15 U.S.C. § 78u-1
Whenever it shall appear to the Commission that any person has violated any provision of this chapter or the rules or regulations thereunder by purchasing or selling a security or security-based swap agreement while in possession of material, nonpublic information in, or has violated any such provision by communicating such information in connection with, a transaction on or through the facilities of a national securities exchange or from or through a broker or dealer, and which is not part of a public offering by an issuer of securities other than standardized options or security futures products, the Commission-
The amount of the penalty which may be imposed on the person who committed such violation shall be determined by the court in light of the facts and circumstances, but shall not exceed three times the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of such unlawful purchase, sale, or communication.
The amount of the penalty which may be imposed on any person who, at the time of the violation, directly or indirectly controlled the person who committed such violation, shall be determined by the court in light of the facts and circumstances, but shall not exceed the greater of $1,000,000, or three times the amount of the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of such controlled person's violation. If such controlled person's violation was a violation by communication, the profit gained or loss avoided as a result of the violation shall, for purposes of this paragraph only, be deemed to be limited to the profit gained or loss avoided by the person or persons to whom the controlled person directed such communication.
No controlling person shall be subject to a penalty under subsection (a)(1)(B) unless the Commission establishes that-
No person shall be subject to a penalty under subsection (a) solely by reason of employing another person who is subject to a penalty under such subsection, unless such employing person is liable as a controlling person under paragraph (1) of this subsection. Section 78t(a) of this title shall not apply to actions under subsection (a) of this section.
The Commission, by such rules, regulations, and orders as it considers necessary or appropriate in the public interest or for the protection of investors, may exempt, in whole or in part, either unconditionally or upon specific terms and conditions, any person or transaction or class of persons or transactions from this section.
A penalty imposed under this section shall be payable into the Treasury of the United States, except as otherwise provided in section 7246 of this title and section 78u-6 of this title.
If a person upon whom such a penalty is imposed shall fail to pay such penalty within the time prescribed in the court's order, the Commission may refer the matter to the Attorney General who shall recover such penalty by action in the appropriate United States district court.
The actions authorized by this section may be brought in addition to any other actions that the Commission or the Attorney General are entitled to bring.
For purposes of section 78aa of this title, actions under this section shall be actions to enforce a liability or a duty created by this chapter.
No action may be brought under this section more than 5 years after the date of the purchase or sale. This section shall not be construed to bar or limit in any manner any action by the Commission or the Attorney General under any other provision of this chapter, nor shall it bar or limit in any manner any action to recover penalties, or to seek any other order regarding penalties, imposed in an action commenced within 5 years of such transaction.
For purposes of this section, "profit gained" or "loss avoided" is the difference between the purchase or sale price of the security and the value of that security as measured by the trading price of the security a reasonable period after public dissemination of the nonpublic information.
The authority of the Commission under this section with respect to security-based swap agreements shall be subject to the restrictions and limitations of section 78c-1(b) of this title.
Subject to the rule of construction under section 10 of the STOCK Act and solely for purposes of the insider trading prohibitions arising under this chapter, including section 78j(b) of this title and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, each Member of Congress or employee of Congress owes a duty arising from a relationship of trust and confidence to the Congress, the United States Government, and the citizens of the United States with respect to material, nonpublic information derived from such person's position as a Member of Congress or employee of Congress or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities.
In this subsection-
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or limit the construction of the existing antifraud provisions of the securities laws or the authority of the Commission under those provisions.
Subject to the rule of construction under section 10 of the STOCK Act and solely for purposes of the insider trading prohibitions arising under this chapter, including section 78j(b) of this title, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, each executive branch employee, each judicial officer, and each judicial employee owes a duty arising from a relationship of trust and confidence to the United States Government and the citizens of the United States with respect to material, nonpublic information derived from such person's position as an executive branch employee, judicial officer, or judicial employee or gained from the performance of such person's official responsibilities.
In this subsection-
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to impair or limit the construction of the existing antifraud provisions of the securities laws or the authority of the Commission under those provisions.
An individual described in section 13103(f) of title 5 may not purchase securities that are the subject of an initial public offering (within the meaning given such term in section 78l(f)(1)(G)(i) of this title) in any manner other than is available to members of the public generally.
1See References in Text note below.
15 U.S.C. § 78u-1
EDITORIAL NOTES
REFERENCES IN TEXTThis chapter, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (d)(4), (5), was in the original "this title", and this chapter, referred to in subsecs. (g)(1) and (h)(1), was in the original "this Act". See References in Text note set out under section 78a of this title.Subsec. (f) of section 78o of this title, referred to in subsec. (b)(1)(B), was redesignated (g) by Pub. L. 111-203, title IX, §929X(c)(1), July 21, 2010, 124 Stat. 1870. Section 10 of the STOCK Act, referred to in subsecs. (g)(1) and (h)(1), is section 10 of Pub. L. 112-105 which is set out as a note preceding section 13101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.
AMENDMENTS2022-Subsec. (g)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 117-286, §4(c)(24)(A), substituted "section 13101(11) of title 5)." for "section 109(11) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(11)))." Subsec. (h)(2)(B). Pub. L. 117-286, §4(c)(24)(B)(i), substituted "section 13101(9) of title 5;" for "section 109(8) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(8));".Subsec. (h)(2)(C). Pub. L. 117-286, §4(c)(24)(B)(ii), substituted "section 13101(10) of title 5." for "section 109(10) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 109(10))."Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 117-286, §4(c)(24)(C), substituted "section 13103(f) of title 5" for "section 101(f) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978".2012-Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 112-105, §4(b)(2), added subsec. (g).Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 112-105, §9(b)(2)(B), added subsec. (h).Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 112-105, §12, added subsec (i). 2010-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111-203, §762(d)(7)(A), struck out "(as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)" after "security-based swap agreement" in introductory provisions. Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 111-203, §923(b)(2)(A), struck out "(subject to subsection (e) of this section)" after "shall" and inserted "and section 78u-6 of this title" after "section 7246 of this title". Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 111-203, §923(b)(2)(B), (C), redesignated subsec. (f) as (e) and struck out former subsec. (e). Prior to amendment, text of subsec. (e) read as follows: "Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (d)(1) of this section, there shall be paid from amounts imposed as a penalty under this section and recovered by the Commission or the Attorney General, such sums, not to exceed 10 percent of such amounts, as the Commission deems appropriate, to the person or persons who provide information leading to the imposition of such penalty. Any determinations under this subsection, including whether, to whom, or in what amount to make payments, shall be in the sole discretion of the Commission, except that no such payment shall be made to any member, officer, or employee of any appropriate regulatory agency, the Department of Justice, or a self-regulatory organization. Any such determination shall be final and not subject to judicial review." Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 111-203, §923(b)(2)(C), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f). Former subsec. (f) redesignated (e). Pub. L. 111-203, §762(d)(7)(B), which directed amendment of subsec. (g) by striking out "(as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)", was executed by making the strike out after "security-based swap agreements" in subsec. (f), to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the redesignation of subsec. (g) as (f) by Pub. L. 111-203, §923(b)(2)(C). See above and Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note below. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 111-203, §923(b)(2)(C), redesignated subsec. (g) as (f). 2002-Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 107-204 inserted ",except as otherwise provided in section 7246 of this title" before period at end.2000-Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 106-554, §1(a)(5) [title III, §303(k)], inserted "or security-based swap agreement (as defined in section 206B of the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act)" after "purchasing or selling a security" in introductory provisions. Pub. L. 106-554, §1(a)(5) [title II, §205(a)(4)], substituted "standardized options or security futures products, the Commission-" for "standardized options, the Commission-" in introductory provisions. Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 106-554, §1(a)(5) [title III, §303(l)], added subsec. (g). 1990- Pub. L. 101-429 inserted "for insider trading" in section catchline.
STATUTORY NOTES AND RELATED SUBSIDIARIES
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2010 AMENDMENT Amendment by section 923(b)(2) of Pub. L. 111-203 effective 1 day after July 21, 2010, except as otherwise provided, see section 4 of Pub. L. 111-203 set out as an Effective Date note under section 5301 of Title 12, Banks and Banking.Amendment by section 762(d)(7) of Pub. L. 111-203 effective on the later of 360 days after July 21, 2010, or, to the extent a provision of subtitle B (§§761-774) of title VII of Pub. L. 111-203 requires a rulemaking, not less than 60 days after publication of the final rule or regulation implementing such provision of subtitle B, see section 774 of Pub. L. 111-203 set out as a note under section 77b of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT Amendment by Pub. L. 101-429 effective Oct. 15, 1990, with provisions relating to civil penalties and accounting and disgorgement, see section 1(c)(1), (2) of Pub. L. 101-429 set out in a note under section 77g of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATESection not applicable to actions occurring before Nov. 19, 1988, see section 9 of Pub. L. 100-704 set out as an Effective Date of 1988 Amendment note under section 78o of this title.
AFFIRMATION OF DUTY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES Pub. L. 112-105, §4(b)(1), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 292, provided that: "The purpose of the amendment made by this subsection [amending this section] is to affirm a duty arising from a relationship of trust and confidence owed by each Member of Congress and each employee of Congress."[For definitions of "Member of Congress" and "employee of Congress", see section 2 of Pub. L. 112-105 set out as a note under section 13101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.] Pub. L. 112-105, §9(b)(2)(A), Apr. 4, 2012, 126 Stat. 297, provided that: "The purpose of the amendment made by this paragraph [amending this section] is to affirm a duty arising from a relationship of trust and confidence owed by each executive branch employee, judicial officer, and judicial employee."[For definitions of "executive branch employee", "judicial officer", and "judicial employee", see section 2 of Pub. L. 112-105 set out as a note under section 13101 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.]
CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGSPub. L. 100-704, §2, Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4677, provided that: "The Congress finds that-"(1) the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 [1 5 U.S.C. 78a et seq.] governing trading while in possession of material, nonpublic information are, as required by such Act, necessary and appropriate in the public interest and for the protection of investors;"(2) the Commission has, within the limits of accepted administrative and judicial construction of such rules and regulations, enforced such rules and regulations vigorously, effectively, and fairly; and"(3) nonetheless, additional methods are appropriate to deter and prosecute violations of such rules and regulations."
COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL CIVIL PENALTY AUTHORITY REQUIREDPub. L. 100-704, §3(c), Nov. 19, 1988, 102 Stat. 4680, provided that the Securities and Exchange Commission should, within 60 days after Nov. 19, 1988, submit to Congress any recommendations the Commission considers appropriate with respect to the extension of the Commission's authority to seek civil penalties or impose administrative fines for violations other than those described in this section.