Publications

RiskMetrics’ 2010 Policy Updates: A Summary

RiskMetrics Group, the prominent risk management and corporate governance services firm, has updated the corporate governance and executive compensation policies that it will use to determine its voting recommendations for its proxy advisory clients during the upcoming 2010 proxy season. With the adoption of a universal advisory vote on executive compensation (“Say on Pay”) requirement...Read More

2009 Bay Area 150 Reports

Compensia, Inc. is pleased to release its third annual Bay Area 150 reports (previously the Silicon Valley 135 reports), a comprehensive study analyzing the senior executive compensation policies and practices of Silicon Valley’s largest high-technology companies. As reflected in this year’s study (which expands the number of companies examined from last year’s 135 to this year’s 150), the pay...Read More

Compensation Consultant Conflicts in the Spotlight in 2010

The Securities and Exchange Commission has proposed significant changes to its proxy disclosure rules that will provide greater insight into the independence and objectivity of the compensation consultants providing advice to board compensation committees. Specifically, the SEC is considering rules that will require companies to: disclose all of the fees paid to compensation consultants and...Read More

Compensia Continues to Lead Bay Area Compensation Committee Consulting Engagements

A recent survey of the top 150 public technology and life sciences companies in the Bay Area shows that, for the second consecutive year, Compensia was the advisor to nearly one-third of the companies’ Board Compensation Committees disclosing that they had engaged a compensation consultant—twice the next most frequently identified consultant. Download a pdf of the report » Read More

The SEC’s New Disclosure Proposals

On July 1, 2009, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously to solicit comment on several proposed changes to its rules on the disclosure of corporate governance and executive compensation information in proxy statements. These proposals fulfill commitments made earlier in the year by SEC Chairman Mary L. Schapiro to revisit the current disclosure requirements in light of the...Read More

Shareholder Advisory Votes on Executive Compensation – A “Say on Pay” Primer

The Administration’s announcement that it intends to proposed legislation that would give shareholders an annual advisory vote on executive compensation at all public companies is just the latest indication that Say on Pay may be required during the 2010 proxy season. Here’s a summary of the origin and recent experiences with advisory votes on executive pay to help you get up-to-speed on this...Read More

Update on Pre-IPO Pay Practices

Continuing its survey of pre-IPO companies in the current down economy, Compensia has updated its information on the measures that these companies are taking to manage (and reduce) their compensation-related costs, including base salary, annual incentives, and equity awards. Download a pdf of the report » Read More

RiskMetrics Issues Policy Updates for 2009 Proxy Season

RiskMetrics Group (the parent company of Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS)) has updated its U.S. corporate governance policies for the 2009 proxy season, including several policies that affect executive and equity compensation matters. Download a pdf of this article » Read More

Report on Pre-IPO Pay Practices

In response to the recent economic downturn, Compensia, Inc. has surveyed over three dozen pre-IPO companies to determine what measures they are taking to manage (and reduce) their compensation-related costs, including base salary, annual incentives, and equity awards, in the current environment. Download a pdf of the report » Read More

2008 Silicon Valley 135 Reports

Compensia, Inc. is pleased to release its second annual Silicon Valley 135 reports, a comprehensive study analyzing the senior executive compensation policies and practices of Silicon Valley’s largest high-technology companies. As reflected in this year’s study (which expands the number of companies examined from last year’s 130 to this year’s 135), the pay practices of the country’s largest...Read More

Should Outside Advisors Attend Executive Sessions of the Compensation Committee?

Both Nasdaq and NYSE rules require Boards to regularly schedule executive sessions. Nasdaq requires that the executive sessions consist of “independent directors” only, while the NYSE rules require separate meetings of all outside directors, whether or not they are independent. Many companies extend this practice to Board committees, including the compensation committee....Read More

The Silicon Valley 135: Advising the Compensation Committee

Compensia continuously monitors the executive compensation practices of the largest 135 high-technology and life sciences companies with headquarters in the Silicon Valley (a group that we call the Silicon Valley 135). Since 2007, companies have been required to identify any advisors that have a role in determining or recommending the amount or form of their executive and director...Read More