The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes Files $200,000 Claim Against Merrill Lynch on Behalf of a UPS Employee As It Continues To Investigate Claims on Behalf of Current and Former UPS Employees

The Securities Arbitration Law Firm of Klayman & Toskes (“K&T”), www.nasd-law.com, announced today that it filed a 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, and seeks damages of $200,000.

According to the Claim, the Claimant worked nearly 35 years with UPS and accumulated shares of the company through UPS’ Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Managers Incentive Program. In addition to acquiring company stock, the Claimant opened a Hypothecation Loan whereby the UPS stock served as collateral. The Claimant’s UPS stock was held at Merrill Lynch which offered him the line of credit. While Merrill Lynch loaned Claimant hundreds of thousands of dollars whereby his UPS stock served as collateral against the loan, Merrill Lynch failed to recommend risk management strategies for the concentrated position in UPS stock. By failing to protect the concentrated position and/or recommend risk management strategies, Claimant received collateral calls which triggered the sale of 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. This case is about the unsuitable investment strategy and failure of Merrill Lynch to recommend risk management strategies to protect the Claimant’s 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.