Backroom meetings over cigars and a game of poker are so old school. Todays rage is just chatting:

http://qz.com/246325/goldman-sachs-aims-to-end-the-era-of-ho...

if u cud see ur way to a small drop there might be a steak in it for ya

We’re just not, we’re not allowed to have those conversations on [instant messages]

The upside to GS for Tesla to issue stock 3% higher is pretty minuscule, if anything (GS probably priced their take at a 20 day trailing average price, or whatever). The downside is enormous, and compliance and the SEC are crawling over the place. Plus, the issuance is going to take place at whatever price investors think the stock is worth. If investors think there's a big conflict of interest, they'll price that in.

> the SEC

Hahaha, that's a good one! As though investment banks are afraid of regulators[0].

[0] http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/536/t...

> The downside is enormous

Like what, exactly? I mean, it's not like they'd have to pay a massive fine or go to jail.

correl(smoke, fire);

0

...in our post-prejudicial world.