Compliance & Ethics

SEC Fines Cantor Fitzgerald $6.75 Million for Misleading SPAC Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has charged Cantor Fitzgerald, L.P. with misleading investors over its handling of two special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs). The firm, which has agreed to pay a $6.75 million civil penalty to settle the case, found itself under scrutiny for bending the truth about its early dealings with potential merger targets.

FINTRAC Hits Exchange Bank of Canada With $2.45 Million Penalty for AML Failures

the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) has slapped Toronto-based Exchange Bank of Canada with a $2,457,750 penalty for failing to uphold key anti-money laundering (AML) and anti-terrorist financing rules.

Federal Court Blocks Kroger-Albertsons Merger Over Antitrust Concerns

Judge Adrienne Nelson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon has stepped in to block the proposed $24.6 billion merger between Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies, Inc. On December 10, 2024, the court issued a preliminary injunction, reflecting growing concerns about the merger’s potential to harm competition, raise consumer prices, and negatively affect grocery store workers.

Senators Demand Accountability from TD Bank Executives as Insider Arrested for Money Laundering

Senators Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) are turning up the heat on TD Bank, demanding answers about what its executives and employees knew regarding a sprawling money-laundering operation. This operation, spearheaded by Da Ying Sze—a Queens-based individual—funneled more than $470 million from drug sales through the bank. The senators’ inquiry, detailed in a letter to TD Bank CEO Bharat Masrani, signals ongoing scrutiny despite October’s record-breaking $3 billion settlement with the Justice Department.

Methode Electronics Under SEC Scrutiny for Compliance with Anti-Corruption Laws

Methode Electronics, the Chicago-based manufacturer known for its contributions to transportation and cloud computing industries, is facing questions from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over its adherence to anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

SEC Fines Morgan Stanley Smith Barney $15 Million for Oversight Failures

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (MSSB) is facing a $15 million penalty from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) after the agency found significant lapses in the firm’s ability to supervise its financial advisors. The gaps in oversight allowed four advisors to misappropriate millions of dollars from client accounts over several years.

SG Americas Penalized for Fingerprinting Failures & Compliance Lapses

SG Americas Securities, LLC, a New York-based member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), has found itself in hot water for failing to comply with essential fingerprinting requirements. FINRA announced a $950,000 fine, a formal censure, and strict remediation obligations following SG Americas’ acknowledgment of violations dating back to 2016.