From MarketsReformWiki
Dodd-Frank Timeline, Incentive-Based Compensation Arrangements, SEC
| Proposal Date
| Comment Deadline
| Final Rule Issue
|
| April 14, 2011
| May 31, 2011
| Late 2011/Early 2012
|
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
| Proposal Date
| Comment Deadline
| Final Rule Issue
|
| April 6, 2011
| May 19, 2011
| Late 2011/Early 2012
|
On March 2, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed rules regarding incentive-based compensation arrangements under the Dodd-Frank Act. The regulation would require incentive-based compensation annual reports, enforce new compliance procedures and add a threshold of $50 billion for certain institutions. Final rules concerning shareholder approval of executive compensation and golden parachute compensation were adopted on January 25, 2011.
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.[1]
- 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."
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.
Proposed Rules
- "The exchanges would be required to adopt listing standards that require each member of a company's compensation committee to be a member of the board of directors and to be independent."
Factors determining independence:
- "The sources of compensation of a director, including any consulting, advisory or compensatory fee paid by the company to such member of the board of directors.
- Whether a member of the board of directors of a company is affiliated with the company, a subsidiary of the company, or an affiliate of a subsidiary of the company."
In adopting listing standards, the compensation committee of a listed company:
- "may, in its sole discretion, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation adviser;
- is directly responsible for the appointment, payment and oversight of compensation advisers;
- must be appropriately funded by the listed company."
The proposed rules also set out five independence factors and five categories of companies exempt from the compensation committee independence requirements.[2]
References
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ SEC Proposes Rules Requiring Listing Standards for Compensation Committees and Compensation Consultants. SEC. Retrieved on March 30, 2011.