You don't “settle” with the SEC if you have done no wrong.
What is there to settle if you are innocent?
Plus, even as we speak, the SEC is still pressing charges against TWO former Apple execs relating to the illegal stock options backdating Apple scam. Funny way to "drop all charges" isn't it?
Let's try this again: Something funny going on, company investigates, company finds the culprits, company turns them over to the SEC for prosecution.
The company and the CEO are in the clear. The SEC prosecuted the culprits. Is that so hard to understand?