Volkswagen engineers charged with insider trading tied to Rivian joint venture
Volkswagen engineers charged with insider trading tied to Rivian joint venture
大众汽车两名工程师因涉及 Rivian 合资项目的内幕交易被起诉
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged two Volkswagen engineers with securities fraud for an alleged insider-trading scheme connected to the German automaker’s joint venture with Rivian. The indictment, unsealed Friday by the U.S. District Attorney for the Southern District of New York, alleges that Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank made more than $300,000 by using confidential insider information.
美国司法部已对大众汽车的两名工程师提起证券欺诈指控，指控他们参与了与这家德国汽车制造商和 Rivian 合资项目相关的内幕交易。周五由美国纽约南区联邦检察官公布的起诉书称，Michael Stamp 和 Marcus Plank 利用机密内幕信息获利超过 30 万美元。
Stamp and Plank allegedly bought Rivian stock and options after learning that the EV maker and Volkswagen planned to form a joint venture — internally codenamed “Project Climb” — but before the companies made any public announcements. Rivian and Volkswagen announced plans for the joint venture on June 25, 2024, which would focus on developing electric vehicle architecture and software.
据称，Stamp 和 Plank 在得知这家电动汽车制造商与大众汽车计划成立合资公司（内部代号为“Project Climb”）后，在公司发布任何公开公告之前，就购买了 Rivian 的股票和期权。Rivian 和大众汽车于 2024 年 6 月 25 日宣布了该合资计划，旨在共同开发电动汽车架构和软件。
Volkswagen initially committed to invest $5 billion in Rivian, with the capital to be released as the companies achieve certain milestones. The joint venture has since grown to $5.8 billion, and Volkswagen is now Rivian’s largest shareholder. Rivian’s stock price rose 23% following the initial announcement in June.
大众汽车最初承诺向 Rivian 投资 50 亿美元，资金将随着双方达成特定里程碑而分批投入。此后，该合资项目的规模已增至 58 亿美元，大众汽车目前已成为 Rivian 的最大股东。在 6 月份首次宣布该消息后，Rivian 的股价上涨了 23%。
Stamp and Plank then allegedly sold their Rivian positions, with Stamp realized about $250,000 in profits, Plank realizing about $50,000, and Plank’s close family member realizing about $12,000, as detailed in the indictment.
起诉书详细说明，随后 Stamp 和 Plank 出售了他们持有的 Rivian 股票，其中 Stamp 获利约 25 万美元，Plank 获利约 5 万美元，Plank 的一名近亲属获利约 1.2 万美元。
“Michael Stamp and Marcus Plank’s alleged exploitation of their employer’s confidential information allowed them to make more than $300,000 in illegal profits,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement Friday. “When people misuse confidential information for their own financial gain, they undermine the principles that allow our markets to function fairly and efficiently. Insider trading is a crime that New Yorkers want pursued with vigor. Its effects ripple through the financial system, harming ordinary investors and eroding public confidence. Today’s charges underscore the commitment of this Office and our law enforcement partners to protecting the integrity of our markets and holding accountable those who choose to violate the law.”
“Michael Stamp 和 Marcus Plank 利用其雇主的机密信息，非法获利超过 30 万美元，”美国检察官 Jay Clayton 在周五的一份声明中表示。“当人们为了个人经济利益滥用机密信息时，他们破坏了使我们的市场能够公平高效运作的原则。内幕交易是纽约人希望严厉打击的犯罪行为。其影响波及整个金融体系，损害普通投资者并侵蚀公众信心。今天的指控凸显了本办公室及我们的执法合作伙伴保护市场诚信、追究违法者责任的决心。”
Investigators allege the two engineers understood their actions were illegal. Eight days prior to the joint venture was announced, Stamp searched “statute of limitations insider trading,” and Plank’s close family member searched, in German, “how is insider trading prosecuted?,” according to the indictment.
调查人员称，这两名工程师清楚自己的行为是非法的。根据起诉书，在合资项目宣布的前八天，Stamp 搜索了“内幕交易的诉讼时效”，而 Plank 的一名近亲属则用德语搜索了“内幕交易是如何被起诉的？”。
The pair, who both live in San Jose, were arrested Friday and will appear in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla. Stamp and Plank face up to 25 years in prison if convicted of federal securities fraud.
两人均居住在圣何塞，已于周五被捕，并将出庭美国加利福尼亚北区联邦地区法院。该案已分配给美国联邦地区法官 Katherine Polk Failla 审理。如果联邦证券欺诈罪名成立，Stamp 和 Plank 将面临最高 25 年的监禁。
Rivian declined comment. A Volkswagen spokesperson said the company is aware of the Department of Justice action today involving two individuals. “The action is focused on specific individuals and does not involve allegations against the company,” the Volkswagen spokesperson said in an email statement. “As this is an ongoing matter, we are unable to comment further.”
Rivian 拒绝置评。大众汽车发言人表示，公司已知悉司法部今天针对两名个人的行动。“该行动针对的是特定个人，并不涉及对公司的指控，”大众汽车发言人在一份电子邮件声明中表示。“由于此事正在进行中，我们无法进一步评论。”