Nancy R. Heinen and Fred D. Anderson
U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Litigation Release No. 20086 / April 24, 2007
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Nancy R. Heinen and Fred D. Anderson, Case No. 07-2214-HRL (Lloyd). (N.D. Cal. filed April 24, 2007)
SEC Charges Former Apple General Counsel for Illegal Stock Option Backdating
Commission Also Settles Claims Against Former Apple CFO for $3.5 Million
The Securities and Exchange Commission today filed charges against two former senior executives of Apple, Inc. in a matter involving improper stock option backdating. The Commission accused former General Counsel Nancy R. Heinen of participating in the fraudulent backdating of options granted to Apple's top officers that caused the company to underreport its expenses by nearly $40 million. The Commission's complaint alleges that Heinen, of Portola Valley, California, caused Apple to backdate two large options grants to senior executives of Apple â" a February 2001 grant of 4.8 million options to Apple's Executive Team and a December 2001 grant of 7.5 million options to Apple Chief Executive Officer Steve Jobs â" and altered company records to conceal the fraud.
The Commission also filed, and simultaneously settled, charges against former Apple Chief Financial Officer Fred D. Anderson, of Atherton, California, alleging that Anderson should have noticed Heinen's efforts to backdate the Executive Team grant but failed to take steps to ensure that Apple's financial statements were correct. As part of the settlement, Anderson agreed (without admitting or denying the allegations) to pay approximately $3.5 million in disgorgement and penalties.
According to the Commission's complaint, filed in the Northern District of California, Apple granted 4.8 million options to six members of its executive team (including Heinen and Anderson) in February 2001. Because the options were in-the-money when granted (i.e. could be exercised to purchase Apple shares at a below market price), Apple was required to report a compensation charge in its publicly-filed financial statements. The Commission alleges that, in order to avoid reporting this expense, Heinen caused Apple to backdate options to January 17, 2001, when Apple's share price was substantially lower. Heinen is also alleged to have directed her staff to prepare documents falsely indicating that Apple's Board had approved the Executive Team grant on January 17. As a result, Apple failed to record approximately $18.9 million in compensation expenses associated with the option grant. Anderson, who should have realized the implications of Heinen's actions, failed to disclose key information to Apple's auditors and neglected to ensure that the company's financial statements were accurate. Both Heinen and Anderson personally received millions of dollars in unreported compensation as a result of the backdating.
The Commission's complaint also alleges improprieties in connection with a December 2001 grant of 7.5 million options to CEO Steve Jobs. Although the options were in-the-money at that time, Heinen â" as with the Executive Team grant â" caused Apple to backdate the grant to October 19, 2001, when Apple's share price was lower. As a result, the Commission alleges that Heinen caused Apple to improperly fail to record $20.3 million in compensation expense associated with the in-the-money options grant. The Commission further alleges that Heinen then signed fictitious Board minutes stating that the Board had approved the grant to Jobs on October 19 at a "Special Meeting of the Board of Directors" â" a meeting that, in fact, never occurred.
Heinen is charged with violating Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Sections 10(b), 13(b)(5), and 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5, 13b2-1, 13b2-2, and 16a-3 thereunder, and Heinen is charged with aiding and abetting violations of Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B), and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5, 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-13, and 14a-9 thereunder. The Commission is seeking injunctive relief, disgorgement, and civil money penalties against Heinen, in addition to an order barring her from serving as an officer or director of a public company.
Anderson, without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's complaint, has agreed to a permanent injunction from further violations of Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 13b2-2 and 16a-3 thereunder, and from aiding and abetting further violations of Section 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), 13(b)(2)(B), and 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 12b-20, 13a-1, 13a-13, and 14a-9 thereunder. Anderson also will disgorge $2,953,125 in ill-gotten gains, plus prejudgment interest of $528,107.86 and will pay a civil monetary penalty of $150,000.
