| Welcome |
| In April, Equilar again worked with The New York Times to help publish their annual report on executive pay. The entire report, featuring several articles and interactive charts on 200 executives, is available online at Executive Pay: A Special Report. To follow up on this analysis, Equilar completed studies on fiscal year 2007 S&P 500 CEO compensation trends and the disclosure of performance targets at Fortune 100 companies. |
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| Feature Articles |
| S&P 500 CEO Pay Rises 1.3% to $8.8 Million |
An analysis of fiscal year 2007 compensation trends |
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An Equilar analysis of fiscal year 2007 compensation trends for CEOs reveals the following key findings: |
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From 2006 to 2007, median compensation for S&P 500 CEOs in place for at least two years increased by 1.3 percent, rising to $8,828,589.
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In 2007, S&P 500 CEOs received a median aggregate bonus of $1,837,080, down 4.9 percent from the median of $1,931,673 reported in 2006.
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Equilar clients can read the full CEO pay trends story here.
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| Performance Target Disclosure |
An analysis if disclosure trends at Fortune 100 companies |
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An Equilar analysis of performance target disclosure at Fortune 100 companies reveals the following key findings: |
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From 2006 to 2007, the prevalence of Fortune 100 companies disclosing performance targets for executives under all types of incentive plans increased from 55.8 percent to 66.4 percent.
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Among Fortune 100 companies with annual bonus plans, 68.3 percent disclosed the performance targets which must be achieved to generate payouts. |
Equilar clients can read the full performance metrics story
here.
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To learn more about the benefits or becoming an Equilar client, request a demo online or call (877) 441-6090.
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| Equilar on the Road |
Representatives from Equilar will appear at the following events in the coming months. To learn more, click on the links below to view registration and event details. For a complete list of past and future events, please visit the presentations section of our website.
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2008 Proxy Season Results
Hosted by Insurance Conference Group
April 29, 2008
Chicago, IL
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Insurance Conference Group |
Executive Compensation Conference
Hosted by The Conference Board
May 6-7, 2008
Chicago, IL
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Proxy Season Results and CD&A Best Practices
Hosted by Intermountain Compensation and Benefits Association
May 7, 2008
Salt Lake City, UT
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Total Rewards Conference
Hosted by WorldAtWork
May 20-23, 2008
Philadelphia, PA
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2008 Merrill Lynch Client Conference
Hosted by Merrill Lynch
June 2, 2008
Orlando, FL
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Executive Compensation Conference
Hosted by The Conference Board
June 4, 2008
New York, NY
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NASPP Annual Conference
Hosted by Twin Cities NASPP
June 5, 2008
Minneapolis, MN
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If you would like to learn more about incorporating Equilar research into your presentation or adding a member of our team to your panel, please write to info@equilar.com. |
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| Equilar in the News |
Research and commentary from Equilar appeared in several articles in April. To read more about the latest in compensation news, click on the links below. For a complete list of articles featuring Equilar research, visit the news & publications section of our website.
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Where Was the Wise Man?
April 28, 2008
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"Since arriving at Citigroup, Mr. Rubin has been awarded compensation worth at least $126.1 million, according to Equilar, a research firm. That would place him firmly in the top 25 percent of earners if compared to the chief executives of Fortune 500 companies."
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Exec Auto Perk Eases Burden of Gas Price's Rise
April 28, 2008
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"Hoosier companies are hardly alone. According to executive compensation research firm Equilar, 68 percent of Fortune 250 companies gave an automobile allowance — with a median value of $18,708 — to their CEOs."
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Disclosure of Performance Goals up Sharply
April 28, 2008
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"The prevalence of Fortune 100 companies with incentive plans that disclosed performance targets increased from 55.8% in fiscal 2006 to 66.4% in fiscal 2007, according to research firm Equilar."
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New SEC Rules Make it Harder to Figure Out What CEOs Take Home
April 24, 2008
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"According to Equilar's analysis, at least one executive on this list made double what his company reported for 2007 and another made 22 percent less than his firm calculated because Equilar does not include pension value changes or deferred earnings in its breakdown."
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Salary Scrutiny
April 21, 2008
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"Alexander Cwirko-Godycki, research manager at Equilar, an executive-compensation research firm, notes that in its current form, most say on pay proposals are non-binding, meaning that companies do not necessarily have to change their pay practices after a negative result."
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Firms Hit Executives in Wallet
April 21, 2008
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"The average chief executive received a $1.7 million bonus last year, a nearly 42% decrease from $2.9 million in 2006, according to an analysis of the compensation packages of the chief executives at 36 financial services companies by Equilar Inc. an executive-compensation research firm."
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More Executives Think CEO Pay is Too High
April 15, 2008
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"While the median compensation for U.S. large-company chief executives who had been in their jobs at least two years increased 1.3 percent last year to $8.8 million, the rate of growth has slowed, according to a report from Equilar, an executive compensation research firm."
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Top Option Grants, Stock Awards in March
April 15, 2008
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"According to Equilar, several grants of 'premium-priced' options were awarded in March, an increasingly common compensation practice. Awards are considered premium-priced when the exercise price of the grant is higher than the stock price on the grant date."
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U.S. Manufacturing CEO Pay Up, but Grows More Slowly
April 14, 2008
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"Some of the largest companies in the sector, including diversified conglomerate General Electric Co and manufacturer Honeywell International Inc, cut the pay packages of their top executives, Equilar Inc, an executive compensation research firm, said on Monday."
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Shared Goals
April 14, 2008
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"According to Equilar Inc., a Redwood Shores, Calif., executive-compensation research firm, about three-quarters of Fortune 250 companies surveyed in 2006 had executive stock-ownership guidelines."
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Terminated? Who Cares?
April 14, 2008
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"Nevertheless, at two-thirds of large companies, CEOs would receive cash severance worth three times their current base salary plus three times their bonus following a change in control, according to Equilar Inc., an executive-compensation research firm in Redwood Shores, Calif."
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At Work, the Best Bottom Line is an Evenhanded One
April 14, 2008
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"New figures on executive pay, compiled by the compensation research firm Equilar, are likely to further erode some employees' and shareholders' trust."
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Believe It or Not: Average Joes Trump C.E.O.s in Pay
April 11, 2008
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"The median pay for 233 chief execs of S&P 500 companies who were in office for at least two years rose 1.3 percent last year, according to an updated analysis by executive compensation research firm Equilar."
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Rest Easy. C.E.O. Pay Is Holding Up
April 11, 2008
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"Things may not be hunky-dory for companies or the investors who own them, but chief executive compensation is holding fast. Indeed, according to the compensation consultants at Equilar, median C.E.O. pay rose by 1.3 percent, to a still comfortable $8,828,589, last year."
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Median CEO Pay Climbs 1.3 Percent in 2007
April 10, 2008
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"While CEO pay levels are still rising, the rate of growth has slowed, according to the report from Equilar, an executive compensation research firm."
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More Say About Pay
April 10, 2008
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"From 2006 to 2007, the number of companies doing so rose about 10 percentage points, to 66.4 percent, according to an Equilar review of filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission."
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More Disclosure of Financial Targets
April 10, 2008
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"A study released by Equilar also found that Fortune 100 companies which issued annual bonus plans for their executives, disclosed the performance targets their executives met to earn their payouts."
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CEO Pay: Are They Worth It? (Video)
April 9, 2008
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"Equilar tallied-up the total compensation of the 233 CEOs of the S&P 500 companies who filed their proxies so far this year."
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More CEOs Are Saying No (Voluntarily) to Bonuses
April 7, 2008
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"'Those numbers are likely to increase as more proxy statements appear,' says Alexander Cwirko-Godycki, research manager at Equilar Inc., which did the study for The Wall Street Journal."
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A Closer Look at High-Tech Executives' Big Paydays in 2007
April 7, 2008
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"The compensation data on the CEOs comes from a recent article in The New York Times that offered accounting breakdowns and comparative analysis of chief executive pay at 200 companies with revenues of at least $6.5 billion. The data was gathered by compensation researcher Equilar."
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Free Agent Jensen Can Write Own Ticket
April 7, 2008
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"By comparison, this pay package is not too far below the median compensation of $8.5 million that was doled out to CEOs at S&P 500 companies, according to data from compensation research firm Equilar."
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Can CEOs Own Too Much of the Company's Stock?
April 7, 2008
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"Currently, 76% of Fortune 250 companies require named executives to own a prescribed minimum of company stock, according to Equilar, an executive compensation research firm."
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CEO Performance Bonuses Fall Amid Market Turbulence
April 7, 2008
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"At 178 companies with annual revenues of more than $1 billion, the median value of CEO bonuses linked to annual performance plans for 2007 dropped 18.6%, according to compensation research firm Equilar."
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A Brighter Spotlight, Yet the Pay Rises
April 6, 2008
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"The compensation research firm Equilar recently compiled data about chief executive pay at 200 companies that filed their proxies by March 28 and had revenues of at least $6.5 billion."
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In the Boardroom, Every Back Gets Scratched
April 6, 2008
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"This is a company that has been a nightmare for investors since its debut last year as a public company. Pay at this level is art. Blackstone wasn't included in Equilar's compensation survey because its revenues were below $6.5 billion."
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Calculating the Pay Figures
April 6, 2008
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"To measure the amounts that executives were paid last year, Sunday Business asked Equilar Inc., an executive compensation research firm, to compile and analyze the compensation data included in the corporate filings of 200 large public companies that had revenues of more than $6.5 billion, and that had filed their proxies by March 28 this year."
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| If you are interested in adding Equilar research and commentary to your next compensation or corporate governance story, please write to press@equilar.com. |
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| Citing Equilar Research |
To cite Equilar’s research in your next story, blog, presentation or newsletter, please refer to Equilar, as "Equilar, Inc., an executive compensation research firm located in Redwood Shores, CA."
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| EquilarInsight |
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Please answer this short survey on Executive Compensation Practices for WorldAtWork, an Equilar alliance partner.
Survey closes May 5th. |
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| New Blog Posting |
Insights on Executive Compensation Disclosure Trends
Equilar CEO David Chun shares interesting compensation trends and practices seen in the marketplace while offering independent and objective analysis. To read his recent entry about early Proxy Season trends, please click the following link:
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2007 Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines
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To learn more, please
click the following link: |
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2007 Director Stock Ownership Guidelines
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To learn more, please
click the following link: |
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To learn more, please
click the following link: |
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