On July 17, the SEC
announced an award totaling more than $37 million to a whistleblower whose information and assistance significantly contributed to a successful SEC enforcement action. According to the
redacted order detailing the whistleblower award claim, the whistleblower provided original information and continued to assist in the investigation, which allowed the SEC staff to investigate the covered action more efficiently. The claimant negotiated the more significant percentage of their award because the information was vital not only for opening the investigation but also for the SEC securing a considerable settlement, as it included evidence of scienter by high-level executives and because the preliminary determination overlooked certain factors. Per the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC did not disclose any information about the covered action that could reveal the whistleblower’s identity.
