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CalCurrent Podcast and Equity Compensation for Startups

On May 13, 2021, Phoenix executive compensation and employee benefits partner, Greg Gautam, joined Snell & Wilmer’s “CalCurrent” podcast.  On his episode,  Greg covered five common pitfalls private companies and startup companies should watch out for when structuring their equity compensation and incentive programs.  You can listen to Greg’s full CalCurrent episode here if you […]

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Certain Information Statements for ISOs and ESPPs Due by January 31, 2021

As reported in Part 3 of our 2020 End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” List, Section 6039 of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) requires employers to provide a written information statement to each employee or former employee and file information returns with the IRS regarding: (1) the transfer of stock pursuant to the […]

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COVID-19-Related Cancellations of NQDC Elections

As a general matter, deferral elections under non-qualified deferred compensation plans (“NQDCs”) cannot be cancelled unless a NQDC plan participant incurs an “unforeseeable emergency” or “disability” as each such term is defined in Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code. Internal Revenue Service Notice 2020-50 (the “Notice”) adds a third reason to permit the cancellation […]

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RJ
Former Associate

In Case You Missed It … Recent Posts From the SW Benefits Update

We periodically consolidate our prior blog posts and push them out as a single package to help individuals catch up on what they might have missed with respect to important health and welfare, qualified retirement plan, and executive compensation issues.  The posts highlighted here largely focus on the CARES Act and the impact the COVID-19 […]

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IRS Continues to Extend Key Filing Deadlines in Response to COVID-19

On April 9. 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) issued Notice 2020-23, which extends a number of key filing deadlines in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.  The guidance provides welcome relief to individuals and plan sponsors who must perform certain “time-sensitive actions” on or after April 1, 2020 and before July 15, 2020.  […]

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RJ
Former Associate

Updated Glass Lewis Proxy Voting Guidelines

I previously blogged about certain compensation related updates to ISS’ proxy voting guidelines for 2020.  With proxy season in full swing, I wanted to highlight some important compensation related changes to the Glass Lewis 2020 voting guidelines, a full copy of which can be found here. Contractual Payments and Arrangements. In their 2020 guidelines, Glass […]

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ISS Expands List of Egregious Equity Plan Factors

As reported in prior blogs, Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. (“ISS”), a leading proxy advisory firm, uses a proprietary “Equity Plan Scorecard” approach to evaluate public company equity compensation plans and will recommend a “for” or “against” vote depending on a combination of plan features, plan cost, company grant practices, etc.  Last week ISS issued its […]

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DOL Finalizes Regulations Requiring Electronic Filing of Top Hat Statements

On June 17th the Department of Labor finalized a set of proposed regulations requiring that all “top hat” plan statements be filed with the Department electronically though this website.  As brief background, a “top hat” statement is a one-time filing made with the Department of Labor to protect against a non-qualified plan established for a […]

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Director Compensation Update

I’ve written a number of articles and blogs about some sticky issues that can surface in the context of setting pay for public company non-employee directors (here, here, here, and here). On March 6th the parties to the In re Investors Bancorp, Inc. Stockholder Litigation, filed a settlement agreement with the Delaware Chancery Court.  By […]

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Certain Information Statements for ISOs and ESPPs Due by January 31, 2019

As reported in Part 4 of our 2018 End of Year Plan Sponsor “To Do” List, Section 6039 of the Code requires employers to provide a written information statement to each employee or former employee and file information returns with the IRS regarding: (1) the transfer of stock pursuant to the exercise of an Incentive […]

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