Salomon Smith Barney and Merrill Lynch evacuated all of their employees from the World Trade Center following Tuesday’s terrorist attack, the firms reported on their respective Web sites.
The statement Smith Barney made today on its site is as follows: “We are shocked and deeply saddened by yesterday’s events that took place in New York City, Washington and Pittsburgh. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families affected by these horrific events. As you know by press reports, several securities firms had employees in the New York World Trade Center complex. We successfully evacuated all Salomon Smith Barney employees from 7 World Trade Center prior to its collapse at 5 p.m. Tuesday. We have implemented our Disaster Recovery Plan for our affected businesses, and we are currently fully operational. Many of our Branches will be staffed today to answer any questions you may have, and will be prepared to conduct business at such time that the major exchanges re-open. Please refer to this Web site for updated information.”
Here is a link to the firm’s site: www.salomonsmithbarney.com.
Meanwhile, Merrill Lynch issued this statement yesterday on its site:
“In the aftermath of the tragedies at the World Trade Center and elsewhere in the United States, Merrill Lynch extends its thoughts and prayers to the thousands of people affected. While we assess the damage and full implications of these events, we want to keep you as informed as possible. Merrill Lynch this morning [Tuesday] evacuated approximately 9,000 employees from its offices at the World Financial Center and other offices in lower Manhattan. Subsequently, we closed our offices throughout New York City, as well as many others throughout the United States. We are asking all employees who work in the World Financial Center and in other Merrill Lynch offices in lower Manhattan (below Canal Street), and in 95 Greene Street in Jersey City, to stay home on Wednesday, 12 September, unless otherwise directed. Our offices throughout the rest of the United States and the world will be open for business on Wednesday, but the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and the American Stock Exchange will be closed. We want to assure our clients in and outside the United States that their assets are safe and secure, and we will continue to provide a full range of services. As always, U.S. private clients can reach Merrill Lynch representatives by calling their Financial Advisors directly or 1.800.MERRILL. We will provide additional information as it becomes available. All employees should contact their managers, check their voice mail and refer to 1.800.MER.HELP for additional information.”
Here is the link to the Merrill Lynch story: http://ml.com/about/spotlight_ml/09112001-1_tragedies_spotlight.htm.
UBS PaineWebber issued a statement today on its site, saying, “At this time, our thoughts and concerns are with the victims, their families and loved ones. Due to the tragic events of Tuesday, September 11, 2001, all U.S. equity and fixed-income markets and futures exchanges are closed today, September 12, 2001. Orders are not being accepted or processed. We expect the financial exchanges to announce shortly when they will reopen.
UBS PaineWebber is open for business and will update this site as information becomes available. If you have any questions, please call your Financial Adviser.”
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