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26 Dec 2006

Asia's $100 Million Bonuses

Some traders in Tokyo and London are rumoured to be in the $100 million bonus club. The "giant" bonuses at Morgan Stanley and the $40 million John Mack took home has started rumors inside Wall Street about who might be in the running to get $100 million checks this year.

Several members of the $100 million club are in Goldman Sachs Asian offices. Morgan Sze, a head trader in Goldman's principal strategies group based in Hong Kong, is mentioned by several sources as a possible member of the club according to the New York Post. Sze's counterpart in London, Pierre-Henri Flamand is also rumored to be receiving a $100 million bonus.

Raanan Agus, who is the New York-based head of Goldman's principal strategies hedge fund group makes bets using nearly $10 billion of the firm's capital, could get $70 million. "Apparently, a $100 million payout isn't as uncommon as some originally thought," said one Goldman source in the Post.

Goldman CEO Lloyd Blankfein is likely to get about $50 million, while co-presidents Gary Cohn and Jon Winkelried are expected to receive between $40 million and $45 million, sources said. Goldman bonuses make up between 80% and 90% of the traders and bankers annual salaries.

Word of the nine-figure bonuses came as Goldman named Marc Spilker to oversee its money management unit's alternative investments operation, which includes private equity and hedge funds.

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