Business Notes PUBLISHING

Publisher Malcolm Forbes, who died at 70 last month, was renowned for extravagant gestures, from hot-air ballooning over China to a $2 million birthday bash in Morocco. Last week Forbes Inc. employees received one last act of largesse from their late boss. In a memo, Forbes' son and successor Steve announced that, in accordance with his father's wishes, all 750 staffers would receive an extra week's pay. Moreover, up to $10,000 in loans from the company to any employee would be forgiven. "As Pop put it, 'Like a lottery, it's pure chance as to who benefits,' " said Steve Forbes.

Although Forbes made low-interest loans available to any staffer with more than a year's service, fewer than 50 employees owe the company money. As spokesman Don Garson put it: "I'm sure many of us are saying, 'Damn it, why didn't I borrow something?' "