The creation of an independent, competent “Ombuds” function could be used by companies to respond to certain key requirements in the EU’s Whistleblower Protection Directive.
Europe
Posted inEurope
U.K. firm BlueCrest fined $170M by SEC for violating U.S. securities laws
U.K.-based investment fund BlueCrest Capital Management has agreed to pay $170 million as part of a settlement with the SEC for allegedly violating anti-fraud provisions of U.S. securities laws.
Posted inEurope
Norway’s DNB facing potential $45M AML fine
DNB ASA, Norway’s largest financial services group, is facing a potential fine of NOK 400 million (U.S. $45.4 million) for inadequate compliance with the Norwegian Anti-Money Laundering Act.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
Report shows Big Four stranglehold in U.K. near unavoidable
A review by the U.K. Financial Reporting Council found large companies will instinctively hire a Big Four firm as auditor, despite efforts by the regulator to break their dominance and open up the country’s audit market to smaller competitors.
Posted inEurope
U.K. corporate watchdog rips company reporting as ‘box-ticking exercise’
Not for the first time, the U.K.’s corporate governance regulator has said it is disappointed to see company reporting “does not demonstrate the high quality of governance” it expects.
Posted inAnti-Bribery
SBM Offshore FCPA case ends, Swiss investigation begins
SBM Offshore confirmed it has reached the end of its three-year deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice for FCPA violations, but the oil and gas services company is now facing a fresh corruption investigation from Swiss enforcement authorities.
Posted inEurope
Trio of U.K. fines expose third-party risks under GDPR
Recent GDPR fines against British Airways, Marriott, and Ticketmaster by the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office each saw the regulator dismiss claims by the companies that third parties were primarily responsible for the data breaches in question.
Posted inAccounting & Auditing
Lookers discloses $60.5M loss following accounting fraud probe
After delaying for eight months its 2019 audited financial statements, U.K. car dealership chain Lookers has disclosed a £45.5 million (U.S. $60.5 million) loss following discovery of accounting fraud by a former employee.
Posted inEurope
Vodafone Italy fined $14.5M under GDPR for telemarketing tactics
The Italian arm of multinational telecommunications company Vodafone is facing a fine of more than €12.25 million (U.S. $14.5 million) under the General Data Protection Regulation for aggressive telemarketing practices.
Posted inEurope
Biden will tread carefully on sanctions, seek international consensus, experts say
Experts believe President-elect Joe Biden will likely take his time before making big moves to unwind the dizzying array of sanctions levied by his predecessor, President Donald Trump.
