Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Gold/Mining/Energy : SKB on VSE -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Kevin Levrone who wrote (359)	4/12/1998 5:31:00 PM
From: buc	Respond to of 699

I agree. Usually when there are two extremes, the true answer lies somewhere in the middle. The way the "dearly departed" has portrayed the company and its officers, they are trying to self-destruct, which is not in anyone's interest, including their own. Reading between the lines, S.Z.'s proposed solution would have probably diluted an already weak share value, and increased costs over the short term, without any payback guarantees over the long term. It could be (devil's advocate), that the company believes a less costly solution lies within the company itself, without the short term pain (-EPS)of the alternative. Certainly one wonders why a major Silicon Valley player would have any interest in a small (growth potential) Canadian Company. Perhaps, what lies at the heart of the matter, and the reason for this, most recent communication, is the compensation issue. There may or may not have been some unfulfilled performance issues which remain in dispute, but, just as with my investment in this stock, we are only speculating. The choices available are that we can continue to side with departed players in the company, slam the stock, and make our worst fears as shareholders self-fulfilling (sink a leaking vessel), or, we can try and find a silver lining, and wait and see what happens when the dust settles (say a month after the suspension is lifted), and hope the company's fundamentals carry it to new heights (pump and paddle like mad). As one who continues to hold stock, without any alternatives at this time, in the interest of self-preservation, I think I will avoid any knee-jerk emotional outbursts at this time, and, I think other current shareholders would be wise to do the same.

To: Kevin Levrone who wrote (359)	4/12/1998 10:59:00 PM
From: Gene Veinotte	Respond to of 699

Maybe the Chairman and company executives could follow Lowen's example and be compensated when the share price goes to $2.00 or over. Wouldn't that show some confidence in this stock! Saturday, April 11, 1998 Loewen takes pay cut, goes for stock options By PETER KENNEDY Vancouver Bureau The Financial Post Loewen Group Inc. chairman Ray Loewen took home less pay last year, electing to take stock options in lieu of almost all of his salary for the second year in a row. Other senior executives at the Vancouver funeral home giant took pay cuts, according to a company information circular released on Thursday. Last year, Loewen took home US$55,315, including US$1 in salary, US$16,219 for taxable auto benefits, US$3,611 for tax services and a US$35,484 taxable benefit related to the use of the company's boat. The 57-year-old executive also received 600,000 stock options potentially worth US$15.7 million. More than half of those options represent incentives from 1996 when he made US$217,193 consisting of US$1 in salary, US$16,445 for taxable auto benefits and US$200,747 in other compensation and 20,771 options. Loewen shares have staged a partial recovery after tumbling 45% in 1997 when Service Corp. International of Houston abandoned a hostile takeover bid for the company. Analysts attribute the rebound to a higher first-quarter death rate and hopes that funeral-sector companies will meet their earnings targets. Loewen and his wife, Anne, control 18.3% of the company's outstanding shares (LWN/TSE), which rose 35› to $37.10 on Thursday. He didn't exercise any options in 1997. Meanwhile, none of Loewen's five highest-paid executives received any bonus for 1997. Chief financial officer Paul Wagler took home a basic salary of US$247,454 in 1997, up from US$205,777 in 1996 when he received a US$106,956 bonus. In lieu of salary, executive vice-president Lawrence Miller received 351,353 stock options in 1997 as well as US$13,200 in taxable auto benefits. In 1996 he took home a basic salary of US$87,258.