Morgan Stanley Turns London Event Virtual as Virus Precaution

(Bloomberg) -- Morgan Stanley’s annual European financial conference typically brings together hundreds of the industry’s senior executives. This year, they’ll be meeting virtually.

The bank is converting the event as part of its “precautionary measures to keep our clients, guests and employees as safe as possible,” according to a note to clients sent Wednesday and seen by Bloomberg News. A spokesman confirmed the announcement.

The gathering was due to take place at the Hilton Park Lane hotel in central London. Virtual conferences instead connect attendees through telephone and video conferencing. The announcement comes weeks after Morgan Stanley made similar provisions for its Hong Kong Investor Summit.

The escalating threat of the virus has prompted numerous banks to curb global travel and dust off business continuity plans.

On Tuesday, the Futures Industry said it would cancel its four-decade-old annual jamboree in Boca Raton, Florida, while BGC Partners Inc. restricted non-essential travel and postponed an investor and analyst event in April.

--With assistance from Rafaela Lindeberg.

To contact the reporter on this story: Viren Vaghela in London at vvaghela1@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Ambereen Choudhury at achoudhury@bloomberg.net, Marion Dakers

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