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.
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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.
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Customer Identification Procedures: A Smarter Approach to CIP for Modern Businesses
Revolutionizing Customer Identification Procedures (CIP) in 2025
Discover how technology is transforming CIP, enabling businesses to achieve seamless customer experiences, enhance security, and ensure global regulatory compliance.
Boosting Compliance Efficiency: How One Broker Dealer Achieved 90% Improvement
Learn how a U.S. broker dealer achieved a 90% improvement in compliance efficiency to scale to billions of dollars a year. Discover how they consolidated KYC, KYB, and AML processes, reduced onboarding times from days to minutes, and transformed compliance into a competitive advantage
Navigating the Regulatory Landscape: How One Fintech Stays Ahead of the Curve
Discover how a crypto asset services provider stayed ahead of regulatory changes, including FATF Travel Rule compliance, by using iComply’s automated platform. Learn how they streamlined workflows, reduced compliance risks, and built trust with clients and regulators.