State Street [profile] might be in hot water over its work with pensions.

Today in its regularly scheduled 10-Q filed with the SEC, on page 13, the Boston-based asset manager and custody giant made the following ominous disclosure:

We are responding to subpoenas from the Department of Justice and the SEC for information regarding our solicitation of asset servicing business of public retirement plans. We have retained counsel to conduct a review of these matters, including our use of consultants and lobbyists in our solicitation of business of public retirement plans and, in at least one instance, political contributions by one of our consultants during and after a public bidding process. While we are unable to predict the outcome of these matters, adverse outcomes could have a material adverse effect on our business and reputation.

So at this point, there's no mention of a lawsuit, a criminal charge, or a fine or conviction of any kind. Yet State Street may already be feeling the public relations pain. So far the Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Pensions & Investments, and the Wall Street Journal have all covered the subpoenas. 

Edited by: Neil Anderson, Managing Editor


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