Anyone who reads filings regularly knows that they’re often painfully dry. That’s mostly because they’re written in a foreign language: accounting-speak combined with legal-speak and a bit of PR/marketing speak for good measure. Which is why it’s so refreshing when you come across a filing with something of a sense of humor. It’s almost like [...]

Here at footnoted, we’re always fascinated by the odd things that departing executives ask for on their way out the door. One can only imagine the high-powered negotiations that take place over things like the Mercedes, the corporate jet, and even the executive’s office furniture — all things we’ve found in severance agreements over the [...]

Most days, it’s hard to keep up with all the Yahoo (YHOO) merger-related filings. After all, there’s only so many hours in the day. In June, there were 20 — pretty much one for every day the SEC was actually open. Compare that to just 3 filings by Yahoo in June 2007 (I’m not counting [...]

Brinker International (EAT), owner of several “casual dining” chains, said in its last 10-Q that it faces “challenging times.” With gas prices spiking up and consumer confidence spiking down, it seems Americans have been taking fewer spins to Brinker restaurants like Chili’s and On the Border. (Meanwhile, Brinker has been trying to sell its Macaroni [...]

For years, eBay (EBAY) has proudly boasted in its filings that unlike 75% of all companies, the company did not offer its’ executives an opportunity to defer compensation. Instead, senior executives had access to the same 401-K plan that all other employees did, with eBay contributing up to $1,500 a pop. Talk about egalitarianism!
Now, judging [...]