Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs

Union-Tribune’s new master claims his due

Publisher got $1.2 million for last year's four and a half months in L.A. Times spot

Austin Beutner
Austin Beutner

The nation’s daily newspapers are having a rough financial time of it. At least some of their executives, on the other hand, aren't doing so badly.

Among them is Austin M. Beutner, the former Wall Street wheeler-dealer, Bill Clinton associate, and Los Angeles mayoral candidate who last week took over as publisher of the newly rechristened San Diego Union-Tribune.

Beutner, who also serves as publisher of the U-T’s sister publication, the Los Angeles Times, works for Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, spun off last year from the formerly bankrupt Tribune Company.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Before joining Tribune last summer, the Pacific Palisades denizen had been First Deputy Mayor under Democratic L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and earlier made a reported $100 million when Evercore Partners, the big-money investment shop he co-founded, went public in 2006.

An April 10, 2015, proxy statement issued by Tribune Publishing prior to its annual meeting in Los Angeles this Wednesday, May 27, reveals that Beutner got total compensation of $1,215,763 from the date of his August 11 hiring through the end of the company's fiscal year on December 28, 2014.

With an annual base salary is $675,000 and a performance-based sweetener, according to the document, he is set to make significantly more in 2015 than during his first four and a half months with the company.

Besides the salary of $259,615 paid him during last year's four-and-a-half-month period, Beutner got a bonus of $259,615, a stock award of $337,498, an option award of $337,502, and "other" compensation of $21,533.

"Mr. Beutner's employment agreement provides that for 2014, 2015 and 2016, subject to his continued employment, he will receive annual equity grants having an aggregate fair market value of $675,000 on the grant date, of which half of the value of the award will be stock options and half restricted stock units," the statement says.

"We do not offer supplemental executive benefits of any kind, and perquisites are not a material item of our compensation program," according to the document.

But the statement goes on to say that "in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Mr. Beutner when he was hired, he negotiated a personal allowance" of $40,000 a year.

If the publisher manages to turn his troubled business unit around, he's entitled to extra cash under Tribune's management incentive program. So far, though, that hasn't happened.

"Pursuant to Austin M. Beutner's employment agreement, he was entitled to a minimum incentive amount for 2014," according to the proxy statement.

"Because the 2014 [management incentive program] award Mr. Beutner would have earned based on the actual performance of his business unit did not exceed the minimum amount provided for under his employment agreement, he received the minimum amount provided for under his employment agreement and he did not receive an additional [management incentive program] award."

Speculation in some quarters that Beutner may not remain long as a Tribune executive — and that ownership of the U-T may ultimately be destined for so-far-unrevealed hands — could be fueled by the proxy document's disclosure that the "initial term'" of his employment agreement expires August 10, 2017.

"If we terminate Mr. Beutner's employment without cause (and other than due to death or disability) or he resigns for good reason (which may include a change in control)," the document continues, "we will pay him, in addition to his previously-accrued compensation, severance in a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of his base salary and up to an additional one year of the personal allowance of $40,000." In addition, Beutner's stock awards for the period would automatically vest.

"Mr. Beutner's employment agreement also contains certain restrictive covenants for our benefit, including his agreement not to solicit or hire our employees during his employment and during the 12-month period following termination of his employment. He also is required to maintain the confidentiality of our confidential information."

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

Syrian treat maker Hakmi Sweets makes Dubai chocolate bars

Look for the counter shop inside a Mediterranean grill in El Cajon
Next Article

Syrian treat maker Hakmi Sweets makes Dubai chocolate bars

Look for the counter shop inside a Mediterranean grill in El Cajon
Austin Beutner
Austin Beutner

The nation’s daily newspapers are having a rough financial time of it. At least some of their executives, on the other hand, aren't doing so badly.

Among them is Austin M. Beutner, the former Wall Street wheeler-dealer, Bill Clinton associate, and Los Angeles mayoral candidate who last week took over as publisher of the newly rechristened San Diego Union-Tribune.

Beutner, who also serves as publisher of the U-T’s sister publication, the Los Angeles Times, works for Chicago-based Tribune Publishing, spun off last year from the formerly bankrupt Tribune Company.

Sponsored
Sponsored

Before joining Tribune last summer, the Pacific Palisades denizen had been First Deputy Mayor under Democratic L.A. mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and earlier made a reported $100 million when Evercore Partners, the big-money investment shop he co-founded, went public in 2006.

An April 10, 2015, proxy statement issued by Tribune Publishing prior to its annual meeting in Los Angeles this Wednesday, May 27, reveals that Beutner got total compensation of $1,215,763 from the date of his August 11 hiring through the end of the company's fiscal year on December 28, 2014.

With an annual base salary is $675,000 and a performance-based sweetener, according to the document, he is set to make significantly more in 2015 than during his first four and a half months with the company.

Besides the salary of $259,615 paid him during last year's four-and-a-half-month period, Beutner got a bonus of $259,615, a stock award of $337,498, an option award of $337,502, and "other" compensation of $21,533.

"Mr. Beutner's employment agreement provides that for 2014, 2015 and 2016, subject to his continued employment, he will receive annual equity grants having an aggregate fair market value of $675,000 on the grant date, of which half of the value of the award will be stock options and half restricted stock units," the statement says.

"We do not offer supplemental executive benefits of any kind, and perquisites are not a material item of our compensation program," according to the document.

But the statement goes on to say that "in connection with the employment agreement entered into with Mr. Beutner when he was hired, he negotiated a personal allowance" of $40,000 a year.

If the publisher manages to turn his troubled business unit around, he's entitled to extra cash under Tribune's management incentive program. So far, though, that hasn't happened.

"Pursuant to Austin M. Beutner's employment agreement, he was entitled to a minimum incentive amount for 2014," according to the proxy statement.

"Because the 2014 [management incentive program] award Mr. Beutner would have earned based on the actual performance of his business unit did not exceed the minimum amount provided for under his employment agreement, he received the minimum amount provided for under his employment agreement and he did not receive an additional [management incentive program] award."

Speculation in some quarters that Beutner may not remain long as a Tribune executive — and that ownership of the U-T may ultimately be destined for so-far-unrevealed hands — could be fueled by the proxy document's disclosure that the "initial term'" of his employment agreement expires August 10, 2017.

"If we terminate Mr. Beutner's employment without cause (and other than due to death or disability) or he resigns for good reason (which may include a change in control)," the document continues, "we will pay him, in addition to his previously-accrued compensation, severance in a lump sum payment equal to 12 months of his base salary and up to an additional one year of the personal allowance of $40,000." In addition, Beutner's stock awards for the period would automatically vest.

"Mr. Beutner's employment agreement also contains certain restrictive covenants for our benefit, including his agreement not to solicit or hire our employees during his employment and during the 12-month period following termination of his employment. He also is required to maintain the confidentiality of our confidential information."

Comments
Sponsored

The latest copy of the Reader

Please enjoy this clickable Reader flipbook. Linked text and ads are flash-highlighted in blue for your convenience. To enhance your viewing, please open full screen mode by clicking the icon on the far right of the black flipbook toolbar.

Here's something you might be interested in.
Submit a free classified
or view all
Previous article

San Diego Dim Sum Tour, Warwick’s Holiday Open House

Events November 24-November 27, 2024
Next Article

Ramona musicians seek solution for outdoor playing at wineries

Ambient artists aren’t trying to put AC/DC in anyone’s backyard
Comments
Ask a Hipster — Advice you didn't know you needed Big Screen — Movie commentary Blurt — Music's inside track Booze News — San Diego spirits Classical Music — Immortal beauty Classifieds — Free and easy Cover Stories — Front-page features Drinks All Around — Bartenders' drink recipes Excerpts — Literary and spiritual excerpts Feast! — Food & drink reviews Feature Stories — Local news & stories Fishing Report — What’s getting hooked from ship and shore From the Archives — Spotlight on the past Golden Dreams — Talk of the town The Gonzo Report — Making the musical scene, or at least reporting from it Letters — Our inbox Movies@Home — Local movie buffs share favorites Movie Reviews — Our critics' picks and pans Musician Interviews — Up close with local artists Neighborhood News from Stringers — Hyperlocal news News Ticker — News & politics Obermeyer — San Diego politics illustrated Outdoors — Weekly changes in flora and fauna Overheard in San Diego — Eavesdropping illustrated Poetry — The old and the new Reader Travel — Travel section built by travelers Reading — The hunt for intellectuals Roam-O-Rama — SoCal's best hiking/biking trails San Diego Beer — Inside San Diego suds SD on the QT — Almost factual news Sheep and Goats — Places of worship Special Issues — The best of Street Style — San Diego streets have style Surf Diego — Real stories from those braving the waves Theater — On stage in San Diego this week Tin Fork — Silver spoon alternative Under the Radar — Matt Potter's undercover work Unforgettable — Long-ago San Diego Unreal Estate — San Diego's priciest pads Your Week — Daily event picks
4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
Close

Anchor ads are not supported on this page.

This Week’s Reader This Week’s Reader