Morgan Stanley 2014 Annual Report Download - page 5

Part I
Item 1. Business.
Overview.
Morgan Stanley is a global financial services firm that, through its subsidiaries and affiliates, provides a wide
variety of 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. The Company is a financial
holding company regulated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”)
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). The Company 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 December 31,
2014, the Company had 55,802 employees worldwide. Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms “Morgan
Stanley,” the “Company,” “we,” “us” and “our” mean Morgan Stanley together with its consolidated
subsidiaries.
Financial information concerning the Company, its business segments and geographic regions for each of the
12 months ended December 31, 2014 (“2014”), December 31, 2013 (“2013”) and December 31, 2012 (“2012”) is
included in the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in “Financial Statements and
Supplementary Data” in Part II, Item 8.
Available Information.
The Company 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 the Company files
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 the Company) file electronically with the SEC. The Company’s electronic SEC filings are
available to the public at the SEC’s internet site, www.sec.gov.
The Company’s internet site is www.morganstanley.com. You can access the Company’s Investor Relations
webpage at www.morganstanley.com/about-us-ir. The Company makes available free of charge, on or through its
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. The Company also makes available, through its
Investor Relations webpage, via a link to the SEC’s internet site, statements of beneficial ownership of the
Company’s equity securities filed by its directors, officers, 10% or greater shareholders and others under
Section 16 of the Exchange Act.
You can access information about the Company’s corporate governance at
www.morganstanley.com/about-us-governance. The Company’s Corporate Governance webpage includes the
Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation; Amended and Restated Bylaws; charters for its
Audit Committee, Compensation, Management Development and Succession Committee, Nominating and
Governance Committee, Operations and Technology Committee, and Risk Committee; Corporate Governance
Policies; Policy Regarding Communication with the Company’s Board of Directors; Policy Regarding Director
Candidates Recommended by Shareholders; Policy Regarding Corporate Political Activities; Policy Regarding
Shareholder Rights Plan; Code of Ethics and Business Conduct; Code of Conduct; and Integrity Hotline
information.
Morgan Stanley’s Code of Ethics and Business Conduct applies to all directors, officers and employees,
including its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy Chief Financial Officer. The Company
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