Anwar et al v. Fairfield Greenwich Limited et al

Filing 1533

SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT with PwC Defendants. Document filed by Harel Insurance Company, Ltd., Pacific West Health Medical Center, Inc. Employee's Retirement Trust, Securities & Investment Company Bahrain, St. Stephen's School. (Attachments: #1 Exhibit A, #2 Exhibit A-1, #3 Exhibit A-2, #4 Exhibit A-3, #5 Exhibit B)(Barrett, David)

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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ------------------------------------------------------------------ x : PASHA ANWAR, et al., : : Plaintiffs, : : v. : : MASTER FILE NO. 09-CV-0118 (VM) FAIRFIELD GREENWICH LIMITED, et al., : : : Defendants. : ------------------------------------------------------------------ x STIPULATION OF SETTLEMENT This Stipulation of Settlement (the “Stipulation”), dated as of January 6, 2016, which is entered into by and among the Representative Plaintiffs (as defined herein), on their own behalf and on behalf of the Settlement Class (as defined herein), and the PwC Defendants (as defined herein), by and through their undersigned attorneys, states all of the terms of the settlement and resolution of this matter by the Settling Parties (as defined herein) and is intended by the Settling Parties to fully and finally release, resolve, remise and discharge the Released Claims (as defined herein) against the Released Parties (as defined herein), subject to the approval of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York (the “Court”). All undefined terms below with initial capitalization shall have the meanings ascribed to them in Section A.1. below. WHEREAS: The Action A. On December 19, 2008, plaintiffs Pasha S. Anwar and Julia Anwar filed a putative class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated in the Supreme Court for the State of New York, entitled Anwar v. Fairfield Greenwich Group, et al., No. 603769/2008 (“Anwar”). On January 7, 2009, Anwar was removed to the Court. B. On and after January 8, 2009, putative class action lawsuits were filed by certain plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and all others similarly situated in the Court, entitled Pacific West Health Medical Center Inc. Employees Retirement Trust v. Fairfield Greenwich Group, et al., No. 09 Civ. 00134; Inter-American Trust v. Fairfield Greenwich Group, et al., No. 09 Civ. 00301; Laor v. Fairfield Greenwich Group et al., No. 09 Civ. 2222; The Knight Services Holdings Limited v. Fairfield Sentry Limited, et al., No. 09 Civ. 2269; and Zohar v. Fairfield Greenwich Group, et al., No. 09 Civ. 4031 (collectively, and together with Anwar, the “Action”). C. By Orders dated on and after January 14, 2009, the Court consolidated the Action under the Docket No. 09-cv-0118 (VM). D. By Orders dated January 30, 2009 and July 7, 2009, the Court appointed Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, Wolf Popper LLP, and Lovell Stewart Halebian Jacobson LLP (“Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel”) as Interim Co-Lead Counsel to act on behalf of all Plaintiffs and Lead Counsel for the Representative Plaintiffs in the Action. In the Action, through the filing of the SCAC on September 29, 2009, the Representative Plaintiffs asserted claims on behalf of a proposed class of similarly situated investors in the Funds against the PwC Defendants for violations of federal securities law, specifically Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and New York law, under various common-law theories. The SCAC also included over one hundred other Named Plaintiffs. The SCAC also asserted claims against the FG Defendants, the Citco Defendants, and GlobeOp Financial Services LLC (“GlobeOp”). 2 E. By Orders dated on and after April 27, 2010, over 200 additional Persons joined the Action as Named Plaintiffs and were deemed parties to the same extent as if they had been named as plaintiffs in the SCAC. The PwC Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss the SCAC F. By Orders of the Court dated July 29, 2010 and August 18, 2010, the Court granted in part and denied in part the PwC Defendants’ (and other Defendants’) motions to dismiss the SCAC. The Court dismissed the only claim (under Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act) that had been asserted against PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited. The Court denied the motions to dismiss claims against PwC Netherlands and PwC Canada for negligence and negligent misrepresentation. G. By Order of the Court filed on November 3, 2011, the claims of ABN AMRO Life S.A. in the Action were dismissed with prejudice. H. By Order of the Court filed on February 22, 2012, the claims of Jeffrey S. Lieberman in the Action were dismissed with prejudice. I. On August 6, 2012, the Court granted the remaining PwC Defendants’ renewed motion to dismiss negligence-based claims asserted against them on behalf of initial investors in the Funds. The Court again sustained claims for negligence and negligent misrepresentation on behalf of shareholders or limited partners in the Funds as of December 10, 2008 who suffered a net loss of principal after making additional investments (other than initial investments) or holding their investments in the Funds subsequent to a date on which one of the PwC Defendants had issued an audit report. J. In July 2015, in response to the recent Kingate decision by the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit concerning the Securities Litigation Uniform Standards Act (“SLUSA”), the Court granted in part and denied in part the PwC Defendants’ renewed motion to dismiss, 3 dismissing Plaintiffs’ negligent misrepresentation cause of action and denying the PwC’s Defendants’ motion to dismiss Plaintiffs’ negligence claim. Merits Discovery K. Merits discovery commenced shortly after the Court’s August 18, 2010 Order on Defendants’ motions to dismiss. Defendants produced, and Plaintiffs’ Counsel reviewed, more than nine million pages of documents; and Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel reviewed and produced to counsel for Defendants more than 75,000 pages of documents on behalf of the Representative Plaintiffs and certain other Named Plaintiffs. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel conducted 19 merits depositions of the PwC Defendants and approximately 59 merits depositions of former and current employees of the other Defendants and non-parties in locations including New York, Miami, Toronto, Amsterdam and Bermuda. Eighteen individuals who are associated with or who are the Representative Plaintiffs or other Named Plaintiffs were deposed in Arizona, Cleveland, and New York, some of whom traveled from international residences including Israel, Bahrain, and Belgium for their depositions. Class Certification L. On March 1, 2011, the Representative Plaintiffs served a motion for class certification requesting the Court to certify the Action as a class action and to appoint them as class representatives (the “Motion for Class Certification”). Following discovery on class certification issues, all defendants in the Action, including the PwC Defendants, opposed the Motion for Class Certification. M. On February 25, 2013, the Court granted Plaintiffs’ motion to certify a class consisting of all investors in the Funds as of December 10, 2008, who suffered a net loss of principal invested in the funds, except for investors in certain excluded countries. The Court also 4 appointed Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel to serve in that capacity. On March 11, 2013, the FG Defendants having settled in principle the claims asserted against them in the Action, the remaining Citco, PwC and GlobeOp Defendants filed motions pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(f) with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals seeking interlocutory review of the February 25, 2013 Order. GlobeOp subsequently withdrew its motion after entering into a settlement of the claims asserted against it in the Action. The Second Circuit granted Citco’s and the PwC Defendants’ motions pursuant to Rule 23(f). N. On June 19, 2014, the Second Circuit vacated the District Court’s class certification order and remanded for additional factual findings by the District Court. Plaintiffs thereafter renewed their class certification motion against the Citco and PwC Defendants. In an order and opinion dated March 3, 2015, the District Court again certified the same class. O. The Citco and PwC Defendants thereafter filed motions pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 23(f) with the Second Circuit seeking interlocutory review of the March 3, 2015 class certification order. The Rule 23(f) motions were still pending when, on November 25, 2015, the Settling Parties agreed in principle to the settlement of the claims asserted by Plaintiffs against the PwC Defendants in the Action. The PwC Defendants’ motion is now being held in abeyance pending approval of this Settlement. The Citco Defendants’ motion was similarly held in abeyance pending approval of an earlier settlement with the Citco Defendants referenced below. Expert Discovery P. In connection with expert discovery, Plaintiffs submitted expert reports from two expert witnesses on issues relating to the PwC Defendants’ liability and an expert report on damages. The PwC Defendants submitted reports from four experts on liability issues and one expert on damages. Plaintiffs, in response, submitted rebuttal reports from two new liability 5 experts and rebuttal reports from their previously designated liability and damages expert witnesses. All five of Plaintiffs’ expert liability and damages experts and all five of PwC’s liability and damages experts were deposed as part of expert discovery. Plaintiffs and the Citco Defendants and PwC Defendants also exchanged expert reports on liability and damages issues and conducted depositions of each other’s experts. Summary Judgment and Trial Q. By letter endorsement dated April 22, 2015 [Dkt No. 1368], the Court scheduled trial of the Action against the PwC Defendants to commence on January 4, 2016, and set a schedule for the briefing of summary judgment and Daubert motions and motions in limine, as well as for other pre-trial filings, including witness and exhibit lists, deposition designations and jury instructions and verdict form. Pursuant to that Order, the PwC Defendants moved for summary judgment dismissing the remaining negligence claim in the Action on October 1, 2015. By Order dated October 23, 2015, the Court denied the PwC Defendants’ motion for summary judgment on five issues and requested additional briefing on the following three issues: (1) whether the Anwar Plaintiffs were a known party under the Known Party Requirement of the Credit Alliance test; (2) whether there was a sufficient linking conduct between PwC Defendants and Anwar Plaintiffs under the Linking Conduct Requirement of the Credit Alliance test; and (3) whether Anwar Plaintiffs’ damages are limited to losses based on subsequent purchases. Pursuant to that Order, Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion for summary judgment on those three issues, and the PwC Defendants filed a reply in further support of their motion. In addition, the PwC Defendants made Daubert motions to exclude the testimony of each of Plaintiffs’ experts, Plaintiffs responded to those motions, and the PwC Defendants filed replies in further support of those motions. Plaintiffs and the PwC Defendants also filed motions in limine to exclude or limit certain evidence at trial, and filed opposition papers to each other’s respective 6 motions. All of the foregoing motions were still pending when the Settling Parties agreed in principle to the Settlement. At that time, the Settling Parties had served or filed almost all of the pre-trial materials as well. Prior Settlements R. On March 25, 2013, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement of Plaintiffs’ claims against the FG Defendants. That order was affirmed on appeal. On November 22, 2013, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement of Plaintiffs’ claims against GlobeOp; there was no appeal. On November 20, 2015, the Court entered an Order approving the settlement of Plaintiffs’ claims against the Citco Defendants. There were no objections to that settlement, and there was no appeal. The Proposed Settlement of the Action Against the PwC Defendants S. Beginning in April 2012, and subsequently at the suggestion of the Court, and with the assistance of Eric Green and retired U.S. District Judge Layn Phillips, two highlyexperienced mediators, and Magistrate Judge Frank Maas, Plaintiffs and the PwC Defendants engaged in extensive, arm’s-length negotiations, including four separate full day meetings and two half-day meetings conducted over a three-year period. Judge Phillips ultimately made a mediator’s proposal that was accepted by the parties. T. On November 25, 2015, the Settling Parties agreed to a term sheet fully and finally settling the Action as against the PwC Defendants in return for specified consideration and to fully release all Released Claims asserted against the PwC Defendants and the Released Parties, which agreement is memorialized in this Stipulation. 7 U. In return for the consideration described herein, this Stipulation is intended to fully and finally release, resolve, remise and discharge the Released Claims against the Released Parties with prejudice. V. The Settling Parties’ entry into this Stipulation is not, and shall not be construed as or deemed to be evidence of, an admission as to the merit or lack of merit of any claims or defenses asserted in the Action. W. Through the extensive discovery described above, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel have conducted a comprehensive investigation relating to the claims and the underlying events alleged in the Action, and have also investigated the financial status of the PwC Defendants. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel have analyzed the evidence and information adduced through discovery and investigation, and have researched the applicable law with respect to the Representative Plaintiffs and the Settlement Class. In negotiating and evaluating the terms of this Stipulation, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel considered the significant legal and factual defenses to the Representative Plaintiffs’ Claims; continuing developments on several key legal issues that may adversely affect plaintiffs’ claims; the lengthy amount of time that would be entailed in addressing contested class certification issues, as well as further motion practice, trial, and likely appeals; and the PwC Defendants’ ability to satisfy a judgment in the Action if the Representative Plaintiffs were to prevail at trial and on appeal, as well as the potential difficulty in executing on any such judgment. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel received sufficient information to evaluate the merits of the proposed Settlement. Based upon their evaluation, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel and the Representative Plaintiffs unanimously have determined that the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation is fair, reasonable and adequate and in the best interests of all Settlement Class Members, and that it confers substantial benefits upon the Settlement Class Members. 8 X. The Released Parties deny any and all allegations of wrongdoing, fault, liability or damage whatsoever; deny that they engaged in, committed or aided or abetted the commission of any breach of duty, breach of contract, wrongdoing or violation of law; deny that they acted improperly in any way; deny that they owed any duty or caused any damage whatsoever to the Representative Plaintiffs or any of the other Settlement Class Members; believe that they acted properly at all times; maintain that they complied with any fiduciary, contractual, or other duties to the extent such duties existed; and maintain that they have complied with all applicable laws at all times. Y. The PwC Defendants enter into this Stipulation solely to eliminate the uncertainties, burden and expense of further litigation. Nothing in this Stipulation shall be construed as any admission by any of the Released Parties of any wrongdoing, fault, liability, or damages whatsoever. NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by and among the Representative Plaintiffs, for themselves and on behalf of the Settlement Class, and the PwC Defendants, by and through their respective undersigned counsel that, subject to the approval of the Court pursuant to Rule 23(e) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, in consideration of the benefits flowing to the Settling Parties from the Settlement set forth herein, the Action and the Released Claims as against the PwC Defendants shall be finally and fully compromised, settled and released, the Action shall be dismissed with prejudice and the Released Claims shall be finally and fully released as against the PwC Defendants and the Released Claims shall be finally and fully released as against the Released Parties, upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this Stipulation, as follows. 9 A. Definitions 1. In addition to the terms defined above, the following capitalized terms, used in this Stipulation, shall have the meanings specified below: a. “Administrative Costs” means all costs and expenses associated with providing notice of the Settlement to the Settlement Class or otherwise administering or carrying out the terms of the Settlement, excluding legal fees. b. “Authorized Claimant” means any Settlement Class Member who is a Claimant and whose claim for recovery has been allowed pursuant to the terms of this Stipulation, the exhibits hereto, and any order of the Court. c. “BLMIS” means Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities LLC. d. “Beneficial Owner” means any one of, and “Beneficial Owners” means all of, those Persons who were beneficial owners of shares or limited partnership interests in any of the Funds as of December 10, 2008 (whether as holders of record or traceable to a shareholder or limited partner account of record). For the avoidance of doubt, only Beneficial Owners may file a Proof of Claim or request for exclusion with respect to each share or limited partnership interest in any of the Funds. Where a fund, trust, or similar investment vehicle is an investor in one or more of the Funds, the fund, trust, or similar investment vehicle is the Beneficial Owner for purposes of this Stipulation, not the underlying investors in the fund or similar investment vehicle. Where the record owner of shares or limited partnership interests is a nominee, custodian, or other Person acting in a materially similar fashion on behalf of one or more Beneficial Owners, that nominee, custodian or other Person is not a Beneficial Owner and may not execute a Proof of Claim or request for exclusion on behalf of any such Beneficial Owners. 10 e. “Citco Defendants” means Citco Fund Services (Europe) B.V., Citco (Canada) Inc., Citco Bank Nederland N.V. Dublin Branch, Citco Global Custody N.V., Citco Fund Services (Bermuda Limited), The Citco Group Limited, Brian Francoeur, and Ian Pilgrim. f. “Claimant” means any Settlement Class Member who files a Proof of Claim in such form and manner, and within such time, as the Court shall prescribe. g. “Claims” means any and all manner of claims, demands, rights, actions, potential actions, causes of action, liabilities, duties, damages, losses, diminutions in value, obligations, agreements, suits, fees, attorneys’ fees, expert or consulting fees, debts, expenses, costs, sanctions, judgments, decrees, matters, issues and controversies of any kind or nature whatsoever, whether known or unknown, contingent or absolute, liquidated or not liquidated, accrued or unaccrued, suspected or unsuspected, disclosed or undisclosed, apparent or not apparent, foreseen or unforeseen, matured or not matured, which now exist, or heretofore or previously existed, or may hereafter exist (including, but not limited to, any claims arising under federal, state or foreign law, common law, bankruptcy law, statute, rule, or regulation relating to alleged fraud, breach of any duty, breach of any contract, negligence, fraudulent conveyance, avoidance, violations of the federal securities laws, or otherwise), whether individual, class, direct, derivative, representative, on behalf of others, legal, equitable, regulatory, governmental or of any other type or in any other capacity. h. “Claims Administrator” means Rust Consulting, which shall administer the Settlement. i. “Defendants” means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership) (a/k/a “PwC Canada”), PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. (a naamloze vennootschap incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its registered office 11 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands) (“PwC Netherlands”), PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited, Citco Fund Services (Europe) B.V., Citco (Canada) Inc., Citco Bank Nederland N.V. Dublin Branch, Citco Global Custody N.V., Citco Fund Services (Bermuda) Ltd., The Citco Group Limited, Brian Francoeur, Ian Pilgrim, the FG Defendants, and GlobeOp Financial Services LLC (“GlobeOp”). j. “Escrow Agent” means Citibank, N.A., which shall be subject to the joint control of Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, except after the occurrence of the Effective Date as provided in ¶ 33. k. “Effective Date” means the first date by which all of the events and conditions specified in ¶ 32 of this Stipulation have been met and have occurred. l. “FG Defendants” means Fairfield Greenwich Limited, Fairfield Greenwich Bermuda Limited, Fairfield Greenwich Group, Fairfield Greenwich Advisors LLC, Fairfield Risk Services Ltd., Fairfield Heathcliff Capital LLC, and Fairfield Greenwich (UK) Limited, Walter M. Noel, Jr., Jeffrey H. Tucker, Andrés Piedrahita, Lourdes Barreneche, Robert Blum, Cornelis Boele, Gregory Bowes, Vianney d’Hendecourt, Yanko Della Schiava, Harold Greisman, Jacqueline Harary, David Horn, Richard Landsberger, Daniel E. Lipton, Julia Luongo, Mark McKeefry, Charles Murphy, Corina Noel Piedrahita, Maria Teresa Pulido Mendoza, Santiago Reyes, Andrew Smith, Philip Toub, and Amit Vijayvergiya. m. “Final” when referring to the Final Judgment means exhaustion of all possible appeals, meaning (i) if no objections are filed pursuant to ¶ 12 of this Stipulation, the day after entry of the Final Judgment, or (ii) if any objections are filed pursuant to ¶ 12 of this Stipulation, (a) if no appeal or request for review of the Final Judgment is filed, the day after the date of expiration of any time for appeal or review of the Final Judgment under the Federal 12 Rules of Civil Procedure, i.e., thirty (30) days after the Judgment or order is entered on the Court’s docket or (b) if an appeal or request for review of the Final Judgment is filed, the day after the date the appeal or request for review is dismissed, or the Final Judgment is upheld on appeal or review in all material respects, and is not subject to further review on appeal or by certiorari or otherwise; provided, however, that any dispute or appeals relating solely to the amount, payment or allocation of attorneys’ fees and expenses, the Plan of Allocation, or the provisions of ¶¶ 18-19 of this Stipulation shall have no effect on finality for purposes of determining the date on which the Final Judgment becomes Final. n. “Final Judgment” means the final order and judgment to be entered by the Court approving the Settlement, materially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, or an alternative judgment finally approving the Settlement which is materially different from Exhibit B and which does not result in any Settling Party terminating the Settlement and Stipulation pursuant to ¶ 31 of this Stipulation. o. “Fund” means any one of, and “Funds” means all of, Fairfield Sentry Limited, Fairfield Sigma Limited, Fairfield Lambda Limited, Greenwich Sentry, L.P. and Greenwich Sentry Partners, L.P. p. “Named Plaintiffs” and “Plaintiffs” means the Persons identified as plaintiffs in paragraphs 1 through 116 of the SCAC, together with all other Persons who, by order of the Court, were subsequently joined as plaintiffs in the Action and deemed plaintiffs with respect to the SCAC to the same extent as if they had been named as plaintiffs in the SCAC, except any plaintiffs whose claims have been dismissed with prejudice. q. “Net Loss” means the total cash investment made by a Beneficial Owner in a Fund, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, less the total amount of any 13 redemptions or withdrawals or recoveries by that Beneficial Owner from or with respect to such investment in that Fund. r. “Notice” means the “Notice of Proposed Partial Settlement of Class Action and Settlement Fairness Hearing, and Motion for Attorneys’ Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses,” which is to be sent to Settlement Class Members substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A-1. s. “Opt-Out” means any one of, and “Opt-Outs” means all of, any Persons who otherwise would be Settlement Class Members and have timely and validly requested exclusion from this Settlement Class in accordance with the provisions of the Preliminary Approval Order and the Notice given pursuant thereto. t. “Person” means any individual, corporation, fund, limited liability corporation, professional corporation, limited liability partnership, partnership, limited partnership association, joint stock company, estate, legal representative, trust, unincorporated association, government or any political subdivision or agency thereof, and any business or legal entity and their spouses, heirs, predecessors, successors, representatives, or assigns. u. “Plaintiffs’ Counsel” means Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel and such other plaintiffs’ counsel who have filed actions consolidated into the SCAC. v. “Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel” means Boies, Schiller & Flexner LLP, Wolf Popper LLP, and Lovell Stewart Halebian Jacobson LLP. w. “Plan of Allocation” means a plan or formula for allocating the Settlement Fund to Authorized Claimants after payment of Administrative Expenses, Taxes and Tax Expenses, and such attorneys’ fees, costs and expenses as may be awarded by the Court. Any 14 Plan of Allocation is not a condition to the effectiveness of this Stipulation, and the Released Parties shall have no responsibility or liability with respect thereto. x. “Preliminary Approval Order” means the proposed order preliminarily approving the Settlement and directing notice thereof to the Settlement Class substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A. y. “Proof of Claim” means the Proof of Claim to be submitted by Claimants, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A-3. z. The “PwC Defendants” means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (an Ontario Limited Liability Partnership) (a/k/a “PwC Canada”), PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. (a naamloze vennootschap incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands with its registered office in Amsterdam, The Netherlands) (“PwC Netherlands”), and PricewaterhouseCoopers International Limited. aa. “Released Claims” means any and all Claims, including Unknown Claims, that have been, could have been, or in the future can or might be asserted in any federal, state or foreign court, tribunal, forum or proceeding by on or behalf of any of the Releasing Parties against any one or more of the Released Parties, whether any such Released Parties were named, served with process, or appeared in the Action, which have arisen, could have arisen, arise now, or hereafter arise out of or relate in any manner to the allegations, facts, events, matters, acts, occurrences, statements, representations, misrepresentations, omissions, or any other matter, thing or cause whatsoever, or any series thereof, embraced, involved, at issue, or set forth in, or referred to or otherwise related in any way, directly or indirectly, to: (i) the Action, and the allegations, claims, defenses, and counterclaims asserted in the Action, (ii) audits or reviews of the financial statements of any of the Funds, (iii) marketing and/or selling of the Funds by one or 15 more of the PwC Defendants and/or the Released Parties, (iv) any disclosures or failures to disclose, by one or more of the PwC Defendants and/or the Released Parties, with respect to one or more of the Funds and/or the PwC Defendants and/or BLMIS, (v) any fiduciary, contractual, common law or other obligations of one or more of the PwC Defendants and/or the Released Parties (to the extent such duties existed) related to the Funds and/or the Settlement Class Members, (vi) any other services provided to any of the Funds and/or BLMIS by one or more of the PwC Defendants and/or the Released Parties, (vi) due diligence by one or more of the PwC Defendants and/or the Released Parties related to the Funds and/or BLMIS, (viii) purchases of, sales of (or decisions not to sell), or fees paid in relation to, direct or indirect investments in one or more of the Funds, (ix) any direct or indirect investment in BLMIS, or (x) any claims in connection with, based upon, arising out of, or relating to the Settlement (but excluding any claims to enforce the terms of the Settlement). bb. “Released Parties” means (i) each of the PwC Defendants, their respective past, present and future, direct or indirect, parent entities, subsidiaries, member firms, and other affiliates, predecessors and successors of each and all such entities, and each and all of the foregoing entities’ respective past, present, and future directors, officers, employees, partners (in the broadest concept of that term), principals, alleged partners, stockholders, members and owners, attorneys, advisors, consultants, trustees, insurers, co-insurers, reinsurers, representatives, and assigns; (ii) to the extent not included in (i) above, any and all persons, firms, trusts, corporations, and other entities in which any of the PwC Defendants has a financial interest or was a founder, settler or creator of the entity, and, in their capacity as such, any and all officers, directors, employees, trustees, beneficiaries, settlers, creators, attorneys, consultants, agents, or representatives of any such person, firm, trust, corporation or other entity; and (iii) in 16 their capacity as such, the legal representatives, heirs, executors, and administrators, of any of the foregoing. cc. “Releasing Parties” means the Representative Plaintiffs, each and every member of the Settlement Class and each of their respective predecessors, successors, assigns, parents, subsidiaries and other affiliates, officers, directors, employees, partners, members, managers, owners, trustees, beneficiaries, advisors, consultants, insurers, reinsurers, stockholders, investors, nominees, custodians, attorneys, heirs, representatives, administrators, executors, devisees, legatees, and estates. dd. “Representative Plaintiffs” means the representative plaintiffs in the Action, specifically, Pacific West Health Medical Center Employees Retirement Trust, Harel Insurance Company Ltd., Martin and Shirley Bach Family Trust, Natalia Hatgis, Securities & Investment Company Bahrain, Dawson Bypass Trust, and St. Stephen’s School. ee. “SCAC” means the Second Consolidated Amended Complaint filed by the Representative Plaintiffs in the Action on September 29, 2009, and the additional amended allegations to the Second Consolidated Amended Complaint filed by the Representative Plaintiffs in this Action on April 17, 2014. ff. “Settlement” means the settlement contemplated by this Stipulation. gg. “Settlement Amount” means the cash sum of $55,000,000 (fifty-five million dollars). hh. “Settlement Class” means all Persons who were Beneficial Owners of shares or limited partnership interests in the Funds as of December 10, 2008 (whether as holders of record or traceable to a shareholder or limited partner account of record) and who suffered a Net Loss of principal invested in the Funds, excluding (i) Opt-Outs from the PwC Settlement 17 Class as defined herein; (ii) any Persons who have been dismissed from this Action with prejudice or who are barred by prior judgment or settlement from asserting any of the claims against the PwC Defendants set forth in the SCAC; (iii) Fairfield Sigma Limited; (iv) Fairfield Lambda Limited; and (v) the Defendants and any entity in which the Defendants have a controlling interest, and the officers, directors, affiliates, legal representatives, attorneys, immediate family members (as defined in 17 C.F.R. 240.16a-1(e)), heirs, successors, subsidiaries and/or assigns of any such individual or entity in their capacity as such (except for any of the Citco Defendants in their role as nominee or record shareholder for any investor). For the avoidance of doubt, any Person who opted-out of the prior FG Settlement Class or Citco Settlement Class is a member of the PwC Settlement Class notwithstanding the prior opt-out, unless such Person affirmatively opts-out of the PwC Settlement Class; Fairfield Sigma Limited and Fairfield Lambda Limited are excluded from the Settlement Class because shareholders of those funds are included as Settlement Class Members to the extent they have suffered a Net Loss of principal in those funds. ii. “Settlement Class Member” means any one of, and “Settlement Class Members” means all of, the members of the Settlement Class. jj. “Settlement Hearing” means the hearing at or after which the Court will make a final decision pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure as to whether the Settlement contained in the Stipulation is fair, reasonable and adequate, and therefore, should receive final approval from the Court. kk. “Settling Party” means any one of, and “Settling Parties” means all of, the parties to the Stipulation, namely the PwC Defendants and the Representative Plaintiffs on behalf of themselves and the Settlement Class. 18 ll. “Unknown Claims” shall mean all claims, demands, rights, liabilities, and causes of action of every nature and description which any Settlement Class Member does not know or suspect to exist in his, her or its favor at the time of the release of the Released Parties which, if known by him, her or it, might have affected his, her or its settlement with and release of the Released Parties, or might have affected his, her or its decision not to opt-out or object to this Settlement. With respect to any and all Released Claims, the Settling Parties stipulate and agree that, upon the Effective Date, the Representative Plaintiffs shall expressly waive, and each of the Settlement Class Members shall be deemed to have waived, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have waived, the provisions, rights and benefits of California Civil Code § 1542, which provides: 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. The Representative Plaintiffs shall expressly waive and each of the Settlement Class Members shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have, expressly waived any and all provisions, rights and benefits conferred by any law of any state, territory, country or principle of common law, which is similar, comparable or equivalent to California Civil Code § 1542. Settlement Class Members may hereafter discover facts in addition to or different from those which he, she or it now knows or believes to be true with respect to the subject matter of the Released Claims, but the Representative Plaintiffs shall expressly fully, finally and forever settle and release, and each Settlement Class Member, upon the Effective Date, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have, fully, finally and forever settled and released, any and all Released Claims, known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, contingent or non-contingent, whether or not concealed or hidden, which now exist, or heretofore have 19 existed, upon any theory of law or equity now existing or coming into existence in the future, including, but not limited to, conduct which is negligent, intentional, with or without malice, or a breach of any fiduciary, contractual, or other duty, law or rule, without regard to the subsequent discovery or existence of such different or additional facts. The Representative Plaintiffs acknowledge, and the Settlement Class Members shall be deemed by operation of the Final Judgment to have acknowledged, that the foregoing waiver was separately bargained for and a key element of the Settlement of which this release is a part. B. The Settlement Consideration 2. In consideration for the promises and obligations contained herein and the full and final release, settlement and discharge of all Released Claims against the Released Parties, the Settling Parties have agreed to payments, and waivers as set forth in ¶¶ 3-5 of this Stipulation, subject to the conditions set forth in this Stipulation. 3. Subject to the terms of the Stipulation, and on the later of ten (10) days after the date on which the Court grants preliminary approval of the Settlement or January 24, 2016 (the “Settlement Funding Date”), the PwC Defendants shall cause $55,000,000 to be deposited into the Account, under the control of the Escrow Agent. The Settlement Amount, and interest earned thereon, is referred to as the “Settlement Fund.” 4. Subject to the conditions set forth herein, the PwC Defendants agree to waive, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have waived all rights to seek recovery on claims for contribution or indemnity that they hold or may hold against the Funds or any party indemnified by the Funds, the FG Defendants, GlobeOp, and the Citco Defendants for any expenses incurred or amounts paid in settlement or otherwise in connection with the Action. Nothing in this provision precludes the PwC Defendants from arguing that the settlement 20 proceeds in this case are an offset against claims that may be made against them in other proceedings. 5. Apart from the payments identified in ¶¶ 3 and 10 of this Stipulation, the PwC Defendants shall have no further monetary obligation to Plaintiffs’ Counsel, the Representative Plaintiffs, or the Settlement Class under this Settlement. C. Representations and Warranties Regarding the Settlement Consideration 6. The PwC Defendants warrant as to themselves that they are not insolvent nor will the payments contemplated herein render them insolvent within the meaning and/or for the purposes of the United States Bankruptcy Code, including §101 and §547 thereof, or any similar provisions of foreign law. D. Handling and Disbursement of Funds by the Escrow Agent 7. No monies will be disbursed from the Settlement Fund until after the Effective Date except: i. As provided in ¶ 10 below; ii. As provided in ¶ 38 below, if applicable; and iii. To pay Taxes and Tax Expenses (as defined in ¶ 11 below) on the income earned by the Settlement Fund. Taxes and Tax Expenses shall be paid out of the Settlement Fund and shall be considered to be a cost of administration of the Settlement and shall be timely paid by the Escrow Agent (pursuant to written instructions from counsel pursuant to this Stipulation) without prior Order of the Court. 8. The Escrow Agent (pursuant to written instructions from counsel pursuant to this Stipulation) shall invest any funds deposited into the Settlement Fund in short term instruments backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government or fully insured by the 21 United States Government or an agency thereof (or funds that invest solely in such instruments), and shall reinvest the proceeds of these instruments as they mature in similar instruments at their then-current market rates. 9. The Escrow Agent shall not disburse the Settlement Fund, except as provided in this Stipulation, by an order of the Court, or with the written agreement of counsel for all of the Settling Parties pursuant to this Stipulation. 10. The Escrow Agent may, without further approval from the PwC Defendants or the Court, disburse at the direction of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel up to $300,000 (three hundred thousand dollars) from the Settlement Fund prior to the Effective Date to pay Administrative Costs, including, without limitation: escrow agent costs, the costs of publishing summary notice, and printing and mailing the full Notice and Proof of Claim, as directed by the Court. In the event that such costs are incurred prior to payment of the Settlement Amount by the PwC Defendants and the Settlement is not consummated for any reason, the PwC Defendants shall promptly reimburse such costs up to a maximum of $150,000 (one hundred fifty thousand dollars). This sentence shall survive termination of the Settlement. E. Taxes 11. The Settling Parties agree to treat the Settlement Fund as being at all times a “qualified settlement fund” within the meaning of Treasury Regulation § 1.468B-1. In addition, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or its designee shall timely make such elections as necessary or advisable to carry out the provisions of this ¶ 11, including the “relation-back election” (as defined in Treasury Regulation § 1.468B-1) back to the earliest permitted date. Such elections shall be made in compliance with the procedures and requirements contained in such regulations. It shall be the responsibility of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or its designee to timely and properly 22 prepare and deliver the necessary documentation for signature by all necessary parties, and thereafter to cause the appropriate filing to occur. i. For purposes of § 468B of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and Treasury Regulation § 1.468B-2(k)(3) promulgated thereunder, the “administrator” shall be the Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or its designee. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or its designee shall timely and properly file all informational and other tax returns necessary or advisable with respect to the Settlement Fund (including without limitation the returns described in Treasury Regulation § 1.468B-2(k)). Such returns (as well as the election described in this ¶ 11) shall be consistent with this ¶ 11 and in all events shall reflect that all Taxes (including any estimated Taxes, interest or penalties) on the income earned by the Settlement Fund shall be paid out of the Settlement Fund as provided in ¶ 11(ii) hereof. ii. All Taxes (including any estimated Taxes, interest or penalties) arising with respect to the income earned by the Settlement Fund, including any Taxes or tax detriments that may be imposed upon the PwC Defendants or their counsel with respect to any income earned by the Settlement Fund for any period during which the Settlement Fund does not qualify as a “qualified settlement fund” for federal or state income tax purposes (“Taxes”), and expenses and costs incurred in connection with the operation and implementation of this ¶ 11 (including, without limitation, expenses of tax attorneys and/or accountants and mailing and distribution costs and expenses or penalties relating to filing (or failing to file) the returns described in this ¶ 11) (“Tax Expenses”)), shall be paid out of the Settlement Fund, as appropriate. The PwC Defendants and their counsel shall have no liability or responsibility for the Taxes or the Tax Expenses. Taxes and Tax Expenses shall be treated as, and considered to be, a cost of administration of the Settlement and shall be timely paid out of the Settlement Fund without 23 prior order from the Court. The Escrow Agent (pursuant to written instructions from counsel pursuant to this Stipulation) shall be obligated (notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary) to withhold from distribution to Authorized Claimants any funds necessary to pay such amounts, including the establishment of adequate reserves for any Taxes and Tax Expenses (as well as any amounts that may be withheld under Treasury Regulation § 1.468B-2(l)(2)). Neither the PwC Defendants nor their counsel is responsible therefore nor shall they have any liability with respect thereto. The Settling Parties agree to cooperate with each other, and their tax attorneys and accountants, to the extent reasonably necessary to carry out the provisions of this ¶ 11. F. Preliminary Approval Order, Notice Order, and Settlement Hearing 12. Promptly after the execution of this Stipulation, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel shall submit this Stipulation and its exhibits to the Court and shall apply for preliminary approval of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation, entry of a preliminary approval order, and approval for the mailing and dissemination of notice, substantially in the form of Exhibits A, A-1, A-2, and A-3. The mailed Notice (Exhibit A-1) shall include the general terms of the Settlement and the provisions of the Plan of Allocation, and shall set forth the procedure by which recipients of the Notice may object to the Settlement or the Plan of Allocation or request to be excluded from the Settlement Class. The date and time of the Settlement Hearing shall be added to the Notice before it is mailed or otherwise provided to Settlement Class Members. 13. Intentionally omitted. 14. At the time of the submission described in ¶ 12 hereof, the Settling Parties, through their counsel, shall jointly request that, after the Notice is provided, the Court hold the Settlement Hearing and approve the Settlement as set forth herein as promptly after the 24 Settlement Hearing as possible, except to the extent a Settling Party has exercised the right to terminate the Settlement pursuant to ¶ 31 or ¶ 34. 15. Intentionally omitted. G. Releases 16. Upon the Effective Date, as defined in ¶ 1(k) hereof, the Releasing Parties, on behalf of themselves, their successors and assigns, and any other Person claiming (now or in the future) through or on behalf of them, regardless of whether any such Releasing Party ever seeks or obtains by any means, including without limitation by submitting a Proof of Claim, any disbursement from the Settlement Fund, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged all Released Claims against the Released Parties and shall have covenanted not to sue the Released Parties with respect to all such Released Claims, and shall be permanently barred and enjoined from asserting, commencing, prosecuting, instituting, assisting, instigating, or in any way participating in the commencement or prosecution of any action or other proceeding, in any forum, asserting any Released Claim, either directly, representatively, derivatively, or in any other capacity, against any of the Released Parties. Nothing contained herein shall, however, bar the Releasing Parties from bringing any action or claim to enforce the terms of this Stipulation or the Final Judgment. 17. Upon the Effective Date, as defined in ¶ 1(k) hereof, the Released Parties, on behalf of themselves, their heirs, executors, predecessors, successors and assigns, shall be deemed to have, and by operation of the Final Judgment shall have, fully, finally, and forever released, relinquished, and discharged each and all of the Representative Plaintiffs, Settlement Class Members and Plaintiffs’ Counsel from all Claims which arise out of, concern or relate to 25 the institution, prosecution, settlement or dismissal of the Action (the “Defendant Released Claims”), and shall be permanently enjoined from prosecuting the Defendant Released Claims against the Representative Plaintiffs, Settlement Class Members and Plaintiffs’ Counsel. The PwC Defendants hereby represent and warrant that they are not aware of any claims that they have or may have against the Representative Plaintiffs, the Named Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs’ Counsel or a Settlement Class Member (or nominee) that are not released by virtue of this ¶ 17. Nothing contained herein shall, however, bar the PwC Defendants from bringing any action or claim to enforce the terms of this Stipulation or the Final Judgment. 18. To the fullest extent permitted by law, all Persons shall be permanently enjoined, barred and restrained from bringing, commencing, prosecuting or asserting any claims, actions, or causes of action for contribution, indemnity or otherwise against any of the Released Parties seeking as damages or otherwise the recovery of all or any part of any liability, judgment or settlement which they pay or are obligated to pay or agree to pay to the Settlement Class or any Settlement Class Member arising out of, relating to or concerning any acts, facts, statements or omissions that were or could have been alleged in the Action, whether arising under state, federal or foreign law as claims, cross-claims, counterclaims, third-party claims or otherwise, in the Court or any other federal, state, or foreign court, or in any arbitration proceeding, administrative agency proceeding, tribunal, or any other proceeding or forum. The proposed Final Judgment will include a reciprocal order equal in scope to that contemplated in this ¶ 18 enjoining the Released Parties from bringing claims against any other Person. 19. Nothing in this Stipulation, including ¶ 16 and ¶ 17, shall release, waive, bar or otherwise affect any claims asserted or which may be asserted by the Funds, Trustees or Liquidators for the Funds, or the Released Parties, in the proceedings entitled (i) New Greenwich 26 Litigation Trust, LLC, as Successor Trustee of Greenwich Sentry, L.P. Litigation Trust v. Citco Fund Services (Europe) BV, et al., New York County Clerk’s Index No. 600469/2009; (ii) New Greenwich Litigation Trust, LLC, as Successor Trustee of Greenwich Sentry Partners, L.P. Litigation Trust v. Citco Fund Services (Europe) BV, et al., New York County Clerk’s Index No. 600498/2009; (iii) Krys et al. v. PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N.V. et al., Rb. Amsterdam HA ZA 2012/0863, Case No. 521460; and (iv) Fairfield Sentry et al. v. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP et al., Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Court File No. CV-12454648; provided, however, that to the extent that any such claims have been or may be asserted, nothing in this Stipulation shall prevent the Released Parties from asserting any defenses or raising any argument as to liability or damages with respect to such claims or, with the exception of the provisions of ¶ 4, prevent the Released Parties from asserting any rights, remedies or claims against the Funds, or Trustees or Liquidators for the Funds, or in the above-referenced litigations. 20. Any final verdict or judgment that may be obtained by one or more of the Representative Plaintiffs or one or more of the other Settlement Class Members, whether individually or on behalf of a class, against one or more Persons barred from seeking contribution pursuant to this Stipulation (a “Non-Dismissed Defendant Judgment”) shall be reduced, to the extent permitted by applicable law, by the greater of (i) the amount that corresponds to the percentage of responsibility attributed to the Released Parties under the NonDismissed Defendant Judgment; and (ii) the gross monetary consideration provided to such Representative Plaintiff or other Settlement Class Member or Members pursuant to this Stipulation. H. Administration and Calculation of Claims, Final Awards and Supervision and Distribution of the Settlement Fund 27 21. Under the supervision of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel, acting on behalf of the Settlement Class, and subject to such supervision and direction of the Court as may be necessary or as circumstances may require, the Claims Administrator shall administer and calculate the claims submitted by Settlement Class Members and shall oversee distribution of the Net Settlement Fund (as defined below), to Authorized Claimants. Citco, as nominee or record shareholder for certain investors’ accounts, will follow instructions of Settlement Class members with respect to the submission and processing of Proofs of Claim. 22. The Settlement Fund shall be applied as follows: i. To pay the Taxes and Tax Expenses described in ¶ 11 above; ii. To pay Administrative Costs; iii. To pay Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s attorneys’ fees and expenses and the Representative Plaintiffs’ actual out of pocket expenses relating to the representation of the putative class (including lost wages) and, if appropriate, an incentive award as provided in ¶¶ 25 and 26 hereof (the “Fee and Expense Award”), to the extent allowed by the Court; and iv. To distribute the balance of the Settlement Fund, that is, the Settlement Fund less the items set forth in ¶¶ 21(i), (ii), and (iii) hereof (the “Net Settlement Fund”), to the Authorized Claimants as allowed by this Stipulation, the Plan of Allocation, or the Court. 23. Upon and after the Effective Date with respect to the Net Settlement Fund, and in accordance with the terms of the Plan of Allocation or such further approval and further order(s) of the Court as may be necessary or as circumstances may require, the Net Settlement Fund shall be distributed to Authorized Claimants subject to and in accordance with the Plan of Allocation set forth in the Notice. 28 24. This is not a claims-made settlement, and if all conditions of the Stipulation are satisfied and the Final Judgment becomes Final, no portion of the Settlement Fund will be returned to the PwC Defendants. Neither the PwC Defendants nor their counsel shall have any responsibility for, interest in, or liability whatsoever with respect to the investment or distribution of the Net Settlement Fund, the Plan of Allocation, the determination, administration, or calculation of claims, the payment or withholding of Taxes or Tax Expenses, or any losses incurred in connection therewith. No Person shall have any claims against Plaintiffs’ Counsel, the Claims Administrator or any other agent designated by Plaintiffs’ Counsel based on distribution determinations or claim rejections made substantially in accordance with this Stipulation and the Settlement contained herein, the Plan of Allocation, or orders of the Court. 25. It is understood and agreed by the Settling Parties that any proposed Plan of Allocation of the Net Settlement Fund including, but not limited to, any adjustments to an Authorized Claimant’s claim set forth therein, is not a condition of this Stipulation and is to be considered by the Court separately from the Court’s consideration of the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation. Any order or proceedings relating to the Plan of Allocation, or any appeal from any order relating thereto or reversal or modification thereof, shall not operate to modify, terminate or cancel this Stipulation, or affect or delay the finality of the Final Judgment, or any other orders entered pursuant to this Stipulation. I. Plaintiffs’ Counsel’s Attorneys’ Fees and Reimbursement of Expenses 26. Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel may submit an application or applications (the “Fee and Expense Application”) for distributions from the Settlement Fund to Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel 29 and other firms that have participated in the Action on behalf of the Settlement Class Members for (i) an award of attorneys’ fees; (ii) reimbursement of actual costs and expenses, including the fees and expenses of experts and/or consultants, incurred in connection with prosecuting the Action as against the PwC Defendants; and (iii) reimbursement to the Representative Plaintiffs of their actual out of pocket expenses (including lost wages) and, if appropriate, an incentive award. 27. The attorneys’ fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of experts, consultants and/or the Representative Plaintiffs, as awarded by the Court, shall be paid to Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel (on behalf of all Plaintiffs’ Counsel and the Representative Plaintiffs) from the Settlement Fund, as ordered, on or after the Effective Date, together with interest accrued on such amount from the date of such order to the date of payment at the same rate as earned on the Settlement Fund. 28. The procedure for, and allowance or disallowance by the Court of, any application by Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or the Representative Plaintiffs for attorneys’ fees and expenses, including the fees and expenses of experts and/or consultants, are not a condition of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation and are to be considered by the Court separately from the Court’s consideration of the fairness, reasonableness, and adequacy of the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation. Any order of or proceedings relating to the Fee and Expense Application, or any appeal from any order relating thereto or reversal or modification thereof, shall not operate to modify, terminate or cancel this Stipulation, or affect or delay the finality of the Final Judgment or any other orders entered pursuant to this Stipulation. 30 29. Any award of attorneys’ fees and/or expenses shall be paid solely from the Settlement Fund and shall reduce the settlement consideration paid to the Settlement Class accordingly. The Released Parties shall have no responsibility for, and no liability whatsoever with respect to, any payments to Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or any other plaintiffs’ counsel or the Representative Plaintiffs and/or any other Person who receives payment from the Settlement Fund. J. Class Certification 30. In the Final Judgment, the Settlement Class shall be certified solely for purposes of this Settlement, but in the event that the Final Judgment does not become Final or the Settlement fails to become effective for any reason, all Settling Parties reserve all their rights on all issues, including whether a class should be certified in the Action. For settlement purposes only, in connection with the Final Judgment, the PwC Defendants shall consent to (i) the appointment of Representative Plaintiffs as the class representatives, (ii) the appointment of Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel as class counsel, and (iii) the certification of the Settlement Class pursuant to Rules 23(a) and (b)(3) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. K. Stay of Litigation 31. The Settling Parties agree to stay the litigation of claims in the Action as against the PwC Defendants pending the occurrence of the Effective Date. L. Conditions Of Settlement, Effect of Disapproval, Cancellation or Termination 32. The Representative Plaintiffs, on behalf of the Settlement Class, or the PwC Defendants shall have the right to terminate the Settlement and Stipulation by providing written notice of their election to do so (“Termination Notice”) to all other Settling Parties within thirty (30) days of: (i) entry of a Court order declining to enter the Preliminary Approval Order in any 31 material respect; (ii) entry of a Court order refusing to approve this Stipulation in any material respect; (iii) entry of a Court order declining to enter the Final Judgment in any material respect; or (iv) entry of an order by which the Final Judgment is modified or reversed in any material respect by the Court, the Court of Appeals or the United States Supreme Court. 33. The Effective Date of this Stipulation shall not occur unless and until each of the following events occurs and shall be the date upon which the last (in time) of the following events occurs: i. The Settling Parties have not exercised their respective rights to terminate the Settlement as provided in ¶¶ 31 or 34 hereof, and the time to exercise those rights has expired; ii. The Court has entered the Preliminary Approval Order attached hereto as Exhibit A or an order containing materially the same terms; iii. The Court has approved the Settlement, following notice to the Settlement Class and the Settlement Hearing, and has entered the Final Judgment; and iv. 34. The Final Judgment has become Final as defined in ¶ 1(m). Upon the occurrence of the Effective Date, any and all interest or right of the PwC Defendants in or to the Settlement Fund, if any, shall be absolutely and forever extinguished, except as set forth in this Stipulation. At the occurrence of the Effective Date, Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and Kirkland & Ellis shall no longer have joint control of the Escrow Agent with respect to the Settlement Fund. 35. If the aggregate Net Loss of Opt-Outs exceeds the threshold specified in a separate “Supplemental Agreement” between the Settling Parties, then the PwC Defendants shall have, in their sole and absolute discretion, the option to terminate this Stipulation and to render 32 the Settlement null and void in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Supplemental Agreement. The Supplemental Agreement will not be filed with any court unless and until a dispute among the Settling Parties concerning its interpretation and application arises, or unless the Court requires, and in either event any Settling Party may seek to have the Supplemental Agreement filed under seal, which application shall not be opposed by any other Settling Party. 36. If some or all of the conditions specified in ¶ 32 above are not met, or in the event that this Stipulation is not approved by the Court, or the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation is terminated or fails to become effective in accordance with its terms, then this Stipulation shall be canceled and terminated, unless all of the Settling Parties agree in writing to proceed with this Stipulation. None of the Settling Parties, or any of them, shall have any obligation whatsoever to proceed under any terms other than those provided for and agreed herein. If any Settling Party engages in a material breach of the terms hereof, any other Settling Party, provided that it is in substantial compliance with the terms of this Stipulation, may terminate this Stipulation on notice to all the Settling Parties. 37. In the event the Stipulation shall terminate, or be canceled, or shall not become effective for any reason, the Settling Parties shall be restored to their respective positions in the Action immediately prior to November 25, 2015, and they shall proceed in all respects as if the Stipulation had not been executed and the related orders had not been entered, and in that event all of their respective claims and defenses as to any issue in the Action shall be preserved without prejudice. 38. In the event that the Stipulation is not approved by the Court or the Settlement set forth in this Stipulation is terminated or fails to become effective in accordance with its terms, the terms and provisions of this Stipulation, except as otherwise provided herein, shall 33 have no further force and effect with respect to the Settling Parties and shall not be used in this Action or in any other proceeding for any purpose, and any judgment or order entered by the Court in accordance with the terms of this Stipulation shall be treated as vacated, nunc pro tunc. 39. In the event the Stipulation shall be terminated, or be canceled, or shall not become effective for any reason, within seven (7) business days (except as otherwise provided in the Supplemental Agreement) after the occurrence of such event, the Settlement Fund, less taxes, any Administrative Costs which have either been disbursed or are determined to be chargeable, shall be refunded by the Escrow Agent to the Citco Defendants (pursuant to written instructions from counsel pursuant to this Stipulation). At the request of counsel for the PwC Defendants, Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel or its designee shall apply for any tax refund owed on the Settlement Fund and pay the proceeds, after deduction of any fees or expenses incurred in connection with such application(s) for refund, pursuant to written direction from the PwC Defendants. 40. No order of the Court or modification or reversal on appeal of any order of the Court concerning the Plan of Allocation, ¶¶ 18-19 hereof, or the amount of any attorneys’ fees, costs, expenses, and interest awarded by the Court to Plaintiffs’ Counsel shall constitute grounds for cancellation or termination of the Stipulation. M. Miscellaneous Provisions 41. The headings herein are used for the purpose of convenience only and are not meant to have legal effect. 42. Each of the attorneys executing this Stipulation, any of its exhibits, or any related settlement documents on behalf of any Settling Party hereto hereby warrants and represents that he or she has been duly empowered and authorized to do so by the Settling Parties he or she represents. 34 43. This Stipulation, together with the Supplemental Agreement, constitute the entire agreement between the Settling Parties and supersede any prior agreements. No representations, warranties or inducements have been made to or relied upon by any Settling Party concerning this Stipulation, other than the representations, warranties and covenants expressly set forth herein and in the Supplemental Agreement. Except as otherwise provided herein, each Settling Party shall bear its own costs. 44. This Stipulation shall be binding upon, and shall inure to the benefit of, the Settling Parties and their respective agents, successors, executors, heirs, and assigns. 45. This Stipulation may be executed in any number of counterparts by any of the signatories hereto and the transmission of an original signature page electronically (including by facsimile or portable document format) shall constitute valid execution of the Stipulation as if all signatories hereto had executed the same document. Copies of this Stipulation executed in counterpart shall constitute one agreement. 46. This Stipulation, the Settlement, and any all disputes arising out of or relating in any way to this Stipulation, whether in contract, tort or otherwise, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to conflict of laws principles. 47. The Court shall retain jurisdiction with respect to the implementation and enforcement of the terms of this Stipulation, and all parties hereto submit to the jurisdiction of the Court for purposes of implementing and enforcing the Settlement embodied in this Stipulation. 35 48. This Stipulation may not be modified or amended, nor may any of its provisions be waived, except by a writing signed by all Settling Parties or their counsel or their respective successors in interest. 49. The Settling Parties and their counsel represent that they will not encourage or otherwise influence any Settlement Class Members to request exclusion from, or object to, the Settlement. 50. The Settling Parties covenant and agree that neither this Stipulation, nor the fact nor any terms of the Settlement, nor any communication relating thereto, is evidence, or an admission or concession by any Settling Party or their counsel, any Settlement Class Member, or any of the PwC Defendants or Released Parties, of any fault, liability or wrongdoing whatsoever, as to any facts or claims alleged or asserted in the Action, or any other actions or proceedings, or as to the validity or merit of any of the claims or defenses alleged or asserted in any such action or proceeding. This Stipulation is not a finding or evidence of the validity or invalidity of any claims or defenses in the Action, any wrongdoing by any Settling Party, Settlement Class Member, or any of the Citco Defendants or Released Parties, or any damages or injury to any Settling Party, Settlement Class Member, or any of the Citco Defendants or Released Parties. Neither this Stipulation nor the Supplemental Agreement, nor any of the terms and provisions of this Stipulation or Supplemental Agreement, nor any of the negotiations or proceedings in connection therewith, nor any of the documents or statements referred to herein or therein, nor the Settlement, nor the fact of the Settlement, nor the Settlement proceedings, nor any statement in connection therewith, (a) shall (i) be argued to be, used or construed as, offered or received in evidence as, or otherwise constitute an admission, concession, presumption, proof, evidence, or a finding of any, liability, fault, wrongdoing, injury or damages, or of any wrongful conduct, acts 36 or omissions on the part of any of the PwC Defendants or Released Parties, or of any infirmity of any defense, or of any damages to the Representative Plaintiffs or any other Settlement Class Member, or (ii) otherwise be used to create or give rise to any inference or presumption against any of the Released Parties concerning any fact or any purported liability, fault, or wrongdoing of the Released Parties or any injury or damages to any person or entity, or (b) shall otherwise be admissible, referred to or used in any proceeding of any nature, for any purpose whatsoever; provided, however, that the Stipulation or the Supplemental Agreement or the Final Judgment may be introduced in any proceeding, whether in the Court or otherwise, as may be necessary to argue and establish that the Stipulation or Supplemental Agreement or Final Judgment has res judicata, collateral estoppel, or other issue or claim preclusion effect or to otherwise consummate or enforce the Settlement or Final Judgment, or as otherwise required by law. 51. The Stipulation shall not be construed more strictly against one Party than another merely by virtue of the fact that it, or any part of it, may have been prepared by counsel for one of the Settling Parties, it being recognized that it is the result of arm’s-length negotiations between the Settling Parties, and all Settling Parties have contributed substantially and materially to the preparation of this Stipulation. 52. All agreements by, between or among the Settling Parties, their counsel and their other advisors as to the confidentiality of information exchanged between or among them shall remain in full force and effect, and shall survive the execution and any termination of this Stipulation and the final consummation of the Settlement, if finally consummated, without regard to any of the conditions of the Settlement. 53. Representative Plaintiffs and Plaintiffs’ Lead Counsel represent and warrant that the Representative Plaintiffs are Settlement Class Members and none of the Representative 37 Plaintiffs’ claims or causes of action against one or more PwC Defendant in the Action, or referred to in this Stipulation, or that could have been alleged against one or more FG Defendant in the Action, have been assigned, encumbered or in any manner transferred in whole or in part. 54. The Settling Parties shall not assert or pursue any action, claim or rights that any party violated any provision of Rule 11 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure in connection with the Action, the Settlement or the Stipulation. The Settling Parties agree that the Action was resolved in good faith following arm’s-length bargaining. 55. Any failure by any of the Settling Parties to insist upon the strict performance by any other Settling Party of any of the provisions of the Stipulation shall not be deemed a waiver of any of the provisions hereof, and such Settling Party, notwithstanding such failure, shall have the right thereafter to insist upon the strict performance of any and all of the provisions of this Stipulation to be performed by the other Settling Parties to this Stipulation. 56. The waiver, express or implied, by any Settling Party of any breach or default by any other Settling Party in the performance of such Settling Party of its obligations under the Stipulation shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any other breach, whether prior, subsequent, or contemporaneous, under this Stipulation. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Settling Parties have executed this Stipulation by their undersigned counsel effective as of the date set forth below. Dated: New York, New York January 6, 2016 38 WOLF POPPER LLP BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP By:Da1:ddr~~ By Howard L. Vickery, II 575 Lexington Avenue New York, NY I 0022 (212) 446-2300 /di ( Robert C. Finkel 845 Third Avenue New York, NY I 0022 (2 I 2) 759-4600 I LOVELL STEWART HALEBIAN JACOBSON -- and -- LLP / Stuart H. Singer Carlos Sires Sashi Bach Boruchow Eli J. Glasser 401 East Las Olas Blvd ., # 1200 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301 (954) 356-0011 By: . -- J__ <; /' /;;'.. . . (fat-v~ vL~ 1} Christopher Lovell Victor E. Stewart 61 Broadway, Suite 50 l New York, NY 10006 (212) 608-1900 Co-Lead Counsel for Plaintif.f.r HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ William R. Maguire Sarah L. Cave One Battery Park Plaza New York, NY 10004 (212) 837-6000 By: --------~ Emily Nicklin, P.C. Timothy A. Duffy, P.C. 300 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60654 (312)862-2445 Attorneys for PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N. V Attorneys for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 39 BOIES, SCHILLER & FLEXNER LLP WOLF POPPER LLP By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ David A. Barrett Howard L. Vickery, II 575 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10022 (2 l 2} 446-2300 By: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Robert C. Finkel 845 Third Avenue New York, NY 10022 (212) 759-4600 -- and -- LOVELL STEWART HALEBIAN JACOBSON LLP Stuart H. Singer Carlos Sires Sashi Bach Boruchow Eli J. Glasser 40 l East Las Olas Blvd., # 1200 Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 3330 l (954) 356-0011 By: _ _ _ _ __ _ _ __ Christopher Lovell Victor E. Stewart 6 l Broadway, Suite 501 New York, NY l 0006 (2] 2) 608-1900 Co-Lead Counsel for HUGHES HUBBARD & REED LLP Plaint~ff.~ KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP ::Nie m,P~/¥ Timothy A. Duffy, P.C. 300 North LaSalle Street Chicago, IL 60654 (312)862-2445 Plaza New York, NY 10004 (212) 837-6000 Attorneys for PricewaterhouseCoopers Accountants N. V. Attorneys for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 39

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