Cairn backs down after pay revolt

24th Jan 2012 07:20

Cairn Energy has withdrawn its proposal to give its non-executive Chairman, Sir Bill Gammell, share options worth £2.5m.The award was first suggested in a circular to shareholders on January 10th as part of Sir Bill's reward package for securing the sale of a controlling stake in Cairn India last year to Vedanta Resources for $5.5bn.In an announcement today, however, Cairn says institutional shareholders have opposed the award, and so it will not be offered for approval at a general meeting scheduled for the 30th of January.The Association of British Insurers sounded the alarm over Sir Bill's reward package which also included a £1m donation to youth sports charities in Scotland and £1.4m in cash. The Financial Times has reported that shareholders are angry the award contains no performance criteria.Shares in Cairn Energy have dropped 34% in the past 12 months despite the successful disposal in India.BS