Compliance & Ethics

Hong Kong Regulator Penalizes Kylin International for Fund Governance Failures

Hong Kong’s securities regulator has taken disciplinary action against Kylin International, fining the firm about $1.15 million (HK$9 million) for a series of compliance and governance failures tied to its management of private funds.

Italy Fines Agos Ducato €800,000 for Discriminating Against Non-Italian SEPA IBANs

The Italian Competition Authority has said it fined Agos Ducato €800,000 after concluding the company spent years refusing direct debit repayments from non-Italian SEPA IBANs or steering customers into a more burdensome process than the one used for Italian accounts. The conduct, the Authority said, ran from February 2014 through the first quarter of 2023, cutting against the EU’s basic promise that paying in euros across SEPA should feel the same whether the account sits in Milan or Munich.

Massachusetts Joins $17.85 Million Generic Drug Price-Fixing Settlements

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has secured $17.85 million in multi-state settlements with pharmaceutical companies Lannett Company and Bausch Health, capping another chapter in a sweeping, years-long effort by states to unwind alleged price-fixing in the generic drug market.

Quebec Tribunal Shuts Down Online Trading Scheme, Hands Down $1 Million in Penalties

Quebec’s securities tribunal has imposed more than $1 million in penalties and sweeping market bans after concluding that a group tied to Ace Prime Group and Axes-Prime Ltd. orchestrated a fraudulent online investment scheme that left most investors with little to show for their money.

Dubai Financial Regulator Fines Ark Capital Over Market Abuse Oversight & Ownership Disclosure Lapses

The Dubai Financial Services Authority has fined Ark Capital Management $504,000 (AED 1,850,940), citing weaknesses in the firm’s market abuse controls and a failure to keep the regulator informed about a proposed change in ownership.

Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit Sets 2026 Anti-Money Laundering Priorities

South Korea’s financial intelligence authority is preparing for a significant expansion of its anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing regime, as it confronts a sharp rise in cross-border crime, increasingly sophisticated scams, and fast-moving risks tied to virtual assets.

BMO Penalized After Years of Incorrect Fee Disclosures

Canada’s financial consumer watchdog has shed more light on a long-running fee disclosure breakdown at the Bank of Montreal, saying internal control gaps allowed erroneous charges to persist for more than a decade and affect over 100,000 customers.