特斯拉正在加緊努力,爭(zhēng)取在幾天后的股東大會(huì)上批準(zhǔn)首席執(zhí)行官埃隆·馬斯克價(jià)值460億美元的股票期權(quán)方案,投資者正在權(quán)衡他們對(duì)這一關(guān)鍵投票的決定。
一些股東明確表示,特斯拉董事會(huì)制定的薪酬方案過(guò)高,是公司治理失效的強(qiáng)烈信號(hào)。包括小散戶在內(nèi)的其他投資者已經(jīng)投票支持馬斯克。
在周二舉行的特斯拉投資者會(huì)議上,包括紐約市主計(jì)長(zhǎng)布拉德·蘭德在內(nèi)的代表們?cè)诒驹屡e行的特斯拉年度股東大會(huì)上第二次提出了拒絕投票支持馬斯克2018年薪酬方案的理由。蘭德所在的辦公室管理著紐約市五家退休基金的2710億美元資產(chǎn),他表示,特斯拉董事會(huì)多次未能代表股東提供獨(dú)立治理,這是他們?cè)诜缮系牧x務(wù)。蘭德指出,這五家紐約市基金持有特斯拉340萬(wàn)股股票,價(jià)值約6.27億美元。蘭德表示,這些基金將拒絕投票支持特斯拉首席執(zhí)行官的薪酬方案,并反對(duì)埃隆·馬斯克的弟弟金巴爾·馬斯克和詹姆斯·默多克連任董事會(huì)成員。蘭德說(shuō),這兩人擔(dān)任董事會(huì)成員都與獨(dú)立治理的規(guī)則相沖突,已經(jīng)達(dá)到了無(wú)可救藥的地步。
蘭德說(shuō):“這次投票并不是對(duì)埃隆·馬斯克擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官的公投。他是一位有遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者,過(guò)去在特斯拉的角色至關(guān)重要,但必須有獨(dú)立的股東治理,以確保薪酬方案合理。這一薪酬方案并不合理?!?/p>
特斯拉沒(méi)有立即回應(yīng)置評(píng)請(qǐng)求。
今年1月,特拉華州衡平法院的一名法官取消了馬斯克的薪酬方案,該法官認(rèn)定,特斯拉董事會(huì)授予馬斯克股票期權(quán)(當(dāng)時(shí)價(jià)值560億美元)的過(guò)程缺乏獨(dú)立性,而且這筆交易沒(méi)有經(jīng)過(guò)適當(dāng)?shù)恼勁?。在裁決之后,馬斯克宣布將尋求將特斯拉總部從特拉華州遷往德克薩斯州,因?yàn)槟抢锏姆ㄔ嚎赡鼙忍乩A州的法院更尊重馬斯克。特斯拉董事會(huì)已要求投資者重新批準(zhǔn)馬斯克的薪酬方案和南遷事宜。股東咨詢公司Glass Lewis和Institutional Shareholder Services建議投資者拒絕投票支持這一薪酬方案,而特斯拉董事會(huì)及其獨(dú)立主席羅賓·德霍姆則敦促投資者投票支持公司及其首席執(zhí)行官。
然而,蘭德認(rèn)為,特斯拉沒(méi)有一位全職首席執(zhí)行官專注于這家電動(dòng)汽車制造商的發(fā)展,馬斯克目前正在“追逐閃亮的新目標(biāo)”。他和其他投資者過(guò)去曾抱怨馬斯克對(duì)特斯拉的關(guān)注度不夠,被社交媒體和他擔(dān)任領(lǐng)導(dǎo)職務(wù)的其他六家公司(包括X、xAI、Neuralink 和The Boring Company)分散了精力。
負(fù)責(zé)股東參與的聯(lián)合銀行(Amalgamated Bank)首席可持續(xù)發(fā)展官伊萬(wàn)·弗里什伯格說(shuō),馬斯克越來(lái)越分心,這是一個(gè)越來(lái)越令人擔(dān)憂的問(wèn)題,原因是特斯拉正面臨著巨大的阻力。這些不利因素包括特斯拉核心產(chǎn)品面臨全球競(jìng)爭(zhēng)加劇、開發(fā)延遲和勞資糾紛。弗里什伯格表示,兩名公司董事的離職尤其令人擔(dān)憂,有報(bào)道指責(zé)董事會(huì)對(duì)馬斯克言聽計(jì)從是根本原因。他說(shuō),董事會(huì)成員之間的密切關(guān)系,包括長(zhǎng)期友誼、家族關(guān)系和相互交織的商業(yè)往來(lái),是投資者日益擔(dān)憂的問(wèn)題之一。弗里什伯格表示,由于董事會(huì)缺乏獨(dú)立性,他們將在選舉投票中拒絕支持金巴爾·馬斯克和默多克連任。
蘭德警告說(shuō),特斯拉有關(guān)馬斯克的薪酬方案發(fā)生的一系列事情可能會(huì)在整個(gè)資本市場(chǎng)引起反響。蘭德認(rèn)為,特斯拉的投資者和紐約市的退休人員值得擁有一個(gè)足夠獨(dú)立的董事會(huì)來(lái)監(jiān)督馬斯克,保護(hù)他們的投資。
他說(shuō):“當(dāng)億萬(wàn)富翁被允許藐視規(guī)則時(shí),普通人就會(huì)蒙受損失。億萬(wàn)富翁不能只讓兄弟和死黨來(lái)決定他們要遵守什么規(guī)則,聽從什么法庭的意見(jiàn),以及遵守什么規(guī)則?!?/p>
蘭德此前曾告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,他所在的辦公室甚至都沒(méi)能從特斯拉董事會(huì)那里得到關(guān)于其擔(dān)憂的回電,他在周二的會(huì)議上稱馬斯克的薪酬方案“高得離譜,而且管理不善”。
馬里蘭州當(dāng)選官員、主計(jì)長(zhǎng)布魯克·利爾曼在本周的會(huì)議上表示,在決定如何投票時(shí),特斯拉在員工管理方面的糟糕記錄以及董事會(huì)對(duì)人力資本問(wèn)題缺乏關(guān)注的事宜,都是需要權(quán)衡的重大風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。
利爾曼說(shuō):“簡(jiǎn)言之,特斯拉要想取得成功,我們需要一個(gè)精明干練的管理團(tuán)隊(duì)?!币粋€(gè)管理有效的特斯拉董事會(huì)應(yīng)該“確保有人在必要時(shí)站出來(lái)反對(duì)首席執(zhí)行官”。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
特斯拉正在加緊努力,爭(zhēng)取在幾天后的股東大會(huì)上批準(zhǔn)首席執(zhí)行官埃隆·馬斯克價(jià)值460億美元的股票期權(quán)方案,投資者正在權(quán)衡他們對(duì)這一關(guān)鍵投票的決定。
一些股東明確表示,特斯拉董事會(huì)制定的薪酬方案過(guò)高,是公司治理失效的強(qiáng)烈信號(hào)。包括小散戶在內(nèi)的其他投資者已經(jīng)投票支持馬斯克。
在周二舉行的特斯拉投資者會(huì)議上,包括紐約市主計(jì)長(zhǎng)布拉德·蘭德在內(nèi)的代表們?cè)诒驹屡e行的特斯拉年度股東大會(huì)上第二次提出了拒絕投票支持馬斯克2018年薪酬方案的理由。蘭德所在的辦公室管理著紐約市五家退休基金的2710億美元資產(chǎn),他表示,特斯拉董事會(huì)多次未能代表股東提供獨(dú)立治理,這是他們?cè)诜缮系牧x務(wù)。蘭德指出,這五家紐約市基金持有特斯拉340萬(wàn)股股票,價(jià)值約6.27億美元。蘭德表示,這些基金將拒絕投票支持特斯拉首席執(zhí)行官的薪酬方案,并反對(duì)埃隆·馬斯克的弟弟金巴爾·馬斯克和詹姆斯·默多克連任董事會(huì)成員。蘭德說(shuō),這兩人擔(dān)任董事會(huì)成員都與獨(dú)立治理的規(guī)則相沖突,已經(jīng)達(dá)到了無(wú)可救藥的地步。
蘭德說(shuō):“這次投票并不是對(duì)埃隆·馬斯克擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官的公投。他是一位有遠(yuǎn)見(jiàn)的領(lǐng)導(dǎo)者,過(guò)去在特斯拉的角色至關(guān)重要,但必須有獨(dú)立的股東治理,以確保薪酬方案合理。這一薪酬方案并不合理?!?/p>
特斯拉沒(méi)有立即回應(yīng)置評(píng)請(qǐng)求。
今年1月,特拉華州衡平法院的一名法官取消了馬斯克的薪酬方案,該法官認(rèn)定,特斯拉董事會(huì)授予馬斯克股票期權(quán)(當(dāng)時(shí)價(jià)值560億美元)的過(guò)程缺乏獨(dú)立性,而且這筆交易沒(méi)有經(jīng)過(guò)適當(dāng)?shù)恼勁?。在裁決之后,馬斯克宣布將尋求將特斯拉總部從特拉華州遷往德克薩斯州,因?yàn)槟抢锏姆ㄔ嚎赡鼙忍乩A州的法院更尊重馬斯克。特斯拉董事會(huì)已要求投資者重新批準(zhǔn)馬斯克的薪酬方案和南遷事宜。股東咨詢公司Glass Lewis和Institutional Shareholder Services建議投資者拒絕投票支持這一薪酬方案,而特斯拉董事會(huì)及其獨(dú)立主席羅賓·德霍姆則敦促投資者投票支持公司及其首席執(zhí)行官。
然而,蘭德認(rèn)為,特斯拉沒(méi)有一位全職首席執(zhí)行官專注于這家電動(dòng)汽車制造商的發(fā)展,馬斯克目前正在“追逐閃亮的新目標(biāo)”。他和其他投資者過(guò)去曾抱怨馬斯克對(duì)特斯拉的關(guān)注度不夠,被社交媒體和他擔(dān)任領(lǐng)導(dǎo)職務(wù)的其他六家公司(包括X、xAI、Neuralink 和The Boring Company)分散了精力。
負(fù)責(zé)股東參與的聯(lián)合銀行(Amalgamated Bank)首席可持續(xù)發(fā)展官伊萬(wàn)·弗里什伯格說(shuō),馬斯克越來(lái)越分心,這是一個(gè)越來(lái)越令人擔(dān)憂的問(wèn)題,原因是特斯拉正面臨著巨大的阻力。這些不利因素包括特斯拉核心產(chǎn)品面臨全球競(jìng)爭(zhēng)加劇、開發(fā)延遲和勞資糾紛。弗里什伯格表示,兩名公司董事的離職尤其令人擔(dān)憂,有報(bào)道指責(zé)董事會(huì)對(duì)馬斯克言聽計(jì)從是根本原因。他說(shuō),董事會(huì)成員之間的密切關(guān)系,包括長(zhǎng)期友誼、家族關(guān)系和相互交織的商業(yè)往來(lái),是投資者日益擔(dān)憂的問(wèn)題之一。弗里什伯格表示,由于董事會(huì)缺乏獨(dú)立性,他們將在選舉投票中拒絕支持金巴爾·馬斯克和默多克連任。
蘭德警告說(shuō),特斯拉有關(guān)馬斯克的薪酬方案發(fā)生的一系列事情可能會(huì)在整個(gè)資本市場(chǎng)引起反響。蘭德認(rèn)為,特斯拉的投資者和紐約市的退休人員值得擁有一個(gè)足夠獨(dú)立的董事會(huì)來(lái)監(jiān)督馬斯克,保護(hù)他們的投資。
他說(shuō):“當(dāng)億萬(wàn)富翁被允許藐視規(guī)則時(shí),普通人就會(huì)蒙受損失。億萬(wàn)富翁不能只讓兄弟和死黨來(lái)決定他們要遵守什么規(guī)則,聽從什么法庭的意見(jiàn),以及遵守什么規(guī)則?!?/p>
蘭德此前曾告訴《財(cái)富》雜志,他所在的辦公室甚至都沒(méi)能從特斯拉董事會(huì)那里得到關(guān)于其擔(dān)憂的回電,他在周二的會(huì)議上稱馬斯克的薪酬方案“高得離譜,而且管理不善”。
馬里蘭州當(dāng)選官員、主計(jì)長(zhǎng)布魯克·利爾曼在本周的會(huì)議上表示,在決定如何投票時(shí),特斯拉在員工管理方面的糟糕記錄以及董事會(huì)對(duì)人力資本問(wèn)題缺乏關(guān)注的事宜,都是需要權(quán)衡的重大風(fēng)險(xiǎn)。
利爾曼說(shuō):“簡(jiǎn)言之,特斯拉要想取得成功,我們需要一個(gè)精明干練的管理團(tuán)隊(duì)?!币粋€(gè)管理有效的特斯拉董事會(huì)應(yīng)該“確保有人在必要時(shí)站出來(lái)反對(duì)首席執(zhí)行官”。(財(cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:中慧言-王芳
As Tesla?ramps up its campaign to ratify CEO Elon Musk’s $46 billion stock options package at a shareholder meeting days away, investors are weighing their decision on the critical vote.
Some shareholders are clearly in the camp that the pay package is too high and a strong indicator of failed corporate governance on the Tesla board.?Other investors, including an army of small retail holders, have already voted in support of Musk.
At a meeting of Tesla investors on Tuesday, including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, representatives made their case for voting against?supporting Musk’s 2018 pay package a second time at the company’s annual shareholder meeting this month. Lander, whose office manages $271 billion in assets across five NYC retirement funds, said the Tesla board has?repeatedly failed to provide the independent governance on behalf of shareholders that they are legally obligated to provide. Lander noted that the five NYC funds hold 3.4 million shares of the electric vehicle maker, worth about $627 million. Lander has said the funds will vote against the the Tesla CEO’s pay and against the reelection bids of board members Kimbal Musk, Elon Musk’s brother, and James Murdoch. Both are hopelessly conflicted, Lander said.
“This vote is not a referendum on Elon Musk as CEO,” said Lander. “He is a visionary whose role in Tesla in the past has been critical but there must be independent shareholder governance that makes sure pay packages are reasonable. This pay package is not reasonable.”
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Musk’s pay was rescinded in January by a Delaware Chancery Court judge who determined the board’s process for awarding stock options then valued at $56 billion to Musk lacked independence and that the deal wasn’t properly negotiated. After the ruling, Musk announced that he would seek to move Tesla’s headquarters from Delaware to Texas, where courts might be more deferential than in Delaware. The Tesla board has asked investors to reapprove Musk’s pay and the move south.?Shareholder advisory firms Glass Lewis and Institutional Shareholder Services have recommended that investors vote against the pay package,?while the Tesla board and its independent chair Robyn Denholm are urging investors to back the company and its CEO.
According to Lander, however, Tesla doesn’t have a full-time CEO who is focused on growing the EV maker and that Musk is “chasing shiny new objects” at the moment. He and other investors in the past have complained that Musk isn’t focused enough on Tesla and is distracted by social media and half a dozen other companies where he holds leadership roles including X, xAI, Neuralink and The Boring Company.
Ivan Frishberg chief sustainability officer of Amalgamated Bank who leads shareholder engagement, said Musk is increasingly distracted and that it’s a growing concern because Tesla is facing significant headwinds. Those come in the form of greater global competition for Tesla’s core product, development delays, and labor disputes. Frishberg said it was particularly concerning that two corporate directors departed and reports blamed the board’s level of deference to Musk as an underlying reason. Close relationships between the board members including longstanding friendships, familial relations, and interwoven business dealings are part of investors’ mounting concerns, he said. The bank’s clients hold 600,000 shares of Tesla on behalf of its funds, and Frishberg said they would vote against Kimbal Musk and Murdoch in the election vote due to the lack of independence on the board.
In the area of Musk’s pay, what’s happening at Tesla could lead to reverberations across the capital markets, warned Lander. Tesla investors and NYC retirees deserve to have a sufficiently independent board overseeing Musk and safeguarding their investments, argued Lander.
“When billionaires are allowed to flout the rules, normal people suffer,” he said. “A billionaire can’t just have his brother and his besties be the ones to decide what rules they’ll follow, what courts they’ll listen to, and what rules they’ll abide by.”
Lander, who previously told Fortune that his office hasn’t been able to even get a call back from the Tesla board about its concerns, described Musk’s pay package as “outrageously large and insufficiently governed” at Tuesday’s meeting.
Comptroller Brooke Lierman, an elected official in Maryland, said at the meeting this week that Tesla’s poor track record of managing its workforce and the board’s lack of attention to human capital concerns presented a significant risk to weigh in determining how to vote.
“Suffice it to say that for Tesla to succeed, we need a management team that is on the ball,” said Lierman. And an effective board at Tesla should “make sure somebody is standing up to the CEO when necessary.”