 |
Home | Previous Page | |
|
||
 |
|
|
|
||
 |
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
Plaintiff Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission" or "SEC") alleges: NATURE OF THE ACTION 1. The Commission brings this action against defendant Goldman, Sachs & Co. ("Goldman Sachs" or "Defendant") to redress its violations of certain rules of NASD Inc. ("NASD") and the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE"). 2. From July 1999 through June 2001 (the "relevant period"), Goldman Sachs sought and did investment banking business with many companies covered by its Research Division. Research analysts were encouraged to participate in investment banking activities, and that was a factor considered in the analysts' compensation. In addition, the decision to initiate and maintain research coverage of certain companies was in some cases coordinated with the investment banking department and influenced by investment banking interests. 3. As a result of the foregoing, certain research analysts at Goldman Sachs were subjected to investment banking influences and conflicts of interest between supporting the investment banking business at Goldman Sachs and publishing objective research. The firm had knowledge of these investment banking influences and conflicts of interest yet failed to establish and maintain adequate policies, systems, and procedures that were reasonably designed to detect and prevent those influences and manage the conflicts. 4. By its conduct, Goldman Sachs violated NASD Rules 2110, 2210(d)(1), 2210(d)(2), and 3010, and NYSE Rules 342, 401, 472, and 476(a)(6). JURISDICTION AND VENUE 5. This Court has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to Sections 21(d)(1), 21(e), 21(f), and 27 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") [15 U.S.C. §§ 78u(d)(1), 78u(e), 78u(f), and 78aa]. 6. Goldman Sachs, directly or indirectly, used the means and instrumentalities of interstate commerce, of the mails, or of the facilities of a national securities exchange, in connection with the acts, practices, and courses of business alleged herein. 7. Venue is appropriate in this District pursuant to Section 27 of the Exchange Act [15 U.S.C. § 78aa], because Goldman Sachs is found, has its headquarters and principal executive offices, and transacts business in this District. DEFENDANT 8. Goldman Sachs is a broker-dealer with its principal place of business in New York, New York. Goldman Sachs is a leading global investment banking and securities firm that, among other things, offers underwriting services to companies seeking to offer their securities to the public and merger and acquisitions services. In addition to its investment banking operations, Goldman Sachs also offers extensive services to its institutional investor clients, has an active securities sales and trading business, and maintains a separate division to perform research on equity securities. Goldman Sachs is a member of NYSE and NASD. FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS I. RESEARCH ANALYST PARTICIPATION IN INVESTMENT BANKING ACTIVITIES 9. Research analysts were responsible for providing analyses of the financial outlook of particular companies in the context of the business sectors in which those companies operated and the securities market as a whole. 10. Research analysts evaluated companies by, among other things, examining financial information contained in public filings, questioning company management, investigating customer and supplier relationships, evaluating companies' business plans and the products or services offered, building financial models, and analyzing competitive trends. 11. After synthesizing and analyzing this information, the research analysts drafted research reports and more abbreviated "notes" summarizing their opinions. These reports or notes typically contained a summary and analysis of the factors relied upon by the analyst in reaching his conclusions, and some contained a rating and/or a price target. 12. During the Relevant Period, Goldman Sachs' equity research ratings included four investment ratings:
In addition, Goldman Sachs had one shorter-term rating:
13. The percentage of issuers being assigned one of the top two investment ratings (Recommended List or Market Outperformer) ranged from 72% in the first quarter of 1999 to 50% in the last quarter of 2001. The percentage of companies assigned a Market Underperformer rating did not rise above 1.1% during the relevant period. 14. Goldman Sachs published research on publicly traded companies, and this research was made available to Goldman Sachs' institutional and private wealth management clients, principally high net worth individuals. Published research or the content of the research was disseminated by various means, including: by mail; via facsimile; distributions at client meetings; via electronic mail ("e-mail"); via Goldman Sachs' research website for clients; telephone conversations by analysts or salespersons; as part of analysts' appearances on television, at seminars, and industry conferences; and through subscription services provided by Bloomberg and First Call. On occasion, the substance of Goldman Sachs' research reports, in whole or in part, was also reported in the U.S. financial news media. In addition, beginning in December 2000, certain of Goldman Sachs' research was made available to another broker-dealer, who make it available to its retail customers. 15. During the relevant period, analysts made themselves available, via telephone, e-mail, and in person, to Goldman Sachs' institutional sales force to answer questions about industry sectors and covered companies. Analysts also conducted "teach-ins" for Goldman Sachs' institutional sales force to educate the sales force about companies for which Goldman Sachs initiated research coverage. In addition, analysts provided periodic research updates to the institutional sales force through "morning calls" or "morning notes," which are daily pre-market opening discussions of the sector and/or specific covered companies. Analysts also provided research updates to the institutional sales force through "blast" e-mails and voice-mail messages, which typically provided a more abbreviated analysis than what was contained in a research report and may have contained a rating on a company or sector. 16. In addition to performing research functions, certain research analysts from time to time participated or assisted in connection with investment banking-related activities. These investment banking-related activities included assisting the investment banking department by identifying and/or vetting companies as prospects for investment banking services, participating in "pitches" of investment banking services to companies, participating in "roadshows" (a series of presentations made by the management of a company in conjunction with the marketing of an upcoming underwriting to potential investors) associated with underwriting transactions, speaking to investors to educate them about underwriting transactions, and participating in due diligence activities in connection with underwriting transactions. (Underwriting services included sales of the company's securities to the public through initial or secondary public offerings.) In the context of the capital raising process, research analysts contributed by evaluating businesses that appeared potentially appropriate for public markets and screening out unsuitable candidates. 17. The Investment Banking Division at Goldman Sachs advised corporate clients and helped them execute various financial transactions, including the issuance of stock and other securities. Goldman Sachs frequently served as the lead underwriter in initial public offerings ("IPOs")-the first public issuance of stock of a company that has not previously been publicly traded-and follow-on offerings of securities. 18. During the relevant period, investment banking activities were an important source of revenues and profits for Goldman Sachs. In fiscal year 2000, investment banking generated more than $5.37 billion in revenues, or approximately 32 percent of Goldman Sachs' total net revenues. 19. Goldman Sachs encouraged research analysts to support the investment banking and other businesses of Goldman Sachs, and in some cases, research analysts were expected to participate or assist in the foregoing investment banking-related activities. The level of analyst participation or assistance in the foregoing investment banking-related activities varied widely but was sometimes significant. During 2000, one research analyst self-reported that he spent an estimated 40% of his time on investment banking-related activities, and another analyst self-reported that he spent an estimated 55% of his time on investment banking-related activities. 20. During the relevant period, Goldman Sachs held itself out as generating and providing research reports that were the product of objective research and opinions of Goldman Sachs's Research Division. II. PARTICIPATION IN INVESTMENT BANKING ACTIVITIES WAS A FACTOR IN EVALUATING AND COMPENSATING RESEARCH ANALYSTS 21. The compensation system at Goldman Sachs provided an incentive for research analysts to contribute to all areas of Goldman Sachs's business, including participation in investment banking activities and assisting in the generation of investment banking business for Goldman Sachs. Analyst compensation was based on many factors, including the level of compensation the analyst could command in the market for their sector (which might be impacted by the level of investment banking activity in that sector), the analysts' participation in investment banking-related activities, whether an analyst was ranked in the broker polls, Greenwich Survey, Institutional Investor, and performance reviews. Analyst compensation consisted of a salary and a discretionary bonus. 22. During the relevant period, Goldman Sachs gathered information about the analyst's job performance through self-evaluations, business plans completed by the analysts, sales force surveys, and anonymous "360 degree review," evaluation forms completed by supervisors, peers, and subordinates in the Research Division, as well as members of other divisions of Goldman Sachs, including to varying extents the Investment Banking and Equities Divisions. The Head of Research and/or other senior Research Division employees would then evaluate the performance of research analysts as described below. 23. After reviewing all the performance evaluations, analysts rankings, and other indicators of performance such as the analyst's research production, and taking into account his or her own assessment of the analyst's performance, the analyst's supervisor would provide an overall assessment of the analyst's performance. The specific comments in the 360 degree reviews were not shown to the analysts, but certain comments may have been discussed or described in some cases. 24. Some comments in the 360 degree reviews of analysts indicated that some analysts were involved in many aspects of investment banking-related activities and reflected certain employees' beliefs that participating or assisting in investment banking activities was a factor in measuring the analyst's performance. The following comments were submitted through 360 degree reviews about different research analysts:
25. Some analysts' self-evaluations reflected their perception that they were expected to participate or assist in Goldman Sachs' investment banking business. For example, one analyst wrote: "Need to get closure on some key wins. To monetize relationships for Goldman Sachs, both at the corporate and buyside level." Another analyst wrote "has subordinated personal preferences on recommendations [citing two examples] for `commercial' reasons. 26. Furthermore, a presentation to research analysts in 2000 stated that the performance review process included "Formal Investment Banking Division recognition of Research contribution to business we win and relationships we improve." Research Analysts Business Plans 27. During the relevant period, analysts were required to develop business plans that discussed a broad range of areas such as what the analyst's plans were for Global Research with respect to both products and services, what major investment themes the analyst would develop relating to his or her coverage universe, and what investor conference the analyst had planned. One of the many such categories covered by the business plans was how the analyst planned to assist the investment banking efforts of Goldman Sachs. As noted below, the business plans included questions that implied that the research analysts' contribution to Goldman Sachs's investment banking business was part of their job. 28. Business plan questions included:
29. In response to these questions, research analysts presented their investment banking goals, activities, accomplishments, participation in lead- and co-managed underwritings, and sometimes fees associated with the investment banking transactions on which the analyst worked. 30. Business plans asked analysts to estimate how much of their time not devoted to Research would be devoted to each of four divisions of Goldman Sachs, including investment banking and Equities. In 1999, analysts estimated that they would spend between 5% and 75% of their time not devoted to Research on Investment Banking, which includes all merger and acquisition and financing activities. 31. In response to the question: "What are the three most important goals for you in 2000?" one analyst replied: "1. Get more investment banking revenue. 2. Get more investment banking revenue. 3. Get more investment banking revenue." III. INVESTMENT BANKING INTERESTS INFLUENCED GOLDMAN SACHS' DECISIONS TO INITIATE AND MAINTAIN RESEARCH COVERAGE 32. In general, the Research Division determined whether to initiate and/or maintain research coverage based upon institutional investors' interest in the company, the company's importance to the sector, and/or the company's importance to the Investment Banking Division or Equities Division. 33. One analyst commented in a business plan: "Since our banking ties are so close to each one of the companies mentioned above along with the fact that these companies are direct competitors with each other, it is incredibly difficult to voice strong opinions in these sectors." 34. In a March 16, 2000 e-mail communication from an analyst to an investment banker, the analyst wrote: "I wanted to harmonize with you strategically. [Chief Executive Officer at Ventro] suggested that there might be a banking opportunity for us, can we use a carrot and stick approach to win some economics here. I've been successful in the past using my research efforts to cement relationships where we previously had none." 35. A 2000 presentation to research analysts stated that investment banking and Research Divisions had a "shared mission" that included:
"Research Alignment" Process 36. In 1998-1999, "in order to fully leverage [its] limited Research resources," Goldman Sachs implemented a formalized process called "Research Alignment" whereby the Investment Banking, Equities and Research Divisions "work collaboratively to insure a strategic alignment of [Goldman Sachs'] business - that the biggest opportunities for investment banking and equities were being covered, that [Goldman Sachs] had the right Research resources in the right places, and that [Goldman Sachs's] Research reputation for independent and thoughtful analysts was sustained if not enhanced." The process recognized that "[t]he individual company coverage provided by Global Investment Research helps drive the majority of the Firm's largest businesses, from winning financing deals and advisory business to obtaining orders in the secondary markets." 37. "Research Alignment" was "developed with the goal of quantifying, at the individual company, industry and sector levels, what the available revenue opportunities are to Goldman Sachs on both the Equities (trading) and IBD (equity issuance, high yield issuance and M&A) sides of the business." 38. In 2000, Goldman Sachs' "Global Investment Research IBD Alignment Process" was summarized in part as follows: "US Investment Research appears to be on the right track with our IBD alignment initiative."
39. In connection with Research Alignment, members of the Investment Banking Division called "Sector Captains" were responsible for coordinating research coverage requests from investment banking, prioritizing research coverage, determining candidates for termination of coverage, and conveying that information to the Research Division. Sector Captains, as representatives of the investment banking division, worked directly with the Research Division on issues relating to candidates for coverage and timing of coverage. IV. GOLDMAN SACHS' PITCH MATERIALS CONTAINED DISCUSSIONS OF RESEARCH COVERAGE 40. During the relevant period, research coverage was an important factor many companies considered in selecting a firm for investment banking transactions. In some instances, the reputation of Goldman Sachs' analysts was a factor in winning investment banking business from certain issuers. 41. In competing for investment banking business, Goldman Sachs typically sent representatives to meet with prospective issuers to discuss why the issuer should select Goldman Sachs as one of the investment bankers to participate in an offering. This meeting was commonly referred to in the securities industry as a "pitch." During the pitch, firm investment banking personnel would present their level of expertise in the company's sector and discuss Goldman Sachs's previous experience with similar companies, as well as their view of the company's merits and likelihood of success. 42. Some investment banking pitches included, among other things, discussion of the benefits the company would receive from Goldman Sachs' research coverage if the company selected Goldman Sachs as its banker. In preparation for each presentation, investment bankers, sometimes with research analyst input, prepared pitch materials including a "pitch book" which was distributed at the meeting. Some firm pitch materials implicitly suggested that Goldman Sachs would provide favorable research coverage after the investment banking transaction. 43. In an April 2000 e-mail, an investment banker wrote: "For next Wednesday's meeting, we have a challenge before us. We have been guided today by Loudcloud that we must show total focus and commitment from a RESEARCH perspective. [Loudcloud representative] strongly suggested that you guys come prepared to SELL.... HERE IS THE SUGGESTION: CAN YOU GUYS PREPARE A BRIEF (3-4 PG) RESEARCH REPORT ON LOUDCLOUD FOR THE MEETING. This is effectively our pitch.... This way we can say we are so excited about the story that we have already begun writing the report..." [emphasis in original]. In response, the analyst wrote: "I want to make this thing the best. WE WILL WIN THIS MANDATE." [Emphasis in original]. 44. Pitch books typically contained reference to Goldman Sachs' research ratings for other companies covered by Goldman Sachs' analysts, and suggested that Goldman Sachs would continue to provide research coverage to the issuer after the investment banking transaction. The pitch books identified the analyst who would likely provide coverage by name, and provided information about that research analyst's background and reputation. In addition, some pitch books set forth information juxtaposing an analyst's positive comments about other companies in the same sector with the positive performance of the stock prices of those companies. 45. Some pitch books distributed by Goldman Sachs to potential clients included such factors as the number of lead-managed IPOs currently under research coverage, the average length of research reports, the number of days from the date of the transaction in which research was published, and the frequency that reports were issued. 46. For example, a pitch book included a list of the various ratings provided by the analyst on the companies he covered, and described the benefits the company would receive if it chose Goldman Sachs, including, "a [g]lobal sales effort led by analysts," and contained a diagram of the role of analysts in an initial public offering. 47. The research analyst(s) who would likely provide coverage of the company after it went public sometimes worked with investment bankers to prepare Goldman Sachs's pitch presentation and, in some cases, attended the pitch meeting. The research analyst would on occasion make a presentation at the pitch in which the analyst typically discussed his/her view of the company and his/her understanding of the market's need for the company's product. 48. In July 2000, a pitch book for Crown Castle said "Goldman Sachs has been a constant bull on the tower sector" and stated the fact that "Goldman Sachs has placed Crown Castle on our Recommended List, our firm's highest investment rating." 49. A pitch book for the Willis Group stated: "[the analyst] has sold more stock than any research analyst in the sector." 50. The Business Unit Head of U.S. Telecommunications research was credited by a Goldman Sachs banker as the determining factor in winning an early 2000 IPO for Crosswave Communications: "[the analyst] was fully involved in pitching this and thanks to him, we received a sole-book mandate with Joint lead of MS." Moreover, the banker told other analysts: "your input will be critical to the success of this IPO." 51. An October 2000 pitch book for GeneProt explained the "[r]ole of investment research analyst," as "creating the story . . . marketing the story . . . [and] following the story." V. RESEARCH ANALYSTS WERE SUBJECT TO PRESSURES FROM COVERED COMPANIES AND INVESTMENT BANKING CONSIDERATIONS 52. Certain research analysts communicated regularly with employees of the companies that they covered, including executive and senior management of those companies. These communications occurred through telephone and e-mail exchanges, company-sponsored events, and analyst calls. As a result, research analysts were sometimes subject to pressure from companies they covered and investment banking considerations regarding their research. This conflict, between investment banking considerations and the publication of objective research, may have resulted in pressures on certain analysts, at times, to use language more favorable to the company or to avoid language which companies construed as negative in their research reports. 53. In an August 22, 2000 e-mail, copied to a research analyst, an investment banker writes: "[analysts] had a meeting with [WebEx] yesterday (which I attended part of). We discussed initiation strategy and decided that likely to initiate (probably MO, no price target) shortly with a note to be followed with a report by end of next week (given additional info from yesterday's meeting and desire to iterate a bit with the company). [WebEx] was more than happy with that approach as felt be beneficial to stock price to stagger good news." 54. Research analysts sometimes allowed covered companies to review drafts of research reports and comment on them. When a research analyst would downgrade or issue a negative comment on a company or sector, the analyst from time to time would receive direct and negative feedback from company management. 55. On February 23, 2001, a research analyst sent a draft of an Internet sector report to investment banking for review. In the e-mail, the analyst states:
56. After the report downgrading the sector was issued, one of Goldman Sachs's investment banking clients in the sector, Loudcloud, contacted Goldman Sachs via e-mail: "Are you trying to kill our offering? Or just issuing these reports blindly with no regard to consequences?" The analyst did not change the downgrade. However, the Goldman Sachs bankers and analysts involved apologized to Loudcloud management for not giving them a heads up about the sector downgrade and said that the analysts had been marketing the offering aggressively. The senior analyst also responded directly to Loudcloud management:
57. The following communications between WebEx management and an analyst occurred in January 2001:
58. In April 2001, an analyst sent a draft research report to Global Crossing Ltd. in advance of public release of the report. She received "extensive comments" from Global Crossing officials. The analyst wrote her supervising analyst that she had included Global Crossing's extensive comments and "...I also said we had slightly smoothed the negative edge (emphasis section up front and text) from when they saw the report. I said we included throughout the piece technological cost benefit comments and in [sic] up front conclusion section. I also said we still think supply/demand balance is THE near term critical price determinant. I promised them I'd re-email the final report tonight so they could see our changes. Nonetheless, [Global Crossing official] still wants to talk to YOU life [sic] today if possible so that he knows his time was used well and so that `such an important industry report which is going to have profound implications will be to their liking---ALL YOURS [emphasis in original]." VI. IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, GOLDMAN SACHS PUBLISHED EXAGGERATED OR UNWARRANTED RESEARCH OR RATINGS 59. On several occasions, the conflicts of interest discussed above resulted in analysts publishing recommendations and/or ratings that were exaggerated or unwarranted, and/or contained opinions for which there was no reasonable basis. The following are examples of how these conflicts affected the research. 60. In August 2000, the Business Unit Leader for European Telecommunications research e-mailed his U.S. counterpart about the "anomalous situation where our sector has been tanking for 3-4 months and we globally still have a majority of stocks as R[ecommended] L[ist] as that is all the salesmen and clients care about." He suggested that his U.S. counterpart consider the approach taken by him: "In Europe, we have found that honour is preserved if we have a stock as an M[arket] O[utperformer] and the companies can't complain because its [sic] better than an M[arket] P[erformer]." In his response, the Business Unit Leader for U.S. Telecommunications research agreed, saying: "The plan we have in place now is that in early September we are going to re-rate most of the CLECs [competitive local exchange carriers], which is where the problem is the most egregious. The ratings were a residual from [a former research analyst], and I never changed them, not wanting to disrupt things too much. But it's ridiculous. I've already met with the bankers, and plan to move most of the companies down to M[arket] O[utperformer], from R[ecommended] L[ist] before [another analyst] takes over completely in September. For the other segments the situation is not as bad, and where there is a problem, investment banking considerations have prevented me from making a change (i.e. AT&T, WCOM [Worldcom]). I don't think I would end up leaving only 7.5% as R[ecommended] L[ist], but the present 68% is ridiculous...." 61. In an April 27, 2001 e-mail, a research analyst wrote to a supervising research analyst: "In light of the fact that it is clear that TSIX [360Networks] is worth 0, do you think we should adjust our rating and price target? How can we go about doing this?" The supervising analyst responded: "Maybe the thing to do is to eliminate the price target. Maybe, put out a note that says, having a price target in this kind of situation is ludicrous...Changing the rating now is probably not a good idea, because from an outsider's perspective, who doesn't know anything, it may look like a belated ratings change. This happened last week to [an analyst], although he had been appropriately negative on WCII [Winstar Communications] all the way down, he belatedly dropped the rating from a M[arket] P[erformer] to an M[arket] U[nderperformer], and cnbc picked it up and made fun of him on the air." 62. In a March 26, 2000 e-mail with the heading "GBLX [Global Crossing]-I think they are bullshitting us" an analyst stated that the company's revenue guidance "does not make any sense....I think the answer is they wanted to obscure something sucking cash flow out of the company...They are hiding behind the complexity of their accounting." 63. In May 2001, WorldCom had Goldman Sachs' highest rating, Recommended List. The Business Unit Leader for U.S. Telecommunications research told his European counterpart that he "would have loved to have cut ratings long ago. Unfortunately, we can't cut [AT&T], because we're essentially restricted there. And without cutting [AT&T], there is no consistency in cutting WCOM [WorldCom]." 64. Between July 1999 and July 2001, WorldCom had Goldman Sachs' highest investment recommendation - inclusion on Goldman Sachs's "Recommended List." Worldcom was downgraded to Market Outperformer in July 2001. In April 2001, a hedge fund customer that had a very short-term investment horizon asked the Business Unit Leader of U.S. Telecommunications research: "wcom...buy sell or hold here at [$]20"? He responded to the inquiry: "sell." 65. On June 21, 2001, an analyst downgraded the company Exodus from a Recommended List rating to Market Outperformer. Both ratings have a time horizon of the next 6 - 18 months. In his April 27, 2001 research report on Exodus, the analyst discussed "heavy churn and low visibility given...the current revenue run rate" and further stated that the "EBITDA forecast looks challenging." In addition, that research report also stated the following: "Fully Funded Plan. Despite our more conservative EBITDA estimates for 2001 and 2002, we are confident that EXDS is funded to FCF positive." Shortly before the downgrade, the analyst met with at least two institutional investors who e-mailed the analyst after their meetings:
66. In a sales force survey about this analyst, the writer commented: "His investment recommendations have been abysmal and while I understand he communicates what he really thinks to a sele[c]t few, his public ratings have been an embarrassment to the firm." VII. GOLDMAN SACHS FAILED TO ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE ITS RESEARCH AND INVESTMENT BANKING DIVISIONS 67. As set forth above, while one role of research analyst was to produce objective research, Goldman Sachs also encouraged some analysts to participate in investment banking-related activities. As a result of their participation in investment banking-related activities, those analysts were subject to investment banking influences and conflicts of interest between supporting investment banking business for the firm and publishing objective research. 68. Goldman Sachs had knowledge of these investment banking influences and conflicts of interest yet failed to manage them adequately to protect the objectivity of its published research. 69. Goldman Sachs failed to establish and maintain adequate policies, systems, and procedures reasonable designed to ensure the objectivity of its published research. Although Goldman Sachs had some policies governing research analyst activities during the relevant period, these policies were inadequate and did not address the conflicts of interest that existed. FIRST CLAIM FOR RELIEF [Violation of NASD and NYSE Conduct Rules Due to Conflicts of
70. Paragraphs 1-69 are realleged and incorporated by reference. 71. NASD Conduct Rule 2110 requires members to observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of trade. 72. NYSE Rule 401 states that "[e]very member, allied member and member organization shall at all times adhere to the principles of good business practice in the conduct of his or its business affairs." 73. NYSE Rule 476(a)(6) prohibits member organizations, among other things, from engaging in practices that constitute conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade. 74. During the relevant period, Goldman Sachs engaged in the acts and practices described above that created and/or maintained inappropriate influence by investment banking over research analysts and therefore imposed conflicts of interest on its research analysts. Goldman Sachs failed to manage these conflicts in an adequate or appropriate manner. 75. By reason of the foregoing, Goldman Sachs violated NASD Conduct Rule 2110 and NYSE Rules 401 and 476(a)(6). SECOND CLAIM FOR RELIEF [Violation of NASD and NYSE Rules by
76. Paragraphs 1-69 and 71-73 are alleged and incorporated by reference herein. 77. NASD Rule 2210 and NYSE Rule 472 require members' communications with the public to be based on principles of fair dealing and good faith, provide a sound basis for evaluating facts, be properly balanced, and/or not contain exaggerated or unwarranted claims and/or opinions for which there was not reasonable basis. 78. As alleged above, in several instances Goldman Sachs issued certain research reports for companies that were not based on principles of fair dealing and good faith and did not provide a sound basis for evaluating facts, contained exaggerated or unwarranted claims about these companies, and/or contained opinions for which there was no reasonable basis. 79. By reason of the foregoing, Goldman Sachs violated NASD Conduct Rules 2110, 2210(d)(1) and 2210(d)(2) and NYSE Rules 401, 472 and 476(a)(6). THIRD CLAIM FOR RELIEF [Violation of NASD and NYSE Rules by Failing to Supervise] 80. Paragraphs 1-69 are alleged and incorporated by reference herein. 81. NASD Conduct Rule 3010(a) requires members, among other things, to "establish and maintain a system to supervise the activities of each registered representative and associated person that is reasonably designed to achieve compliance with applicable securities laws and regulations, and with" NASD's own Rules. 82. NYSE Rule 342 requires members, among other things, to maintain "appropriate supervisory control" over all business activities to ensure compliance with securities laws and regulations, including providing a "separate system of follow-up and review to determine that the delegated authority and responsibility is being properly exercised." 83. Goldman Sachs failed to establish and maintain adequate procedures over research analysts to prevent or manage conflicts of interest. 84. By reason of the foregoing, Goldman Sachs violated NASD Conduct Rule 3010 and NYSE Rule 342. PRAYER FOR RELIEF WHEREFORE, the Commission respectfully requests that this Court enter final judgment:
http://www.sec.gov/litigation/complaints/comp18113.htm
|