$875,000 Awarded to SEC Whistleblower By: Brenda Hamilton Attorney
This week the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) announced a whistleblower award of more than $875,000 to be split evenly between two individuals who provided tips and assistance to help the agency bring an enforcement action. The SEC’s Whistleblower Program authorized by the Dodd-Frank Act rewards high-quality, original information that results in an SEC enforcement action with sanctions exceeding $1 million.
Whistleblower awards can range from 10 percent to 30 percent of the money collected in a case. The total award represents 30% of the amount collected by the SEC in this case – the maximum percentage award allowed under the SEC Whistleblower Program. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC must protect the confidentiality of whistleblowers and cannot disclose any information that might directly or indirectly reveal a whistleblower’s identity.
“These whistleblowers provided original information and assistance that enabled us to investigate and bring a successful enforcement action in a complex area of the securities market,” said Sean McKessy, chief of the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower. “Whistleblowers who report their concerns to the SEC perform a great service to investors and help us combat fraud.”
A total of eight whistleblowers have been awarded bounties through the SEC’s Whistleblower Program since it began in late 2011. In keeping with the Whistleblower Program’s emphasis on protecting those who report securities violations, the SEC did not disclose the identity of the whistleblowers providing the information that led to the SEC enforcement action.
Recent activity by the SEC’s Whistleblower Program suggests that the agency is wrapping up investigations initiated after the rules were enacted in August 2011. We expect to see an increasing number of significant awards in the future particularly in the microcap arena arising out of corporate hijackings and reverse mergers. For more information about the whistleblower program and how to report a tip, visit www.sec.gov/whistleblower.
For further information about this securities law blog post, please contact Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney at 101 Plaza Real S, Suite 202 N, Boca Raton, Florida, (561) 416-8956, or t [email protected]. This securities law blog post is provided as a general informational service to clients and friends of Hamilton & Associates Law Group and should not be construed as, and does not constitute, legal and compliance advice on any specific matter, nor does this message create an attorney-client relationship. For more information about going public and the rules and regulations affecting the use of Rule 144, Form 8K, crowdfunding, FINRA Rule 6490, Rule 506 private placement offerings and memorandums, Regulation A, Rule 504 offerings, SEC reporting requirements, SEC registration statements on Form S-1 , IPO’s, OTC Pink Sheet listings, Form 10 OTCBB and OTC Markets disclosure requirements, DTC Chills, Global Locks, reverse mergers, public shells, direct public offerings and direct public offerings please contact Hamilton and Associates at (561) 416-8956 or [email protected]. Please note that the prior results discussed herein do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Hamilton & Associates | Securities Lawyers
Brenda Hamilton, Securities Attorney
101 Plaza Real South, Suite 202 North
Boca Raton, Florida 33432
Telephone: (561) 416-8956
Facsimile: (561) 416-2855
www.SecuritiesLawyer101.com
