Morgan Stanley may pay up to US$1 billion to resolve US probe into private stock sales
MORGAN Stanley may pay between US$500 million and US$1 billion to resolve a long-running US probe into how it handled private stock sales, Semafor reported on Tuesday (Oct 31), citing sources familiar with the matter.
The bank may also agree to tighten internal controls, as part of a potential settlement with the Department of Justice and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), according to the report.
It, however, will likely not plead guilty to a crime, Semafor reported, adding that no individuals were expected to be criminally charged.
Spokespeople for Morgan Stanley and the Manhattan US Attorney’s office declined to comment. A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment, noting that the regulator “does not comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation”.
A settlement would resolve a long-running legal headache for the Wall Street giant, especially as CEO James Gorman is set to hand over the top job to Ted Pick next year.
Gorman has vowed to stay on as executive chairman to deal with the block trading probe. He told Reuters last week that he would be “in a position to help fix up on the loose ends”, without providing further details.
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The bank had said earlier this year that it was cooperating with US regulators over investigations into its block-trading practices and providing authorities with information.
Its upcoming quarterly earnings filing will use similar language from earlier filings about the block trading probe, a source familiar with the matter said.
It will not have any estimates about the size of any potential fines, said the source, who declined to be identified discussing regulatory matters.
Block trades are single orders for large trades, typically placed by institutional investors, which their broker-dealer drips into the market over time so as not to move the price. REUTERS
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