New Merrill boss Thain gets $15 million bonus

NEW YORK, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Merrill Lynch & Co Inc's new Chief Executive John Thain will receive a $15 million bonus this year and 1.8 million stock options, the company said on Friday.

Thain, former leader of NYSE Euronext (NYX.N), will receive the cash bonus from Merrill in recognition he will not receive a bonus this year from NYSE, Merrill said. His base salary will be $750,000.

Thain also will receive 500,000 units of restricted stock. (Reporting by Tim McLaughlin; Editing by Gary Hill)