SEC Adopts Say-On-Pay Rules

Yesterday, the SEC announced that it was adopting rule amendments that would require issuers to conduct: (i) a shareholder advisory vote to approve the compensation of executives at least once every three calendar years beginning with the first annual shareholders' meeting taking place on or after January 21, 2011; (ii) a shareholder advisory vote on the frequency of executive compensation votes at least once every six calendar years; and (iii) a shareholder advisory vote on golden parachute arrangements in connection with merger transactions. The amendments to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 would also impose various disclosure requirements. Smaller reporting companies, however, would not be subject to the first two requirements described above until their first annual or other meeting of shareholders occurring on or after January 21, 2013.