JPMorgan Chase & Co. announced that it has reached an agreement in principle to settle the Enron class action litigation entitled with a USUS$2.2 billion payout.

Under the terms of the settlement, JPMorgan Chase will make a payment of US$2.2 billion to the settlement class. Plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees will be paid out of the settlement. However, the settlement does not include any admission of wrongdoing by JPMorgan Chase. The firm stated that it agreed to the settlement solely to eliminate the uncertainties, burden and expense of further protracted litigation.

The class action settlement must be approved by the Board of Regents of the University of California (the lead plaintiff in the case) and the board of directors of JPMorgan Chase. It is also subject to the approval of the US District Court for the Southern District of Texas.

JPMorgan Chase also announced that it expects to take a charge to earnings of approximately US$2 billion (pre-tax) or approximately US$1.25 billion (after-tax) this quarter to cover this settlement and to increase its litigation reserves for its other remaining legal matters. After taking this charge into account, the firm will remain well-capitalized, with a Tier 1 capital ratio within the firm’s targeted ratios of 8.0% – 8.5%.

“We are working hard to put the uncertainty of litigation risk behind us,” said William Harrison, Jr., chairman and CEO. “In this regard, the firm appreciates the efforts of the Regents of the University of California and its advisors. By settling this case and increasing reserves for our remaining legal issues, the firm can better focus its energies on building our great company and serving our clients and shareholders.”

Of the approximately US$2 billion addition to the litigation reserves, approximately one half is associated with the potential costs of Enron-related matters, including the cost of settling this class action. The balance represents management’s current best estimate, after consultation with counsel, of the anticipated additional costs under a prudent view of the current legal environment associated with the remaining legal actions, proceedings and regulatory inquiries pending against the firm. The firm believes that its litigation reserves, after today’s reserving action, are adequate to meet its remaining litigation exposures, although the reserve may be subject to revision in the future.