Since 2007, executive compensation practices of public companies have been at the forefront of activist shareholders’ and shareholder rights groups’ agendas. Mandatory say-on-pay proposals, enhanced executive compensation disclosure, compensation committee and compensation consultant independence rules are just a few of the recent significant changes to the laws and regulations applicable to public companies in the… Continue Reading
Tag Archives: fiduciary duty
Say-on-pay litigation: Round 2
Posted in CompensationWhy doesn’t the plaintiffs’ bar believe Congress means what it says? The Dodd-Frank Act could not have been more clear that the outcome of the mandatory say-on-pay advisory vote for public companies does not create or imply any change to the fiduciary duties of board members. However, as we have discussed in previous blog posts,… Continue Reading
When does hedging or pledging of company stock by insiders equate to bribery?
Posted in Corporate GovernanceThe answer: when ISS is evaluating a public company’s corporate governance under its revised policies for the 2013 proxy season. We previously blogged about the potential insider trading issues that could theoretically arise when insiders pledge company stock to secure loans. Now, with the implementation of the revised ISS governance standards, there are additional reasons… Continue Reading
Are investors’ interests served by proxy advisory firms?
Posted in Corporate GovernanceAs we say “goodbye” to 2012 we say “hello” to another proxy season full of angst caused by the self-appointed czars of corporate governance, the proxy advisory firms. Although ISS and Glass Lewis have been making voting recommendations for more than a decade, over the past two years their power over voting outcomes has increased. … Continue Reading
GUEST BLOGGER: Lessons learned in corporate governance from the Jerry Sandusky tragedy
Posted in Corporate GovernanceMr. Lamm is Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Secretary at Pfizer Inc. and a Gunster alumnus. The views expressed in this posting are Mr. Lamm’s personal views and should not be attributed to Pfizer Inc. or to Gunster. While nothing good has come out of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal at Penn State, I… Continue Reading
Margin calls: The insider trading trap
Posted in Corporate GovernanceImagine the following scenario. Your company is publicly traded. As such, senior management is keenly aware of the potential for executives and employees trading in the company’s securities on the basis of material nonpublic information in violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and the infamous Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. To prevent improper trading,… Continue Reading
Could directors be personally liable if Facebook paid too much for Instagram?
Posted in Corporate GovernanceIt is a basic tenant of corporate law that directors of a corporation are not liable for business decisions as long as the directors acted with a reasonable level of care in making these decisions. This is referred to as “the business judgment rule.” Because directors are not guarantors of corporate success, the business judgment… Continue Reading