Securities News

Distributions Begin To Victims Of Improper Trading At NYSE Specialist Firms

Washington, D.C., - The Securities and Exchange Commission announced that starting today the fund administrator will begin making distributions to compensate customers who were injured by the unlawful proprietary trading conducted by seven New York Stock Exchange specialist firms. The distribution funds include approximately $247 million in disgorgement and civil monetary penalties paid by the firms to settle charges of unlawful proprietary trading brought by the SEC. The first distribution includes payments totaling approximately $52 million.

"Today's distribution exemplifies the SEC's continuing commitment to investor restitution," said SEC Chairman Christopher Cox. "The substantial monetary remedies imposed in this case will compensate injured customers as well as deter future misconduct. It will also remind investors that the SEC continues to keep a close eye on market participants to ensure that markets function properly."

On March 30, 2004, and July 26, 2004, the SEC brought settled administrative proceedings against Bear Wagner Specialists LLC, Fleet Specialist, Inc. (now Banc of America Specialist, Inc.), LaBranche & Co. LLC, Spear, Leeds & Kellogg Specialists LLC, Van der Moolen Specialists USA, LLC, Performance Specialist Group LLC, and SIG Specialists, Inc. Pursuant to the settlement orders, the firms paid over $247 million to compensate injured customers.

The settlement funds were deposited into seven Fair Funds that are being administered by a single fund administrator, and will be distributed pursuant to a distribution plan drawn up by the fund administrator. The fund administrator's distribution plan was approved by the SEC on May 17, 2006, and subsequently modified on July 5, 2006. By distributing the money under a single distribution plan, administrative costs are substantially reduced.

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	Did You Know?
	Transfer Trades: Entries made upon the books of Futures Commission Merchants Transfer Trades: Entries made upon the books of Futures Commission Merchants for the purpose of: (1) transferring existing trades from one account to another within the same firm where no change in ownership is involved; (2) transferring existing trades from the books of one FCM to the books of another FCM where no change in ownership is involved. Also called Ex-Pit Transactions.