Give shareholders more say on directors’ pay, urge Legal Affairs Committee MEPs

A draft law empowering shareholders to vote on directors’ remuneration, so as to ensure proper transparency and tie their pay more closely to their performance, was backed by Legal Affairs Committee MEPs on Thursday. Some large companies should also be required to disclose, country by country, information on tax rulings, taxes paid and public subsidies received, adds the committee.

“It is necessary to ensure more transparency in the activities of European companies. The adopted Report contains important measures in order to strenghten trasparency with regard to engagement policies of institutional investors and asset managers, directors’ remuneration in listed companies and tax strategy of large and listed companies. We look forward to start negotiations with the Council as soon as possible and I hope EPP, ALDE and ECR will not oppose measures that would support the fight against tax evasion and tax avoidance”, said Sergio Gaetano Cofferati (S&D, IT), who is steering the legislation on shareholder rights and corporate governance statements through Parliament.

The draft law aims to improve transparency and foster shareholders’ long-run commitment to companies, which should in turn improve their competitiveness and sustainability. The committee approved the amended rules by 13 votes to 10.

Shareholder say on director’s pay

A clause enabling shareholders to vote at least every three years on a company’s remuneration policy for directors, was backed by the committee. The policy on director’s remuneration should state clear criteria for awarding fixed and variable remuneration, including all bonuses and benefits, as well as the main contract terms, including details of supplementary pension or early retirement schemes, says the amended text. However, MEPs deleted a requirement that the remuneration policy state maximum remuneration.

The policy should also explain how the pay and employment conditions of employees are taken into account and how it contributes to the long-term interests of the company.

“Relevant stakeholders”, in particular employees, should be entitled to express their views, via their representatives, on the remuneration policy, MEPs add.

Country-by-country tax reporting requirement

To improve tax transparency, MEPs inserted a requirement for “large undertakings and public-interest entities” to publish information, country by country, on profit or loss before tax, taxes on profit or loss, and public subsidies received. Companies with more than 500 employees and a balance sheet total of €86 million or a net turnover of €100 million should also disclose information on tax rulings, say MEPs.

Additional voting rights to reward loyalty

To promote “long-term” shareholding, MEPs inserted provisions that would require member states to introduce specific mechanisms to reward long-term shareholders. These mechanisms should include one or more of the following: additional voting rights, tax incentives, loyalty dividends or loyalty shares, they say. It would be up to member states to define “long term”, but it should not mean less than two years.

Next steps

The committee approved a mandate to start informal talks with the Council by 13 votes to 10, with a view to reaching a first-reading agreement.