Tipsters Get $175 Million From SEC in Record Year for Program

(Bloomberg) -- The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission paid about $175 million to 39 whistle-blowers in the past year, setting a record for a program that rewards tipsters for helping the agency go after corporate wrongdoing.

Six awards were announced by the SEC on Wednesday, the final day of the federal government's fiscal year. In the biggest case, a pair of inside whistle-blowers will share almost $30 million for providing tips that led a successful enforcement case. The tipster who first called attention to the wrongdoing was awarded more than $22 million, one of the biggest payments the SEC has given to an individual.

“The information and assistance provided by today's whistle-blowers helped the agency return tens of millions of dollars to harmed retail investors,” Jane Norberg, head of the SEC's whistle-blower office, said in the agency's statement.

None of the whistle-blowers nor the companies involved in the misconduct were named by the SEC, in keeping with the federal government's policy of withholding information that could reveal tipsters' identities. Whistle-blowers are eligible for awards ranging from 10% to 30% of the amount of money collected in enforcement cases where penalties exceed $1 million. The funds aren't taken from the money due to be returned to harmed investors.

The SEC has paid about $562 million to 106 individuals since its first reward in 2012.

©2020 Bloomberg L.P.