BLOOMBERG: Bailed Out Citigroup to Commit $10 Million for New Executive Suite

[FourScore]

Citigroup Said to Commit $10 Million for New Executive Suite
By Erik Schatzker

March 19 (Bloomberg) -- Citigroup Inc. plans to spend about $10 million on new offices for Chief Executive Officer Vikram Pandit and his lieutenants, after the U.S. government injected $45 billion of cash into the bank.

Affidavits filed with New York’s Department of Buildings show Citigroup expects to pay at least $3.2 million for basic construction such as wall removal, plumbing and fire safety. By the time architect’s fees and expenses such as furniture are added, the tally for the offices at the bank’s Park Avenue headquarters will be at least three times as high, according to a person familiar with the project who declined to be identified because he’s not authorized to comment. Citigroup said the project will help it save money over time.

Pandit, criticized by lawmakers over Citigroup’s use of U.S. bailout capital, canceled an order for a company jet in January and told Congress on Feb. 11 that, “I get the new reality and I’ll make sure Citi gets it as well.” Of the biggest U.S. banks that received federal aid, only Citigroup has turned to the government three times for rescue. The company, once the biggest U.S. bank by assets and market value, has agreed to limit perks and restrict executive pay.

“In this environment, it absolutely sends the wrong message,” said Charles Elson, director of the Weinberg Center for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware, referring to the office renovations. “Timing in life is everything...”

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=adLGVE_YzvUU

[Gidney N Cloyd]

1. These theiving pricks think we're playing around...

[notadmblnd]

2. I wouldn't be a gainst buying them some new cubucle walls from

the used office furniture store. But a 10 million dollar new office -
what's wrong with the old one?

[GoesTo11]

3. That's about what it costs to refurbish a public school.

These guys have no sense of proportion or propriety.