Petrobras Reaches Settlement With SEC for Misleading Investors

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Brazilian oil-and-gas company Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. with misleading U.S. investors by filing false financial statements that concealed a massive bribery and bid-rigging scheme at the company.  The…

SEC Proposes Amendments to Codify Exemption to Credit Rating Agency Rule

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has voted to propose rule amendments to codify an existing temporary exemption for credit rating agencies registered with the Commission as nationally recognized statistical rating organiza…

SEC Charges Firm With Deficient Cybersecurity Procedures

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a Des Moines-based broker-dealer and investment adviser has agreed to pay $1 million to settle charges related to its failures in cybersecurity policies and procedures surrounding a cyber intr…

SEC Charges Firm With Deficient Cybersecurity Procedures

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that a Des Moines-based broker-dealer and investment adviser has agreed to pay $1 million to settle charges related to its failures in cybersecurity policies and procedures surrounding a cyber intr…

SEC Charges Former CEO of Chilean-Based Chemical and Mining Company With FCPA Violations

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that the former CEO of Chilean-based chemical and mining company Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM) has agreed to pay $125,000 to resolve charges that he violated the Foreign Corrupt Pr…

SG Americas Securities Charged for Improper Handling of ADRs

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that SG Americas Securities LLC will pay more than $800,000 to settle charges of improper handling of “pre-released” American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), predominantly by its predecessor entity.

I…

SEC Staff to Host Roundtable on Market Data and Market Access

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced today that its Division of Trading and Markets will host a two-day roundtable on October 25 and 26 on market data and market access.  The roundtable agenda is below.

The roundtable will be held at the S…

SEC Awards Almost $4 Million to Overseas Whistleblower

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that it has awarded nearly $4 million to an overseas whistleblower whose tip led it to open an investigation and whose extensive assistance helped it bring a successful enforcement action. 

“Whist…

SEC Charges Unregistered Sales of Securities Issued Under EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that an Illinois-based regional center, its CEO, and 37 affiliated limited partnerships have agreed to settle charges related to securities issued under the EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program, which p…

Public Companies Charged With Failing to Comply With Quarterly Reporting Obligations

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against five public companies for failing to provide financial statements that were reviewed by their independent external auditor when they filed quarterly reports with the Commission on F…

SEC Staff to Host Nov. 15 Roundtable on the Proxy Process

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that its staff will host a roundtable on Nov. 15 to hear investor, issuer, and other market participant views about the proxy process and rules.

The proxy process is central to investors’ particip…

Business Services Company and Former CFO Charged With Accounting Fraud

The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged the former chief financial officer of Barrett Business Services Inc. for his role in an accounting fraud involving BBSI’s workers’ compensation expenses. The SEC also charged BBSI in the accounting f…