On Thursday First Solar’s Chairman, Michael Ahearn sold 1.5 million company shares (half of his stocks in the company). The maker of thin-film photovoltaic panels announced the sale in a release issued Friday.
Based on Thursday’s closing price of $102.97 the share sale earned Ahearn $141.8 million.
Ahearn stepped down as CEO of First Solar in September, after leading the company from its startup launch to become one of today’s largest corporates in the renewable energy sector.
On Thursday Rob Gillette, who replaced Ahearn as CEO, purchased 10,000 shares of First Solar common stock in the open market with his personal funds.
As part of his compensation package Gillette was granted $9.25 million in stock options, including $3.25 million in unrestricted shares and $6 million in restricted shares. He also got a $5 million signing bonus.