Bailed-Out Citi Plans $10M CEO Office
Citi, which has received $45B in government funds, to spend $10M on NYC offices.
March 19, 2009— -- Citigroup, which has received $45 billion in taxpayer bailout money, plans to spend $10 million on new offices at its Park Avenue headquarters for CEO Vikram Pandit and his deputies, according to Bloomberg News.
A Citi source confirmed the renovation plans to ABC News, which were first reported by Bloomberg. The source added that the renovation is part of an overall effort to cut costs by consolidating offices.
Last month, Pandit testified before Congress about the way his company is using taxpayer dollars received through the Troubled Asset Relief Program.
"The American people are right to expect that we use TARP funds responsibly, quickly and transparently to help American families, businesses and communities," he said.
Earlier this year, Citigroup reversed a decision to buy a $50 million corporate jet under pressure from the government.
The Citi source likened the $10 million in office renovations to refinancing a home: You need to put money down so you can save money over time. Permits for the renovations were filed in September 2008, according to the source.
"This office space consolidation is part of a global effort to create greater operating efficiencies and generate millions of dollars in savings in the years ahead," Citi told ABC News in a statement. "Through this project, senior executives in our corporate headquarters are moving from two floors to smaller, simpler offices on a single floor."
"These changes, combined with greater use of shared work spaces and alternative work arrangements, will double the overall occupancy rate on the remaining floor," the company added. "In addition, based on estimates made when the project was initiated, we expect to generate savings in the next few years well in excess of the project costs compared to our current utilization of headquarters executive space."
Bloomberg reported that the company plans to spend at least $3.2 million for basic construction, such as wall removal, plumbing and fire safety, but that the overall cost would be at least three times as high.
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