Compliance & Ethics

3M, the prominent American multinational corporation, has recently entered a $6 billion settlement to conclude the largest single mass tort in U.S. history. This settlement follows a separate agreement reached in June to pay up to $12.5 billion for the resolution of litigation involving "forever chemicals." Despite these settlements, the company's legal difficulties persist, impacting its financial standing and operational outlook.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is set to establish new regulations governing data brokers, with the aim of safeguarding consumer data and privacy. The move follows concerns about the misuse of personal information by data brokers, which has the potential to impact crucial decisions such as employment and financial approvals.

Archipelago Trading Services Inc. (ATSI), a Chicago-based broker-dealer, faces substantial penalties from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for neglecting to file legally mandated Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) related to over-the-counter (OTC) securities transactions.

Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has imposed a $5.5 million civil monetary penalty on Goldman Sachs & Co. in response to recordkeeping violations and failure to adhere to prior cease-and-desist orders.

Goldman Sachs Group is taking proactive measures to strengthen its compliance department as the financial industry faces heightened scrutiny from regulatory authorities, particularly the Federal Reserve. The Wall Street giant plans to bring in several hundred new employees to address concerns flagged by banking supervisors. The move reflects the industry's growing recognition of the need to enhance compliance structures in response to tighter regulations and increased regulatory oversight.

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.