Centrica's Profits Soar, But CEO Pay Raises Eyebrows

British Gas owner Centrica has announced that the operating profits for its retail arm will be “significantly higher than in previous years,” as it seeks to win a shareholder showdown at its AGM today. The FTSE 100 firm has posted a bullish trading update ahead of a heated series of votes with shareholders over executive pay, where bosses will bear the brunt of an investor revolt over chief executive Chris O’Shea’s proposed £4.5m pay packet. The energy giant expects a hike in profits due to reductions in debt-related…