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STATE OF
OFFICE OF
SECURITIES
121 STATE HOUSE STATION
AUGUSTA, ME 04333
IN THE MATTER OF: )
)
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC. ) CONSENT
ORDER
) No.
03-105
)
RESPONDENT )
WHEREAS, the Office of Securities
and RESPONDENT are desirous of settling this matter as hereafter set forth and
agree to the entry of this Order for the purpose of settling this matter,
WHEREAS, RESPONDENT has
voluntarily waived all rights to a hearing upon entry of this Order, and has
consented to the entry of this Order, and
WHEREAS,
the Securities Administrator of the Office of Securities finds this Order
necessary and appropriate in the public interest for the protection of
investors, and consistent with the purposes fairly intended by the policy and
provisions of the Revised Maine Securities Act, and
The Securities Administrator of the Office
of Securities, having the power to administer and provide for the enforcement
of all provisions of the Revised Maine Securities Act, upon due consideration
of the subject matter hereof, and having confirmed information concerning or
relating to offers for sale and/or sale of securities into, within or from the
State of Maine, has determined as follows:
1. LEHMAN BROTHERS INC. (RESPONDENT) has
been a broker-dealer licensed with the Office of Securities since
at least 1984. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Lehman Brothers Holdings
Inc., a
STATEMENT OF FACTS
I. BACKGROUND
A. The Investment Banking Function at
Lehman
2. Lehman is a global investment bank providing financial
advisory, capital markets and underwriting services, among other services, to
its clients. From at least July 1999
through at least June 2001, Lehman’s investment banking department (“Investment
Banking”), among other activities, engaged in securities offerings, including
initial public offerings (“IPOs”), secondary offerings and debt financings, and
provided merger and acquisition and other advisory services for its clients.
3. From at least July 1999 through at least June 2001, Lehman
competed vigorously with other investment banks to be selected as the lead
manager for securities offerings, in part because of the financial rewards
associated with that role. In addition,
Lehman hoped to gain ongoing transactional and advisory work from existing and
potential clients, including secondary offerings and financial advisory
arrangements. In 2001, Lehman served as
lead manager for sixty-six equity deals, and earned approximately $1.3 billion
from underwriting services.
B. Lehman’s
Global Equity Research Department
4.
During
1999 and 2000, Lehman’s Equity Research Department (“Research”) employed
approximately 400 people and expanded to 600 employees in 2001, including
approximately 100 senior research analysts and 200 junior research
analysts. During 2001, Research covered
approximately 80 industries and approximately 900
5. Research analysts collect financial and other information
about a company and its industry, analyze that information, and develop
recommendations and ratings regarding a company’s securities. In addition, research analysts also examine the
financial condition of selected publicly traded companies that are believed to
be of potential investment value. Lehman
analysts also make evaluations of companies’ expected earnings, revenue and
cash flow, operating and financial strengths and weaknesses, and long term
viability and dividend potential. Lehman
analysts produced written research materials including research reports and
First Call notes regarding companies and industry sectors.
6. Lehman’s
research was distributed to both institutional clients and retail
investors. Lehman distributed its
research product directly to its own client base, comprised of institutional
investors and high net worth individual retail investors. In June 1999, Lehman entered into a
“strategic alliance” with Fidelity Investments.
Among other things, the “strategic alliance” provided Fidelity’s retail
customers with access to Lehman’s research, along with other independent
research. Lehman also sold its research product to other broker-dealers that in
turn provided the research to their retail customers. Lehman also made its
research available to the public through services such as Thomson Financial/First Call and Multex.com, Inc. Ratings of Lehman’s analysts were freely and
publicly available to retail clients through a number of media outlets.
7. At
the top of its research reports that were devoted to specific stocks, Lehman
assigned to the stock a “rank” according to a 5-point scale reflecting how the
analyst believed the stock would perform relative to the market generally. During the period June 1999 through December
2000, Research used the following ratings:
1-Buy (expected to outperform the market by 15 or more percentage
points), 2 – Outperform (expected to outperform the market by 5 –15 percentage
points), 3 – Neutral (expected to perform in line with the market, plus or
minus 5 percentage points), 4 – Underperform (expected to underperform the
market by 5 –15 percentage points), 5 – Sell (expected to underperform the
market by 15 or more percentage points).
In January 2001, Lehman changed the names of these ratings to 1-Strong
Buy, 2- Buy, 3-Market Perform, 4-Market Underperform and 5-Sell. The definitions remained the same. The definitions for the ratings were provided
to Lehman clients on a monthly basis. Commencing in March 2001, the definitions
appeared on all of Lehman’s research reports.
8. Although Lehman purported to rank stocks according to a
5-point scale, in fact, during the relevant period Lehman analysts never
assigned a 5-Sell rating to a domestic company and almost never assigned a
4-Underperform to a stock.
9. Lehman’s research reports also assigned to the stock a price
target designed to reflect the price at which the analyst believed the stock
would trade within a time period that was identified in some reports and
unidentified in others. Commencing in March 2001, the relevant time period for
the price target appeared in Lehman’s research reports.
II. LEHMAN’S RESEARCH ANALYSTS WERE
SUBJECTED TO CONFLICTS OF INTEREST ARISING FROM LEHMAN’S USE OF RESEARCH TO OBTAIN
INVESTMENT BANKING BUSINESS
10. Lehman held out its research analysts as
providing independent recommendations and analysis of companies and stocks upon
which investors could rely in reaching investment decisions. Lehman promoted its research for the “quality
and timeliness of its investment recommendations.”
11. In
fact, Lehman’s research analysts were, at times, subjected to conflicts of
interest arising from the close relationship between Research and Investment
Banking. Such conflicts of interest, at
times, adversely impacted the independence of Lehman’s public stock
recommendations.
A. Lehman Used Research To Obtain
Investment Banking Business
12. Analysts
worked closely with members of Investment Banking and other departments to
generate business for Lehman. Analysts
often worked with Investment Banking to identify corporate finance
opportunities and to win corporate finance business for Lehman, including
identifying private companies appropriate for an IPO, as well as, identifying
possible transactions, such as secondary offerings or debt financings, once a
company had completed an IPO. To this
end, analysts were expected to have yearly target and alignment meetings with
their Investment Banking counterparts.
13. Lehman aligned its analysts with an
Investment Banking team. Analysts’ responsibilities included providing research
to their Investment Banking counterparts so that the bankers could leverage the
research product into a full service relationship with a company.
14. Recognizing the strategic importance of
this alignment, on
Investment
Banking Partnership – This is a key challenge for not only research but the
entire global equities business.
Increasing our equity origination will be one of the most important
accomplishments of the firm. One of the
most significant ways we will increase the equity division’s total revenue to more
than $2 billion is by substantially increasing origination.
15. The August 5 Memorandum also set forth a
“new paradigm” for Lehman’s investment banking relationships stating:
the
analyst is THE key driver of the firm relationship with its corporate client
base. Analysts need to accept
responsibility and use it to expand the franchise and DRIVE PROFITABILITY
EVERY DAY
16.
The August 5 Memorandum emphasized the
research analyst’s role in identifying potential banking business for Lehman
stating: “global research must drive the
banking targeting efforts, consistent with the ‘new paradigm.’” The August 5 memorandum stated further: “to ensure we have proper recognition of
analysts’ impact on banking, we have to closely track every dollar of IBD
revenue (equity, M&A, and debt) by analyst.”
17. On
18. The September 13 Attachment explained numerous
ways in which Lehman Research and Investment Banking could be beneficial to
each other and stated that “seamless Banking/Research coverage” was critical to
all Investment Banking products. The
attachment also contained a chart captioned “Secret to Success -- Lehman Wins
Business When Banking And Research Are Aligned.” The September 13 Attachment explained
that the Research/Investment Banking partnership at Lehman would be
institutionalized through executive committee support, targeting and alignment,
full partnership accountability between bankers and research analysts, and
reinforced through compensation.
19. The September 13 Attachment also
instructed that bankers and research analysts would be required to complete
performance reviews of their counterparts.
Research analysts would be evaluated on, among other things, “the extent
to which the analyst places origination as [a] priority,” and “adds value in
building banking business,” and the analyst’s “effectiveness in [the] pitching
process.”
20. Finally, the September 13 Attachment
explained that Lehman would reinforce the partnership of Research and Banking
through compensation. Analyst
compensation would be “impacted by contribution to banking” and “reviewed with
appropriate banking group heads.” The
primary criterion in evaluating analyst compensation would be Investment
Banking Revenue.
21. As
part of the relationship between Investment Banking and Research, analysts
often communicated with their Investment Banking counterparts several times a
week, or even daily. These
communications included identifying banking opportunities for Lehman. For example, on
FYI, I have recently come across several great
companies in the wireless data services industry, an incredibly hot sector for
most technology investors. … In my view, we as a firm (tech & telecom)
should get all over this sector . . . I think we should be very coordinated in
attacking this banking windfall.
22. In another instance, on
since the announcement of the Chase/JPM merger, I’m
sure you’ve come to the same realization that the merger would result in just
one firm covering your stock . . . If . . . the loss of one analyst is of
concern, was wondering if the opportunity is available to add a jnr (sic)
co-manager to ensure same number of coverage analysts.
23. Investment bankers at times suggested
that analysts issue positive research coverage on a company to help the bankers
win business. Investment bankers would
sometimes recommend potential banking clients to Lehman’s research
analysts. Lehman’s investment bankers
understood that if Lehman’s research department would cover a potential banking
client, this could strengthen Lehman’s chances to obtain banking business from
that client. For example, on
Spoke
with [ a Worlstor employee] over at Worlstor.
Here’s the scoop and what we need to do.
They are meeting with other bankers over the next 4 days . . . They like
[Salomon] because of their research report.
Action plan for us includes: . . . We need to say [Lehman’s analyst] is
publishing a big storage ssp report and we would like to make Worlstor the
feature of the report like Solly did MSI and Storagenetworks. . . .
[Analyst] you need to call (the CEO)
and the CFO at least 3 times between now and the Board meeting . . . The
message is we luv you and have been waiting for you. [Analyst] your call and enthusiasm is key.
24. Another banker wrote the following email
to investment bankers and analysts on
Our competition on the CPQ debt deal is likely the
following . . . Given their stock price action after today’s downgrade by
[SSB], we are the highest equity recommendation. The bottom line is that they need a very
strong story around their credit and we, with [analyst] are in the best
position to deliver.”
25. Investment bankers also routinely reviewed
drafts of analysts’ research reports before publication for several purposes
including to insure that the reports were consistent with generating investment
banking revenue from the covered company.
B. Lehman Gave Its Analysts Financial
Incentives To Use Research To Generate Investment Banking Revenue
26. Lehman tied the compensation of senior
research analysts to the amount of Investment Banking revenue the analyst
helped to generate. Lehman analysts
typically received relatively small base salaries and considerably larger
bonuses. Bonuses were determined by, among other factors, the amount of
Investment Banking revenue generated by companies the analysts covered. The bonuses Lehman paid to analysts dwarfed
their base salaries and gave the analysts a strong personal financial incentive
to obtain Investment Banking business. This compensation structure, which in
part linked analyst compensation to investment banking business, created
conflicts of interest.
1. Certain
Analyst Employment Contracts Tied Bonuses
Directly To Investment Banking Revenue
27. Six of Lehman’s approximately 100 senior
research analysts had employment contracts that linked their bonuses directly
to Investment Banking revenue generated by companies they covered. Depending on the contract, the analyst’s
entire bonus or an additional Investment Banking Department (“IBD”) bonus was
paid based on the aggregate IBD net revenues and fees generated by companies
covered by the analyst or by companies where the analyst significantly
contributed to the Investment Banking business.
28. For example, one analyst’s contract
provided for an annual salary of $200,000, and a minimum bonus of $4.8 million.
The minimum bonus could increase in $1 million increments, based on the
Aggregate IBD Net Revenues and Fees for the performance year as follows:
Minimum Bonus |
Aggregate IBD Net
Revenues and Fees |
$4.8 million |
Less than $50
million |
$5.8 million |
At least $50
million but less than $75 million |
$6.8 million |
At least $75
million but less than $100 million |
$7.8 million |
At least $100
million but less than $125 million |
$8.8 million |
$125 million or
more |
29. Another
analyst’s contract provided for the payment of a yearly salary of $200,000, a
minimum bonus of $3.3 million and an additional bonus equal to 5% of Investment
Banking revenues and fees generated by companies covered by the analyst or
companies where the analyst substantially contributed to the award of
Investment Banking business.
2. Lehman Compensated Other Analysts
Based In Part On Their Contribution To Investment Banking Revenue
30.
Analysts who did not have specific clauses in their contracts related to
Investment Banking revenue were nevertheless compensated financially if
companies they covered generated Investment Banking revenue.
31.
The Director of
32.
Lehman also monitored the Investment Banking revenue that analysts
generated. For example, Lehman
maintained a document titled “Performance Review” that, among other
information, kept track of the Investment Banking and trading revenue
attributable to each senior analyst.
Senior analysts were shown the Performance Review during their reviews.
33. For each analyst, Investment Banking also
generated a spreadsheet known as a “Project Review” that identified Investment
Banking projects with revenue booked for the year and projects expected to
generate revenue in the next year. The
Director of U.S. Equity Research used the Project Reviews in conducting both
mid-year and year-end evaluations for senior analysts.
34.
Senior analysts also frequently provided lists of the Investment Banking
deals they had worked on during the year to the Director of U.S. Equity
Research in connection with consideration of their year-end bonuses. For example, in December 1999 one senior
analyst (who did not have an Investment Banking revenue clause in his contract)
wrote in an email to the Director of U.S. Equity Research that his research
accomplishments and banking revenue were relevant to his compensation. In describing his research accomplishments,
the analyst noted that he had written frequently on a company and the company
had raised $430 million in equity and high yield financing through Lehman. The analyst also noted that he had written
frequently about another company and, as a result, Lehman was going to appear
“out of order” on the cover of a convertible deal and had a “good shot” at
leading an upcoming equity deal. With
respect to banking revenue, the analyst wrote:
I believe the revenues generated by my universe
generated at least as much as other research universes, excluding the Delta
Three IPO (which RSL’s CEO will tell I (sic) was a key part of why LB won the
books [Delta Three was covered by another analyst] and for which I believe I should
get credit.
35. One Senior analyst sent an email on
36. In
addition, senior analysts were required to complete business plans each
year. The business plan included an
entire section devoted to banking and asked analysts to identify the
transactions they are working on or foresee for the coming year. The business plans asked senior analysts to
report:
·
their
plan to add stocks to coverage for either sales and trading and/or
banking;
·
whether
Research/Banking target and alignment discussions were reflected
in the business plan; and
·
whether
analysts had completed the selection of “franchise and super
league clients” with their bankers.
37.
Investment bankers participated in analyst evaluations by providing
written comments on a form titled “Year End Performance Review for Analysts (to
be completed by Bankers)” to the heads of Research. Bankers were asked to evaluate:
·
Whether
the analyst places origination as a priority
·
The
analyst’s contribution toward building relationships with clients in the sector
·
The
analyst’s effectiveness in the pitching process
·
The
quality of the analyst’s reputation with banking clients; and
·
The
analyst’s level of initiative in providing the banker with value-added ideas for banking clients.
38.
The bankers’ comments were relayed to analysts during their
reviews. For example, one senior
analyst’s review stated the analyst “cares a great deal about competing for
business and winning.” Another senior analyst’s review stated “strong
originator/rainmaker,” “strong pitchman” and “very supportive of banking
effort; coordinate with banking team on targeting major clients.”
39.
Analysts were also criticized, at times, if they failed to work closely
with Investment Banking. For example, in
one instance, a senior analyst was encouraged to have more frequent contact
with her Investment Banking counterpart.
40. One analyst sent a memorandum dated December 22, 1999 to the
Managing Director of Global Equity Research and the Director of U.S. Equity
Research stating that he was “‘surprised’” by the review he received from an
investment banker (the “December 22 Memorandum”). As a result, the analyst met with the
investment banker in order to receive feedback and “improve the relationship
between research and investment banking.”
41. The analyst described his meeting with
the banker in the December 22 Memorandum stating:
[banker]
has concluded, after seeing me for 2-3 months (based on two pitches and other
feedback) that I may not have the capabilities to be a “banking analyst”; i.e.,
telling companies what they want to hear and not what I think!” . . .
Both parties acknowledge that the
Ansell pitch was ineffectual. I should
not have been there to start with – despite the potential fee! I was told that
the bankers working on the pitch were “upset” that I would not present their
material . . . Ansell had an inherent growth rate of 0-2% as compared to
Merrill’s forecast of 10% per annum. A
major fee was “lost.”
42. The analyst also commented that the
bankers told him “that the analysts need to be available at extremely short
notice to assist in pitch meetings.” The
analyst defended himself, in part, by commenting that he spent an “inordinate”
amount of time on other banking prospects.
43. Finally, the analyst listed several
steps for the future to improve his relationship with Investment Banking and
stated:
during my one year tenure at [another
bank], we tripled our M&A business.
I created a fundamental research ‘halo effect’ for ‘banking-oriented’
analysts. I believe banking could further
leverage our sector research into the VC community (and elsewhere).
C. Lehman Used The
Promise Of Future Research Coverage To Obtain Investment Banking Business
44.
Lehman used the promise of future research coverage to obtain Investment
Banking business. Implicit in Lehman’s
marketing efforts was the assurance that Lehman’s research would be favorable
and that Lehman research would raise the price of the issuer’s stock.
45. Lehman
competed with other investment banks for selection as lead underwriter for
securities offerings, including IPOs, secondary offerings and debt
offerings. As part of this competition,
Lehman met with companies to present its qualifications. Research analysts sometimes
attended these meetings, often referred to as “pitch” meetings, with members of
Investment Banking in an effort to win Investment Banking business for
Lehman. Lehman research analysts
typically advised companies how best to position and market the company’s story
to investors.
46. At
such meetings, Lehman often presented companies with marketing materials known
as pitchbooks that touted Lehman’s underwriting qualifications. The pitchbooks typically featured the Lehman
analyst who would be covering the company after a banking transaction and
stated that the analyst would issue research on the company as soon as the
“quiet period”(a period of time after an offering during which the underwriting
firms cannot publish research) ended.
The pitchbooks on occasion provided examples of how coverage by the
analyst had been viewed favorably by the market and had a positive impact on a
company’s stock price.
47.
For example, a pitchbook for the Zymogenetics potential IPO promised
that the analyst would issue a comprehensive report on the company twenty-five
days after pricing (at the end of the quiet period), would regularly educate
investors on the company’s story and would publish reports and notes on the
company on a timely basis. The pitchbook
also promised that Lehman would provide “pricing, trading and aftermarket
support” by, among other things, providing on-going research coverage. Under the heading “Preliminary Terms and
Marketing Conditions,” the pitchbook stated that the analyst would provide
“high quality research support critical to a strong aftermarket.”
48. A
pitchbook for a Dyax PIPE offering described Lehman’s prior research support of
the company following its IPO, noting that Lehman had issued “8 notes and one
extremely comprehensive report on [company], as compared to 5 notes and 1
report by [co-manager], and 2 notes and 1 report by [co-manager].” The pitchbook also noted that “Lehman’s
Equity Analysts . . . have been strong supporters of the stock,” adding that
since the analysts published their research report the stock had increased
twenty percent.
49.
The pitchbooks often noted the analyst’s role in marketing the
offering. Some pitchbooks listed
research as a term of the underwriting and stated that the “[analyst] will lead
a powerful marketing campaign.” The
Zymogenetics pitchbook described the analyst as the “preeminent force” in the
biotechnology sector and stated that the analyst has “outsold other analysts in
previous equity offerings,” and “outsold the other co-managers.” Other pitchbooks described the analyst as the
“axe” in the industry and provided numerous examples of how the analyst’s
positive coverage had positively impacted a company’s stock price.
50.
For example, a pitchbook for Yadayada dated
51. Similarly, a pitchbook for Texas Instruments
dated June 2000 included a graph of Micron Technology’s stock price
demonstrating that the stock price increased after the analyst re-initiated
coverage and rose again when the analyst raised earnings per share (“EPS”)
targets. The pitchbook also contained a
graph of Intel’s stock reflecting price increases after the analyst
re-initiated coverage and again when the analyst raised the EPS target. Other
pitchbooks contained similar statements about the manner in which the market
received Lehman’s research.
52. The
decision whether Lehman would initiate research coverage of a company was often
tied to the opportunity for Lehman to earn Investment Banking fees from the
covered company. For example, in
February 2000, Lehman bankers questioned a delay in Lehman initiating research
on Curagen Corporation following Lehman’s participation in a convertible bond
offering by Curagen. The analyst had
explained he needed more time and more meetings with the company before issuing
a report. The bankers then questioned
the delay in an email to the Director of U.S. Equity Research who responded
that the analyst was doing a great job given his many responsibilities, and
asked the bankers:
[W]hen did we decide to promise equity
research for a small convertible bond deal.
What were the economics & how much did we make.
One of the
bankers responded to the question stating:
We made $1.5m in banking and Lehman
made $12m as of last Thursday. The real question
is could we just put a note out that would satisfy the company and get us in
the next deal.
53. On another occasion, the Director of U.S. Equity Research
received inquiries from Lehman employees on
behalf of officers of public companies seeking to have Lehman initiate research
coverage of their company. The Director
of U.S. Equity Research responded by directing such inquiries to Investment
Banking. For example, in February 2000,
the Director of U.S. Equity Research advised a Lehman employee in an email:
the
proper process is to introduce the principals to someone in investment
banking. If we have the resources and
there appears to be significant revenue potential, banking will request
research.
54. Similarly,
in October 1999 the Director of U.S. Equity Research advised another Lehman
employee in an email:
doing business is not enough, we need
to do a lot of business to commit resources.
Finally, you should find a contact in banking to channel these requests
as well.
55.
In another email in March 2000, an analyst explained to his product manager his
reason for initiating coverage on a stock listed only in
The reason for coverage is there is a
potential banking deal (big $$$) we’re trying to get later this year. The bankers just want the report out. They don’t care about promoting the stock and
realize it is of little interest to my client base.
III. CONFLICTS OF INTEREST, AT TIMES, RESULTED
IN THE PUBLICATION OF EXAGGERATED OR UNWARRANTED RESEARCH.
56. The relationship between Investment Banking
and Research as alleged herein at times created conflicts of interest for
Lehman’s research analysts. At times,
the financial incentives and pressure on analysts to assist in obtaining
investment banking deals and to maintain banking relationships adversely affected the integrity of the analysts’ ratings,
price targets, and research reports. As
the following examples demonstrate, these conflicts of interest caused
analysts, at times, to issue more positive research reports or ratings, and to avoid
downgrades or negative reports regarding companies that were investment banking
clients.
A. Razorfish, Inc.
57. Lehman co-managed the IPO for Razorfish, Inc.
(“Razorfish”) in April 1999. The
Razorfish IPO was priced on
unless you anticipate Lehman getting I-business from
them, I would rate them neutral with a price target of $20 (especially if you
read the last half of the WSJ article on them last week, which pointed out that
their business lacks any real depth)
The analyst
responded:
Well, l they are a banking client so I expect a 2
rating with a price target just a shade above the trading price
58. The institutional investor and the analyst
discussed the effect of the conflict of interest on the analyst’s research in
the following exchange:
Institutional Investor: I understand – business is business. But I feel bad for those naïve investors who
assume that sell-side analysts are objective!
I wish some buy-side institutions would get together to establish an
independent equity research consortium with analysts paid for on a subscription
basis or something …
Analyst: well, ratings and price targets are fairly
meaningless anyway, buy-side generally ignores, commentary is what matters and
I’ll be a 3-Neutral in my comments . . . but, yes, the “little guy” who isn’t
smart about the nuances may get misled, such is the nature of my business.
59.
On
B. RSL Communications, Inc.
60.
Lehman had a substantial Investment Banking relationship with RSL
Communications, Inc. (“RSL”). Lehman was
a joint lead underwriter in a high yield note placement by RSL in December 1998,
provided advisory services in October 1999, was the lead underwriter when RSL
spun off Delta Three Communications, Inc. in an IPO in November 1999 and
co-managed two debt offerings for RSL in February 2000. On at least three occasions during 1999-2000,
the Lehman analyst covering RSL was “held off” from downgrading his analysis of
RSL for “banking reasons.” One of these
instances occurred in February 2000.
61. On
Below is a draft of a note lowering
our numbers on RSL (maintaining our 1 rating) Recall we were a co. in their
recent convert deal. I’ve wanted to
lower numbers for several months now, but have held back as 1) we led the
DeltaThree IPO(was owned by RSL) and more recently were on the cover of the
convert. . . . I‘ve given our coverage banker the courtesy of seeing this and
preparing the company. I know they
are going to resist. I’ve been quiet
on this too long, and I plan on going ahead anyway. [emphasis in original]
62. The Lehman investment banker for RSL
prevailed on the analyst not to issue the report and instead to meet with RSL
management and to reconsider his analysis.
As a result, on
63. On
I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know of
[analyst’s] recent helpfulness in a touchy situation with RSL
Communications. RSL is a telecom company
. . . and is the parent company of Delta 3 for which we recently led an IPO. Following RSL’s recent convertible notes
issue (for which we were a co), [analyst] was inclined negatively toward the
Company’s prospects; however, he agreed to hold off on a downgrade (which would
have harmed an important banking relationship) at the request of banking until
he could hear out management. [Analyst]
met with the Company’s CEO and was convinced positively, he issued a positive
report and was the axe behind significant positive momentum to the stock. The CEO praised [analyst’s] open-mindedness
and has indicated we will be included in the underwritings of their coming
spin-offs. Thus, [analyst] has helped
our banking relationship with the client significantly.
The supervisor
forwarded the email to the analyst and wrote “good job & congratulations.”
64. In May 2000, the analyst issued another report
reiterating the 1-Buy rating on the stock and retaining the $50 price target
despite the fact that the stock price had declined to $15.50 per share and the
company had missed its revenue estimates.
65. By
Enough is enough. It’s hard enough to be right about
stocks, it’s even harder to build customer relationships when all your
companies blow up, you knew they were going to, and you couldn’t say
anything. Every single one of my
companies has blown up in some fashion (or will – GBLX) and with the exception
of PGEX, I haven’t been able to speak my mind.
I think I’ve been a team player, and I believe it is now imperative for
the franchise that I be able to take action on bad situations
66. The analyst voiced particular concerns about
RSL stating “for the record, I have attempted to downgrade RSLC THREE times
over the last year, but have been held off for banking reasons each time.”
(Emphasis in original)
67. Even after this complaint, the analyst did not
downgrade RSL but rather simply was permitted to drop coverage in September
2000, devoting a few short sentences to the company in a sector report.
C. DDi Corporation
68.
A pitchbook for the DDi Corporation (“DDi”) IPO offering described Lehman’s
highly regarded research team, listed the analysts’ combined years of
experience and strong research qualifications and promised research coverage
for DDi after the IPO.
69. The pitchbook contained an example of the
mock research report that the two Lehman analysts who covered DDi’s industry
sector would write for DDi, including a graphic of the research report’s cover
page with a 1-Buy rating.
70. DDi opened for trading on
Now company DDi and parent (Bain
Capital), and bankers are obviously pushing for coverage and unhappy. Problem is that the shares IPOed at $14 are
at $28 today. Bankers want a 1-Buy and
are pushing hard. I am concerned that
given the current expectations, the shares could sell off after the quarter is
reported in July and could easily drop to $20.
I am ready with initiation a FC [First Call] note and could go out this
week, but am not sure how best to deal with this situation. Bankers are not really satisfied with a 2.”
71. Despite his misgivings, the analyst
initiated coverage of DDi on
D.
RealNetworks, Inc.
72. In June 1999, Lehman served as a co-managing
underwriter for a secondary offering of common stock by RealNetworks, Inc. Lehman maintained a 1-Strong Buy rating on
the stock from July 1999 through June 2001 despite the fact that the stock lost
approximately 90% of its value falling from a high of $78.59 per share in
February 2000 to a low of $7.06 in April 2001.
73.
In the first few days of July 2000, RealNetworks’ stock price dropped from $52
per share on
74. By
75. On
76. Despite
the analyst’s support for RealNetworks, on
77. The
analyst replied: “we bank these guys so
I always have to cut the benefit of the doubt.”
78. RealNetworks’ stock price continued to fall
throughout July 2000 and its price continued to drop through the end of
2000. By December 2000, RealNetworks had
fallen to approximately $12 per share having fallen from its February 2000 high
of $78 per share.
79. In January 2001, that same analyst wrote to an
institutional investor “if it’s in my group it’s a short” despite the fact that
the analyst maintained 1-Strong Buy ratings on all of his stocks.
E.
Broadwing, Inc.
80. In January 2001, an analyst was about to
initiate coverage of Broadwing, Inc. (“Broadwing”). On
Banker: any chance of nudging up that price
target?
Analyst: isn’t
it better for your cause to start conservative, and move up targets, rather
than start high and use up dry powder?
Banker: if
they are doing a financing and a few points on a price target puts us in line
with our competition and, hopefully, helps us get into a financing, it may be
worth considering
Analyst: I’m
already at $40, I can add a buck or two.
Banker: that
would be great – MSDW is at 44, CSFB at 46, Mer at 50.
Analyst:
Done.
The next day
the analyst issued a research report initiating coverage of Broadwing with a
$42 price target.
IV. LEHMAN FAILED TO
ADEQUATELY SUPERVISE RESEARCH ANALYSTS OR ESTABLISH POLICIES AND PROCEDURES TO
ENSURE THEIR PROPER CONDUCT
81. Lehman failed to supervise sufficiently
research analysts or establish adequate policies and procedures to ensure their
proper conduct at all times. Lehman had
insufficient written procedures to protect the independence of its research
analysts and failed to fully enforce the written procedures it did have.
82.
Research did not review the propriety of the ratings issued by
analysts. For example, Lehman
purportedly vetted most of the written research produced by analysts through
the Investment Policy Committee (“IPC”) comprised of six people including the
Director of U.S. Equity Research.
Written procedures required that an IPC meeting be held to review
initiation of coverage or change of a rating.
In fact, at times reports were reviewed by a single IPC member, who
received reports shortly before a meeting.
83.
Lehman also had inadequate procedures to protect analysts from the
pressures and conflicts of interest resulting from the interaction between
research analysts and investment bankers. As alleged above, Lehman permitted
pre-publication review of draft research reports by Investment Banking and by
the companies covered in the reports.
The Chairman of the IPC and other senior managers in Research also
encouraged analysts to check with banking before changing ratings, downgrading
or dropping coverage of a stock.
V. CONCLUSIONS
OF LAW
84.
RESPONDENT, during the period from July
1999 through June 2001, failed to exercise reasonable supervision over all the
securities activities of its sales representatives and employees, in violation
of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(J).
85. Respondent,
during the period from July 1999 through June 2001, engaged in acts or
practices that created or maintained inappropriate influences by Investment
Banking over Research Analysts, imposed conflicts of interest on its Research
Analysts, and failed to manage these conflicts in an adequate or appropriate
manner in violation of just and equitable principles of trade.
The NASD and
NYSE have both established rules governing ethical practices and conduct. The standards established by the NASD and the
NYSE are recognized by the Office of Securities as minimum standards of ethical
conduct for the purposes of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G), relating generally to
dishonest or unethical practices in the securities business. During the relevant period, Lehman engaged in
acts and practices violative of:
(a) NASD Conduct Rule 2110 requiring members to
observe high standards of commercial honor and just and equitable principles of
trade;
(b) NYSE Rule 401 requiring that broker dealers
shall at all times adhere to the principles of good business practice and the
conduct of his or its business affairs;
(c)
NYSE Rule 476(a)6 prohibiting the engagement in practices of conduct
inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade;
(d)
NASD Conduct Rule 2210(d)1 and 2210(d)2 prohibiting exaggerated or unwarranted
claims in public communications and requiring a reasonable basis for all recommendations
made in advertisements and sales literature; and
(e)
NYSE Rule 472 prohibiting the issuance of communications that contain
exaggerated or unwarranted claims or opinions that lack a reasonable basis.
By
engaging 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, Lehman
failed to manage these conflicts in an adequate or appropriate manner, in
violation of 32 M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
86. RESPONDENT, during the period from July 1999 through
June 2001, issued research reports,
including those for Razorfish, Inc., RSL Communications, Inc., DDI Corp.,
RealNetworks, Inc., and Broadwing, Inc., that were not based on principles of
fair dealing and good faith, did not provide sound basis for evaluating facts,
were not properly balanced, and/or contained exaggerated or unwarranted claims
and opinions of which there was no reasonable basis, in violation of 32
M.R.S.A. § 10313(1)(G).
On the basis of the Findings of Fact, Conclusions of
Law, and Lehman Brothers Inc.’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.
ACCORDINGLY, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED:
As a result of the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
contained in this Order, Lehman Brothers Inc. shall pay a total amount of $80,000,000. This total amount shall be paid as specified
in the SEC Final Judgment as follows:
$25,000,000 to the states (50
states, plus the
$25,000,000 as disgorgement of commissions, fees and other
monies as specified in the SEC Final Judgment;
$25,000,000, to be used for the procurement of independent
research, as described in the SEC Final Judgment;
$5,000,000, to be used for investor
education, as described in the
SEC Final Judgment.
Lehman Brothers Inc. 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 Lehman Brothers Inc. 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. Lehman Brothers Inc. 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 Lehman Brothers Inc. 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. Lehman Brothers Inc. understands and acknowledges that these provisions are not intended to imply that the Office of Securities would agree that any other amounts Lehman Brothers Inc. 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.
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 LEHMAN BROTHERS
Lehman Brothers hereby acknowledges
that it has been served with a copy of this Order, has read the foregoing
Order, is aware of its right to a hearing and appeal in this matter, and has
waived the same.
Lehman Brothers admits the
jurisdiction of the Office of Securities, but neither admits nor denies the
Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law contained in this Order, and consents
to entry of this Order by the Securities Administrator as settlement of the
issues contained in this Order.
Lehman Brothers states that no
promise of any kind or nature whatsoever was made to it to induce it to enter
into this Order and that it has entered into this Order voluntarily.
Joseph Polizzotto represents that he
is Managing Director and General Counsel of Lehman Brothers and that, as such,
has been authorized by Lehman Brothers to enter into this Order for and on
behalf of Lehman Brothers.
Dated this 20th day of August,
2003.
Lehman Brothers
By: s/Joseph Polizzotto
Joseph Polizzotto
Managing Director and General Counsel
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before
me this _____ day of __________________, 2003
___________________________________________
Notary Public
My Commission expires:
____________________