NIALL E. LYNCH (State Bar No. 157959)
MICHAEL L. SCOTT (State Bar No. 165452)
HEATHER S. TEWKSBURY (State Bar No. 222202)
Antitrust Division
U.S. Department of Justice
450 Golden Gate Avenue
Box 36046, Room 10-0101
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: (415) 436-6660
Attorneys for the United States |
FILED
JUL 30 2010
RICHARD W. WEIKING
CLERK, U.S. DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA |
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
SAN FRANCISCO DIVISION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA,
v.
HANNSTAR DISPLAY CORPORATION,
Defendant.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Case No. CR 10-0498 SI
Filed: 08/05/2010 |
PLEA AGREEMENT
The United States of America and HANNSTAR DISPLAY CORPORATION
("defendant"), a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Taiwan, hereby enter into
the following Plea Agreement pursuant to Rule 11(c)(1)(C) of the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure ("Fed. R. Crim. P."):
RIGHTS OF DEFENDANT
1. The defendant understands his rights:
- to be represented by an attorney;
- to be charged by Indictment;
- as a corporation organized and existing under the laws of Taiwan, to
decline to accept service of the Summons in this case, and to contest the jurisdiction of
the United States to prosecute this case against it in the United States District Court for
the Northern District of California;
- to plead not guilty to any criminal charge brought against it;
- to have a trial by jury, at which it would be presumed not guilty of the charge and the United States would have to prove every essential element of the charged
offense beyond a reasonable doubt for it to be found guilty;
- to confront and cross-examine witnesses against it and to subpoena
witnesses in its defense at trial;
- to appeal its conviction if it is found guilty; and
- to appeal the imposition of sentence against it.
AGREEMENT TO PLEAD GUILTY
AND WAIVE CERTAIN RIGHTS
2. The defendant knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights set out in
Paragraph 1(b)-(g) above, including all jurisdictional defenses to the prosecution of this case,
and agrees voluntarily to consent to the jurisdiction of the United States to prosecute this case
against it in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The
defendant also knowingly and voluntarily waives the right to file any appeal, any collateral
attack, or any other writ or motion, including but not limited to an appeal under 18 U.S.C. §
3742, that challenges the sentence imposed by the Court if that sentence is consistent with or
below the recommended sentence in Paragraph 8 of this Plea Agreement, regardless of how
the sentence is determined by the Court. This agreement does not affect the rights or
obligations of the United States as set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3742(b) and (c). Nothing in this
paragraph, however, shall act as a bar to the defendant perfecting any legal remedies it may
otherwise have on appeal or collateral attack respecting claims of ineffective assistance of
counsel or prosecutorial misconduct. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b), the defendant will
waive indictment and plead guilty at arraignment to a one-count Information to be filed in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of California. The Information will
charge the defendant with participating in a conspiracy to suppress and eliminate competition
by fixing the prices of thin-film transistor liquid crystal display panels ("TFT-LCD") sold in
the United States and elsewhere, from on or about September 14, 2001, to on or about
January 31, 2006, in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1.
3. The defendant, pursuant to the terms of this Plea Agreement, will plead guilty
to the criminal charge described in Paragraph 2 above and will make a factual admission of
guilt to the Court in accordance with Fed. R. Crim. P. 11, as set forth in Paragraph 4 below.
FACTUAL BASIS FOR OFFENSE CHARGED
4. Had this case gone to trial, the United States would have presented evidence
sufficient to prove the following facts:
- For purposes of this Plea Agreement, the "relevant period" is that period from
on or about September 14, 2001, to on or about January 31, 2006. During the relevant
period, HannStar Display Corporation ("HannStar"), a corporation organized and existing
under the laws of Taiwan, sold computer notebook and monitor TFT-LCD into various
markets, including the U.S. The defendant has its headquarters and principal place of
business in Taipei, Taiwan. During the relevant period, the defendant was a producer of
computer notebook and monitor TFT-LCD, was engaged in the sale of computer notebook
and monitor TFT-LCD in the United States and elsewhere, and employed between 1,000 and
5,000 individuals.
- TFT-LCD are glass panels composed of an array of tiny pixels that are
electronically manipulated in order to display images. TFT-LCD are manufactured by
various producers in a broad range of sizes and specifications for use in televisions, notebook
computers, desktop monitors, mobile devices, and other applications.
- During the relevant period, the defendant, through its officers and employees,
including high-level personnel of the defendant, participated in a conspiracy with major TFT-LCD producers, the primary purpose of which was to fix the price of certain TFT-LCD sold
in the United States and elsewhere. In furtherance of the conspiracy, the defendant, through
its officers and employees, engaged in discussions and attended meetings, including group
meetings referred to by some of the participants as "crystal meetings," with representatives of
other TFT-LCD producers. During these discussions and meetings, agreements were reached
to fix the price of certain TFT-LCD to be sold in the United States and elsewhere.
- During the relevant period, TFT-LCD sold by one or more of the conspirator
firms, and equipment and supplies used in the production and distribution of TFT-LCD, as
well as payments for TFT-LCD, traveled in interstate and foreign commerce. Certain
business activities of the defendant and its coconspirators in connection with the production
and sale of TFT-LCD affected by this conspiracy were within the flow of, and substantially
affected, interstate and foreign commerce.
- Acts in furtherance of this conspiracy were carried out within the Northern
District of California. TFT-LCD affected by this conspiracy were sold by one or more of the
conspirators to customers in this District.
POSSIBLE MAXIMUM SENTENCE
5. The defendant understands that the statutory maximum penalty that may be
imposed against it upon conviction for a violation of Section One of the Sherman Antitrust
Act is a fine in an amount equal to the greatest of:
- $100 million (15 U.S.C. § 1);
- twice the gross pecuniary gain the conspirators derived from the crime
(18 U.S.C. § 3571(c) and (d)); or
- twice the gross pecuniary loss caused to the victims of the crime by the
conspirators (18 U.S.C. § 3571(c) and (d)).
6. In addition, the defendant understands that:
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3561(c)(1), the Court may impose a term of
probation of at least one year, but not more than five years;
- pursuant to § 8B1.1 of the United States Sentencing Guidelines
("U.S.S.G.," "Sentencing Guidelines," or "Guidelines") or 18 U.S.C. § 3563(b)(2) or
3663(a)(3), the Court may order it to pay restitution to the victims of the offense; and
- pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B), the Court is required to order
the defendant to pay a $400 special assessment upon conviction for the charged crime.
SENTENCING GUIDELINES
7. The defendant understands that the Sentencing Guidelines are advisory, not
mandatory, but that the Court must consider the Guidelines in effect on the day of sentencing,
along with the other factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), in determining and imposing
sentence. The defendant understands that the Guidelines determinations will be made by the
Court by a preponderance-of-the-evidence standard. The defendant understands that,
although the Court is not ultimately bound to impose a sentence within the applicable
Guidelines range, its sentence must be reasonable based upon consideration of all relevant
sentencing factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a). Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8, the United
States agrees that self-incriminating information that the defendant provides to the United
States under this Plea Agreement will not be used to increase the volume of affected
commerce attributable to the defendant or in determining the defendant's applicable
Guidelines range, except to the extent provided in U.S.S.G. § 1B1.8(b).
SENTENCING AGREEMENT
8. Pursuant to Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(1)(C),the United States and the defendant
agree that the appropriate disposition of this case is, and agree to recommend jointly that the
Court impose, a sentence requiring the defendant to pay to the United States a criminal fine
of $30 million, payable in installments as set forth below, with interest accruing under 18
U.S.C. § 3612(f)(1)-(2) ("the recommended sentence"). The parties agree that there exists no
aggravating or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree, not adequately taken into
consideration by the U.S. Sentencing Commission in formulating the Sentencing Guidelines
justifying a departure pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 5K2.0. The parties agree not to seek or support
any sentence outside of the Guidelines range nor any Guidelines adjustment for any reason
that is not set forth in this Plea Agreement. The parties further agree that the recommended
sentence set forth in this Plea Agreement is reasonable.
- The United States and the defendant agree to recommend, in the
interest of justice pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3572(d)(1) and U.S.S.G. § 8C3.2(b), that
the fine be paid in the following installments: within thirty (30) days of imposition of
the sentence -- $5 million (plus any accrued interest); at the one-year anniversary of
imposition of sentence ("anniversary") -- $5 million (plus any accrued interest); at the
two-year anniversary -- $5 million (plus any accrued interest); at the three-year
anniversary -- $5 million (plus any accrued interest); at the four-year anniversary -- $5
million (plus any accrued interest); and at the five-year anniversary -- $5 million (plus
any accrued interest); provided, however, that the defendant shall have the option at
any time before the five-year anniversary of prepaying the remaining balance (plus
any accrued interest) then owing on the fine.
- The defendant understands that the Court will order it to pay a $400
special assessment, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3013(a)(2)(B), in addition to any fine
imposed.
- Both parties will recommend that no term of probation be imposed, but
the defendant understands that the Court's denial of this request will not void this
Plea Agreement.
- The United States and the defendant jointly submit that this Plea
Agreement, together with the record that will be created by the United States and the
defendant at the plea and sentencing hearings, and the further disclosure described in
Paragraph 9, will provide sufficient information concerning the defendant, the crime
charged in this case, and the defendant's role in the crime to enable the meaningful
exercise of sentencing authority by the Court under 18 U.S.C. § 3553. The United
States and the defendant agree to request jointly that the Court accept the defendant's
guilty plea and impose sentence on an expedited schedule as early as the date of
arraignment, based upon the record provided by the defendant and the United States,
under the provisions of Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(1)(A)(ii), U.S.S.G. § 6A1.1, and Rule
32-1(b) of the U.S.D.C. N.D. California Criminal Local Rules. The Court's denial of
the request to impose sentence on an expedited schedule will not void this Plea
Agreement.
9. Subject to the ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant
described in Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, and before sentencing in the case, the
United States will fully advise the Court and the Probation Office of the fact, manner, and
extent of the defendant's cooperation and its commitment to prospective cooperation with the
United States' TFT-LCD investigation and prosecutions, all material facts relating to the
defendant's involvement in the charged offense, and all other relevant conduct.
10. The United States and the defendant understand that the Court retains
complete discretion to accept or reject the recommended sentence provided for in Paragraph
8 of this Plea Agreement.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the United
States and the defendant agree that this Plea Agreement, except for Paragraph 10(b)
below, shall be rendered void.
- If the Court does not accept the recommended sentence, the defendant will be free to withdraw its guilty plea (Fed. R. Crim. P. 11(c)(5) and (d)). If the
defendant withdraws its plea of guilty, this Plea Agreement, the guilty plea, and any
statement made in the course of any proceedings under Fed. R. Crim. P. 11 regarding
the guilty plea or this Plea Agreement or made in the course of plea discussions with
an attorney for the government shall not be admissible against the defendant in any
criminal or civil proceeding, except as otherwise provided in Fed. R. Evid. 410. In
addition, the defendant agrees that, if it withdraws its guilty plea pursuant to this
subparagraph of the Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations period for any offense
referred to in Paragraph 14 of this Plea Agreement will be tolled for the period
between the date of the signing of the Plea Agreement and the date the defendant
withdrew its guilty plea or for a period of sixty (60) days after the date of the signing
of the Plea Agreement, whichever period is greater.
11. In light of the civil class action cases filed against the defendant, including In
re TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation, No. M:07-1827 SI, MDL No. 1827, in the
United States District Court, Northern District of California, which potentially provide for a
recovery of a multiple of actual damages, and the opportunity for potential victims to pursue
damages through nonclass claims in the multidistrict litigation and other proceedings, the
United States agrees that it will not seek a restitution order for the offense charged in the
Information.
DEFENDANT'S COOPERATION
12. The defendant and its subsidiaries engaged in the sale or production of TFT-LCD (collectively, "related entities") will cooperate fully and truthfully with the United
States in the prosecution of this case, the conduct of the current federal investigation of
violations of federal antitrust and related criminal laws involving the manufacture or sale of
TFT-LCD in the United States and elsewhere, any other federal investigations relating to the
manufacture and sale of TFT-LCD resulting therefrom, and any litigation or other
proceedings relating to the manufacture and sale of TFT-LCD to which the United States is a
party ("Federal Proceeding"). The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of the defendant
shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing to the United States all non-privileged documents,
information, and other materials, wherever located, in the possession, custody, or
control of the defendant or any of the related entities, requested by the United States
in connection with any Federal Proceeding; and
- using its best efforts to secure the ongoing, full, and truthful
cooperation, as defined in Paragraph 13 of this Plea Agreement, of the current and
former directors, officers, or employees of the defendant or any of the related entities,
as may be requested by the United States - but excluding Ting-Hwei Chou, a.k.a.
David Joe, and Ching-Hsien Wu, a.k.a. Sam Wu - including making these persons
available in the United States and at other mutually agreed-upon locations, at the
defendant's expense, for interviews and the provision of testimony in grand jury, trial,
and other judicial proceedings in connection with any Federal Proceeding.
13. The ongoing, full, and truthful cooperation of each person described in
Paragraph 12(b) above will be subject to the procedures and protections of this paragraph,
and shall include, but not be limited to:
- producing in the United States and at other mutually agreed-upon
locations all nonprivileged documents, including claimed personal documents, and
other materials,wherever located, requested by attorneys and agents of the United
States in connection with any Federal Proceeding;
- making himself or herself available for interviews in the United States
and at other mutually agreed-upon locations, not at the expense of the United States,
upon the request of attorneys and agents of the United States in connection with any
Federal Proceeding;
- responding fully and truthfully to all inquiries of the United States in
connection with any Federal Proceeding, without falsely implicating any person or
intentionally withholding any information, subject to the penalties of making false
statements (18 U.S.C. § 1001) and obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- otherwise voluntarily providing the United States with any non-privileged material or information not requested in (a) - (c) of this paragraph that he
or she may have that is related to any Federal Proceeding;
- when called upon to do so by the United States in connection with any
Federal Proceeding, testifying in grand jury, trial, and other judicial proceedings in the
United States fully, truthfully, and under oath, subject to the penalties of perjury (18
U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court
proceedings (18 U.S.C. § 1623), contempt (18 U.S.C. §§ 401-402), and obstruction of
justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.); and
- agreeing that, if the agreement not to prosecute him or her in this Plea Agreement is rendered void under Paragraph 15(c), the statute of
limitations period for any Relevant Offense as defined in Paragraph 15(a) will be
tolled as to him or her for the period between the date of the signing of this Plea
Agreement and six (6) months after the date that the United States gave notice of its
intent to void its obligations to that person under the Plea Agreement.
GOVERNMENT'S AGREEMENT
14. Upon acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea Agreement and the
imposition of the recommended sentence, and subject to the cooperation requirements of
Paragraph 12 of this Plea Agreement, the United States agrees that it will not bring further
criminal charges against the defendant or any of the related entities for any act or offense
committed before the date of this Plea Agreement that was undertaken in furtherance of an
antitrust conspiracy involving the manufacture or sale of TFT-LCD in the United States and
elsewhere, or undertaken in connection with any investigation of such a conspiracy. The
nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil matters of any kind, to any
violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any crime of violence.
15. The United States agrees to the following:
- Upon the Court's acceptance of the guilty plea called for by this Plea
Agreement and the imposition of the recommended sentence and subject to the
exceptions noted in Paragraph 15(c), the United States will not bring criminal charges
against any current or former director, officer, or employee of the defendant or any of
the related entities for any act or offense committed before the date of this Plea
Agreement and while that person was acting as a director, officer, or employee of the
defendant or any of the related entities that was undertaken in furtherance of an
antitrust conspiracy involving the manufacture or sale of TFT-LCD in the United
States and elsewhere, or undertaken in connection with any investigation of such a
conspiracy ("Relevant Offense"), except that the protections granted in this paragraph
shall not apply to Ting-Hwei Chou, a.k.a. David Joe, and Ching-Hsien Wu, a.k.a. Sam
Wu;
- Should the United States determine that any current or former director,
officer, or employee of the defendant or any of the related entities may have
information relevant to any Federal Proceeding, the United States may request that
person's cooperation under the terms of this Plea Agreement by written request
delivered to counsel for the individual (with a copy to the undersigned counsel for the
defendant) or, if the individual is not known by the United States to be represented, to
the undersigned counsel for the defendant;
- If any person requested to provide cooperation under Paragraph 15(b)
fails to comply with his or her obligations under Paragraph 13, then the terms of this
Plea Agreement as they pertain to that person, and the agreement not to prosecute that
person granted in this Plea Agreement, shall be rendered void;
- Except as provided in Paragraph 15(e), information provided by a
person described in Paragraph 15(b) to the United States under the terms of this Plea
Agreement pertaining to any Relevant Offense, or any information directly or
indirectly derived from that information, may not be used against that person in a
criminal case, except in a prosecution for perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making a false
statement or declaration (18 U.S.C. §§ 1001, 1623), or obstruction of justice (18
U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.);
- If any person who provides information to the United States under this
Plea Agreement fails to comply fully with his or her obligations under Paragraph 13
of this Plea Agreement, the agreement in Paragraph 15(d) not to use that information
or any information directly or indirectly derived from it against that person in a
criminal case shall be rendered void;
- The nonprosecution terms of this paragraph do not apply to civil
matters of any kind, to any violation of the federal tax or securities laws, or to any
crime of violence; and
- Documents provided under Paragraphs 12(a) and 13(a) shall be
deemed responsive to any outstanding grand jury subpoenas issued to the defendant,
its agents, or its representatives in this matter, or any of the related entities.
16. The United States agrees that when any person travels to the United States for
interviews, grand jury appearances, or court appearances pursuant to this Plea Agreement, or
for meetings with counsel in preparation therefor, the United States will take no action, based
upon any Relevant Offense, to subject such person to arrest, detention, or service of process,
or to prevent such person from departing the United States. This paragraph does not apply to
an individual's commission of perjury (18 U.S.C. § 1621), making false statements (18
U.S.C. § 1001), making false statements or declarations in grand jury or court proceedings
(18 U.S.C. § 1623), obstruction of justice (18 U.S.C. § 1503, et seq.), or contempt (18 U.S.C.
§§ 401-402) in connection with any testimony or information provided or requested in any
Federal Proceeding.
17. The defendant understands that it may be subject to administrative action by
federal or state agencies other than the United States Department of Justice, Antitrust
Division, based upon the conviction resulting from this Plea Agreement, and that this Plea
Agreement in no way controls whatever action, if any, other agencies may take. However,
the United States agrees that, if requested, it will advise the appropriate officials of any
governmental agency considering such administrative action of the fact, manner, and extent
of the cooperation of the defendant and the related entities as a matter for that agency to
consider before determining what administrative action, if any, to take.
REPRESENTATION BY COUNSEL
18. The defendant has been represented by counsel and is fully satisfied that its
attorneys have provided competent legal representation. The defendant has thoroughly
reviewed this Plea Agreement and acknowledges that counsel has advised it of the nature of
the charge, any possible defenses to the charge, and the nature and range of possible
sentences.
VOLUNTARY PLEA
19. The defendant's decision to enter into this Plea Agreement and to tender a
plea of guilty is freely and voluntarily made and is not the result of force, threats, assurances,
promises, or representations other than the representations contained in this Plea Agreement.
The United States has made no promises or representations to the defendant as to whether the
Court will accept or reject the recommendations contained within this Plea Agreement.
VIOLATION OF PLEA AGREEMENT
20. The defendant agrees that, should the United States determine in good faith,
during the period that any Federal Proceeding is pending, that the defendant or any of the
related entities have failed to provide full and truthful cooperation, as described in Paragraph
12 of this Plea Agreement, or have otherwise violated any provision of this Plea Agreement,
the United States will notify counsel for the defendant in writing by personal or overnight
delivery or facsimile transmission, and may also notify counsel by telephone, of its intention
to void any of its obligations under this Plea Agreement (except its obligations under this
paragraph), and the particular entity that fails to provide full and truthful cooperation
pursuant to Paragraph 12 shall be subject to prosecution for any federal crime of which the
United States has knowledge, including, but not limited to, the substantive offenses relating
to the investigation resulting in this Plea Agreement. The defendant or any of the related
entities may seek Court review of any determination made by the United States under this
paragraph to void any of its obligations under the Plea Agreement as to the particular entity.
The defendant and the related entities agree that, in the event that the United States is
released from its obligations under this Plea Agreement and brings criminal charges against
the defendant or any of the related entities for any offense referred to in Paragraph 14 of this
Plea Agreement, the statute of limitations period for such offense will be tolled for the period
between the date of the signing of this Plea Agreement and six (6) months after the date the
United States gave notice of its intent to void its obligations under this Plea Agreement.
21. The defendant understands and agrees that in any further prosecution of it or any of the related entities resulting from the release of the United States from its
obligations under this Plea Agreement, because of the defendant's or any of the related
entities' violation of the Plea Agreement, any documents, statements, information, testimony,
or evidence provided by it or any of the related entities, or current or former directors,
officers, or employees of it or any of the related entities to attorneys or agents of the United
States, federal grand juries, or courts, and any leads derived therefrom, may be used against it
or the related entities in any such further prosecution. In addition, the defendant
unconditionally waives its right to challenge the use of such evidence in any such further
prosecution, notwithstanding the protections of Fed. R. Evid. 410.
ENTIRETY OF AGREEMENT
22. This Plea Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the United States and the defendant concerning the disposition of the criminal charge in this case.
This Plea Agreement cannot be modified except in writing, signed by the United States and
the defendant.
23. The undersigned is authorized to enter this Plea Agreement on behalf of the
defendant as evidenced by the Resolution of the Board of Directors of the defendant attached
to, and incorporated by reference in, this Plea Agreement.
24. The undersigned attorneys for the United States have been authorized by the Attorney General of the United States to enter this Plea Agreement on behalf of the
United States.
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
/ / /
25. A facsimile or PDF signature shall be deemed an original signature for the
purpose of executing this Plea Agreement. Multiple signature pages are authorized for the
purpose of executing this Plea Agreement.
|
BY: _______________/s/________________
Tina Hsiu-Chiao Lin
Vice President and General Counsel
HannStar Display Corporation
4th Floor, No. 48, Wucyuan Rd.
Wugu Industrial Zone
Taipei 248, Taiwan
DATED: 06/29/2010
BY: _______________/s/________________
Hugh F. Bangasser, Esq.
Ramona M. Emerson, Esq.
K&L Gates LLP
925 Fourth Street, Suite 2900
Seattle, Washington 98104-1158
Tel: (206) 623-7580
Fax: (206) 623-7022
Jeffrey L. Bornstein, CA No. 99358
K&L Gates LLP
4 Embarcadero Center, Suite 1200
San Francisco, California 94111
Tel: (415) 882-8200
Fax: (415) 882-8220
Counsel for HannStar Display Corporation
DATED: 06/29/2010
|
BY: _______________/s/________________
Niall E. Lynch, CA No. 157959
Michael L. Scott, CA No. 165452
Heather S. Tewksbury, CA No. 222202
Trial Attorneys
U.S. Department of Justice
Antitrust Division
450 Golden Gate Avenue
Box 36046, Room 10-0101
San Francisco, California 94102
Tel: (415) 436-6660
Fax: (415) 436-6687
DATED: 06/29/2010
|
|