Thomas Weisel Partners LLC (Order Granting Waiver Under Rule 602(e) of the Securities Act of 1933)

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Before the
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Release No. 8494 / September 24, 2004

In the Matter of

THOMAS WEISEL PARTNERS LLC,

Respondent.

ORDER UNDER RULE 602(e) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 GRANTING A WAIVER OF THE DISQUALIFICATION PROVISIONS OF RULES 602(b)(4) AND 602(c)(2)

Thomas Weisel Partners LLC ("TWP"), has submitted a letter, dated July 20, 2004, requesting a waiver of the disqualification from the exemption from registration under Regulation E arising from TWP's settlement with the Commission of a civil injunctive proceeding and arising from any related injunction entered by a U.S. state or territorial court addressing the same activities as the settled injunctive proceeding.

On August 26, 2004, the Commission filed a civil injunctive complaint against TWP in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging that TWP violated Section 17(b) of the Securities Act of 1933 ("Securities Act"), NASD, Inc. ("NASD") Conduct Rules 2110, 2210(d)(1), 2210(d)(2), and 3010, and New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") Rules 342, 401, 472, and 476(a)(6).

TWP filed a "Consent of Defendant Thomas Weisel Partners LLC" in which it agreed, without admitting or denying the allegations of the Commission's complaint, to the entry of a Final Judgment against it. Among other things, the Final Judgment entered on September 24, 2004, permanently enjoins TWP from violating Section 17(b) of the Securities Act, NASD Conduct Rules 2110, 2210, and 3010, and NYSE Rules 342, 401, 472, and 476, orders TWP to pay $10,000,000 in disgorgement, penalties and interest, and requires TWP to comply with certain undertakings.

Rule 602(b)(4) makes the Regulation E exemption unavailable to an issuer if, among other things, such issuer or any of its affiliates is subject to any "order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, entered within five years prior to the filing of such [Regulation E] notification, temporarily or permanently restraining or enjoining such person from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with the purchase or sale of securities." Rule 602(c)(2) also makes the exemption unavailable to an issuer if, among other things, any investment adviser or underwriter of the securities to be issued is "temporarily or permanently restrained or enjoined by any court from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with the purchase or sale of any security or arising out of such person's conduct as an underwriter, broker, dealer or investment adviser." Rule 602(e) provides, however, that the disqualification "shall not apply . . . if the Commission determines, upon a showing of good cause, that it is not necessary under the circumstances that the exemption be denied."

Based on the representations set forth in TWP's July 20, 2004 request, the Commission has determined that, pursuant to Rule 602(e), a showing of good cause has been made and that it is not necessary under the circumstances that the exemption be denied as a result of the Final Judgment or as a result of any related injunction entered by a U.S. state or territorial court addressing the same activities as the settled injunctive proceeding.

Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED, pursuant to Rule 602(e) under the Securities Act, that a waiver of the disqualification provision of Rules 602(b)(4) and 602(c)(2) under the Securities Act resulting from the entry of the Final Judgment is hereby granted.

By the Commission.

Jonathan G. Katz
Secretary