Last April, when outlining the case against Goldman Sachs, I posed the following questions:
1. Should rating agencies rate securities on their own merit (not by considering who may or may not be investing in them)?
2. Since ACA chose the securities in this investment from a list given to them by Goldman (from a Paulson list), was it a misstatement that ACA was “Portfolio Selection Agent?”
3. Since banks and pension funds are defined as “sophisticated” investors, should they analyze the investments they are considering on their own merit (not by considering who may or may not be investing in them)?
Those questions have been answered by the Security and Exchange Commission in their settlement with Goldman.
In that settlement, the SEC found that Goldman omitted the material fact that Paulson & Co. was on the other side of the trade. That finding assumes that ACA would have selected securities differently had it known that Paulson was taking a position against, rather than investing in the securities it was analyzing. Stated slightly differently, that is analogous to saying that I would report findings on the financial health of Johnson and Johnson, the Washington Post, Moody’s and Kraft Foods differently if I knew Warren Buffett was selling them than if he was buying them. That doesn’t say much for me as an analyst. There’s always someone selling when another is buying. When must that be disclosed? When the person is well respected? Smart? Well known?
The SEC additionally noted that material facts need by disclosed whether or not investors are “sophisticated.” Again, that doesn’t say much for banks and pension funds, which generally have staff analysts who review the financial health of potential investments. Does the SEC feel that these analysts will conclude differently if someone they know is selling, rather than buying a security? I taught Security Analysis and Advanced Security Analysis at UCLA, and focused upon balance sheets, cash flow statements and other fundamental measurements of financial health. Not once did I recommend researching whether other people were buying or selling a stock when making a determination of its financial viability.
Put into perspective, the fine against Goldman was approximately three days’ earnings, so even though it was the highest fine assessed so far by the SEC, it will not materially effect Goldman’s earnings.
Further, Goldman admitted no wrongdoing in its acceptance of this agreement. Consequently, those sphisticated investors who may be lining up to recoup losses from their investment will have a much higher burden of proof.
My assessment of this settlement is that of a business decision by Goldman to pay a fine rather than engage in a protracted battle with the SEC. But the more meaningful message is this: The SEC has little confidence in either analysts or rating agencies.
Should you?
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Just found out that there are insurance companies who protect corporations against wrongful doings. Soo, does that mean the insurance company will foot the bill and GS laughs all the way to the bank. I think so.