Apple Puts $383 Million Handcuffs On CEO Tim Cook 170
theodp writes "There are bonuses. And then there are bonuses. Apple's board, led by sadly frail-looking chairman Steve Jobs, signaled its long-term confidence in Tim Cook as the company's new leader, disclosing in a regulatory filing that it's awarding the new CEO one million restricted stock units that will vest over the next decade. Apple shares closed at $383.53 Friday. From the SEC filing: 'In connection with Mr. Cook's appointment as Chief Executive Officer, the Board awarded Mr. Cook 1,000,000 restricted stock units. Fifty percent of the restricted stock units are scheduled to vest on each of August 24, 2016 and August 24, 2021, subject to Mr. Cook's continued employment with Apple through each such date.'"
Speculators make the market (Score:4, Informative)
Re:This is the right way! (Score:5, Informative)
It's also the correct way to make him share in both success *and* failure.
Options were a reform that failed; they only work upwards. Once they dip underwater, they encourage wild risk, as the executive has nothing more to lose.
What we really need is a tax code adjustment. Right now, if an executive is paid in stock, the valuenis general immediately taxable. If half of his pay were in stock, he would have to either sell stock to pay these taxes or give up the bulk of his pay to pay them (and then pay capital gains on the amount by which they increased when he eventually sold them, the difference between the sales price and the "basis" [price he received them at and was taxed upon]).
Instead, when stock is the majority of the compensation, and is restricted from transfer for several years, it should come at a basis of 0, with no current taxation. When sold, the entire amount would be capital gain (or, tax the amount that would have been basis as ordinary income). Now the exec can afford to keep the stock, and also feels the shareholders' pain.
dochawk, economist