Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, a significant Tesla investor, has announced it will vote against a proposed compensation package for CEO Elon Musk.
The controversial deal could see Musk receive up to US$1 trillion over a decade.
The proposal is among several to be raised at Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday and has generated the most division of the lot.
“While we appreciate the significant value created under Mr. Musk’s visionary role, we are concerned about the total size of the award, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk consistent with our views on executive compensation,” Norges Bank Investment Management, which manages the country’s Government Pension Fund Global, said.
“We will continue to seek constructive dialogue with Tesla on this and other topics.”
The fund has a 1.16 per cent stake in the company, the sixth largest holding among institutional investors.
Baron Capital Management, which holds about 0.4 per cent of Tesla’s outstanding shares, said Monday that it will vote in favor of the compensation package.
“Elon is the ultimate ‘key man’ of key man risk. Without his relentless drive and uncompromising standards, there would be no Tesla,” wrote founder Ron Baron.
“He has built one of the most important companies in the world. He’s redefining transportation, energy and humanoid robotics and creating lasting value for shareholders while doing it. His interests are completely aligned with investors.”
Musk is the company’s largest investor, holding 15.79 per cent of all outstanding shares.
Tesla management has proposed a compensation arrangement that would hand Musk shares worth as much as 12 per cent of the company in a dozen separate packages if the company meets ambitious performance targets.
They include massive increases in car production, share price and operating profit.
