Mobile UPI  |   About UPI  |   UPI en Español  |   UPI Arabic  |   UPIU  |   My Account
Search:
Go

New York broadens bonus pay probe

|
|
 
  
Published: Feb. 27, 2009 at 5:10 PM
Advertisement

ALBANY, N.Y., Feb. 27 (UPI) -- New York has expanded a probe of Merrill Lynch's compensation policies issuing subpoenas to employees who were given a total of $3.6 billion in bonus pay.

Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Ken Lewis has already been questioned by the office of the New York Attorney General, CBS News reported Friday.

Former Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain has also testified, handing over a list of 696 employees who received bonuses more than $1 million each, ABC News said. Officials described Lewis' testimony as "ugly and combative," ABC said.

In addition, Lewis flew to the New York meeting in a Bank of America jet that cost at least $5,000 an hour. A commercial flight would have cost $440, ABC said.

New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has expressed concern about extravagant bonuses handed out in spite of billions of federal bailout funds used to prop up banks

In the fourth quarter, Merrill Lynch lost $15 billion. The firm rushed bonus pay to employees before the merger with Bank of America was complete.

Ben Lawsky, special assistant to the attorney general, said Bank of America remains defiant.

Cuomo "is disappointed ... at Bank of America's decision not to turn over some information," Lawsky said.

Topics: Andrew Cuomo, Ken Lewis
Recommended Stories
© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Any reproduction, republication, redistribution and/or modification of any UPI content is expressly prohibited without UPI's prior written consent.

Order reprints
  
Join the conversation
Most Popular Collections
Protesters, police clash at NATO summit Notable deaths of 2012 2012 Billboard Music Awards
The 137th Preakness Stakes Annual Solar eclipse occurs in U.S. Chen Guangcheng arrives in the U.S.
Additional Business News Stories
1 of 27
65th Annual Cannes International Film Festival
View Caption
A contortionist performs on the red-carpeted steps of the Palais des Festivals before the screening of the film "Holy Motors" during the 65th annual Cannes International Film Festival in Cannes, France on May 23, 2012. UPI/David Silpa
fark
Photoshop this Central Park encounter
Brazilian airline shaves a passenger from its flight, leaves him on the landing strip
School nurse rushes to crash scene, treats boo-boos
Woman needs money. Does she a) get a job? b) take out a loan? or c) attack her double-amputee mother?...
Am I dreaming or did a priest just claim a missing girl buried in a mobster's tomb was a Vatican...
If you're planning to hide out in the library to burn books after hours, make sure you have an escape...