In re GSE Bonds Antitrust Litigation ( 2020 )

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK Case No. 1:19-cv-01704 (JSR) IN RE GSE BONDS ANTITRUST LITIGATION JUDGMENT APPROVING CLASS ACTION SETTLEMENT WHEREAS, plaintiffs Joseph M. Torsella, in his official capacity as the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and statutory custodian of all Commonwealth Funds; City of Birmingham Retirement and Relief System; Electrical Workers Pension Fund Local 103, I.B.E.W.; and Local 103, I.B.E.W. Health Benefit Plan (“Plaintiffs”) on behalf of themselves and the other members of the Settlement Class, and defendants BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc., SG Americas Securities, LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC, and UBS Securities LLC (“Group Defendants” and, together with Plaintiffs, the “Parties”) have determined to settle all claims asserted against the Group Defendants, and their predecessors, successors, assigns, subsidiaries, and affiliates in this Action with prejudice on the terms and conditions set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Settlement with BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, HSBC Securities (USA) Inc., J. P. Morgan Securities LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co., LLC, Nomura Securities International, Inc., SG Americas Securities LLC, TD Securities (USA) LLC, and UBS Securities LLC dated December 15, 2019 (the “Stipulation”), subject to approval of this Court (the “Settlement”); WHEREAS, unless otherwise defined in this Judgment, the capitalized terms herein shall have the same meaning as they have in the Stipulation; WHEREAS, by Order dated February 3, 2020 (the “Preliminary Approval Order”), this Court: (i) preliminarily approved the Settlement; (ii) ordered that notice of the proposed Settlement be provided to the Settlement Class; (iii) provided Settlement Class Members with the opportunity to object to the proposed Settlement; (v) provided Settlement Class Members with the opportunity to exclude themselves from the Settlement Class; and (iv) scheduled a hearing regarding final approval of the Settlement; WHEREAS, due and adequate notice has been given to the Settlement Class; WHEREAS, the Court conducted a hearing on June 9, 2020 (the “Settlement Hearing”) to consider, among other things, (i) whether the terms and conditions of the Settlement are fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Settlement Class, and should therefore be approved; and (ii) whether a judgment should be entered dismissing the Action with prejudice as against the Group Defendants; and WHEREAS, the Court having reviewed and considered the Stipulation, all papers filed and proceedings held herein in connection with the Settlement, all oral and written comments received regarding the Settlement, and the record in the Action, and good cause appearing therefor; IT IS HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED, AND DECREED: 1. Jurisdiction – The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the Action, and all matters relating to the Settlement, as well as personal jurisdiction over all of the Parties and each of the Settlement Class Members. 2. CAFA Notice – The notice provisions of the Class Action Fairness Act, 28 U.S.C. §1715, have been satisfied. 3. Incorporation of Settlement Documents – This Judgment incorporates and makes a part hereof: (i) the Stipulation filed with the Court on December 16, 2019; and (ii) the Notice and the Publication Notice, both of which were filed with the Court on April 13, 2020. 4. Class Certification for Settlement Purposes – Pursuant to Rule 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and based on the record before the Court, the Court certifies, for the purposes of settlement only the following Settlement Class: All persons and entities who or which entered into a GSE Bond Transaction with one or more Defendants or a direct or indirect parent, subsidiary, affiliate, or division of a Defendant during the Settlement Class Period (January 1, 2009 through January 1, 2019). Excluded from the Settlement Class are: Defendants; direct or indirect parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or divisions of Defendants; the United States government; and any judicial officer presiding over this Action and the members of his or her immediate family and judicial staff and any juror assigned to this Action; provided, however, that Investment Vehicles shall not be excluded from the definition of “Settlement Class” or “Class.” Also excluded from the Settlement Class is any person or entity who or which properly excludes himself, herself, or itself by filing a valid and timely request for exclusion in accordance with the requirements set forth in the Notice. 5. The Court finds that the requirements of Rule 23(a) and 23(b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure are satisfied for settlement purposes as follows: a. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(1), the Court determines that the Settlement Class Members are so numerous that their joinder before the Court would be impracticable. b. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(2), the Court determines that there are one or more questions of fact or law common to the Settlement Class. c. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(3), the Court determines that Plaintiffs’ claims are typical of the claims of the Settlement Class. d. Pursuant to Rule 23(a)(4), the Court determines that Plaintiffs will fairly and adequately protect the interests of the Settlement Class. Plaintiffs are certified as class representatives of the Settlement Class. e. Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the Court determines that common questions of law and fact predominate over questions affecting only individual Settlement Class Members. f. Pursuant to Rule 23(b)(3), the Court determines that a class action is superior to other available methods for the fair and efficient adjudication of this Action. g. Pursuant to Rule 23(g), Co-Lead Counsel are certified as class counsel for the Settlement Class. 6. The Court’s certification of the Settlement Class, and certification of Plaintiffs as class representatives of the Settlement Class, as provided herein is without prejudice to, or waiver of, the rights of any Defendant to contest any other request by Plaintiffs to certify a class. The Court’s findings in this Judgment shall have no effect on the Court’s ruling on any motion to certify any class or appoint class representatives in this litigation, and no party may cite or refer to the Court’s approval of the Settlement Class as binding or persuasive authority with respect to any motion to certify such class or appoint class representatives 7. Settlement Notice – The Court finds that the dissemination of the Notice and the publication of the Publication Notice: (i) were implemented in accordance with the Preliminary Approval Order; (ii) constituted the best notice practicable under the circumstances; (iii) constituted notice that was reasonably calculated, under the circumstances, to apprise Settlement Class Members of (a) the effect of the proposed Settlement (including the Releases to be provided thereunder), (b) Co-Lead Counsel’s motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses; (c) their right to object to any aspect of the Settlement, the Plan of Distribution, and/or Co-Lead Counsel’s motion for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses, and (d) their right to appear at the Settlement Hearing; (iv) constituted due, adequate, and sufficient notice to all persons and entities entitled to receive notice of the proposed Settlement; and (v) satisfied the requirements of Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, the United States Constitution (including the Due Process Clause), and all other applicable law and rules. 8. Final Settlement Approval and Dismissal of Claims – Pursuant to, and in accordance with, Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, this Court hereby fully and finally approves the Settlement set forth in the Stipulation in all respects (including, without limitation, the amount of the Settlement, the Releases provided for therein, and the dismissal with prejudice of the claims asserted against the Group Defendants in the Action), and finds that the Settlement is, in all respects, fair, reasonable, and adequate to the Settlement Class after considering the factors set out in City of Detroit v. Grinnell Corp., 495 F.2d 448 (2d Cir. 1974), abrogated on other grounds by Goldberger v. Integrated Res., Inc., 209 F.3d 43 (2d Cir. 2000) and Rule 23(e)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. 9. All of the claims asserted against the Group Defendants in the Action by Plaintiffs and the other Settlement Class Members are hereby dismissed with prejudice. The Parties shall bear their own costs and expenses, except as otherwise expressly provided in the Stipulation. 10. Binding Effect – The terms of the Stipulation and of this Judgment shall be binding on the Group Defendants, the other Released Parties, Plaintiffs, and all other Settling Plaintiff Parties (regardless of whether or not any individual Settlement Class Member submits a Claim Form or seeks or obtains a distribution from the Net Settlement Fund), as well as their respective heirs, executors, administrators, predecessors, parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, trustees, successors, and assigns in their capacities as such. The persons listed on Exhibit 1 hereto are excluded from the Settlement Class pursuant to request and are not bound by the terms of the Stipulation or this Judgment. 11. Releases – The Releases set forth in ¶¶3-9 of the Stipulation, together with the definitions contained in ¶1 of the Stipulation relating thereto, are expressly incorporated herein in all respects. The Releases are effective as of the Effective Date. Accordingly, this Court orders that: (a) Without further action by anyone, and subject to ¶13 of this Order, upon the Effective Date of the Settlement, Plaintiffs, the Settling Plaintiff Parties, and each of the Settlement Class Members, on behalf of themselves, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, predecessors, successors, and assigns in their capacities as such, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of law and of this Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever compromised, settled, released, resolved, relinquished, waived, and discharged each and every of the Settled Claims1 against the Group Defendants and the other Released Parties, and shall 1 “Settled Claims” means any and all manner of claims, including Unknown Claims, causes of action, cross-claims, counter-claims, charges, liabilities, demands, judgments, suits, obligations, debts, setoffs, rights of recovery, or liabilities for any obligations of any kind whatsoever (however denominated), whether class or individual, in law or equity or arising under constitution, statute, regulation, ordinance, contract, or otherwise in nature, for fees, costs, penalties, fines, debts, expenses, attorneys’ fees, and damages, whenever incurred, and liabilities of any nature whatsoever (including joint and several), known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, asserted or unasserted, choate or inchoate, which the Settling Plaintiff Parties ever had, now have, or hereafter can, shall, or may have, individually, representatively, derivatively, or in any capacity against theGroup Defendants and any other Released Parties that arise from or relate to a factual predicate of the Action including any amended complaint or pleading therein. Settled Claims shall not include: (i) claims based on transactions that are outside the extraterritorial reach of the Sherman Act pursuant to Section 6a of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. §6a; (ii) any claims relating to the enforcement of the Settlement; or (iii) any claims of any person or entity that submits a request for exclusion in connection with the Notice whose request is accepted by the Court. forever be enjoined from prosecuting any or all of the Settled Claims against any of the Released Parties. (b) Without further action by anyone, and subject to ¶13 of this Order, upon the Effective Date of the Settlement, the Group Defendants, on behalf of themselves, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, predecessors, successors, and assigns in their capacities as such, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of law and of this Judgment shall have fully, finally, and forever compromised, settled, released, resolved, relinquished, waived, and discharged each and every of the Released Parties’ Claims2 against Plaintiffs and the other Settling Plaintiff Parties, and shall forever be enjoined from prosecuting any or all of the Released Parties’ Claims against any of the Settling Plaintiff Parties. This Release shall not apply to any person listed on Exhibit 1 hereto. 12. Although the foregoing release is not a general release, such release constitutes a waiver of Section 1542 of the California Civil Code and any similar statutes (to the extent they apply to the Action). Section 1542 provides as follows: A GENERAL RELEASE DOES NOT EXTEND TO CLAIMS WHICH THE CREDITOR DOES NOT KNOW OR SUSPECT TO EXIST IN HIS OR HER FAVOR AT THE TIME OF EXECUTING THE RELEASE, WHICH IF KNOWN BY HIM OR HER MUST HAVE MATERIALLY AFFECTED HIS OR HER SETTLEMENT WITH THE DEBTOR. 2 “Released Parties’ Claims” means all claims and causes of action of every nature and description, whether known claims or Unknown Claims, whether arising under federal, state, common, or foreign law, that arise out of or relate in any way to the institution, prosecution, maintenance, or settlement of the Claims asserted in the Action against the Group Defendants. Released Parties’ Claims shall not include: (i) any claims relating to the enforcement of the Settlement; or (ii) any claims against any person or entity that submits a request for exclusion from the Settlement Class in connection with the Notice and whose request is accepted by the Court. 13. Notwithstanding ¶11(a)-(b) of this Order, nothing in this Judgment shall bar any action by any of the Parties to enforce or effectuate the terms of the Stipulation or this Judgment. 14. Rule 11 Findings – The Court finds and concludes that the Parties and their respective counsel have complied in all respects with the requirements of Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 11 in connection with the institution, prosecution, defense, and settlement of the Action. 15. No Admissions – Neither this Judgment, the Stipulation (whether or not consummated), including the exhibits thereto and the Plan of Distribution contained therein (or any other plan of allocation that may be approved by the Court), the negotiations leading to the execution of the Stipulation, nor any proceedings taken pursuant to or in connection with the Stipulation and/or approval of the Settlement (including any arguments proffered in connection therewith): (a) shall be offered against any of the Released Parties as evidence of, or construed as, or deemed to be evidence of any presumption, concession, or admission by any of the Released Parties with respect to the truth of any fact alleged by Plaintiffs or the validity of any claim that was or could have been asserted, or the deficiency of any defense that has been or could have been asserted, in this Action or in any other litigation, or of any liability, negligence, fault, or other wrongdoing of any kind of any of the Released Parties or in any way referred to for any other reason as against any of the Released Parties, in any civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, other than such proceedings as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of the Stipulation; (b) shall be offered against any of the Settling Plaintiff Parties, as evidence of, or construed as, or deemed to be evidence of any presumption, concession, or admission by any of the Settling Plaintiff Parties that any of their claims are without merit, that any of the Released Parties had meritorious defenses, or that damages recoverable under the Complaint, Consolidated Complaint, First Amended Complaint, Second Amended Complaint, or Third Amended Complaint would not have exceeded the Settlement Amount or with respect to any liability, negligence, fault, or wrongdoing of any kind, or in any way referred to for any other reason as against any of the Settling Plaintiff Parties, in any civil, criminal, or administrative action or proceeding, other than such proceedings as may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of the Stipulation; or (c) shall be construed against any of the Released Parties or any of the Settling Plaintiff Parties as an admission, concession, or presumption that the consideration to be given under the Settlement represents the amount which could be or would have been recovered after trial; provided, however, that the Parties, the Settling Plaintiff Parties, and the Released Parties and their respective counsel may refer to this Judgment and the Stipulation to effectuate the protections from liability granted hereunder and thereunder or otherwise to enforce the terms of the Settlement. 16. Retention of Jurisdiction – Without affecting the finality of this Judgment in any way, this Court retains continuing and exclusive jurisdiction over: (i) the Parties for purposes of the administration, interpretation, implementation, and enforcement of the Settlement; (ii) the disposition of the Settlement Fund; (iii) any motion for an award of attorneys’ fees and/or Litigation Expenses by Co-Lead Counsel in the Action that will be paid from the Settlement Fund; (iv) any motion to approve the Plan of Distribution; (v) any motion to approve the Settlement Class Distribution Order; and (vi) the Settlement Class Members for all matters relating to the Action. 17. Separate orders shall be entered regarding approval of a Plan of Distribution and the motion of Co-Lead Counsel for an award of attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses. Such orders shall in no way affect or delay the finality of this Judgment and shall not affect or delay the Effective Date of the Settlement. 18. Modification of the Stipulation of Settlement – Without further approval from the Court, Plaintiffs and the Group Defendants are hereby authorized to agree to and adopt such amendments or modifications of the Stipulation or any exhibits attached thereto to effectuate the Settlement that: (i) are not materially inconsistent with this Judgment; and (ii) do not materially limit the rights of Settlement Class Members in connection with the Settlement. Without further order of the Court, Plaintiffs and the Group Defendants may agree to reasonable extensions of time to carry out any provisions of the Settlement. 19. Termination of Settlement – If the Settlement is terminated as provided in the Stipulation or the Effective Date of the Settlement otherwise fails to occur, this Judgment shall be vacated, rendered null and void and be of no further force and effect, except as otherwise provided by the Stipulation, and this Judgment shall be without prejudice to the rights of Plaintiffs, the other Settlement Class Members, and the Group Defendants, and the Parties shall revert to their respective positions in the Action as of December 2, 2019, as provided in the Stipulation. 20. Entry of Final Judgment – There is no just reason to delay the entry of this Judgment as a final judgment in this Action. Accordingly, the Clerk of the Court is expressly directed to immediately enter this final judgment in this Action. SO ORDERED. HON. JED S. RAKOFF United States District Judge DATED: New York, NY June 18, 2020 EXHIBIT 1 Exhibit 1 1. Universal 1 Credit Union 2. Norma E. Hill 3. Robert A. Shumway and Margaret E. Shumway 4. Bankers Life Insurance Company 5. Colorado Bankers Life Insurance Company 6. Southland National Insurance Corporation 7. State of Louisiana 8. New Orleans Municipal Employees Retirement System 9. City of Shreveport Louisiana 10.City of Baton Rouge 11.Louisiana Asset Management Pool 12.New Orleans Aviation Board 13.City of New Orleans 14.Forest A. Benson; Janet V. Benson 15.Frans Bentlage 16.Walter A. Meller