NEWS
8 August 2023
TAIWANESE BIKE COMPANIES SHARE ESG DATA
article

Steve Frothingham

General
Performance shares

This article discusses how Taiwanese bike companies are sharing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) data, which provides insights into their environmental impact, social practices, and governance structures. Taiwan's companies are embracing ESG reporting as the European Union plans to impose carbon tariffs on imports, making carbon reduction a priority for future competitiveness. While Western companies often emphasize visual elements in their ESG reports, Taiwanese companies primarily focus on providing numerical data in spreadsheets filed with the stock exchange. The article analyzes ESG reports from six Taiwanese bike suppliers and highlights their environmental metrics such as carbon emissions, water usage, and waste production. It also examines social indicators like average salaries, female representation in executive roles, and occupational accidents, along with governance aspects such as the number of independent directors and female board members.

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NEWS
7 August 2023
MEGA GRANTS: WHY WOULD A BOARD APPROVE NINE-FIGURE CEO PAY?
article

Brian Tayan and David F. Larcker

Executive pay
Trending now
Executive plans
Performance shares
USA

The article discusses the practice of awarding "mega grants" to CEOs, which are large, one-time equity awards with long vesting periods, often granted in addition to or in lieu of annual awards. Mega grants are intended to provide significant incentives for CEOs to achieve long-term targets. The practice of mega grants has resurged in recent years, with CEOs receiving nine-figure awards, even though they were less popular due to shareholder criticism in the past. The article explores the reasons behind this change, including notable instances such as Tim Cook's mega grant at Apple and Elon Musk's performance-vested stock-option package at Tesla. The controversy surrounding mega grants is examined, along with proxy advisory firms' skeptical views and shareholder reactions. The article also delves into the characteristics of mega grants, such as recipient types, tenure, grant size, equity type, term, performance triggers, and more. It also explores the rationale behind issuing mega grants and the role of compensation consultants in recommending them. Finally, the article discusses the stock price reaction to mega grant announcements and raises questions about the impact of mega grants on CEO incentives and company performance.

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NEWS
2 August 2023
THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES TO BE CEO ARE IN DECLINE
article

Geoff Colvin

Executive pay
Trending now
Executive plans
Performance shares
Global

The article explores the decreasing financial incentive to become a CEO, as other C-suite roles are earning increasingly higher salaries. While the CEO position has historically been seen as the pinnacle of corporate success, this perception is changing due to various factors. The job is becoming more challenging as employees gain more power and the role becomes more politicized. Additionally, the compensation of other C-suite executives like the CFO, CHRO, and general counsel has been rising at a faster rate than that of CEOs. The narrowing pay gap within the C-suite is seen as a positive development for corporate governance and healthy discourse. Factors contributing to rising pay for other C-suite roles include job-hopping becoming more accepted, employers offering stock grants to retain valued executives, and increased responsibilities for roles like the CFO. Furthermore, positions below the CEO often avoid public scrutiny, which can be appealing to candidates who want to avoid controversy and threats associated with being a public-facing CEO. As a result, the allure of becoming a CEO may be diminishing in comparison to other C-suite roles.

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NEWS
26 September 2023
THERE'S ANOTHER GENDER PAY GAP: STOCK OPTIONS
article

SOURCE: Wall Street Journal

Trending now
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
UK and Channel Islands
USA

Women often don’t know what to ask for, experts say. And companies don’t tell them.

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NEWS
20 September 2023
JAPANESE COMPANIES WARM UP TO EMPLOYEE STOCK INCENTIVES
article

SOURCE: Reuters

Design and strategy
Trending now
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Japan

ANA Holdings plans to offer $60 million worth of shares to 70% of its 45,000 employees as an employee retention strategy and compliance with regulatory requests in Japan. This follows a trend among Japanese companies like Omron and Sony. Employee share incentives aim to align interests, boost stock prices, and address labor shortages while improving corporate value. Despite their increasing popularity, labor laws limiting stock incentives have hindered their wider adoption in Japan. Legal flexibility could accelerate their adoption.

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NEWS
12 September 2023
WHEN IT COMES TO COMPENSATION, MORE EQUITY ISN'T ALWAYS BETTER
article

SOURCE: Harvard Business Review

Communications
Design and strategy
Private and pre-IPO companies
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
USA

The authors research found that people often overestimate the value of stock options when assessing a startup job offers. They incorrectly believe that a higher number of shares translates into superior compensation even when it doesn’t. Five steps can help you avoid this mistake.

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NEWS
30 September 2023
HOW TATA GROUP COMPANIES ARE UNLOCKING THE POWER OF EQUITY-BASED INCENTIVES TO ATTRACT & RETAIN TALENT
article

SOURCE: The Economic Times

Design and strategy
Trending now
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Stock options
India


Over the last two years, Tata Consumer Products, Tata Power, Tata Communications, Titan and Tata Elxsi began offering performance-based stock units, restricted stock units and employee stock options (ESOPs) – all forms of equity-based compensation – for the first time. The latest is Tata Power, which sought shareholder approval to issue ESOPs this month. A top Tata group executive said instruments like ESOPs help companies to ensure their compensation packages are close to industry trends.
 

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NEWS
14 September 2023
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION GUIDE
article

SOURCE: PwC

Finance, tax and accounting
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
USA

PwC's updated Stock-based compensation guide covers accounting principles, measurement, vesting, expense attribution, and classification for stock-based compensation, with insights and references to FASB guidance.

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NEWS
19 September 2023
FOCUS: STOCK COMPENSATION FOR EMPLOYEES, SYSTEM SUPPORT ESSENTIAL FOR SPREAD IN JAPAN
article

Ritsuko Shimizu, Makiko Yamazaki

Design and strategy
Cash deferral
Choice plans
Discount shares
Employee stock purchase plans (ESPP)
Equity deferral
Executive plans
Non-qualified plans
Performance cash
Performance shares
Restricted shares
Save as you earn (SAYE)
Share incentive plans (SIP)
Stock appreciation rights (SAR)
Stock options
Japan

 

The article holds a discussion of how employees in Japan now able to access stock compensation as well as the executives in an attempt to increase productivity. 

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5.1 MINDING THE (GENDER PAY) GAP: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE EUROPEAN PAY TRANSPARENCY DIRECTIVE

The Pay Transparency Directive in the EU is a significant step towards achieving equal pay and reducing the gender pay gap. Companies operating within the EU must adapt their pay structures and policies to ensure compliance and promote a more equitable work environment.

Join this session as the expert panel explores the practical implications of this directive and unveil strategies for fostering transparency and equity. Master the intricacies of the Pay Transparency Directive and equip yourself with the knowledge to promote pay equality and transparency in your organization.

KEY LEARNING POINTS:

  • Directive insights: Gain a deep understanding of the European directive on pay transparency, covering vital aspects such as information rights, reporting obligations, enforcement mechanisms, compensation practices, and potential sanctions.
  • National law variations: Discover the key differences between the directive and current national laws in Germany, the UK, France, and Belgium, ensuring compliance in diverse legal landscapes.
  • Effective employee engagement: Receive valuable tips on skillfully managing employee requests related to pay transparency and equal pay, fostering a collaborative and equitable work environment.

 

CPE CREDIT HOURS: 1.0*

Field of study: Business Law
Levels: O
Delivery method: Group live
Advanced preparation: None

CEP Continuing Education (CE) credit: 1.0 credits

Please visit our Continuing Education and Event Policies pages for more information.

Speaker/Author

Jennifer Granado Aranzana, Linklaters LLP
Yukiko Hitzelberger-Kijima, Linklaters LLP

Event date
Thursday, 16 Nov 2023, 14:10 - 15:10
Country
Breakout series