10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005

Commission File Number 1-11758

Morgan Stanley

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   36-3145972
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1585 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(212) 761-4000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Title of each class


  

Name of exchange on

which registered


Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

    

Common Stock, $.01 par value

   New York Stock Exchange
Pacific Exchange

Rights to Purchase Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock

   New York Stock Exchange
Pacific Exchange

8.03% Capital Units

   New York Stock Exchange

7 1/4% Capital Securities of Morgan Stanley Capital Trust II (and Registrant’s guaranty with respect thereto)

   New York Stock Exchange

6 1/4% Capital Securities of Morgan Stanley Capital Trust III (and Registrant’s guaranty with respect thereto)

   New York Stock Exchange

6 1/4% Capital Securities of Morgan Stanley Capital Trust IV (and Registrant’s guaranty with respect thereto)

   New York Stock Exchange

5 3/4% Capital Securities of Morgan Stanley Capital Trust V (and Registrant’s guaranty with respect thereto)

   New York Stock Exchange

6.60% Capital Securities of Morgan Stanley Capital Trust VI (and Registrant’s guaranty with respect thereto)

   New York Stock Exchange

SPARQS® due March 1, 2006; SPARQS due June 1, 2006; SPARQS due August 1, 2006 (2 issuances); SPARQS due September 1, 2006 (2 issuances); SPARQS due October 1, 2006 (2 issuances); SPARQS due November 1, 2006 (2 issuances); SPARQS due December 1, 2006 (2 issuances); SPARQS due January 15, 2007 (2 issuances); SPARQS due February 20, 2007 (2 issuances)

   American Stock Exchange

Exchangeable Notes due June 5, 2006

   New York Stock Exchange

Exchangeable Notes due December 30, 2008 (2 issuances); Exchangeable Notes due December 30, 2010; Exchangeable Notes due April 30, 2011; Exchangeable Notes due June 30, 2011; Exchangeable Notes due December 30, 2011

   American Stock Exchange

Callable Index-Linked Notes due December 30, 2008

   American Stock Exchange

BRIDGESSM due August 30, 2008; BRIDGES due December 30, 2008 (2 issuances); BRIDGES due February 28, 2009; BRIDGES due March 30, 2009; BRIDGES due June 30, 2009; BRIDGES due July 30, 2009; BRIDGES due August 30, 2009; BRIDGES due October 30, 2009; BRIDGES due December 30, 2009; BRIDGES due June 15, 2010

   American Stock Exchange

Capital Protected Notes due June 30, 2008; Capital Protected Notes due September 30, 2008; Capital Protected Notes due December 30, 2008; Capital Protected Notes due December 30, 2009; Capital Protected Notes due August 30, 2010; Capital Protected Notes due October 30, 2010; Capital Protected Notes due January 30, 2011; Capital Protected Notes due March 30, 2011 (2 issuances); Capital Protected Notes due June 30, 2011; Capital Protected Notes due October 30, 2011; Capital Protected Notes due December 30, 2011; Capital Protected Notes due September 30, 2012

   American Stock Exchange

MPSSM due December 30, 2008; MPS due December 30, 2009; MPS due February 1, 2010; MPS due June 15, 2010; MPS due December 30, 2010 (2 issuances); MPS due March 30, 2012

   American Stock Exchange

Stock Participation Notes due September 15, 2010; Stock Participation Notes due December 30, 2010

   American Stock Exchange

PLUSSM due June 30, 2006 (2 issuances); PLUS due July 15, 2006; PLUS due July 30, 2006; PLUS due October 30, 2006; PLUS due November 30, 2006; PLUS due February 20, 2007; PLUS due April 20, 2007; PLUS due April 30, 2007; PLUS due April 30, 2008; PLUS due June 30, 2009

   American Stock Exchange

PROPELSSM due December 30, 2011 (3 issuances)

   American Stock Exchange

Strategic Total Return Securities due December 17, 2009; Strategic Total Return Securities due March 30, 2010; Strategic Total Return Securities due July 30, 2011(2 issuances); Strategic Total Return Securities due January 15, 2012

   American Stock Exchange

BOXES® due October 30, 2031; BOXES due January 30, 2032

   American Stock Exchange
Philadelphia Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

    

PLUS due March 30, 2006 (2 issuances); PLUS due February 20, 2007; PLUS due September 30, 2009

   Nasdaq National Market

MPS due March 30, 2009

   Nasdaq National Market

Capital Protected Notes due September 1, 2010

   Nasdaq National Market

Strategic Total Return Securities due October 30, 2011

   Nasdaq National Market

Indicate by check mark if Registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. YES x NO ¨

Indicate by check mark if Registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Act. YES ¨ NO x

Indicate by check mark whether Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO ¨

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer” and “large accelerated filer” in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2.    Large accelerated filer x    Accelerated filer ¨    Non-accelerated filer ¨

Indicate by check mark whether Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). YES ¨ NO x

As of May 31, 2005, the aggregate market value of the common stock of Registrant held by non-affiliates of Registrant was approximately $52,756,199,948. This calculation does not reflect a determination that persons are affiliates for any other purposes.

As of December 31, 2005, there were 1,053,494,099 shares of Registrant’s common stock, $.01 par value, outstanding.

Documents Incorporated By Reference: Portions of Registrant’s definitive proxy statement for its annual stockholders’ meeting to be held on April 4, 2006 are incorporated by reference in this Form 10-K in response to Part III, Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14.

 



Table of Contents

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Annual Report on Form 10-K

for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2005

 

Table of Contents

 

          Page

     Part I     
Item 1.   

Business

    
    

Overview

   1
    

Available Information

   1
    

Business Segments

   3
    

Institutional Securities

   3
    

Retail Brokerage

   6
    

Asset Management

   7
    

Discover

   8
    

Competition

   9
    

Regulation

   11
    

Executive Officers of Morgan Stanley

   15
Item 1A.   

Risk Factors

   17
Item 1B.   

Unresolved Staff Comments

   22
Item 2.   

Properties

   23
Item 3.   

Legal Proceedings

   24
Item 4.   

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   29
     Part II     
Item 5.   

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

   30
Item 6.   

Selected Financial Data

   32
Item 7.   

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   34
Item 7A.   

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

   90
Item 8.   

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

   106
Item 9.   

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

   167
Item 9A.   

Controls and Procedures

   167
Item 9B.   

Other Information

   169
     Part III     
Item 10.   

Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant

   170
Item 11.   

Executive Compensation

   170
Item 12.   

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

   171
Item 13.   

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   172
Item 14.   

Principal Accountant Fees and Services

   172
     Part IV     
Item 15.   

Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

   173
Signatures    174
Index to Financial Statements and Financial Statement Schedules    S-1
Exhibit Index    E-1

 

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Forward-Looking Statements

 

We have included or incorporated by reference into this report, and from time to time may make in our public filings, press releases or other public statements, certain statements, including (without limitation) those under “Legal Proceedings” in Part I, Item 3, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Part II, Item 7 (“MD&A”), and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A, that may constitute forward-looking statements. In addition, our management may make forward-looking statements to analysts, investors, representatives of the media and others. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts and represent only Morgan Stanley’s beliefs regarding future events, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control.

 

The nature of Morgan Stanley’s business makes predicting the future trends of our revenues, expenses and net income difficult. The risks and uncertainties involved in our businesses could affect the matters referred to in such statements and it is possible that our actual results may differ from the anticipated results indicated in these forward looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ from those in the forward-looking statements include (without limitation):

 

    the effect of political, economic and market conditions and geopolitical events;

 

    the availability and cost of capital;

 

    the level and volatility of equity prices, commodity prices and interest rates, currency values and other market indices;

 

    the actions and initiatives of current and potential competitors;

 

    the impact of current, pending and future legislation, regulation and regulatory and legal actions in the U.S. and worldwide;

 

    our reputation;

 

    investor sentiment;

 

    the potential effects of technological changes; and

 

    other risks and uncertainties detailed under “Risk Factors” in Part I, Item 1A, “Competition” and “Regulation” in Part I, Item 1 and elsewhere throughout this report.

 

Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Morgan Stanley undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the dates they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise except as required by applicable law. You should, however, consult further disclosures Morgan Stanley may make in future filings of its Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and any amendments thereto.

 

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Part I

 

Item 1. Business.

 

Overview.

 

Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm that, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides its products and services to a large and diversified group of clients and customers, including corporations, governments, financial institutions and individuals. Morgan Stanley was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in 1981, and its predecessor companies date back to 1924. Morgan Stanley conducts its business from its headquarters in and around New York City, its regional offices and branches throughout the U.S. and its principal offices in London, Tokyo, Hong Kong and other world financial centers. At November 30, 2005, Morgan Stanley had 53,218 employees worldwide. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Morgan Stanley,” the “Company,” “we” and “our” mean Morgan Stanley and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

Financial information concerning Morgan Stanley, our business segments and geographic regions for each of the fiscal years ended November 30, 2005, November 30, 2004 and November 30, 2003 is included in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8. See also “Results of Operations—Executive Summary” in Part II, Item 7 for an overview of Morgan Stanley’s fiscal 2005 performance.

 

Available Information.

 

Morgan Stanley files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for information on the public reference room. The SEC maintains an internet site that contains annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy and information statements and other information that issuers (including Morgan Stanley) file electronically with the SEC. Morgan Stanley’s electronic SEC filings are available to the public at the SEC’s internet site, www.sec.gov.

 

Morgan Stanley’s internet site is www.morganstanley.com. You can access Morgan Stanley’s Investor Relations webpage through our internet site, www.morganstanley.com, by clicking on the “About Morgan Stanley” link to the heading “Investor Relations.” You can also access our Investor Relations webpage directly at www.morganstanley.com/about/ir. Morgan Stanley makes available free of charge, on or through our Investor Relations webpage, its proxy statements, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Morgan Stanley also makes available, through our Investor Relations webpage, via a link to the SEC’s internet site, statements of beneficial ownership of Morgan Stanley’s equity securities filed by its directors, officers, 10% or greater shareholders and others under Section 16 of the Exchange Act.

 

Morgan Stanley has a Corporate Governance webpage. You can access Morgan Stanley’s Corporate Governance webpage through our internet site, www.morganstanley.com, by clicking on the “About Morgan Stanley” link to the heading “Inside the Company.” You can also access our Corporate Governance webpage directly at www.morganstanley.com/about/inside/governance. Morgan Stanley posts the following on its Corporate Governance webpage:

 

    Composite Certificate of Incorporation;

 

    Bylaws;

 

    Charters for our Audit Committee, Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee;

 

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    Corporate Governance Policies;

 

    Procedures for Reporting Auditing and Accounting Concerns;

 

    Policy Regarding Communication with the Board of Directors;

 

    Policy Regarding Director Candidates Recommended by Shareholders;

 

    Policy Regarding Corporate Political Contributions;

 

    Policy Regarding Shareholder Rights Plan; and

 

    Code of Ethics and Business Conduct.

 

Morgan Stanley’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applies to all directors, officers and employees, including our Chief Executive Officer, our Chief Financial Officer and our Controller and Principal Accounting Officer. We will post any amendments to the Code of Ethics and Business Conduct, and any waivers that are required to be disclosed by the rules of either the SEC or the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”), on our internet site. You can request a copy of these documents, excluding exhibits, at no cost, by contacting Investor Relations, 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036 (212-761-4000). The information on Morgan Stanley’s internet site is not incorporated by reference into this report.

 

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Business Segments.

 

Morgan Stanley maintains leading market positions in each of its business segments—Institutional Securities, Retail Brokerage, Asset Management and Discover. These segments consist of the products and activities set forth below.

 

Institutional Securities   Retail Brokerage   Asset Management   Discover

Investment banking

 

•   Capital raising

 

•   Corporate lending

 

•   Financial advisory services, including advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, real estate and project finance

 

Sales, trading, financing and market-making activities

 

•   Equity securities and related products

 

•   Fixed income securities and related products, including foreign exchange and commodities

 

Other activities

 

•   Benchmark indices and risk management analytics

 

•   Research

 

•   Investments

 

Clients

 

•   Individuals

 

•   Small-to-medium size businesses and institutions

 

Products and Services

 

•   Brokerage and investment advisory services

 

•   Financial and wealth planning services

 

•   Annuity and insurance products

 

•   Credit and other lending products

 

•   Banking and cash management

 

•   Retirement plan services

 

•   Trust services

 

Global asset management products and services

 

•   Equity

 

•   Fixed Income

 

•   Alternatives

 

Three principal distribution channels

 

•   A proprietary channel consisting of Morgan Stanley’s representatives

 

•   A non-proprietary channel consisting of third-party broker-dealers, banks, financial planners and other intermediaries

 

•   Institutional sales

 

Discover Financial Services

 

•   Discover®-branded cards

 

•   Other consumer finance products and services

 

Discover Network

 

•   A network of merchant and cash access locations primarily in the U.S.

 

•   Transaction network for Discover® Network branded cards

 

PULSE® EFT Association LP (“PULSE”)

 

•   An automated teller machine (“ATM”)/debit and electronic funds transfer network

 

Consumer Banking Group International

 

•   Morgan Stanley-branded and affinity credit cards and other consumer finance products and services in the U.K.

 

•   Credit cards issued on the MasterCard network

 

Institutional Securities.

 

Morgan Stanley provides financial advisory and capital-raising services to a diverse group of corporate and other institutional clients globally, primarily through wholly-owned subsidiaries that include Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated (“MS&Co.”), Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited, Morgan Stanley Japan Limited and

 

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Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Asia Limited. These and other subsidiaries also conduct sales and trading activities worldwide, as principal and agent, and provide related financing services on behalf of institutional investors.

 

Investment Banking.

 

Capital Raising.    Morgan Stanley manages and participates in public offerings and private placements of debt, equity and other securities worldwide. Morgan Stanley is a leading underwriter of common stock, preferred stock and other equity-related securities, including convertible securities and American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). Morgan Stanley is a leading underwriter of fixed income securities, including investment grade debt, non-investment grade instruments, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities, tax-exempt securities and commercial paper and other short-term securities.

 

Financial Advisory Services.    Morgan Stanley provides corporate and other institutional clients globally with advisory services on key strategic matters, such as mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense strategies, joint ventures, privatizations, spin-offs, restructurings, proxy and consent solicitations, tender offers, exchange offers and leveraged buyouts. Morgan Stanley provides advice concerning recapitalizations, rights offerings, dividend policy, valuations, foreign exchange exposure, financial risk management strategies and financial planning. Morgan Stanley furnishes advice and services regarding project financings and provides advisory services in connection with the purchase, sale, leasing and financing of real estate.

 

Corporate Lending.    Morgan Stanley provides to selected corporate clients through subsidiaries (including Morgan Stanley Bank) loans or lending commitments, including bridge financing. These loans and commitments have varying terms, may be senior or subordinated and/or secured or unsecured, are generally contingent upon representations, warranties and contractual conditions applicable to the borrower, and may be syndicated or traded by Morgan Stanley.* The borrowers may be rated investment grade or non-investment grade (as determined by Morgan Stanley’s Institutional Credit Department using methodologies generally consistent with those employed by external rating agencies).

 

Sales, Trading, Financing and Market-Making Activities.**

 

Morgan Stanley conducts sales, trading, financing and market-making activities on securities and futures exchanges and in over-the-counter (“OTC”) markets around the world. In fiscal 2005, Morgan Stanley combined management oversight of the Equity and Fixed Income divisions to improve the delivery of services to clients across asset classes.

 

Equity Securities and Related Products.

 

Core.    Morgan Stanley acts as principal (including as a market maker) and agent in executing transactions globally in equity and equity-related products, including common stock, ADRs, global depositary receipts, and exchange-traded funds.

 

Derivatives.    Morgan Stanley’s equity derivatives sales, trading and market-making activities cover equity-related products globally, including equity swaps, options, warrants and futures overlying individual securities, indices and baskets of securities and other equity-related products. Morgan Stanley also issues and makes a principal market in equity-linked products to institutional and individual investors, including principal-protected securities, Stock Participation Accreting Redemption Quarterly-pay Securities® (SPARQS®), Performance Leveraged Upside SecuritiesSM (PLUSSM) and Strategic Total Return Securities.

 


* Revenues and expenses associated with the trading of syndicated loans are included in “Sales, Trading, Financing and Market-Making Activities.”
** See also “Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7A for a description of Morgan Stanley’s trading risk management structure, policies and procedures.

 

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Equity Finance Services.    Morgan Stanley provides equity finance services, including prime brokerage, which offers, among other services, consolidated clearance and settlement of securities trades, custody, financing and portfolio reporting services. Morgan Stanley also acts as principal and agent in stock borrowing and stock lending transactions in support of its global trading and brokerage, asset management and clearing activities and as an intermediary between broker-dealers.

 

Proprietary Trading.    Morgan Stanley engages in proprietary trading and investing activities utilizing several strategies and involving, among others, equity securities and derivative instruments related to equity securities.

 

Fixed Income Securities and Related Products.

 

Credit Products.    Morgan Stanley trades and makes markets and takes proprietary positions in fixed income securities and related products globally, including investment grade corporate debt, non-investment grade instruments, credit derivative products (including credit default swaps), distressed debt, bank loans, convertible bonds, preferred stock and commercial paper, money market and other short-term securities. Morgan Stanley trades, makes markets and takes proprietary positions in, and acts as principal with respect to, mortgage-related and other asset-backed securities and real estate loan products. Morgan Stanley also provides financing to customers for commercial and residential real estate loan products. Morgan Stanley advises on investment and liability strategies and assists corporations in their debt repurchases and tax planning. Morgan Stanley structures debt securities and derivatives with risk/return factors designed to suit client objectives, including using repackaged asset vehicles through which clients can restructure asset portfolios to provide liquidity or reconfigure risk profiles.

 

Interest Rate and Currency Products.    Morgan Stanley is a primary dealer of U.S. government securities and a member of the selling groups that distribute various U.S. agency and other debt securities. Morgan Stanley trades, makes markets and takes proprietary positions in interest rate, currency and other fixed income swaps and derivative products, OTC options on U.S. and non-U.S. government bonds and mortgage-backed forward agreements, options and swaps. Through the use of repurchase and reverse repurchase agreements, Morgan Stanley acts as an intermediary between borrowers and lenders of short-term funds and provides funding for various inventory positions. Morgan Stanley also trades fixed income futures. Through its triple-A rated subsidiary, Morgan Stanley Derivative Products Inc., Morgan Stanley enters into swaps and related derivative transactions with counterparties seeking a triple-A rated counterparty. Morgan Stanley also trades and makes markets in U.S. and non-U.S. government securities, municipal securities and emerging market securities. Morgan Stanley is a primary dealer or market-maker of government securities in numerous European, Asian and emerging market countries. Morgan Stanley is a market-maker in foreign currencies. Most of Morgan Stanley’s foreign exchange business relates to major foreign currencies such as Yen, Euro, Sterling, Swiss francs and Canadian dollars. Morgan Stanley trades on a principal basis in the spot, forward, option and futures markets and takes proprietary positions in such currencies.

 

Commodities.    Morgan Stanley trades as principal and maintains proprietary trading positions in the spot, forward and futures markets in several commodities, including precious metals, base metals, crude oil, oil products, natural gas, electric power, emission credits and related energy products. Morgan Stanley is a market-maker in exchange-traded and OTC options and swaps on commodities, such as metals, crude oil, oil products, natural gas and electricity, and offers clients hedging programs relating to production, consumption, reserve/inventory management and energy-contract securitizations. Morgan Stanley is an electricity power marketer in the U.S. and is the sole shareholder of three wholesale generators in the U.S. and one in the Netherlands from which Morgan Stanley is the exclusive purchaser of electric power.

 

Other Activities.

 

Benchmark Indices and Risk Management Analytics.    Morgan Stanley’s majority-owned subsidiary, Morgan Stanley Capital International Inc. (“MSCI®”), calculates and distributes over 25,000 international and U.S. equity benchmark indices (including the MSCI World and EAFE® Indices) covering over 55 countries, and has a

 

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36-year historical database that includes fundamental and valuation data on thousands of equity securities in developed and emerging market countries. MSCI also calculates and distributes over 7,500 fixed income and 190 hedge fund indices. MSCI’s subsidiary, Barra, Inc., is a global leader in providing risk analytic tools and services to investors to help them analyze, measure and manage portfolio and firm-wide investment risk.

 

Research.    In fiscal 2005, Morgan Stanley merged its equity research and fixed income research departments into a combined global research department (“Research”). Research, comprised of economists, strategists, and industry analysts, engages in equity and fixed income research activities and produces reports and studies on the U.S. and global economy, financial markets, portfolio strategy, technical market analyses, individual companies and industry developments. Research examines worldwide trends covering numerous industries and approximately 2,300 individual companies, approximately half of which are located outside of the U.S. Research provides analysis and forecasts relating to economic and monetary developments that affect matters such as interest rates, foreign currencies, securities, derivatives and economic trends. Research provides analytical support and publishes reports on asset-backed securities and the markets in which such securities are traded. Research reports and data are disseminated to investors through third-party distributors, proprietary internet sites such as Client Link, and Morgan Stanley’s sales forces.

 

Investments.    Morgan Stanley from time to time makes investments that represent business facilitation or principal investing activities. Business facilitation investments are strategic investments undertaken by Morgan Stanley to facilitate core business activities. Principal investing activities are capital commitments provided to private companies, generally, for proprietary purposes to maximize total returns to Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley has committed to increasing its principal investing activity in an attempt to improve its financial performance. Morgan Stanley expects to make additional principal investments over time. These principal investment activities are conducted within the investment banking and sales and trading areas in Institutional Securities.

 

Morgan Stanley sponsors and manages investment vehicles and separate accounts for clients seeking exposure to private equity, real estate-related and other alternative investments. Morgan Stanley may also invest in and provide capital to such investment vehicles. See also “Asset Management-Alternatives.”

 

Operations and Information Technology.

 

Morgan Stanley’s Operations and Information Technology departments provide the process and technology platform that supports Institutional Securities sales and trading activity, including post-execution trade processing and related internal controls over activity from trade entry through settlement and custody, including asset servicing. This is done for proprietary and customer transactions in listed and OTC transactions in commodities, equity and fixed income securities, including both primary and secondary trading, as well as listed, OTC and structured derivatives in markets around the world. This activity is undertaken through Morgan Stanley’s own facilities as well as through membership in various clearing and settlement organizations globally.

 

Retail Brokerage.

 

Morgan Stanley’s Retail Brokerage business provides comprehensive financial services to clients spanning the wealth spectrum through a network as of November 30, 2005 of approximately 9,500 representatives with over 530 global locations, including 485 U.S. retail locations. As of November 30, 2005, Morgan Stanley had $617 billion in client assets.

 

Clients.

 

Retail Brokerage professionals serve individual investors and small-to-medium size businesses and institutions with an emphasis on affluent and high net worth investors. In the U.S., products and services are delivered

 

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through several channels. Through Morgan Stanley’s wholly-owned subsidiary Morgan Stanley DW Inc. (“MSDWI”), Retail Brokerage’s network of financial advisors and wealth advisors provide solutions designed to accommodate individual investment objectives, risk tolerance and liquidity needs for high net worth and affluent investors, and call centers are available to meet the needs of emerging affluent clients. Specialized investment representative teams trained to leverage full firm resources provide sophisticated investment solutions and services for ultra high net worth individuals, families and foundations, primarily through MS&Co.

 

Outside the U.S., Morgan Stanley offers financial services to clients in Europe, Asia and Latin America. In addition to serving ultra high net worth clients throughout these regions, Morgan Stanley’s international operations also include Quilter & Co. Limited, a U.K.-based business, which provides asset management and advisory services to affluent private clients, charities, trusts and pension funds in the U.K.; and Morgan Stanley S.V., S.A. (Spain) and Morgan Stanley Gestión SGIIC, S.A., which provide investment advice and execution, and discretionary investment management services, respectively, to individual investors in Spain.

 

Products and Services.

 

Retail Brokerage provides clients with a comprehensive array of financial solutions comprising both Morgan Stanley’s products and services as well as products and services from third-party providers such as insurance companies and mutual fund families. Morgan Stanley offers brokerage and investment advisory services covering various investment alternatives, including equities, options, fixed income securities, mutual funds, structured products, alternative investments, unit investment trusts, managed futures, separately managed accounts and mutual fund asset allocation programs. Morgan Stanley also offers financial and wealth planning services, including education savings programs, as well as annuity and insurance products, including life, disability and long-term care insurance. Credit and other lending products are also available, including CreditSource®, which provides residential mortgages and home equity lines of credit originated through Morgan Stanley’s affiliated entities. Morgan Stanley’s BusinesScapeSM program offers cash management and commercial credit solutions to qualified small businesses in the U.S. Morgan Stanley offers banking and cash management services, including cash sweeps into bank deposits and money market funds, check writing, direct deposit, debit cards and business cash management. Morgan Stanley also provides retirement services, including defined contribution plans, 401(k) plans and stock plan administration to businesses of all sizes and trust and fiduciary services to individual and corporate clients. Retail Brokerage also provides clients with transactional services in futures, foreign currencies and precious metals.

 

Retail Brokerage offers its clients a variety of ways to establish a relationship and conduct business to help meet their unique needs and preferences, including transaction-based pricing and asset-based fee pricing. The Active Assets Account® offers clients brokerage and banking services in one transaction-based pricing account. For clients who prefer fee-based pricing, the Morgan Stanley ChoiceSM account charges an asset based fee in lieu of commissions. Clients can also choose to have a fee-based, separately managed account managed by affiliated or unaffiliated professional asset managers.

 

Operations and Information Technology.

 

Morgan Stanley’s Operations and Information Technology departments provide the process and technology platform that supports its Retail Brokerage activities from trade capture through clearance, settlement and custody, including asset servicing. This activity is undertaken through its own facilities, through systems at computer centers operated by an unaffiliated services provider and through memberships in various clearing corporations.

 

Asset Management.

 

Morgan Stanley Investment Management is one of the largest global asset management organizations of any full-service securities firm and offers individual and institutional clients a diverse array of equity, fixed income and alternative investment strategies. Morgan Stanley had $431 billion of assets under management or

 

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supervision as of November 30, 2005. Morgan Stanley’s asset management activities are principally conducted under the Morgan Stanley and Van Kampen brands. Portfolio managers located in the U.S., Europe, Japan, Singapore, and India manage investment products ranging from money market funds to equity, taxable and tax-exempt fixed income funds and alternative investment products, in developed and emerging markets. Morgan Stanley offers clients various investment styles, such as value, growth, core, fixed income and asset allocation; global investments; active and passive management; and diversified and concentrated portfolios.

 

Individual Investors.

 

Morgan Stanley offers open- and closed-end funds and separately managed accounts to individual investors through affiliated and unaffiliated broker-dealers, banks, insurance companies and financial planners. A small number of unaffiliated broker-dealers accounts for a substantial portion of Van Kampen fund sales. Morgan Stanley also sells Van Kampen funds through numerous retirement plan platforms. Internationally, Morgan Stanley distributes investment products to individuals outside the U.S. through non-proprietary distributors.

 

Institutional Investors.

 

Morgan Stanley provides asset management products and services to institutional investors worldwide, including pension plans, corporations, private funds, non-profit organizations, foundations, endowments, governmental agencies, insurance companies and banks. Products and services are available to institutional investors primarily through separate accounts, U.S. mutual funds and other pooled vehicles. Morgan Stanley Investment Management also sub-advises funds for various unaffiliated financial institutions and intermediaries. A global sales force and a team dedicated to covering the investment consultant industry serve institutional investors. Morgan Stanley offers clients alternative investment products primarily through Alternative Investment Partners, which utilizes a fund-of-funds strategy to invest in hedge funds and private equity funds.

 

Alternatives.

 

Morgan Stanley offers a range of alternative investment products for institutional investors and high net worth individuals, including hedge funds, private equity funds, funds of hedge funds, funds of private equity funds, and portable alpha overlays. Morgan Stanley typically acts as general partner and adviser of its alternative investment funds and typically commits to invest a minority of the capital of such funds with subscribing investors contributing the majority.

 

Operations and Information Technology.

 

Morgan Stanley’s Operations and Information Technology departments provide or oversee the process and technology platform required to support its asset management business. Support activities include transfer agency, mutual fund accounting and administration, transaction processing and certain fiduciary services, on behalf of institutional, retail and intermediary clients. These activities are undertaken either through its own facilities or through agreements with unaffiliated third parties.

 

Discover.*

 

Based on its approximately 45.5 million general purpose credit card accounts at November 30, 2005, Morgan Stanley, through its Discover business, is one of the largest single issuers of general purpose credit cards in the U.S. Morgan Stanley’s Discover business includes Discover Financial Services, which offers Discover-branded credit cards issued by Discover Bank and other consumer products and services; Discover Network, which operates a merchant and cash access network for Discover-branded cards; PULSE, an ATM/debit and electronic funds transfer network; and its Consumer Banking Group International in the U.K.

 


* See also “Risk Management” in Part II, Item 7A for a description of Morgan Stanley’s interest rate and credit risk management structure, policies and procedures.

 

 

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Credit Cards and Services.

 

Discover offers several general purpose credit cards that are designed to appeal to different market segments of consumers and that are used exclusively on the Discover Network, including the Discover Classic Card, the Discover Platinum Card, the Discover Gold Card, the Discover Titanium Card, and the Miles Card from Discover as well as affinity cards and Discover gift cards. Discover offers other consumer finance products and services and credit protection products. Discover offers cardmembers certificates of deposit and money market accounts and the ability to transfer balances from other accounts or credit sources. In the U.K., Consumer Banking Group International offers the Morgan Stanley Card, the i24 Card, the Leeds Building Society Card, the Black Horse Card, the Morgan Stanley buy and fly! MasterCard on the MasterCard® network, personal loan products and insurance products. In December 2005, Morgan Stanley entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Goldfish credit card business from Lloyds TSB.

 

Discover offers cardmembers other customer services. Pursuant to the Cashback Bonus® reward program, Discover provides certain cardmembers rewards based upon their level and type of purchases. Cardmembers may register their account online at www.discovercard.com, which offers cardmembers options such as timely e-mail reminders that help cardmembers avoid late payments, the capability to redeem Cashback Bonus rewards, make payments and view detailed account information. In addition, Discover offers secure online account numbers that allow cardmembers to shop online without having to reveal their actual card number. As of November 30, 2005, Discover had over 14 million Discover cardmembers registered at www.discovercard.com.

 

Network.

 

Only participants in the Discover Network accept Discover’s general purpose credit cards. Established in 1986, Discover Network is the largest proprietary credit card network in the U.S. GE Money Bank issues two consumer credit cards, the Wal-Mart® Discover® and SAM’S CLUB® Discover® cards on the Discover Network. Discover also has entered into agreements with several other financial institutions to issue cards on the Discover Network. In addition, Discover and China UnionPay have a reciprocal agreement that enables China UnionPay cards to be accepted on the PULSE network in the U.S. and will enable Discover Network cards to be accepted at China UnionPay ATMs and point-of-sale terminals in China by the end of 2006.

 

Discover Network operates the network and acquiring businesses primarily in the U.S., provides customized programs to its merchants in such areas as processing, and otherwise tailors program terms to meet merchant needs. Discover Network utilizes its own national sales and support force, independent sales agents and telemarketing force to maintain and increase its merchant base.

 

Discover’s business also includes PULSE, an ATM/debit and electronic funds transfer network. As of November 30, 2005, PULSE links cardholders of over 4,200 financial institutions and almost 250,000 ATMs and approximately 3.4 million active POS terminals located throughout the U.S. PULSE offers financial institutions of various sizes a full-service debit platform and a complete product set, including signature debit, PIN debit, gift card, stored value card and ATM services.

 

Operations and Information Technology.

 

Discover performs the functions required to service and operate card accounts either by itself or through agreements with unaffiliated third parties. These functions include new account solicitation, application processing, new account fulfillment, transaction authorization and processing, cardmember billing, payment processing, fraud prevention and investigation, cardmember services, collection of delinquent accounts and other activities. Discover maintains several operations centers throughout the U.S. and one in Scotland. Systems at computer centers operated by an unaffiliated services provider also support the operations of Discover.

 

Competition.

 

All aspects of Morgan Stanley’s businesses are highly competitive and Morgan Stanley expects them to remain so. Morgan Stanley competes in the U.S. and globally for clients, market share and human talent in all aspects of its business segments. Morgan Stanley’s competitive position depends on its reputation, the quality of its

 

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products, services and advice. Morgan Stanley’s ability to sustain or improve its competitive position also depends substantially on its ability to continue to attract and retain qualified employees while managing compensation costs.

 

Institutional Securities and Retail Brokerage.

 

Morgan Stanley’s competitive position depends on innovation, execution capability and relative pricing. Morgan Stanley competes directly in the U.S., and globally with other securities and financial services firms, brokers and dealers, and with others on a regional or product basis. Morgan Stanley competes with commercial banks, insurance companies, sponsors of mutual funds, hedge funds, energy companies and other companies offering financial services in the U.S., globally and through the internet.

 

Morgan Stanley’s ability to access capital at competitive rates (which is generally dependent on Morgan Stanley’s credit ratings) and to commit capital efficiently, particularly in its capital-intensive underwriting and sales, trading, financing and market-making activities, also affects its competitive position. Corporate clients continue to request that Morgan Stanley provide loans or lending commitments in connection with certain investment banking activities and Morgan Stanley expects this activity to continue in the future.

 

Over time, certain sectors of the financial services industry have become considerably more concentrated, as financial institutions involved in a broad range of financial services industries have been acquired by or merged into other firms. This convergence could result in Morgan Stanley’s competitors gaining greater capital and other resources, such as a broader range of products and services and geographic diversity. It is possible that competition may become even more intense as Morgan Stanley continues to compete with financial institutions that may be larger, or better capitalized, or may have a stronger local presence and longer operating history in certain areas. Many of these firms have greater capital than Morgan Stanley and have the ability to offer a wide range of products that may enhance their competitive position and could result in pricing pressure in our businesses. The complementary trends in the financial services industry of consolidation and globalization present, among other things, technological, risk management, regulatory and other infrastructure challenges that require effective resource allocation in order for Morgan Stanley to remain competitive.

 

Morgan Stanley has experienced intense price competition in some of its businesses in recent years. In particular, the ability to execute trades electronically through the internet and other alternative trading systems has increased the pressure on trading commissions. The trend toward the use of alternative trading systems will likely continue. It is possible that Morgan Stanley will experience competitive pressures in these and other areas in the future as some of its competitors may seek to obtain market share by reducing prices.

 

Asset Management.

 

Competition in the asset management industry is affected by several factors, including Morgan Stanley’s reputation, investment objectives, quality of investment professionals, performance of investment products relative to peers and an appropriate benchmark index, advertising and sales promotion efforts, fee levels, the effectiveness of and access to distribution channels, and the types and quality of products offered. Morgan Stanley’s products compete with the funds and separately managed account products of other asset management firms and other investment alternatives, including hedge funds.

 

Discover.

 

Discover competes directly with other bank-issued credit cards (the vast majority of which bear the MasterCard or VISA servicemark), charge cards, credit cards issued by travel and financial advisory companies and debit cards. Credit cards that may be issued on the Discover Network by other financial institutions may also compete with credit cards offered by Discover through Discover Bank. Competition centers on merchant acceptance of credit and debit cards, account acquisition and customer utilization of credit and debit cards. Merchant acceptance is based on competitive transaction pricing and the volume and usage of cards in circulation. Credit

 

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card account acquisition and customer utilization are driven by competitive and appealing credit card features, such as no annual fees, low introductory interest rates and other customized features targeting specific consumer groups. Credit card industry participants have increasingly used advertising, targeted marketing, account acquisitions and pricing competition in interest rates, annual fees, reward programs and low-priced balance transfer programs to compete and grow.

 

The Discover Network competes with other card networks, including among others, VISA, MasterCard and American Express. The principal competitive factors that affect the network business include the number of cards in force and amount of spending on these cards, the quantity and quality of places where cards can be used, the economic attractiveness to card issuers and merchants participating in the network, reputation and brand recognition, innovation in systems, technology and product offerings, and quality of customer service.

 

Regulation.

 

Most aspects of Morgan Stanley’s business are subject to stringent regulation by U.S. federal and state regulatory agencies and securities exchanges and by non-U.S. government agencies or regulatory bodies and securities exchanges. Aspects of Morgan Stanley’s public disclosure, corporate governance principles, internal control environment and the roles of auditors and counsel are subject to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and related regulations and rules of the SEC and the NYSE.

 

New laws or regulations or c