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Goldman partners cap pay at £1m | Goldman partners cap pay at £1m |
(about 7 hours later) | |
Goldman Sachs' 100 UK-based partners are capping their 2009 pay and bonuses at £1m each, the BBC has learned. | Goldman Sachs' 100 UK-based partners are capping their 2009 pay and bonuses at £1m each, the BBC has learned. |
BBC business editor Robert Peston said it represented a significant sacrifice of several hundred million pounds. | BBC business editor Robert Peston said it represented a significant sacrifice of several hundred million pounds. |
One executive said they wanted to be seen to be exercising the restraint which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has sought from all bankers. | One executive said they wanted to be seen to be exercising the restraint which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has sought from all bankers. |
Many executives working in Britain ranked below partner-level, however, will earn much more than £1m each. | Many executives working in Britain ranked below partner-level, however, will earn much more than £1m each. |
The company did not feel it could insist they take a pay cut, because that might have damaged its ability to recruit and retain more able bankers, Mr Peston said. | The company did not feel it could insist they take a pay cut, because that might have damaged its ability to recruit and retain more able bankers, Mr Peston said. |
Strong trading | Strong trading |
Goldman will pay many hundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses to staff ranked below partner-level. | |
Its employees will be told this week precisely how much each of them earned for the firm's near-record trading performance in 2009. | Its employees will be told this week precisely how much each of them earned for the firm's near-record trading performance in 2009. |
Goldman will be paying many hundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses to staff ranked below the level of partner who are based in Britain. Robert Peston, BBC business editor Read Robert Peston's blog | |
The big British banks, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, have not yet fixed the size of their employees' bonuses. | The big British banks, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland, have not yet fixed the size of their employees' bonuses. |
However Barclays has decided its top executives will receive 75% of their bonuses - and 100% for the most senior people - in staggered payments over three years. | However Barclays has decided its top executives will receive 75% of their bonuses - and 100% for the most senior people - in staggered payments over three years. |
The UK watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, is vetting all bonus payments worth more than £1m for British-based bankers. | The UK watchdog, the Financial Services Authority, is vetting all bonus payments worth more than £1m for British-based bankers. |
The FSA is insisting at least 60% of such payments should be deferred for up to three years. | The FSA is insisting at least 60% of such payments should be deferred for up to three years. |
Mr Peston said bankers he had spoken to were still reeling from President Barack Obama's announcement he wanted to limit bank sizes and force them out of a series of activities. | Mr Peston said bankers he had spoken to were still reeling from President Barack Obama's announcement he wanted to limit bank sizes and force them out of a series of activities. |
These include hedge funds, private equity and proprietary trading, which the president regards as too risky and speculative. | These include hedge funds, private equity and proprietary trading, which the president regards as too risky and speculative. |
Bankers plan to fight the reforms though, with a lobbying effort that will begin at this week's World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland attended by business leaders and politicians. | Bankers plan to fight the reforms though, with a lobbying effort that will begin at this week's World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland attended by business leaders and politicians. |
"I really wouldn't assume that Obama will get this stuff through Congress," said one banker. | "I really wouldn't assume that Obama will get this stuff through Congress," said one banker. |
British-based bankers said Obama's reforms have slightly lessened their ire at the British government over the imposition of its bonus tax. | British-based bankers said Obama's reforms have slightly lessened their ire at the British government over the imposition of its bonus tax. |
"With regard to Darling's tax, the way I would put it is that it is like finding out your wife has been having an affair - you forgive her, but you never forget," said one banker. | "With regard to Darling's tax, the way I would put it is that it is like finding out your wife has been having an affair - you forgive her, but you never forget," said one banker. |
This weekend Alistair Darling said in an interview with the Sunday Times he is unenthusiastic about President Obama's plans to break up banks and limit their size. | This weekend Alistair Darling said in an interview with the Sunday Times he is unenthusiastic about President Obama's plans to break up banks and limit their size. |