Wachovia CEO gets no bonus for '07, but more stock options
By The Associated Press Saturday, February 23, 2008CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Wachovia Corp. has upped the number of stock options given to chief executive Ken Thompson, although the leader of the nation's fourth-largest bank will not receive a cash bonus for his work in 2007.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Charlotte-based bank also said Thompson received no restricted stock grants for his 2007 performance. A year ago, Thompson received a stock grant valued at $6.3 million for 2006.
Of the nearly 1.5 million stock options given for 2007, Thompson received 328,498 options to buy company stock at the price of $33.79; 537,719 options to buy at $41; and 627,339 options to buy at $48. Wachovia shares fell 73 cents Thursday to close at $33.35.
Last year, Wachovia gave Thompson 211,641 stock options for his work in 2006, all with a strike price of $58.36.
"We believe the stock awards demonstrate Wachovia's commitment to pay for performance and the board's confidence in Wachvoia's management team to deliver increased shareholder value," spokeswoman Christy Phillips-Brown said.
Wachovia's profits fell 19 percent to $6.31 billion in 2007, partly because of losses tied to mortgage-related investments and weakening credit markets.
The filing reveals only a portion of Thompson's compensation for 2007, which will be fully detailed later this spring.
Thompson, who is also the bank's president and chairman, received compensation valued at nearly $18.4 million in 2006, according to Associated Press calculations of his total pay. That total that includes salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year.
Earlier in the week, crosstown rival Bank of America Corp. disclosed that chief executive Ken Lewis' 2007 stock grant fell more than 60 percent to $4.3 million. He also received fewer stock options than in the previous year.
In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Charlotte-based bank said that Lewis received restricted stock valued at $4.3 million for his work in 2007. That's down more than 60 percent from a 2006 grant valued at $11.1 million.
Lewis also received 333,333 options to buy company stock at the price of $42.70, compared with 400,000 options granted for his work in 2006. Bank of America shares closed up 30 cents at $42.97 Wednesday.
Bank of America's profits fell about 30 percent to roughly $15 billion in 2007, partly because of losses tied to mortgage-related investments and rising credit losses.
"In light of the company's performance, the compensation and benefits committee of the board determined compensation for 2007 should be reduced significantly," said spokesman Scott Silvestri.
The filing reveals only a portion of Lewis' compensation for 2007, which will be fully detailed later this spring.
Lewis, who is also the bank's president and chairman, received compensation valued at nearly $23 million in 2006, according to the Associated Press's calculations of his total pay. That total that includes salary, bonus, incentives, perks, above-market returns on deferred compensation and the estimated value of stock options and awards granted during the year.
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