JP Morgan and Salomon Smith Barney face questions from investors about their role in signing off the financial statements of WorldCom in a prospectus for a bond issue last year.

JP Morgan and SSB were the two banks that underwrote WorldCom's record breaking $11.9bn bond issue in May 2001. Following the company's disclosure that it understated expenses by $3.8bn (€3.8bn) investors are examining ways to pursue claims against the company, its directors and other parties.