March 9, 2010
Get in Style
You probably don’t need me to tell you that style inconsistencies in a document make it look unprofessional. But as we move towards the end of proxy season, I’m reminded that style inconsistencies in proxy statements are abundant and frequently occur. Common instances of this include inconsistent references to the company’s stock plans i.e., referring to the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan as “the 2010 Stock Plan” and other times referring to it as “the Stock Incentive Plan.” Another area where these inconsistencies can often be found is in the director biographies. For example:
Director One: “Mr. Smith holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.”
Director Two: “Ms. White holds a masters degree in Business from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business and a B.S. from Ursinus College.”
Better
Director One: “Mr. Smith holds a B.A. from Rutgers University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.”
Director Two: “Ms. White holds a B.S. from Ursinus College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business.”
So, as you near the end of your proxy drafting process, one of your final reviews of the document should be to look for consistency in style; pick a style and stick with it throughout your document. Doing so will improve the quality of your document, as it will be more clear, precise and look more professional.
-Robyn