In welcome news, Delaware recently amended its General Corporation Law (DGCL) to increase flexibility for delegating share award granting authority. The amendments became effective on August 1, 2022. The changes expand the elements of granting share awards that a board of directors may delegate, including, and most notably, the authority to determine the terms and conditions of the awards. If a board of directors wants to take advantage of the increased flexibility provided by the…
On December 13, 2017, the Delaware Supreme Court in In re Investors Bancorp, Inc. Stockholder Litigation issued a decision having significant ramifications on director compensation. The case increases the risk of plaintiff stockholder claims against directors based on a breach of fiduciary duties where directors grant themselves equity awards pursuant to a plan providing the directors with general discretion to determine the amount, terms, and conditions of the awards – even if the plan includes a stockholder-approved limit in the plan on the size of the awards that may be granted to directors.