Electronic Arts Inc. | Shareholder Ratification of Termination Pay at Electronic Arts Inc.

Status
Deleted
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Resolution details
Company ticker
EA
Lead filer
CorpGov.net
Resolution ask
Other ask
ESG theme
  • Governance
ESG sub-theme
  • Remuneration or pay
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Technology
Company HQ country
United States
Resolved clause
Resolved: Shareholders of Electronic Arts Inc. (Company) request the Board seek shareholder approval of any senior manager’s new or renewed pay package that provides for severance or termination payments with an estimated value exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus target short-term bonus.
“Severance or termination payments” include cash, equity or other compensation that is paid out or vests due to a senior executive’s termination for any reason. Payments include those provided under employment agreements, severance plans, and change-in-control clauses in long-term equity plans, but not life insurance, pension benefits, or deferred compensation earned and vested prior to termination.
“Estimated total value” includes; lump-sum payments; payments offsetting tax liabilities; perquisites or benefits not vested under a plan generally available to management employees; post-employment consulting fees or office expense; and equity awards if vesting is accelerated, or a performance condition waived, due to termination.
Supporting statement
The Board shall retain the option to seek shareholder approval after material terms are agreed upon.
Supporting Statement: Generous performance-based pay can be good but shareholder ratification of “golden parachute” severance packages with a total cost exceeding 2.99 times base salary plus target short-term bonus better aligns management pay with shareholder interests.
For instance, at one company if the CEO is terminated without cause, whether or not his termination follows a change in control, he will receive $39 million in termination payments, nearly 7-times his base salary plus short-term bonus.
It is in the best interest of Company shareholders to be protected from such lavish management termination packages.
It is important to have this policy in place so that Company management focuses on improving company performance, instead of possible business combinations to trigger a golden parachute windfall.
This proposal is more important at our Company because of the tendency to overpay management or provide the wrong management pay incentives. Pay was rejected by 8% of shares in 2022, 58% in 2021, 74% in 2020, whereas a 5% rejection is more the norm.
Consider also: Contrary best practice,1 our Company closed polls about fifteen seconds after presentation of the last proposal at its 2022 annual meeting. If shareholders fail to present their proposals, companies can exclude proposals for two years. Our company treats voting at the meeting as an empty ritual. 
1. https://optimizeronline.com/how-and-when-to-properly-open-and-close-the-polls/

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