Opening Bell: 03.25.10
Credit Suisse Boosts CEO's Pay (WSJ)
19.2 million Swiss francs ($17.9 million) in cash and stock for Brady Dougan.
SEC Probes Hedge Fund Bets (WSJ)
Appaloosa Management has been scrutinized by the Securities and Exchange Commission over trades it made around the time Wells Fargo & Co. agreed to acquire Wachovia Corp. in 2008, according to people familiar with the matter. Regulators also have questioned trades by Carlson Capital, in connection with four secondary stock offerings between late 2007 and mid-2009, according to a person familiar with the matter.
FSA Swoop Hauled In Government Adviser (FT)
The Deutsche Bank executive arrested on Tuesday in connection with an insider dealing investigation was one of a team of bankers advising the government on managing its stakes in Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group. The Deutsche unit, which is being led by Anshu Jain, co-head of the German bank’s investment banking operations, comprises more than a dozen bankers looking at strategic options for the part-nationalised lenders, according to people familiar with the set-up. The executive, Martyn Dodgson, who was recently promoted to be a managing director at Deutsche, was part of the government advisory team.
Jon Corzine's New Package (Footnoted)
Just for signing on with MF Global, Corzine’s getting not only a $1.5 million signing bonus within the next month, but also an option for 2.5 million shares that vests if he makes it through March 31 next year. The option’s strike price will be set April 7, but at Tuesday’s close it would have been worth $18.3 million. His base salary can’t fall below the initial $1.5 million, but it can be increased — and once it is, it can’t fall again.
CEOS Defy Obama With More Cash Instead of Pay-for-Performance (Bloomberg)
“To the extent there is more emphasis on cash than stock, that’s unfortunate,” said Kenneth Feinberg, the U.S. special master on executive compensation, who was appointed by Obama in June 2009. “We’re pushing the other way.”
Behind Consumer Agency Idea, A Fiery Advocate (NYT)
“Dang gummit, somebody has got to stand up on behalf of middle-class families!” Elizabeth Warren exclaimed in a recent interview in her office here.
Shades of ‘Wall Street’ in Insider Trading Arrests (DealBook)
Discussions between Mr. Poteroba and Mr. Koval about other companies included the following correspondence: “Let me know if you’ve started your wedding registry at Macy’s,” and “Happy to talk about sales items and etc … sale ends soon … so hurry up.”
Blankfein Foundation Pumps $11 Million Into Charity (Bloomberg)
Lloyd and the wife Laura have donated that much (from 2000-2009) to Harvard University, the Robin Hood Foundation, the UJA-Federation of New York, among others.