NACD Urges SEC to Consider Adjustments to Proposed Say-on-Pay Rules

WASHINGTON, Nov. 19, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) request for comment on say-on-pay, the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the largest membership organization in the United States representing corporate directors focused on demonstrating exemplary board leadership, today issued formal concerns regarding proposed new say-on-pay rules for executive compensation plans, cautioning against dependency on regular, yes-or-no votes.  

NACD's opinions are grounded in its more than 30 years of proprietary research across a broad range of board leadership and corporate governance topics, insights expressed through confidential peer exchanges with its membership spanning F100 through mid-cap and small cap companies, and best practices detailed in its Blue Ribbon Commission reports. Furthermore, NACD's comments were reinforced by a national survey issued after the SEC's request for comment and drew over 280 responses from its corporate director members across America.

Representing the voice of its more than 10,000 corporate director members, and amplifying performance requirements of the director profession, NACD urges the SEC not to issue universal requirements, but to allow companies to determine the most appropriate means of communicating with and seeking feedback from shareholders as a more effective governance practice. Additionally, NACD provided the SEC with specific views on frequency of say-on-pay votes, say on golden parachutes and other matters pertaining to executive compensation on behalf of the director community.  

"NACD appreciates the symbolic value of say-on-pay. However, we believe it is a poor substitute for dialogue. It is much more valuable to have shareholder communication well in advance of plans or votes on plans. Say-on-pay is a yes-or-no, backward-looking vote that may have little utility except to express a very general shareholder view of a pay plan already in effect," the Association wrote in a letter signed by Honorable Barbara H. Franklin, chairman of NACD and former U.S. Secretary of Commerce, and Ken Daly, NACD's president and CEO.

In addition to the survey, NACD cited recent board research indicating that dialogue between companies and institutional investors is increasing.  Additionally, say-on-pay votes for early adopters has been substantially positive, calling out the potential for say-on-pay voting to become a meaningless and burdensome ritual for companies and shareholders alike. According to the organization's letter, "NACD would urge caution in the area of rulemaking. Compensation terms can be interpreted in an overly broad manner, regulating areas that are best left alone."

Issues also under SEC consideration where NACD offered an opinion include:

• Small company exemption: NACD strongly supports an exemption on say-on-pay for small companies (those with less than $75 million in public float), as the compliance and paperwork requirements are particularly costly for small businesses that can less easily absorb the cost. Notably, 73 percent of respondents in the director survey indicated preference for small business exemption.
• Superclawbacks in financial institutions: NACD encourages the SEC to work alongside it in serving as a "voice of reason" when identifying standards and process for whether directors and officers of a company are in fact "substantially responsible" for insolvency. NACD has concerns of this rule being misused for "witch hunts."
• SEC disclosure rules regarding compensation consultant conflicts: NACD urges caution that a consultant for an independent board committee should not be considered in conflict just because it performs a significant amount of work. The key point is that the same consultant does not also work for management, a position long-held by NACD and first raised in its 2003 Blue Ribbon Commission report.
• Recovery of executive compensation: NACD has serious concerns that this provision is ripe for abuse, and may unfairly target honest executives whose compensation and bonus was reasonably earned. NACD recommends an exemption for companies that obtain shareholder approval for retention of the originally rewarded compensation.
• Disclosure of pay for performance and pay ratios of CEO to median pay of all other employees: Pay for performance, as detailed in the Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Performance Metrics: Understanding the Board's Role, is a value that has long been championed by NACD and practiced by its members. Boards of directors should be able to express how they link pay to performance. However, NACD cautions that companies should be provided the flexibility to describe their philosophy in their own terms, and disclosures should be allowed to vary. NACD commends the SEC for its decision to postpone implementation of pay ratio rules until after the next proxy season. The median pay figure can be highly misleading for a number of reasons, particularly for a global company.
• Exemption for newly public companies from issuing a say-on-pay vote: With 72 percent of directors indicating preference for exemption, directors believe road shows for IPOs already offer investors ample opportunity to evaluate compensation packages. Furthermore, these requirements place a focus on process during a critical growth phase of a newly public company.
• "Golden parachute" plans during exceptional corporate transactions (e.g., mergers and acquisitions):  NACD does not believe it is necessary to require disclosure during M&A periods above and beyond what is required of companies in general. However, NACD strongly supports disclosure requirements for any newly named executive officers of the company following a merger or acquisition, a view supported by 79 percent of directors surveyed. Any senior executive at a target company joining the leadership of an acquiring company is important, and stockholders have the right to know about leadership.
• Disclosure of previous say-on-pay: Aligned with 79 percent of surveyed directors, NACD recommends that only the most recent say-on-pay vote should be disclosed. In the current proposal, issuers are required to consider "previous" votes on compensation, but the proposal does not offer a specific definition of "previous."

"NACD represents the collective voice of the director, and we urge the SEC to closely consider these clear messages coming from America's boardrooms as it continues to implement new regulations," said Daly.  

This response letter follows SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro's remarks at the National Association of Corporate Director's Annual Corporate Governance Conference last month, where she encouraged more comment from directors on issues of Dodd-Frank to ensure that the right balance of rules is struck between boards and investors.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the only membership organization delivering the information and insights that corporate board members need to confidently navigate complex business challenges and enhance shareowner value. With more than 10,000 members, NACD advances exemplary board leadership. NACD is focused on creating more effective and efficient boards through director-led education and peer forums to share ideas and leading practices based on more than 30 years of primary research. Fostering collaboration among directors and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org.

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)