SEC Whistleblower Reward Program

September 29, 2023

Registered investment adviser D. E. Shaw & Co. L.P. has agreed to pay $10 million to settle charges of violating the whistleblower protection rule of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  According to the SEC, between 2011 and 2019, the company required new employees to sign agreements prohibiting them from disclosing information to anyone outside the company without company authorization, a court order, or as required by law.  Between 2011 and 2023, the company also required about 400 departing employees to sign releases stating they had not filed complaints with any federal agency before they were able to receive benefits.  SEC

September 19, 2023

Commercial real estate firm CBRE, Inc., a subsidiary of CBRE Group, Inc., has agreed to pay $375,000 to settle charges of violating the SEC’s whistleblower protection rule between 2011 and 2022.  In order to receive separation pay, CBRE allegedly required over 800 of its departing employees to sign releases stating they had not filed complaints with any federal agency.  As part of its settlement with the SEC, CBRE has informed former employees who signed the release of their right to communicate with the government, as well as taken revised all of its releases to be in compliance with the whistleblower protection rule.  SEC

August 25, 2023

A whistleblower has been awarded more than $18 million for providing the SEC with information that launched an investigation.  According to the SEC, the whistleblower initially reported concerns internally before reporting to the agency.  Their assistance ultimately led to a successful enforcement action.  SEC

July 12, 2023

The SEC has awarded a whistleblower more than $9 million for sparking an investigation and providing significant information and assistance.  According to the SEC, the whistleblower first reported concerns i­nternally, but after gaining no headway from multiple internal reports, made a report to the agency.  SEC

February 3, 2023

Video game company Activision Blizzard has agreed to pay $35 million to settle charges that alleged it failed to implement controls to collect and review internal complaints about workplace misconduct.  The company also violated a whistleblower protection rule by requiring former employees to provide notice if they received information requests from the SEC.  SEC