If You Entered into a CDS Transaction Between January 1, 2008 and September 25, 2015, You May Be Affected by Class Action Settlements

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The following statement is being issued by Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP and Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP regarding the In re Credit Default Swaps Antitrust Litigation.

"CDS" means any and all types of credit default swap(s) and CDS-based products, including, without limitation, single-name CDS, CDS on corporate, sovereign and municipal reference entities, tranche CDS, basket CDS, index CDS, and CDS futures. A "CDS Transaction" means (i) any purchase, sale, trade, assignment, novation, unwind, termination, or other exercise of rights or options with respect to any CDS, whether executed over-the counter or via inter-dealer brokers, a centralized clearinghouse, a central limit order book, an exchange, a swap execution facility, or any other platform or trading facility; or (ii) any decision to withhold a bid or offer on, or to decline to purchase, sell, trade, assign, novate, unwind, terminate or otherwise exercise any rights or options with respect to any CDS.

This notice is to alert you to settlements reached with defendants Bank of America Corporation and Bank of America, N.A.; Barclays Bank PLC; BNP Paribas; Citigroup Inc., Citibank, N.A., and Citigroup Global Markets Inc.; Credit Suisse AG; Deutsche Bank AG; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; HSBC Bank PLC and HSBC Bank USA, N.A.; JPMorgan Chase & Co. and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC; Royal Bank of Scotland PLC and Royal Bank of Scotland N.V.; UBS AG and UBS Securities LLC (collectively, "Dealer Defendants"); International Swaps and Derivatives Association; Markit Group Holdings Ltd. and Markit Group Ltd. (along with the Dealer Defendants, collectively "Defendants") in a class action. The lawsuit alleges that Defendants engaged in anticompetitive acts that affected the price of CDS in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1, principally by conspiring to prevent the creation of exchange trading platforms for CDS which, if established, would have reduced the spreads paid on each CDS transaction. The lawsuit further alleges that Defendants were unjustly enriched under common law by their anticompetitive acts. The lawsuit was brought by, and on behalf of, purchasers and sellers of CDS. The Defendants deny they did anything wrong.

Settlements have been reached with all Defendants. Defendants have collectively agreed to pay $1,864,650,000 ("Settlement Fund"). The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York ("Court") authorized this notice. Before any money is paid, the Court will have a hearing to decide whether to approve the settlements. Approval of these settlements by the Court will resolve this lawsuit in its entirety.

WHO IS A SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBER?

Subject to certain exceptions, the Settlement Class includes all persons or entities (together, "Persons") who, during the period of January 1, 2008 through September 25, 2015, purchased CDS from or sold CDS to the Dealer Defendants, their respective affiliates, or any purported co-conspirator, in any Covered Transaction. A purchase or sale of CDS shall be deemed to be a "Covered Transaction" in each of the following circumstances: (i) if the purchase or sale was by or on behalf of a Person either domiciled or located (e.g., had a principal place of business) in the United States or its territories at the time of such purchase or sale; (ii) if the Person was domiciled and located outside the United States and its territories at the time of any such purchase or sale, where such purchase or sale was in United States commerce; or (iii) where such purchase or sale otherwise falls within the scope of the U.S. antitrust laws.

If you are not sure if you are included in the Settlement Class, you can get more information, including a detailed notice, at www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com or by calling toll free 1-888-744-0531.

WILL I GET A PAYMENT?

If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not opt out of the Settlement Class, you will be eligible to file a proof of claim form. The amount of your payment will be determined by a Plan of Distribution. Details about the Plan of Distribution are available at www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com. A date for distribution of the Settlement Fund has not been set. Proof of claim forms must be postmarked by May 27, 2016 or electronically, through www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com, on or before 11:59 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, May 27, 2016.

WHAT ARE MY RIGHTS AS A CLASS MEMBER?

If you are a Settlement Class Member and do not opt out, you will release certain legal rights against the Defendants and the Released Parties, as explained in the detailed notice and settlement agreements, which are available at www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com. If you do not want to take part in the proposed settlements, you must opt out by February 29, 2016.

You may, but do not have to, comment on or object to the proposed settlements, the Plan of Distribution, or class counsel's application to the Court for an award of attorneys' fees, expenses, and incentive awards to the plaintiffs for representing the Settlement Class. To do so, you must submit your comments or objections by February 29, 2016.

Information on how to opt out or submit comments or objections is contained in the detailed notice and at www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com.

WHEN IS THE FAIRNESS HEARING?

The Court will hold a hearing on April 15, 2016, at 2:00 p.m., at the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse, 500 Pearl Street, New York, New York 10007 to consider whether to approve the proposed settlements, the Plan of Distribution, and class counsel's application for an award of attorneys' fees, expenses, and incentive awards to the plaintiffs. You or your lawyer may ask to appear and speak at the hearing at your own expense, but you do not have to. If you wish to appear, you must file a notice of intention to appear by February 29, 2016.

For more information, call 1-888-744-0531 or visit www.CDSAntitrustSettlement.com.

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SOURCE Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP and Pearson, Simon & Warshaw, LLP