January 2021 Regulatory Updates

Regulatory Actions and Updates from Around the Globe
Enforcement Highlights – January 2021
United States:
- The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged online entertainment and live streaming company Vuuzle Media USD $14 million for securities fraud.
- Fund manager at MG Capital Management real estate fund was charged by the SEC with misappropriating $7 million from retail investors.
- The SEC charged Deutsche Bank AG with violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) due to a lack of sufficient internal accounting controls. The bank agreed to pay $43 million in disgorgement and interest.
Germany:
- BaFin imposed a EUR 282,500 fine on SLEEPZ AG e-commerce group for failing to comply with financial reporting requirements.
Hong Kong:
- The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) has issued restriction notices to five brokers to freeze client accounts related to suspected market manipulation.
Regulatory Updates
Austria:
An Austrian startup building an app for trading in security tokens became the first fintech company to be admitted to Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) regulatory sandbox.
***
FMA announced that it has granted registration to 18 virtual asset providers since tightening anti-money laundering regulations in January 2020.
Past events:
Mergers & Acquisitions – The Future of Enhanced Due Diligence

Missed our January 2021 Fireside Chat? Watch the full event where guest panelists discuss the trends for enhanced due diligence within mergers and acquisitions for both buyers and sellers, and the importance that proper due diligence plays in successful M&A transactions.
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.
Corporate Due Diligence: KYB Best Practices for AML Risk Management
Corporate Due Diligence: Your Shield Against Money Laundering, Fraud, Risk and Liability. In today's dynamic business landscape, navigating risks and ensuring regulatory compliance is no easy feat. That's where corporate due diligence comes in – it's your shield...
Customer Identification: Best Practices for Accurate Verification
Customer identification is a critical process for financial institutions and businesses to verify the identities of their customers, mitigate risks, and ensure compliance with regulations. Accurate customer identification helps...
Enhancing Security with Liveness Detection Technology
In an era where digital fraud is increasingly sophisticated, liveness detection technology has emerged as a critical tool for enhancing security. This technology ensures that the biometric data provided during identity...