THIS WEEK IN SECURITIES LITIGATION (Week ending March 9, 2012)

This week the Commission announced three victories in court and filed four new civil injunctive actions. At the same time long simmering matters moved forward. Reuters reports that the new DOJ task force, created in the wake of the President’s state of the union address, is “casting a wide net” focused on the much investigated market crisis. Subpoenas issued to large banks supposedly overlap and expand on earlier ones issued by the SEC and the DOJ.

Two long running FCPA matters also inched forward. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals directed the government to respond to the petition of handbag maker Frederic Bourke requesting that his appeal be reheard by the full Court. The Court’s order suggests Mr. Bourke may win an opportunity for rehearing since the order is the first step.

Similarly, corruption issues involving Aluminum Bahrain BSC and Alcoa continued to percolate. A long running suit by BSC asserting RICO claims but tied to alleged FCPA violations centered on allegations that the company was victimized by bribery and fraud is moving forward. Until recently it was stayed at the request of the DOJ which is investigating possible FCPA violations. Now BCS faces a motion to dismiss its claims. Regardless, of the ruling the DOJ and the U.K.’s SFO are interested. The DOJ is reportedly evaluating the possible FCPA violations. The SFO has brought charges against a former official of each company.

The Commission

Budget: SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro testified before the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government of the House Appropriations Committee on March 6, 2012, regarding the SEC’s proposed budget. That budget seeks $1.566 billion for fiscal 2013 (here).

Regulation: Commissioner Daniel Gallagher addressed the Investment Advisers Association (March 8, 2012) commenting on Dodd-Frank related issues and questions regarding failure to supervise (here).

Regulation: Commissioner Daniel Gallagher addressed the Institute of International Bankers on March 5, 2012 regarding “Ongoing Regulatory Reform in the Global Capital Markets.” The remarks focused initially on the Financial Stability Oversight Council and then the Volker Rule (here).

Enforcement statistics: A Bloomberg article titled “SEC Enforcement Story Doesn’t Add Up for 2011” (March 2, 2012) claims that for fiscal 2011 the Commission actually only filed 499 new enforcement actions, not the 735 claimed by the agency. The difference, according to Bloomberg, stems from the fact that 230 of the 735 were actually follow-on administrative proceedings that are based on other enforcement actions. The 499 actions is less than the number of new cases brought in the year before the reorganization of the Division, according to the article. In that year the agency claimed it filed 664 total actions but 144 were follow-on meaning that only 520 new cases were filed in 2009.

SEC Enforcement: Litigated cases

Financial fraud: SEC v. Das, Civ. No. 8:10-CV-00102 (D. Neb.) is an action against Rajnish Das and Stormy Dean, both former executives and CFOs of infoUSA, Inc. This is one of three civil injunctive cases brought by the Commission centered on the self-dealing of the former chairman of the company who engaged in undisclosed related party transactions which benefitted him to the detriment of the company. Messrs. Das and Dean were alleged to have improperly approved expenses for the former chairman of the company without proper documentation. The complaint alleged violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2), 13(b)(5) and 14(a). Following a ten day trial the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Commission. The Court has not determined the remedies.

Market crisis: SEC v. Brookstreet Securities Corp., Case No. SA 8:09-cv-1411 (C.D. Cal.) is an action against the broker and its principal, Stanley Brooks. From 2004 through 2007 the defendants promoted what was called the “CMO Program” in which collateralized mortgage obligations or CMOs which are high risk and illiquid were sold to unsuitable retail customers. Eventually over 1,000 Brookstreet customers put about $300 million into the securities as part of the program. As the market crisis unfolded in 2007 and CMO prices plummeted, Mr. Brooks liquidated investor accounts in the program to meet margin calls and avoid having the firm fall under its required net capital level. The liquidated accounts included those which were fully paid. Customers suffered substantial losses. The firm collapsed when it could not meet its net capital requirements. The Court granted the Commission’s motion for summary judgment as to each defendant, entering a permanent injunction prohibiting future violations of Securities Act Section 17(a) and Exchange Act Section 10(b). It also ordered Mr. Brooks to pay $110,713.31 in disgorgement and prejudgment interest and a civil penalty of $10,010,000.

Insider trading: SEC v. Jantzen, Case No. 1:10-cv-00740 (W.D. Tex.) is an action in which the Commission prevailed on summary judgment against John Jantzen, a registered securities broker, and his wife Marleen Jantzen, a former assistant to an executive at Dell, Inc. The case centers on the acquisition of Perot Systems, Inc. by Dell, announced on September 21, 2009. Prior to the announcement Mrs. Jantzen learned from internal Dell e-mails about the deal. On the final day of trading before the announcement, Mrs. Jantzen made a cash transfer to the brokerage account of the couple. Shortly after the transfer Mr. Jantzen purchased 24 call options and 500 shares of Perot Systems. Dell securities were also purchased. Following the deal announcement the couple had one day trading profits of $26,950.50. In granting the Commission’s motion for summary judgment the Court found that the two defendants violated Exchange Act Sections 10(b) and 14(e). The Court entered an injunction against each defendant prohibiting future violations of each Section cited in the complaint. The order also directed that the defendants pay disgorgement in the amount of their trading profits along with prejudgment interest. Further briefing was ordered on the question of a monetary penalty.

SEC Enforcement: Filings and settlements

Filings: Since March 1, 2012 the Commission has filed 4 civil injunctive actions and no new administrative proceedings (excluding those which are essentially part of a settlement or part of the Section 12(j) program). Those filed this past week include:

Insider trading: SEC v. Harrold, (C.D. Ca. Filed March 8, 2012) is an action against Steven Harrold, formerly the Vice President, Strategy & Innovation, European Group for Coca-Cola Enterprises, Inc. or CCE. The company is an Atlanta based marketer, producer and distributor of Coca-Cola products whose shares are listed on the NYSE. On February 25, 2010 CCE announced that it had entered into an agreement with The Coca-Cola Company under which that company would acquire CCE’s North American bottling operations. In addition, CCE would acquire Coca-Cola’s Norwegian and Swedish bottling operations. Coca-Cola also agreed to assume about $8.9 billion in CCE debt while that company obtained the future rights to acquire Coca-Cola’s German bottling operations. The morning of the announcement CCE’s share price opened 30% higher. Earlier in February Mr. Harrold learned about the transaction in the course of his employment. He was instructed to keep it confidential and told that there was a trading blackout period. Nevertheless, the day before the announcement he purchased 15,000 shares of CCE stock at about $19.30 per share and put in a limit order to sell the block at $22.50 per share. Following the announcement his shares were sold under the limit order yielding a profit of about $86,850. Subsequently, during an internal inquiry he admitted placing the trades in the account of his wife. He was terminated by the company. The complaint alleges violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b). The case is pending.

Pump & dump: SEC v. Prime Star Group, Inc., Civil Action No. 2:12-cr-00371 (D.Nev. Filed March 7, 2012) is an action against the company and its CEO, Roger Mohlman along with Danny Colon, Marysol Morera, Felix Rivera, Esper Gullatt, Jr., Kevin Carson, Joshua Konigsberg and certain related entities. According to the complaint, Prime Star illegally distributed over 18 million shares using fraudulent Rule 144 letters. Shares were distributed to the other defendants who retained a portion of the shares and touted the stock. Prime Star and Mr. Mohlman are also alleged to have made false statements in various press releases as part of the scheme. The complaint alleges violations of Securities Act Sections 5 and 17(a) and Exchange Act Sections 10(b), 13(a), 13(b)(2)(A), and 13(b)(2)(B). Mr. Konigsberg settled with the Commission, consenting to the entry of a permanent injunction prohibiting future violations of Securities Act Section 5. The other defendants are litigating the action. A related administrative proceeding based on Exchange Act Section 12(j) was also brought against Prime Star.

Investment fund fraud: SEC v. Callahan, Civil Action No. 12-CV-1065 (E.D.N.Y. Filed March 6, 2012) is an action against investment adviser Brian Callahan and his firms Horizon Global Advisors Ltd., and Horizon Global Advisors, LLC. Mr. Callahan raised about $74 million from over 24 investors beginning in 2005. Although investors were told that the money would be put into liquid assets much of it was diverted to assist a beach project of Mr. Callahan’s brother-in-law which was facing foreclosure. Portions of the money was also used to repay other investors. The complaint alleges violations of Securities Act Section 17(a), Exchange Act Section 10(b) and Advisers Act Sections 206(1) and (2). The Court entered a temporary freeze order at the request of the Commission. The case is in litigation.

Insider trading: SEC v. Williams, Civil Action No. 12-1126 (E.D. Pa. Filed March 5, 2012); SEC v. Duncan, Civil Action No. CV 12-1785 (C.D. Ca. Filed March 5, 2012)

Each case is based on the acquisition of Hi-Shear Technology Corporation by Chemring Group PLC., announced on September 16, 2009. The defendant in the first case is John M. Williams, an employee of Deloitte Tax LLP since 1997. In the second the defendant is William F. Duncan, the President of Duncan Insurance Service, Inc., dba The Olson Duncan Agency, a California insurance brokerage firm. Mr. Duncan and his agency had a long term relationship with Hi-Shear. Defendant Williams was told about the deal as part of his work at Deloitte. From September 10 to 14 Mr. Williams purchased 850 shares of Hi-Shear stock. He did not report the transactions to Deloitte as required. Following the deal announcement he liquidated his holding, realizing profits of $6,803.18.

Mr. Duncan deduced that a transaction would be forthcoming from the information available to him through his work with the company in connection with requests to provide estimates for a “tale” for the D&O coverage. As part of his review he was furnished with a memorandum evaluating the D&O coverage and raising questions about its adequacy if there was an extraordinary transaction or a change in control. Mr. Duncan began purchasing Hi-Sear stock the day he furnished the company with the quote on the tail. By September 9 he had acquired 10,000 shares at a cost of over $102,000. Following the September 16 announcement he liquidated his holdings, realizing a profit of $85,525.

Each defendant settled on essentially the same terms, consenting to the entry of a permanent injunction, without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, which prohibits future violations of Exchange Act Section 10(b). Each defendant agreed to pay disgorgement along with prejudgment interest and a penalty equal to their trading profits. Mr. Williams also agreed to the entry of an administrative order which suspends him from appearing or practicing before the Commission as an accountant for five years.

Criminal cases

Financial fraud: U.S. v. Stanford (S.D.Tx) is the financial fraud case against Robert Allen Stanford. Following a six week trial the jury returned guilty verdicts on 13 of 14 counts. Mr. Stanford was convicted on one count of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud, four counts of wire fraud, five counts of mail fraud, one count of conspiracy to obstruct an SEC investigation, one count of obstruction of an SEC investigation and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. He was found not guilty on one count of wire fraud.

Insider trading: U.S. v. Liang, No. 11-cr-530 (D.Md.) is the insider trading case against former FDA chemist Cheng Yi Liang. Previously the defendant pleaded guilty, admitting that he used information from the computers at the agency which contained confidential information to trade in securities. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Court of appeals

Absolute Activist v. Ficeto, Docket No. 11-0221-cv (2^nd Cir. Decided March 1, 2012) is an action centered on a Section 10(b) claim for damages by nine Cayman Island hedge funds managed by Absolute Capital Management Holdings Ltd. (ACM). The defendants were Florian Homm, CIO of ACM, Sean Ewing, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer, Ullrich Angersbach, Head of IR and Marketing and Colin and Craig Heatherington, ACM employees who were principals of defendant CICV Global Capital Ltd. (CIC).

Plaintiffs claimed that over approximately three years Defendants Homm, Ficeto, Hunter and Colin Heatherington caused the nine Funds to purchase U.S. Penny Stocks directly from the issuers in PIPE transactions. Following the purchases various of the defendants are alleged to have engaged in a “pump and dump” type scheme involving the penny stock securities acquired by the Funds. The defendants reaped huge profits while the Funds suffered losses of about $195,916,212. The district court dismissed the complaint with prejudice for lack of subject matter jurisdiction based on Morrision v. National Australia Bank Ltd., 130 S.Ct. 2869 2010). The Second Circuit reversed and remanded with leave to replead. Under Morrison if the transaction is not on an exchange the key question is whether the securities transaction took place in this country. The test is when the parties first became bound to effectuate the transaction. Thus plaintiffs must allege facts demonstrating that the parties incurred irrevocable liability within the United States. Here the complaint fails to allege such facts but since it was written prior to Morrision the Court remanded with leave to replead.