Dodd-Frank Timeline, Incentive-Based Compensation Arrangements, SEC
| Proposal Date
|
Comment Deadline
|
Final Rule Issue
|
| April 14, 2011
|
May 31, 2011
|
TBA
|
Dodd-Frank Timeline, Shareholder Approval of Executive Compensation and Golden Parachute Compensation, SEC
| Approval Date
|
Effective Date
|
Compliance Date
|
| February 2, 2011
|
April 4, 2011
|
April 4, 2011
|
Dodd-Frank Timeline, Listing Standards for Compensation Committees, SEC
| Final Rule Issue
|
Effective Date
|
Compliance Date, Rule Changes
|
Compliance Date, Disclosure
|
| June 27, 2012
|
July 27, 2012
|
September 25, 2012
|
January 1, 2013
|
Title IX of the Dodd-Frank Act aims to update and enhance investor protection and improve protections in U.S. securities markets. Among its provisions are five sections related to executive compensation:
- Section 951, which requires advisory votes of shareholders about executive compensation and golden parachutes;
- Section 952, which requires disclosure about the role of, and potential conflicts involving, compensation consultants;
- Section 953, which requires disclosure on compensation practices such as pay-for-performance and ratios between CEO and median compensation;
- Section 954, which aims to require compensation claw-back policies; and
- Section 955, which requires disclosure about whether company directors are permitted to hedge decreases in market value of the company's stock.
In 2011 and 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) first proposed and then began finalizing rules related to executive compensation.
[1]
On March 30, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules regarding listing standards for compensation committees under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
Final Rules
On June 20, 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved a final rule requiring securities exchanges to adopt listing standards for compensation committees and compensation advisers. Under the new statute, Rule 10C-1, national securities exchanges are directed to establish listing standards that, among other things, require each member of a listed issuer’s compensation committee to be a member of the board of directors and to be “independent.” The rule will become effective 30 days after it is published in the Federal Register.[2]
Regarding compliance, each national securities exchange and association must provide to the SEC, within 90 days, proposed rule change submissions associated with 10C-1 compliance. The exchanges must have final rules in place within one year. Additionally, related changes must be disclosed in proxy or information sheets by the first shareholder meeting at which directors will be elected on or after January 1, 2013.
On January 25, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted rules requiring approval from shareholders for executive compensation and "golden parachute" arrangements mandated by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.
The new rules will require:
- Say-on-pay votes required under the Dodd-Frank Act must occur at least once every three years, beginning with the first annual shareholders' meeting taking place on or after Jan. 21, 2011.
- A "frequency" vote must take place at least once every six years in order to allow shareholders to decide how often they would like to be presented with the say-on-pay vote.
- A company must disclose on an SEC Form 8-K how often it will hold the say-on-pay vote.
- Companies also are required to provide additional disclosure regarding "golden parachute" compensation arrangements with certain executive officers in connection with merger transactions.[3]
- There will be a two year exemption until January 2013 for small businesses (public float of less than $75 million).
Proposed Rules
- Incentive-based compensation annual reports would be required of qualifying institutions.
- Excessive compensation encouraging inappropriate risk-taking on the part of executives and/or resulting in losses by the institution would be prohibited.
- An additional threshold of $50 billion for certain institutions would be added, and requirements such as the "deferral of incentive-based compensation of executive officers and approval of compensation for people whose job functions give them the ability to expose the firm to a substantial amount of risk" would be enforced.
- Compliance policies and procedures regarding incentive-based compensation would be created and enforced.
Annual reports would include the following information:
- "A narrative description of the components of the firm’s incentive-based compensation arrangements;
- A succinct description of the firm’s policies and procedures governing its incentive-based compensation arrangements; and
- A statement of the specific reasons as to why the firm believes the structure of its incentive-based compensation arrangement will help prevent it from suffering a material financial loss or does not provide covered persons with excessive compensation."
References
- ↑ Corporate Governance Issues, Including Executive Compensation Disclosure and Related SRO Rules. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved on June 22, 2012.
- ↑ SEC Adopts Rule Requiring Listing Standards for Compensation Committees and Compensation Advisers. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved on June 21, 2012.
- ↑ SEC Adopts Rules for Say-on-Pay and Golden Parachute Compensation as Required Under Dodd-Frank Act. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved on January 25, 2011.