(The article featured
below is a selection from SEC
No-Action Letter Weekly, which is available to subscribers
of that publication.)
SEC Approves Proposals on Proxy Disclosure and "Say on Pay" for
TARP Participants
The SEC voted unanimously to issue for comment
proposed rule amendments to enhance compensation and corporate governance
disclosures and to implement "say on pay" provisions for companies
participating in the Troubled Asset Relief Program ("TARP"). The
Commission also approved, by a 3-to-2 vote, an amendment to NYSE Rule 452 that
would eliminate broker discretionary voting for the election of directors ,
except for registered investment companies.
Companies that have received financial assistance
under TARP are required by Section 111(e) of the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act of 2008 to include an advisory shareholder vote on executive
compensation in proxy solicitations during any period in which any obligation
under TARP remains outstanding. The rule proposals are designed to implement the
Section 111(e) requirements.
In addition to requiring the shareholder vote on
compensation, the proposals would clarify that the separate shareholder vote
would only be required on a proxy solicited for an annual meeting --or a special
meeting in lieu of the annual meeting --of shareholders for which proxies will
be solicited for the election of directors. Registrants would be required to
disclose in the proxy statement that they are providing a separate shareholder
vote on executive compensation and to briefly explain the general effect of the
vote. The proposed rules would not require smaller reporting companies to
include a compensation discussion and analysis section in their proxy
statements.
Commissioner Elisse Walter asked why the staff chose
not to include the specific language that companies should include in their
proxy solicitations. New Corporation Finance Division Director Meredith Cross
said the staff wanted to give companies maximum flexibility by only setting
forth a few specific requirements. She noted that the proposals ask for feedback
on whether the SEC should mandate more specific disclosure.
The second set of rule proposals is a broad package of
corporate disclosure improvements and enhancements to proxy solicitations. Chair
Mary Schapiro noted that the proposals resulted from the recent market turmoil
and the SEC asking itself whether investors are being provided with the right
information.
The proposed rule changes include information about
the the relationship of a company's overall compensation policies to risk, the
qualifications of directors, executive officers and nominees, company leadership
structure and potential conflicts of interests of compensation consultants. The
proposals also would improve the reporting of annual stock and option awards to
company executives and directors, and require quicker reporting of election
results.
Commissioner Troy Paredes supported this group of
proposals, but cautioned that the SEC should be careful not to dampen the
willingness of companies and individuals to take prudent risks that drive
innovation and competition. As reforms are proposed to address excessive risk
taking, he said, it is important to note that just as a company can assume too
much risk, a company also can be overly cautious.
Commissioner Kathleen Casey supported the issuance of
both the "say on pay" and disclosure enhancement proposals, but
expressed the general concern about the number of changes scheduled to take
effect in the 2010 proxy season. She asked if the staff had considered the
impact on companies of all of the new requirements that will take effect at the
same time.
Cross replied that the staff had considered the issue
and would like to get feedback on it during the comment period. She added that
all of the proposed changes are within the core competencies of companies and
should not be that difficult for companies to handle.
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