Thank goodness that’s over. The $13bn settlement between JPMorgan and US authorities over abuses related to the sale of mortgage-backed debt – in the works for weeks – is a done deal. Shareholders typically welcome legal settlements because they eliminate uncertainty even if banks reserve for them ahead of time. This one clears away a big chunk of the legal morass that has gathered for JPMorgan since the London Whale trading scandal led to heightened scrutiny.
The $13bn ($9bn in cash payments and $4bn in consumer relief, including loan modifications) is a lot – the largest fine ever for a US corporation by the Department of Justice – but the bank has already taken a $9bn legal charge in the third quarter and set aside $23bn in litigation reserves.
Shares of JPMorgan were flat on Tuesday. The settlement means JPMorgan has resolved all of the government’s civil inquiries related to the financial crisis. The deal does not include any criminal allegations, though these may be targeted at individuals – finally. And JPMorgan has other legal problems such as questions about its hiring practices in China.
