We then allowed the leaders to take decisions about payouts.
The NAO charge that got most traction was all about payouts to those on their way out: George Entwistle, Mark Byford, Caroline Thomson and dozens more.
The mean dividend yield over that period was 4.5%.Despite this, stockmarkets devote a lot more time to forecasting and analysing profits than they do to thinking about payouts.
During his exit interview Mr. Olsson confided to Dr. Rost that he had "been lying to our auditors, Arthur Andersen, about payouts" to Swedish executives that were arranged to escape taxes, according to the court papers.
Despite the original verdict, doubts persisted about payouts of many millions that were of no apparent benefit to the company.Although Mr Ackermann has always insisted that his legal difficulties have not detracted from his role running Deutsche, he may now conclude that he cannot continue as boss of a very large, increasingly complex institution while another long court case grinds on.
Pete complains about his payout schedule and about having to become a landlord if he buys a building.
Ms. Park is enthusiastic about the payout funds.
Asked about the payout, she said, "When you're in the middle of a storm, if you're going to explain all of how you got there, and how you're going to get out, it often sets more panic among the survivors than if you just sail the boat out of the darkness".
The offices of the state's comptroller and attorney-general were reportedly consulted about the payout, but deny any wrong-doing.Some of the politicians in trouble with the law have recently had questionable relationships with non-profit groups that they created.
Such consequences were at the heart of the dispute that came before Judge Rakoff, who had demanded that the S.E.C. and the bank explain which executives were responsible for failing to tell the bank's shareholders about the payout of Merrill's bonuses.
But when I called trade unionist Dave Smith to talk about the payout, he was a little more circumspect.
