Activist investor Sandell Asset Management blasted executive pay at north east transport firm FirstGroup warning it will vote against the company’s remuneration report at its annual general meeting later this month.
The hedge fund which holds a “significant” stake of around 3.1% in the troubled bus and train operator slammed an approach which has seen the pay of First’s chief executive Tim O’Toole climb by more than 200% over the last five years.
In a letter to First chairman John McFarlane, Sandell said the company had “underperformed”, with the current management team presiding over “operational and share price decline”.
The shareholder said Mr O’Toole was the highest paid chief executive in his peer group, but FirstGroup shares had shown the poorest returns over the last five years after underperforming by 239%.
Sandell also repeated its call for a new non-executive director with specific knowledge of the US transit and schoolbus markets to be appointed, following an earlier suggestion, and insisted that any nomination must be made by the proper board committee.
“We strongly believe that management’s and shareholder’s interests should be aligned and that properly structured rewards can incentivise management teams,” Sandell chief executive Tom Sandell said in his letter.
“Accordingly, we intend to vote against the remuneration report at the annual general meeting and will encourage other shareholders to do likewise.”
Mr O’Toole’s pay packet was boosted by around £900,000 this year after he elected to take a bonus following two years of declining the award. He also benefitted from the vesting of three-year share options.
First is trying to get its business back on track after being crippled by the huge debts it racked up as it expanded into difficult American markets. Investors will have to forego dividends for a second year, while the turnaround continues though £640m was raised from an equity sale during the last full financial year.
Tthe group said it would consider Sandell’s suggestion over the appointment of a new non-exec “in the appropriate way and in accordance with governance arrangements”.
“In addition the board, led by chairman John McFarlane, has recently been strengthened with the recent appointments of Warwick Brady, Drummond Hall and Imelda Walsh as non-executive directors,” added a spokesman.
“The board believes it has the appropriate blend of skills and experience to support the executive team in the successful execution of our transformation programmes.”
He said the firm’s current “multi-year recovery programme” was making progress, but declined to comment on Sandell’s comments views on pay.