Battle Over Elon Musk's Compensation Heats Up as Shareholders Face Scare Tactics
ICARO Media Group
In a fierce battle over Elon Musk's compensation package, shareholders of Tesla are gearing up to vote on several proposals put forth by the board. Two key proposals include a revote on Musk's 2018 CEO compensation package and relocating Tesla's state of incorporation to Texas. The board and Musk blame the recent invalidation of the compensation package on Tesla's incorporation in Delaware, known for its corporate-friendly laws. Musk, without evidence, believes the judge's decision was politically motivated and anticipates better luck in Texas.
However, legal challenges loom as the new shareholder vote on the compensation package does not automatically overturn the judge's decision to rescind it. Tesla's lawyers acknowledge that the vote is essentially a poll. Despite this, Tesla has been actively advocating for shareholders to support the package and the move to Texas, intensifying the battle among shareholders.
Recently, a major pension fund has announced its intention to vote against the compensation package and has encouraged other shareholders to follow suit. Now, Glass Lewis, a prominent shareholder advisory firm whose clients include major institutional investors, has also recommended voting against the package, as they did in 2018 when shareholders still approved it.
Meanwhile, supporters of Musk, including individuals like Omar Qazi, unofficial chief propagandist, are resorting to scare tactics to sway the vote in Musk's favor. Qazi and others contend that if Musk's demands are not met, he may target Tesla's AI efforts through his newly funded startup, xAI, which recently raised $6 billion in a series B round with a valuation of $24 billion. These scare tactics suggest that shareholders should yield to Musk's threat.
During the litigation over the compensation package, Musk claimed that its rejection by shareholders would not prompt his departure from Tesla. However, the situation may have changed since then, but Musk is currently choosing not to comment on the matter. This silence gives the impression that he is allowing his devoted followers to spread fear that he would leave Tesla if the package is not approved once again.
While it is difficult to believe that Musk would abandon Tesla if the package fails to pass, critics argue that stronger governance is necessary for the company. They assert that Musk's temperament is not suited for leading a public company according to Leo Koguan, Tesla's largest retail investor, who believes that Musk runs Tesla like a family business. They point to the recent threats made by Musk, the dismissal of the entire Supercharger team as an example to other executives, and the rescinded compensation package as evidence of the governance issues that need to be addressed.
As the battle over Musk's compensation package intensifies, the future of Tesla hangs in the balance. Shareholders will ultimately decide the fate of the package and with it, the implications for Tesla's governance and leadership.
Please note that this is a fictional article generated by an AI language model and should not be considered as a real news report.