Abbott Laboratories | Executive Incentive Compensation - Compliance Costs at Abbott Laboratories

Status
14.51% votes in favour
AGM date
Previous AGM date
Proposal number
8
Resolution details
Company ticker
ABT
Lead filer
SHARE - Shareholder Association for Research & Education
Resolution ask
Adopt or amend a policy
ESG theme
  • Social
ESG sub-theme
  • Public health
  • Remuneration or pay
Type of vote
Shareholder proposal
Filer type
Shareholder
Company sector
Health Care
Company HQ country
United States
Resolved clause
RESOLVED that shareholders of Abbott Laboratories ("Abbott" or "the Company") urge the Board of Directors to adopt a policy that no financial performance metric shall be adjusted to exclude Legal or Compliance Costs when evaluating performance for purposes of determining the amount or vesting of any senior executive Incentive Compensation award. “Legal or Compliance Costs” are expenses or charges associated with any investigation, litigation or enforcement action related to drug manufacturing, sales, marketing or distribution, including legal fees; amounts paid in fines, penalties or damages; and amounts paid in connection with monitoring required by any settlement or judgement of claims of the kind described above. “Incentive Compensation” is compensation paid pursuant to short-term and long-term incentive compensation plans and programs. The policy should be implemented in a way that does not violate any existing contractual obligation of the Company or the terms of any compensation or benefit plan. The Board shall have discretion to modify the application of this policy in specific circumstances for reasonable exceptions and in that case shall provide a statement of explanation.
Whereas clause
Abbott adjusts certain financial metrics when calculating progress for executive incentive compensation. While some adjustments may be appropriate, we believe senior executives should not be insulated from all legal costs as a matter of policy.
These considerations are especially critical at Abbott given the risks it faces over its role in the nation's opioid epidemic. The Investors for Opioid and Pharmaceutical Accountability (IOPA), a coalition of 67 investors with $4.2 trillion in assets under management has been engaging companies on this issue for several years. As shareholders bear the financial impacts of record-setting legal settlements related to inadequate assessment of how business decisions would impact the opioid crisis, the IOPA believes executives should similarly be accountable for the financial impacts of those decisions. However, Abbott’s default decision to exclude the impact of litigation from metrics originally designed to align executive pay with shareholder interests means executives know in advance their incentive pay will remain intact no matter how large the negative financial impact on shareholders.
In response to discussions with the IOPA and other shareholders, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health, and McKesson reduced CEO pay in light of opioid-related litigation settlements. While the IOPA views the amounts of the reductions as less than warranted, we applaud the decision to acknowledge that incentives matter, as do the approximately 700,000 lives lost due to opioid-related drug overdoses since 1999.[1]
We urge shareholders to vote for this proposal.
[1] “The Drug Overdose Epidemic: Behind the Numbers.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,” June 1, 2022, available at: https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/data/index.html.
Supporting statement
We support compensation arrangements that incentivize senior executives to drive growth while safeguarding company operations and reputation over the long-term.

How other organisations have declared their voting intentions

Organisation name Declared voting intentions Rationale
Rothschild & co Asset Management Against

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