Frasers Group PLC (LSE:FRAS) slipped out details after the close of trading yesterday of its proposed remuneration package for chief executive-in-waiting, Michael Murray.
Murray, who is engaged to the daughter of Frasers’ current chief executive, Mike Ashley, is set to take over from Ashley in May 2022. He is currently "head of elevation" at the department stores and sportswear group, which makes it sound like he is in charge of the lifts but his job title actually refers to the company's drive to sell more clobber online.
Ahead of the company’s annual general meeting, the Remuneration Committee has explained the thinking behind its proposed package for Murray, who is in line to be awarded shares to the equivalent value of £100mln (before tax).
To achieve that eye-watering sum, the share price, currently languishing at 665p, will have to hit 1,500p for 30 consecutive trading days before 7 October 2025.
Should the share price not oblige, Murray will have to scrape by on a salary of £1mln a year although interestingly, the Remuneration Committee said it would have the power to reduce this amount by whatever amount he has gained through the share options it intends to award him.
“The board believes that the significant increase in value of the shares to be achieved before Michael's share option award vests is suitably challenging but achievable and would be evidence of the success of the group's elevation strategy and Michael's leading role in this,” the statement from Frasers said.