The House of Mouse and Beyond: Assessing the SEC's Efforts to Regulate Executive Compensation

65 Pages Posted: 15 Jul 2006

Abstract

What can or should be done, if anything, to address complaints that corporate executives are overpaid? This Article argues that with its proposed regulations on executive compensation, the Securities and Exchange Commission is making progress in the area of disclosure of executive compensation. The SEC, however, will not accomplish any substantial reform regarding compensation because shareholders do not have much of a role in establishing executive compensation packages and have little ability to challenge board decisions after receiving the mandated disclosure. Analyzing the Proposed Regulations and the Delaware Supreme Court decision In re Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation, this Article explores how a gap has arisen in the area of executive compensation regulation. It demonstrates how state law regulates gross negligence, waste and, perhaps, bad faith, while federal law focuses on disclosure of certain compensation packages. The different focii of state and federal regulations leave a gap permitting behavior that might be adverse to shareholder interests, yet occur beyond the shareholders' ability to effectuate changes. Addressing this gap is important because, unlike routine board decisions, compensation decisions have characteristics that may compromise arms-length contracting. Additionally, while disclosure of compensation data is important, it is not the equivalent of merit review. If the SEC is truly committed to reforming executive compensation, it must address the gap in regulation remaining after In re Walt Disney Company Derivative Litigation. The SEC and states should work cooperatively to implement more meaningful corporate governance reform to ensure that shareholders both have the information necessary to make informed investment decisions and the ability to effect changes in company decision-making concerning executive compensation.

Keywords: Delaware, Journal, Corporate, Law, SEC, Executive, Compensation, Regulate, Overpaid

JEL Classification: K20, K22

Suggested Citation

Martin, Jennifer S., The House of Mouse and Beyond: Assessing the SEC's Efforts to Regulate Executive Compensation. Delaware Journal of Corporate Law, Vol. 32, No. 2, 2006, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=914228

Jennifer S. Martin (Contact Author)

Albany Law School ( email )

80 New Scotland Avenue
Albany, NY 12208
United States

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