Ann: Boardroom Radio Broadcast, Mr Paul Burton, page-63

"rather than take shares in lieu of payment of these fees (subject to shareholder approval), the Directors will now instead be paid the net amount of the three-month 20% fee reduction (after tax), and buy an equivalent value of the after-tax amount in TNG shares on-market subject to the Trading in Company Securities Policy."

I am not completely naive but his excuse may be that he's waiting shareholder approval (when is this, AGM again?) to then buy on market 20% of his 3 months salary equivalent

It sure would be a signal seeing scrooge parting with some of his *cough* hard earned *cough* money.