Executive remuneration and company performance for South African companies listed on the Alternative Exchange (AltX)

Abstract

It is often believed that it is the role of the executive directors of a
company to create value and profits for the company. The question
arises: should directors then receive an increase and performancerelated
remuneration if value is not created? This article examines the relationship between short-term executive compensation and company performance for a sample of companies listed on the Alternative Exchange (AltX) in South Africa between 2003 and 2010. Evidence is provided that there is a strong relationship between executive remuneration and some company performance variables, such as total assets, turnover and share price. The corporate governance measures and disclosure requirements applicable to
executive remuneration are also examined.

Key words: executive remuneration, corporate governance, performance-based remuneration, alignment of interests