar for

2010 compensation. Column (c): Year 2012 includes base salary of $429,151 and $30,472 in unused vacation. Year 2011 includes base salary of $408,650 and $31,920 in unused vacation. Year 2010 includes $18,370 in unused vacation. Column (i): Includes $45,934 in dividends on restricted stock, $8,341 for life insurance, $8,272 in unemployment insurance, and $5,412 in car allowance.

⁽⁶⁾

Mr. Herbst became Chief Operating Officer in January 1, 2009. In April 2010 he also became Executive Vice President Paper Operations. Column (i): Includes $7,907 in dividends on restricted stock, $10,200 in 401(k) saving plan matching contributions, $37,280 in Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan in 401(k) saving plan contributions that exceeded IRS limitations on qualified plan contributions, and $497 for $200,000 worth of company-provided life insurance.

⁽⁷⁾

Mr. Martinez first became a Named Executive Officer in 2009 when he became President – the Americas. In September 2010 he became Vice President, LIP Operations. Column (i): Includes $3,918 in dividends on restricted stock, $16,375 in 401(k) saving plan matching contributions, $14,628 in Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan in 401(k) saving plan contributions that exceeded IRS limitations on qualified plan contributions, $2,520 in matching charitable contributions, and $497 for $200,000 worth of company-provided life insurance.

Further Information on Performance Share Awards for the 2011-2012 Award Cycle

In accordance with Securities and Exchange Commission rules, the values for the Restricted Stock Plan Performance Share award for the 2011-2012 award cycle reported in the Summary Compensation Table, under the caption “Stock Awards,” column (e), are estimates of the award value deemed most probable to be earned for 2012 in the 2011-2012 award cycle calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on a February 20, 2012 grant date and a share price of $34.95 as of the prior day's close. The probable outcome as of the grant date was considered to be performance at the Target award level. The actual awards earned, which will not be reported until the 2014 Proxy Statement, are set forth in the table below.

ACTUAL PERFORMANCE SHARE AWARDS EARNED

2012 of the 2011 - 2012 AWARD CYCLE



Name	2012 Banked Amount (#)	Grant Date Fair Market Value ($)⁽¹⁾	Fair Market Value at Fiscal Year End ($)⁽²⁾

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	73,566	2,571,132	2,871,281
Jeffrey A. Cook	14,940	522,153	583,108
Mark A. Spears	3,888	135,886	151,749
Michel Fievez	12,112	423,314	472,731
Otto R. Herbst	24,334	850,473	949,756
Wilfred A. Martinez	12,452	435,197	486,002

________


⁽¹⁾	The grant date fair market value is calculated in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 718 based on a February 20, 2012 grant date and a share price of $34.95 as of the prior day's close.


⁽²⁾	The fair market value at fiscal year end based on a December 31, 2012 share price of $39.03.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS



Name	Grant Date	Estimated Future Payouts Under Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards			Estimated Future Payouts Under Equity Incentive Plan Awards
		Threshold ($)	Target ($)	Maximum ($)	Threshold ($)	Target ($)	Maximum ($)

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	2/20/2012	292,500	702,000	1,170,000	476,438	1,905,893	3,811,927
Jeffrey A. Cook	2/20/2012	75,375	150,750	278,888	96,742	387,036	774,143
Mark A. Spears	2/20/2012	36,400	72,800	145,600	26,143	104,640	209,281
Michel Fievez	2/20/2012	85,830	171,660	343,321	90,730	363,061	726,121
Otto R. Herbst	2/20/2012	127,463	254,925	509,850	191,596	766,174	1,532,278
Wilfred A. Martinez	2/20/2012	66,800	133,600	253,840	72,067	288,058	576,116

The actual Non-Equity Incentive Plan Awards (AIP) earned are noted in the "Summary Compensation" table and the actual Equity Incentive Plan Awards (Performance Shares under Restricted Stock Plan) are noted in the "Actual Performance Share Awards Earned" table.

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT FISCAL YEAR-END 2012



Name (a)	Number of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested (#)(g)		Market Value of Shares or Units of Stock That Have Not Vested ($)(h)(3)	Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Number of Unearned Shares, Units or Other Rights that Have Not Vested (#)(i)(4)	Equity Incentive Plan Awards: Market or Payout Value of unearned shares, Units or Other Rights That Have Not Vested ($)(j)(3)
Frédéric P. Villoutreix	55,550	⁽¹⁾	2,168,117	109,068	4,256,924
Mark A. Spears	2,686	⁽¹⁾	104,835	5,998	234,102
Jeffrey A. Cook	10,000	⁽²⁾	390,300	22,150	864,515
Michel Fievez	13,838	⁽¹⁾	540,097	20,776	810,887
Otto R. Herbst	17,572	⁽¹⁾	685,835	43,842	1,711,153
Wilfred A. Martinez	8,706	⁽¹⁾	339,795	16,484	643,371

______


⁽¹⁾	Includes shares awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Plan that were earned with respect to performance objectives and vest in February 2013.


⁽²⁾	Includes shares awarded pursuant to the Restricted Stock Plan that were earned with respect to performance objectives and vest in February 2016.


⁽³⁾	Value calculated using the December 31, 2012 share price of $39.03.

⁽⁴⁾

The Restricted Stock Plan award earned for 2011 was between Outstanding and Maximum, therefore, per SEC rules, the shares reported here are at the Maximum level, the highest possible level of compensation for 2012. The actual number of shares earned based on performance for year 2012 of the 2011-2012 performance share award opportunity under the Restricted Stock Plan are reported in the table captioned “Actual Performance Share Awards Earned.”

2012 PENSION BENEFITS



Name	Plan	Number of Years of Credited Service (#)	Present Value of Accumulated Benefit ($)

Mark A. Spears	Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc. Retirement Plan	17.0	62,106
Michel Fievez	SWM-France defined contribution retirement plan	1.5	15,854

Mr. Spears participates in the cash balance benefit formula of the Company’s Retirement Plan. Benefits under the Retirement Plan were frozen for all salaried employees, including the Named Executive Officers, effective as of January 1, 2006, although participants continue to accrue interest on their account balances after that date. The annual interest credit included in the Present Value shown is based on the average yield on the 30-year Treasury bill for the November immediately preceding the current Retirement Plan year. The reported benefit is based on the final cash balance account for Mr. Spears as of December 31, 2012.

Mr. Spears is entitled to his account balance immediately upon termination for any reason. Participants have the option to receive their account balance as either a lump-sum payment, an immediate single life annuity, or a 50% joint and survivor annuity if married when they terminate employment with the Company or become disabled. Present values shown in the Pension Benefits table assume that benefits will be paid immediately as a lump sum when the U.S. participant attains retirement age.

Mr. Fievez participates in the Company's defined contribution plan (Article 83 scheme) for French employees, which was introduced during 2012. The present value of his benefit, shown in dollars, was converted from euros at the December 31, 2012 exchange rate of 1.3225. Mr. Fievez also benefits from the Company's contributions to national retirement arrangements required by French law (that is, French Social Security, ARRCO and AGIRC).

NON-QUALIFIED DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLANS



Name	Executive contributions in last FY ($)⁽¹⁾	Registrant contributions in last FY ($)⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾	Aggregate earnings in last FY ($)	Aggregate balance at last FYE ($)

Frédéric P. Villoutreix	149,454	89,673	83,621	889,488
Jeffrey A. Cook	0	0	0	0
Mark A. Spears	31,200	9,056	10,454	109,815
Michel Fievez	0	0	0	0
Otto R. Herbst	62,134	37,280	59,365	560,166
Wilfred A. Martinez	24,381	14,628	19,361	209,672

________


⁽¹⁾	All contributions in 2012 relating to 2012 compensation were reported as compensation in the 2012 Summary Compensation Table. Contributions expensed in a prior year are not included.


⁽²⁾	Company contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan were 401(k) savings plan contributions that exceeded IRS limitations on qualified plan contributions.

Eligible employees may elect to defer up to 25% of their annual salary and up to 50% of their incentive bonus to the Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2, a non-qualified deferred compensation plan established in 2005 to allow participants to defer receipt of compensation and payment of certain income taxes. Eligibility to participate in the Deferred Compensation Plan is limited to “management” and “highly compensated employees” as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended. The Company may, with Compensation

Committee approval, make cash contributions to a participant’s account in the Deferred Compensation Plan. Because of regulatory changes, Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2 replaced the Deferred Compensation Plan in effect from 2000 to 2004, which operated in a similar manner. The earlier plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004 to stop the accrual of additional unvested benefits other than market-based investment earnings or losses on individual account balances as of that date.

Amounts deferred into the Deferred Compensation Plan by a participating officer, or contributed on the officer’s behalf by the Company, can be invested at the officer’s election in an account that tracks, but does not actually invest in, some of the fund elections available under the Company’s 401(k) savings plan. The participating officer bears the investment risk. The Company makes no guaranty as to the return of the principal amount of any funds deferred or of any income thereon. The funds remain subject to the Company’s creditors while in the Deferred Compensation Plan.

A participant may elect to receive payment of the vested amount credited to his Deferral Account based on a participant election of a single lump sum or 3, 5, or 10 annual installments. No payments may commence in fewer than 5 years following the date of the deferral election, except for alternative distributions that may occur in certain defined circumstances including disability, death of participant, separation from service, change of control and unforeseeable emergency, as such terms are defined in the plan. Certain individuals, including plan participants who are Named Executive Officers, must defer distributions from the plan for 6 months following a separation from service.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE IN CONTROL

The Company’s Executive Severance Plan (the “Severance Plan”) provides that in the event of termination of a participant’s employment with the Company or one of its French affiliates for any reason other than death, disability or retirement within two years after a change of control of the Company, a participant will be entitled to salary and benefit continuation. A change of control is defined as the date as of which: (a) a third person, including a “group” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, acquires actual or beneficial ownership of shares of the Company having 15% or more of the total number of votes that may be cast for the election of directors of the Company; or (b) as the result of any cash tender or exchange offer, merger or other business combination, sale of assets or contested election, or any combination of the foregoing transactions (a “Transaction”), the persons who were directors of the Company before the Transaction shall cease to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company or any successor to the Company.

In the event of termination as a result of a change of control, participants employed in the United States will be entitled to:


i.	receive a cash payment in an amount equal to 3 times the highest annual compensation (base salary and annual incentive awards) paid or payable within the 3 year period ending on the date of termination;


ii.	receive health and dental benefits from the Company for a period of 3 years; and

iii.

receive a cash payment in an amount equal to the actuarial equivalent of the accrued benefits the participant would have earned under the Retirement Plan if the participant had continued participation in that plan for 3 years following termination. The Executive Severance Plan in effect for participants added before 2012 provides that the calculation of the actuarial equivalent of the accrued benefit would be based on the terms of the Retirement Plan prior to the effective date of the freeze of the accrual of further Retirement Plan benefits for salaried employees that was effective December 31, 2005.

A participant employed by one of the Company’s French subsidiaries is entitled to essentially the same payments and benefits as a United States participant, subject to certain adjustments which take into account the differences between the respective compensation, benefit and pension plans and programs in the United States and France.

Upon a change of control, all restricted stock, stock options and corporate deferred compensation plan contributions that have been granted, but not yet vested, vest automatically. Under the Annual Incentive Plan, the participant is entitled to payment of a pro rata portion of the incentive award at the Target performance percentage, without regard to achievement of pre-established objectives.

For participants added in 2011 or prior years, the Company shall pay the participant an additional gross-up payment to compensate such participant for the excise tax liability under Code Section 4999. This provision has been eliminated for new participants during 2012, such as Mr. Cook.

The Severance Plan also provides that, if a participant's employment with the Company or an affiliate terminates for a reason other than death, retirement, voluntary resignation or cause, the Company will pay the participant an amount equal to six to 24 months of his or her base salary as a cash lump sum. The Severance Plan does not provide for additional benefits in this circumstance. A participant cannot receive both this payment as well as compensation under the Severance Plan's change-in-control provisions.

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company establishes the eligibility criteria for participation and, from time to time, designates key employees as participants in the Severance Plan. Subject to certain conditions, the Severance Plan may be amended or terminated by resolution of the Board of Directors, but no such amendment or termination shall be effective during the two-year period following a change of control of the Company without the consent of all participants. The Company has agreements under the Severance Plan with the Named Executive Officers and certain other key employees.

The maximum amounts payable upon termination pursuant to the Executive Severance Plan, assuming that a change of control of the Company and the termination of their employment on a basis that triggers plan benefits had occurred on December 31, 2012, are set forth in the following tables for all Named Executive Officers.

Potential Payments to Frédéric P. Villoutreix upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012



Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination	Type of Payment	Early Retirement ($)	Normal Retirement ($)	Involuntary Not for Cause Termination ($)	Change in Control ($)	Death or Disability ($)
Compensation:
Base Salary	Lump sum cash			780,000	2,340,000	780,000
Incentive Compensation
Short-Term Incentive	Lump sum cash				2,893,608
Restricted Stock	Shares				2,168,117	2,168,117
Benefits and Perquisites:
Health Care					58,678
Dental Care					3,084
Disability Benefits					7,344
Life Insurance					1,490
Accrued Vacation Pay 4 weeks	Lump sum cash			60,000	180,000	60,000
Qualified 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit	335,342	335,342	335,342	335,342	335,342
Excess 401(k) in Deferred Comp	Lump Sum Benefit	89,672	89,672	89,672	89,672	89,672
Total Executive Severance		425,014	425,014	1,265,014	7,957,335	3,433,131

In the event of termination, retirement, death or disability, Mr. Villoutreix is entitled to his deferral account balance as set forth above in "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans."

Potential Payments to Jeffrey Cook upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012



Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination	Type of Payment	Early Retirement ($)	Normal Retirement ($)	Involuntary Not for Cause Termination ($)	Change in Control ($)	Death or Disability ($)
Compensation:
Base Salary	Lump sum cash			335,000	1,005,000	335,000
Incentive Compensation
Short Term Incentive	Lump sum cash
Restricted Stock	Shares				390,300	390,300
Benefits and Perquisites:
Health Care					37,769
Dental Care					1,742
Disability Benefits					6,834
Life Insurance					1,490
Accrued Vacation Pay – 4 weeks	Lump sum cash			25,769	77,307	25,769
Qualified Pension	Lump Sum Benefit
Qualified 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit	48,191	48,191	48,191	48,191	48,191
Total Executive Severance		48,191	48,191	408,960	1,568,633	799,260

Potential Payments to Mark Spears upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012



Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination	Type of Payment	Early Retirement ($)	Normal Retirement ($)	Involuntary Not for Cause Termination ($)	Change in Control ($)	Death or Disability ($)
Compensation:
Base Salary	Lump sum cash			208,000	624,000	208,000
Incentive Compensation
Short-Term Incentive	Lump sum cash				338,788
Restricted Stock	Shares				104,835	104,835
Benefits and Perquisites:
Health Care					51,874
Dental Care					3,084
Disability Benefits					4,243
Life Insurance					1,490
Accrued Vacation Pay 4 weeks	Lump sum cash			16,000	48,000	16,000
Qualified Pension	Lump Sum Benefit	62,106	62,106	62,106	62,106	62,106
Qualified 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit	462,397	462,397	462,397	462,397	462,397
Excess 401(k) in Deferred Comp	Lump Sum Benefit	9,056	9,056	9,056	9,056	9,056
Additional payment based on Pension Plan	Lump Sum Benefit				80,553
Total Executive Severance		533,559	533,559	757,559	1,790,426	862,394

In the event of termination, retirement, death or disability, Mr. Spears is entitled to his deferral account balance as set forth above in "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans."

Potential Payments to Michel Fievez upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012

Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination

Type of Payment

Early Retirement

($)

Normal Retirement

($)

Involuntary Not for Cause Termination

($)

Change in Control

($)

Death or Disability

($)

Compensation:

Base Salary

Lump sum cash

429,151

1,287,453

Incentive Compensation

Short-Term Incentive

Lump sum cash

817,707

Restricted Stock

540,097

Benefits and Perquisites:

Health Care

Dental Care

Disability Benefits

Life Insurance

Accrued Vacation Pay

Lump sum cash

33,012

99,035

33,012

Qualified Pension

Excess Pension in Deferred Comp

Qualified 401(k) Plan

Excess 401(k) in Deferred Comp

Additional payment based on Pension Plan

38,388

Additional payment based on 401(k) Plan

Total Executive Severance

429,151

2,683,645

540,097

In the event of termination, retirement, death or disability, Mr. Fievez is entitled to pension benefits as set forth in "2012 Pension Benefits" and to other benefits under French law, notably French Social Security and other mandatory benefits.

Potential Payments to Otto R. Herbst upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012



Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination	Type of Payment	Early Retirement ($)	Normal Retirement ($)	Involuntary Not for Cause Termination ($)	Change in Control ($)	Death or Disability ($)
Compensation:
Base Salary	Lump sum cash			463,500	1,390,500	463,500
Incentive Compensation
Short-Term Incentive	Lump sum cash				983,517
Restricted Stock	Shares				685,835	685,835
Benefits and Perquisites:
Health Care					37,769
Dental Care					1,742
Disability Benefits					7,344
Life Insurance					1,490
Accrued Vacation Pay 5 weeks	Lump sum cash			44,567	133,701	44,567
Qualified 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit	216,141	216,141	216,141	216,141	216,141
Excess 401(k) in Deferred Comp	Lump Sum Benefit	37,280	37,280	37,280	37,280	37,280
Additional payment based on Pension Plan	Lump Sum Benefit				64,032
Additional payment based on 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit				157,094
Total Executive Severance		253,421	253,421	761,488	3,716,445	1,447,323

In the event of termination, retirement, death or disability, Mr. Herbst is entitled to his deferral account balance as set forth above in "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans."

Potential Payments to Wilfred A. Martinez upon Retirement,

Termination or Change in Control as of December 31, 2012



Executive Benefits and Payments Upon Termination	Type of Payment	Early Retirement ($)	Normal Retirement ($)	Involuntary Not for Cause Termination ($)	Change in Control ($)	Death or Disability ($)
Compensation:
Base Salary	Lump sum cash			334,000	1,002,000	334,000
Incentive Compensation
Short Term Incentive	Lump sum cash				479,418
Restricted Stock	Shares				339,795	339,795
Benefits and Perquisites:
Health Care					13,463
Dental Care					3,084
Disability Benefits					6,813
Life Insurance					1,490
Accrued Vacation Pay – 4 weeks	Lump sum cash			25,692	77,076	25,692
Qualified Pension	Lump Sum Benefit
Qualified 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit	212,432	212,434	212,432	212,432	212,432
Excess 401(k) in Deferred Comp	Lump Sum Benefit	14,628	14,628	14,628	14,628	14,628
Additional payment based on Pension Plan	Lump Sum Benefit				75,353
Additional payment based on 401(k) Plan	Lump Sum Benefit				90,932
Total Executive Severance		227,060	227,062	586,752	2,316,484	926,547

In the event of termination, retirement, death or disability, Mr. Martinez is entitled to his deferral account balance as set forth above in "Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plans."

Compensation of Directors

Every other year, the Compensation Committee reviews pay to outside directors to assure that director compensation is consistent with market practices. The Committee retained Towers Watson, an independent compensation consultant, to perform an Outside Director Pay Review based on publicly stated director compensation at the same peer group of 15 companies examined in the executive competitive compensation analysis. The pay review concluded that total director compensation at the Company ranked at the 12th percentile of peers, and that compensation to Company directors was disproportionately weighted towards equity rather than cash. Based on these findings, the Compensation Committee recommended, and the Board of Directors adopted, the following changes in compensation to outside directors for 2012 to bring the Company's practices closer to the targeted market median:


•	The annual Board retainer is $60,000 in stock (unchanged from prior years) plus $45,000 in cash (an increase of $20,000). Stock grants are paid quarterly, with valuations based on the closing price on the trading day immediately preceding the grant date.


•	Pay for the lead non-management director increased from $16,000 to $20,000 per year.


•	Directors who serve on committees now receive an annual retainer, paid quarterly, rather than a fee per meeting. These annual retainers are as follows:


•	Audit Committee: $25,000 for Chair; $15,000 for members


•	Compensation Committee: $16,750 for Chair; $10,000 for members


•	Nominating and Governance Committee: $15,000 for Chair; $10,000 for members


•	The Chairman has the discretion to approve additional meeting fees of $1,500 per meeting in person, and $750 per meeting by telephone.

A director who is an officer or an employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates does not receive any fees for service as a member of the Board of Directors, but is reimbursed for expenses incurred as a result of such service. Each director other than Frédéric Villoutreix earned the following compensation in 2012 in addition to reimbursement of their actual and reasonable travel expenses.



Name	Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($)	2012 Totals ($)

Claire L. Arnold	138,179	138,179
K.C. Caldabaugh	135,000	135,000
William A. Finn	128,571	128,571
Robert F. McCullough	130,000	130,000
John D. Rogers	120,000	120,000
Anderson D. Warlick	125,000	125,000

Directors may elect to defer all or part of their compensation to the Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2 for Non-Employee Directors, a non-qualified, deferred compensation plan established in 2005 to allow participants to defer receipt of compensation and payment of certain federal and state income taxes. Each participating director has an individual deferral account that is credited with cash or stock units, which include accumulated dividends. Cash credits accrue market-based investment earnings. The stock units are convertible into common stock at its fair market value or cash in connection with the director’s retirement or earlier death or disability. The stock units do not have any voting rights. Because of regulatory changes, Deferred Compensation Plan No. 2 replaced the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors in effect from 2000 to 2004, which operated in a similar manner. The earlier plan was frozen as of December 31, 2004 to stop the accrual of additional unvested benefits, other than market-based investment earnings or losses on individual account balances as of that date. The Company provides no guaranty of repayment of the principal amount deferred or of any earnings on the participants’ account balances in either plan.

BOARD AND COMMITTEE GOVERNANCE

The Board is led by the Chairman of the Board and that individual is also the Chief Executive Officer. The non-management Directors elect a Lead Non-Management Director for a two-year term after which he or she becomes ineligible to stand for re-election to that position for at least one term. The Chairman sets the agenda in collaboration with the Lead Non-Management Director and determines the schedule for holding meetings of the Directors, which occur at least quarterly and more often if required. The Lead Non-Management Director liaises with the Chairman, can act as a sounding board, and provides input into establishing agenda items and the substantive information the Board wishes to have discussed or presented. The Lead Non-Management Director also provides a vehicle through which topics of interest or concern to the Board or management can be aired informally. The Lead Non-Management Director or non-management Directors as a group can retain such independent expertise they deem to be necessary or desirable, with the costs borne by the Company. There is also total freedom of communication between any Director and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and any other member of management and such communications are not required to go through the Lead Non-Management Director or the Chairman, in the case of director communication with other members of management.

The Board has functioned with this structure and in this manner for a number of years and has to-date found that it provides an appropriate balance to the functioning of the Board in addressing its oversight functions, consideration and understanding of the tactical and strategic matters that must be understood and addressed by the Board and between the respective interests of the company and its shareholders.

Board of Directors and Standing Committees

Attendance by Directors at Board Meetings

The Board of Directors met five times and acted by Unanimous Written Consent two times in 2012. Each director attended every meeting of the Board of Directors.

Attendance by Members of the Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders

The Company encourages members of the Board of Directors to attend each Annual Meeting of Stockholders and all of the sitting directors, who were board members at the time, attended the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 26, 2012.

Lead Non-Management Director

On April 26, 2012, Willam A. Finn was elected for a two-year term as the Lead Non-Management Director to preside at meetings of the non-management Directors.

Standing Committees

The Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating & Governance Committee are the three Standing Committees of the Board of Directors. Each Standing Committee is composed entirely of independent directors.

Corporate Governance Documents

We have adopted a code of conduct, or the Code of Conduct, that applies to all of our directors, officers and U.S. employees, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer and other persons performing similar functions. The Code of Conduct is posted on the Company’s website at http://www.swmintl.com. Any waivers of, or changes to, the Code of Conduct will be posted on our website. In addition, copies of the Company’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and the charters for each of the Standing Committees can also be found on the Company’s website. Copies of these documents may also be obtained by directing a

written request to the Investor Relations Department at the Company’s headquarters address noted on the first page of this Proxy Statement.

Director Independence

The Board of Directors unanimously adopted the following standard for director independence at its December 2002 meeting:

An independent director is a person who is free from any relationship that would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director. Annually, the Board of Directors will assess the independence of each non-management director based on the existence or absence of a material relationship with the Company (either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with the Company). The following persons shall not be considered independent:


a.	A director who is employed by the Company or any of its affiliates for the current year or any of the past five (5) years.


b.	A director who is, or in the past five (5) years has been, affiliated with or employed by a (present or former) auditor of the Company (or of an affiliate).


c.	A director who is, or in the past five (5) years has been, part of an interlocking directorate in which an executive officer of the Company serves on the compensation committee of another company that concurrently employs the director.

A director who is, or in the past five (5) years has been, a Family Member of an individual who was employed by the Company or any of its affiliates as an executive officer. The term “Family Member” shall mean a person’s spouse, parents, children, siblings, mothers and fathers-in-law, sons and daughters-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and anyone (other than household employees) who shares such person’s home.

A director who, during the current fiscal year or any of the past five (5) fiscal years, personally provided services to the Company or its affiliates that had an annual value in excess of $60,000; or who was paid or accepted, or who has a non-employee Family Member who was paid or accepted, any payments from the Company or any of its affiliates in excess of $60,000 other than compensation for board service, benefits under a tax-qualified retirement plan, or non-discretionary compensation.

A director who is a partner in, or a controlling stockholder or an executive officer of, any organization (profit or non-profit) to which the Company made, or from which the Company received, payments (other than those arising solely from investments in the Company’s securities) that exceed one percent (1%) of the recipient’s annual consolidated gross revenues in the current year or any of the past five (5) fiscal years; unless, for provisions (e) and (f), the Board of Directors expressly determines in its business judgment that the relationship does not interfere with the director’s exercise of independent judgment.

Based on the foregoing standard and the standards for independence articulated by the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Board affirmatively determined by resolution dated February 28, 2013 that the following directors, who collectively constitute 85.7% of the full Board and represent 100% of the membership of the Standing Committees, are independent:



Ms. Claire L. Arnold Mr. William A. Finn Mr. Robert F. McCullough	Mr. Anderson D. Warlick Mr. K.C. Caldabaugh Mr. John D. Rogers

Mr. Villoutreix is a member of management and not independent.

Financial Experts

The Board of Directors affirmatively determined by resolution dated February 28, 2013 that all three members of the Audit Committee, Mr. McCullough, Mr. Caldabaugh and Mr. Rogers, qualify as financial experts as such term is defined in the instructions to Regulation S-K, Item 407 (d)(5)(C)(ii).

The following table lists the current members, principal functions and meetings held in 2012 for each of the Standing Committees, the non-management directors and the independent directors:



Compensation Committee Claire L. Arnold (Chair) William A. Finn Anderson D. Warlick	• Evaluate and approve officer compensation • Administer a number of the Company’s executive compensation plans • Review executive compensation and executive compensation plans • Evaluate and make recommendations on director compensation • The nature and scope of the Committee’s responsibilities are set forth in further detail under the caption “Compensation Committee Discussion & Analysis” • Risk Assessment	2	6

Nominating & Governance Committee K.C. Caldabaugh (Chair) William A. Finn Anderson D. Warlick	• Recommend candidates to fill any vacancies on the Board of Directors; evaluate stockholder nominees • Supervise Board of Directors, Board Committee and individual director evaluation processes • Evaluate, monitor and recommend changes in the Company’s governance policies • Supervise and monitor the succession planning process for the executive officers and directors	3	0

Non-Management Directors Bill Finn (Lead Non-Management Director)		5	NA

Director Training

The Directors participate in the Company’s compliance training programs and in programs directed specifically to the due and proper execution of their duties as directors. In 2012, the Board adopted a Policy on Orientation and Continuing Education for Board members as part of the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The policy requires orientation for new directors and ongoing presentations and training for existing directors, as well as periodic reports to the Nominating and Governance Committee.

PROPOSAL TWO

RATIFICATION OF THE SELECTION OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED

PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

Selection of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee has selected Deloitte & Touche to serve as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, or outside auditor, for fiscal year 2013. Although it is not required to do so, the Audit Committee is asking our stockholders to ratify the Audit Committee’s selection of Deloitte & Touche. If our stockholders do not ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche, the Audit Committee may reconsider its selection. Even if the selection is ratified by our stockholders, the Audit Committee may in its discretion change the appointment at any time during the year, if it determines that such a change would be in the best interest of the Company and its stockholders.

Representatives of Deloitte & Touche will be at the Annual Meeting to answer appropriate questions. They also will have the opportunity to make a statement if they wish to do so.

Audit, Audit Related, Tax and Other Fees

The following table summarizes the aggregate fees relating to amounts billed to the Company by its outside auditor, Deloitte & Touche LLP, the member firms of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and their respective affiliates, (collectively, “Deloitte”) for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011:



	2012		2011
Audit Fees ⁽¹⁾	$	1,529,000	$	1,335,000
Audit-Related Fees⁽²⁾	133,000		0
Tax Fees⁽³⁾	27,000		6,000
All Other Fees ⁽⁴⁾	6,000		6,000
Total Fees	$	1,695,000	$	1,347,000

_______


⁽¹⁾	Includes fees billed for professional services rendered in connection with the audit of the annual financial statements, audit of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and management’s assessment thereof, review of financial statements included in the Form 10-Q filings and for services provided for statutory and regulatory filings or engagements.


⁽²⁾	Includes fees incurred for assurance and related services and consultation on regulatory matters or accounting standards, including fees for professional services rendered in connection with filings by the Company on Forms 8-K, S-8 and S-3.


⁽³⁾	Includes fees incurred for tax return preparation and compliance and tax advice and tax planning.


⁽⁴⁾	Includes other fees not included in the above categories.

Pre-approval Policies and Procedures

The above services performed by the outside auditor were pre-approved in accordance with the pre-approval policy and procedures adopted by the Audit Committee. These procedures describe the permitted audit, audit-related, tax and other services (collectively, the “Disclosure Categories”) that the outside auditor may perform. The procedure requires that prior to the beginning of each fiscal year, a description of the services (the “Service List”) expected to be performed by the outside auditor in each of the Disclosure Categories in the following fiscal year be presented to the Audit Committee for approval.

Services provided by the outside auditor during the following year that are included in the Service List are pre-approved following policies and procedure of the Audit Committee. Any requests for audit, audit-related, tax, and other services not contemplated on the Service List must be submitted to the Audit Committee for specific pre-approval and cannot commence until such approval has been granted. Normally, pre-approval is provided at regularly scheduled meetings. However, the authority to grant specific pre-approval between meetings, as necessary,

has been delegated to the Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman must update the Audit Committee at the next regularly scheduled meeting of any services that were granted specific pre-approval.

In addition, although not required by the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Audit Committee is provided a range of fees associated with each proposed service on the Service List and any services that were not originally included on the Service List. Providing a range of fees for a service incorporates appropriate oversight and control of the outside auditor when time is of the essence. The policy does not contain a de minimis provision that would provide retroactive approval for permissible non-audit services under certain circumstances.

On a periodic basis, the Audit Committee reviews the status of services and fees incurred year-to-date against the Service List and the forecast of remaining services and fees for the fiscal year.

Board Recommendation

The Board of Directors unanimously recommends a vote FOR ratification of the selection of Deloitte & Touche as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal 2013.

Audit Committee Report

The following report summarizes the Audit Committee’s actions during 2012. This report shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference by any general statement incorporating this Proxy Statement by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates this information by reference, and shall not otherwise be deemed filed under such acts.

In accordance with its written charter, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (“Audit Committee”) assists the Board of Directors by overseeing and monitoring:


(1)	the integrity of the Company’s financial statements,


(2)	the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements,


(3)	the outside auditor’s qualifications and independence, and


(4)	the performance of the Company’s internal control function, its system of internal and disclosure controls, and the outside auditor.

The members of the Audit Committee meet the applicable independence and experience requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the standards for determining a director’s independence adopted by the Board of Directors.

During 2012, the Audit Committee met 8 times.

In discharging its oversight responsibility as to the audit process, the Audit Committee obtained from the outside auditor a formal written statement describing all relationships between the outside auditor and the Company that might bear on the outside auditor’s independence consistent with Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussion with Audit Committees,” discussed with the outside auditor any relationships that may impact their objectivity and independence, including the services and amounts reflected in the above table, and satisfied itself as to the outside auditor’s independence.

The Committee reviewed with the outside auditor their audit plans, audit scope and identification of audit risks. The Audit Committee also discussed with management and the outside auditor the quality and adequacy of the Company’s internal control function and its system of internal and disclosure controls.

The Audit Committee discussed and reviewed with the outside auditor all communications required by Securities and Exchange Commission regulations and by the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), including those described in AU 380, “Communication with Audit Committees” and, with and

without management present, discussed and reviewed the results of the outside auditor’s examination of the financial statements.

The Audit Committee discussed, reviewed and monitored the Company’s plans and activities related to Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 compliance on a regular basis.

The Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited financial statements of the Company as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, with management and the outside auditor. Management has the responsibility for the preparation of the Company’s financial statements and outside auditor has the responsibility for conducting an audit of those statements.

Based on the above-mentioned review and discussions with management and the outside auditor, the Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the Company’s audited financial statements be included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Audit Committee also recommended the reappointment of the outside auditor and the Board of Directors concurred with such recommendation.



	AUDIT COMMITTEE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

	Robert F. McCullough (Chairman)
	K.C. Caldabaugh
	John D. Rogers

OTHER INFORMATION

Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations for the 2012 Annual Meeting

Under Securities and Exchange Commission rules, if a stockholder wishes to have a proposal considered for inclusion in the Company’s Proxy Statement and form of proxy for the 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, a proposal must be received by the Secretary of the Company at the Company’s principal executive offices not less than 120 days from the date of release of the Proxy Statement, March 14, 2013, and therefore must be received by November 14, 2013 to be considered timely. The Company reserves the right to decline to include in the Company’s Proxy Statement any stockholder’s proposal that does not comply with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for inclusion therein.

The By-Laws of the Company include requirements applicable to stockholder proposals other than those included in the proxy materials pursuant to the regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The following requirements apply:

15. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS

In addition to any other applicable requirements for business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a stockholder (other than director nominations, which are subject to the requirements of By-Law 19), such stockholder must be a stockholder of record and must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice to the Secretary must be delivered and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the Annual Meeting of stockholders for the preceding year; provided, however, if and only if the Annual Meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an Annual Meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Meeting Date”), such Stockholder Notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date ninety (90) days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed.

To be in proper written form, a stockholder's notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the Annual Meeting of stockholders: (i) the text of the proposal to be presented, including the text of any resolutions to be proposed for consideration by stockholders; (ii) a brief written statement of the reasons why such stockholder favors the proposal; (iii) whether the stockholder is providing the notice at the request of a beneficial holder of shares, whether the stockholder or any such beneficial holder has any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, or has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from any other person with respect to the investment by the stockholder or the beneficial holder in the corporation or the matter such notice relates to, and the details thereof, including the name of such other person (for the purposes of this By-Law 15, the stockholder, any beneficial holder on whose behalf the notice is being delivered, and any persons with whom such agreement, arrangement or understanding exists or from whom such assistance has been obtained are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Interested Persons”); (iv) the name and address of all Interested Persons; (v) a complete listing of the record and beneficial ownership positions (including number or amount) of all equity securities and debt instruments, whether held in the form of loans or capital market instruments, of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries held by all Interested Persons; (vi) whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of such notice by or for the benefit of any Interested Person with respect to the corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such Interested Person, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof; (vii) a brief description of the business proposed to be brought before the Annual Meeting of stockholders and the reasons for conducting such business at the Annual Meeting of stockholders; and (viii) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the corporation and intends to appear

in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting of stockholders to bring such business before the meeting. The corporation may require such stockholder to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation in connection with such proposed business. Such notice shall be updated not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting to provide any material changes in the foregoing information as of the record date. As used herein, “beneficially owned” has the meaning provided in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

No business shall be conducted at the Annual Meeting of stockholders except business (i) specified in the notice of Annual Meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise brought before the Annual Meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) brought before the Annual Meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law 15 or By-Law 19, provided, however, that once business has been properly brought before the Annual Meeting of stockholders in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this By-Law 15 or By-Law 19 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the Chairman of an Annual Meeting of stockholders determines that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the Chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.

For purposes of this By-Law 15 and By-Law 19, a matter shall be deemed to have been "publicly announced or disclosed" if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In no event shall the postponement or adjournment of an Annual Meeting already publicly announced, or any announcement of such postponement or adjournment, commence a new period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as provided in this By-Law 15 or By-Law 19. This By-Law 15 shall not apply to stockholder proposals required to be included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

The person presiding at any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether notice of nominees and other matters proposed to be brought before a meeting has been duly given in the manner provided in this By-Law 15 or By-Law 19 and, if not so given, shall direct and declare at the meeting that such nominee or other matters are not properly before the meeting and shall not be considered.

19. NOMINATIONS

Subject to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock or any other class of capital stock of the corporation (other than the Common Stock) then outstanding, nominations for the election of Directors may be made by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by any stockholder of record entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors complying with this By-Law 19. Any stockholder of record entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors may nominate one or more persons for election as Directors at a meeting only if a written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations meeting the requirements described below, has been given, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the corporation, and received by the corporation, not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the Annual Meeting of stockholders for the preceding year; provided, however, if and only if the Annual Meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an Annual Meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Meeting Date”), such Stockholder Notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of the close of business on (i) the date ninety (90) days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the tenth day following the date such Other Annual Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed. Each such notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (a) whether the stockholder is providing the notice at the request of a beneficial holder of shares, whether the stockholder, any beneficial holder or any nominee has any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, or has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from, any other person with respect to the investment by the stockholder or such beneficial holder in the corporation or the nomination or nominations, and the details thereof including the name of such other person (for the purposes of this By-Law 19, the stockholder, any beneficial holder on whose behalf the notice is being delivered, any nominees listed in the notice and any persons with

whom such agreement, arrangement or understanding exists or from whom such assistance has been obtained are hereinafter collectively referred to as “Interested Persons”); (b) the name and address of record of all Interested Persons; (c) a complete listing of the record and beneficial ownership positions (including number or amount) of all equity securities and debt instruments, whether held in the form of loans or capital market instruments, of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries held by all Interested Persons; (d) whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction is in place or has been entered into within the prior six months preceding the date of delivery of such notice by or for the benefit of any Interested Person with respect to the corporation or its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities, debt instruments or credit ratings, the effect or intent of which transaction is to give rise to gain or loss as a result of changes in the trading price of such securities or debt instruments or changes in the credit ratings for the corporation, its subsidiaries or any of their respective securities or debt instruments (or, more generally, changes in the perceived creditworthiness of the corporation or its subsidiaries), or to increase or decrease the voting power of such Interested Person, and if so, a summary of the material terms thereof; (e) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (f) the name, age, business and residence addresses, and principal occupation or employment of each nominee; (g) whether each nominee is eligible for consideration as an independent Director under the relevant standards contemplated by Item 407(a) of Regulation S-K; (h) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission; and (i) the signed consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the corporation if so elected. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a Director of the corporation or to be considered “independent” as a Director or as a member of the audit or other committee of the Board under the various rules and standards applicable to the corporation. The presiding officer of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Such notice shall be updated not later than ten (10) days after the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting to provide any material changes in the foregoing information as of the record date. As used herein, “beneficially owned” has the meaning provided in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 19 to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and either all of the nominees for Director or the size of the increased Board of Directors is not publicly announced or disclosed by the Corporation at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s Annual Meeting, a Stockholder Notice shall also be considered timely hereunder, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the first date all of such nominees or the size of the increased Board of Directors shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.

Only such matters shall be properly brought before a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the Stockholder Notice required by this Article 19 hereof shall be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting is publicly announced or disclosed.

This By-Law 19 shall not apply to stockholder nominations required to be included in the corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

Form 10-K, Annual Report and Proxy Statement

The Company’s Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (including the consolidated financial statements and schedules thereto, but excluding exhibits)

has been included with the mailing of this Proxy Statement to stockholders of record and beneficial holders as of February 28, 2013. Additional copies of the Company’s Annual Report to the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012 (excluding exhibits) will be provided without charge to each stockholder so requesting in writing. Each request must set forth a good faith representation that, as of February 28, 2013, the record date for the Annual Meeting, the person making the request beneficially owned shares of the Company’s Common Stock. The written request should be directed to: Jeffrey A. Cook, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer. In addition, the Form 10-K, Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are available on the Company’s website at www.swmintl.com.

Communicating with the Board

Stockholders and interested parties may communicate directly with the Board of Directors, including the Lead Non-Management Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee, by telephonic or written communication as set forth below. Each communication intended for the Board of Directors and received by the head of Internal Audit that is related to the operation of the Company will be forwarded to the designated person. The head of Internal Audit may screen communications solely for the purpose of eliminating communications that are commercial in nature and not related to the operation of the Company and to conduct appropriate security clearance. All communications relating to the operation of the Company shall be forwarded to the designated recipient in their entirety.



If by phone:	A voice mail message may be left identifying the individual to whom it is directed by calling (866) 528-2593. This is a toll free call and is monitored and accessible only to the head of Internal Audit of the Company. Messages received on this line will be maintained in confidence to the extent practicable.



If by mail:	A sealed envelope prominently marked “Confidential” on the outside of the envelope that it is directed to the attention of the Audit Committee Chairman or the Lead Non-Management Director, as appropriate, may be mailed to

Head of Internal Audit

Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc.

100 North Point Center East–Suite 600

Alpharetta, Georgia 30022

YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT

You are encouraged to let us know your preference by marking the appropriate boxes on the enclosed proxy card.