Q&A: Seaco general counsel, compliance head on environmental regulations
Dominic Buckwell, general counsel and compliance head at global marine container leasing company Seaco, discussed key themes including anti-money laundering, sanctions, and why the industry needs common environmental reporting standards.
FATF removes Jamaica, Türkiye from watchlist; adds Monaco, Venezuela
Jamaica and Türkiye made “significant progress” addressing deficiencies in their anti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) programs, warranting their removal from the Financial Action Task Force’s grey list.
CFTC orders Trafigura to pay $55M over fraud, impeding whistleblowers
Singapore-based commodity trading company Trafigura will pay $55 million to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to settle charges related to fraud, manipulation, and impeding whistleblower communications with the agency.
Ecopetrol taps temporary compliance VP
Colombia-based oil company Ecopetrol announced Alberto Vergara Monterrosa will temporarily take over as corporate vice president of compliance and compliance officer.
JBS CECO on overcoming ‘fear, anxiety, and chaos’ of taking job post-FCPA settlements
Mike Koenig explained at Compliance Week’s 2024 National Conference how he helped rebuild JBS Foods’ compliance department following Foreign Corrupt Practices Act settlements with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission.
DOJ commodities trader FCPA sweep offers lessons in cooperation
The value the Department of Justice places on cooperation can be measured by studying penalties and agreements resulting from the agency’s long-running investigation into bribery and corruption by oil traders operating in Latin America and Africa.
Trafigura pleads guilty, to pay $127M over FCPA violations in Brazil
Singapore-based commodity trading company Trafigura agreed to pay nearly $127 million as part of a resolution with the Department of Justice addressing violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in Brazil.
Ex-Stericycle finance director charged for bribery scheme role
A former finance director at medical waste disposal company Stericycle faces Department of Justice charges for his alleged role in a bribery scheme that led the company to an $84 million settlement regarding violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
CW National 2024 Q&A: JBS CECO on compliance post-settlement
Michael Koenig, global chief ethics and compliance officer at JBS Foods, previews his session on rebuilding the compliance department following settlements with the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission at CW’s National Conference in Washington, D.C.
Gunvor to pay $661M to settle FCPA violations in Ecuador
Swiss-based oil trader Gunvor will pay more than $661 million as part of a plea agreement with the Department of Justice to resolve violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act involving a long-running scheme to bribe officials in Ecuador to secure oil contracts.
NYAG lawsuit: JBS misleading public with sustainability claims
Two U.S. subsidiaries of Brazilian meat processing company JBS are the subject of a lawsuit filed by the New York attorney general accusing the businesses of using misleading statements and marketing regarding their environmental commitments.
Nubank adds chief legal officer
Brazil-based financial services platform Nubank announced the arrival of Elita Ariaz as its new chief legal officer.
Marimaca Copper appoints general counsel
Canadian copper company Marimaca Copper Corp. welcomed Solange González as general counsel and corporate secretary.
Insurance broker Gallagher off hook in DOJ FCPA probe
Arthur J. Gallagher disclosed the Department of Justice ended an investigation into the insurance broker’s business in Ecuador for potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Freepoint Commodities to pay $99M in Brazil bribery FCPA case
Freepoint Commodities agreed to pay nearly $99 million to settle allegations by the Department of Justice that it paid bribes to Brazilian government officials in return for business from state-owned oil company Petrobras.
Trafigura to reserve $127M for DOJ settlement over Brazil bribes
Singapore-based commodity trading company Trafigura said it will disclose a $127 million provision related to the resolution of a Department of Justice investigation into alleged improper payments made in Brazil by former employees.
British reinsurers Tysers, H.W. Wood settle with DOJ over Ecuador bribes
Two U.K.-based reinsurance brokers, Tysers Insurance Brokers and H.W. Wood, reached separate settlements with the U.S. Department of Justice addressing their participation in a wide-ranging scheme to pay bribes to Ecuadorian government officials.
KPMG Japan fined $500K over journal entry quality controls
The Japanese affiliate of Big Four audit firm KPMG was assessed a $500,000 penalty by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for quality control deficiencies regarding journal entry testing.
OECD group questions Brazil’s momentum on anti-bribery
Brazil has made strides in its anti-bribery enforcement efforts, but a working group at the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is concerned the country doesn’t have the controls in place to sustain its progress.
Treasury eases Venezuela sanctions amid electoral progress
The U.S. Treasury Department dialed back certain of its sanctions against Venezuela after the latter’s government and an opposition faction agreed to work together toward the prospect of a presidential election in 2024.
Deloitte Colombia fined $900K by PCAOB for quality control violations
A Colombian affiliate of Big Four audit firm Deloitte agreed to pay $900,000 as part of a settlement with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board addressing alleged quality control lapses that occurred during the 2016 audit of a bank.
PCAOB fines three in latest reporting requirement sweep
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board continued its crackdown on reporting requirement violations with penalties against three audit firms, including a BDO affiliate.
Grupo Aval to pay $81M in landmark FCPA case
Colombian conglomerate Grupo Aval agreed to pay nearly $81 million as part of settlements addressing alleged bribes paid by its bank subsidiary Corficolombiana to win a highway construction contract.
Kroll survey: Firms rapidly adopting AI tools for financial crime compliance
A new survey of senior leaders and risk professionals from around the world found more than half the respondents have turned to artificial intelligence technology to address a perceived rise in financial crime risks, although most solutions are still rather new.
Mariva Capital Markets recruits CCO from Beta Capital Securities
Financial services veteran Robert Lebowitz joined Mariva Capital Markets as chief compliance officer.
IRB Brasil to pay shareholders $5M over CFO’s claims
Brazilian reinsurance company IRB Brasil RE agreed to pay $5 million to harmed investors after its former chief financial officer allegedly lied about Berkshire Hathaway investing in the company.
Uphold HQ fined $72K in OFAC sanctions case
Uphold HQ will pay $72,230 to settle charges levied by the Office of Foreign Assets Control that it processed sanctioned transactions for persons in Iran and Cuba and government employees in Venezuela.
Vale to pay $55.9M in SEC settlement over dam disclosures
Brazilian mining company Vale agreed to pay $55.9 million to settle Securities and Exchange Commission charges it issued false and misleading statements regarding the safety conditions of its dams.
TRACE enforcement report highlights anti-bribery trends from 2022
The United States broke from a three-year downturn in bribery-related enforcement actions, while Brazil continued its emergence in the space, according to the results of the latest annual Global Enforcement Report by nonprofit TRACE.
JBS accused of greenwashing in SEC whistleblower complaint
Brazilian meat processing company JBS faces accusations of issuing $3.2 billion worth of “misleading and fraudulent” sustainability bonds in a whistleblower complaint filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Honeywell to pay $203M over bribery claims in Brazil, Algeria
Honeywell International agreed to pay $202.7 million to settle charges it paid bribes to obtain contracts with government entities in Brazil and Algeria in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Three KPMG firms disciplined in $7.7M enforcement sweep
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board announced $7.7 million in total penalties against three separate KPMG firms and four individuals for varying violations of audit standards and ethical rules, including alleged exam cheating.
Insurance broker Gallagher latest target of DOJ Ecuador probe
Insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher is under investigation by the Department of Justice related to its business in Ecuador.
NodusBank avoids fine in OFAC case over Venezuela sanctions violations
Nodus International Bank was found to have violated U.S. sanctions against Venezuela by the Office of Foreign Assets Control for allowing three unlicensed transactions on a blocked account.
Compass Minerals fined $12M for disclosure control lapses
Compass Minerals International, a Kansas-based mining company, agreed to pay a $12 million fine to the Securities and Exchange Commission to resolve allegations deficiencies in its disclosure controls led to failures at facilities it operates in Canada and Brazil.
JBS names global chief sustainability officer
JBS, the world’s largest meat processing company, announced the appointment of Jason Weller as its first global chief sustainability officer.
Brazil airline Gol settles FCPA bribery charges for $41M
Brazilian airline Gol agreed to pay $41 million as part of reduced settlements addressing bribery investigations conducted by authorities in the United States and Brazil.
JBS appoints global chief ethics and compliance officer
Global meat processing company JBS announced the appointment of Michael Koenig as global chief ethics and compliance officer.
American Express to pay $430K for violations of sanctions against drug kingpin
A subsidiary of American Express agreed to pay $430,500 to settle charges its network processed 214 transactions on behalf of a Venezuelan drug kingpin who was designated on the U.S. sanctions list, according to the Office of Foreign Assets Control.
FCA fines JLT Specialty $9.7M for financial crime control lapses
The U.K. Financial Conduct Authority fined a unit of insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group 7.9 million pounds (U.S. $9.7 million) for failing to control financial crime within its South and Central American subsidiaries.
Tenaris to pay $78M to settle FCPA charges over bribes in Brazil
Tenaris, a global manufacturer of steel pipe products, agreed to pay more than $78 million to the SEC to settle charges it violated the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act by paying more than $10 million in bribes to a Brazilian government official.
Banco Popular to pay $255K for violating Venezuela sanctions
Banco Popular de Puerto Rico has agreed to pay more than $255,000 as part of a settlement with the Office of Foreign Assets Control to resolve its civil liability for 337 transactions processed in violation of U.S. sanctions.
Glencore fined $1B, placed under 3-year monitorship for FCPA violations
Glencore International AG, one of the world’s largest commodity traders, will be placed under a three-year compliance monitorship and pay more than $1 billion to resolve multiple investigations into alleged bribes paid in several countries over more than a decade.
JBS names corporate sustainability officer
JBS, the largest meat processing company in the world, appointed Maurício Bauer as corporate sustainability officer.
SEC accuses Vale of safety audit manipulation in 2019 dam collapse
Brazilian mining company Vale was accused by the Securities and Exchange Commission of making false and misleading safety audit and disclosure claims prior to the January 2019 collapse of its Brumadinho dam.
Stericycle to pay $84M to resolve FCPA violations
Medical waste disposal company Stericycle has agreed to pay $84 million in civil and criminal penalties to resolve allegations it paid bribes to win government contracts in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina.
WEX fined $350K over ICFR weaknesses
Financial technology service provider WEX agreed to pay $350,000 as part of a settlement with the SEC regarding violations of internal accounting control provisions in the federal securities laws at its former Brazilian subsidiary.
Honeywell records charge of $160M in FCPA probe
Honeywell International has recorded a charge of $160 million in accrued liability concerning an investigation by U.S. and Brazilian authorities as to whether the company’s use of third parties in Brazil violated the FCPA.
Ex-Braskem CEO gets 20 months in prison over bribery scheme
Jose Carlos Grubisich was sentenced to 20 months in prison for his role in a scheme to divert hundreds of millions of dollars in bribe payments from Braskem to government officials and political parties in Brazil.