“DO I think the year one salaries were a bit high?” repeated Sudarghara, trying but failing to hide his annoyance at the question.
Sizeable earnings at a company producing sizeable losses is an area where the brothers have previous form.
In the 14 months to October 2007 – the last full set of accounts before Cains Beer Company went into administration, which showed a pre-tax loss of £2.8m – a total of £763,000 was paid to the Dusanj family and their companies.
Post-administration, they are yet to pay rent to Stanhill Investments, the Dusanj-owned vehicle which owns the brewery that had been receiving £35,000 a month in 2007.
To compensate, the brothers rewarded themselves with immediate and massive pay rises.
Sudarghara’s pay jumped from £89,000 to £173,000, while Ajmail’s increased from £80,000 to £156,000.
In the second year, their salaries were brought down to £89,000 and £88,000. But that still brought their aggregate earnings in just two years to more than £500,000.
