The Commission announced that a Massachusetts federal court has entered a final judgment against Guillermo Garcia Simon, a former FleetBoston Financial Group employee residing in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in connection with his trading in the securities of FleetBoston in advance of the announcement of its acquisition by Bank of America Corporation. Under the terms of the final judgment, entered by consent, Simon was ordered to pay approximately $525,000 in disgorgement, interest, and a penalty. He was also enjoined from further violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.

The Commission filed an emergency enforcement action against Simon on Monday, October 28, 2003, only hours after Bank of America announced its acquisition of FleetBoston, and less than three days after Simon purchased FleetBoston securities. In its complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the Commission alleged that Simon engaged in illegal insider trading when he bought FleetBoston securities late on Friday, October 24, while in possession of material, non-public information about the acquisition that was announced the next trading day. The day it filed its complaint, the Commission also sought a temporary restraining order and asset freeze against Simon. Judge Nancy Gertner granted the order freezing Simon's trading account and prohibiting him from transferring or disposing of the securities or any trading proceeds. The Commission obtained the order before the transaction was concluded and as a result, was able to freeze the account before any profits could be removed or dissipated.

Specifically, the Commission's complaint alleged that Simon, a former employee at FleetBoston=s Buenos Aires office, purchased 1100 November FleetBoston call options during the last hours of trading on Friday, October 24, 2003, at a cost of about $11,000. The complaint alleged that Simon=s options purchase represented over 50% of the total trading volume in that series of call options that day. The complaint alleged that before the market opened on Monday, October 27, FleetBoston's acquisition was announced. In the wake of the announcement, the price of FleetBoston=s stock and call options rose dramatically, with Simon's call options increasing in value by $473,000 as of the close of the day. The complaint alleged that Simon's conduct violated Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5.

Without admitting or denying the allegations in the Commission's complaint, Simon consented to the final judgment entered by the court on June 9 in this matter. The judgment permanently enjoined him from future violations of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder. Simon was also ordered to pay disgorgement of $473,000, prejudgment interest of $1,576.67, and a civil penalty of $51,842.36, representing the entire proceeds frozen by the court.

In its complaint, the Commission had also named Simon's wife and brother, who shared the account through which Simon traded, as co-defendants. The Commission dismissed the claims against them with prejudice.

The Commission acknowledges the assistance of the International Securities Exchange and the American Stock Exchange in this matter.

For further information, please see Litigation Release No. 18429 (October 28, 2003).