NEW YORK, Sept. 24, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes ("K&T"), www.nasd-law.com , announced today that it filed a $350,000 claim against Merrill Lynch on behalf of a UPS (NYSE: UPS ) employee for losses sustained as a result of maintaining a concentrated, leveraged position in UPS stock. The suit was filed with FINRA's arbitration department.
According to the Claim, the Claimant worked for 30 years with UPS and accumulated shares of the company through UPS' Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Managers Incentive Program. The Claimant opened a Hypothecation Loan ("hypo loan") whereby the UPS stock served as collateral. In 2007, the Claimant was advised that he needed to convert his hypo loan to a margin loan. While Merrill Lynch loaned the Claimant money using his UPS stock as collateral, Merrill Lynch failed to recommend a collar and/or protective put option as a risk management strategy to protect the Claimant's concentrated position in UPS stock. A collar and/or protective put option would have prevented a collateral call on the loan when the UPS stock substantially declined below the loan-to-value-ratio. Merrill Lynch, looking to make money on the loan, facilitated the unsuitable investment strategy of borrowing against a concentrated stock position without a collar and/or protective put option in place. By failing to protect the concentrated position and/or recommend risk management strategies, the Claimant received margin calls which triggered the sale of his UPS stock. This case is about the failure of Merrill Lynch to collar and/or protect the Claimant's UPS stock which represented his life savings.
The sole purpose of this release is to investigate, on behalf of our clients, the sales practices of Merrill Lynch in connection with the handling of concentrated, leveraged stock portfolios for UPS employees. Current and former UPS employees who held accounts with Merrill Lynch and have information relating to the manner in which the firm handled their concentrated, leveraged portfolios, are encouraged to contact Steven D. Toskes, Esquire or Jahan K. Manasseh, Esquire of Klayman & Toskes, P.A., at 888-997-9956, or visit us on the web at www.nasd-law.com .
