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| AIG bonuses 'higher than thought' | AIG bonuses 'higher than thought' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| US insurance giant AIG paid out a total of $218m (£150m) in bonuses after accepting bail-out cash, according to a senior US official. | US insurance giant AIG paid out a total of $218m (£150m) in bonuses after accepting bail-out cash, according to a senior US official. |
| Documents obtained by Connecticut's attorney general showed AIG's payout was $53m, or 32%, more than was previously estimated. | |
| Papers obtained by subpoena showed 73 people got more than $1m each while five received more than $4m. | |
| The US has rescued AIG with a $170bn bail-out package since September 2008. | The US has rescued AIG with a $170bn bail-out package since September 2008. |
| But revelations about the size of bonus payments made by the organisation since the bail-out was agreed have sparked a furious reaction among US lawmakers and the general public. | But revelations about the size of bonus payments made by the organisation since the bail-out was agreed have sparked a furious reaction among US lawmakers and the general public. |
| 'Distasteful' | 'Distasteful' |
| For much of the week the total amount AIG paid out in bonuses was reported at $165m. | For much of the week the total amount AIG paid out in bonuses was reported at $165m. |
| But documents obtained by Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General of Connecticut, now appear to raise that figure by some 32%. AIG: QUICK FACTS Founded in 191930 million US policy holdersOperates in 130 countriesProvides insurance to 100,000 companies and other entities US lawmakers vote for bonus taxAIG chief asks for bonuses back | But documents obtained by Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General of Connecticut, now appear to raise that figure by some 32%. AIG: QUICK FACTS Founded in 191930 million US policy holdersOperates in 130 countriesProvides insurance to 100,000 companies and other entities US lawmakers vote for bonus taxAIG chief asks for bonuses back |
| Connecticut was among 19 states demanding that AIG reveal details of bonuses paid to executives, in an effort to begin recovering the funds. | Connecticut was among 19 states demanding that AIG reveal details of bonuses paid to executives, in an effort to begin recovering the funds. |
| AIG has made no comment on Mr Blumenthal's findings. | AIG has made no comment on Mr Blumenthal's findings. |
| But Mr Blumenthal said on Saturday that large bonuses were "showered like confetti" on AIG employees. | But Mr Blumenthal said on Saturday that large bonuses were "showered like confetti" on AIG employees. |
| He said the newly-revealed number would "further fuel the justified anger and revulsion that people feel", and he planned to ask AIG bosses to explain the discrepancies in bonus figures, AP reported. | He said the newly-revealed number would "further fuel the justified anger and revulsion that people feel", and he planned to ask AIG bosses to explain the discrepancies in bonus figures, AP reported. |
| "Unless the number can be explained, it will undercut any lingering rationale the company may have for these unjustified payments," Mr Blumenthal said. | "Unless the number can be explained, it will undercut any lingering rationale the company may have for these unjustified payments," Mr Blumenthal said. |
| Earlier this week US President Barack Obama described the bonus payments as an "outrage", before state legal figures and congressmen also weighed in. | Earlier this week US President Barack Obama described the bonus payments as an "outrage", before state legal figures and congressmen also weighed in. |
| Even AIG boss Edward Liddy - who underwent questioning by a congressional committee on the issue - has described them as "distasteful". | Even AIG boss Edward Liddy - who underwent questioning by a congressional committee on the issue - has described them as "distasteful". |
| Reports from the US say that AIG executives are now living in fear of a violent public backlash. | Reports from the US say that AIG executives are now living in fear of a violent public backlash. |
| Many are reported to have received death threats and have been advised to take extra security precautions even in areas around their homes. | Many are reported to have received death threats and have been advised to take extra security precautions even in areas around their homes. |
| Protesters are expected to drive past executives' homes on Saturday in an attempt to deliver letters highlighting the plight of ordinary families during the current recession. | Protesters are expected to drive past executives' homes on Saturday in an attempt to deliver letters highlighting the plight of ordinary families during the current recession. |