Final Notice
FINAL NOTICE
To:
Bank of Beirut (UK) Ltd
Firm
Reference
Number:
219523
Address:
17a Curzon Street
London
UNITED KINGDOM
W1J 5HS
4 March 2015
1.
ACTION
1.1.
For the reasons given in this notice, the Authority hereby:
(1)
imposes on Bank of Beirut (UK) Ltd (“Bank of Beirut”) a financial penalty of
£2,100,000; and
(2)
imposes on Bank of Beirut a restriction: for a period of 126 days from the
date this Final Notice is issued, in respect of its regulated activities only,
that Bank of Beirut may not acquire new customers that are resident or
incorporated in high risk jurisdictions.
1.2.
Bank of Beirut agreed to settle at an early stage of the Authority’s investigation.
Bank of Beirut therefore qualified for a 30% (stage 1) discount under the
Authority’s executive settlement procedures. Were it not for this discount, the
Authority would have imposed on Bank of Beirut:
(1)
a financial penalty of £3,000,000; and
(2)
a restriction of 180 days.
2.
SUMMARY OF REASONS
2.1.
Financial services firms are at risk of being abused by those seeking to launder
the proceeds of crime or to finance terrorism. This undermines the integrity of the
UK financial services sector. Firms are obliged to take appropriate and
proportionate steps to manage such risks effectively in order to reduce the risk of
financial crime. The Authority has the operational objective of protecting and
enhancing the integrity of the UK financial system (the Integrity Objective). The
integrity of the UK financial system is endangered by failures which risk the
system being used for a purpose connected with financial crime.
2.2.
Following visits to Bank of Beirut in 2010 and 2011, the Authority became
concerned that the culture at Bank of Beirut was one of insufficient consideration
of risk or regulation despite the high risk that its business might be exploited to
facilitate financial crime. The Authority required Bank of Beirut to implement a
number of action points to address its concerns. The action points together
formed a Remediation Plan and are referred to in this notice as the “Remediation
Plan action points”. In addition the Authority required Bank of Beirut to
remediate all of its customer files, after the Authority’s own file review identified
serious deficiencies in Bank of Beirut’s implementation of anti-money laundering
(“AML”) and financial crime procedures.
2.3.
The Authority worked closely with Bank of Beirut to resolve its concerns. Between
1 June 2011 and 20 March 2013 (the “Relevant Period”), Bank of Beirut did not
complete a full remediation exercise of all its customer files within the agreed
timeframe and repeatedly sought to assure the Authority that it had addressed all
of the Authority’s concerns even though this was not the case. Bank of Beirut
failed to deal with the Authority in an open and cooperative way and disclose to
the Authority information of which it would reasonably expect notice. This
amounts to a breach of Principle 11. Specifically:
Remediation Plan action points
(1)
Bank of Beirut failed to implement three out of the nine Remediation Plan
action points as directed by the Authority and repeatedly provided
inaccurate information to the Authority suggesting that it had completed
Remediation Plan action points when it had not. As part of the Remediation
Plan, the Authority required Bank of Beirut (among other things) to:
(a)
resolve all outstanding internal audit issues by 1 June 2011, in
order to improve the effectiveness of the internal audit function;
(b)
“develop,
implement
and
conduct
an
adequate
compliance
monitoring program” by 1 September 2011 to help ensure that
Bank of Beirut complied with regulatory obligations and to counter
the risk that the firm might be used to further financial crime; and
(c)
review the implementation of all the Remediation Plan action points
by 1 June 2012 to provide assurance that the improvements had
been embedded in its processes.
(2)
Bank of Beirut failed to meet these deadlines and failed to assure the
Authority that all Remediation Plan action points had been implemented by
1 June 2012.
(3)
After receiving a reminder from the Authority that a response was overdue
Bank of Beirut provided an assurance on 26 June 2012 that it had
implemented the Remediation Plan action points even though it:
(a)
had not conducted a review of the implementation of the
Remediation Plan action points;
(b)
had still not resolved all outstanding internal audit issues (these
were not resolved before the end of 2012); and
(c)
had not yet fully implemented or conducted an adequate
compliance monitoring plan (it had failed to evidence that an
adequate compliance monitoring plan was fully implemented during
the Relevant Period).
(4)
The Authority requested evidence to support Bank of Beirut’s assurance
that the Remediation Plan action points had been implemented. Bank of
Beirut provided the Authority with two reports in July and August 2012
which again sought to assure the Authority that Remediation Plan action
points had been implemented even though this was not the case. The
Authority requested a completion report to evidence that the compliance
monitoring plan had been implemented and conducted by 30 November
2012. Again, on 30 November 2012, Bank of Beirut provided the Authority
with inaccurate assurances about the status of the compliance monitoring
plan.
(5)
In addition Bank of Beirut breached Principle 11 because it failed to
disclose to the Authority that it had not completed remediation of all its
customer files to correct deficiencies in the implementation of AML and
financial crime procedures (in respect of both its regulated and
unregulated business). The Authority only became aware of this in March
2013, nearly two years after it had required Bank of Beirut to remediate
its files.
2.4.
Following the Authority’s visit in March 2013, Bank of Beirut engaged an external
consultant and appointed a dedicated team to undertake and finalise the
remediation exercise. In May 2013, whilst the remediation exercise was ongoing,
in order to address the Authority’s continued concern in relation to financial crime
risks, Bank of Beirut undertook, at the Authority’s request, not to enter into any
new customer account relationships with entities that were resident or
incorporated in high risk jurisdictions until the entire customer base was
remediated and compliance with regulatory standards was restored. Bank of
Beirut completed this remediation process in October 2013 following which the
Authority discharged the undertaking.
2.5.
The Authority expects firms to demonstrate a culture that supports effective
regulation and expects senior management to lead from the top in this regard.
The Authority’s approach to supervision may involve a visit to the firm and
discussion of failures to meet regulatory standards. Where such failures are
identified, frequently an action plan is agreed with the firm in order to agree
corrective action. This approach is reliant upon firms taking on responsibility for
completing actions within a specified timeline to mitigate or resolve risks, and the
Authority must be able to rely upon leadership within the firm in this respect.
Similarly, the Authority relies on confirmation received from a firm that the
actions have been completed and the risks mitigated or resolved.
2.6.
Senior management failed to ensure that the actions required by the Authority
were implemented, even when deadlines were extended. Bank of Beirut then
repeatedly provided inaccurate information to the Authority that suggested it had
completed actions, when it had not. In doing so, Bank of Beirut failed to
demonstrate the culture and level of cooperation expected by the Authority.
2.7.
Bank of Beirut’s failures are particularly serious because they left the firm open to
the risk that it might be used to further financial crime.
2.8.
The Authority therefore imposes on Bank of Beirut:
(1)
pursuant to section 206 of the Act, a financial penalty in the amount of
£2,100,000; and
(2)
pursuant to section 206A of the Act, a restriction for a period of 126 days,
in respect of its regulated activities only, that Bank of Beirut may not
acquire new customers that are resident or incorporated in high risk
jurisdictions. For the purposes of this restriction only, high risk
jurisdictions are defined as countries which have a score of 60 or below in
Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
2.9.
The effect of the restriction is that Bank of Beirut will not be allowed to enter into
any new customer relationship with entities resident or incorporated in certain
countries for that period.
2.10. The Authority believes that imposing a restriction, in addition to a financial
penalty, will be a more effective and persuasive deterrent than a financial penalty
alone. The imposition of a restriction is appropriate because it will demonstrate to
firms with customers that are higher risk from a financial crime perspective that
where a firm fails to address AML systems and controls failings and is not open
and cooperative with the Authority with regard to rectifying those failings, the
Authority will take disciplinary action to suspend and/or restrict the firm’s
regulated activities.
2.11. On 13 October 2013, Bank of Beirut’s senior management attested to the fact
that the Bank had completed the steps required of it by the Authority to address
the identified AML systems and controls failings and has since increased resources
in its compliance and risk teams.
3.
DEFINITIONS
3.1.
The definitions below are used in this Final Notice.
“2007 Regulations” means the Money Laundering Regulations 2007, which came
into force on 15 December 2007.
“ABC” means anti-bribery and corruption.
“The Act” means the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
“AML” means anti-money laundering.
“ARROW” means the Advanced Risk Responsive Operative Framework.
“The Authority” means the body corporate previously known as the Financial
Services Authority and renamed on 1 April 2013 as the Financial Conduct
Authority.
“Bank of Beirut” means Bank of Beirut (UK) Ltd.
“FSF” means Firm Systematic Framework
“PEP” means politically exposed person.
“Remediation Plan” means the risk mitigation programme the Authority provided
to the Bank of Beirut on 8 March 2011.
“Remediation Plan action points” means the specific actions set out in the
Remediation Plan that the Authority required Bank of Beirut to take.
“Skilled Person’s Report” means the report dated 10 February 2012 of the Skilled
Person whom the Authority required Bank of Beirut to appoint pursuant to s166 of
the Act.
4.
FACTS AND MATTERS
4.1.
Bank of Beirut is a UK subsidiary of Bank of Beirut S.A.L., which is incorporated in
Lebanon. Its principal activities are the provision of trade finance, correspondent
banking and commercial and retail banking services. Bank of Beirut has less than
1,000 customers, who are predominantly from countries that are regarded as
being higher risk from a financial crime perspective. As at 31 December 2011,
Bank of Beirut’s total assets were £321 million.
The Remediation Programme
4.2.
In December 2010, the Authority conducted a risk assessment at Bank of Beirut
(then known as an ARROW assessment, and now referred to as the FSF). The
ARROW process was fundamental to the Authority’s risk-based approach to
regulation. The Authority used the ARROW process to assess the particular risk a
firm might pose against its statutory objectives and the probability of that risk
materialising. The risk that a firm might pose to the Authority’s statutory
objectives is now assessed as part of the FSF.
4.3.
On 8 March 2011, the Authority wrote to Bank of Beirut, setting out its findings
from the ARROW assessment, and attaching the Remediation Plan. The Authority
observed that the culture of Bank of Beirut was one of insufficient consideration
of risk and regulatory requirements with insufficient focus on governance and
controls.
4.4.
The Authority had particular concerns around the effectiveness of the internal
audit function, which was hampered by a failure to resolve outstanding audit
issues. The Authority emphasised its reliance on the internal audit function in
supporting a culture of effective controls and governance at small sized firms that
are not subject to frequent supervision by the Authority.
4.5.
The Authority was also concerned about the Bank’s lack of a compliance
monitoring plan, designed to help ensure the Firm’s compliance with its
regulatory obligations and to counter the risk that the Firm might be exploited to
facilitate financial crime.
4.6.
In the Remediation Plan, among six other action points, the Authority set out
three action points that it expected Bank of Beirut to complete to address these
concerns:
(1)
By 1 June 2011, to resolve all outstanding internal audit issues and to
report to the Authority regarding what actions were taken and to ensure
the setting of deadlines for the resolution of all audit issues.
(2)
By 1 September 2011, to “develop, implement and conduct an adequate
compliance monitoring program” and to evidence this with a completion
report to the Authority.
(3)
By 1 June 2012, to review the implementation of all the other Remediation
Plan action points in order to provide assurance they were embedded in
the Firm’s processes.
Financial crime visit 2011
4.7.
Firms are required by the 2007 Regulations and the Authority’s Handbook to
implement and maintain systems and controls to prevent and detect money
laundering. Further to the 2007 Regulations, a firm must be able to demonstrate
to its supervisory authority that the extent of the due diligence and ongoing
monitoring measures it applies are appropriate in view of the risks of money
laundering and terrorist financing it may face.
4.8.
In April and May 2011, the Authority visited Bank of Beirut to assess its AML and
ABC systems and controls. During the visit, the Authority reviewed 15 client files,
including eight correspondent banking (an unregulated activity) and four PEP
files, which are areas classified as high risk by the 2007 Regulations. The file
review highlighted deficiencies in Bank of Beirut’s customer due diligence and
monitoring processes.
4.9.
Bank of Beirut did not carry out and document adequate customer due diligence,
nor did it carry out enhanced due diligence when establishing relationships with
higher risk customers. Bank of Beirut did not conduct the appropriate level of on-
going monitoring on its existing higher risk customers. In accordance with the
2007 Regulations, a firm must conduct ongoing monitoring of all business
relationships. Where the customer is considered to be higher risk, that monitoring
must be enhanced.
4.10. The Authority found that Bank of Beirut had failed to do one or more of the
following in each of the 15 files reviewed:
(1)
carry out and/or document an adequate risk assessment of the potential
money laundering risks posed by higher risk customers;
(2)
obtain and/or document senior management approval to establish a
business relationship with PEPs;
(3)
investigate allegations of corruption and Safewatch hits (software that
screens persons and transactions against watch lists);
(4)
establish and verify with adequate evidence the source and wealth of funds
of higher risk customers;
(5)
obtain sufficient identity and verification documentation; and
(6)
conduct ongoing reviews of higher risk customer files periodically to ensure
the information and risk assessment was up to date and that the activity
on accounts was consistent with expected activity.
4.11. The Authority also found that there was no financial crime compliance monitoring
and recommended that a compliance monitoring plan was put in place as a
priority.
4.12. Bank of Beirut confirmed that it would address the issues identified with its AML
and ABC systems and controls, including that it would:
(1)
review and remediate the 15 files reviewed by 30 August 2011; and
(2)
develop a compliance monitoring plan, including specific monitoring around
financial crime.
Appointment of a Skilled Person
4.13. Subsequently, the Authority required that Bank of Beirut appoint a Skilled Person
to review its AML and ABC systems and controls to confirm whether the issues
the Authority identified had been addressed. The Skilled Person reported in
February 2012 that Bank of Beirut had made some improvements to its AML and
ABC systems but set out a series of recommendations in relation to areas that
were still of concern. In particular, the Skilled Person recommended that further
development of an adequate compliance monitoring plan was required.
4.14. At the time of the Skilled Person’s assessment, Bank of Beirut was still reviewing
and remediating its client files. The Skilled Person noted that there were still
deficiencies in due diligence in respect of the files it reviewed that were currently
under remediation.
4.15. Bank of Beirut agreed to implement the Skilled Person’s recommendations. The
Authority required Bank of Beirut to submit a report on the implementation of the
Skilled Person’s recommendations on 31 July 2012.
Failure to implement Remediation Plan action points by deadlines
4.16. By the deadline of 1 June 2012, the Authority had not received any confirmation
from Bank of Beirut that it had reviewed the implementation of all the
Remediation Plan action points and that the improvements had been embedded in
the Firm’s processes.
4.17. As at 1 June 2012, Bank of Beirut had failed to complete three Remediation Plan
action points, because:
(1)
No review had been conducted of the implementation of the Remediation
Plan action points;
(2)
Not all outstanding internal audit reports had been resolved. Indeed, Bank
of Beirut failed to resolve these issues before the end of 2012; and
(3)
An adequate compliance monitoring plan had not been fully developed,
implemented and conducted. Bank of Beirut had still failed to complete this
action at the time it provided a completion report to the Authority on 30
November 2012. The compliance monitoring plan in place at this time was
inadequate for Bank of Beirut’s business. In any event, Bank of Beirut had
not yet conducted a full cycle of its compliance monitoring plan.
Inaccurate communications to the Authority
26 June 2012 email
4.18. On 12 June 2012, the Authority sent an email to Bank of Beirut chasing them for
a response to the overdue Remediation Plan action point requiring them to review
the implementation of the Remediation Plan action points by 1 June 2012.
4.19. On 26 June 2012, Bank of Beirut sent an email to the Authority confirming that:
“…the Remediation Plan action points have been implemented and are embedded
in the Bank’s policies and procedures.” This statement was inaccurate because it
suggested that Bank of Beirut had reviewed the implementation of the
Remediation Plan action points and that all action points had been implemented.
In fact, this review had not been conducted and not all action points had been
implemented.
4 July 2012 letter
4.20. On 28 June 2012, the Authority sent an email to Bank of Beirut asking for
underlying documentation to evidence the completion of the Remediation Plan
action points.
4.21. On 4 July 2012, Bank of Beirut disclosed to the Authority that no review of the
implementation of the Remediation Plan action points had been conducted.
However, in a letter of the same date, Bank of Beirut again suggested that all
Remediation Plan action points had been implemented, when this was not
correct: “… the specific action points outlined within the Remediation Plan have all
been incorporated within our systems and controls.”
30 July 2012 report on implementation of the recommendations in the Skilled
4.22. The Authority required Bank of Beirut to review the implementation of the Skilled
Person’s recommendations and produce a report for submission by 31 July 2012.
4.23. The report from Bank of Beirut stated, amongst other things: “…a more
sophisticated Compliance Monitoring program including criteria, methodology and
risk assessment has been established and this enhanced program will be
implemented by the Compliance department from July.”
4.24. The report was submitted to the Authority on 30 July 2012 and therefore gave
the impression that this compliance monitoring plan had already begun to be
implemented or would start to be implemented imminently. In fact, at the time of
submission, implementation of the more sophisticated compliance monitoring
programme had not begun and was not imminent.
3 August 2012 report on the implementation of the Remediation Plan action
points
4.25. Following the failure of Bank of Beirut to review the implementation of the
Remediation Plan action points by the original deadline of 1 June 2012, the
Authority’s requirement to complete this action remained outstanding.
4.26. Bank of Beirut provided a report to the Authority on 3 August 2012. In that
report, Bank of Beirut confirmed that “…the specific Remediation Plan action
points have been fully implemented and are embedded within the Bank’s systems
and controls and have become a matter of course for the firm.”
4.27. In respect of the action point to resolve all outstanding internal audit issues, the
report stated that the issues were currently being investigated by internal audit
and it was expected those issues would be closed during 2012.
4.28. In respect of the action point “to develop, implement, and conduct an adequate
compliance monitoring program”, the report stated that the compliance
monitoring plan had been further developed and assessed. The report did not
state that the compliance monitoring plan had not been fully implemented.
4.29. The overall assurance that the Remediation Plan action points had been fully
implemented was incorrect, as the action points in relation to outstanding internal
audit issues and the compliance monitoring plan were still not complete.
30 November 2012 report
4.30. By an email dated 16 August 2012, the Authority told Bank of Beirut that it did
not consider that the Remediation Plan action points had been completed. It
requested a completion report to evidence that the compliance monitoring plan
had been implemented and conducted, as required by the Remediation Plan.
4.31. Having obtained an extension of time from 1 September 2011, Bank of Beirut
submitted the report to the Authority on 30 November 2012. The report
confirmed that “…the specific [Remediation Plan] point in respect of the
compliance monitoring program has been fully implemented.”
4.32. However, the report referred to the work being conducted under the compliance
monitoring plan as “ongoing”. In addition, in a previous version of the report that
was not provided to the Authority, the report stated: “The Compliance
department has not fully completed all of the Compliance Monitoring Program
tests and in some instances monitoring has not been conducted in accordance
with the prescribed frequency.” This statement was omitted from the final report
following drafting suggestions made by a senior manager at Bank of Beirut to the
author: “…to highlight any shortcomings within the work carried out, rather than
highlight areas not yet covered which is sure to lead to the [Authority] providing
yet another deadline date and report to complete.”
4.33. Therefore, the overall assurance provided by the report that the action point “to
develop, implement and conduct an adequate compliance monitoring plan” had
been completed was inaccurate as the action point still had not been completed
when Bank of Beirut submitted this completion report.
Failure to disclose that the Bank had not remediated customer files
4.34. Following the identification of failings in AML and financial crime processes from a
file review conducted in 2011, the Authority required that Bank of Beirut
remediate all of its customer files.
4.35. When the Authority carried out a further file review at Bank of Beirut in March
2013 (nearly two years later), it discovered that Bank of Beirut had still failed to
remediate all of the 15 files that the Authority had reviewed in May 2011. Bank
of Beirut had told the Authority that this would be completed by 30 August 2011.
Furthermore, the Authority found that files that had apparently been remediated
by Bank of Beirut still failed to comply with regulatory standards.
4.36. Bank of Beirut had not informed the Authority that it had failed to remediate its
customer files as required by the Authority within the agreed timeframes. Of the
twelve files reviewed in 2013, the Authority found that eight failed to meet
regulatory standards. Six of these files were part of the file sample originally
reviewed by the Authority in 2011; of these, four failed, one was borderline and
one passed.
4.37. Following the Authority’s visit in March 2013, Bank of Beirut engaged an external
consultant and appointed a dedicated team to undertake and finalise the
remediation exercise. As a result of the Authority’s continued concerns in relation
to financial crime risks, the Authority requested and the Bank of Beirut undertook
not to enter into any new customer account relationships with entities that were
resident or incorporated in high risk jurisdictions until the files for the entire
customer base had been remediated and were in compliance with regulatory
standards. Bank of Beirut completed the remediation process in October 2013
following which the Authority discharged the undertaking.
5.
FAILINGS
5.1.
The regulatory provisions relevant to this Final Notice are referred to in Annex A.
5.1.
Principle 11 requires a firm to deal with its regulators in an open and cooperative
way and to disclose to the Authority appropriately anything relating to the firm of
which the Authority would reasonably expect notice.
5.2.
Bank of Beirut breached Principle 11 because it failed to deal with the Authority in
an open and cooperative way and to disclose to the Authority information of
which it would reasonably expect notice, because:
(1)
Bank of Beirut failed to implement three Remediation Plan action points as
directed by the Authority (including the requirements: (i) to resolve all
outstanding internal audit issues; (ii) to develop, implement and conduct
an adequate compliance monitoring plan; and (iii) to review the
implementation of the Remediation Plan action points within the Firm’s
processes). The Bank then repeatedly provided inaccurate information to
the Authority about the status of these Remediation Plan action points,
including:
(a)
In response to the Authority requesting Bank of Beirut to respond to
the overdue Remediation Plan action “to review the implementation
of the Remediation Plan action points”, Bank of Beirut, sent an
email on 26 June 2012 confirming that the Remediation Plan action
points had been implemented, when no review had been
undertaken and not all Remediation Plan action points were
implemented;
(b)
In a letter dated 4 July 2012, Bank of Beirut again confirmed that
all the Remediation Plan action points had been implemented, when
this was not correct;
(c)
In a report dated 30 July 2012, Bank of Beirut stated that the
compliance monitoring plan would be implemented from July, when
this was not correct;
(d)
Bank of Beirut provided assurance to the Authority that the
Remediation Plan action points had been implemented into its
procedures, in a report dated 3 August 2012, when three
Remediation Plan action points remained outstanding; and
(e)
Bank of Beirut provided assurance to the Authority, in a report
dated 30 November 2012, that the action point to “develop,
implement and conduct an adequate compliance monitoring plan”
was complete, when the action point was not complete.
(2)
Bank of Beirut also breached Principle 11 because it failed to disclose to
the Authority that it had not remediated its customer files to correct
deficiencies in the implementation of AML and financial crime procedures
within agreed timeframes.
6.
SANCTION
Introduction
6.1.
The Authority imposes a total financial penalty of £2,100,000 on Bank of Beirut
for breaching Principle 11.
6.2.
In addition to imposing a financial penalty, the Authority also imposes a
restriction on Bank of Beirut. The Authority believes that imposing a restriction,
in addition to a financial penalty, will be a more effective and persuasive
deterrent than a financial penalty alone.
6.3.
Accordingly the Authority, in addition to the financial penalty, also imposes a
restriction on Bank of Beirut that for a period of 126 days, in respect of its
regulated activities only, Bank of Beirut may not acquire new customers that are
resident or incorporated in high risk jurisdictions. For the purposes of the
restriction only, high risk jurisdictions are defined as countries which have a score
of 60 or below in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index.
Financial penalty
6.4.
The Authority’s policy on the imposition of financial penalties is set out in Chapter
6 of DEPP which forms part of the FCA Handbook. Since the misconduct occurred
after the introduction of the Authority’s penalty regime on 6 March 2010, the
Authority has applied the five-step framework in DEPP 6.5A to determine the
appropriate level of financial penalty.
Step 1: disgorgement
6.5.
Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.1G, at Step 1 the Authority seeks to deprive a firm of the
financial benefit derived directly from the breach where it is practicable to
quantify this.
6.6.
The Authority has not identified any financial benefit that Bank of Beirut derived
directly from its breach.
6.7.
Step 1 is therefore £0.
Step 2: the seriousness of the breach
6.8.
Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.2G, at Step 2 the Authority determines a figure that
reflects the seriousness of the breach. Where the amount of revenue generated
by a firm from a particular product line or business area is indicative of the harm
or potential harm that its breach may cause, that figure will be based on a
percentage of the firm’s revenue from the relevant products or business area.
6.9.
The Authority considers that the revenue generated by Bank of Beirut is not an
appropriate indicator of the harm or potential harm caused by its breach. The
breach relates to failures to be open and cooperative with the Authority and to
disclose information of which it would reasonably expect notice, which are not
related to revenue. The Authority has not identified an alternative indicator of
harm or potential harm appropriate to the breach and so, pursuant to DEPP
6.5A.2G(13), has determined the appropriate Step 2 amount by taking into
account those factors which are relevant to an assessment of the level of
seriousness of the breach.
6.10. In assessing the seriousness level, the Authority takes into account various
factors which reflect the impact and nature of the breach, and whether it was
committed deliberately or recklessly. DEPP 6.5A.2G(11) lists factors likely to be
considered ‘level 4 or 5 factors’. Of these, the Authority considers the following
factors to be relevant:
(1)
The breach created a significant risk that financial crime would be
facilitated, occasioned or otherwise occur: Bank of Beirut’s breach involved
a failure to fully address concerns that the Bank could be exploited to
facilitate financial crime. This left the firm open to the risk it might be used
to facilitate financial crime.
(2)
The breach was committed deliberately or recklessly: Bank of Beirut’s
breach was reckless because responsible individuals at the firm failed to
undertake the actions required by the Authority within the prescribed
timeframes and then provided inaccurate communications to the Authority
in relation to these actions.
6.11. The Authority also considers that the following factors are relevant:
(1)
Whether the breach has an adverse effect on markets and, if so, how
serious that effect was: Bank of Beirut’s breach involved a failure to
cooperate with the Authority to address concerns that the Bank could be
exploited to facilitate financial crime. The integrity of the UK financial
system is endangered by failures which risk the system being used for a
purpose connected with financial crime.
(2)
The frequency of the breach: Bank of Beirut’s breach involved failures to
fully implement three out of nine Remediation Plan actions and a failure to
complete the remediation of its client files as required by the deadlines set
by the Authority. The breach also involved providing five inaccurate
communications to the Authority over a six month period.
(3)
The nature of the breach: The Authority’s approach to supervision is reliant
upon firms taking on responsibility for completing actions within a specified
timeline to mitigate or resolve risks. The Authority must be able to rely
upon confirmation received from a firm that the actions have been
completed and the risks mitigated or resolved to ensure the efficacy of this
approach.
6.12. Taking all of these factors into account, the Authority considers the seriousness of
the breach to be level 4 and that the Step 2 figure is £3,000,000.
Step 3: mitigating and aggravating factors
6.13. Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.3G, at Step 3 the Authority may increase or decrease the
amount of the financial penalty arrived at after Step 2, but not including any
amount to be disgorged as set out in Step 1, to take into account factors which
aggravate or mitigate the breach.
6.14. The Authority does not consider that there are any factors which aggravate or
mitigate the breach.
6.15. Step 3 is therefore £3,000,000.
Step 4: adjustment for deterrence
6.16. Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.4G, if the FCA considers the figure arrived at after Step 3
is insufficient to deter the firm who committed the breach, or others, from
committing further or similar breaches, then the Authority may increase the
penalty.
6.17. The Authority considers that the Step 3 figure of £3,000,000 is proportionate in
relation to the nature of the breach, to meet the Authority’s objective of credible
deterrence in respect of Bank of Beirut and others. The Authority has therefore
not increased the penalty at Step 4.
6.18. Step 4 is therefore £3,000,000.
Step 5: settlement discount
6.19. Pursuant to DEPP 6.5A.5G, if the Authority and the firm on whom a penalty is to
be imposed agree the amount of the financial penalty and other terms, DEPP 6.7
provides that the amount of the financial penalty which might otherwise have
been payable will be reduced to reflect the stage at which the Authority and the
firm reached agreement. The settlement discount does not apply to the
disgorgement of any benefit calculated at Step 1.
6.20. The Authority and Bank of Beirut reached agreement at Stage 1 and so a 30%
discount applies to the Step 4 figure.
6.21. Step 5 is therefore £2,100,000.
Financial penalty
6.22. The Authority therefore imposes a total financial penalty of £2,100,000 on Bank
of Beirut for breaching Principle 11.
Restriction
6.23. The Authority also imposes a restriction on Bank of Beirut that for a period of 126
days from the date this Final Notice is issued, in relation to its regulated activities
only, Bank of Beirut may not acquire new customers that are resident or
incorporated in high risk jurisdictions. For the purposes of the restriction only,
high risk jurisdictions are defined as countries which have a score of 60 or below
in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index. This includes Bank
of Beirut’s core overseas markets.
6.24. The restriction the Authority imposes is a disciplinary measure in respect of Bank
of Beirut's misconduct between 1 June 2011 and 20 March 2013.
6.25. When determining whether a restriction is appropriate, the Authority is required
to consider the full circumstances of the case. The Authority will impose a
restriction where it believes that such action will be a more effective and
persuasive deterrent than the imposition of a financial penalty alone. DEPP
6A.2.3G specifies examples of circumstances where the Authority may consider it
appropriate to impose a restriction.
6.26. The Authority considers the following factors are relevant:
(1)
The firm has failed properly to carry out agreed remedial measures: the
Bank of Beirut failed to carry out remedial measures as required by the
Authority, including three Remediation Plan action points and the
remediation of its client files within the agreed timeframes. It then failed to
be open and cooperative with the Authority as to whether these actions
had been completed.
(2)
The misconduct appears to be widespread across a number of individuals
across a particular business area (suggesting a poor compliance culture): a
number of individuals were involved in Bank of Beirut’s failures to
undertake actions required by the Authority and the provision of inaccurate
communications to the Authority.
6.27. The Authority considers it appropriate to impose a restriction here in relation to
activities directly linked to the breach. Bank of Beirut’s breach left the firm open
to the risk it might be used to facilitate financial crime. The Authority considers
that a restriction affecting Bank of Beirut’s activities in relation to customers that
represent a higher risk from a financial crime perspective is appropriate.
Length of restriction
6.28. When determining the length of the restriction that is appropriate for the breach
concerned, and also the deterrent effect, the Authority will consider all the
relevant circumstances of the case. DEPP 6A.3.2G sets out factors that may be
relevant in determining the appropriate length of the restriction. The Authority
considers that the following factors are particularly relevant in this case.
Deterrence (DEPP 6A.3.2G(1))
6.29. When determining the appropriate length of the restriction, the Authority will
have regard to the principal purpose for which it imposes sanctions, namely to
promote high standards of regulatory and/or market conduct by deterring
persons who have committed breaches from committing further breaches and
helping to deter other persons from committing similar breaches, as well as
demonstrating generally the benefits of compliant business.
6.30. The Authority considers that the restriction it has decided to impose will
emphasise that the Authority must be able to rely on firms to take actions
required to mitigate or resolve risks and to be able to rely upon the information
and assurances provided by firms. It will also deter Bank of Beirut and other firms
with customers that are higher risk from a financial crime perspective from
operating with poor AML systems and controls.
The seriousness of the breach (DEPP 6A.3.2G(2))
6.31. When assessing the seriousness of the breach, the Authority takes into account
various factors (which may include those listed in DEPP 6.5A.2G(6) to (9)) which
reflect the impact and nature of the breach, and whether it was committed
deliberately or recklessly.
6.32. When considering the seriousness of the breach, the Authority has taken into
account the following factors listed at paragraphs 6.10(1) to (2) and 6.11(1) to
(3).
6.33. Taking all of these factors into account, the Authority considers the total length of
the restriction is 180 days.
Aggravating and mitigating factors (DEPP 6A.3.2G(3))
6.34. The Authority takes into account various factors (which may include those listed
in DEPP 6.5A.3G(2)) which may aggravate or mitigate a breach.
6.35. The Authority does not consider that there are any factors which aggravate or
mitigate the breach.
Impact of restriction on Bank of Beirut (DEPP 6A.3.2G(4))
6.36. When assessing the impact of the restriction on Bank of Beirut, the Authority has
taken into account the following:
(1)
Bank of Beirut’s expected lost revenue and profits from not being able to
carry out the restricted activity;
(2)
potential economic costs, for example, the payment of salaries to
employees who will not work or will have reduced work during the period
of restriction; and
(3)
the effect on other areas of Bank of Beirut’s business.
Impact of restriction on persons other than Bank of Beirut (DEPP
6.37. When assessing the impact of the restriction on persons other than Bank of
Beirut, the Authority considers the following to be relevant: the extent to which
consumers may suffer loss or inconvenience as a result of the suspension or
restriction.
6.38. Having taken into account all the circumstances of the case, including the
considerations set out at DEPP 6A.3.3G, the Authority does not consider it
appropriate to delay the commencement of the period of restriction.
Settlement discount
6.39. Bank of Beirut agreed to settle at an early stage of the Authority’s investigation.
Bank of Beirut therefore qualified for a 30% (stage 1) discount to the length of
the restriction under the Authority’s executive settlement procedures, reducing
the restriction to 126 days. Were it not for this discount, the Authority would
have imposed a restriction of 180 days on Bank of Beirut.
6.40. The Authority therefore imposes a total financial penalty of £2,100,000 on Bank
of Beirut for breaching Principle 11.
6.41. In addition to imposing a financial penalty, the Authority also imposes a
restriction on Bank of Beirut that, for a period of 126 days from the date this Final
Notice is issued, in respect of its regulated activities only, Bank of Beirut may not
acquire new customers that are resident or incorporated in high risk jurisdictions.
For the purposes of the restriction only, high risk jurisdictions are defined as
countries which have a score of 60 or below in Transparency International’s
Corruption Perceptions Index.
6.42. Pursuant to DEPP 6A.4.4G, the Authority considers that the combination of
sanctions is proportionate considering the nature and seriousness of the Principle
11 breach.
7.
PROCEDURAL MATTERS
Decision maker
7.1.
The decision which gave rise to the obligation to give this Notice was made by the
Settlement Decision Makers.
7.2.
This Final Notice is given under, and in accordance with, section 390 of the Act.
Manner of and time for Payment
7.3.
The financial penalty must be paid in full by Bank of Beirut to the Authority by no
later than 18 March 2015, 14 days from the date of the Final Notice.
If the financial penalty is not paid
7.4.
If all or any of the financial penalty is outstanding on 19 March 2015, the
Authority may recover the outstanding amount as a debt owed by Bank of Beirut
and due to the Authority.
7.5.
Sections 391(4), 391(6) and 391(7) of the Act apply to the publication of
information about the matter to which this notice relates. Under those
provisions, the Authority must publish such information about the matter to which
this notice relates as the Authority considers appropriate. The information may
be published in such manner as the Authority considers appropriate. However,
the Authority may not publish information if such publication would, in the opinion
of the Authority, be unfair to you or prejudicial to the interests of consumers or
detrimental to the stability of the UK financial system.
7.6.
The Authority intends to publish such information about the matter to which this
Final Notice relates as it considers appropriate.
Authority contacts
7.7.
For more information concerning this matter generally, contact Allegra Bell (direct
line: 020 7066 8110) or Matthew Finn (direct line: 020 7066 1276) of the
Enforcement and Market Oversight Division of the Authority.
Financial Conduct Authority, Enforcement and Market Oversight Division
ANNEX A
RELEVANT STATUTORY AND REGULATORY PROVISIONS
1.
RELEVANT STATUTORY PROVISIONS
1.1.
The Authority’s statutory objectives, set out in section 1B(3) of the Act, include
integrity objective.
1.2.
Section 1D of the Act is the integrity objective: “protecting and enhancing the
integrity of the UK financial system.”
1.3.
Section 206A of the Act provides that where an authorised person has
contravened a requirement imposed on it under the Act the Authority may
impose, for such a period as it considers appropriate, such suspensions of that
person’s permissions or limitations or other restrictions in relation to the carrying
on of a regulated activity by the person as it considers appropriate. A restriction
may, in particular, be imposed so as to require the person concerned to take, or
refrain
from
taking,
specified
action.
The
period
for
which
the
suspension/restriction is to have effect may not exceed 12 months.
1.4.
Section 206(1) of the Act provides:
“If the Authority considers that an authorised person has contravened a
requirement imposed on him by or under this Act… it may impose on him a
penalty, in respect of the contravention, of such amount as it considers
appropriate."
2.
RELEVANT REGULATORY PROVISIONS
Principles for Businesses
2.1.
The Principles are a general statement of the fundamental obligations of firms
under the regulatory system and are set out in the Authority’s Handbook. They
derive their authority from the Authority’s rule-making powers set out in the Act.
The relevant Principles are as follows.
2.2.
Principle 11 provides:
“A firm must deal with its regulators in an open and cooperative way, and must
disclose to the [Authority] appropriately anything relating to the firm of which the
[Authority] would reasonably expect notice.”
DEPP
2.3.
Chapter 6 of DEPP, which forms part of the Authority’s Handbook, sets out the
Authority’s statement of policy with respect to the imposition and amount of
financial penalties under the Act.
The Enforcement Guide
2.4.
The Enforcement Guide sets out the Authority’s approach to exercising its main
enforcement powers under the Act.
2.5.
Chapter 7 of the Enforcement Guide sets out the Authority’s approach to
exercising its power to impose a financial penalty.