SEC Hits 7 Companies With Penalties for Violating Whistleblower Protections

Seven nationalist companies agreed to wage a combined $3 cardinal to settee U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charges they violated whistleblower protections, the regulator said connected Monday.

TransUnion agreed to wage $312,000 and Acadia Healthcare Company volition wage $1.39 cardinal successful transportation with the settlements the SEC disclosed connected Monday.

The firms were each charged successful transportation with employment, separation oregon different agreements that violated a regularisation that prohibits immoderate actions to impede individuals communicating with the regulator straight astir imaginable violations of securities laws, the SEC said successful its statement.

They person each worked toward remediation, including changing the agreements astatine issue, the SEC said.

TransUnion said successful a connection that the steadfast cooperated with the SEC’s enquiry and is voluntarily making changes to guarantee employees recognize their rights and responsibilities.

“The SEC’s engagement connected this substance reflects what bully regulatory supervision tin look like,” it said.

Representatives for the different companies did not respond instantly to requests for comment.

The different penalties were arsenic follows:

• a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp agreed to wage a $399,750 civilian penalty
• AppFolio Inc agreed to wage a $692,250 civilian penalty
• IDEX Corp agreed to wage a $75,000 civilian penalty
• LSB Industries agreed to wage a $156,000 civilian penalty
• Smart for Life Inc agreed to wage a $19,500 civilian penalty