The Shareholder ForumTM

reconsidering

"Say on Pay" Proposals

Forum Home Page

"Say on Pay" Home Page

Program Reference

 

Louis M. Thompson, Jr., whose comments are presented below, is a member of the Forum’s Program Panel for reconsidering “Say on Pay.”  He is a managing director of Kalorama Partners, and served as President & CEO of the National Investor Relations Institute (“NIRI”) from 1982-2006.

For the referenced comments and the draft to which they relate, see

 

 

Comments of

Louis M. Thompson, Jr.

August 19, 2008

 

 

I don't often agree with Tim Smith, but on this one, I think he makes some good points. I believe, as I've said before, that if companies do a good job of preparing a clear, understandable and reasonable explanation of their exec. comp. program in the CD&A, that the issue of providing shareholders an opportunity to have a non-binding say on pay will not be as threatening as many now argue. I think the fear comes largely from those who aren't comfortable with their executive comp programs.
 

 

Louis M Thompson, Jr.
Managing Director
Kalorama Partners, LLC
Washington, D.C.
 

 

 

 

This Forum program is open, free of charge, to anyone concerned with investor interests relating to shareholder advisory voting on executive compensation, referred to by activists as "Say on Pay." As stated in the posted Conditions of Participation, the Forum's purpose is to provide decision-makers with access to information and a free exchange of views on the issues presented in the program's Forum Summary. Each participant is expected to make independent use of information obtained through the Forum, subject to the privacy rights of other participants.  It is a Forum rule that participants will not be identified or quoted without their explicit permission.

The organization of this Forum program was supported by Sibson Consulting to address issues relevant to broad public interests in marketplace practices, rather than investor decisions relating to only a single company. The Forum may therefore invite program support of several companies that can provide both expertise and examples of performance leadership relating to the issues being addressed.

Inquiries about this Forum program and requests to be included in its distribution list may be addressed to sop@shareholderforum.com.

The information provided to Forum participants is intended for their private reference, and permission has not been granted for the republishing of any copyrighted material. The material presented on this web site is the responsibility of Gary Lutin, as chairman of the Shareholder Forum.