Sunday, March 18, 2018

Stephen Schwarzman's PEU Pay

How much of Stephen Schwarzman $786 million came from debt funded dividends paid to sponsor.  The SEC requires companies to report CEO pay multiples so conceivably they could require private equity underwriters to report how much of founder pay comes from loading affiliates with debt.

Blackstone reported its CEO pay multiple:
For 2017, the annual total compensation for Mr. Schwarzman, our principal executive officer, was $125,519,429 and our median employee’s annual total compensation was $218,449. Accordingly, annual total compensation of our principal executive officer was approximately five hundred and seventy-five times the annual total compensation of our median employee. 
Using the $786 million figure Schwarzman's pay is a staggering 3,600 times Blackstone's median pay.  But that's not all.

WSJ reported:

Blackstone Group LP guaranteed Chief Executive Stephen Schwarzman new rewards for his contribution to the firm as a founder when he chooses to retire—and even after his death.
Blackstone's 10-k stated:

Mr. Schwarzman will be provided with specified retirement benefits for the remainder of his life, including that he be permitted to retain his then current office and continue to be provided with administrative support, access to office services and a car and driver. Mr. Schwarzman will also continue to receive health benefits following his retirement until his death, subject to his continuing payment of the related health insurance premiums consistent with current policies. 

Finally, Mr. Schwarzman will also receive reimbursement for travel costs (including travel on personal aircraft) for Blackstone related business functions, annual home and personal security benefits, reasonable access to our Chief Legal Officer, reasonable access to certain events, legal representation for Blackstone related matters, and, subject to his continuing payment of costs and expenses related thereto, he will continue to be provided with offices, technology and support for his family office team at levels consistent with current practice. 

The agreement provides that, following Mr. Schwarzman’s termination of service, he or related entities will remain entitled to receive awards of carried interest at reduced levels until the later of February 14, 2027 or the date of Mr. Schwarzman’s death. The profit sharing percentage for any carried interest awarded in new funds launched after Mr. Schwarzman’s termination of service shall generally be set at 50% of the profit sharing percentage Mr. Schwarzman held in the most recent corresponding predecessor fund prior to his termination of employment or, in the case of new funds without a corresponding predecessor fund prior to Mr. Schwarzman’s termination of service, a profit sharing percentage set at 50% of the median of the aggregate profit sharing percentages held by Mr. Schwarzman at the time of his termination of service. 

While currently Mr. Schwarzman is entitled to invest in or alongside our investment funds without being subject to management fees or carried interest, this has been extended to continue until ten years following the date of Mr. Schwarzman’s death as to Mr. Schwarzman, his estate and related entities. 
Let the good times roll for billionaire PEU founders.