WaMu Executives Will See Bonuses Protected from Financial Fallout

At least there will be some people who will not suffer unduly from the subprime mortgage mess - even if they played a role in creating it.

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Washington Mutual (WaMu) has approved compensation targets for its top executives that will exclude some of the costs tied to mortgage losses and foreclosures when cash bonuses are calculated later this year.

The decision will protect the compensation of the company's chairman Kerry Killinger and more than 100 other executives from potential cuts in spite of the fact that the major mortgage servicer reported a 1.87 billion loss in the fourth-quarter. According to the bonus plan, loan-loss provisions on mortgages and foreclosure costs will both be omitted from the new bonus formulas.

In a statement late yesterday, WaMu said, "The success with which credit costs are managed will unequivocally continue to be a major part of the Board's final deliberations." The company added that it will include further information on the company's compensation philosophy in its proxy statement later this month.

According to The Journal, the new formula angered some WaMu investors, who have seen the value of their holdings shrivel as the thrift's mortgage troubles worsened. In the past year, WaMu's share price has tumbled about 70% to a recent price of $13.39. The article quoted one investment banker as saying "Bonuses should be given to the executives who enhance shareholder value, not destroy it."