WE digress for this blog, away from shipping somewhat, but we just couldn't believe it when we read that Rebekah Brooks, former head of News International, received a £10.8million payout as compensation after she resigned from her position at the company. £10.8 million! That's even bigger than a freight trader's bonus!
It was previously thought to have been £7m that she left News International with following the phone-hacking scandal. At the time of her departure in July 2011, Brooks was then thought to have been paid £3.5m.
The sum was revealed in the accounts for NI Group Ltd, the UK holding company for News Corp's Sun and Times titles, as well as its HarperCollins British book business, who disclosed the payment. The accounts for the year to July 2012 reveal that an unnamed director received £10.852m as 'compensation for loss of office'. According to The Guardian, it's understood that person is Brooks. Phew!
The accounts also reveal that the company set aside £17.5m to cover legal fees and damages – mind-boggling number crunching, we think you'll agree.
