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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
CONSENT OF DEFENDANT
1. Defendant Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Defendant") acknowledges having been served with the Complaint in this action, enters a general appearance, and admits the Court's jurisdiction over Defendant and over the subject matter of this action. 2. Without admitting or denying the allegations of the Complaint (except as to personal and subject matter jurisdiction, which Defendant admits), Defendant hereby consents to the entry of the Final Judgment and Addendum A to the Final Judgment in the form attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein, which, among other things: a) permanently restrains and enjoins Defendant from violating Section 15(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 15c1-2 thereunder, NASD Conduct Rules 2110, 2210, and 3010, and NYSE Rules 342, 401, 472, and 476; b) orders Defendant to pay a total amount of $200,000,000; and c) orders Defendant to comply with the undertakings set forth in Addendum A to the Final Judgment. 3. As a result of the violations alleged in the Complaint, Defendant shall pay a total amount of $200,000,000. This amount includes: a) $100,000,000, as a penalty; b) $75,000,000, to be used for the procurement of Independent Research, as described in the undertakings set forth in Addendum A to the Final Judgment; and c) $25,000,000, to be used for investor education. No portion of the payments for Independent Research or investor education shall be considered disgorgement or restitution, and/or used for compensatory purposes. 4. The payment of the penalty of $100,000,000 is deemed satisfied by Defendant's prior payment of $100,000,000 pursuant to its agreements with state securities regulators. 5. Defendant agrees to the undertakings set forth in Addendum A to the Final Judgment. 6. Defendant agrees that it shall not seek or accept, directly or indirectly, reimbursement or indemnification, including but not limited to payment made pursuant to any insurance policy, with regard to any penalty amounts that Defendant shall pay pursuant to Section II of the Final Judgment, regardless of the use of such penalty amounts. Defendant further agrees that it shall not claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction or tax credit with regard to any federal, state or local tax for any penalty amounts that Defendant shall pay pursuant to Section II of the Final Judgment, regardless of the use of any such penalty amounts. Defendant understands and acknowledges that these provisions are not intended to imply that the Commission would agree that any other amounts the Defendant shall pay pursuant to the Final Judgment may be reimbursed or indemnified (whether pursuant to an insurance policy or otherwise) under applicable law or may be the basis for any tax deduction or tax credit with regard to any federal, state or local tax. 7. Defendant understands that in accepting the settlement, the Commission considered, among other things, Defendant's voluntary participation in an initiative with other firms, whereby it agrees that it will not allocate securities in "hot" initial public offerings to corporate executives, as set forth in a written agreement. 8. Defendant agrees that this Consent and the undertakings set forth in Addendum A to the Final Judgment shall be incorporated into the Final Judgment with the same force and effect as if fully set forth therein. 9. Defendant acknowledges that any violation of any of the terms of the Final Judgment may place it in contempt of this Court and subject it to civil or criminal sanctions, or both. 10. Defendant states and understands that, on the basis of the Final Judgment, the Commission will not institute a proceeding against Defendant pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B, 15C, or 19(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") [15 U.S.C. §§ 78o(b), 78o-4, 78o-5, 78s(h)]. 11. Defendant waives the entry of findings of fact and conclusions of law pursuant to Rule 52 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 12. Defendant waives any right it may have to appeal from the entry of the Final Judgment. 13. Defendant enters into this Consent voluntarily and represents that no threats, offers, promises, or inducements of any kind have been made by the Commission or any member, officer, employee, agent, or representative of the Commission to induce Defendant to enter into this Consent. 14. Defendant will not oppose the enforcement of the Final Judgment on the ground, if any exists, that it fails to comply with Rule 65(d) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and hereby waives any objection based thereon. 15. Defendant waives service of the Final Judgment and agrees that entry of the Final Judgment by the Court and filing with the Clerk of the Court will constitute notice to Defendant of its terms and conditions. Defendant further agrees to provide counsel for the Commission, within thirty days after the Final Judgment is filed with the Clerk of the Court, with an affidavit or declaration stating that Defendant has received and read a copy of the Final Judgment. 16. Consistent with 17 C.F.R. § 202.5(f), this Consent resolves only the claims asserted against Defendant in this civil proceeding. Defendant waives any claim of Double Jeopardy based upon the settlement of this proceeding, including the imposition of any remedy or civil penalty herein. Defendant further acknowledges that the Court's entry of a permanent injunction may have collateral consequences under federal or state law and the rules and regulations of self-regulatory organizations, licensing boards, and other regulatory organizations. Such collateral consequences include, but are not limited to, a statutory disqualification with respect to membership or participation in, or association with a member of, a self-regulatory organization. This statutory disqualification has consequences that are separate from any sanction imposed in an administrative proceeding. Defendant has made, or will make, various applications for temporary and permanent relief from such disqualifications and collateral consequences with the Commission, the states, various self-regulatory organizations, licensing boards, and other regulatory organizations, with the express understanding that the staff of the Commission does not oppose the grant of such relief pursuant to those applications. 17. Defendant understands and agrees to comply with the Commission's policy "not to permit a defendant or respondent to consent to a judgment or order that imposes a sanction while denying the allegation in the complaint or order for proceedings." 17 C.F.R. § 202.5. In compliance with this policy, Defendant agrees: (i) not to take any action or to make or permit to be made any public statement denying, directly or indirectly, any allegation in the Complaint or creating the impression that the Complaint is without factual basis; and (ii) that upon the filing of this Consent, Defendant hereby withdraws any papers filed in this action to the extent that they deny any allegation in the Complaint. If Defendant breaches this agreement, the Commission may petition the Court to vacate the Final Judgment and restore this action to its active docket. Nothing in this paragraph affects Defendant's: (i) testimonial obligations; or (ii) right to take legal or factual positions in defense of litigation or in defense of other legal proceedings in which the Commission is not a party. 18. Defendant hereby waives any rights under the Equal Access to Justice Act, the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, or any other provision of law to pursue reimbursement of attorney's fees or other fees, expenses, or costs expended by Defendant to defend against this action. For these purposes, Defendant agrees that Defendant is not the prevailing party in this action since the parties have reached a good faith settlement. 19. Defendant hereby undertakes and agrees to cooperate with the Commission's investigation in In the Matter of Certain Analyst Conflicts of Interest (HO-09479). Defendant further undertakes and agrees that, at the Commission's request, and without service of a subpoena, Defendant will provide, subject to the privileges and protections available to Defendant under the attorney-client privilege and attorney work-product protections, information and discovery relating to the subject matter of the Commission's Complaint in this action. Defendant further undertakes and agrees to use all best efforts to make its principals, partners, officers, and/or employees available for interviews and to testify at any deposition, judicial or administrative proceeding, or private investigation of the Commission, related to the Commission's Complaint in this action, any allegations therein, and any litigation or proceeding based thereon or related to any other proceeding brought by the Commission as a result of this proceeding. For purposes of litigation involving the Commission: (i) Defendant will accept service of notices from the Commission requesting information or discovery from Defendant, or subpoenas directed to Defendant, by mail or facsimile transmission and appoints Defendant's undersigned attorney as agent to receive such notices and subpoenas; and (ii) any such notices or subpoenas may be served and may request testimony beyond the territorial limits imposed by Rule 45 of the Fed.R.Civ.P., and Defendant consents to personal jurisdiction over it in any United States District Court for purposes of enforcing any such subpoena. 20. Defendant agrees that the Commission may present the Final Judgment to the Court for signature and entry without further notice. 21. Defendant agrees that this Court shall retain jurisdiction over this matter for the purpose of enforcing the terms of the Final Judgment.
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/consent18115.htm
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