The SEC announced yesterday that it has awarded more than $50 million to two whistleblowers—specifically, more than $37 million to one whistleblower and more than $13 million to the other. Press Rel. No. 2019-42 These are the first awards announced in 2019, and the first awards announced in more than six months. The $37 million award now ranks as the SEC’s third largest award to date. The two largest awards ($50 million and $39 million) were announced in 2018.

The more than $37 million was awarded to a whistleblower whom the Commission found, as stated in its Order, to have voluntarily provided information that was “highly significant and critical to the success” of the underlying investigations. Indeed, the Commission’s enforcement staff opened a second investigation after meeting with the whistleblower on two separate occasions. The whistleblower continued to meet with enforcement … Read More »