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Securities and Exchange CommissionLitigation Release No. 18111 / April 28, 2003Securities and Exchange Commission v. Citigroup Global Markets Inc., f/k/a Salomon Smith Barney Inc., 03 CV 2945 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y.) Securities and Exchange Commission v. Jack Benjamin Grubman, 03 CV 2938 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y.) SEC SUES CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS, FORMERLY KNOWN AS SALOMON SMITH BARNEY, AND FORMER RESEARCH ANALYST JACK B. GRUBMAN FOR RESEARCH ANALYST CONFLICTS OF INTEREST FIRM TO SETTLE WITH SEC, NASD, NYSE, NY ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND STATE REGULATORS; GRUBMAN TO SETTLE WITH SEC, NASD, NYSE, AND NY ATTORNEY GENERAL The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that it has settled charges against Citigroup Global Markets Inc., formerly known as Salomon Smith Barney Inc. ("SSB"), a New York-based brokerage firm and investment bank, arising from an investigation of research analyst conflicts of interest. This settlement, and settlements with nine other brokerage firms, are part of the global settlement the firms have reached with the Commission, NASD, Inc., the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE"), the New York Attorney General, and other state regulators. As part of the settlement, SSB has agreed to pay $150 million as disgorgement and an additional $150 million in penalties. One-half of the total of these payments - $150 million - will be paid in connection with the SEC action and related proceedings by the NASD and NYSE and will be placed into a distribution fund for the benefit of customers of the firm. The remainder will be paid to resolve related proceedings by state regulators. In the SEC action, SSB has agreed to a federal court order that will enjoin the firm from future violations of the federal securities laws and NASD and NYSE rules and require the firm to make changes in the operations of its equity research and investment banking departments. In addition, SSB will pay, over five years, $75 million to provide the firm's clients with independent research, and $25 million to be used for investor education. The Commission also announced today that it has settled charges against Jack B. Grubman, formerly a research analyst at Salomon Smith Barney, arising from an investigation of his research on companies in the telecommunications ("telecom") sector. As part of the settlement, Grubman has agreed to pay $7.5 million as disgorgement and an additional $7.5 million in penalties. One-half of the total of these payments - $7.5 million - will be paid in connection with the SEC action and related proceedings by the NASD and NYSE and will be placed into the distribution fund that will be created pursuant to the Final Judgment against SSB. The remainder will be paid to resolve related proceedings by the Office of the New York Attorney General. Grubman also has consented to be barred from associating with a broker, dealer, or investment adviser. In connection with these matters, the Commission today filed separate Complaints against SSB and Grubman in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleging direct and aiding-and-abetting violations of the federal securities laws and NASD and NYSE rules. According to the Commission's Complaints, from 1999 through 2001, research analysts at SSB - including Grubman - were subject to inappropriate influence by investment banking at the firm. The Complaints also allege that SSB and Grubman published false or misleading research reports and published research reports that were exaggerated, unwarranted, or lacked a reasonable basis. The Complaint against SSB further alleges that the firm engaged in "spinning" of hot initial public offering ("IPO") shares to executives of investment banking clients, and failed to maintain appropriate supervision over its research and investment banking operations. Specifically, the Commission's Complaints allege that:
SSB has agreed to settle the Commission's action and has consented, without admitting or denying the allegations of the Complaint, to the entry of a final judgment that, if approved by the court, permanently enjoins SSB from violations of antifraud provision Section 15(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") and Rule 15c1-2 thereunder, Section 15(f) of the Exchange Act, Section 17(a) of the Exchange Act and Rule 17a-3 thereunder, and NASD and NYSE rules pertaining to just and equitable principles of trade (NASD Rule 2110; NYSE Rules 401 and 476), advertising (NASD Rule 2210; NYSE Rule 472), broker-dealer record keeping (NASD Rule 3110; NYSE Rule 440), and supervisory procedures (NASD Rule 3010; NYSE Rule 342). The final judgment also orders the firm to make the payments described above, and provides for the appointment of a fund administrator who, subject to court approval, will formulate and administer a plan of distribution for those monies placed into the distribution fund. Grubman has agreed to settle the Commission's action and has consented, without admitting or denying the allegations of the Complaint, to the entry of a final judgment that, if court-approved, permanently enjoins him from aiding and abetting violations of Section 15(c) of the Exchange Act and Rule 15c1-2 thereunder, and from violating NASD and NYSE rules governing just and equitable principles of trade and advertising. The final judgment also orders him to make the payments described above, and provides that the amount he pays as disgorgement will be added to the SSB distribution fund. Grubman also has agreed to settle administrative proceedings that will be instituted by the Commission based upon the entry of the final judgment by consenting to the issuance of a Commission order that permanently bars him from associating with any broker, dealer, or investment adviser. In addition, the final judgment against SSB orders SSB to implement structural reforms and provide enhanced disclosure to investors, including a broad range of changes relating to the operations of its equity research and investment banking operations. SSB has agreed to sever the links between research and investment banking, such that: research and investment banking are physically separated with completely separate reporting lines; analysts' compensation cannot be based directly or indirectly upon investment banking revenues; investment bankers may no longer evaluate analysts; investment bankers will have no role in determining what companies are covered by the analysts; and research analysts will be prohibited from participating in efforts to solicit investment banking business, including pitches and roadshows. In addition, SSB must disclose on the first page of each research report whether the firm does or seeks to do investment banking business with that issuer, and when SSB decides to terminate coverage of an issuer, SSB must issue a final research report discussing the reasons for the termination. Each quarter, SSB also will publish on its website a chart showing its analysts' performance, including each analyst's name, ratings, price targets, and earnings per share forecasts for each covered company, as well as an explanation of the firm's rating system. SSB also has agreed as part of this settlement to retain, at its own expense, an Independent Monitor to conduct a review to provide reasonable assurance that the firm is complying with the structural reforms. This review will be conducted eighteen months after the date of the entry of the Final Judgment and the Independent Monitor will submit a written report of his or her findings to the SEC, NASD, and NYSE within six months after the review begins. Five years after the entry of the final judgment, SSB must certify to the SEC and other regulators that it has complied in all material respects with the requirements and prohibitions of the structural reforms. * * * The Commission acknowledges the assistance of NASD, NYSE, the Office of the New York Attorney General, and other state regulators in the investigation of this matter. SEC Complaint in this matter (Citigroup Global Markets) http://www.sec.gov/litigation/litreleases/lr18111.htm
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