CLIENT PUBLICATION
COMPENSATION, GOVERNANCE & ERISA | DECEMBER 7, 2015
A Summary of Compensation-Related Updates to the Proxy
Voting Guidelines of ISS and Glass Lewis
Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”) recently finalized its Proxy Voting Guidelines (the
“ISS Guidelines”) that apply to all shareholder meetings held after February 1, 2016.1 A number
of the updates relate to executive compensation matters, including changes to ISS’s US Equity
Plan Scorecard (the “EPSC”).2
In addition, Glass, Lewis & Co., LLC (“Glass Lewis”) has posted its 2016 Guidelines (the “Glass
Lewis Guidelines”),3 which clarify Glass Lewis’s compensation policies. This publication
summarizes the compensation-related updates to both the ISS Guidelines and the Glass Lewis
Guidelines.
ISS Updates
Shareholder Proposals: Equity Retention Periods
ISS currently has two policies relating to shareholder proposals on executive equity retention.
ï‚§
The first covers those proposals that do not include a specific retention ratio. These proposals require retention
of all or a significant portion of the shares acquired pursuant to compensation plans for two years following
termination of employment, or for a substantial period following the lapse of all other vesting requirements for
the award (the “lock-up period”), with a ratable release of a portion of the shares annually during the lock-up
period.
ï‚§
The second covers those proposals that require retention of 75% of net shares acquired pursuant to
compensation plans.
These proposals require retention during employment, and for two years following the
termination of employment, and for the company to report to shareholders regarding the policy.
Under existing policies, ISS considers each proposal on a case-by-case basis, taking into account: (1) any holding
period, retention ratio or ownership requirements already in place at the company, and whether these polices are
rigorous and meaningful; (2) actual officer ownership, and how it compares to the company’s policy or the
proponent’s suggested policy; and (3) problematic pay practices, current and past, which may promote a short-term
1
The ISS Guidelines are available at: http://www.issgovernance.com/policy-gateway/2016-policy-information/.
2
The EPSC is available at: http://www.issgovernance.com/file/policy/faq-on-iss-us-equity-plan-scorecard-methodology.pdf.
3
The Glass Lewis Guidelines are available at: http://www.glasslewis.com/assets/uploads/2015/11/GUIDELINES_United_States_20161.pdf.
. focus. In addition, ISS considers any post-termination holding requirements, and any other policies aimed at
mitigating risk-taking by senior executives, when evaluating proposals that did not contain a retention ratio.
For 2016, ISS has amended its policies to address equity retention proposals more generally. ISS will evaluate all
equity retention proposals for senior executive officers on a case-by-case basis, with the following factors taken into
account:
ï‚§
The percentage of net shares required to be retained;
ï‚§
The required retention period;
ï‚§
Whether the company has equity retention, holding period or stock ownership requirements in place and the
robustness of those requirements;
ï‚§
Whether the company has any other policies aimed at mitigating risk taking by executives;
ï‚§
The executives’ actual stock ownership levels and the degree to which they meet or exceed the proponents’
suggested holding period/retention ratio or the company’s existing requirements; and
ï‚§
Problematic pay practices, current and past, which may demonstrate a short-term versus long-term focus.
Updates to the Equity Plan Scorecard
In 2015, ISS implemented a new model for evaluating equity incentive plan proposals, the EPSC, which ISS
believes allows for a more nuanced consideration of equity incentive programs.4 Rather than applying a series of
“pass/fail” tests, the EPSC considers a range of positive and negative factors, each of which it groups into one of
three “pillars”: Plan Cost, Plan Features and Grant Practices. Each factor is provided a maximum number of points,
with the total number of points that can be earned equaling 100, and a score of 53 or above earning a company a
positive recommendation on its equity incentive plan proposal.
(A chart listing each factor, the pillar in which it is
grouped, and ISS’s method for allocating points with respect to each factor, is included as an Appendix at the end
of this memo.) Although ISS keeps confidential the number of points available for each individual factor, it does
disclose the maximum number of points that can be earned for each pillar. These maximum pillar scores vary
depending on the type of company whose plan is being evaluated. In 2015, there were four different models, one
for each of: (1) S&P 500 companies, (2) Russell 3000 companies, (3) Non-Russell 3000 companies and
(4) Post-IPO/Bankruptcy companies.
4
The EPSC evaluates proposals to approve or amend: (i) stock option plans; (ii) restricted stock plans; (iii) omnibus stock plans; and (iv) stock
settled stock appreciation rights plans.
For more information on the EPSC, please see our client memo, “ISS Publishes FAQs on Equity Plan
Scorecard,” available at: http://www.shearman.com/~/media/Files/NewsInsights/Publications/2015/01/ISS-Publishes-FAQs-on-Equity-PlanScorecard-EC-and-CG-011215.pdf.
2
. For 2016, ISS has not changed its basic EPSC policy, but the following four adjustments will apply to its evaluations
beginning February 1, 2016:
ï‚§
ISS has renamed its “IPO/Bankruptcy” model the “Special Cases” model, and divided this model between
Russell 3000/S&P 500 companies and non-Russell companies.5 While the “Special Cases – Non-Russell 3000”
model retains the same factors and maximum pillar scores as the prior “Post/IPO Bankruptcy” model, the
“Special Cases – Russell 3000/S&P 500” model will include all of the factors within the Grant Practices pillar
except burn rate and duration. Maximum pillar scores for the “Special Cases – Russell 3000/S&P 500” model
are:
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Plan Cost: 50
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Plan Features: 35
ï‚§
Grant Practices: 15
For comparison purposes, the following chart summarizes the maximum pillar scores to be applied to each
model in 2016:
Maximum Pillar Score6
ï‚§ 45
Non-Russell 3000
ï‚§
45
ï‚§
Plan Cost
Type of Company
ï‚§ S&P 500 and Russell 3000
ï‚§
Pillar
Special Cases – Russell
ï‚§
50
3000/S&P 500
ï‚§
ï‚§
60
ï‚§
S&P 500 and Russell 3000
ï‚§
20
ï‚§
Non-Russell 3000
ï‚§
30
ï‚§
Plan Features
Special Cases – Non-Russell
Special Cases – Russell
ï‚§
35
3000/S&P 500
ï‚§
ï‚§
40
ï‚§
S&P 500 and Russell 3000
ï‚§
35
ï‚§
Non-Russell 3000
ï‚§
25
ï‚§
Grant Practices
Special Cases – Non-Russell
Special Cases – Russell
ï‚§
15
ï‚§
0
3000/S&P 500
ï‚§
5
Special Cases – Non-Russell
“Special Cases” are those companies that have less than three years of disclosed compensation data, generally because they only recently went
public or emerged from bankruptcy.
6
With respect to the Grant Practices pillar: (1) the Non Russell 3000 model includes only the burn rate and duration factors, (2) the Special Cases
– Russell 3000/S&P 500 includes all factors except burn rate and duration and (3) the Special Cases – Non-Russell 3000 does not include any
factors.
3
. ï‚§
The “Automatic Single-Trigger Vesting” factor, which is grouped under the Plan Features pillar, is renamed
“CIC Vesting” with the following scoring levels7:
ï‚§
Full points: Time-based awards only accelerate if they are not assumed or converted, and performancebased awards are forfeited, terminated or vested based on actual performance and/or on a pro-rata basis
for time elapsed in the ongoing performance period(s).
ï‚§
No points: Automatic accelerated vesting of time-based awards or payout of performance-based awards
above target level.
ï‚§
ï‚§
Half points: Any other vesting terms related to a change in control.
With respect to the “Post-Vesting/Exercise Holding Period” factor, which is grouped under the Grant Practice
pillar, full points are awarded for holding periods of at least 36 months (rather than 12 months), or until
employment termination. A holding period of between 12 and 36 months, or until share ownership guidelines
are met, will earn a company half points.8
ï‚§
Finally, ISS has adjusted certain of its confidential factor scores.
Say-on-Pay Proposals: Insufficient Executive Compensation Disclosure by Externally Managed
Issuers
ISS maintains a list of problematic pay practices that it uses to evaluate say-on-pay proposals.9 These practices
generally reflect pay elements that are not directly based on performance. ISS evaluates these practices on a
case-by-case basis, considering the context of the company’s overall pay program and demonstrated pay for
performance philosophy. Beginning in 2016, ISS will include “Insufficient Executive Compensation Disclosure by
Externally Managed Issuers” as a problematic pay practice that will generally result in an adverse recommendation
on say-on-pay.
Externally managed issuers (“EMIs”) are issuers who retain an outside management company to provide services
that would otherwise be provided by employees of the issuer.
Executives of an EMI are typically employees of, and
compensated by, the external manager. The external manager is then reimbursed by the EMI through a
management fee. ISS stated that it identified approximately 60 EMIs (which are typically REITs), and that these
7
The previous policy awarded no points if the plan provided for automatic vesting of outstanding awards upon a change in control and full points if
it did not.
8
In order to receive full points, ISS’s new policy requires companies to implement retention requirements that are longer than market standard.
According to Shearman & Sterling LLP’s 2015 Annual Survey of the 100 Largest US Public Companies, 67 of the largest US Companies
maintain stock retention requirements.
Of these companies, 49 require retention until share ownership guidelines are satisfied and 11 require
retention for one-year post exercise or settlement.
9
The complete list of problematic pay practices for 2015 is contained in ISS’s “2015 US Compensation Policies, Frequently Asked Questions,”
available at http://www.issgovernance.com/file/policy/2015-us-comp-faqs.pdf. We expect an updated version of this document, effective for
shareholder meetings occurring after February 1, 2016, to be made available later in December.
4
. EMIs often do not disclose any details about their executives’ compensation arrangements. In most cases,
disclosure is limited to the management fee paid by the EMI to the manager. Notwithstanding these arrangements,
EMIs that are public companies must still hold periodic, advisory say-on-pay votes.
Previously, ISS raised concerns about a lack of transparency when EMIs subject to a say-on-pay vote did not
provide disclosure sufficient to enable investors to cast an informed advisory vote. A major point of concern for ISS
was the potential for conflicts of interests.
Without adequate information, shareholders would not be able to judge
whether executives were being incentivized to act in the best interests of the external manager, rather than in the
best interests of the issuer’s shareholders. Notwithstanding these concerns, ISS does not currently classify
“Insufficient Executive Compensation Disclosure by Externally Managed Issuers” as a problematic pay practice that
would result in an adverse recommendation on say-on-pay. In August, however, 71% of investors who responded
to ISS’s annual policy survey answered that ISS should advise voting against a say-on-pay proposal at an EMI that
provides minimal disclosure.
Going forward, ISS will generally recommend voting against the say-on-pay proposal of an EMI when insufficient
compensation disclosure precludes a reasonable assessment of pay programs and practices applicable to the
EMI’s executives.
Glass Lewis Updates
Unlike the updates to the ISS Guidelines, the updates to the Glass Lewis Guidelines serve to clarify, rather than
alter, the policies currently in effect.
This year, Glass Lewis provided further information on its policy towards
transitional and one-off awards, factors it considers when issuing recommendations on say-on-pay votes. In
addition, Glass Lewis clarified the manner in which it analyzes equity-based compensation plans when those plans
are put to shareholders for approval. Finally, Glass Lewis provided additional guidance with respect to the
disclosure of long-term incentive awards.
ï‚§
Transitional and One-Off Awards: With respect to executive transitions, Glass Lewis stated that additional
information should be provided discussing the terms of any sign-on arrangements or make-whole payments, as
well as the process by which the amounts were reached.
In addition, the company should provide a meaningful
explanation of any benefits agreed upon outside of the company’s typical arrangements. Glass Lewis will
consider the executive’s regular target compensation levels, or sums paid to other executives (including the
recipient’s predecessor), in evaluating the appropriateness of these arrangements.
ï‚§
Equity-Based Compensation Plan Proposals (“EBCPPs”): In previous years, Glass Lewis described its analysis
of EBCPPs as “primarily quantitative,” and did not provide a narrative discussion of the qualitative factors it
considered. The 2016 update, however, includes a summary of the qualitative factors Glass Lewis uses to
analyze equity compensation plans, which include plan administration, the method and terms of exercise,
repricing history, express or implied rights to reprice, the presence of evergreen provisions and the use of, and
difficulty of, performance metrics.
Glass Lewis expects that any changes to the terms of the plan be explained
to shareholders, and states that a company’s size and operating environment may be relevant in assessing its
concerns, or the benefits of any changes.
5
. ï‚§
Long-Term Incentive Awards. The Glass Lewis Guidelines now states that companies should disclose the
actual performance and vesting levels for previous grants that are earned during the fiscal year.
Conclusion
As was the case in 2015, neither ISS nor Glass Lewis has adopted major changes to their voting guidelines.
Although companies should be aware of and consider the policy recommendations of each advisor, these
recommendations should not overrule the judgment of the companies’ directors on compensation policy.
6
. Appendix: EPSC Point Allocation System10
Factor
SVT – A + B + C Shares
SVT – A + B Shares
CIC Equity Vesting
Definition
Company’s SVT relative to peers – based on new
shares requested + shares remaining available +
outstanding grants and awards
Company’s SVT relative to peers – based on new
shares requested + shares remaining available
Automatic vesting of outstanding awards upon a
change in control
Scoring Basis
Scaled depending on
company SVT versus ISS’s
SVT benchmarks
Scaled as above
Full points for:
Time-based awards: no
acceleration or
accelerate if not
assumed/converted,
AND
ï‚§ Performance based
awards: forfeited,
terminated, paid pro rata
and/or based on actual
performance
ï‚§
ï‚§
ï‚§
Liberal Share Recycling –
FV
Liberal Share Recycling –
Options
Minimum Vesting
Requirement
Full Discretion to
Accelerate (non-CIC)
3-Year Average Burn
Rate
10
Certain shares not issued (or tendered to the company)
related to full value share vesting may be re-granted
Certain shares not issued (or tendered to the company)
related to option or SAR exercises or tax withholding
obligations may be re-granted; or, only shares
ultimately issued pursuant to grants of SARs count
against the plan’s share reserve, rather than the SARs
originally granted
Does the plan stipulate a minimum vesting period of at
least one year for any award?
May the plan administrator accelerate vesting of an
award (unrelated to a CIC, death or disability)?
Company’s 3-year average burn rate (as a percentage
of common shares outstanding) relative to industry and
index peers
No points for:
automatic
acceleration of
time-based equity or
above-target award
vesting of
performance awards
Half of full points for:
other provisions
Yes – no points
No – full points
Yes – no points
No – full points
No or vesting period <
1 year – no points
Vesting period =/> 1 year –
full points
Yes – no points
No – full points
Scaled depending on
company’s burn rate versus
ISS benchmarks
This chart is taken from ISS’s US Equity Plan Scorecard which is available at: http://www.issgovernance.com/file/policy/faq-on-iss-us-equity-planscorecard-methodology.pdf.
A1
. Factor
Estimated Plan Duration
Definition
Estimated time that the proposed share reserve (new
shares plus existing reserve) will last, based on
company’s 3-year average burn rate activity
Scoring Basis
Duration =/< 5 years – full
points
Duration > 5 </= 6 years – ½
of full points
CEO’s Grant Vesting
Period
Period required for full vesting of the most recent equity
awards (stock options, restricted shares, performance
shares) received by the CEO within the prior 3 years
Duration > 6 years – no
points
Vesting period > 4 years –
full points
Vesting period =/> 3
</=4 years (or no award in
prior 3 years) – ½ of full
points
CEO’s Proportion of
Performance-Conditioned
Awards
Proportion of the CEO’s most recent fiscal year equity
awards (with a 3-year look-back) that is conditioned
upon achievement of a disclosed goal
Clawback Policy
Does the company have a policy that would authorize
recovery of gains from all or most equity awards in the
event of certain financial restatements?
Does the company require shares received from grants
under the plan to be held for a specified period
following their vesting/exercise?
Holding Period
Vesting period < 3 years –
no points
50% or more – full points
33% < 50% – ½ of full points
< 33% – no points
Yes – full points
No – no points
At least 36 months or until
end of employment – full
points
12 months or until share
ownership guidelines met –
½ of full points
No holding period/silent – no
points
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. CONTACTS
John J. Cannon III
New York
+ 1.212.848.8159
jcannon@shearman.com
Kenneth J. Laverriere
New York
+ 1.212.848.8172
klaverriere@shearman.com
Doreen E. Lilienfeld
New York
+ 1.212.848.7171
dlilienfeld@shearman.com
Linda E.
Rappaport
New York
+ 1.212.848.7004
lrappaport@shearman.com
George T. Spera, Jr.
New York
+ 1.212.848.7636
gspera@shearman.com
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