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OFAC Continues Focus on the Reinsurance Industry: General Re and Iran

Client Alert | 1 min read | 06.30.11

True to its word, OFAC has continued to announce settlements of what is reported to be a pipeline of dozens of cases in the insurance/reinsurance industry with yesterday's $59,130 settlement with General Reinsurance for reinsurance claim payments to Steamship Mutual Underwriting Association Limited for losses arising from National Iranian Tanker Company operations.

The settlement is significant for a number of reasons. While OFAC found the apparent violations "non-egregious" and Gen Re voluntarily disclosed the apparent violations, the payments "were pursuant to its facultative reinsurance obligation" and therefore this case represents another guide to OFAC's views on facultative arrangements. Perhaps most significantly, OFAC's announcement reflects a "risk-based" expectation for compliance; one of the mitigating factors cited is that "Gen Re subsequently . . . implemented training programs for personnel who have a high probability of encountering sanctioned transactions."

For questions about the Gen Re case or OFAC compliance obligations generally, please contact those listed on this alert.

Insights

Client Alert | 3 min read | 04.25.24

JUST RELEASED: EPA’s Bold New Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Collaboration Policy

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) just issued its new Strategic Civil-Criminal Enforcement Policy, setting the stage for the new manner in which the agency manages its pollution investigations. David M. Uhlmann, the head of OECA, signed the Policy memorandum on April 17, 2024, in order to ensure that EPA’s civil and criminal enforcement offices collaborate efficiently and consistently in cases across the nation. The Policy states, “EPA must exercise enforcement discretion reasonably when deciding whether a particular matter warrants criminal, civil, or administrative enforcement. Criminal enforcement should be reserved for the most egregious violations.” Uhlmann repeated this statement during a luncheon on April 23, 2024, while also emphasizing the new level of energy this collaborative effort has brought to the enforcement programs....