Tag Archives: sec

Hapless SEC Sues AutoChina for Alleged Stock Manipulation

Posted on 12 April 2012 by Ken Zino

AutoChina (OTC: AUTCF), China’s largest commercial vehicle sales, servicing, leasing, and company said the SEC’s complaint is without merit, thereby setting up an intricate and lengthy court battle with the watchdog that does not bark. SEC claimed that AutoChina senior executive and director Hui Kai Yan, a former AutoChina manager, and others fraudulently traded AutoChina’s stock to boost its daily trading volume. Continue reading →

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TBC Begins Tender Offer for Shares of Midas at $11.50

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The offer appears positive for Midas shareholders since share prices have ranged from a recent 52-week high of, well, $11.50 – raising the distinct possibility of insider trading – to a 52-week low of $5.08. Currently Midas is trading at $11.47. Midas made $0.28 per share during 2011 or $4 million on revenue of $184 million. For this dismal performance, its top executives were compensated $1.7 million, which left no money to pay a dividend to shareholders. Directors and officers of Midas own more than 10% of the stock, which could result in a challenge to the takeover. Continue reading →

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Pep Boys Sold to The Gores Group for $800 Million

Posted on 30 January 2012 by Ken Zino

The proposed transaction has already interested at least one legal firm trolling for business. Tripp Levy, a securities law firm, immediately put out a notice to investors that there are “potential claims of breaches of fiduciary duty and other violations of state law” against the board of directors of Pep Boys in connection with the sale. There likely will be more such allegations from firms looking to garner legal fees.

However, the agreement does provide for a 45-day “go-shop” period and contains customary closing conditions, including receiving the approval of Pep Boys’ shareholders and all applicable regulatory approvals. A special meeting of Pep Boys’ shareholders will be held following the filing of a definitive proxy statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Continue reading →

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Ex Car Czar Rattner Settles Bribery Charges for $10 Million

Posted on 31 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Steven Rattner, the Obama Administrations’ former “car czar,” has settled bribery charges in New York by paying a $10 million fine and agreeing to banishment from appearing before any public pension fund within the State of New York for five years. … Continue reading →

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Ex Car Czar Settles with SEC; Sued for Bribery by New York

Posted on 19 November 2010 by Ken Zino

As General Motors stock successfully returned to public trading yesterday, Steven Rattner, 58, the Obama Administrations’ former “car czar,” was sued by New York’s Attorney General for using bribes to secure $150 million in investments for his former firm, the Quadrangle … Continue reading →

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