The FinancialContent Network     SocialPicks Community   |   MarketMinute Monitor   |   MarketMinute Market Updates   |   MarketMinute Stock News
SocialPicks
   Sign Up   |   Log In   |   What is SocialPicks?     

Reddy Ice sales chief gets paid leave for violating company policies

 Sep 16, 2008 10:05 PM UTC
Return Risk
-7.53% MID
Tracked Blogger
Symbol Sentiment Start Return Closed
FRZ n/a

Graphic_arrow1 Via BloggingStocks:  

Filed under: Management, Scandals

Here's a great story about one of my favorite corporate governance outhouses, Reddy Ice (NYSE: FRZ).

Yesterday, the company announced that it had hired a new chief operating officer. Then, in a stunning display of corporate spin, the company buried this bombshell at the bottom of the 8-K disclosing the new COO:

Effective September 13, 2008, Ben D. Key, the Company's Executive Vice President - Sales & Marketing, has been placed on a paid leave of absence and relieved of his duties at the direction of the Special Committee of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Committee"). The Committee found that Mr. Key has likely violated Company policies and is associated with matters that are under investigation. The Committee's investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have been reached that any illegal conduct occurred. Further action may be taken by the Committee prior to or following the conclusion of its investigation.


That'll teach him! Violate company policies? You're going on a paid vacation! The move is believed to be related to an investigation by federal prosecutors and attorneys general in 19 states into alleged price fixing. The company also announced that it was suspending its dividend, and the stock closed down nearly 14% on Monday.

Obviously that's a lot of bad news for one day but what's most troubling to me is the company's efforts to bury bad news in regulatory filings.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments




 Graphic_website1 Read the rest of original post »



Add Comment

Be the first to comment on this story and earn 2 points.

Your Comment



IN THE PRESS
Press_forbes Press_washingtonpost Press_wsj Press_npr Press_techcrunch