Equity Valuation Services


The Equity Valuation Services practice at Aon Hewitt and Radford works with top HR and finance leaders at technology, life sciences and general industry companies to design, value and communicate equity awards and other complex compensation programs. With a team of valuation and actuarial professionals across the US and global markets, the practice provides a full suite of advisory services covering equity expensing, financial reporting assistance for ASC Topic 718 and IFRS2, relative TSR plan design, proxy advisor policy modeling, golden parachute calculations, sabbatical plan valuations and more.


Governance and Technical Services


The governance consulting practice at Aon Hewitt works with business leaders at companies of all sizes in all industries to understand and assess their potential exposure to the multitude of corporate governance and executive compensation guidelines maintained by shareholder advisory groups and institutional investors to analyze proxy ballot items. The practice provides a wide range of advisory services, including annual governance audits, pay-for-performance modeling simulations, share modeling, stock and incentive plan drafting, and CD&A assistance.


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Finding the Right Ask


Asking shareholders to approve a new equity plan or an additional authorization of shares is no trivial matter. Increased scrutiny and shareholder activism have made the process more complex than ever before. The way that investors assess the reasonableness of new or amended share requests differs based on the investor (or advisor) and specifics of the situation. Our team takes a comprehensive approach to share modeling to develop a strategy that incorporates the various institutional investor and proxy advisor policies while balancing our client's needs and meeting their objectives.


When you select the Aon Governance team to be your partner, you get the following:


  • Unmatched Governance Team
    Dedicated team with over 60 years of governance experience, including over 20 years at Institutional Shareholder Services and over 10 years at Glass Lewis, that is available to you year-round including the ever critical time leading up to and after your proxy has been filed.
  • Holistic Approach
    Our team of experts can provide your company with deep expertise on ISS and Glass Lewis matters while also providing the institutional investor perspective on all items not only related to equity plans but on compensation and governance issues as well, hence our approach is holistic and our services are truly unmatched.
  • “Forensic Governance”
    The analyses that we provide are not merely based on the “maximum” potential share allocation that you can request from shareholders – that's just math. We take time to listen to your company specific needs and work hand in hand to ensure that the roadmap for the given year as well as for the future are well measured to meet company goals and strategic initiatives while taking into account shareholder optics.
  • Partner through the Process
    If you have experienced the share ask process, from beginning to end, then you understand how stressful this time can be for your company. Our team functions as an extension of your organization to ensure a seamless process from beginning to end – i.e., our services do not end at any juncture – from the preliminary modeling, to drafting the plan document, optimizing the share ask, preparing Board presentation materials, providing guidance on proxy drafting and disclosure, post proxy filing “hand-holding” including potential engagements with proxy advisor, to waiting for the vote recommendations and vote outcomes. And even after the annual shareholders meeting, we engage with you to address post-annual meeting concerns.
  • Integrates with Other Advisors
    We take an integrated team approach to all of our consulting engagements, and provide expertise and assist in the process on an as need basis. Whether it is related to executive compensation, governance matters, proxy advisors policies, regulatory guidelines, say on pay concerns, industry trends or other areas that specifically impact your company, we have the depth of resources to work with you on various platforms according to your specific concerns and objectives.
  • Educated and Informed Clients
    Gain access to up to date information through a variety of the regular client alerts on key regulatory developments and changing corporate governance practices.

Resources


To learn more about share request governance and gain new insights, please explore our latest thinking below:


Testimonials


Often, our clients tell it best. See what some of our clients have to say about the work we've assisted them with and the partnership we demonstrated in managing this complex process.


"They were invaluable in advising us in getting our equity share plan approved in 2015. Given it was the first year of the new ISS equity plan approval process, their assistance was extremely beneficial. In addition to the quantitative aspects of the share pool, they helped us think through the variables which ultimately impact the size of the pool. Importantly, there recommendations were made in the context of Zions and how we use equity. They were a true partner which allowed us to get our share pool approved on our terms"

SCOTT LAW – EVP, DIRECTOR OF COMPENSATION
ZIONS BANCORPORATION

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"Navient's separation from Sallie Mae in 2014 presented a unique and complex situation during the 2015 proxy season. Aon's Governance Team was able to thoroughly evaluate Navient's position related to ISS's newly introduced Equity Plan Scorecard as well as specific Say-on-Pay concerns. Their insight and expert analysis provided Navient's senior leadership with essential equity plan amendments and disclosure improvements to successfully navigate the ISS review and pass the qualitative and quantitative analyses."

MATTHEW WALLACE, DIRECTOR - COMPENSATION
NAVIENT CORPORATION


"Aon’s Governance Team has been a true partner with us on our long-term equity plans. They have advised us on two different equity plan share authorizations; both times we have had our plans approved. What has been helpful is that they work to ensure we understand both the process and how we can impact the size of the share pool. They have great experience and working knowledge of the approval process which was very helpful to us on getting our plans approved on our terms."

HAROLD CARPENTER – EVP, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
PINNACLE FINANCIAL PARTNERS

Contact Us


Whether you'd like to learn more about our unique approach and expert team, or would like to get started developing the right share request strategy for your company, we're available for you.


  • Request More Information
  • Email Our Team
  • Call Our Team
    Chicago, IL: +1 (847) 442-3476
    Philadelphia, PA: +1 (215) 255-1935
    Scottsdale, AZ: +1 (773) 358-0522
    San Francisco, CA: +1 (415) 486-7232