Compliance & Ethics

Wells Fargo has agreed to pay a $35 million civil penalty to resolve charges brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for overcharging more than 10,900 investment advisory accounts a total of over $26.8 million in advisory fees. This settlement highlights the need for stringent compliance procedures to ensure that financial firms honor their agreements with clients, even as they expand through acquisitions.

In a move to resolve allegations of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced that 3M Company will pay more than $6.5 million. The charges stem from violations of the books and records as well as internal controls provisions of the FCPA.

Following a year and half of deliberation and protest from fund managers over the initial proposal, the SEC voted on the final requirements the private funds industry will have to meet when it comes to disclosure and fairness with investors.

Britain's energy regulator, Ofgem, has announced that it is imposing a fine of £5.41 million ($6.88 million) on Morgan Stanley & Co. International plc (MSIP) for failure to record and retain electronic communications related to trading wholesale energy products. The penalty comes as a result of breaches that occurred between January 2018 and March 2020, Ofgem stated.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), a prominent U.S. bank regulator, is poised to propose comprehensive rules aimed at transforming the preparedness of large regional banks for their potential failures. The proposed rules are scheduled for announcement on August 29, as reported by a notice released late on Tuesday.

Fintech investment adviser Titan Global Capital Management USA LLC has agreed to pay a settlement of over $1 million to resolve charges brought by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The charges stem from allegations that the firm misled investors by providing false information about performance metrics and the custody of clients' cryptocurrency assets.

European tech companies are on the brink of facing a wave of new regulations that aim to reshape the digital landscape and hold large tech giants accountable. The regulations, set to be rolled out over the coming months, constitute the largest expansion of digital regulation in the Western world. These rules, while applicable only in Europe, are expected to have global repercussions, influencing tech platforms' operations and practices beyond European borders.