SEC Votes to Adopt Changes to Disclosure Requirements Concerning Executive Compensation and Related Matters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
2006-123

Washington, D.C., July 26, 2006 - The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to adopt changes to the rules requiring disclosure of executive and director compensation, related person transactions, director independence and other corporate governance matters, and security ownership of officers and directors. These changes would affect disclosure in proxy statements, annual reports and registration statements, as well as the current reporting of compensation arrangements. The rules would require that most of this disclosure be provided in plain English.

"With more than 20,000 comments, and counting, it is now official that no issue in the 72 years of the Commission's history has generated such interest," said SEC Chairman Christopher Cox. "The better information that both shareholders and boards of directors will get as a result of these new rules will help them make better decisions about the appropriate amount to pay the men and women entrusted with running their companies. Shareholders need intelligible disclosure that can be understood by a lay reader without benefit of specialized expertise or the need for an advanced degree. It's our job to see that they get it."

"Investors have made it clear that disclosure about executive compensation and related matters is very important to them. The rule changes and guidance the Commission today voted to approve will significantly improve the quality and usefulness of the information that investors receive about executive compensation," said John W. White, Director of the SEC's Division of Corporation Finance. "Investors will now be provided with one number for total annual compensation for each named executive officer. The clarity and comparability of this one number will be complemented by the principles-based narrative disclosures in our new Compensation Discussion and Analysis section and by the requirement that these disclosures be made in plain English. By taking up these critical issues and addressing them in record time, the Commission has once again shown its responsiveness to the continually evolving needs of American investors."

1. Executive and Director Compensation

The amendments will refine the currently required tabular disclosure and combine it with improved narrative disclosure to elicit clearer and more complete disclosure of compensation of the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, the three other highest paid executive officers and the directors.

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

New company disclosure in the form of a Compensation Discussion and Analysis will address the objectives and implementation of executive compensation programs - focusing on the most important factors underlying each company's compensation policies and decisions.

Tabular and Narrative Disclosure

Following the Compensation Discussion and Analysis section, executive compensation disclosure will be organized into three broad categories: compensation over the last three years; holdings of outstanding equity-related interests received as compensation that are the source of future gains; and retirement plans, deferred compensation and other post-employment payments and benefits.

Disclosure Regarding Option Grants

The Commission will provide in the Release additional guidance regarding disclosure of company programs, plans and practices relating to the granting of options, including in particular the timing of option grants in coordination with the release of material nonpublic information and the selection of exercise prices that differ from the underlying stock's price on the grant date.

Director Compensation

Director compensation for the last fiscal year will be required in a Director Compensation Table (along with related narrative), which will be similar in format to the Summary Compensation Table described above.

2. Related Person Transactions, Director Independence and Other Corporate Governance Matters

Related Person Transactions

The amendments will streamline and modernize the related person transaction disclosure requirement, while also making it more principles-based. The changes to this disclosure requirement will include:

Director Independence and Other Corporate Governance Matters

A new Item 407 of Regulations S-K and S-B will consolidate existing disclosure requirements regarding director independence and related corporate governance matters, in most cases without substantive change, and will also update disclosure requirements regarding director independence to reflect the Commission's current requirements and current listing standards. The disclosure under this requirement will include:

3. Security Ownership of Officers and Directors

The amendments will require disclosure of the number of shares pledged by management, and the inclusion of directors' qualifying shares in the total amount of securities owned.

4. Form 8-K

The rules will modify the disclosure requirements in Form 8-K to capture some employment arrangements and material amendments thereto only for named executive officers. The rules will also consolidate all Form 8-K disclosure regarding employment arrangements under a single item.

5. Plain English Disclosure in Proxy and Information Statements

The rules will require companies to prepare most of this information using plain English principles in organization, language and design.

6. Registered Investment Companies and Business Development Companies

The amendments will modify certain disclosure requirements for registered investment companies and business development companies. Specifically, the amendments will:

7. Compliance

Compliance with these provisions will be required as follows.

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The full text of the detailed release concerning these items will be posted to the SEC Web site as soon as possible.

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  Additional materials: Summary Compensation Table

http://www.sec.gov/news/press/2006/2006-123.htm