Alinta Energy has paid $718,740 ($1,089,000 AUD) in penalties after the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) issued a record 15 infringement notices over alleged mishandling of Centrepay deductions and failures to refund and notify customers within the required timeframe.
Sweden’s financial watchdog (Finansinspektionen) has reprimanded Avida Finans and fined the lender USD 1.8 million (SEK 20 million) after discovering gaps in its consumer credit practices.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has launched Federal Court proceedings against suspended Western Australia–based mineral exploration company AVZ Minerals Limited and two of its directors, alleging failures to disclose critical information relating to a major lithium project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
Wessex Water and its shareholders are set to fund an £11 million package aimed at addressing failures in the company’s wastewater network, following findings from Ofwat that the utility did not adequately operate or upgrade parts of its system. The regulator announced the proposed enforcement action on Tuesday, opening a public consultation before a final decision is made.
Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a revised $38 billion settlement in an effort to resolve more than twenty years of litigation over credit card swipe fees. The card networks are hoping the updated proposal will satisfy U.S. District Judge Margo Brodie, who rejected a smaller settlement last year. Reuters was first to report the new agreement, which immediately drew criticism from several merchant groups who say the deal still doesn’t go far enough.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has warned retailers ahead of the Black Friday shopping period that it will be conducting a sales advertising sweep to detect misleading and deceptive promotional tactics.
First Trust Portfolios has agreed to pay a $10 million fine and accept a censure after the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) found the firm provided lavish gifts and entertainment to broker-dealer representatives in violation of longstanding limits on non-cash compensation tied to investment product sales. The settlement is outlined in a Letter of Acceptance, Waiver and Consent (AWC) that First Trust submitted without admitting or denying the findings.