82_FR_45103 82 FR 44917 - Commission Guidance on Pay Ratio Disclosure

82 FR 44917 - Commission Guidance on Pay Ratio Disclosure

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 186 (September 27, 2017)

Page Range44917-44918
FR Document2017-20632

The Securities and Exchange Commission is publishing interpretive guidance to assist registrants in preparation of their pay ratio disclosures required by Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44917-44918]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-20632]


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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

17 CFR Parts 229 and 249

[Release No. 33-10415; 34-81673; File No. S7-07-13]


Commission Guidance on Pay Ratio Disclosure

AGENCY: Securities and Exchange Commission.

ACTION: Interpretation.

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SUMMARY: The Securities and Exchange Commission is publishing 
interpretive guidance to assist registrants in preparation of their pay 
ratio disclosures required by Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.

DATES: Effective Date: September 27, 2017.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Fieldsend, Special Counsel, or 
Steven G. Hearne, Senior Special Counsel, at (202) 551-3430, in the 
Division of Corporation Finance; 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 
20549.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Introduction

    In 2015, the Commission adopted a rule \1\ to implement the pay 
ratio disclosure requirement \2\ mandated by Section 953(b) of the 
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.\3\ In doing 
so, the Commission stated its belief that, in order for the data points 
provided by the rule to be of use to investors, the pay ratio rule 
``should be designed to allow shareholders to better understand and 
assess a particular registrant's compensation practices and pay ratio 
disclosures rather than to facilitate a comparison of this information 
from one registrant to another.'' \4\ Consistent with this view, the 
Commission stated that it sought to provide flexibility in a manner 
that would ``reduce costs and burdens for registrants while preserving 
what we perceive to be the purpose and intended benefits'' of the 
statutorily mandated disclosure.\5\ Under the final rule, registrants 
must provide pay ratio disclosure for the first fiscal year beginning 
on or after January 1, 2017, which means that registrants will begin 
making pay ratio disclosures in early 2018.
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    \1\ Pay Ratio Disclosure, Release No. 33-9877 (Aug. 5, 2015) [80 
FR 50103 (Aug. 18, 2015)] (``Pay Ratio Release'').
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 78n(i).
    \3\ Public Law 111-203, sec. 953(b), 124 Stat. 1376, 1904 
(2010), as amended by Public Law 112-106, sec. 102(a)(3), 126 Stat. 
306, 309 (2012).
    \4\ Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50106.
    \5\ Id. at 50107.
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    In light of the approaching compliance date and concerns raised 
about the implementation of the disclosure requirement,\6\ this release 
provides additional guidance to assist registrants in their compliance 
efforts. In addition, the Commission staff is publishing guidance about 
the use of statistical sampling to assist registrants in determining 
their median employee for purposes of the pay ratio disclosure.\7\
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    \6\ See, e.g., letters from Business Roundtable (Mar. 23, 2017) 
(``BRT''), Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (Mar. 23, 2017) (``Davis 
Polk''), Financial Services Roundtable (Mar. 23, 2017) (``FSR''), 
The Insurance Coalition (Mar. 23, 2017) (``Insurance Coalition''), 
National Association of Manufacturers (Mar. 23, 2017) (``NAM''), and 
Society for Corporate Governance (Mar. 24, 2017) (``SCG'') available 
at https://www.sec.gov/comments/pay-ratio-statement/payratiostatement.htm.
    \7\ See Division of Corporation Finance Guidance on Calculation 
of Pay Ratio Disclosure, September 21, 2017, available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/interp/2017/33-10415.pdf.
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II. Commission Guidance

A. Use of Reasonable Estimates, Assumptions, and Methodologies and 
Statistical Sampling

    The pay ratio rule affords significant flexibility to registrants 
in determining appropriate methodologies to identify the median 
employee and calculating the median employee's annual total 
compensation.\8\ Required disclosure may be based on a registrant's 
reasonable belief; use of reasonable estimates, assumptions, and 
methodologies; and reasonable efforts to prepare the disclosures.\9\ 
Specifically, the rule permits registrants to use reasonable estimates 
to identify the median employee, including by using statistical 
sampling and a consistently applied compensation measure (such as 
payroll or tax records).\10\ The rule also allows registrants to use 
reasonable estimates in calculating the annual total compensation or 
any elements of annual total compensation for employees.\11\ The rule 
further provides that if a registrant changes its methodology or its 
material assumptions, adjustments, or estimates, and the effects are 
significant, the registrant must briefly describe the change and the 
reasons for the change.\12\
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    \8\ See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50135--50138.
    \9\ See, e.g., Instruction 2 and Instruction 4 to Item 402(u) of 
Regulation S-K (17 CFR 229.402(u)).
    \10\ See Instruction 4 to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K.
    \11\ Id.
    \12\ Id.
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    In light of the use of estimates, assumptions, adjustments, and 
statistical sampling permitted by the rule, pay ratio disclosures may 
involve a degree of imprecision. This has led some commenters to 
express concerns about compliance uncertainty and potential 
liability.\13\ In our view, if a registrant uses reasonable estimates, 
assumptions or methodologies, the pay ratio and related disclosure that 
results from such use would not provide the basis for Commission 
enforcement action unless the disclosure was made or reaffirmed without 
a reasonable basis or was provided other than in good faith.
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    \13\ See, e.g., letters from BRT, Davis Polk, and NAM.
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B. Use of Internal Records

    Item 402(u) requires a registrant to disclose the median of the 
annual total compensation of all its employees excluding its principal 
executive officer.\14\ We are providing guidance as to the use of 
existing internal records, such as tax or payroll records, to make this 
determination.
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    \14\ 17 CFR 229.402(u)(1).
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1. Non-U.S. Employees
    The final rule defines the term ``employee'' to include U.S. 
employees and employees located in a jurisdiction outside the United 
States (``non-U.S.

[[Page 44918]]

employees''). In the Pay Ratio Release, we acknowledged that the 
inclusion of non-U.S. employees would raise compliance costs for 
multinational companies.\15\ To address concerns about compliance 
costs, the rule permits registrants to exempt non-U.S. employees where 
these employees account for 5% or less of the registrant's total U.S. 
and non-U.S. employees, with certain limitations.\16\ We are clarifying 
that a registrant may use appropriate existing internal records, such 
as tax or payroll records, in determining whether the 5% de minimis 
exemption is available.\17\
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    \15\ See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50122--50133.
    \16\ 17 CFR 229.402(u)(4)(ii). See also Pay Ratio Release, supra 
note 1, at 50124-50125 (noting that registrants using the de minimis 
exemption are required to provide certain disclosures).
    \17\ See, e.g., Instruction 1 to Item 402(u) of Regulation S-K 
(17 CFR 229.402(u)) and Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50119--
50120 (indicating that determination of the median employee may be 
made on any date within the last three months of the registrant's 
last completed fiscal year).
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2. Median Employee
    We also believe that the use of existing internal records may, in 
many circumstances, be appropriate in identifying a registrant's median 
employee. Instruction 4 to Item 402(u) permits a registrant to identify 
its median employee using a consistently applied compensation measure, 
such as information derived from the registrant's tax or payroll 
records. We are clarifying that a registrant may use internal records 
that reasonably reflect annual compensation to identify the median 
employee, even if those records do not include every element of 
compensation, such as equity awards widely distributed to employees.
    We recognize that, when calculating total compensation in 
accordance with Item 402(c)(2)(x) for the identified median employee 
that the registrant identified using a consistently applied 
compensation measure based on internal records, the registrant may 
determine that there are anomalous characteristics of the identified 
median employee's compensation that have a significant higher or lower 
impact on the pay ratio. The Commission discussed this issue in the 
adopting release specifically and noted that, in such a circumstance, 
instead of concluding that the consistently applied compensation 
measure the registrant used was unsuitable to identify its median 
employee, the registrant may substitute another employee with 
substantially similar compensation to the original identified median 
employee based on the compensation measure it used to select the median 
employee.\18\
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    \18\ See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50137-50138 
(providing that the registrant must disclose the substitution as 
part of its brief description of the methodology it used to identify 
the median employee).
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C. Independent Contractors

    For purposes of Item 402(u), the term ``employee'' or ``employee of 
the registrant'' is defined as ``an individual employed by the 
registrant or any of its consolidated subsidiaries.'' \19\ Item 
402(u)(3) excludes from the definition those workers who are employed, 
and whose compensation is determined, by an unaffiliated third party 
but who provide services to the registrant or its consolidated 
subsidiaries as independent contractors or ``leased'' workers.\20\ In 
the Pay Ratio Release, the Commission indicated that excluding these 
workers is appropriate, because registrants generally do not control 
the level of compensation that these workers are paid.\21\
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    \19\ 17 CFR 229.402(u)(3).
    \20\ Id.
    \21\ See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at Section 50165-
50166.
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    Some commenters have expressed concerns about the application of 
the rule's definition of ``employee.'' \22\ Because registrants already 
make determinations as to whether a worker is an employee or 
independent contractor in other legal and regulatory contexts, such as 
for employment law or tax purposes, some commenters suggested that the 
Commission should allow registrants to use widely recognized tests to 
determine who is an ``employee'' for purposes of the rule.\23\ Such a 
test might, for example, be drawn from guidance published by the 
Internal Revenue Service with respect to independent contractors.\24\
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    \22\ See, e.g., letters from Davis Polk, FSR, SCG, and Insurance 
Coalition.
    \23\ See, e.g., letters from Davis Polk and Insurance Coalition.
    \24\ See, e.g., Publication 15-A Employer's Supplemental Tax 
Guide (2017).
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    Item 402(u)(3) makes clear that an ``employee'' is an individual 
employed by the registrant.\25\ The provision in Item 402(u)(3) 
indicating that the definition of ``employee'' does not include workers 
who are employed, and whose compensation is determined, by an 
unaffiliated third party describes one category of workers that is 
expressly excluded from the definition of ``employee'' under the rule. 
The provision was not intended to serve as an exclusive basis for 
determining whether a worker is an employee of the registrant. 
Accordingly, we believe it would be consistent with Item 402(u) for a 
registrant to apply a widely recognized test under another area of law 
that the registrant otherwise uses to determine whether its workers are 
employees.\26\
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    \25\ 17 CFR 229.402(u)(3).
    \26\ Because we believe most widely recognized tests likely will 
consider how compensation is determined as a factor in identifying a 
registrant's employees, we believe these tests generally would 
provide a reasonable means of complying with Item 402(u). See, e.g., 
note 24. The description of the methodology required by Instruction 
4 of Item 402(u) requires a registrant to include an explanation of 
any material assumptions and adjustments used.

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    By the Commission.

    Dated: September 21, 2017.
Brent J. Fields,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017-20632 Filed 9-26-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 8011-01-P



                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2017 / Rules and Regulations                                                      44917

                                                  advance by a Notice to Airmen. The effective            I. Introduction                                          appropriate methodologies to identify
                                                  date and time will thereafter be continuously                                                                    the median employee and calculating
                                                  published in the Chart Supplement.                         In 2015, the Commission adopted a
                                                                                                          rule 1 to implement the pay ratio                        the median employee’s annual total
                                                  Paragraph 6005 Class E Airspace Areas                   disclosure requirement 2 mandated by                     compensation.8 Required disclosure
                                                  Extending Upward From 700 Feet or More                  Section 953(b) of the Dodd-Frank Wall                    may be based on a registrant’s
                                                  Above the Surface of the Earth.                                                                                  reasonable belief; use of reasonable
                                                                                                          Street Reform and Consumer Protection
                                                  *      *     *       *      *                           Act.3 In doing so, the Commission                        estimates, assumptions, and
                                                  ASW TX E5 Midland, TX [Amended]                         stated its belief that, in order for the                 methodologies; and reasonable efforts to
                                                                                                          data points provided by the rule to be                   prepare the disclosures.9 Specifically,
                                                  Midland International Air and Space Port                                                                         the rule permits registrants to use
                                                       Airport, TX                                        of use to investors, the pay ratio rule
                                                    (Lat. 31°56′33″ N., long. 102°12′07″ W.)              ‘‘should be designed to allow                            reasonable estimates to identify the
                                                                                                          shareholders to better understand and                    median employee, including by using
                                                    That airspace extending upward from 700
                                                  feet above the surface within a 7.1-mile                assess a particular registrant’s                         statistical sampling and a consistently
                                                  radius of Midland International Air and                 compensation practices and pay ratio                     applied compensation measure (such as
                                                  Space Port Airport.                                     disclosures rather than to facilitate a                  payroll or tax records).10 The rule also
                                                                                                          comparison of this information from one                  allows registrants to use reasonable
                                                  ASW TX E5 Midland, TX [New]
                                                                                                          registrant to another.’’ 4 Consistent with               estimates in calculating the annual total
                                                  Midland Airpark, TX                                                                                              compensation or any elements of annual
                                                                                                          this view, the Commission stated that it
                                                    (Lat. 32°02′12″ N., long. 102°06′05″ W.)                                                                       total compensation for employees.11
                                                                                                          sought to provide flexibility in a manner
                                                    That airspace extending upward from 700                                                                        The rule further provides that if a
                                                                                                          that would ‘‘reduce costs and burdens
                                                  feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile                                                                         registrant changes its methodology or its
                                                  radius of Midland Airpark.                              for registrants while preserving what we
                                                                                                          perceive to be the purpose and intended                  material assumptions, adjustments, or
                                                  *      *     *       *      *                           benefits’’ of the statutorily mandated                   estimates, and the effects are significant,
                                                  ASW TX E5 Odessa, TX [New]                              disclosure.5 Under the final rule,                       the registrant must briefly describe the
                                                  Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field, TX                     registrants must provide pay ratio                       change and the reasons for the change.12
                                                    (Lat. 31°55′17″ N., long. 102°23′14″ W.)              disclosure for the first fiscal year                        In light of the use of estimates,
                                                    That airspace extending upward from 700               beginning on or after January 1, 2017,                   assumptions, adjustments, and
                                                  feet above the surface within a 6.6-mile                which means that registrants will begin                  statistical sampling permitted by the
                                                  radius of Odessa Airport-Schlemeyer Field               making pay ratio disclosures in early                    rule, pay ratio disclosures may involve
                                                  Airport.                                                2018.                                                    a degree of imprecision. This has led
                                                    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September                In light of the approaching                           some commenters to express concerns
                                                  19, 2017.                                               compliance date and concerns raised                      about compliance uncertainty and
                                                  Walter Tweedy,                                          about the implementation of the                          potential liability.13 In our view, if a
                                                  Acting Manager, Operations Support Group,               disclosure requirement,6 this release                    registrant uses reasonable estimates,
                                                  ATO Central Service Center.                             provides additional guidance to assist                   assumptions or methodologies, the pay
                                                  [FR Doc. 2017–20592 Filed 9–26–17; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          registrants in their compliance efforts.                 ratio and related disclosure that results
                                                                                                          In addition, the Commission staff is                     from such use would not provide the
                                                  BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
                                                                                                          publishing guidance about the use of                     basis for Commission enforcement
                                                                                                          statistical sampling to assist registrants               action unless the disclosure was made
                                                                                                          in determining their median employee                     or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis
                                                  SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE                                 for purposes of the pay ratio disclosure.7               or was provided other than in good
                                                  COMMISSION
                                                                                                          II. Commission Guidance                                  faith.
                                                  17 CFR Parts 229 and 249                                                                                         B. Use of Internal Records
                                                                                                          A. Use of Reasonable Estimates,
                                                  [Release No. 33–10415; 34–81673; File No.               Assumptions, and Methodologies and                         Item 402(u) requires a registrant to
                                                  S7–07–13]                                               Statistical Sampling                                     disclose the median of the annual total
                                                                                                             The pay ratio rule affords significant                compensation of all its employees
                                                  Commission Guidance on Pay Ratio                                                                                 excluding its principal executive
                                                  Disclosure                                              flexibility to registrants in determining
                                                                                                                                                                   officer.14 We are providing guidance as
                                                  AGENCY:  Securities and Exchange                           1 Pay Ratio Disclosure, Release No. 33–9877 (Aug.     to the use of existing internal records,
                                                  Commission.                                             5, 2015) [80 FR 50103 (Aug. 18, 2015)] (‘‘Pay Ratio      such as tax or payroll records, to make
                                                                                                          Release’’).                                              this determination.
                                                  ACTION: Interpretation.                                    2 15 U.S.C. 78n(i).

                                                  SUMMARY:  The Securities and Exchange                      3 Public Law 111–203, sec. 953(b), 124 Stat. 1376,    1. Non-U.S. Employees
                                                                                                          1904 (2010), as amended by Public Law 112–106,
                                                  Commission is publishing interpretive                   sec. 102(a)(3), 126 Stat. 306, 309 (2012).                  The final rule defines the term
                                                  guidance to assist registrants in                          4 Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50106.          ‘‘employee’’ to include U.S. employees
                                                  preparation of their pay ratio                             5 Id. at 50107.                                       and employees located in a jurisdiction
                                                  disclosures required by Item 402(u) of                     6 See, e.g., letters from Business Roundtable (Mar.   outside the United States (‘‘non-U.S.
                                                  Regulation S–K.                                         23, 2017) (‘‘BRT’’), Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
                                                                                                          (Mar. 23, 2017) (‘‘Davis Polk’’), Financial Services       8 See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50135—
                                                  DATES: Effective Date: September 27,                    Roundtable (Mar. 23, 2017) (‘‘FSR’’), The Insurance      50138.
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                                                  2017.                                                   Coalition (Mar. 23, 2017) (‘‘Insurance Coalition’’),       9 See, e.g., Instruction 2 and Instruction 4 to Item
                                                                                                          National Association of Manufacturers (Mar. 23,
                                                  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John                                                                            402(u) of Regulation S–K (17 CFR 229.402(u)).
                                                                                                          2017) (‘‘NAM’’), and Society for Corporate
                                                  Fieldsend, Special Counsel, or Steven G.                Governance (Mar. 24, 2017) (‘‘SCG’’) available at
                                                                                                                                                                     10 See Instruction 4 to Item 402(u) of Regulation

                                                  Hearne, Senior Special Counsel, at (202)                https://www.sec.gov/comments/pay-ratio-                  S–K.
                                                                                                                                                                     11 Id.
                                                  551–3430, in the Division of                            statement/payratiostatement.htm.
                                                                                                             7 See Division of Corporation Finance Guidance          12 Id.
                                                  Corporation Finance; 100 F Street NE.,                                                                             13 See, e.g., letters from BRT, Davis Polk, and
                                                                                                          on Calculation of Pay Ratio Disclosure, September
                                                  Washington, DC 20549.                                   21, 2017, available at https://www.sec.gov/rules/        NAM.
                                                  SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                              interp/2017/33-10415.pdf.                                  14 17 CFR 229.402(u)(1).




                                             VerDate Sep<11>2014   17:24 Sep 26, 2017   Jkt 241001   PO 00000   Frm 00039   Fmt 4700   Sfmt 4700   E:\FR\FM\27SER1.SGM     27SER1


                                                  44918        Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 186 / Wednesday, September 27, 2017 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  employees’’). In the Pay Ratio Release,                 based on the compensation measure it                       would be consistent with Item 402(u)
                                                  we acknowledged that the inclusion of                   used to select the median employee.18                      for a registrant to apply a widely
                                                  non-U.S. employees would raise                                                                                     recognized test under another area of
                                                                                                          C. Independent Contractors
                                                  compliance costs for multinational                                                                                 law that the registrant otherwise uses to
                                                  companies.15 To address concerns about                     For purposes of Item 402(u), the term                   determine whether its workers are
                                                  compliance costs, the rule permits                      ‘‘employee’’ or ‘‘employee of the                          employees.26
                                                  registrants to exempt non-U.S.                          registrant’’ is defined as ‘‘an individual
                                                                                                                                                                       By the Commission.
                                                  employees where these employees                         employed by the registrant or any of its
                                                                                                          consolidated subsidiaries.’’ 19 Item                         Dated: September 21, 2017.
                                                  account for 5% or less of the registrant’s
                                                                                                          402(u)(3) excludes from the definition                     Brent J. Fields,
                                                  total U.S. and non-U.S. employees, with
                                                  certain limitations.16 We are clarifying                those workers who are employed, and                        Secretary.
                                                  that a registrant may use appropriate                   whose compensation is determined, by                       [FR Doc. 2017–20632 Filed 9–26–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  existing internal records, such as tax or               an unaffiliated third party but who                        BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
                                                  payroll records, in determining whether                 provide services to the registrant or its
                                                  the 5% de minimis exemption is                          consolidated subsidiaries as
                                                  available.17                                            independent contractors or ‘‘leased’’
                                                                                                          workers.20 In the Pay Ratio Release, the                   DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                  2. Median Employee                                      Commission indicated that excluding
                                                                                                          these workers is appropriate, because                      Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                     We also believe that the use of
                                                                                                          registrants generally do not control the                   Commission
                                                  existing internal records may, in many
                                                  circumstances, be appropriate in                        level of compensation that these
                                                                                                          workers are paid.21                                        18 CFR Part 40
                                                  identifying a registrant’s median
                                                  employee. Instruction 4 to Item 402(u)                     Some commenters have expressed
                                                  permits a registrant to identify its                    concerns about the application of the                      [Docket No. RM16–20–000; Order No. 837]
                                                  median employee using a consistently                    rule’s definition of ‘‘employee.’’ 22
                                                                                                          Because registrants already make                           Remedial Action Schemes Reliability
                                                  applied compensation measure, such as
                                                                                                          determinations as to whether a worker                      Standard
                                                  information derived from the
                                                  registrant’s tax or payroll records. We                 is an employee or independent
                                                                                                                                                                     AGENCY:  Federal Energy Regulatory
                                                  are clarifying that a registrant may use                contractor in other legal and regulatory
                                                                                                                                                                     Commission, DOE.
                                                  internal records that reasonably reflect                contexts, such as for employment law or
                                                                                                          tax purposes, some commenters                              ACTION: Final rule.
                                                  annual compensation to identify the
                                                  median employee, even if those records                  suggested that the Commission should
                                                                                                                                                                     SUMMARY:   The Federal Energy
                                                  do not include every element of                         allow registrants to use widely
                                                                                                                                                                     Regulatory Commission approves
                                                  compensation, such as equity awards                     recognized tests to determine who is an
                                                                                                                                                                     Reliability Standard PRC–012–2
                                                  widely distributed to employees.                        ‘‘employee’’ for purposes of the rule.23
                                                                                                                                                                     (Remedial Action Schemes) submitted
                                                                                                          Such a test might, for example, be
                                                     We recognize that, when calculating                                                                             by the North American Electric
                                                                                                          drawn from guidance published by the
                                                  total compensation in accordance with                                                                              Reliability Corporation. The purpose of
                                                                                                          Internal Revenue Service with respect to
                                                  Item 402(c)(2)(x) for the identified                                                                               Reliability Standard PRC–012–2 is to
                                                                                                          independent contractors.24
                                                  median employee that the registrant                                                                                ensure that remedial action schemes do
                                                                                                             Item 402(u)(3) makes clear that an
                                                  identified using a consistently applied                                                                            not introduce unintentional or
                                                                                                          ‘‘employee’’ is an individual employed
                                                  compensation measure based on                                                                                      unacceptable reliability risks to the bulk
                                                                                                          by the registrant.25 The provision in
                                                  internal records, the registrant may                                                                               electric system.
                                                                                                          Item 402(u)(3) indicating that the
                                                  determine that there are anomalous                                                                                 DATES: This rule will become effective
                                                                                                          definition of ‘‘employee’’ does not
                                                  characteristics of the identified median                                                                           November 27, 2017.
                                                                                                          include workers who are employed, and
                                                  employee’s compensation that have a
                                                                                                          whose compensation is determined, by                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                  significant higher or lower impact on
                                                                                                          an unaffiliated third party describes one                  Syed Ahmad (Technical Information),
                                                  the pay ratio. The Commission
                                                                                                          category of workers that is expressly                        Office of Electric Reliability, Division
                                                  discussed this issue in the adopting
                                                                                                          excluded from the definition of                              of Reliability Standards and Security,
                                                  release specifically and noted that, in
                                                                                                          ‘‘employee’’ under the rule. The                             888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
                                                  such a circumstance, instead of
                                                                                                          provision was not intended to serve as                       20426, Telephone: (202) 502–8718,
                                                  concluding that the consistently applied
                                                                                                          an exclusive basis for determining                           Syed.Ahmad@ferc.gov.
                                                  compensation measure the registrant
                                                                                                          whether a worker is an employee of the                     Alan Rukin (Legal Information), Office
                                                  used was unsuitable to identify its
                                                                                                          registrant. Accordingly, we believe it                       of the General Counsel, Federal
                                                  median employee, the registrant may
                                                  substitute another employee with                                                                                     Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
                                                                                                            18 See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50137–
                                                  substantially similar compensation to                                                                                First Street NE., Washington, DC
                                                                                                          50138 (providing that the registrant must disclose
                                                  the original identified median employee                 the substitution as part of its brief description of the
                                                                                                                                                                       20426, Telephone: (202) 502–8502,
                                                                                                          methodology it used to identify the median                   Alan.Rukin@ferc.gov.
                                                    15 See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at 50122—
                                                                                                          employee).                                                 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                            19 17 CFR 229.402(u)(3).
                                                  50133.                                                    20 Id.
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                                                    16 17 CFR 229.402(u)(4)(ii). See also Pay Ratio                                                                    26 Because we believe most widely recognized
                                                                                                            21 See Pay Ratio Release, supra note 1, at Section
                                                  Release, supra note 1, at 50124–50125 (noting that                                                                 tests likely will consider how compensation is
                                                  registrants using the de minimis exemption are          50165–50166.
                                                                                                            22 See, e.g., letters from Davis Polk, FSR, SCG, and
                                                                                                                                                                     determined as a factor in identifying a registrant’s
                                                  required to provide certain disclosures).                                                                          employees, we believe these tests generally would
                                                    17 See, e.g., Instruction 1 to Item 402(u) of         Insurance Coalition.                                       provide a reasonable means of complying with Item
                                                                                                            23 See, e.g., letters from Davis Polk and Insurance
                                                  Regulation S–K (17 CFR 229.402(u)) and Pay Ratio                                                                   402(u). See, e.g., note 24. The description of the
                                                  Release, supra note 1, at 50119—50120 (indicating       Coalition.                                                 methodology required by Instruction 4 of Item
                                                                                                            24 See, e.g., Publication 15–A Employer’s
                                                  that determination of the median employee may be                                                                   402(u) requires a registrant to include an
                                                  made on any date within the last three months of        Supplemental Tax Guide (2017).                             explanation of any material assumptions and
                                                  the registrant’s last completed fiscal year).             25 17 CFR 229.402(u)(3).                                 adjustments used.



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Document Created: 2018-10-24 14:47:02
Document Modified: 2018-10-24 14:47:02
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionInterpretation.
DatesEffective Date: September 27, 2017.
ContactJohn Fieldsend, Special Counsel, or Steven G. Hearne, Senior Special Counsel, at (202) 551-3430, in the Division of Corporation Finance; 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549.
FR Citation82 FR 44917 
CFR Citation17 CFR 229
17 CFR 249

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