Banking, finance, and taxes

NASDAQ Gets Off Cheap in Facebook IPO SNAFU

Mark_Zuckerberg_2008
Source: Brian Solis, via Wikimedia Commons
The botched initial public offering (IPO) of Facebook Inc. (NASDAQ: FB) cost the Nasdaq OMX Group Inc. (NASDAQ: NDAQ) a lot of bad press. What it did not cost the exchange is a lot of out-of-pocket cash.

The exchange is reported to have informed traders that it will pay out $41.6 million to firms that lost money during the May 2012 Facebook IPO fiasco. A report from Dow Jones noted that the exchange had set aside $62 million to cover losses from the Facebook IPO. Neither figure approaches the estimated Wall Street losses of $500 million.

Nasdaq OMX will pay the claims through the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) which is the firm that assessed all the claims made against the exchange and determined that $41.6 million was the “total value of valid submitted claims.” FINRA based its judgment on criteria approved by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission according to Nasdaq OMX.

One claimant, UBS, is seeking payment through arbitration and that is believed to be the reason the compensation to be paid is below Nasdaq’s $62 million reserve.

Shares of Nasdaq OMX are up about 0.3% at $35.75 in mid-afternoon trading Friday, in a 52-week range of $22.63 to $36.25.

Sponsored: Attention Savvy Investors: Speak to 3 Financial Experts – FREE

Ever wanted an extra set of eyes on an investment you’re considering? Now you can speak with up to 3 financial experts in your area for FREE. By simply
clicking here
you can begin to match with financial professionals who can help guide you through the financial decisions you’re making. And the best part? The first conversation with them is free.


Click here
to match with up to 3 financial pros who would be excited to help you make financial decisions.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.