Press Releases

Options Group Releases 2006 Global Financial Market Overview and Compensation Report: Record Investment Banking and Equity Derivatives Activity Will Push Annual Bonuses Up 15 to 20 Percent Globally

New York, November 7, 2006 - Options Group, a leading global executive search and strategic consulting firm, released its annual survey on financial market trends and compensation patterns at global investment banks. The results of the 2006 Global Financial Market Overview and Compensation Report indicate that equity derivatives sales and traders, investment bankers, prime brokers and credit structurers will earn the highest bonus packages this year as global investment banks generated record revenue in 2006. Highlights include:

• Overall 2006 estimated bonuses will rise 15-20% globally, led by equities and investment banking
• Investment bankers should receive bonus packages 20-25% higher than in 2005 after a record year in M&A. European and Asian equity underwriters also should make record bonuses as investors there clamored for new issues
• Equity Derivatives salespersons, traders and structurers are set to earn 20-25% more on average in bonuses than they did in 2005
• Fixed income proprietary traders will not earn substantially more than they made in 2005, and in some cases could make less in bonuses
• Asian financial services professionals will earn the largest percentage bonus increases on average for the second straight year (20%). European bankers, salespersons and traders will receive bonuses on average of 15-20% and personnel in the Americas will generate enough revenue to earn bonuses 10-15% higher than last year

"Options Group has a built-in demand from our clients to continue producing rigorous market intelligence on financial trends and compensation for the global markets," said Michael Karp, CEO of Options Group. "The firm continues to grow into emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia to meet this growing demand for real-time data and information globally."

Options Group also is releasing its Top 10 Trends for the Global Financial Markets in 2007. Highlights include:

Emerging markets will soon be considered the most important priority for global investment banks as they seek to offset declining domestic profits. Banks are expanding beyond sovereign debt to equities, structured products and origination.

Trading now dominates Wall Street revenues and 78 cents of every $1 earned in investment banking and capital markets come from sales and trading in global markets. This reliance on trading revenue will continue into 2007 as long as profits outpace the increased risk taken by the global investment banks.

London will remain a very good place to be a banker due to a strong backlog and diverse opportunities in Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

All estimated bonuses mentioned are the average amount global investment bank professionals are expected to make in 2006 based on information captured by Options Group. Options Group also can send reporters specific compensation numbers by position and product category if needed.