British Airways-owner IAG braced for turbulence over pay

The proprietor of British Airways (BA) is the newest in a string of blue-chip London-listed corporations to face investor unrest this 12 months over its executives’ multimillion pound pay packages.

Sky Information has learnt that Worldwide Airways Group (IAG) is braced for a shareholder revolt at its annual assembly on June 18 over a remuneration coverage that can embody a one-off share award doubtlessly value greater than £2.7m to Luis Gallego, its chief govt.

Institutional Shareholder Providers (ISS), the influential proxy voting adviser, has advisable that traders vote towards the award, which might vest based mostly on a three-year efficiency interval ending in 2028.

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“The one-time award is tied to working margin efficiency above the corporate’s medium-term ambition,” ISS mentioned in a report back to shoppers which has been seen by Sky Information.

“The corporate states that this proposal goals to align the CEO’s compensation bundle with senior administration, tackle pay compression, improve competitiveness, and convey the CEO’s pay nearer to comparable FTSE friends.

“Whereas the corporate’s rationale is famous, materials issues are recognized with the concurrent operation of the one-time award and the prevailing RSP [restricted stock plan], significantly as no discount has been made to the RSP alternative.”

Remuneration coverage votes are binding on corporations, though the extent of opposition that IAG was dealing with was unclear.

Because the disruption brought on by the Covid pandemic, IAG’s efficiency has recovered strongly, with the corporate reporting stronger-than-expected first-quarter income final month.

On Thursday, shares in IAG have been buying and selling at round 331p, giving the corporate a market capitalisation of greater than £15.7bn.

IAG, which additionally owns Aer Lingus and Iberia, has been contacted for remark.