"The amended, and now final, rules make only a few minor clarifications and no major changes. The amended rules clarify that... [t]he compensation committee will not be required to conduct the required independence assessment as to a compensation adviser that acts in a role limited to (a) consulting on a broad-based plan that does not discriminate in favor of executive officers or directors of the company, and that is available generally to all salaried employees; and/or (b) providing information that is not customized for a particular issuer or that is customized based on parameters that are not developed by the adviser, and about which the adviser does not provide advice."  MORE >>