NEW YORK (HedgeWorld.com)–Alliance Capital Management LP on Thursday struck a deal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's office, agreeing to pay a US$250 million fine, lower its fees by 20% and freeze fees at that lower level for at least five years to make amends for allowing broker-dealers and hedge funds to market time its mutual funds.
The agreement, announced jointly by the SEC and Mr. Spitzer's office, also stipulates that Alliance will take steps to prevent future market timing of its mutual funds.
The fine and subsequent fee reduction together amount roughly to a US$600 million penalty against Alliance, which manages some US$460 billion in assets. SEC officials said the fines would be returned to shareholders hurt by market timing.
It was the largest ever penalty paid by a mutual fund adviser, according to a statement from SEC Division of Enforcement Director Stephen M. Cutler.
