An Equilar analysis of fourth-quarter filings with theSecurities and Exchange Commission found that the total number of sharesawarded to Fortune 500 chiefexecutives was approximately 30.7 million, an 18.2 percent increase over thefourth quarter of 2006.
When compared to Q4 2006, the overall number of full-valueshares granted to Fortune 500 chiefexecutives in Q4 2007 fell by 10.2 percent. However, the overall number ofoption-based shares granted to chief executives increased by 18.2 percent,according to the most recent newsletter published by Equilar,a compensation benchmarking consultancy based in
From Q4 2006 to Q4 2007, the percentage of total sharesawarded with performance-based vesting criteria increased from 8.2 percent to14.7 percent.