Morgan Stanley - MS STOCK NEWS

Morgan Stanley has selected Wise Platform to enhance its foreign exchange international settlement capabilities for corporate customers, becoming the first investment bank to enable these corporate payment capabilities through Wise's infrastructure.

The integration combines Wise's advanced payments technology with Morgan Stanley's integrated approach to provide fast, cost-effective cross-border settlements. Wise Platform offers instant completion for 63% of cross-border payments in under 20 seconds, supported by 65+ licenses and 6 direct payment system connections.

This collaboration will complement Morgan Stanley's existing transactional foreign exchange services for corporate and institutional clients, leveraging Wise's local connectivity to reduce implementation timelines while maintaining service quality.

KBRA has assigned a BBB rating with a Stable outlook to Morgan Stanley Direct Lending Fund (MSDL). The rating reflects MSDL's strong connection to Morgan Stanley Asset Management's $1.5 trillion AUM and its access to MS's ecosystem. As of Q3 2024, MSDL maintains a $3.6 billion investment portfolio, with 96% in senior secured first lien loans across 200 companies in 33 industries. The portfolio shows solid asset quality with only 0.2% of investments on nonaccrual status. MSDL operates with a gross leverage of 0.99x and has $1.1 billion in bank credit availability. The company completed its IPO on January 26, 2024, and operates as a Business Development Company (BDC).

Morgan Stanley Infrastructure Partners (MSIP) has announced an agreement to sell its 50% stake in Larus Holding , the owner of Höegh Evi , to Igneo Infrastructure Partners. The Høegh Family will retain their 50% ownership through Aequitas Under MSIP's co-ownership, Höegh Evi, a leading operator of Floating Storage and Regasification Units (FSRUs) and LNG Carrier vessels, underwent strategic realignment focusing on clean energy infrastructure. The company is developing floating solutions for Carbon Capture and Storage, ammonia, and hydrogen segments, with plans to convert to hybrid FSRUs by 2028. Notable transactions include the company's delisting from the Oslo Stock Exchange in May 2021 and taking private Höegh LNG Partners LP from NYSE in September 2022.

Eaton Vance Municipal Bond Fund (EIM) has announced a cash tender offer for up to 5% of its outstanding common shares. The offer price will be 98% of the fund's net asset value per share, determined at the close of trading on the expiration date of January 9, 2025.

If the tender offer is oversubscribed, shares will be purchased on a pro-rata basis. During the tender offer period, the Fund may sell portfolio instruments to raise cash, potentially resulting in a temporarily higher cash position. The Fund reserves the right not to accept tendered shares under various circumstances as detailed in the offering materials.

Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) has agreed to acquire Prescott's, a healthcare-focused specialty outsourced clinical engineering services provider, from Atlantic Street Capital. The company, headquartered in Monument, Colorado, provides medical equipment repair, maintenance services, and refurbished equipment solutions across the US and UK.

Current CEO Brian Straeb will continue leading the business. This marks MSCP's fourth investment in the Healthcare Outsourced Services sector, following investments in Clarity Software Solutions, US HealthConnect, and SpendMend since 2019.

Prescott's specializes in servicing critical surgical suite equipment including microscopes, infusion pumps, patient monitors, anesthesia machines, and sterilizers, serving health systems and outpatient facilities.

Morgan Stanley Investment Management announced that the Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE: MSD) has removed its previous 35% investment limit in debt securities of corporate issuers from emerging countries. The Fund's primary goal remains generating high current income, with capital appreciation as a secondary objective.

The Fund invests in debt securities from government and government-related issuers in emerging countries, entities restructuring such debt, and corporate issuers in emerging markets. It maintains a minimum 80% investment in emerging markets debt under normal circumstances. The Fund operates as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company listed on the NYSE.

Morgan Stanley's latest Sustainable Signals survey reveals strong growth expectations for sustainable investing, with 78% of asset managers and 80% of asset owners anticipating increased sustainable assets over the next two years. The survey, covering 900+ institutional investors across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, highlights that client and stakeholder demands are driving sustainable investing activities.

Key challenges identified include data availability (71%), regulatory guidance fluctuations (69%), and greenwashing (68%). Healthcare (41%) and financial inclusion (40%) emerge as priority investment areas. Nearly two-thirds of investors have set net-zero targets, with mixed views on carbon offsets - 40% of asset owners currently use them, while others prefer limiting their use to hard-to-abate emissions or await greater certainty.

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management released a report outlining six essential focus areas for family offices to target growth effectively, as these institutions are projected to grow 75% by 2030. The key pillars include: evolving governance structures, institutional-level staffing, data management, financial education for next generations, cybersecurity threat preparation, and balanced AI implementation.

The report emphasizes the importance of adaptable structures to help families express values, protect legacies, and navigate complex markets. It highlights the need for robust governance frameworks, talent pipeline development, reliable data sources, comprehensive financial education programs, and enhanced cybersecurity measures while balancing AI adoption with security considerations.

Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP) has acquired FoodScience, a provider of pet and human nutritional supplements, from Wind Point Partners. FoodScience, headquartered in Williston, Vermont, specializes in formulating, manufacturing, marketing, and distributing nutritional supplements through brands including VetriScience®, DaVinci®, and Pet Naturals®, along with private label and custom formulation services.

Sharon Rossi will continue as CEO. The acquisition marks MSCP's third investment in the Pet and Animal Health sector, following their 2020 exits from Compana Pet Brands and Thrive Pet Healthcare. Jones Day served as legal counsel and William Blair as financial advisor to MSCP.