Brothers Scott and Brian Lines, as well investment firm LOM Holdings Ltd., have agreed to a settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that would end a near eight-year legal battle.

The tentative settlement, which has yet to be approved by SEC commissioners, is expected to finalised within three weeks.

The SEC had accused the defendants of participating in "pump-and-dump" stock schemes. The action was due to end up in a trial in a New York court, slated to start on October 12. The Lines brothers and LOM, among other defendants, denied the allegations.

Full story in Business, Page 25