The proxy statements with required say-on-pay votes are starting to roll in. Monsanto is a superb example. The problem is, many issuers do not have the resources to match that standard. Johnson Controls and Emerson Electric are good examples to follow for those with lesser resources.
All three issuers have the board recommending a frequency vote be held every three years and do not appear to be intimidated by ISS’s policy of recommending a one year vote.
The SEC proposed rules address the possibility that not all proxy tabulators will be able to handle the required four choices on the frequency vote. Of the three proxy statements mentioned, only Johnson Controls omits the abstain choice, indicating continued uncertainty in this area for some. As required by the proposed rules, Johnson Controls indicates that signed proxy cards returned without making a direction will not be voted.
The SEC rules seem to require that the proxy statement say that the say-on-pay vote is required pursuant to Section 14A of the Exchange Act. However, of these three proxy statements reviewed, only Emerson Electric makes that statement.
On another matter, none of these three proxy statements makes any sort of voluntary disclosure regarding the currently stayed proxy access Rule 14a-11. I suspect that is the choice most issuers will make.
Monsanto
Say-on-Pay
We are asking our shareowners to provide advisory approval of the compensation of our proxy officers, as we have described it in the “Executive Compensation” section of this proxy statement, beginning on page 30. While this vote is advisory, and not binding on our company, it will provide information to our people and compensation committee regarding investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy, policies and practices, which the Committee will be able to consider when determining executive compensation for the remainder of fiscal 2011 and beyond. Following is a summary of some of the key points of our 2010 executive compensation program. See the “Executive Compensation” section above for more information. [Summary omitted.]
Your vote is requested. We believe that the information we’ve provided above and within the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement demonstrates that our executive compensation program was designed appropriately and is working to ensure management’s interests are aligned with our shareowners’ interests to support long-term value creation. Accordingly, the Board of Directors recommends that shareowners approve the program by approving the following advisory resolution:
RESOLVED, that the shareowners of Monsanto Company approve, on an advisory basis, the compensation of the individuals identified in the Summary Compensation Table, as disclosed in the Monsanto Company 2010 proxy statement pursuant to the compensation disclosure rules of the SEC (which disclosure includes the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, the compensation tables and the accompanying footnotes and narratives within the Executive Compensation section of this proxy statement).
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADVISORY (NON-BINDING) VOTE APPROVING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Frequency
In addition to the advisory approval of our executive compensation program, we are also seeking a non-binding determination from our shareowners as to the frequency with which shareowners would have an opportunity to provide an advisory approval of our executive compensation program. We are providing shareowners the option of selecting a frequency of one, two or three years, or abstaining. For the reasons described below, we recommend that our shareowners select a frequency of three years, or a triennial vote.
Our executive compensation program is designed to support long-term value creation, and a triennial vote will allow shareowners to better judge our executive compensation program in relation to our long-term performance. As described in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section above, one of the core principles of our executive compensation program is to ensure management’s interests are aligned with our shareowners’ interests to support long-term value creation. Accordingly, we grant awards with multi-year performance and service periods to encourage our proxy officers to focus on long-term performance, and recommend a triennial vote which would allow our executive compensation programs to be evaluated over a similar time-frame and in relation to our long-term performance.
A triennial vote will provide us with the time to thoughtfully respond to shareowners’ sentiments and implement any necessary changes. We carefully review changes to our program to maintain the consistency and credibility of the program which is important in motivating and retaining our employees. We therefore believe that a triennial vote is an appropriate frequency to provide our people and compensation committee sufficient time to thoughtfully consider shareowners’ input and to implement any appropriate changes to our executive compensation program, in light of the timing that would be required to implement any decisions related to such changes.
We will continue to engage with our shareowners regarding our executive compensation program during the period between shareowner votes. Engagement with our shareowners is a key component of our corporate governance. We seek and are open to input from our shareowners regarding board and governance matters, as well as our executive compensation program, and believe we have been appropriately responsive to our shareowners. We believe this outreach to shareowners, and our shareowners’ ability to contact us at any time to express specific views on executive compensation, hold us accountable to shareowners and reduce the need for and value of more frequent advisory votes on executive compensation.
Your vote is requested. We therefore request that our shareowners select “Three Years” when voting on the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation. Although the advisory vote is non-binding, our board will review the results of the vote and, consistent with our record of shareowner engagement, take them into account in making a determination concerning the frequency of advisory votes on executive compensation.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS SHAREOWNERS SELECT “THREE YEARS” ON THE PROPOSAL RECOMMENDING THE FREQUENCY OF ADVISORY VOTES ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Proxy Card
THIS PROXY CARD, WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED, WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED HEREIN BY THE UNDERSIGNED. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE BUT THE CARD IS SIGNED, THIS PROXY CARD WILL BE VOTED FOR THE ELECTION OF ALL NOMINEES UNDER PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSAL 2, FOR PROPOSAL 3, FOR 3 YEARS FOR PROPOSAL 4 AND FOR PROPOSAL 5 AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING.
Johnson Controls
Say-on-Pay
The Company seeks your advisory vote on our executive compensation programs. The Company asks that you support the compensation of our named executive officers as disclosed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and the accompanying tables contained in this Proxy Statement. Because your vote is advisory, it will not be binding on the Board or the Company. However, the Board will review the voting results and take them into consideration when making future decisions regarding executive compensation.
The Company has in the past sought approval from shareholders regarding the incentive plans that we use to motivate, retain, and reward our executives. Those incentive plans, including the Annual Incentive Performance Plan, Long-Term Incentive Performance Plan, Stock Option Plan, and Restricted Stock Plan make up a majority of the pay that the Company provides to our executives. Over the years, the Company has made a number of changes to its disclosures concerning executive compensation, as well as to its executive compensation programs, in response to shareholder input, including a number of enhancements mentioned in this proxy statement.
Our company has had a long-standing tradition of delivering performance results for our shareholders, customers, and the community. We are one of the largest 100 companies in the United States (based on revenue) with operations in more than 60 countries throughout the world, and we generate over 60% of our net sales outside of the United States. The executive compensation programs have played a material role in our ability to drive strong financial results and attract and retain a highly experienced, successful team to manage our company. Until the global economy experienced the dramatic financial downturn, our company achieved 62 consecutive years of sales growth and 18 consecutive years of earnings growth, and 33 consecutive years of dividend increases.
Our executive team has successfully managed our company through the recent dramatic economic downturn. For the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, we grew our revenues by over 20% and our earnings by over 300%, resulting in the second most profitable year in terms of operating income in the history of the Company. Our company is again poised to continue its long-standing tradition of excellence and delivering performance results for our shareholders, our customers, and the communities we operate in and to provide a diverse and engaged workforce.
We believe that our executive compensation programs are structured in the best manner possible to support our company and our business objectives, as well as to support our culture and traditions that have been around for over 125 years.
- Our compensation programs are substantially tied into our key business objectives and the success of our shareholders. If value we deliver to our shareholders declines, so does the compensation we deliver to our executives.
- We maintain the highest level of corporate governance over our executive pay programs.
- We closely monitor the compensation programs and pay levels of executives from companies of similar size and complexity, so that we may ensure that our compensation programs are within the norm of a range of market practices
- Our Committee, our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and our head of Human Resources engage in a rigorous talent review process annually to address succession and executive development for our CEO and other key executives.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE COMPANY’S COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AS DISCLOSED IN THE COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS SECTION AND THE ACCOMPANYING COMPENSATION TABLES CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT.
Frequency Vote
The Company would also like to seek your input with regard to the frequency of future shareholder advisory votes on our executive compensation programs. In particular, we are asking whether the advisory vote should occur every three years, every two years or every year. The Company asks that you support a frequency period of every three years (a triennial vote) for future non-binding shareholder votes on compensation of our named executive officers.
A shareholder advisory vote on executive compensation is very important to the Company. We appreciate the past approval of our incentive pay programs by our shareholders, which have historically occurred every five years. This has served both our company and our shareholders well, ensuring a direct alignment between executive compensation and financial performance results. Setting a three year period for holding this shareholder vote will enhance shareholder communication by providing a clear, simple means for the Company to obtain information on investor sentiment about our executive compensation philosophy. An advisory vote every three years will be the most effective timeframe for the Company to respond to shareholders’ feedback and provide the Company with sufficient time to engage with shareholders to understand and respond to the vote results. The Company also believes a triennial vote would align more closely with the multi-year performance measurement cycle the Company uses to reward long-term performance. Our executive compensation programs are based on our long-term business strategy, which is more appropriately reflected with a three year timeframe.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR A FREQUENCY OF “THREE YEARS” FOR FUTURE NON-BINDING SHAREHOLDER VOTES ON COMPENSATION OF OUR NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.
Emerson Electric
Say-on-Pay
Recently enacted federal legislation (Section 14A of the Exchange Act) requires that we include in this proxy statement a non-binding stockholder vote on our executive compensation as described in this proxy statement (commonly referred to as “Say-on-Pay”) and a non-binding stockholder vote to advise on whether the Say-on-Pay vote should occur every one, two or three years.
We encourage shareholders to review the Compensation Discussion and Analysis on pages 17 to 29. Emerson’s long and consistent value creation over time is attributable to a rigorously-applied management process implemented over the years by successive teams of talented and committed executives. The Company’s executive compensation program underpins and reinforces this process and the performance it generates. We believe the program strikes the appropriate balance between utilizing responsible, measured pay practices and effectively incentivizing our executives to dedicate themselves fully to value creation for our stockholders. This balance is evidenced by the following:
- We provide a significant part of executive compensation in performance based incentives, including primarily performance shares. Payouts of performance shares are based on achievement of financial objectives over four years and are capped at 100 percent of the share awards.
- We have three-year award and payout cycles, rather than an annual award cycle, for performance shares, three-year award and vesting cycles for stock options, and no set award cycle for restricted stock awards, but with a minimum three-year cliff vesting.
- We respond to economic conditions appropriately, such as reducing base salaries and bonuses of the named executive officers in 2009, reflecting lower year-over-year results.
- We do not provide tax gross-ups to our named executive officers.
- We have no employment, severance or golden parachute agreements with any of our named executive officers and therefore, no excise tax gross-ups.
The Board strongly endorses the Company’s executive compensation program and recommends that the stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:
RESOLVED, that the stockholders approve the compensation of the Company’s named executive officers as described in this proxy statement under “Executive Compensation”, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis and the tabular and narrative disclosure contained in this proxy statement.
Because the vote is advisory, it will not be binding upon the Board or the Compensation Committee and neither the Board nor the Compensation Committee will be required to take any action as a result of the outcome of the vote on this proposal. The Compensation Committee will carefully consider the outcome of the vote when considering future executive compensation arrangements.
Board Recommendation. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COMPANY’S EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Frequency Vote
As mentioned above, recently enacted legislation requires that we include in this proxy statement a separate non-binding stockholder vote to advise on whether the Say-on-Pay vote should occur every one, two or three years. You have the option to vote for any one of the three options, or to abstain on the matter.
The Board has determined that an advisory vote on executive compensation every three years is the best approach for the Company based on a number of considerations, including the following:
- Our compensation program is designed to induce performance over a multi-year period. For example, as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, performance share awards represent a significant part (45-55%) of the total compensation and 70-80% of the long-term compensation for named executive officers. Unlike many companies, Emerson awards performance shares every three years rather than annually, and the payout is based on a four-year performance period. Similarly, stock options are generally awarded every three years. A vote held every three years would be more consistent with, and provide better input on, our long-term compensation, which constitutes the majority of the compensation of our named executive officers;
- A three-year vote cycle gives the Board sufficient time to thoughtfully consider the results of the advisory vote and to implement any desired changes to our executive compensation policies and procedures; and
- A three-year cycle will provide investors sufficient time to evaluate the effectiveness of our short- and long-term compensation strategies and the related business outcomes of the Company.
Although the vote is non-binding, our Board of Directors will take into account the outcome of the vote when making future decisions about the Company’s executive compensation policies and procedures. The Company’s stockholders also have the opportunity to provide additional feedback on important matters involving executive compensation even in years when Say-on-Pay votes do not occur. For example, the rules of the New York Stock Exchange require the Company to seek stockholder approval for new employee equity compensation plans and material revisions thereto. As discussed under “Election of Directors — Corporate Governance,” the Company provides stockholders an opportunity to communicate directly with the Board, including on issues of executive compensation.
Board Recommendation. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS UNANIMOUSLY RECOMMENDS A VOTE TO CONDUCT AN ADVISORY VOTE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION EVERY THREE YEARS.
Proxy Card
THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED AS SPECIFIED AND IN THE DISCRETION OF THE PROXIES WITH RESPECT TO SUCH OTHER BUSINESS AS MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE MEETING. IF NO SPECIFICATION IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR THE NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL 1, FOR PROPOSALS 2, 3, 4 AND 5, FOR THREE (3) YEARS IN PROPOSAL 6, AND AGAINST PROPOSAL 7.
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