Lee Enterprises, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy on Jan. 30, is asking its shareholders to approve a reverse stock split to “improve the perception of our common stock as an investment security,” according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Despite its financial troubles, the Moline, Ill.-based newspaper publisher increased the total compensation of its top executives in 2011. The company’s proxy statement included the figures in the chart below.

The proxy also defines severance payments that would be due to these executives “upon termination without cause or for good reason that becomes effective only upon a change of control. A change of control is defined to include certain mergers and acquisitions, liquidation or dissolution of the company,” according to the document. CEO Mary Junck would be in line to receive more than $2.6 million in such a scenario.