Join us for three free one-hour web briefings on hot HR topics from the comfort of your own desk.

Mercer’s executive compensation experts can help. During our Tuesday, 16 January web briefing, we will provide some pointers to help companies as they finalize their 2007 proxies and respond to this new environment going forward. Specifically, we will:

• Identify some common challenges and hot topics surrounding the disclosure rules and help you address them effectively, including some potential pitfalls and unexpected issues that companies are grappling with
• Discuss the changes reporting companies are planning to make to their compensation programs or compensation-setting processes as a result of the new rules

During registration, we will ask for topics you wish us to cover in order to help direct the final presentation’s content.

Tuesday, 16 January 2007, 12 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET

Toward meaningful intervention: Retirement programs in Japan
Speaker: Fergal McGuinness
 
In the wake of sweeping pension reform in Japan, the last five years have seen a flurry of activity in pension management. Companies that have introduced new arrangements, such as 401(k) and cash balance plans, are now exploring ways to manage those programs more effectively.
 
As a 2012 deadline for change looms, those in the preparatory phase are eager to learn from the experience of the “first movers” that have executed pension reform. Please join us on Thursday, 25 January at 12:00 noon (ET) for a free, one-hour discussion that will update multinational HQs with operations in Japan on the Japanese market and the state of retirement plans there, as well as on the effect increased shareholder advocacy may have on the structuring of executive benefit systems. Our featured speaker will be Fergal McGuinness, a senior Mercer retirement consultant from Tokyo, Japan.
 

Thursday, 25 January 2007, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. ET

Gaining institutional shareholder approval and legislative/regulatory update
Speakers: Bruce Greenblatt, Kelly Crean and Geoff Manville
 
Recent regulatory and governance changes coupled with increased scrutiny on total executive compensation levels, severance programs and the proper role of stock-based compensation have further complicated the shareholder-approval process for new stock plans and share authorizations.
 
Given this current climate of heightened shareholder influence, companies now face the challenges of more active shareholder campaigns and specific shareholder proposals on compensation issues. Rising legislative activity has also increased shareholder involvement and triggered initiatives for curbs on executive pay.
 
We invite you to attend this web briefing on Wednesday, 31 January, from noon to 1:00 p.m. ET. We will shed some light on proxy advisory firm and institutional investors’ perspectives, discuss specific shareholder and legislative proposals and help you get to “yes” if your company is planning to submit a proposal for shareholder action in the 2007 proxy season.
 
In addition, we will discuss:

• New ISS policies and their implications
• Fallout from new SEC disclosure rules – institutional shareholder views, potential media scrutiny and what all this means for companies soliciting shareholder approval this year
• Congressional activity for 2007/2008 on executive compensation issues and the likelihood of current bills being passed
• Regulatory activity – update on 409A, shareholder access and other SEC rule-making