Equilar Research Services
Providing the Data You Need, When You Need It
Combining expertise with comprehensive data, the Equilar Research Services Team can capture data on even the most unique compensation circumstances. Get the information you need on benchmarking, pay for performance, incentive plan trends analytics, or any data in between, to help your team make more informed decisions in your preferred format and timeline.
Request a Custom Research Project Quote
Contact our research experts to discuss the analyses you need for your complex planning needs and compensation decisions.
Custom Projects
There are times when companies require more in-depth data and analysis on particular areas of executive compensation and governance.
Equilar Research Services provide fast, affordable and customized data for your most critical and urgent initiatives. Depending on the scope of your request,
custom projects start at just $1,000 and can be delivered within 3-5 business days. Rush order is also available if you need faster delivery.
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Special Awards Granted in Connection with Mergers or Spinoffs
Analysis includes total annual compensation for each executive to show the award
value as a percentage of annual compensation.
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Chief Executive Officer Employment Agreements
Analysis includes new-hire CEOs who entered into employment agreements upon joining new companies.
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Executive Change-in-Control Programs
Examines cash, equity, and benefits provisions of change-in-control agreements contained in
employment contracts.
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Highly Dilutive Executive Equity Grants
Studies equity awards in excess of a threshold percentage of a company’s fully diluted shares
granted to the CEO or NEO team.
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Broad-Based Severance Plans
Pools and examines data from companies that disclosed severance provisions for employees below the NEO level.
Case Studies
Best Practices for 280G Amendments Prior to a Merger
Project Parameters
Challenge
The client was being acquired and needed to understand market practices surrounding 280G prevalence and amendments. They were thinking about amending their 280G provisions to be more in favor of the executive, but did not have the combination of data and expertise to quickly and accurately identify and analyze comparable mergers and payments.
Solution
The Equilar Research Services team analyzed 280G provisions in mergers closing after January 2013 at technology companies with over $100 million in market cap. For each example found, they first determined whether or not 280G payments were made to executives. In those instances where a payment was made, the team documented whether it was part of a pre-existing arrangement or a new/amended enhanced 280G policy. In addition, Equilar included excerpts of relevant disclosures and links to the filings. With this information the firm was able to provide their client with a clear analysis showing 280G market practices and the prevalence of amendments made in favor of the executive in connection with an impending merger.
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Executive Retention After a Sharp Stock Price Decline
Project Parameters
Challenge
A corporate governance advisory partner had a client who needed an expert analysis that combined market data, financial data and compensation data to identify retention measures taken by companies related to a sharp stock price decline over a short period of time. This precipitous stock price decline was due to an unexpected global economic shock. The client needed to know how other companies were able to retain their executives during similar stock declines.
Solution
By leveraging proprietary databases and industry expertise, the Equilar Research Services team was able to identify companies that disclosed material compensation changes made in response to a 70% or higher stock price decline within a 2-week period since 2010, with a market cap above $100MM after the decline. After identifying relevant companies, Equilar documented each company’s stock price decline over the applicable time period, disclosed the market cap at the end of the time period, excerpted relevant disclosure around the retention measures, and provided a link to the filing. The same-day turnaround by the team provided the accurate information the company needed to make an informed decision on executive retention.
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Broad Based Change-in-Control Analysis
Project Parameters
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Employees below executive level
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Cash and equity treatment
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Excise tax policy
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Large cap technology industry
Challenge
A client was undergoing a change-in-control (CIC) and needed to identify CIC coverage and details for the general employee population to understand current standard industry practice. They requested CIC plans that captured treatment of cash and equity, excise tax policy and other benefits for employees below the executive level in large cap technology companies with expansion into general industry and lower market cap if necessary. Since they wanted to go as deep into an organization as possible, the project required gathering data that is dispersed, difficult to normalize, and infrequently disclosed.
Solution
The Research Services team leveraged Equilar financial data, internal taxonomy tool for 8-Ks, and internal SEC language queries to complete the analysis. The team was able to provide company identification, bands of employees listed in the plan, the CIC window, and a links to filings as part of the deliverable. It also included information on multiples, treatment of bonuses, and disclosure of options for time-based stock and performance-based stock in the cash and equity policy details. Using trusted data and experience with CIC plan analysis, the Equilar Research team was able to quickly deliver a difficult and time intensive project.
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Identify Equity Grants with Highly Limiting Criteria
Project Parameters
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Six month grant window
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Five year period
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Revenue approximately $600MM
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CEO, NEO, and shareholders
Challenge
The Research Services team fielded this request on behalf of a company in the technology industry that needed a same day turnaround analysis of comparable equity grants, calculated on a fully diluted basis. They requested examples of equity grants made within a six month grant window in the last five years at companies with approximately $600MM in revenue for the following types of recipients:
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Technology company CEO receiving award(s) more than 2.5% of the company
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Technology company NEO group receiving award(s) more than 8.0% of the company
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Technology company controlling shareholder receiving award(s) more than 2.5% of the company
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If necessary, expand to include examples that could include a general industry company, fitting any of the above situations
Solution
The Research Services team leveraged Equilar financial data and database of granular equity award details to quickly identify potential comparable examples in a very low prevalence situation, and selected only appropriate matches for the client’s situation. The deliverable included all their initial requirements as well as identification of the companies, a link to their filings and the purpose behind the grants. Although this request had highly limiting parameters and a difficult to identify situation, the Equilar team of expert analysts were able to provide same day delivery of the project.
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