Citigroup Inc and Morgan Stanley will in the next few weeks announce plans to authorize or repurpose shares so they can have enough stock to compensate employees, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Citigroup will ask holders to boost its authorized share count far beyond what it needs to meet a capital restructuring announced last month, according to the paper.

Morgan Stanley may need to use more of its currently authorized shares for bonus payments, which will require shareholder approval, the paper said.

Citigroup is finalizing plans to seek shareholder approval to boost its share authorization to 40 billion shares or more, from the current 15 billion shares, the paper said, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Citigroup is requesting the overhang in large part to pay out equity-based compensation, people familiar with the matter told the paper.

Spokesmen for Citigroup and Morgan Stanley declined to tell the paper exactly how much stock they would need for future compensation payments.

Citigroup and Morgan Stanley could not be immediately reached for comment by Reuters.

Citigroup's shares closed at $3.08 Wednesday, the highest finish since February 13, while Morgan Stanley's shares closed at $24.19.

(Reporting by Ajay Kamalakaran in Bangalore; Editing by Lincoln Feast)

(ajay.kamalakaran@reuters.com; within U.S. +1 646 223 8780; outside U.S. +91 80 4135 5800 +1 646 897 1898; Reuters Messaging: ajay.kamalakaran.reuters.com@reuters.net))

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