13 Financial Crime

Author(s):  
Morris Simon

This chapter concerns financial crime. While the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) can prosecute offences such as insider dealing and money laundering, its principal role in relation to financial crime is to require authorised firms to take adequate steps to protect against the risk of being used in connection with such offences. The elements (offences, defences, and penalties) of market abuse under the UK regime—which implements the EU Market Abuse Directive (MAD)—are explained. The main types of behaviour which can constitute market abuse—dealing on inside information, disclosing inside information, manipulating transactions, manipulative devices, disseminating misleading information—are analysed. The UK regulatory position on money laundering, fraud and other financial crimes is also considered.

Author(s):  
Jeremy Horder

This chapter examines three major examples of financial crime: fraud, bribery, and money laundering. The importance of financial crime, and of vigorous prosecution policies in relation to it, should not be underestimated. Fraud accounts for no less than one third of all crimes captured by the Crime Survey for England and Wales. The European Union Parliament has estimated that corruption costs the EU between €179 and €990 billion each year. Finally, the Home Office estimates that the impact of money laundering on the UK economy is likely to exceed £90 billion. An understanding of these crimes, and in particular the way that they reflect corporate activity, is nowadays essential to the study of criminal law.


Author(s):  
Pearce Will

This chapter talks about the current UK listing regime that stems from the EU legislation that was enacted as part of the European Commission's action plan for the Capital Markets Union (CMU) and Financial Services Action Plan (FSAP). It describes the aims of the CMU and the FSAP in order to achieve a single financial services market with no obstacles to cross—border activity and a sound supervisory structure. It also highlights the key EU legislation that governs the UK listing regime, which includes the prospectus regulation that regulates the prospectus to be published when a company's securities are to be offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market in the European Economic Area (EEA). This chapter discusses the Market Abuse Regulation (MAR), which covers the disclosure and control of inside information and the offences of market manipulation and insider dealing. It also mentions the Transparency Directive that harmonizes transparency requirements for issuers whose securities are admitted to trading on a regulated market.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 482-504
Author(s):  
Andrew Haynes

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide an analysis of the market abuse regulation to determine whether the general assumption that it has made little difference to the pre-existing UK law on market abuse is accurate. In particular, the potential impact on compliance and behaviour in financial services firms and those who potentially receive inside information is considered. Design/methodology/approach The methodology adopted is a combination of critical analysis and black letter law utilised to determine the content and potential impact of the market abuse regulation. A process of discovery made more important by the limited assistance given by the European Securities and Markets Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority in terms of the guidance and definitions they have provided. Findings The new Regulation has a wider definition of insider dealing than under the previous law, has a wider application in terms of the financial instruments that it applies to, has triggered significant new compliance and disclosure requirements and it also extends the law to new markets. Research limitations/implications There are limitations in that the relevant regulatory bodies, ESMA and the FCA have made little effort to clarify how they interpret the new Regulation. This is a serious problem because in the case of the FCA, their view will impact on the approach they will take in future enforcement actions. Practical implications This paper provides the first real analysis of the market abuse regulation’s effect and shows that, if carefully analysed in context, it has a significant impact on firms in the financial services sector and those engaged in activities which can put them in receipt of inside information. It will cause an increase in relevant compliance and has significant cost implications for affected firms. Social implications This is not really relevant here. There will be necessary changes to compliance procedures. Originality/value The originality stems from the fact that there appears to be little else published which has engaged in a sustained analysis of the impact and effect of the EU market abuse regulation on the UK’s financial markets and those other firms who receive inside information.


2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-244
Author(s):  
Howard Chitimira

The European Union (EU) was arguably the first body to establish multinational anti-market abuse laws aimed at enhancing the detection and curbing of cross-border market abuse activities in its Member States. Put differently, the EU Insider Dealing Directive was adopted in 1989 and was the first law that harmonized the insider trading ban among the EU Member States. Thereafter, the European Union Directive on Insider Dealing and Market Manipulation (EU Market Abuse Directive) was adopted in a bid to improve and effectively discourage all forms of market abuse in the EU’s securities and financial markets. However, the EU Market Abuse Directive had its own gaps and flaws. In light of this, the Market Abuse Regulation and the Criminal Sanctions for Market Abuse Directive were enacted to repeal and replace the EU Market Abuse Directive in 2016. The article examines the adequacy of the EU Market Abuse Directive and its implementation in the United Kingdom (UK) prior to the UK’s vote to leave the European Union (Brexit). This is done to investigate the possible implications of the Brexit referendum outcome of 23 June 2016 on the future regulation of market abuse in the UK.


Author(s):  
Kathryn Wright ◽  
Clare Firth ◽  
Lucy Crompton ◽  
Helen Fox ◽  
Frances Seabridge ◽  
...  

A concerted effort is being made within the EU to crack down on money laundering. This is reflected by both the European Money Laundering Directives, which have led to changes in the UK legislation, in particular the Money Laundering Regulations (MLR). Solicitors are usually unwittingly involved in a money laundering scheme. They can avoid this by being conversant with the requirements of the money laundering legislation and fully complying with it. This chapter explains the process of money laundering; the primary legislation and offences; and the relevance of the legislation to solicitors.


Significance Malta is one of several EU member states recently involved in allegations of money laundering. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat is under pressure, not least in the European Parliament (EP), to demonstrate that state institutions can enforce the rule of law, protect the democratic process and provide robust financial regulation. There will be a period of greater international scrutiny on state corruption, in particular on Malta’s sale of citizenship under its Individual Investor Programme (IIP), potential for money laundering, status as a tax haven and online interactive gambling (iGaming) industry. Impacts The EU will delay any action until June for past cases of financial crime to be reviewed; the next Commission may have other ideas. The opportunity is being missed to devote more EBA staff to monitoring money laundering or set up an EU agency to deal with it. National authorities will continue to enjoy significant discretion in interpreting the rules against financial crime.


2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 373-387
Author(s):  
Ahmed Yamen ◽  
Anas Al Qudah ◽  
Ahmed Badawi ◽  
Ahmed Bani-Mustafa

Purpose Despite the existence of laws, regulations and sanctions, financial crime remains widespread. The Panama leaks have proven that people from all over the world are participating in money laundering and other financial crimes. This study aims to investigate the influence of national culture on financial crimes across 78 countries. Design/methodology/approach This study uses Hofstede’s cultural framework as a basis for its hypotheses on financial crime. It also uses the Basel anti-money laundering index as a proxy for measuring the incidence of financial crime across the countries under review. Findings The findings show that countries whose cultural profiles are characterized by low uncertainty avoidance, low individualism, high masculinity and low long-term orientation have high rates of financial crime. The finding also shows that countries whose cultural profiles are characterized by individualism or positive collectivism, uncertainty avoidance and long-term orientation have low rates of financial crime. Originality/value Laws, regulations and sanctions are not the only factors that can help deter the crime; governments should also take a holistic approach that includes the cultural factors that encourage deterrence.


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