Notes 4. Litigation, investigations and reviews (continued) Enforcement proceedings and investigations in relation to Coutts & Co Ltd The Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA) has been taking enforcement proceedings against Coutts & Co Ltd, a member of RBS incorporated in Switzerland, with regard to certain client accounts held with Coutts & Co Ltd relating to allegations in connection with the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1MDB. On 2 February 2017, FINMA announced that Coutts & Co Ltd had breached money laundering regulations by failing to carry out adequate background checks into business relationships and transactions associated with 1MDB. FINMA accordingly required Coutts & Co Ltd to disgorge profits of CHF 6.5 million. Coutts & Co Ltd is also cooperating with investigations and enquiries from authorities in other jurisdictions in relation to the same subject matter. In this context, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS)’s supervisory examination of Coutts & Co Ltd’s Singapore branch revealed breaches of anti-money laundering requirements. MAS imposed on Coutts & Co Ltd financial penalties amounting to SGD 2.4 million in December 2016. The outcomes of other proceedings, investigations and enquiries are uncertain but may include financial consequences and/or regulatory sanctions. 61 RBS – Annual results 2016
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