Wilbur Ross says he sold short shares in other companies on which he served as a director as the one-time shipping investor faces continued scrutiny on his finances.
The latest disclosures, made to CNBC, centre on his holdings in airplane leasing business Air Lease and mortgage services firm Ocwen Financial. Ross said he received stock in each of the companies for serving on their board of directors.
Ross, who sold off his stake in tanker owner Diamond S Shipping last year, came under fire for selling short shares in gas ship owner Navigator Holdings, in which he held up to a 40% stake at one time.
The Navigator short sale occurred shortly before a newspaper article highlighted Navigator's business with a Russian energy company with links to the Kremlin.
Ross denied that the short sale was tied to the article, saying Navigator's Russian business was already disclosed and the sales were part of a larger divestment of his Navigator business.
Ross said he had disposed of most of his Navigator shares, but there were additional stock awards given him as chairman, which were part of the short sale.
Nonetheless, a US ethics watchdog group filed both criminal and ethics complaints against Ross, alleging that the short sales were violations of government rules on stock trading.
