Unfounded speculation encouraged at this time.

Update: And it’s Goldman learning 550 million “lessons.”

The SEC has reached a $550 million settlement with Goldman Sachs Group Inc. that will resolve its lawsuit against the firm alleging that it misled investors in a subprime mortgage product. “This settlement is a stark lesson to Wall Street firms that no product is too complex, and no investor too sophisticated, to avoid a heavy price if a firm violates the fundamental principles of honest treatment and fair dealing,” said Robert Khuzami, director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.

Comments (69)

  1. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 4:11 PM

    LB leaving the wife for Richard Simmons to dance to the oldies!

  2. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:11 PM

    Lloyd writes a check

  3. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:11 PM

    “No more peronal lube at the office.”

  4. Posted by the dude | July 15, 2010 at 4:12 PM

    settlement. what else would it possibly be. Probably a side agreement to have the SEC announce it during normal trading hours.

  5. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:13 PM

    Dammit!! “personal”

    @3

  6. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:13 PM

    They finally found a way around the firewall keeping them from manboyjuice.com!!!

  7. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:14 PM

    Citadel related. NY office. Grindr.

  8. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:16 PM

    Mary Shapiro will be in The Real L Word with Sheila Bair.

  9. Posted by Investorcluzo | July 15, 2010 at 4:17 PM

    they have reached an agreement with hugh hefner whereby he will (1) retain the mansion; (2) provide the SEC access to hold quartely “off-site” meetings; and (3) the SEC will acquire all playboy internet assets in order to provide live streaming to its employees.

    move along, nothing to see here.

  10. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:18 PM

    UBS Telecom team got on an actual deal.

  11. Posted by WCBURRS87 | July 15, 2010 at 4:19 PM

    Announcing tomorrow will be a strictly enforced casual Friday, matching the new “tone” the Commission is trying to set. Nothing can be worn that doesn’t have an elastic waste.

  12. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:23 PM

    Channging name from SEC to “WEFAP” : World Economic Federal Accounting Personnel”

  13. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:23 PM

    Prepare for more blackouts next week. The heat’s back, bitches.

    ~Stamford Electric Company

  14. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    The SEC is an elastic waste.

  15. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    Update on vending machine challenge

  16. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:24 PM

    Harry Markopolos please join us and guess!

  17. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:26 PM

    No, changing name from SEC to “DOOFUS”: Department Of Observable Finance Utilization Section.

  18. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:26 PM

    top 10 hedge fund IR gals

  19. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:27 PM

    Step right up. Step right up. We got porn on clearance…lady boys, man boys, boy boys, dvds, pictures, magazines, we got it all at low low prices. You find a better deal and we’ll fine the company of your choice.

  20. Posted by SuperPrime | July 15, 2010 at 4:27 PM

    The SEC will announce that Wal-Mart will start selling mutual funds. That’s right…

    http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1543956844&play=1

  21. Posted by guest | July 15, 2010 at 4:31 PM

    The SEC will be changing the rules, a little bit. They are opening the presents now. Not later, now.

  22. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:33 PM

    Gundlach named head of SEC.

  23. Posted by Anon | July 15, 2010 at 4:35 PM

    It’s not an announcement so much as a skit – well, a puppet show.

  24. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:35 PM

    Full access to websites and houses of ill repute for all staff members?

  25. Posted by kigs | July 15, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    that they will be taking their talents to Miami

  26. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 4:36 PM

    Bess your former boss John Carney on CNBC….

  27. Posted by guest | July 15, 2010 at 4:37 PM

    It involves us pulling up our bootstraps, oiling up a couple of asses, and doing a little plowing.

  28. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    SEC version of the Aristocrats?

  29. Posted by Vincent | July 15, 2010 at 4:38 PM

    Goldman Sachs to Settle Securities Claim for $550 Million, a Person Close to the Deal Says

  30. Posted by abc | July 15, 2010 at 4:40 PM

    GOLDMAN SACHS TO PAY RECORD $550 MILLION TO SETTLE SEC CHARGES RELATED TO SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CDO

    Firm Acknowledges CDO Marketing Materials Were Incomplete and Should Have Revealed Paulson’s Role

    Washington, D.C., July 15, 2010 – The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Goldman, Sachs & Co. will pay $550 million and reform its business practices to settle SEC charges that Goldman misled investors in a subprime mortgage product just as the U.S. housing market was starting to collapse.

    In agreeing to the SEC’s largest-ever penalty paid by a Wall Street firm, Goldman also acknowledged that its marketing materials for the subprime product contained incomplete information.

    In its April 16 complaint, the SEC alleged that Goldman misstated and omitted key facts regarding a synthetic collateralized debt obligation (CDO) it marketed that hinged on the performance of subprime residential mortgage-backed securities. Goldman failed to disclose to investors vital information about the CDO, known as ABACUS 2007-AC1, particularly the role that hedge fund Paulson & Co. Inc. played in the portfolio selection process and the fact that Paulson had taken a short position against the CDO.

    In settlement papers submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Goldman made the following acknowledgement:

    Goldman acknowledges that the marketing materials for the ABACUS 2007-AC1 transaction contained incomplete information. In particular, it was a mistake for the Goldman marketing materials to state that the reference portfolio was “selected by” ACA Management LLC without disclosing the role of Paulson & Co. Inc. in the portfolio selection process and that Paulson’s economic interests were adverse to CDO investors. Goldman regrets that the marketing materials did not contain that disclosure.

    “Half a billion dollars is the largest penalty ever assessed against a financial services firm in the history of the SEC,” said Robert Khuzami, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. “This settlement is a stark lesson to Wall Street firms that no product is too complex, and no investor too sophisticated, to avoid a heavy price if a firm violates the fundamental principles of honest treatment and fair dealing.”

    Lorin L. Reisner, Deputy Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, added, “The unmistakable message of this lawsuit and today’s settlement is that half-truths and deception cannot be tolerated and that the integrity of the securities markets depends on all market participants acting with uncompromising adherence to the requirements of truthfulness and honesty.”

    Goldman agreed to settle the SEC’s charges without admitting or denying the allegations by consenting to the entry of a final judgment that provides for a permanent injunction from violations of the antifraud provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. Of the $550 million to be paid by Goldman in the settlement, $250 million would be returned to harmed investors through a Fair Fund distribution and $300 million would be paid to the U.S. Treasury.

    The landmark settlement also requires remedial action by Goldman in its review and approval of offerings of certain mortgage securities. This includes the role and responsibilities of internal legal counsel, compliance personnel, and outside counsel in the review of written marketing materials for such offerings. The settlement also requires additional education and training of Goldman employees in this area of the firm’s business. In the settlement, Goldman acknowledged that it is presently conducting a comprehensive, firm-wide review of its business standards, which the SEC has taken into account in connection with the settlement of this matter.

    The settlement is subject to approval by the Honorable Barbara S. Jones, United Sates District Judge for the Southern District of New York.

    Today’s settlement, if approved by Judge Jones, resolves the SEC’s enforcement action against Goldman related to the ABACUS 2007-AC1 CDO. It does not settle any other past, current or future SEC investigations against the firm. Meanwhile, the SEC’s litigation continues against Fabrice Tourre, a vice president at Goldman.

    The SEC investigation that led to the filing and settlement of this enforcement action was conducted by the Enforcement Division’s Structured and New Products Unit, led by Kenneth Lench and Reid Muoio, and including Jason Anthony, N. Creola Kelly, Melissa Lamb, and Jeffrey Leasure. Additionally, together with Deputy Director Reisner, Richard Simpson, David Gottesman, and Jeffrey Tao have been handling the litigation.

  31. Posted by Shoeshine Boy | July 15, 2010 at 4:41 PM

    Tranny porn attorney now the new Director.

  32. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:42 PM

    Honest question: Does this actually do anything to GS?

  33. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    Way to go, Fab.

  34. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    “Meanwhile, the SEC’s litigation continues against Fabrice Tourre, a vice president at Goldman.”

    Bus. Under. You. Thrown.

  35. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 4:44 PM

    Oasshole on the telly…..blame game again

  36. Posted by ExtraordinaryPopularDelusions | July 15, 2010 at 4:45 PM

    That’s not really that much money.

  37. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 4:46 PM

    Fabrice Tourre hung out to dry by Goldman and LB – he is not part of the settlement, his litigation goes forward

  38. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 4:48 PM

    That Lord Humungus really is of British royalty and wears that mask because he has really really bad teeth?

  39. Posted by Investorcluzo | July 15, 2010 at 4:48 PM

    nice – $500 fine, market cap up $2 billion in the aftermarket. now barry is on tv telling us that he saw this coming (and told wall st honchos as much)…serioiusly, who writes this stuff for him and do they really think we are buying it?

  40. Posted by CMBS 4-Life | July 15, 2010 at 4:59 PM

    hahahahhahahahah wahhhhhhhhmbulance. @32 …the answer to your question is that GS’s prop desk double’s that in revs on a mediocre day. So now.

    -nottajew

  41. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:00 PM

    @39 exactly. Including AH trading, gs is up a cool 6B today. I’d say that was a 550M well spent.

  42. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 5:03 PM

    Madoff is in jail right now laughing that the SEC is boasting about the $550 mil – an amount he either, made-up, stole, or lost every year. I am sure he recognizes a few of these SEC staffers as young kids who handed him a resume years back looking to work for him after the thorough audits.

  43. Posted by Tax Chick | July 15, 2010 at 5:05 PM

    Cluzo my dear… Barry isn’t talking to you. It’s the fat-fuck union workers he’s selling his bullshit to.

  44. Posted by WCBURRS87 | July 15, 2010 at 5:08 PM

    So what’s the deal on elastic pants tomorrow?

  45. Posted by sladd | July 15, 2010 at 5:10 PM

    @43, true the ones he handed $50 bil of our taxpayer money to, and wiped out bond holders.

  46. Posted by WTF | July 15, 2010 at 5:19 PM

    @41 – so you’re saying that $550M bought GS $6B in market value today, and did so cheaply?

    I’d love to see how that affects their balance sheet. No, not the $550M – the $6B. Remind me where that shows up?

  47. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    well, @46, you see, goldman is a partnership, so they… wait… no you’re right.

  48. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:25 PM

    wait? By public-ally admitting that it was a mistake to not include P & Co. on the ACA marketing materials doesn’t that open them up for a reaming on civil lawsuits?

  49. Posted by koolaidisfun | July 15, 2010 at 5:26 PM

    where is the DB hot IR female list?

  50. Posted by OptionsTrader | July 15, 2010 at 5:27 PM

    More room for Citadel to acquire some market share, cut the Golden balls off, and wear them as a crown.

  51. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:30 PM

    @ 46&47 – It shows up on the PMD’s personal balance sheets.

  52. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:50 PM

    @46

    so you’re saying that goldman’s share value/MC has no affect on employee compensation… very interesting.

    Considering its employees who made the decision to settle, i reiterate, they made a good deal.

    -41

  53. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 5:50 PM

    Leave Fabricey alone!

  54. Posted by Mama Montana | July 15, 2010 at 5:51 PM

    @50 You know, all we read about in the papers today are animals like you and the killings. It’s traders like you who are giving a bad name to our people. People who come here to work hard and make an honest living for themselves.

  55. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 6:07 PM

    1% of the revenues generated. Hardly punitive, great incentive.

  56. Posted by Tiger Woods | July 15, 2010 at 6:32 PM

    $550MM is what I was planning to give to my bottom bitch.

  57. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 8:13 PM

    GS: 1
    SEC Morons: 0

  58. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 8:29 PM

    SEC party at New york Dolls tonight

  59. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 9:58 PM

    I was really hoping they’d announce their new Analyst – Zach “attack” Kouwe

  60. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 10:36 PM

    damn, my guess was “UBS sucks”

  61. Posted by Anonymous | July 15, 2010 at 11:52 PM

    wish they had just gone to trial. they win in court, everyone hates them. they lose in court, everyone hates them. they settle, everyone hates them. Might as well run some more circles around the SEC and have a few chuckles while they’re busy getting hated on by the knuckle-dragging general public

  62. Posted by It happens | July 16, 2010 at 12:36 AM

    GS: how’s my dick taste

  63. Posted by Janitor | July 16, 2010 at 1:17 AM

    There’s funny …and then there’s this waste of comments.

  64. Posted by guest | July 16, 2010 at 8:01 AM

    @60 that did not go unnoticed.

  65. Posted by Anonymous | July 16, 2010 at 8:47 AM

    In Soviet Russia, SEC settles with you!

  66. Posted by Anonymous | July 16, 2010 at 9:56 AM

    Shouldn’t they have announced the settlement at 5:50PM? SEC == poetic?

  67. Posted by Anonymous | July 16, 2010 at 10:09 AM

    @63 – thank you ever so much for upping the humor factor! You should do stand-up.

  68. Posted by CMBS 4-Life | July 16, 2010 at 11:18 AM

    @56…one of the better DB comments in a long long time

  69. Posted by Jonah Gibson | July 16, 2010 at 11:30 AM

    We live in a world where the largest penalty ever levied against a firm doesn’t sting very much. No wonder it’s better to be Lloyd Blankfein than it is to be Brad Pitt. Brad only screws Angelina. Lloyd screws everybody. http://daysoflivingaimlessly.blogspot.com/2010/07/day-255-ant-and-grasshopper.html

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