Nomura said to change its mind about Lehman bonuses - Updated

I can tell you that the large bulk of M&A bankers have signed a one-year guarantee package this morning. 100% of 2007 bonus, paid in cash. 50% in April 2009 and 50% in October 2009.

Carly - I've now spoken to four separate people on this, all of whom said roughly similar things. The original source is reliable and sticks by his claim that he's working with people who've had two year deals rescinded. If you read the FT, Bloomberg and other sources, you will find that they also contain anonymous quotes. Sometimes this is the only way to get inside information. When this is the case, the editor has to make a call on the reliability of the source. I made that call, but also made it clear that other sources disagree. If you read some of our other articles on Lehman, you will see that we are sympathetic to the plight of people there and are doing our best to help them (as far as we can) to work through legal issues and find alternative employment.

"According to one totally anonymous headhunter"?? WTF??? This is not the basis of serious journalism Sarah.

There are very worried people on the ground at Lehman who need some degree of financial security, so please stop wildly speculating on events that you have no knowledge on as it affects real people.

Only MDs have 2-yr guarantee package. Also other grades can have same terms as in Lehman

Other than the core, (ex) employees of Lehman, giving them two year 100% bonuses would be a terrible waste. The Japanese will be more conservative.