NEW YORK, Aug 15 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co, Deutsche
Bank AG and Barclays Plc are among a handful of banks recently
subpoenaed in a joint New York-Connecticut investigation of
possible manipulation of the Libor benchmark international
lending rates, according to a person familiar with the probe.
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Connecticut
Attorney General George Jepsen have been looking into the
possible rigging and manipulation of Libor by global banks for
months, their offices have said.
As part of that investigation, subpoenas were sent in recent
weeks to Royal Bank of Scotland Plc and HSBC Holdings Plc, in
addition to JPMorgan, Deutsche and Barclays, said the person who
was not authorized to speak publicly about the matter.
Earlier, UBS AG and Citigroup Inc received subpoenas as
well, the source said.
The subpoenas seek communication between executives related
to possible collusion and other conduct that may have played a
role in alleged rate manipulation, among other information, the
person said.
Jaclyn M. Falkowski, a spokeswoman for Jepsen, declined to
comment on the subpoenas. Last month, Falkowski said Jepsen and
Schneiderman hoped to provide restitution to state agencies,
municipalities and other entities that may have been harmed by
any illegal conduct.
Melissa Grace, a spokeswoman for Schneiderman, declined to
comment.
Authorities around the world are investigating banks over
alleged manipulation of the rates.
Most of the banks have disclosed receiving demands for
information from numerous agencies; others declined to comment.
Libor, the London interbank offered rate, is compiled from
estimates by banks of how much they believe they have to pay to
borrow from each other. It influences rates on many lending
transactions, including mortgages, student loans and credit
cards.
In June, Barclays was fined $450 million by British and U.S.
authorities for manipulating the rate.
(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by David
Henry, Matthew Goldstein, Jed Horowitz and Richard Chang)
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