EU watchdog backs softer bonus regime for smaller banks

[December 21, 2015]  By Huw Jones

LONDON (Reuters) - Staff at smaller banks in the European Union should not have to defer large chunks of their bonuses over several years, the bloc's European Banking Authority (EBA) watchdog said on Monday.

After the 2007-09 financial crisis, the European Union introduced rules to stop bankers from taking excessive risks to win bigger bonuses and because state bailouts of failed banks had angered taxpayers.

The rules apply to senior management and so-called material risk takers at banks, many of whom are based in London.

At least 40 percent of a bonus must be deferred for at least three years, with half of the deferred portion paid in shares or bonds rather than cash.

This means that if misconduct is uncovered after the bonus is awarded, the bank can stop some being paid out.

Smaller banks have complained that the rules are not "proportional" as the bonuses they pay are very modest and the deferrals create administrative headaches.

The European Banking Authority said the EU should consider amending its law to "explicitly support specific exemptions on the application of deferral arrangements".

"It is the EBA's opinion that the disapplication of these requirements should be possible for small and non-complex institutions and for staff that receives only a small amount of variable remuneration," the watchdog said.

It offered no definition for small and non-complex institutions.

The deferred portion of a bonus is paid in a bank's shares or bonds but the EBA said for savings and cooperative banks who have not issued shares, this is difficult and they should get more flexibility.

It will be up to the EU's executive European Commission whether to propose an amendment to the law. Any change would need approval from member states and the European parliament.

WAIVERS GALORE

Some 21 of the 28 member states already "neutralize", or grant waivers in one form or another, for deferrals at smaller banks, but their scope differs widely. The EBA said a law change would mean more consistent, specific waivers across the EU.

The bloc has also capped bonuses to no more than fixed pay, or twice that amount with shareholder approval.

Britain and France are granting waivers for smaller lenders on applying the bonus cap, which the EBA views as illegal though it is up to the European Commission to take any action.

The watchdog also published a revised version of its guidelines on banker pay and said they will not come into force until January 2017, a year later than anticipated to give member states more time to adapt.

The guidelines now spell out what must be categorized as variable and fixed pay for calculating the bonus cap.

Several banks had been paying "allowances" to top up fixed pay and blunt the bonus cap. The EBA has already said the bulk of such payments breach European rules, forcing banks to change pay contracts.

The new guidelines will be enforced by banking supervisors in member states on a comply or explain basis, meaning a supervisor would have to say publicly why it was giving waivers.

(Editing by David Clarke)

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