New Study From Equilar Finds CEO Benefits and Perquisites Increased in Value but Decreased in Prevalence in 2011

REDWOOD CITY, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 5, 2012) - Equilar, the leader in executive compensation benchmarking and research, released its 2012 CEO Benefits and Perquisites Report, which reveals that the overall prevalence of key perquisites declined in 2011, with 11.5 percent of Fortune 100 companies included in the study eliminating at least one perquisite program.

Specifically, personal-use aircraft perks and tax gross-ups rose in dollar value but continued to fall in prevalence. The median value of aircraft perks rose to $110,204 in 2011, representing a 19.2 percent increase from $92,421 in 2010. In 2011, the median value of tax gross-ups came in at $18,196, a jump of 30.8 percent from $13,911 in 2010. On the other hand, the prevalence of aircraft perks declined from 64.2 percent in 2010 to 60.4 percent in 2011, while tax gross-ups dipped from 25.3 percent to 19.8 percent during the same period.

"Benefits and perks can be a relatively small part of an executive's total compensation package," said Aaron Boyd, Equilar's Head of Research. "However, companies are continuing to refine their use and ensure that they align with the goals of investors."

To obtain a full copy of Equilar's 2012 Benefits and Perquisites Report, go to: http://www.equilar.com/knowledge-network/research-reports/2012-research-reports/CEO-Benefits-and-Perquisites.php

About Equilar

Equilar is the leading provider of executive compensation and corporate governance data to corporations, nonprofits, consulting firms, institutional investors, and the media. Using its extensive database, Equilar allows clients to accurately benchmark and track executive and board compensation, equity grants, award policies, and compensation practices. Equilar's C-Suite mapping technology also reveals business networking opportunities by identifying pathways to executives and board members at companies of interest. Equilar's research has been consistently cited by Bloomberg, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and other leading media outlets.