ASIC secures record $830M in corporate fines
- The Australian Securities and Investments Commission secured a record $830 million in civil penalties over the past financial year.
- The enforcement drive resulted in 25 criminal convictions against individuals and multi-million dollar fines for major financial institutions.
- The regulator stated that its enforcement work focuses on misconduct that causes real harm to consumers and investors.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission secured a record $830 million in civil penalties over the financial year ended June 30 following increased investigations into corporate misconduct.
The penalty total exceeds the combined results of the previous four years and represents a significant increase from the $104.1 million reported in the 2024–25 financial year.
"Our enforcement work is focused on misconduct that causes real harm, and we are delivering results, forcing change, strengthening accountability, and returning money to consumers and investors," said ASIC Chair Sarah Court.
The single largest penalty was a $26 million penalty for hardship request failures.
Following the announcement, the Macquarie Group (ASX:MQG) share price, representing the parent of penalised Macquarie Securities, was unchanged at $185.50.
The regulator initiated more than 250 investigations during the year, leading to 25 criminal convictions compared to 19 convictions in the previous twelve-month period.
The enforcement outcomes follow an internal overhaul aimed at addressing governance failings highlighted during the 2018 banking royal commission.
