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The US Securities and Exchange Commission charged Volkswagen AG, two of its subsidiaries, and its former CEO, Martin Winterkorn, for defrauding US investors, raising billions of dollars through the corporate bond and fixed income markets while making a series of deceptive claims about the environmental impact of the company’s “clean diesel” fleet.

According to the SEC’s complaint, from April 2014 to May 2015, Volkswagen issued more than $13 billion in bonds and asset-backed securities in the US markets at a time when senior executives knew that more than 500,000 vehicles in the United States grossly exceeded legal vehicle emissions limits, exposing the company to massive financial and reputational harm.

The complaint alleges that Volkswagen made false and misleading statements to investors and underwriters about vehicle quality, environmental compliance, and VW’s financial standing. By concealing the emissions scheme, Volkswagen reaped hundreds of millions of dollars in benefit by issuing the securities at more attractive rates for the company, according to the complaint.

The SEC’s complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California, charges:

1. Volkswagen AG with violating Section 10(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”) and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933 (“Securities Act”), and for control person liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act;

2. Volkswagen Group of America Finance, LLC (“VWGoAF”) with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder and Section 17(a)(2) of the Securities Act;

3. Winterkorn with violating Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, aiding and abetting Volkswagen AG’s and VWGoAF’s aforementioned violations, and for control person liability under Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act; and

4. VW Credit, Inc. with violating Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act.

The SEC complaint seeks permanent injunctions, disgorgement of ill-gotten gains with prejudgment interest, and civil penalties. The complaint also seeks an officer and director bar against Winterkorn.

The SEC’s investigation was conducted by Kevin Wisniewski, Jake Schmidt, Amy Flaherty Hartman, and Daniel Nigro of the Complex Financial Instruments Unit and the Chicago Regional Office, under the supervision of Jeffrey Shank and Daniel Michael, Chief of the Enforcement Division’s Complex Financial Instruments Unit. The litigation is being led by Daniel Hayes.

Resources

• Securities and Exchange Commission v. Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, et al., Nº 19-cv-01391 (N.D. Cal.) (filed March 14, 2019)