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STATE OF
OFFICE OF SECURITIES
121 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, ME
04333
In
the matter of U.S. BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY
INC. 800 Nicollet Mall Respondent. |
) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) |
CONSENT ORDER No.
03-107 |
WHEREAS,
U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. (hereinafter “USBPJ”) is a broker-dealer licensed
in the state of
WHEREAS, coordinated investigations into USBPJ’s
activities in connection with certain of its equity research and investment
banking practices during the period
of approximately 1999 through 2001 have been conducted by a multi-state task
force and a joint task force of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission,
the New York Stock Exchange, and the National Association of Securities Dealers
(collectively, the “regulators”);
WHEREAS, USBPJ has cooperated with regulators conducting
the investigations by responding to inquiries, providing documentary evidence
and other materials, and providing regulators with access to facts relating to
the investigations;
WHEREAS, USBPJ has advised regulators of its agreement to
resolve the investigations relating to its equity research and investment
banking practices;
WHEREAS, USBPJ agrees to implement certain changes with respect to its equity research and investment banking practices, and to make certain payments; and
WHEREAS, USBPJ voluntarily
elects to permanently waive any right to a hearing on this matter and judicial
review of this Consent Order (the “Order”) under 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10708-10709;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Securities
Administrator of the State of Maine Office of Securities, as administrator of
the Revised Maine Securities Act, 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10101-10713, hereby enters this Order:
I.
1.
USBPJ is a broker-dealer with its principal place of business in
2.
USBPJ is currently registered with the Office of Securities as a
broker-dealer, and has been so registered since at least 1984.
3.
This action concerns the years 1999, 2000, and 2001 (the “relevant
period”). During that time, USBPJ
engaged in both research and investment banking (“IB”) activities.
4.
At various times during the relevant period, USBPJ placed
undue emphasis on using its research analysts to maximize opportunities to
obtain investment-banking revenues from companies in the technology,
telecommunications, and biotechnology industry sectors. Such emphasis on obtaining investment-banking
revenue created conflicts of interest for the research analysts that resulted
in the issuance of research reports that violated the Revised Maine Securities
Act, 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10101-10713. USBPJ
failed adequately to monitor and supervise the conflicts of interest inherent
in seeking investment-banking opportunities from companies covered by USBPJ
research analysts. USBPJ’s violative
conduct, described herein, was caused by a flawed organizational structure,
combined with inadequate supervision of the conflicts of interest.
5.
USBPJ grouped its research analysts by industry sector and those
analysts worked as a team with the firm’s investment bankers, who focused on
the same industry sector. The majority
of research analysts’ compensation was paid in the form of bonuses, which for
some analysts was directly tied to revenues from investment banking
transactions of companies in their industry sector. In other cases, the analyst’s contribution to
investment banking revenue, and investment banker input into analysts’
evaluations played a significant part in determining the analysts’
bonuses. In certain cases, investment
bankers commented in reviews that research analysts needed to become lead analysts,
a reference to using their professional opinions and reports to assist the firm
in obtaining the top role in investment banking transactions. As a result of these influences, certain
USBPJ research analysts indirectly were motivated to obtain, retain and
increase investment-banking revenue.
6.
In certain instances, USBPJ also provided draft research
reports to potential investment banking clients during sales pitches, and this
implicit promise of favorable research was an important aspect of USBPJ’s attempts
to gain the companies’ investment banking business. In other instances, after determining to
issue research, USBPJ provided company executives with draft reports, including
the proposed rating and target price, and solicited comments on the report from
those company executives.
7.
USBPJ failed to disclose that it received compensation from
the proceeds of underwriting for, among other services, providing
research. It also paid proceeds of
certain underwritings to other broker dealer firms to issue research on
companies whose offerings it underwrote and did not ensure that
such payments were disclosed.
8.
Finally, USBPJ engaged in improper behavior by threatening
to drop research coverage on a company if USBPJ did not receive a certain role
in the company’s offering of securities.
B. USBPJ’s Structure and Procedures Encouraged
Research Analysts to
Contribute to Investment Banking
Revenue, Thus Creating Conflicts of Interest
(1). Overview of
USBPJ and the Financial Contribution of its Equity Capital Markets Division
9.
USBPJ was founded in 1895.[1] The firm is headquartered in
10.
During the relevant period, USBPJ’s business included
retail brokerage, known as Private Advisory Services; fixed income
underwriting, sales and trading (known as Fixed Income Capital Markets); and
equities investment banking, syndicate, research, and institutional sales and
trading (known as Equity Capital Markets or “ECM”). Thus, equity research and investment banking
were in the same business line and, ultimately, reported to the same
individual.
11. In 1998, USBPJ generated equity investment banking revenue of
approximately $79,500,000. That increased by 100 percent to approximately $159,000,000 in 1999. In 2000,
revenue from equity investment
banking grew to approximately $269,200,000, a 69 percent
increase over 1999. In 2001, USBPJ’s
revenue from equity investment
banking was approximately $153,000,000. From 1999 through 2001, revenue from equity investment banking represented
a significant portion of the firm’s revenue, accounting for between 19 – 26 percent
of the firm’s total revenue.
(2). USBPJ Aligned Research Analysts With the
Firm’s Investment Bankers
(a). USBPJ Developed and Implemented Specific Plans To Have Research Analysts Work With Investment Bankers in an Effort to Obtain Investment Banking Business
12.
During the relevant period, many companies, particularly
those in the technology area, issued stock through public offerings, and there
was intense competition among investment banking firms to obtain this
business. In order to maximize its
chances to participate in these offerings, USBPJ made a concerted effort to
include its research analysts in its solicitation of this business. This effort included developing and
implementing specific marketing plans, which provided for research analyst
involvement in the investment banking process.
(i). Move to the Left Strategy
13.
In May 2000, USBPJ’s ECM Operating Committee amended its
procedures and strategies in a specific effort to gain lead manager status in
more offerings. The Lead Manager is the
firm typically listed on the left side of the offering prospectus. Thus, USBPJ implemented a plan referred to as
the “Move to the Left Strategy.” The ECM
Operating Committee noted its strong commitment to a “multi-pronged strategy”
to obtain lead-manager status on offerings.
In instructions to ECM employees, the ECM Operating Committee stated
that the firm “must begin to wage a war in earnest for lead-manager status.” That plan instituted a “line in the sand”
policy: The firm would not accept a
syndicate position in any deal unless the firm was placed in the major bracket
for the underwriting.
14.
The Research Department played an important role in the
firm’s Move to the Left Strategy.
Specifically, to develop a “lead manager mentality,” the firm developed
a “lead manager Red Zone training program.”
That program called for the senior bankers, senior research analysts,
and Capital Markets personnel to “go through this special training seminar [focused]
on pitching for the lead on public equity transactions.”
(ii). Lead Manager Protocol
15.
In August 2000, the head of ECM’s syndicate department
prepared another specific effort to gain additional lead managed
offerings. In setting out his new “Lead
Manager Protocol” to all ECM employees, the head of the syndicate department
stressed that the “formal protocol of responsibilities … will allow all of
us—Investment Banking, Research, Sales, Trading and Capital Markets—to share
responsibility for the success of each and every lead-managed offering.”
16.
The Lead Manager Protocol, issued in August 2000, called
for:
·
the lead banker and lead research analyst to make a
presentation to the firm’s Pre-Commitment Committee before any company would be
considered for an underwriting;
·
the research analyst to participate in a “get-to-know-you”
session with prospective investment banking clients as part of a “Day at Piper”
session;
·
the lead banker and senior analyst to re-present the
prospective company client to the Commitment Committee. The lead banker and “senior analyst must
demonstrate continued due diligence effort and must provide renewed commitment
to the transaction”;
·
research and sales to “set up a roadshow schedule to ensure
a targeted and efficient roadshow…. [and] focus on ascertaining the right accounts
to see and why these are the right accounts;”
·
senior analysts to “provide aggressive pre-meeting
preparation and post-meeting follow-up to each 1-on-1 appointment;”
·
senior analysts to be “available during critical parts of
roadshow and pricing”; and
·
the senior analyst to “coordinate with Capital Markets to
sort out the aftermarket intentions of each account.”
17. The Lead Manager Protocol
described a primary function of a research analyst in communicating regarding
the progress of the transaction once the firm had obtained a lead management
role in an IPO when it stated: “Senior analyst will coordinate with Capital Markets to
communicate a consistent message regarding the progress of the transaction,
acting as a supporter of Capital Markets’ message and not as an independent
filter …. The goal of the [s]enior
analyst is to reinforce reasonable and exceedable expectations.”
(b). Research
Analysts “Pitched” for Investment Banking Deals and Advocated for the Issuer at
Roadshows
18.
USBPJ’s procedures allowed for the close alignment of
research analysts with investment bankers in the same industry sector. ECM marketed to potential clients its
research coverage, market making and institutional sales as part of the firm’s
efforts to obtain investment banking business.
USBPJ used the slogan, “One Team, One Business” in its marketing
materials with prospective investment banking clients. Internally, the company had “transaction teams”
that included investment bankers and research analysts.
19. The emphasis on
securing investment banking business through pitches and then selling the
securities through roadshows gave rise to conflicts of interest for the
research analysts. In some instances,
the research analyst became a prime contact person for the company with respect
to soliciting investment-banking business.
For example, on
(c). Research Analysts’ Participation in Pitch
Meetings Was Important in Obtaining Investment Banking Mandates
20.
Before USBPJ made its “pitches” to an issuer for investment banking
business, the investment banker, teamed with a research analyst for the
appropriate sector, would make a presentation to USBPJ’s Pre-Commitment
Committee. This presentation included a
recommendation and analysis detailing why the firm should pursue an investment
banking relationship with the issuer.
After USBPJ determined to compete for a company’s investment banking
business, particularly in the case of an initial public offering (“IPO”), the
research analyst’s role was influential in obtaining that business.
21. One aspect of a
research analyst’s function was to play a key role in the process to “pitch”
USBPJ to the prospective client. In
certain instances, a research analyst’s role at a pitch meeting with an issuer
was to assist investment banking personnel in convincing the issuer that USBPJ
should be chosen as the lead managing underwriter for the offering. A research analyst’s presence suggested that
the Research Department would work hand-in-hand with the investment bankers to
provide service and support for the issuer.
Research analysts routinely appeared with investment bankers at pitch
meetings designed to help sell USBPJ to the potential client and provided
information relating to their research in pitchbooks given to prospective
client companies.
(d). In Certain Instances, Pitchbooks Provided to Potential Investment Banking Clients Contained Mock Research Reports Impliedly Promising Favorable Research
22.
When investment bankers and research analysts presented “pitches” to
prospective investment banking clients, USBPJ typically gave the prospective
client a pitchbook explaining the proposed services to be provided by the
firm. These pitchbooks detailed, in a most favorable manner, why USBPJ should be selected to
underwrite the offering. In addition to
providing information about how USBPJ would conduct the underwriting, the
pitchbooks routinely included a roadmap of the amount and type of research coverage
that USBPJ would provide to support the company if it obtained the investment
banking business. In certain instances,
USBPJ included a “mock” research report for the companies, containing a
valuation analysis and “mock” rating such as “buy,” impliedly promising to the
issuer that the research analyst would issue a favorable research report if it
selected USBPJ for the investment banking business. In some instances, USBPJ’s
mock research reports also included a favorable “mock” target price for the
issuer’s stock.
23.
For example, in August 2000, USBPJ made a pitch to be the lead
underwriter for an offering by TheraSense, a medical technology issuer. In preparing for the pitch, a research
analyst prepared a mock research report about the issuer and presented that
mock report at the pitch meeting. The
mock research report noted in several places a proposed rating of “Strong
Buy.” The mock report contained very
positive news about the company, claiming that its initial sales of the product
were “nothing short of breathtaking.” In
part, as a result of that pitch, the company awarded USBPJ the role of lead
managing underwriter, which generated underwriting fees of $3,785,512 for the
firm when the offering went effective in October 2001. USBPJ initiated coverage of the issuer with a
“Strong Buy” recommendation shortly after the offering went effective.
24.
Finally, after USBPJ was awarded an investment-banking
mandate, another key function for a research analyst was to provide meaningful
support to the firm’s institutional investor clients to ensure that an
underwriting was successful. Investment
bankers, research analysts and company representatives generally traveled to
the offices of institutional investor clients, to meet with them and describe
the offering and determine their interest in purchasing the stock. At times, research analysts attended and
provided significant assistance at these “roadshow” meetings.
25.
During the relevant period, USBPJ compensated
research analysts, in part, based on the amount of
investment banking revenue generated within their respective industry
sector. This practice created a conflict
of interest for research analysts, since analysts were compensated, in part, on
issuing objective research and on the firm’s success in obtaining
investment-banking business.
26.
Specifically, USBPJ paid certain analysts a percentage of
investment banking revenue and institutional commissions generated by companies
in their industry sector. The firm
entered into written agreements with at least 16 research analysts to pay them
a defined percentage of the revenue generated by the companies they
covered. This included revenue from net
underwriting profits, institutional sales commissions, trading commissions, equity
and debt management fees, mergers and acquisition advisory fees, equity and
debt private placement fees, research checks, and syndicate trading
profits. The defined percentage set
forth in these written agreements ranged from a guaranteed 7 to 15 percent of
the revenues generated by the companies in their industry sector.
27.
Compensation for other research analysts was comprised of
base salary plus a bonus. Investment
banking revenue was a significant factor in determining the bonus. The bonus was based, in part, on investment
banking revenue received from companies in the specific industry sector that
each analyst covered, and the level of contribution the research analyst made
in the effort to obtain the investment banking business. The bonus usually formed the majority of a
research analyst’s total compensation.
In 1999 and 2000, for example, more than 85 percent of a typical
research analysts’ compensation came from the bonus, while in 2001
approximately 77 percent of a typical research analyst’s compensation was in
the form of a bonus. During that time,
research analysts’ salaries generally ranged from $60,000 to $250,000, while
the discretionary bonuses ranged from $75,000 to $4,000,000.
28.
In determining the amount of discretionary bonuses, supervisors
in the research department considered, among other things, a research analyst’s
contributions to the firm’s success in obtaining investment-banking
revenues. Performance evaluations of the
research analysts demonstrate this consideration. Research analysts received periodic reports
detailing the year-to-date
revenues generated by their covered companies.
At times, senior investment bankers provided these reports to the
research analysts, as well as to investment banking employees, and listed the
projected investment banking revenue goals for the covered companies. One supervisor noted in a performance
evaluation that a certain analyst should work on becoming a “lead managing
analyst.” That expression was a
reference to the lead managing underwriter position that USBPJ sought in
offerings because it resulted in the greatest amount of control and
revenue. Thus, the supervisor’s
expression acknowledged the role that an analyst could play at USBPJ in
obtaining investment-banking business.
For example, one senior analyst received a salary of $160,000 and a
bonus of over $3.8 million. In another
example, an analyst received a salary of $130,000 and a bonus of over $3
million. In both of these instances, the
bonus determination included consideration of investment banking and trading
revenues for companies in the industry sector covered by the analyst.
29.
The fact that research analysts contributed to the firm’s
efforts to obtain investment-banking revenue is also evident from the personal
goals set by certain research analysts.
Some analysts, in setting forth their goals, stated specific investment
banking revenue goals and listed the ongoing support of investment banking and
sales as important to their continued success.
(4). Investment Bankers Evaluated Research
Analysts’ Performance and Influenced Their Bonus Compensation
30. In 2000 and
2001, investment bankers who worked on investment banking business with
research analysts participated in the annual performance evaluations of those
research analysts. Specifically, in
certain instances, investment bankers completed and provided to the Director of
Research a “Banker Peer Review” on certain research analysts. Investment bankers evaluated research
analysts using specific criteria, including:
·
“proactively generates and shares valuable
M&A/strategic ideas;”
·
“prepares for pitches and contributes to preparation of
pitchbook;”
·
“effective in pitches; [and] takes the aftermarket
commitment seriously.”
31.
Thus, investment bankers provided significant input in the
performance evaluation of research analysts which, in turn, influenced the
bonus compensation of those research analysts.
For example, an investment banker noted in his banker peer review that a
particular analyst: “needs
to be proactive in pursuing fee-generating companies for
his coverage list. He is very focused on
big cap names that do not pay.”
32.
This review process indicated to research analysts that, in
part, their role was to assist the investment bankers and the firm’s investment
banking clients.
(5). USBPJ Lacked Procedures
and Did Not Adequately Monitor
Research Analysts’ Sharing of Draft Research Reports With Issuers
33.
In certain cases, prior to the dissemination of research
reports, USBPJ research analysts provided copies of their draft reports to an
issuer’s executives, and solicited comments and suggestions for such
reports. Providing draft research
reports to an issuer’s executives could potentially compromise a research
analysts’ independence in that the investment banking clients may pressure the
analyst to make inappropriate changes to the draft report.
34. Certain draft
research reports provided to an issuer included not only the factual portions
of a draft report, but also the analyst’s valuation, rating and suggested
target price. In some cases, company
executives were given electronic copies of the research report, and returned to
the firm a “red-lined” version of the report with their comments and
edits. For example, on
35. In other
instances, USBPJ investment bankers suggested to issuer clients that research
reports initiating coverage would be subject to approval by the issuer. For example, on
36. On
37. Notwithstanding
the potential that research analysts could be subjected to pressure by issuers,
USBPJ failed to have adequate procedures or controls to monitor such
communications.
38.
In view of the interaction between research analysts and
investment banking described above, USBPJ lacked adequate systems or procedures
to supervise the influence that investment-banking opportunities had on
research personnel. For example, on
39. On
40. Moreover, USBPJ
rarely issued a sell rating. During most
of the review period, USBPJ had a four point rating scale: strong buy, buy,
neutral, and sell. More than 80 percent
of the research reports issued contained either “buy” or “strong buy”
recommendations, with less than 20 percent of the companies, on average, rated
as a “neutral.” Throughout the review
period, USBPJ gave less than one percent of companies a “sell”
recommendation. In certain cases, the
firm would discontinue coverage, usually without explanation, rather than drop
a company to a sell rating. In those
cases, therefore, USBPJ had only a three point rating system.
C. USBPJ Issued Research on Two Companies That
Lacked a
Reasonable Basis Or Was Imbalanced
41. As to two
companies, Esperion Therapeutics, Inc. and Triton Network Systems, USBPJ
issued research reports that lacked a reasonable basis or
were imbalanced.
(1). Esperion
Therapeutics, Inc.
42.
In August 2000, USBPJ served as co-manager for the IPO of Esperion
Therapeutics, Inc. (“Esperion”) and consequently initiated research coverage of
Esperion on
43. Notwithstanding
these statements, USBPJ’s January 2002 industry report “Investing in
Biotechnology” and research report on
44. In July 2000, USBPJ served
as co-manager for Triton Network Systems (“Triton”)’s IPO. On
45. On
D. USBPJ Threatened to Drop Research Coverage of
Emisphere Technologies,
Inc., if It Did
Not Award USBPJ the Lead Manager Role in an Offering
46.
In September 1999, USBPJ attempted to compel Emisphere
Technologies, Inc. to select it for investment banking business by informing
company executives that it would drop research coverage of the company if it
were not selected as the lead manager for an offering of Emisphere’s
securities. USBPJ’s threatening conduct
undermined competition for investment banking services.
E. USBPJ Failed to Disclose
That it Received Payments From Proceeds of
Certain Underwritings, In Part, To Publish Research Regarding The
Issuer
47.
From 1999 through 2001, USBPJ received payments out of the proceeds of
certain underwritings to compensate the firm for services that included
publishing research on the issuer. These
payments were made in the form of
“research guarantees” or “research checks.” During this period, USBPJ accepted more than
$1.8 million in exchange for, among other services, issuing research
reports. Despite
having an obligation to do so, the firm failed to disclose in research reports
or elsewhere that it received the payments, in part, as compensation for
issuing the reports. For example:
48. In June 1999, USBPJ received
a $400,000 research check in connection with a $200 million high yield debt
offering in April 1999 for Just for Feet.
USBPJ was not a manager on the offering and did not disclose this
payment in its ongoing research or elsewhere.
49. In July 1999, USBPJ received
a $150,000 check in connection with an offering of common stock by JDS Uniphase
Corp. Although USBPJ was not an
underwriter in the offering, the firm received the payment, in part, for
continued research coverage of the company.
50. In March 2001,
USBPJ received a $120,000 research check in connection with an underwriting
that went effective in May 2001 for Comverse Technology Inc. USBPJ failed to disclose in research it
published on the company that it had received this compensation, in part, for
issuing research regarding the subject company.
F. USBPJ Failed to
Ensure Public Disclosure of Payments It Made
from the Proceeds of Underwritings to Brokerage Firms to
Issue
Research Coverage Regarding Its Investment Banking Clients
51.
From 1999 through 2001, at the direction of certain
issuer clients, USBPJ paid portions of certain
underwriting proceeds to other brokerage firms to initiate or continue research
coverage on issuers for which Piper served as lead or co-manager.
It knew that these payments were, in part, for research. USBPJ did not take steps to ensure that the
brokerage firms paid to initiate or continue coverage of its investment banking
clients disclosed that they had been paid to issue such research. Further, USBPJ did not disclose or cause to
be disclosed the fact of such payments.
52. For
example, in 2000, USBPJ paid underwriting proceeds of $100,000
to another underwriter in conjunction with USBPJ’s lead manager position on
Onyx Pharmaceuticals’ (“Onyx”) stock offering.
While this underwriter was not invited to participate in Onyx’s
offering, the payment was made in response to a letter dated
53. In April 2000,
USBPJ, acting as lead manager for an offering for Buca, Inc. directed the
payment of an aggregate of $105,000 to three brokerage firms for the issuance
of research. In February 2001, while
assisting in another investment banking transaction for Buca, Inc., USBPJ
distributed $225,000 to other firms for their research coverage. USBPJ did not ensure that these payments were
disclosed to the public.
G. USBPJ Failed to
Adequately Supervise Its Research
Analysts and
Investment Banking Professionals
54. During the relevant
period, USBPJ’s management failed adequately to monitor the activities of the
firm’s research and investment banking professionals to ensure compliance with
state securities laws and regulations.
Among other things, this failure to supervise gave rise to and
perpetuated the above-described violative conduct.
II.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
1.
The Office of Securities has jurisdiction over this matter pursuant to
the Revised Maine Securities Act, 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10101-10713.
2.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ engaged in
acts and practices that created and/or maintained inappropriate influence by
investment banking over research analysts and therefore imposed conflicts of
interest on research analysts. USBPJ
failed to manage these conflicts in an adequate and appropriate manner,
amounting to dishonest or unethical practices under 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
3.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ has committed
dishonest and unethical practices under 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G), as described
in the Findings of Fact above, by issuing research that contained opinions for
which there was no reasonable basis and/or exaggerated or unwarranted claims.
4.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ inappropriately threatened executives of a
potential investment-banking client by stating that they would drop research
coverage of the company if the firm was not selected as the lead manager in an
investment banking transaction, which conduct amounted to dishonest or
unethical practices under 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
5.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ received
compensation directly or indirectly, from an issuer, underwriter or dealer, in
part, for issuing research reports, without fully disclosing the receipt or the
amount of the compensation, amounting to dishonest or unethical practices under
32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
6.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ, as described in the Findings of Fact above, made
payments for research to other broker-dealers not involved in an underwriting
transaction, when the firm knew that these payments were made, at least in
part, for research coverage, and failed to disclose or cause to be disclosed in
offering documents or elsewhere the fact of such payments, amounting to dishonest or
unethical practices under 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
7.
The Securities Administrator finds that Respondent USBPJ failed to
establish and enforce written supervisory procedures reasonably designed to
ensure that analysts were not unduly influenced by investment banking
concerns. Despite
knowledge of research analysts’ complex responsibilities and conflicts of
interest, Respondent
USBPJ failed to implement a system to detect and insulate its
research analysts from improper influence and pressure by investment banking
personnel. To the contrary, Respondent USBPJ’s
business practices motivated research analysts to issue research that would
attract and retain investment-banking business.
Such failures amounted to a failure to reasonably supervise sales
representatives and employees under 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(J).
8.
The Securities Administrator finds the following relief appropriate and
in the public interest.
On
the basis of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law, and Respondent
USBPJ’s
consent to the entry of this Order, for the sole purpose of settling this
matter, prior to a hearing and without admitting or denying any of the Findings
of Fact or Conclusions of Law,
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
3. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
As a result of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law contained in
this Order, Respondent USBPJ shall pay a total amount of $32,500,000.00. This total amount shall be paid as specified
in the SEC Final Judgment as follows:
a) $12,500,000 to the states
(50 states, plus the
b) $12,500,000 as disgorgement
of commissions, fees and other monies as specified in the SEC Final Judgment;
c) $7,500,000, to be used for
the procurement of independent research, as described in the SEC Final
Judgment;
Respondent USBPJ 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 all penalty
amounts that Respondent USBPJ shall pay pursuant to this Order or Section II of
the SEC Final Judgment, regardless of whether such penalty amounts or any part
thereof are added to the Distribution Fund Account referred to in the SEC Final
Judgment or otherwise used for the benefit of investors. Respondent USBPJ further agrees that it shall
not claim, assert, or apply for a tax deduction or tax credit with regard to
any state, federal or local tax for any penalty amounts that Respondent USBPJ
shall pay pursuant to this Order or Section II of the SEC Final Judgment,
regardless of whether such penalty amounts or any part thereof are added to the
Distribution Fund Account referred to in the SEC Final Judgment or otherwise
used for the benefit of investors.
Respondent USBPJ understands and acknowledges that these provisions are
not intended to imply that the Office of Securities would agree that any other
amounts Respondent USBPJ shall pay pursuant to the SEC 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 state, federal or local tax.
4. If payment is not made by Respondent USBPJ or if Respondent USBPJ defaults in any of its obligations set forth in this Order, the Office of Securities may vacate this Order, at its sole discretion, upon 10 days notice to Respondent USBPJ and without opportunity for administrative hearing.
5. This Order is not intended by the Office of Securities to subject any Covered Person to any disqualifications under the laws of any state, the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico (collectively, “State”), including, without limitation, any disqualifications from relying upon the State registration exemptions or State safe harbor provisions. "Covered Person" means Respondent USBPJ, or any of its officers, directors, affiliates, current or former employees, or other persons that would otherwise be disqualified as a result of the Orders (as defined below).
6. The SEC Final Judgment, the NYSE Stipulation and Consent, the NASD Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent, this Order and the order of any other State in related proceedings against Respondent USBPJ (collectively, the “Orders”) shall not disqualify any Covered Person from any business that they otherwise are qualified, licensed or permitted to perform under the applicable law of Maine and any disqualifications from relying upon this state’s registration exemptions or safe harbor provisions that arise from the Orders are hereby waived.
7. For any person or entity not a party to this Order, this Order does not limit or create any private rights or remedies against Respondent USBPJ including, without limitation, the use of any e-mails or other documents of Respondent USBPJ or of others regarding research practices, limit or create liability of Respondent USBPJ or limit or create defenses of Respondent USBPJ to any claims.
8. Nothing herein shall preclude the State of Maine, its departments, agencies, boards, commissions, authorities, political subdivisions and corporations, other than the Office of Securities and only to the extent set forth in paragraph 1 above, (collectively, “State Entities”) and the officers, agents or employees of State Entities from asserting any claims, causes of action, or applications for compensatory, nominal and/or punitive damages, administrative, civil, criminal, or injunctive relief against Respondent USBPJ in connection with certain research and/or banking practices at Respondent USBPJ.
9.
This Order and any dispute related thereto shall
be construed and enforced in accordance with, and governed by, the laws of the State
of
10.
Respondent USBPJ agrees not to take any action
or to make or permit to be made any public statement denying, directly or
indirectly, any finding in this Order or creating the impression that this Order
is without factual basis. Nothing in this Paragraph affects Respondent USBPJ’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
Office of Securities is not a party.
11. Respondent USBPJ, through its execution of this Consent Order, voluntarily waives their right to a hearing on this matter and to judicial review of this Consent Order under 32 M.R.S.A. §§ 10708-10709.
12. Respondent USBPJ enters into this Consent Order voluntarily and represents that no threats, offers, promises, or inducements of any kind have been made by the Office of Securities or any member, officer, employee, agent, or representative of the Office of Securities to induce Respondent USBPJ to enter into this Consent Order.
13. The parties represent, warrant and agree that they have received independent legal advice from their attorneys with respect to the advisability of executing this Consent Order.
14. This Consent Order shall become final upon entry.
Dated this 28th day of August, 2003.
By: s/Christine A. Bruenn
Christine
A. Bruenn, Securities Administrator
State of
CONSENT
TO ENTRY OF ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER BY US BANCORP PIPER JAFFRAY INC.
James
Chosy represents that he/she is Secretary and Managing Director of US Bancorp
Piper Jaffray Inc. and that, as such, has
been authorized by US Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc. to enter into this Order for and on behalf of US Bancorp Piper
Jaffray Inc.
Dated
this 20th day of August, 2003.
US Bancorp Piper Jaffray Inc.
By: s/James L. Chosy
Title: General Counsel
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this _____ day of
__________________, 2003.
____________________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires:
____________________