Fireside Chat: Mergers & Acquisitions: The Future of Enhanced Due Diligence

Fireside Chat: Mergers & Acquisitions: The Future of Enhanced Due Diligence

Fireside Chat: Mergers & Acquisitions — The Future of Enhanced Due Diligence

Date: Thursday, January 28, 2020 | 10am PST – 1pm EST – 7pm CET

 

In a Merger and Acquisition (M&A) transaction, due diligence is a critical step to take in providing both parties the assurance that all risks and rewards have been scrutinized prior to completion.

From the buyer’s perspective, legal due diligence assesses the potential risks involved in the transaction. From the seller’s perspective, it provides the purchaser with trust, and can benefit the seller in ensuring the fair market value of the seller’s company.

This enables both parties to make a reasonable assessment of their findings and conclude whether to proceed with the transaction, or to include additional warranties and seek additional protection in the form of indemnities.

We invite you to our live chat,Mergers & Acquisitions: The Future of Enhanced Due Diligence” as we discuss: 

  • Reasons why due diligence is essential for M&A 
  • Digital tools that evolved to meet the increased demand 
  • Guidelines for the scope of M&A due diligence
  • Protections for buyers and sellers due to COVID-related uncertainty
  • When it’s appropriate to conduct enhanced due diligence

We welcome you to join us for this free Fireside Chat on January 28th at 10am PST / 1pm EST featuring a live panel of trusted thought leaders. 

VIDEO: Watch the full Fireside Chat below

 

GUEST PANELISTS

 

Ramona Tudorancea | Founder & Managing Director, JupiterBlock

Ramona is the Founder and Managing Partner of JB Advisory Services SEZC (JupiterBlock), a RegTech company based in Cayman Enterprise City that is a compliance and FinTech Accelerator platform. With a broad legal background in U.S. and E.U. business law, Ramona is a Columbia Law School and Paris Sorbonne alumna and was admitted as an attorney in New York (2008) and Paris (2009), and as an England and Wales (2019) and BVI (2020) solicitor. She practiced for nine years as an associate in the Paris office of Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP before moving to the Cayman Islands to work in the investment funds industry and is highly experienced in M&A deals, corporate finance, and investment funds. In 2017, Ramona became part of the leadership of the Lawyers Abroad Committee (LAC) of the International Law Section of the American Bar Association. Ramona has also been using her experience as a lawyer to help start-ups and investment funds with the increasing burden of compliance and regulations and to access funding.

Gene DiMira | Chief Identity Officer, The AML Shop

As one of Canada’s leading voices in the anti-money laundering industry and digital identification space, Gene has designed, implemented, and sustained AML/ATF programs digital identity programs both nationally and internationally. His background in systems, operations, and compliance controls spans financial planning firms offering securities, banking, and insurance products. His compliance focus progressed with Manulife, where he most recently served as the Head of Global Compliance AMLATF program. He currently volunteers with several organizations such as the DIACC Outreach Expert Committee, ACAMS International Sanctions Task Force, and the International Institute of Finance’s Digital Trust Initiative.

Dimitrij Gede | Founder, Anagram Compliance

Dimitrij has held specialized roles within the Luxembourg banking sector which have given him a robust perspective on the vital nature that regulation plays within traditional and decentralized markets. Dimitrij has extensive experience in compliance monitoring programs, screening and AML/KYC procedures, and client onboarding while keeping abreast of regulatory changes and identifying potential exposures to organizations. Adept in project management and problem resolution, he led the creation and management of a KYC department for a major German bank and liaised with several international partners to ensure that the bank’s KYC procedures enabled smooth client onboarding.

About iComply
iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a Regtech company that provides fully-digital KYC and AML compliance solutions for non-face-to-face financial and legal interactions. iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience. By partnering with multinational technology vendors such as Microsoft, DocuSign, Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv, iComply is bringing compliance teams into the digital age. Learn more: www.icomplyis.com

 

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December 2020 Regulatory Updates

December 2020 Regulatory Updates

December 2020 Regulatory Updates

Regulatory Actions and Updates from Around the Globe

Enforcement Highlights – December 2020

 

United States

  • The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged jewelry wholesaler Gregory Altieri for defrauding both current and retired police officers and firefighters in a Ponzi-like scheme.
  • SEC filed emergency action by imposing an asset freeze against Virgil Capital LLC in connection with an alleged securities fraud related to Virgil Sigma cryptocurrency fund.
  • SEC charged Ripple and its co-founders with raising over USD $1.3 billion through an unregistered, ongoing digital asset securities offering.
  • SEC charged real estate development company Silicon Sage Builders for USD $119 million securities fraud targeting the Northern California South Asian community.
  • China-based Luckin Coffee agreed to pay USD $180 million in penalties to settle accounting fraud charges for misstating the company’s revenue, expenses, and net operating loss.
  • General Electric paid a USD $200 million penalty to settle charges for repeated disclosure failures across multiple businesses that materially misled investors.

 

United Kingdom:

  • The Financial Conduct Authority fined Charles Schwab GBP 8.96 million for failing to arrange adequate protection for its clients’ assets and carrying out a regulated activity without permission.

 

Hong Kong:

  • The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong fined Fulbright Securities Limited USD $3.6 million for failing to implement internal control procedures to detect and prevent illegal short selling.
  • SFC issued a restriction notice to CNI Securities Group Limited to freeze client accounts linked to suspected market manipulation

 

Regulatory Updates

United Kingdom:

The Financial Conduct Authority has established a Temporary Registration Regime for cryptoasset businesses, which are required to be registered with the FCA by 10 January 2021. 

The regime was established due to FCA’s inability to assess and register all firms that have applied for registration due to the complexity of applications and COVID-19 pandemic restricting FCA’s ability to visit firms. It will allow existing firms that have applied for registration before 16 December 2020, and whose applications are still being assessed, to continue trading.

Businesses that began operating after 10 January 2020 are required to obtain full registration with the FCA before conducting business.

***

Her Majesty’s Treasury and The Home Office issued the third national risk assessment of money laundering and terrorist financing in the UK. The policy paper outlines how the key risks have changed since the UK’s second NRA was published in 2017, and the action taken since 2017 to address these risks.

 

 

Past events: How Compliance Changed in 2020

 

Watch the recording of our most recent webinar reviewing the impact that the Fifth Money Laundering, more commonly known as AMLD5, had on the landscape of compliance in 2020 for businesses and financial services providers around the globe.

 

Biometric Authentication in KYC

How is biometric authentication used in the realm of KYC and compliance? Learn more about how financial services providers are using biometric authentication to keep their customer’s identity secure in our most recent Regtech Glossary post.

 

 

 

learn more

Is your AML compliance too expensive, time-consuming, or ineffective?

iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience.

Request a demo today.

Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms
Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms

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Edge Computing and Real-Time AML Monitoring
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Fireside Chat: How Compliance Changed in 2020

Fireside Chat: How Compliance Changed in 2020

Fireside Chat: How Compliance Changed in 2020 – Year in Review: AMLD5 and its Global Impact

Date: Thursday, December 17, 2020 | 10am PST – 1pm EST – 7pm CET

The business of compliance shifted significantly in 2020. From broadening the requirements under AMLD5 to the worldwide restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic…the traditional nature of compliance has changed forever.

With the majority of financial services providers moving to online interaction with clients, how have organizations adapted to stay in business, and what will they need to succeed in the “new normal” of 2021 and beyond?

Join our live chat on “How Compliance Changed in 2020: AMLD5 and its Global Impact” as we discuss: 

  • The true impact of AMLD5 requirements
  • Anticipated changes expected with AMLD6
  • The unexpected impact of COVID-19 on both compliance teams and clients
  • What’s coming next in the compliance landscape in 2021

We welcome you to join us for this free Fireside Chat on December 17th at 10am PST / 1pm EST featuring a live panel of trusted thought leaders. 

 

GUEST PANELISTS

 

Gueorgui Gotzev | International Counsel, Kohler Gotzev

Gueorgui has a broad academic and operational experience in capital markets, bank & finance, alternative investment funds, distributed ledger technology (DLT), and Virtual Asset Services Providers (VASPs). He helps restructure, digitalized, optimize, and outsource any part of a fund’s investment management and central administration burdens. He loves consulting on process optimization and investor onboarding automation, KYC, AML/CFT, and CRS/FATCA compliance. Gueorgui holds an LL.M. in International Financial Law from the University of Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne and has completed a full qualification course in Luxembourg law (CCDL) from the University of Luxembourg.

Biba Homsy | Founder, Homsy Legal

Biba is the Founder and CEO of Homsy Legal, an independent legal firm that specializes in AML regulations, with a focus on fintechs. As former Head of International Cooperation at FIMNA (the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority) and former Chief Compliance Officer of Credit Suisse, Biba boasts an extensive background in the regulatory landscape that affects financial services providers and capital markets. Currently, she serves as Co-founder and board member of OpenVASP Association and has served as chair of both ALCO’s (Association Luxembourgeoise des Compliance Officers) Blockchain Crypto Working Group and Crypto Valley Association’s Regulatory Working Group.

Nicky Gomez | Partner, XReg Consulting

Nicky Gomez is a Partner at XReg Consulting, a group of former regulators with practical experience in formulating public policy and developing regulation for Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and virtual assets. Nicky developed a reputation for his pragmatic approach to regulation during his time at the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (GFSC), where he helped lead the design and implementation of the strategy, policy, and legal framework that delivered the world’s first bespoke regulatory framework for firms that use DLT. He also actively supported the development of the DLT industry in Gibraltar, which today hosts world-leading Virtual Asset Service Providers.

About iComply
iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a Regtech company that provides fully-digital KYC and AML compliance solutions for non-face-to-face financial and legal interactions. iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience. By partnering with multinational technology vendors such as Microsoft, DocuSign, Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv, iComply is bringing compliance teams into the digital age. Learn more: www.icomplyis.com

 

KYC Process: Steps to Effective Customer Verification
KYC Process: Steps to Effective Customer Verification

Know Your Customer (KYC) processes are essential for financial institutions to verify customer identities, assess risks, and prevent financial crimes. This article outlines the steps to an effective KYC process, ensuring...

Challenges in KYC Compliance and How to Overcome Them
Challenges in KYC Compliance and How to Overcome Them

Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance is vital for financial institutions, but it comes with several challenges. These challenges can hinder the effectiveness of KYC processes and pose risks to compliance efforts. This article...

AML Technology: Transforming Compliance Practices
AML Technology: Transforming Compliance Practices

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) technology is revolutionizing compliance practices in financial institutions. Advanced tools and technologies enhance the efficiency and accuracy of AML efforts, helping organizations detect, prevent,...

December 2020 Regulatory Updates

November 2020 Regulatory Updates

November 2020 Regulatory Updates

Regulatory Actions and Updates from Around the Globe

Enforcement Highlights – November 2020

 

Hong Kong: The Securities and Futures Commission of Hong Kong fined Credit Suisse Securities $2.1 million for regulatory breaches resulting in failures in its electronic trading systems.

 

United Kingdom: The Financial Conduct Authority imposed a £3.44 million penalty on TFS-ICAP Ltd, an FX options broker, for communicating misleading information to clients.

 

USA: The Securities and Exchange Commission of the United States charged Benja Inc., a San Francisco-based e-commerce startup, with defrauding investors, providing forged contracts and bank statements.

 

USA: The SEC filed actions against three investment advisory firms whose failure to implement written policies and procedures resulted in violations of the Investment Advisers Act in connection with sales of complex exchange-traded products.

 

Past events: Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership – The Challenges of UBO Due Diligence

Watch the recording of our most recent webinar breaking down the challenges and solutions to the Ultimate Beneficial Owner due diligence.

Legal Entity Customer Due Diligence

What is a legal entity in terms of compliance? Learn more about how due diligence helps financial institutions understand the relationships, risks, and obligations of a legal entity in our most recent Regtech Glossary post.

 

learn more

Is your AML compliance too expensive, time-consuming, or ineffective?

iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience.

Request a demo today.

Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms
Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms

Know Your Business (KYB) compliance is essential for law firms to verify the legitimacy of their business clients, mitigate risks, and adhere to regulatory requirements. This article explores the best practices and strategies for...

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Edge Computing and Real-Time AML Monitoring

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) monitoring is crucial for detecting and preventing financial crimes in real-time. Edge computing plays a vital role in enhancing real-time AML monitoring by providing improved data processing speed,...

December 2020 Regulatory Updates

October 2020 Regulatory Updates

October 2020 Regulatory Updates

Regulatory Actions and Updates from Around the Globe

Enforcement Updates – October 2020

 

International: Regulators in the United States, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom charged Goldman Sachs for deficiencies in its compliance and AML controls that led to multi-billion misappropriation of funds in a 1MDB bond offering underwritten by the firm in 2012 and 2013. Goldman Sachs agreed to pay over $3 billion in fines to the SEC, SFC, and FCA.

 

United States: The Commodity Futures Trading Commission filed a civil enforcement action charging the BitMEX trading platform with failure to implement required KYC/AML procedures.

 

United States: The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) targets the founder of Helix and Coin Ninja with a $60-million fine for violating AML laws.

 

United States: The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a Houston-based seismic data company with an accounting fraud that inflated the company’s revenue by approximately $100 million.

 

United States: The SEC fined Israel-based day-trading education firm $130,000 for selling security-based swaps to over 5,000 retail investors without registration.

 

United Kingdom: The Financial Conduct Authority censured Aviva plc insurance company for listing and transparency rules breaches.

 

 

Expert Insights

FCA Research Reveals 1.1 Million Spike in Cryptoasset Buyers

Oct 13, 2020  |  In our October Expert Insight series, Denisse Rudich of Rudich Advisory reviews the FCA’s recent findings on the growth of the cryptoassets industry in the UK and potential regulatory changes.

 

 

October’s Regtech Theme: UBO Due Diligence

Identifying and verifying an Ultimate Beneficial owner (UBO) of the company you are doing business with is a crucial requirement of corporate due diligence.

What are UBOs? How can you make sure they are not involved in money laundering or terrorist financing, and comply with AML regulations?

Learn more in the recent iComply Glossary article: Ultimate Beneficial Owner due diligence.

Upcoming Events


Fireside Chat: Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership

Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020 | 10am PST – 1pm EST – 7pm CET

Curious about the challenges and importance of beneficial ownership and proper due diligence?

Join our live November fireside chat, “Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership: The Challenges of UBO Due Diligence.

learn more

Is your AML compliance too expensive, time-consuming, or ineffective?

iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience.

Request a demo today.

Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms
Navigating KYB Compliance for Law Firms

Know Your Business (KYB) compliance is essential for law firms to verify the legitimacy of their business clients, mitigate risks, and adhere to regulatory requirements. This article explores the best practices and strategies for...

Edge Computing and Real-Time AML Monitoring
Edge Computing and Real-Time AML Monitoring

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) monitoring is crucial for detecting and preventing financial crimes in real-time. Edge computing plays a vital role in enhancing real-time AML monitoring by providing improved data processing speed,...

Fireside Chat: Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership

Fireside Chat: Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership

Fireside Chat: Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership

Date: Thursday, November 26, 2020 | 10am PST – 1pm EST – 7pm CET

 

Customer due diligence on the ultimate beneficial ownership (UBO) of a legal entity is a complex and time-consuming process.

Definitions of a UBO varying greatly across jurisdictions, opaque company structures, and the lack of verifiable entity ownership data from trusted sources—all these factors create significant challenges for compliance teams, especially when transacting with corporations across several countries.

Join our live November fireside chat, “Navigating the Complexities of Beneficial Ownership: The Challenges of UBO Due Diligence“, as we host industry thought leaders and experts to discuss: 

  • The process of gathering, evaluating, and validating data from UBOs against trusted sources
  • Differentiating between % of ownership and % of control
  • Challenges of international UBO identification
  • Best practices in customer due diligence for remote, non-face-to-face transactions

 

We welcome you to join us for this free Fireside Chat on November 26th at 10am PST / 1pm EST featuring a live panel of trusted experts from around the globe. 

GUEST PANELISTS

Gene DiMira | Chief Identity Officer, The AML Shop

As one of Canada’s leading voices in the anti-money laundering industry and digital identification space, Gene has designed, implemented, and sustained AML/ATF programs digital identity programs both nationally and internationally. His background in systems, operations, and compliance controls spans financial planning firms offering securities, banking, and insurance products. His compliance focus progressed with Manulife, where he most recently served as the Head of Global Compliance AMLATF program. He currently volunteers with several organizations such as the DIACC Outreach Expert Committee, ACAMS International Sanctions Task Force, and the International Institute of Finance’s Digital Trust Initiative. 

 

Dimitrij Gede | Founder, Anagram Compliance

Dimitrij has held specialized roles within the Luxembourg banking sector which have given him a robust perspective on the vital nature that regulation plays within traditional and decentralized markets. Dimitrij has extensive experience in compliance monitoring programs, screening and AML/KYC procedures, and client onboarding while keeping abreast of regulatory changes and identifying potential exposures to organizations. Adept in project management and problem resolution, he led the creation and management of a KYC department for a major German bank and liaised with several international partners to ensure that the bank’s KYC procedures enabled smooth client onboarding.

 

Matthew Unger | Founder & CEO, iComply

Matthew Unger is the founder and CEO of iComply. After exiting a successful wealth management firm at 26, Matthew has become a recognized thought leader in fintech and regulation with over a decade of experience in advisory and technical positions in Canadian financial technology. Matthew has studied blockchain, AI, and Business Strategy at MIT. He is an active member of DIACC, Surfrider Foundation, and is an internationally recognized public speaker on fintech regulation and compliance. As an author, Matthew has been published in The Economist, Forbes, and Finance Magnates.

About iComply
iComply Investor Services Inc. (“iComply”) is a Regtech company that provides fully-digital KYC and AML compliance solutions for non-face-to-face financial and legal interactions. iComply enables financial services providers to reduce costs, risk, and complexity and improve staff capacity, effectiveness, and customer experience. By partnering with multinational technology vendors such as Microsoft, DocuSign, Thomson Reuters and Refinitiv, iComply is bringing compliance teams into the digital age. Learn more: www.icomplyis.com

 

KYC Process: Steps to Effective Customer Verification
KYC Process: Steps to Effective Customer Verification

Know Your Customer (KYC) processes are essential for financial institutions to verify customer identities, assess risks, and prevent financial crimes. This article outlines the steps to an effective KYC process, ensuring...

Challenges in KYC Compliance and How to Overcome Them
Challenges in KYC Compliance and How to Overcome Them

Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance is vital for financial institutions, but it comes with several challenges. These challenges can hinder the effectiveness of KYC processes and pose risks to compliance efforts. This article...

AML Technology: Transforming Compliance Practices
AML Technology: Transforming Compliance Practices

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) technology is revolutionizing compliance practices in financial institutions. Advanced tools and technologies enhance the efficiency and accuracy of AML efforts, helping organizations detect, prevent,...

Vaidyanathan Chandrashekhar

Vaidyanathan Chandrashekhar

Advisors

“Chandy,” is a technology and risk expert with executive experience at Boston Consulting Group, Citi, and PwC. With over two decades in financial services, digital transformation, and enterprise risk, he advises iComply on scalable compliance infrastructure for global markets.
Thomas Linder

Thomas Linder

Advisors

Thomas is a global tax and compliance expert with deep specialization in digital assets, blockchain, and tokenization. As a partner at MME Legal | Tax | Compliance, he advises iComply on regulatory strategy, cross-border compliance, and digital finance innovation.
Thomas Hardjono

Thomas Hardjono

Advisors

Thomas is a renowned identity and cybersecurity expert, serving as CTO of Connection Science at MIT. With deep expertise in decentralized identity, zero trust, and secure data exchange, he advises iComply on cutting-edge technology and privacy-first compliance architecture.
Rodney Dobson

Rodney Dobson

Advisors

Rodney is the former President of ADP Canada and international executive with over two decades of leadership in global HR and enterprise technology. He advises iComply with deep expertise in international service delivery, M&A, and scaling high-growth operations across regulated markets.
Praveen Mandal

Praveen Mandal

Advisors

Praveen is a serial entrepreneur and technology innovator, known for leadership roles at Lucent Bell Labs, ChargePoint, and the Stanford Linear Accelerator. He advises iComply on advanced computing, scalable infrastructure, and the intersection of AI, energy, and compliance tech.
Paul Childerhose

Paul Childerhose

Advisors

Paul is a Canadian RegTech leader and founder of Maple Peak Group, with extensive experience in financial services compliance, AML, and digital transformation. He advises iComply on regulatory alignment, operational strategy, and scaling compliance programs in complex markets.
John Engle

John Engle

Advisors

John is a seasoned business executive with senior leadership experience at CIBC, UBS, and Accenture. With deep expertise in investment banking, private equity, and digital transformation, he advises iComply on strategic growth, partnerships, and global market expansion.
Jeff Bandman

Jeff Bandman

Advisors

Jeff is a former CFTC official and globally recognized expert in financial regulation, fintech, and digital assets. As founder of Bandman Advisors, he brings deep insight into regulatory policy, market infrastructure, and innovation to guide iComply’s global compliance strategy.
Greg Pearlman

Greg Pearlman

Advisors

Greg is a seasoned investment banker with over 35 years of experience, including leadership roles at BMO Capital Markets, Morgan Stanley, and Citigroup. Greg brings deep expertise in financial strategy and growth to support iComply's expansion in the RegTech sector.
Deven Sharma

Deven Sharma

Advisors

Deven is the former President of S&P and a globally respected authority in risk, data, and capital markets. With decades of leadership across financial services and tech, he advises iComply on strategic growth, governance, and the future of trusted data in AML compliance.