10 Firms Fined for Allowing Equity Analysts to Solicit IB Business

Posted on December 30th, 2014 at 9:56 AM
10 Firms Fined for Allowing Equity Analysts to Solicit IB Business

From the Desk of Jim Eccleston at Eccleston Law Offices:

FINRA has fined 10 firms a total of $43.5 million for allowing their equity research analysts to solicit investment banking business and for offering favorable research coverage in connection with the 2010 planned initial public offering of Toys R Us.

Those firms are: Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC ., Goldman, Sachs & Co. , JP Morgan Securities LLC , Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.,  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. , Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC .,  Needham & Company LLC..

In April 2010, Toys R Us and its private equity owners invited those 10 firms to compete for a role in Toys R Us’ planned IPO. But each of the firms used their analysts to solicit investment banking business from Toys R Us and offered favorable research.  Eventually Toys R Us decided not to proceed with the offering.

FINRA’s research analyst conflict of interest rules make clear that firms may not use research analysts  to offer, or promise to offer, favorable research to win investment banking business.

In addition, FINRA found that six of the 10 firms — Barclays, Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan and Needham — had inadequate supervisory procedures related to research analyst participation in investment banking pitches.

The attorneys of Eccleston Law Offices represent investors and advisers nationwide in securities and employment matters. Our attorneys draw on a combined experience of nearly 50 years in delivering the highest quality legal services.

Related Attorneys: James J. Eccleston

Tags: Eccleston Law Offices, Eccleston Law LLC, James Eccleston, FINRA, Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley & Co, Wells Fargo

Return to Archive

TESTIMONIALS

Previous
Next

We just wanted to say thanks for your work in helping us get back some of the money we lost. We are not by any means rich, but we have saved some money and we have done so through a tight-fisted approach to most everything we do. So losing a significant chunk of money hurt…especially at a time when everyone else was growing their accounts. We really appreciate the work you did.

Allan and Adele

LATEST NEWS AND ARTICLES

December 19, 2024
GPB Capital Investors See Progress as Court Confirms Receivership

In a significant development for investors in GPB Capital Holdings, the private equity firm will move into receivership following a prolonged legal battle.

December 18, 2024
SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with causing two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) under its control to make misleading statements to investors before their initial public offerings (IPOs). 

December 17, 2024
Former Western Asset Management Co-CIO Charged with Fraud for Cherry-picking Trades

The SEC recently charged Ken Leech, former Co-CIO of Western Asset Management, with fraud.