When lawmakers slam the U.K.’s chief financial regulator as “incompetent,” it not only opens the doors for others to pile criticism on it, but it sparks a debate about how the organization can be improved–or removed.
Regulatory Enforcement
Becton Dickinson pays $175M for misleading investors about flawed IV pump system
Becton Dickinson medical device company will pay $175 million for “repeatedly” misleading investors about its Alaris infusion pump, a product the company knew was flawed and was sold without the required patient-safety approvals, the Securities and Exchange Commission said.
Bankrupt retailer Express avoids fine in SEC understated CEO perks case
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged bankrupt fashion retailer Express with failing to disclose nearly $1 million in perks to a former chief executive, but did not levy a financial penalty thanks to its cooperation, the SEC said.
Minnesota transport company hit with sanctions violations for Cuba, Iran trade
A Minnesota transportation company agreed to pay nearly $258,000 to settle allegations that a subsidiaries violated sanctions against Cuba and Iran more than 80 times, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said.
McKinsey & Co. to pay $650M, improve compliance over opioid advice to Purdue Pharma
McKinsey & Co. will pay $650 million in penalties to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to settle charges that it advised Purdue Pharma on how to “turbocharge” the sale of Oxycontin in the middle of the U.S. opioid crisis.
SeaCrest to pay $375K to settle charges that it failed to supervise rogue adviser
New York-based SeaCrest Wealth Management will pay a $375,000 fine for failing to properly prevent a cherry-picking scheme perpetrated by one of its investment advisers.
SEC fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75M for failing to disclose pre-IPO talks
Financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald will pay a $6.75 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission for making misleading statements regarding two special purpose acquisition companies that it controlled.
U.K. can’t shake reputation of being a conduit to individual, institutional money laundering
London has long had the dubious reputation of being the world’s money laundering capital and it looks like it’s a title it is likely to retain for some time yet.
SEC fines Morgan Stanley $15M to settle allegations of theft of client funds
A lack of supervision and internal controls at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney allowed four of its investment advisers to steal millions from customers before the behavior was detected, the SEC said in charging the firm.
DOJ hits McKinsey & Co. subsidiary with $123M criminal penalty over bribes in South Africa
A subsidiary of McKinsey & Co. will pay nearly $123 million to the Department of Justice to settle allegations that it bribed officials in South Africa to win consulting contracts.


