Governance Fundamentals: Understanding Your Company’s Mechanics and Benchmarking. That was the title of the final spring 2019 SVDX/Rock Center program at Stanford Law on April 18. My cryptic notes below.
Governance Fundamentals: Context
Since I began blogging on corporate governance in 1995, much has changed. S&P 500 companies declassified boards. Directors are elected by a majority vote standard. Companies even adopted proxy access lite, although with little fear of implementation given the limitation of 20 members to a nominating group.
California’s legislation mandating gender diversity brings a new spotlight on diversity. Activist investor strategies have driven additional changes. Companies are adopting mandated disclosure around derivative instruments. Board nominees express written intent to serve a full term and disclose all relevant compensatory arrangements.
Delaware is the exclusive forum for most stockholder dispute resolution. At the same time, Delaware vetoed a ‘loser pays’ system. What is the “right” mix of governance features, particularly for companies with a single class of common stock? Where should the board focus?
Panelists
Ed Batts moderated and led a good discussion with Karen Francis, Rob Zivnuska, James Andrus and Brian Brooks.
Governance Fundamentals: Quick Takeaways
Activists need to bring compelling economic arguments but also must also push mistrust of the current board if they are to make headway. Most companies settle because activists target effectively and are putting better candidates forward.
It is not just activists. Boeing again faces a proposal from individual shareholder David Watt for an independent chair. Last year, he only won about 25% of the vote but this year both ISS and Glass Lewis recommend a vote FOR. Two deadly crashes involving its new plane, the 737 Max, could change the votes this year. (Advisory firms support splitting Boeing CEO and chair duties) I see Calvert and Trillium voted in favor. See my Shareowner Action Handbook: Vote to look up funds announcing votes in advance of annual meetings.
Most activist firms have good information, so listen to them. Check your ego to let rational analysis prevail. Take the opportunity to engage with your institutional investors. Activists know how to engage. It is often good to hire a consultant to help you. View engagement as a learning opportunity. I wold add that companies should engage with proponents of shareholder proposals. Activist and many shareholder proponents want their companies to benefit from the measures they seek.
Regarding proxy advisors: Institutional shareholders have to vote their proxies. Most are not “outsourcing” their votes to advisors. They have their own proxy voting policies, often implemented using an advisor’s voting platform. Additionally, advisors develop their recommended voting policies only after a long consultation process with their customers each year.
CalPERS votes against say on pay at 43%; vs ISS recommendation of about 10%. A quarter of S&P 500 have directors talking to shareholders. Tip: When meeting with activists, focus on the junior person. They are usually the one who did most of the work. Don’t wait for the proxy season, that’s when most are too busy.
Over ½ of boards are all white. CalPERS wrote to companies with no women on boards; only 40% responded after two years.
Governance Fundamentals: Technology Sector
Ed Batts brought a few copies of Orrick’s 2019 annual publication, Public Company Corporate Governance Features in the Technology Sector. (last year’s 2018 study here.) In a brief glance, here’s what I f0und new or surprising:
- One-third of surveyed Tech companies have adopted some age limit.
- Intent to serve bylaw formulations only in 3% of non-dual class surveyed companies, even though advisable.
- 79% of non-dual class surveyed companies require disclosure of derivative positions for nomination of director candidates.
- Proxy statements were often inaccurate with regard to voting standards and/or vote counting procedures re abstentions and broker non-votes.
- Most surveyed Tech companies retained defeated incumbents, despite majority vote provisions.
- Most surveyed non-dual class Tech companies require a majority vote by shares outstanding (not shares voted) to amend bylaws (42%). 40% require supermajorities of shares outstanding (13% require 75-80%; 27% require 66%).
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