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Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

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Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#41
post #36

The headline is relatively clickbait-y. Its double their revenue because their revenue is basically 0. Their actual expenses are hundreds of millions, of which this 1.7 million is a drop in the bucket. Once their upfront expenses are paid they will (presumably) be making hundreds of millions/billions in revenue, which means this 1.7m is not particularly important. You can talk about standard complaints of CEOs with p…

It’s also worth noting the projected revenue for 2024 is 50-100M.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#42

Tony Aquila is the CEO of both companies - Canoo and Aquila Family Ventures. I'll never understand why it's okay for CEOs to have multiple concurrent jobs, while one of the biggest fervors of the pandemic was when employees were found to have... multiple concurrent jobs.

It’s fine for anyone to have multiple concurrent jobs as long as all their employers know about it. Hiding things is where people get into trouble (and not just with jobs).

This is a totally fair point. The incongruity arises for me in that if I said in a job interview process that I'd be continuing to hold another position while adding this one, I'd get laughed out of the room. If it's critical that rank and file guys don't have divided time or loyalties, why is the standard different for the single person most responsible for success or failure of the company?

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#43

If the reimbursements were solely for corporate travel, it might not be a concern. The CEO here sold his previous company for $6.5 billion [1], so he already owned the jet before starting Canoo. The company reimburses him for corporate travel on it. What's concerning is that Canoo is stacking big losses and living on the edge...it seems like excessive spending for a company that hasn't even made a dime of profit. But…

You need at least 400 Million to enter the car manufacturer market.

The investment does sound absolutely reasonable at this point.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#44
post #7

> Under a deal reached in November 2020, Canoo reimburses Aquila Family Ventures, an entity owned by the CEO (Tony Aquila), for use of an aircraft. In 2023, Canoo spent $1.7 million on this reimbursement — that’s double the amount of revenue it generated. Canoo paid Aquila Family Ventures $1.3 million in 2022 and $1.8 million in 2021 for use of the aircraft. I'm surprised there are any employees left at the company.…

A former president only stayed at properties owned by his company, billing the government millions in extra overhead. His voters love him.

I'm not fan of the guy by any measure, but how is this any different than the government paying to make any president's existing properties places where a president and his massive entourage can stay? It's been done by every president I can remember aside from maybe Clinton because I don't remember him having any significant places.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#45

Tony Aquila is the CEO of both companies - Canoo and Aquila Family Ventures. I'll never understand why it's okay for CEOs to have multiple concurrent jobs, while one of the biggest fervors of the pandemic was when employees were found to have... multiple concurrent jobs.

Being a CEO of your family office shouldn't really be a "real job" - it should take up maybe a day or two out of your month if it's being run correctly. To me this would be the same as if a product manager had a side hustle doing some accounting for friends and family. It's fine.

The selling services back and forth thing, I get it, it probably saves some people some work and it might even work out better economically for the company, but the optics are never going to be solid and people are always going to question it, so imo it's not worth it, but... it is quite common.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#46
post #36

The headline is relatively clickbait-y. Its double their revenue because their revenue is basically 0. Their actual expenses are hundreds of millions, of which this 1.7 million is a drop in the bucket. Once their upfront expenses are paid they will (presumably) be making hundreds of millions/billions in revenue, which means this 1.7m is not particularly important. You can talk about standard complaints of CEOs with p…

$1.7 million is 1-3 employees working to ship your product. When you're company is on the edge of collapse you should have your priorities straight. Diverting company resources to your own private jet is a preposterous use of resources and, imo, speaks volumes about where Canoo is headed.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s fine for anyone to have multiple concurrent jobs as long as all their employers know about it. Hiding things is where people get into trouble (and not just with jobs).

This is a totally fair point. The incongruity arises for me in that if I said in a job interview process that I'd be continuing to hold another position while adding this one, I'd get laughed out of the room. If it's critical that rank and file guys don't have divided time or loyalties, why is the standard different for the single person most responsible for success or failure of the company?

Aquila Family Ventures is basically a family office that the CEO likely just oversees but doesn't run day-to-day. It's a different thing than having multiple full-time jobs like Musk.

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A former president only stayed at properties owned by his company, billing the government millions in extra overhead. His voters love him.

I'm not fan of the guy by any measure, but how is this any different than the government paying to make any president's existing properties places where a president and his massive entourage can stay? It's been done by every president I can remember aside from maybe Clinton because I don't remember him having any significant places.

Because of this part:

> billing the government

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#49
post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Rates should go to 15% without bailouts. Anyone who survives that deserves all of the rewards.

That may not include the US Treasury.

What would stop the US Treasury from printing as much cash as needed to pay its debt?

Re: Canoo spent double its annual revenue on the CEO's private jet

#50

Tony Aquila is the CEO of both companies - Canoo and Aquila Family Ventures. I'll never understand why it's okay for CEOs to have multiple concurrent jobs, while one of the biggest fervors of the pandemic was when employees were found to have... multiple concurrent jobs.

Sounds like a hold co. Even startups worth 100K may have the founders hold the stock through a family holding corporation (which may then also be used to "hold" vehicles).
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