In a high-stakes legal battle that could have reshaped corporate compensation cases, a Delaware vice chancellor has dismissed stockholder claims against The Trade Desk’s multibillion-dollar equity award for CEO Jeffrey T. Green, delivering a decisive victory for the company’s leadership.
Investors Fail to Prove Director Misconduct
Stockholders, led by plaintiff Leroy Huizenga, had attempted to block a compensation package worth up to $5.2 billion, alleging that Green effectively dictated his own pay while a conflicted board rubber-stamped the deal. But Vice Chancellor Paul A. Fioravanti, in an 86-page ruling issued late Friday, found the claims lacked merit, failing to establish a plausible case of director liability or bad faith.
The ruling clears legal hurdles for The Trade Desk, which had been embroiled in litigation over corporate governance and executive compensation standards.
The $5.2 Billion “Mega Grant” at the Center of the Fight
The lawsuit revolved around an eight-step equity package, approved in October 2021, initially valued at $819 million but ballooning to as much as $5.2 billion upon full vesting. Stockholders claimed Green orchestrated the compensation committee’s approval, with five of the seven voting directors allegedly too conflicted to act independently.
However, Fioravanti ruled the allegations fell short, especially when compared to high-profile cases like Elon Musk’s $56 billion Tesla pay package, which was struck down in Delaware court.
“Plaintiffs rely on authorities addressing extreme facts not present here,” Fioravanti wrote, dismissing claims of “a controlled mindset” and an improperly influenced board.
