Britain’s biggest banks are in talks about collectively reducing the amount they will award in new year bonuses.
\nBBC business editor Robert Peston said serious negotiations about the “thorny” issue were ongoing under the umbrella of the British Bankers Association.
\nOne participant suggested total bonuses could be cut from \u00a37bn to \u00a34bn, but accepted such a figure would still attract criticism from politicians.
\nA senior banker stressed there was no guarantee of a “workable agreement”.<\/p>\n
“We are talking to each other about making some kind of joint statement about bonuses that would demonstrate that we are reducing the amount we are allocating to remuneration this year,” the banker added.<\/p>\n
With the rest of the economy undergoing belt-tightening measures and banks still being accused of not lending money to small businesses, the bonus issue will be monitored closely when it crops up in the new year.
\nBusiness Secretary Vince Cable has said banks could face more taxes if they paid out “outrageously large” bonuses.
\nOne of the great paradoxes about all of this is that ministers would love us to agree to cut bonuses, but they’re powerless to stop us being prosecuted under competition law\u201d<\/p>\n
One participant in the secret talks told our correspondent: “What’s the most we could achieve? Right now the expectation is that banks in the City will pay out around \u00a37bn in bonuses.<\/p>\n
“Maybe we can cut that to \u00a34bn. But although that would be a huge reduction, \u00a34bn is still a big number – and we’ll still face attacks.”
\nOur correspondent says the talks themselves may be counter-productive as the banks could be seen to be colluding on a competitive issue and could therefore be prosecuted by the Office of Fair Trading.
\n“One of the great paradoxes about all of this is that ministers would love us to agree to cut bonuses, but they’re powerless to stop us being prosecuted under competition law,” one banker said.<\/p>\n
However, British Bankers’ Association insisted that there were no negotiations under way.
\nIn a written statement it added, “It is no secret the major UK banks … have sought for some time to get an international agreement on bonuses.”
\nThe BBA believes that the UK has the toughest regime for bankers of any G20 country but is, “well aware of the public view [on bonuses] and will take this into account when bonuses are decided.”<\/p>\n
The statement went on to say, “Right now, speculation about the size and the issue of bonuses is just that – speculation.”
\nAny cap on bonuses could lead to top banking talent relocating to other financial centres where there are fewer concerns about big pay, says our correspondent.
\nBritish banks are said to be irked that Wall Street is resistant to the idea of a mutual agreement on restricting bonuses.<\/p>\n
“There’s no chance that the big US investment banks will follow our example, which means that business and good people could leave London for New York or elsewhere, if we’re seen to be paying less than the market rate,” one banker said.
\nThe total size of the bonus pool on Wall Street for 2010 performance is expected to be about $20bn (\u00a312.4bn), or about 80% greater than the expected London bonus pool.<\/p>\n
The estimated figure for City bonuses this year is already sharply down from the \u00a311.6bn awarded at the height of the financial boom in 2007.
\nIf this figure falls further to \u00a34bn, as suggested, this would mean a drastic reduction in tax revenue that goes to the government.
\nThe Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimates that the tax man will lose about \u00a31.8bn in revenue.<\/p>\n
Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, said that the City financed a major part of public spending in successful years.
\n“Seeing the banks attempting to drive a coach and horse through competition law to pay their employees below the market norm should cause sensible people to get worried,” he said.<\/p>\n
ating deal to reduce bonuses<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Britain’s biggest banks are in talks about collectively reducing the amount they will award in new year bonuses.<\/span><\/p>\n BBC business editor Robert Peston said serious negotiations about the “thorny” issue were ongoing under the umbrella of the British Bankers Association.<\/span><\/p>\n One participant suggested total bonuses could be cut from \u00a37bn to \u00a34bn, but accepted such a figure would still attract criticism from politicians.<\/span><\/p>\n A senior banker stressed there was no guarantee of a “workable agreement”.<\/span><\/p>\n “We are talking to each other about making some kind of joint statement about bonuses that would demonstrate that we are reducing the amount we are allocating to remuneration this year,” the banker added.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘Big number’ <\/span><\/p>\n With the rest of the economy undergoing belt-tightening measures and banks still being accused of not lending money to small businesses, the bonus issue will be monitored closely when it crops up in the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n Business Secretary Vince Cable has said banks could face more taxes if they paid out “outrageously large” bonuses.<\/span><\/p>\n One of the great paradoxes about all of this is that ministers would love us to agree to cut bonuses, but they’re powerless to stop us being prosecuted under competition law\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n End Quote Banking source <\/span><\/p>\n One participant in the secret talks told our correspondent: “What’s the most we could achieve? Right now the expectation is that banks in the City will pay out around \u00a37bn in bonuses. <\/span><\/p>\n “Maybe we can cut that to \u00a34bn. But although that would be a huge reduction, \u00a34bn is still a big number – and we’ll still face attacks.”<\/span><\/p>\n Our correspondent says the talks themselves may be counter-productive as the banks could be seen to be colluding on a competitive issue and could therefore be prosecuted by the Office of Fair Trading.<\/span><\/p>\n “One of the great paradoxes about all of this is that ministers would love us to agree to cut bonuses, but they’re powerless to stop us being prosecuted under competition law,” one banker said.<\/span><\/p>\n However, British Bankers’ Association insisted that there were no negotiations under way.<\/span><\/p>\n In a written statement it added, “It is no secret the major UK banks … have sought for some time to get an international agreement on bonuses.”<\/span><\/p>\n The BBA believes that the UK has the toughest regime for bankers of any G20 country but is, “well aware of the public view [on bonuses] and will take this into account when bonuses are decided.”<\/span><\/p>\n The statement went on to say, “Right now, speculation about the size and the issue of bonuses is just that – speculation.”<\/span><\/p>\n City exit <\/span><\/p>\n Any cap on bonuses could lead to top banking talent relocating to other financial centres where there are fewer concerns about big pay, says our correspondent.<\/span><\/p>\n British banks are said to be irked that Wall Street is resistant to the idea of a mutual agreement on restricting bonuses. <\/span><\/p>\n “There’s no chance that the big US investment banks will follow our example, which means that business and good people could leave London for New York or elsewhere, if we’re seen to be paying less than the market rate,” one banker said.<\/span><\/p>\n The total size of the bonus pool on Wall Street for 2010 performance is expected to be about $20bn (\u00a312.4bn), or about 80% greater than the expected London bonus pool.<\/span><\/p>\n The estimated figure for City bonuses this year is already sharply down from the \u00a311.6bn awarded at the height of the financial boom in 2007. <\/span><\/p>\n If this figure falls further to \u00a34bn, as suggested, this would mean a drastic reduction in tax revenue that goes to the government.<\/span><\/p>\n The Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) estimates that the tax man will lose about \u00a31.8bn in revenue.<\/span><\/p>\n Douglas McWilliams, chief executive of the CEBR, said that the City financed a major part of public spending in successful years.<\/span><\/p>\n “Seeing the banks attempting to drive a coach and horse through competition law to pay their employees below the market norm should cause sensible people to get worried,” he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Britain’s biggest banks are in talks about collectively reducing the amount they will award in new year bonuses. 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