A Manhattan federal judge has consolidated securities class actions against Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and other affiliated persons (Goldman) and appointed three pension funds as co-lead plaintiffs in a lawsuit relating to a collateral debt obligation called Abacus, according to a Reuters article entitled “Pension funds to lead suit vs. Goldman over Abacus.” The class actions brought by purchasers of Goldman stock allege that Goldman officers and directors made false and misleading statements concerning its sale of a collateralized debt obligation (CDO) known as Abacus 2007 AC-1 (Abacus).