GRC Report Staff

MAS Proposes Tighter Governance Rules for Singapore’s Biggest Banks & Insurers

The Monetary Authority of Singapore is proposing tighter governance requirements for the financial institutions whose decisions carry the greatest consequences, while easing some of the same rules for firms that pose less risk to customers and the financial system.

Polish Competition Authority Fines Electricity Contractors $3.5 Million Over Bid Rigging

The Office of Competition and Consumer Protection, or UOKiK, has imposed more than $3.5 million (PLN 13.5 million) in fines after finding that contractors coordinated their behavior in 11 tenders organized by electricity distributor PGE Dystrybucja. The contracts covered the construction and modernization of electricity grid infrastructure, including switching and disconnection points.

Deloitte Audit Committee Practices Report Finds ERM Leading as AI Oversight Grows

Enterprise risk management has reached the top of the audit committee’s priority list. AI governance is not far behind, though the people charged with overseeing it are considerably less certain they have the machinery in place to do the job.

FINRA Orders American Portfolios to Pay $1.2 Million Over UIT Supervision Failures

FINRA has ordered American Portfolios Financial Services to pay more than $1.2 million in restitution and fined the firm $400,000 over supervisory failures that left hundreds of investors paying unnecessary costs and fees on unit investment trusts.

Switzerland Finds Serious Risk & Money-Laundering Failures at Julius Bär

Swiss financial regulator FINMA has found serious risk management and anti-money laundering failures at Julius Bär, concluding an enforcement proceeding that exposed weaknesses in more than $1.26 billion (CHF 1 billion) of private debt lending and in the bank’s handling of clients linked to two Russian politically exposed persons.

Hong Kong SFC Fines Zheng Da Over AML & Trading Control Failures

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission has fined Zheng Da International Financial Holding approximately $899,000 (HK$7 million) and suspended one of its responsible officers after finding failures in the firm’s anti-money laundering controls, client monitoring and oversight of electronic trading systems.

EIOPA Cuts Reporting Burden as It Presses for Simpler EU Insurance Rules

EIOPA has cut quarterly reporting templates by 26% and annual templates by 30% for solo undertakings under the revised Solvency II Directive. For small and non-complex undertakings, the cuts run at 36% quarterly and 44% annually.