Simpson Thacher is representing JPMorgan Chase & Co. and its affiliates, including Bear, Stearns & Co., Inc., in connection with various regulatory investigations concerning auction rate securities (“ARS”). On August 14, 2008, JPMorgan Chase announced an agreement in principle to settle investigations by the New York State Attorney General’s Office and the Office of Financial Regulation of the State of Florida (on behalf of the North American Securities Administrators Association (“NASAA”)). JPMorgan Chase will offer to purchase at par ARS that are held by individual customers and certain charities and small to medium sized businesses and that were purchased through JPMorgan Chase prior to February 12, 2008. The Firm also represents JPMorgan Chase in other matters concerning ARS.
The Simpson Thacher team includes Tom Rice, Peter Bresnan, Jonathan Youngwood, Christine Ford, Hillary Mintz, Ian Dattner, James Perez, Patrick Smith, Andrew Dempster, Paige Fleming, Sonya Mirbagheri, Kerry Follain, and Gabe Rottman with invaluable assistance from paralegals Sharri Wilner, Anne Alfano, Clyte White, Monika Kapuscinska, Nicole Forbes, and Austin Leech.