Please join Troutman Pepper Partners Chris Willis and Sheri Adler as they discuss recent developments in equity award delegations for public companies incorporated in Delaware. Sheri, a member of our Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice, provides our listeners with a 30,000-foot view of what equity incentive plans typically look like at a public company, such as a publicly traded bank or another financial institution. She then dives deeper into the topic of equity grant-making authority, addressing questions such as:

  • Why do many compensation committees appoint an officer or another delegate to grant equity awards?
  • Does an equity plan need to be drafted a certain way in order for a delegation to be allowed?
  • Which laws govern the ability to delegate?
  • What are the rules for setting up an equity delegation in a Delaware company under Delaware General Corporation Law (DGCL) Sections 152 and 157?
  • What advice can be given to companies looking to set up equity delegations under the DGCL rules?
  • Is there an alternative method for setting up a delegation in a Delaware company?

Transcript: Equity Award Delegations for Publicly Traded Companies (PDF)

Photo of Sheri Adler Sheri Adler

Sheri advises boards, compensation committees, and companies on executive compensation matters. She designs and documents equity incentives, cash bonus arrangements, employee stock purchase plans, and deferred compensation plans. Sheri also negotiates individual contractual arrangements with C-suite executives, including employment, retention, change in control…

Sheri advises boards, compensation committees, and companies on executive compensation matters. She designs and documents equity incentives, cash bonus arrangements, employee stock purchase plans, and deferred compensation plans. Sheri also negotiates individual contractual arrangements with C-suite executives, including employment, retention, change in control, severance, and separation agreements.

Photo of Chris Willis Chris Willis

Chris is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at the firm. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending…

Chris is the co-leader of the Consumer Financial Services Regulatory practice at the firm. He advises financial services institutions facing state and federal government investigations and examinations, counseling them on compliance issues including UDAP/UDAAP, credit reporting, debt collection, and fair lending, and defending them in individual and class action lawsuits brought by consumers and enforcement actions brought by government agencies.