EP 8-K 03-14-2006

 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 
Washington, D.C. 20549 
 
 
FORM 8-K
 
CURRENT REPORT 
 
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 
 
 
Date of Report:
March 14, 2006
 
(Date of Earliest Event Reported: March 10, 2006)
  
El Paso Corporation Logo 
 
EL PASO CORPORATION 
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Delaware
 
1-14365
 
76-0568816
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
El Paso Building
1001 Louisiana Street
Houston, Texas 77002
 
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (713) 420-2600
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
 
 
 
 
 
 

Item 1.01 Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement .

On March 10, 2006, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Compensation Committee”) of El Paso Corporation (“El Paso”) approved (1) new annual base salaries for the executive officers that will be named in El Paso’s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which El Paso intends to file within 120 days of the end of its fiscal year; (2) the payment of annual cash incentive bonuses for 2005 performance; (3) the grant of long-term equity awards in the form of restricted stock and stock options; and (4) new target and maximum bonus opportunities for annual cash incentive awards to be paid, if any, in 2007 for 2006 performance. The rationale for each of these actions will be reflected in the Compensation Committee report on Executive Compensation contained in our 2006 and/or 2007 Proxy Statements, as required by applicable regulations.

The following table sets forth information with respect to (i) 2005 annual base salaries and the new annual base salaries that will be effective as of April 1, 2006, (ii) annual cash incentive bonuses that will be paid in April for 2005 performance, (iii) 2006 annual long-term equity awards that will be granted on April 3, 2006, and (iv) 2006 target and maximum bonus opportunities, for each of the following named executive officers.
 
Name
 
2005
Base Salary
($)
 
2006
Base Salary
($)
 
Annual Cash Incentive Bonus for 2005 Performance
($)
 
2006
Annual Long-Term
Incentive Award
 
2006
Bonus
Opportunity
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stock
Options
(#)
 
Restricted Stock
(#)
 
 
Target
(%)
 
 
Maximum
(%)
Douglas L. Foshee 
 
$ 950,004
 
$ 950,004
 
$ 1,400,000
 
252,722
 
125,000
 
120%
 
240%
Lisa A. Stewart 
 
$ 520,008
 
$ 540,816
 
$ 498,792
 
60,921
 
30,132
 
80%
 
160%
D. Mark Leland
 
$ 450,000
 
$ 495,000
 
$ 388,125
 
69,863
 
34,555
 
60%
 
120%
Robert W. Baker
 
$ 426,408
 
$ 434,940
 
$ 294,222
 
55,890
 
27,644
 
60%
 
120%
Susan B. Ortenstone
 
$ 343,764
 
$ 371,268
 
$ 258,545
 
19,738
 
9,763
 
60%
 
120%

 
 
 
 
 
 




SIGNATURES 
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 EL PASO CORPORATION
 
 
 
     
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ John R. Sult
 
 
John R. Sult
 
 
Senior Vice President and Controller
   
 (Principal Accounting Officer)
 
 
 
Dated:  March 14, 2006