Goldman Sachs might get off with a $2 billion slap-on-the-wrist for its role in one of the biggest and most-star-studded financial frauds of all time, according to a new report.
According to Bloomberg, the $80 billion megabank is inching closer to an agreement with the Department of Justice to pay a fine of between $1.5 billion and $2 billion for arranging $6.5 billions in loans for the infamously fraudulent Malaysian investment fund 1MDB between 2012 and 2013.
Many on Wall Street had projected that the DoJ would throw penalties at Goldman somewhere in the neighborhood of $9 billion for helping arrange loans that were then used to wine and dine Hollywood’s elites like Leonardo DiCaprio and Miranda Kerr.
Considering that the Malaysian government is still looking to fine the firm $7.5 billion, this is very welcome news to Goldman and its shareholders. The prospect of such massive penalties had been an albatross on Goldman’s stock price, which rose 3.5 percent in midday trading to $224.75 a share.
The 1MDB fraud has made international news — thanks in part to Malaysian playboy Jho Low, who stands accused of having diverted some $4.5 billion of the government fund’s money to live a lavish lifestyle that included throwing money at celebrities.
Kerr was forced to return $8 million in jewelry as part of the probe, which the Victoria’s Secret model reportedly received while dating Low. Low also helped finance DiCaprio’s 2013 film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
Low, 38, remains at large and is believed to be hiding in China, according to reports. Ex-Goldman Sach banker Tim Leissner has pleaded guilty in the case while Roger Ng, a second banker accused of helping to arrange the loans, is reportedly working on a plea deal with the DOJ while awaiting trial in Malaysia.
Goldman’s potential slap-on-the-wrist fine comes as Attorney General William Barr has become personally involved in the negotiations, despite having had to seek a waiver to work on the case, Bloomberg said. Prior to being tapped as Trump’s US Attorney General, Barr worked for Kirkland & Ellis, the law firm representing Goldman in the 1MDB case.
Had Barr recused himself, the Goldman talks might have fallen to Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who was a senior partner at Kirkland & Ellis before joining the Trump administration in May of 2017.
A reduced settlement cost would be quite the Christmas present for Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon and his number two, president and COO John Waldron. Solomon and Waldron ran the investment banking division at Goldman during the time the 1MDB loans were made, and the stink of the scandal has been difficult to shake as they have sought to refocus Goldman’s operations on investment banking since taking over in October of last year.
For now though, Goldman is staying mum on the rumors. A firm spokesman told The Post that “We continue to cooperate with ongoing investigations.”
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December 07, 2019 at 04:10AM
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Goldman Sachs may get $2B fine over star-studded 1MBD fraud: report - New York Post
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