Elon Musk seeks Tesla shareholder approval for $56bn pay package

In a bold move, Tesla Inc. seeks shareholder approval for a previously voided $56 billion compensation package for CEO Elon Musk. Initially approved in 2018, this package is tied to ambitious performance milestones, all of which were met by 2022. Despite a 700% stock surge since then, the package's reapproval is contentious, particularly as Tesla faces workforce cuts and a significant stock decline this year. Shareholders' decision will significantly impact Musk's role and financial standing as Tesla's future hangs in the balance..Sign up for your early morning brew of the BizNews Insider to keep you up to speed with the content that matters. The newsletter will land in your inbox at 5:30am weekdays. Register here..By Tom Maloney.Elon Musk is making one of his biggest asks of Tesla Inc. investors yet. .___STEADY_PAYWALL___.It was one thing for shareholders to approve his moonshot pay package in 2018, when it contained seemingly audacious goals and the market for electric vehicles was still Tesla's to lose. .In requesting that they ratify the same package again, Musk and Tesla's board are gambling that the billionaire's cult following and his role in the carmaker's stock surging about 700% over the past six years — which its leadership says merits a big payday — will outweigh the fact that much has changed since 2018. Most notably, that the pay in question was voided by a Delaware court earlier this year..Tesla's 2024 proxy statement, filed Wednesday, asks shareholders to approve the same 2018 compensation package for its chief executive officer that was rejected by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Kathaleen St. J. McCormick, who argued the board wasn't looking out for the best interests of investors. .What's immediately at stake for Musk are Tesla stock options that make up nearly a quarter of his net worth, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. But so too, according to the proxy, is his future as CEO.."If the 2018 CEO performance award is not ratified, then Tesla may need to negotiate a replacement compensation plan with Mr. Musk," the filing said. "There is a risk that failure to ratify would further delay any compensation for the CEO, which could affect his incentive to continue devoting time and energy to Tesla, which is essential to the company.".Read more: 🔒 Elon Musk's erratic Twitter use: A rollercoaster ride for Tesla investors – Liam Denning.The unprecedented compensation package awarded him 12 tranches of options dependent on the company hitting increasingly steep targets related to market value, revenue and adjusted earnings. Each tranche of options corresponded to 1% of Tesla's outstanding shares. .There was significant doubt about whether the targets were achievable at the time — the filing cites a New York Times article that called the top market capitalization goal of $650 billion "a figure that many experts would contend is laughably impossible" — but they were all met by the end of 2022. That gave Musk the maximum number of options outlined in the pay package, which are currently worth $40.2 billion. .73% Approved.Shareholders were willing to bet their money alongside Musk's in 2018. About 73% of disinterested shareholders voted to pass the package, even though large proxy advisers said it was too costly and openly questioned why Musk needed more equity to stay committed to the company..But things have changed since then. For one, shareholders know the goals related to the moonshot package have already been achieved. Rather than betting on targets that could also make them wealthy, now it's only Musk getting rich — to the tune of about 8% of Tesla's current market capitalization. .The vote also comes at an awkward time for the electric carmaker. The company is cutting more than 10% of its workforce amid slowing growth, and shares are down about 37% this year, making it the second-worst performer on the S&P 500 Index. .More awkward still, the company has "un-met" some of the award's original goals. Tesla's stock is currently trading well below its highest market capitalization target, for instance. Musk would still receive all the options if the pay package is approved. .Still, dozens of institutional shareholders have contacted Tesla and expressed support for the 2018 compensation plan, including four of the top 10, according to the filing. The carmaker also said that thousands of retail investors have sent letters and emails to the board expressing the same sentiment..Tesla cited a letter Chair Robyn Denholm received from T. Rowe Price Group Inc., one of the automaker's biggest shareholders, which called the ruling "a negative surprise," and suggested that the package be put up for another vote..Read more: 🔒 Tesla's demand woes have investors doubting the true worth of Musk's EV "empire"."We believe the 2018 plan demonstrated strong alignment with the interests of long-term investors, and it was followed by an impressive, validating period of value creation," a T. Rowe spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement..Wealth Impact.Although Tesla's board says the voiding of Musk's 2018 pay package means he hasn't been compensated for any of his work for the past six years, he isn't struggling financially. Musk owns about 13% of the company, excluding the options package, a stake that has appreciated by more than $55 billion over the past six years. He also sold stock worth more than $39 billion during that time. .Musk is worth $173.8 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. which considers the options part of his fortune until there's clarity around his pay package. After starting the year in the ranking's top position, he's now the fourth-richest person in the world, having lost $55 billion largely due to Tesla's stock decline..If the compensation package is rejected, Musk's net worth would drop by $40.2 billion and he would be the eighth-richest person on the planet, behind Google co-founder Larry Page. .However, Tesla's board would probably need to quickly approve an alternate package, and the special committee reviewing Musk's compensation made it clear he's unlikely to accept much less.."Although the Special Committee expressly and consciously did not negotiate (or renegotiate) with Mr. Musk about his compensation, it expects from its interview with him that, for Mr. Musk to agree to it, any new plan would need to be of a similar magnitude to the 2018 CEO performance award," the filing said..Tesla launched a website to encourage its shareholders to vote for the compensation deal and move to Texas, www.supportteslavalue.com, which says shareholders should vote in favor of the compensation plan both to reward Musk for the company's growth and to "honor the concept that the decisions of stockholders must be upheld." .Read also:.🔒 Tesla's ESG standing under fire amid sales slump and Musk controversy🔒 Reality check: Tesla's Q1 sales fall short of high expectations – Liam Denning🔒 Tesla's sales outlook darkens as analysts predict decline amidst waning demand.© 2024 Bloomberg L.P.

Elon Musk seeks Tesla shareholder approval for $56bn pay package

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