Credit Suisse is scrapping a scheme that linked bonuses to risky assets after the plan clashed with capital regulations. The 5,500 senior bankers who were offered the scheme in 2012 may now choose between two replacement plans. The first is a seven-year programme linked to the performance of a portfolio of positions Credit Suisse is exiting. The second is contingent convertible (CoCo) instruments, which are wiped out if the bank’s capital falls below a certain level. The lender’s strategy of paying its employees a portion of bonuses in sometimes risky assets has not only proved lucrative to some recipients, it has also helped cut its exposure to $17 billion worth of loans and deals. Credit Suisse has yet to disclose its total bonus pool.
Click to comment
