The fines and sanctions in negotiated settlements are usually...

The fines and sanctions in negotiated settlements are usually less. Court involves uncertainties, so if ASIC has put sanctions on the table that HCT is willing to accept, then it will almost certainly be less than going to court. Otherwise you would just go to court to get less sanctions than offered. No brainer. This way, ASIC get a guaranteed win and at leat gets to swing the whip a few times, even if less than they would like to. But it ends an uncertain and expensive process with some degree of certainty acceptable to both parties.

Punishing HCT is punishing shareholders, so I hope there is little in way of sanctions towards the company itself and more towards the Doc personally.