Macquarie Group's stock plummeted 5% in intraday trading, as the Australian investment bank reported a decline in first-quarter net profit and announced the upcoming departure of its long-serving Chief Financial Officer, Alex Harvey.
The company's quarterly results were negatively impacted by lower contributions from its Asset Management arm and Commodities and Global Markets unit. Macquarie Asset Management experienced a softer quarter compared to the previous year, primarily due to the timing of investment-related income from asset realizations. Meanwhile, the Commodities and Global Markets unit saw reduced contributions, particularly from lower net interest and trading income in North American Gas and Power.
Adding to investor concerns, Macquarie announced that CFO Alex Harvey would step down at the end of 2025, to be succeeded by Frank Kwok. This leadership change comes amid an ongoing lawsuit by Australia's corporate regulator (ASIC), alleging that Macquarie misreported up to A$1.5 billion worth of short sales over a 15-year period. The company indicated it may adjust executive bonuses in response to the ASIC lawsuit, further contributing to market uncertainty. Despite these challenges, Macquarie maintains it is well-positioned to deliver superior performance in the medium term.
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