Is Goldman Sachs ethical?

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Corporate conduct Confirmed

Bangkok office vanishes from Goldman Sachs records during SEC probe

During the SEC's investigation of Goldman Sachs, the Bangkok office mysteriously disappeared from Goldman Sachs' list of offices and webpage.

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supremecourt.gov
The petitioner informed the SEC that in the middle of the SEC’s investigation of Goldman Sachs, “Bangkok”, a major financial center, mysteriously disappeared from Goldman Sachs’ list of offices and from its webpage.

Corporate conduct Allegation

Goldman Sachs is accused of paying $12 million to suppress allegations

Goldman Sachs is accused of reportedly paying $12 million to keep a former partner's allegations of sexism quiet.

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observer.com
Goldman Sachs Reportedly Paid $12 Million to Keep a Former Partner’s Allegations of Sexism Quiet | Observer
Goldman Sachs reportedly paid millions to cover up a former partner’s claims of sexism.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

Goldman Sachs employee schemed to steal confidential info

Albanese, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services, announced the resolution of an enforcement action against Goldman Sachs after a Goldman Sachs employee schemed to steal confidential regulatory and government information for use in advising a client and improperly shared it with other employees, violating New York Banking Law §36(10).

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dfs.ny.gov
Albanese, Acting Superintendent of Financial Services, today announced the resolution of an enforcement action against Goldman Sachs after a Goldman Sachs employee schemed to steal confidential regulatory and government information for use in advising a Goldman Sachs client, and improperly shared that information with other Goldman Sachs employees – in violation of New York Banking Law §36(10).

Workplace equity Settlement

Goldman Sachs settles gender discrimination lawsuit for $215 million

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apnews.com
NEW YORK (AP) — Goldman Sachs will pay $215 million to settle a years-long class action lawsuit that claimed the bank discriminated against women when it came to pay, performance evaluations and promotions.
Goldman Sachs settles gender discrimination lawsuit for $215 million | AP News
finance.yahoo.com
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs Group Inc agreed to pay $215 million to settle a class action alleging widespread bias against women in pay and promotions, ending one of the highest-profile lawsuits claiming unequal treatment of women on Wall Street.
fortune.com
Goldman Sachs Group Inc. has agreed to pay $215 million to put an end to a long-running class-action lawsuit that accused the Wall Street giant of systemically underpaying women.
cbsnews.com
Goldman Sachs agreed to pay $215 million to settle a long-standing class-action lawsuit that alleges the finance giant systematically underpays and undervalues women.
Goldman Sachs settles gender bias lawsuit for $215 million - CBS News
cnn.com
The settlement covers about 2,800 female associates and vice presidents employed in the investment banking, investment management and securities divisions of Goldman Sachs, according to the statement.
Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay $215 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit that alleged widespread bias against women in both pay and promotions, a joint statement from the company and the plaintiffs said.

Workplace equity Confirmed

Goldman Sachs hiring or promotion processes favor certain demographics

Goldman Sachs's hiring or promotion processes are alleged to favor certain demographics, prompting potential Title VII lawsuits.

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sec.gov
If aggrieved employees or external parties argue that Goldman Sachs’s hiring or promotion processes favor certain demographics, lawsuits under Title VII could follow.

Corporate conduct Settlement

Goldman Sachs Group agreed to pay more than $1 billion to settle SEC charges that it violated the anti-bribery

Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. - The firm agreed to pay more than more than $1 billion to settle SEC charges that it violated the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the FCPA in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) bribe scheme.

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public-inspection.federalregister.gov
20–438 (MKB), was entered in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. (j) The term “best knowledge,” “to the best of one’s knowledge,” “best knowledge at that time,” and other similar “best knowledge” terms include matters that are known to the applicable individual or should be known to such individual upon the exercise of such individual’s due diligence required under the circumstances, and, with respect to an entity other than a natural person, such term includes matters that are known to the directors and officers of the entity or should be known to such individuals upon the exercise of such individuals’ due diligence required under the circumstances. (k) The “conduct” of any person or entity that is the “subject of” any misconduct refers to the misconduct by any Goldman personnel that is the basis of (or the subject of) the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction. (l) The term “participate in” when used to describe an individual or entity’s participation in the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction refers not only to active participation in the conduct that is the subject of the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction but also includes an individual or entity’s knowledge or approval of the conduct that is the subject of the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction, without taking active steps to prohibit such conduct, such as reporting the conduct to the individual’s supervisors, and to the Board of Directors.
public-inspection.federalregister.gov
20–438 (MKB), was entered in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. (j) The term “best knowledge,” “to the best of one’s knowledge,” “best knowledge at that time,” and other similar “best knowledge” terms include matters that are known to the applicable individual or should be known to such individual upon the exercise of such individual’s due diligence required under the circumstances, and, with respect to an entity other than a natural person, such term includes matters that are known to the directors and officers of the entity or should be known to such individuals upon the exercise of such individuals’ due diligence required under the circumstances. (k) The “conduct” of any person or entity that is the “subject of” any misconduct refers to the misconduct by any Goldman personnel that is the basis of (or the subject of) the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction. (l) The term “participate in” when used to describe an individual or entity’s participation in the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction refers not only to active participation in the conduct that is the subject of the Goldman Sachs Malaysia FCPA Conviction but also includes an individual or entity’s knowledge or approval of the
thehill.com
Goldman Sachs will pay $2.9 billion to settle charges that it violated federal anti-corruption laws by bribing government officials to secure billions in business for the investment bank’s Malaysian subsidiary, the Justice Department announced Thursday.
“Today’s resolution, which requires Goldman Sachs to admit wrongdoing and pay nearly three billion dollars in penalties, fines, and disgorgement, holds the bank accountable for this criminal scheme and demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to combating corruption and protecting the U.S. financial system,” said acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C.
bbc.com
Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay nearly $3bn (£2.3bn) to end a probe of its role in the 1MDB corruption scandal.
Goldman Sachs to pay $3bn over 1MDB corruption scandal
cnbc.com
Goldman Sachs agreed to pay more than $2.9 billion to regulators around the world, including a record penalty for violating a U.S. anti-corruption law, to resolve probes into its role in an international finance scandal, authorities announced Thursday.
"Goldman Sachs today accepted responsibility for its role in a conspiracy to bribe high-ranking foreign officials to obtain lucrative underwriting and other business relating to 1MDB," acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C.
cnbc.com
TWG Global has tapped veteran Goldman Sachs lawyer David Markowitz to be its chief legal officer, as federal investigators probe how two insurers that are part of TWG CEO Mark Walter's sprawling business empire classified loans to companies the billionaire controls.
federalreserve.gov
New York, New York Doc ket Nos. 16-011-BH-C; 16-011-CMP-HC Order to Cease and Desist and Order of Assessment of Civil Money Penalty Issued Upon Consent Pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as Amended WHEREAS, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., New York, New York (“GS Group”), a registered bank holding company, owns and controls Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”), a non-bank subsidiary located in New York, New York (together, the “Firm”); WHEREAS, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Board of Governors”) is the appropriate federal banking agency supervisor of the Firm; WHEREAS, Goldman Sachs provides regulatory advisory services to supervised financial institutions relating to capital stress testing and other supervisory issues, and the Firm was aware that in such circumstances the Firm was prohibited from using or disclosing the Board’s confidential supervisory information absent regulatory approval; WHEREAS, confidential supervisory information includes reports of examination and other confidential reports prepared by banking regulators, and any information derived from, related to, or contained in such reports, and any documents prepared by, on behalf of, or for the
sec.gov
Tim Leissner - A former executive of Goldman Sachs Group Inc. agreed to a settlement with the SEC that includes a permanent bar from the securities industry for violating the FCPA by engaging in a corruption scheme, by which he obtained millions of dollars by paying unlawful bribes to various government officials to secure lucrative contracts for Goldman Sachs.
agreed to a settlement with the SEC that includes a permanent bar from the securities industry for violating the FCPA by engaging in a corruption scheme, by which he obtained millions of dollars by paying unlawful bribes to various government officials to secure lucrative contracts for Goldman Sachs. (12/16/19). Ericsson – The multinational telecommunications company agreed to pay more than $1 billion to the SEC and DOJ to resolve charges that it violated the FCPA by engaging in a large-scale bribery scheme involving the use of sham consultants to secretly funnel money to government officials in multiple countries.
Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. - The firm agreed to pay more than more than $1 billion to settle SEC charges that it violated the anti-bribery, books and records, and internal accounting controls provisions of the FCPA in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) bribe scheme.
sec.gov
The diverted funds included a substantial portion of the approximately $6.5 billion in capital that 1MDB raised in 2012 and 2013 through three bond offerings that it executed with Goldman Sachs (the “Bond Deals”).
This matter relates to a scheme perpetrated by now former senior employees of Goldman Sachs who authorized and paid bribes and kickbacks to government officials in Malaysia and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (“Abu Dhabi”) in order to secure lucrative business for the Company and benefits for themselves.
As part of the scheme, certain former senior employees of Goldman Sachs authorized and paid bribes to government officials in Malaysia and in Abu Dhabi to obtain and retain lucrative business for Goldman Sachs, including the 2012 and 2013 bond deals, from which Goldman Sachs earned approximately $600 million.
6 Leissner, Low and others paid millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks to government officials, and secured 1MDB business for Goldman Sachs, in particular, the three Bond Deals and related transactions.
sec.gov
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against former Goldman Sachs Group Inc. executive Tim Leissner for engaging in a corruption scheme, by which he obtained millions of dollars by paying unlawful bribes to various government officials to secure lucrative contracts for Goldman Sachs.
sec.gov
The SEC’s order finds that Goldman Sachs violated the anti-bribery, internal accounting controls, and books and records provisions of the federal securities laws.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced charges against The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) in connection with the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) bribe scheme, and as part of coordinated resolutions, it has agreed to pay more than $2.9 billion, which includes more than $1 billion to settle the SEC’s charges.
SEC.gov | SEC Charges Goldman Sachs With FCPA Violations
SEC Charges Goldman Sachs With FCPA Violations
Goldman Sachs agreed to a cease-and-desist order and to pay $606.3 million in disgorgement and a $400 million civil penalty, with the amount of disgorgement satisfied by amounts it paid to the Government of Malaysia and 1MDB in a related settlement.
According to the SEC’s order, beginning in 2012, former senior employees of Goldman Sachs used a third-party intermediary to bribe high-ranking government officials in Malaysia and the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Corporate conduct Settlement

Goldman Sachs agreed to pay a $4mn penalty over US regulatory charges that the bank’s asset management division misled customers about ESG investments

Goldman Sachs to pay $4mn penalty over ESG fund claims.

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finance.yahoo.com
Goldman Sachs (GS) to Pay SEC $4M Penalty Over ESG Fund Case (Revised)
Goldman Sachs Group Inc.'s GS asset-management arm will pay $4 million to settle the Securities and Exchange Commission's claims that Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
ft.com
Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay a $4mn penalty over US regulatory charges that the bank’s asset management division misled customers about environmental, social and governance (ESG) investments.
Goldman Sachs to pay $4mn penalty over ESG fund claims
supremecourt.gov
“This could be the beginning of a period where you have a regulatory cloud over Goldman Sachs, and perhaps even the entire investment banking industry,” said Hank Smith, chief investment officer at Haverford Trust Co in Philadelphia.

Corporate conduct Settlement

Goldman Sachs settled charges with the SEC for providing deficient Blue Sheet data

The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC for failing to provide complete and accurate securities trading information, known as blue sheet data, to the SEC.

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sec.gov
The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC for failing to provide complete and accurate securities trading information, known as blue sheet data, to the SEC.

Corporate conduct Settlement

Goldman Sachs settles foreign bribery charges

Goldman Sachs will pay $2.9B to settle foreign bribery charges.

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thehill.com
Goldman Sachs will pay $2.9B to settle foreign bribery charges
“Today’s resolution, which requires Goldman Sachs to admit wrongdoing and pay nearly three billion dollars in penalties, fines, and disgorgement, holds the bank accountable for this criminal scheme and demonstrates the department’s continuing commitment to combating corruption and protecting the U.S. financial system,” said acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C.

Corporate conduct Confirmed

Goldman Sachs misrepresents refund application

Goldman Sachs misrepresented the refund application, leading to unexpected interest charges for users.

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howtogeek.com
The CFPB also found that Apple did not always present the interest-free payment option on its website, and Goldman Sachs misrepresented the application of refunds, leading to unexpected interest charges for users.