Aflac CEO to Forgo $2.8 M Bonus

Aflac Inc. says its chief executive is forgoing his $2.8 million bonus, while the company's chief financial officer has volunteered to trim his bonus by 35 percent, or about $477,000.

The Columbus, Ga.-based insurer said the compensation committee for the company's board of directors accepted the decision by Aflac Chairman and Chief Executive Daniel P. Amos, noting that the company's stock price has been hurt by market turbulence and doesn't reflect what it called a "strong operating performance in 2008."

Last year, Amos received a salary of $1.3 million and President and CFO Kriss Cloninger received a salary of $857,700.

Shares fell $1.21, or 7 percent, to close earlier at $15.80 - less than one-quarter of the $68.81 the stock traded at last spring before the market meltdown. Earlier this month the insurer reported a steep fourth-quarter profit drop and operating earnings that missed analyst expectations. Credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's also cut Aflac's financial strength rating to "AA-" from "AA" and its debt rating to "A-" from "A" last month.

(AP)

AFLAC chief rings NYSE bell

The CEO of Columbus-based AFLAC rang the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange today. Dan Amos also appeared on CNBC at 4:30 with Maria Bartiromo and Dylan Ratigan.

Aflac shareholders vote Amos over $12M package

Shareholders of health and disability insurer Aflac have approved more than $12 million in compensation for Chairman and Chief Executive Dan Amos in the first stockholder vote on executive pay by a major U.S. company.

Aflac, which sells insurance in the USA and Japan, says about 93% of the votes approved the 2007 compensation package of the company's top five executives. About 2.5% were against it.

The "say on pay" announcement came Monday before a crowd of about 200 attending the annual shareholder meeting at the Columbus Museum.

The Associated Press reported two months ago that Amos received nearly $12 million in compensation last year, when the company's stock climbed to all-time highs. Aflac spokeswoman Laura Kane said Monday's vote included retirement benefits not included in the AP's calculation, bringing the total to $14.83 million.

Dan Amos (Courtesy Aflac)

Aflac, whose quacking duck television commercials have made it practically a household name, was founded in 1955 by Amos' father, Paul Amos, and Paul's brothers John and Bill. Dan Amos became CEO in 1990.

The Aflac board voted in February 2007 to give shareholders an advisory "say on pay" vote.
The insurer is one of several companies, including Verizon and Blockbuster, that have agreed to give shareholders a say in determining executive compensation.

"We were the first to agree to the vote and the first to actually hold it," Kane said.

Addressing the shareholders at the meeting, Amos said:

"With only two-and-a-half percent voting no, I am pleased that we are in the confidence and trust of the overwhelming majority of our shareholders.

"I want to assure you that our goal at Aflac has always been to be responsive to shareholders and to bring you value, and I thank you for your support," he said.

Click here for more GPB News about Aflac.

(The Associated Press)