Chesapeake Energy CEO's $45 million goodbye
Aubrey McClendon, one of the most controversial CEOs around, resigns with a sparkling golden parachute. A company probe into his actions finds no wrongdoing.
According to CNBC and Bloomberg News, McClendon will get a golden parachute worth about $46 million, including $34 million in accelerated vesting of restricted stock that he was previously awarded and about $12 million in cash and benefits to be paid over four years. And inexplicably, he still gets to use the corporate jets during that time.
There is speculation that McClendon was pushed out. "Based on the terms of a termination without cause, Chesapeake won't collect any clawbacks from McClendon in connection with his resignation," according to a Bloomberg report, citing an anonymous source.
McClendon gained infamy earlier this year after Reuters discovered that he blurred his personal interests together with Chesapeake's in ways that shareholders didn't like. The news service found that McClendon used his stakes in company wells to arrange $1.55 billion in loans "from a major financier of Chesapeake and others" and operated a $200 million hedge fund from the company's offices. An internal investigation done by the company found no wrongdoing by McClendon. In fact, the company thanked him Wednesday for his years of service.
Perceptions, though, matter. Billionaire Carl Icahn and Southwestern Asset Management's O. Mason Hawkins, who together control 22% of the company, forced McClendon to give up his chairman's role last year. Shareholders fretted about what CNBC referred to as the "McClendon discount" on Chesapeake's share price caused by its continued association with the controversial CEO. Not surprisingly, Chesapeake shares were soaring nearly 8% Wednesday on the news of McClendon's departure.
McClendon, who earned more than $300 million in compensation over the past five years, is resigning effective April 1. His replacement will have a tough job turning around what Bloomberg described as a "cash-starved version of what was once the preeminent natural gas producer in the world's biggest market for the fuel."
--Jonathan Berr does not own shares of the listed stocks. Follow him on Twitter @jdberr.
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Okay Jss....We have NO IDEA, when McClendon got this "vested stock" of $34 mil in CHK...
IT HAS BEEN ACCELERATED...To date probably??
Another $12 mil in "cash and bennies" over next 4 years, no explano on the "bennies."
And use of the Company jet also for that time...
And maybe you missed the SEC investigation into his "personal shenanigans."
Company finds "no wrong doing"....Fox and Henhouses, Lawyers and Thieves.
Maybe you missed the huge slump in the shareholder value of the Company..
Kick the **** to the curb...!!!!!!
Yeah, I am and have been a Shareholder....I think you can find them, full of RAGE...
MadMan..someone...I have no problem with a smaller business or business person, reaping rewards from their hardwork and long hours..Happens everyday, yes they employ people..
My wife and I are somewhat familiar with Small businesses..
But this Scenario in the discussion of Chesapeake and McClendon,is really APPLES & ORANGES.
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