Weather Afternoon: 10°c Sunny spells Tonight: 4°c Partly Cloudy Night

Business

AIG
Divided: while AIG executives in America have been returning their bonuses, those based in London are refusing to hand back the money

AIG execs in London shun bonuses return

25 Mar 2009


Top London executives at failed insurance giant American International Group (AIG) are among those refusing to hand back their 2008 bonuses.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has confirmed that many, if not all, the senior people who have so far failed to hand back their bonuses are based in London. He is now investigating whether the bonuses were paid fraudulently.

Cuomo yesterday said 15 of AIG's top 20 executives had agreed to hand back bonuses totalling $50 million (£34 million). He said he hoped to recover $80 million of bonus payments.

There is also growing pressure for executives who have so far refused to give up their awards to be named publicly. Cuomo appeared to promise anonymity to people who offered to pay back their bonuses.

But Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal has subpoenaed 14 AIG executives to testify at a hearing tomorrow.

Meanwhile, moves to tax bonuses at bailed-out financial firms in the US at 90% are said to be faltering.

Reader views (2)

 Add your view

It is a trend in the UK that most people get paid for things that haven’t been properly earned or contributed to, MP’s expenses, un-funded State employee pensions, Gordon Browns friends in banking amongst many. So why should anyone else give something back that some dumb-nut gave them for no real reason in the first place.

- Ian, Reading, England, 25/03/2009 12:39
Report abuse

Why not learn from the Americans! They are not often right but here they have understood the situation For those Companies who are only in business because of the Governments rescue package - impose an "emergency tax the bonuses of 90%.

- John, Edgware MIDDLESEX, 25/03/2009 11:21
Report abuse


Add your comment

 

Terms and conditions Make text area bigger You have  characters left.

We welcome your opinions. This is a public forum. Libellous and abusive comments are not allowed. Please read our House Rules.

For information about privacy and cookies please read our Privacy Policy.


 

 

  • Slump looms in eurozone as economy takes a dive Euro Europe's lingering debt crisis has pushed the eurozone closer to recession as the beleaguered single currency bloc's economy shrank for the...
  • Sports Direct is on right track Mike Ashley Sports Direct is on track to hit its "super-stretch" profit targets this year, passing the first hurdle that could see it hand founder Mike...
  • Bank may turn off printing presses as inflation drops Mervyn King The Bank of England's latest £50 billion burst of quantitative easing may be the last time it needs to resort to the printing presses
  • Online orders on mobiles lift Domino's Pizza Domino's Pizza UK said its online sales have powered ahead to account for more than half of delivered sales
  • Debt deadline: Greece on brink Hopes were rising that Greece will sign up to the first €130 billion (£109 billion) bailout from the European Union and International Monetary Fund
  • Frothy profits at Heineken Beer The economy might be in dire straits but Brits still love a pint down the pub
  • French banks face battering on exposure to Greek debt French banks look set to take one of the biggest haircuts on Greek debt as the country's largest, BNP Paribas, has said it had raised its provisions on Greek sovereign bonds to 75%
  • Thorntons calls in a former Gunner to help turnaround Thorntons The chocolatier Thorntons has turned to the former boss of Arsenal football club to turn around its fortunes
  • LandSecs £1bn joint venture for Victoria A £1 billion-plus redevelopment is on the way at Victoria station
  • Morgan Crucible results surge on emerging market growth Morgan Crucible reported highest-ever full-year results, helped by strong performance across both its divisions, and reiterated that 2012 growth would be driven by new products and emerging markets
  •  
    Market Roundup
    WEDNESDAY UPDATE

    Barclaycard's exit leaves CPP with an identity crisis

    Bye bye Barclaycard. Nearly a year since the FSA started investigating CPP over its sales techniques, the identity theft protection firm touched a new, all-time low today after admitting it was losing one of its most high-profile clients

    More