Research Update: May 27, 2021

AMGN
AON
COF
XOM
NFLX
PYPL Smith &
SNN
TLRY
APHA

Company’s appearing in today’s research update --

  1. Amgen Inc. – AMGN
  2. Aon Plc – AON
  3. Capital One Financial Corporation – COF
  4. Exxon Mobil Corporation – XOM
  5. Netflix, Inc. – NFLX
  6. PayPal Holdings, Inc. – PYPL
  7. Smith & Nephew PLC – SNN
  8. Tilray, Inc., the Aphria, Inc. unit – TLRY/APHA

 

Plus – Probes Reporter Data Feed: No Recent SEC Investigative Records Found – 164 Companies

The links below will take you to our fully updated SEC Investigation Update Report which has each company’s history and our analysis.

Amgen Inc. – AMGN:  An undisclosed SEC investigation is again confirmed.  This is our fourth time warning of an undisclosed SEC investigation at Amgen since Apr-2019, again confirmed as ongoing as of 21-Apr-2021.  Maintained on Watch List.

Aon Plc – AON:  An undisclosed SEC investigation is again confirmed.  Undisclosed SEC investigative activity first found at Aon on 25-Apr-2017, now confirmed as ongoing seven times since, most recently on 21-Apr-2021.  Only generalized and sweeping disclosures of investigative risk were found, making this worthy of follow-up.  The company has a sizable number of antitrust investigations outside the US which could be related.  We break it down in today’s report.   Maintained on Watch List.

Capital One Financial Corporation – COF:  An undisclosed SEC investigation is again confirmed, as of 21-Apr-2021.  We’ve been tracking an undisclosed SEC investigation at Capital One since Sep-2019. This is a change from Oct-2018, at which time no signs of ongoing SEC investigative activity were found.  Maintained on Watch List. 

Exxon Mobil Corporation – XOM:  Confirmed, Undisclosed SEC Investigation. Added to Watch List.  Exxon is a frequent flyer when it comes to public companies that receive wide media attention about SEC investigative activity which the company itself never discloses.  That’s the case again today.

Netflix, Inc. – NFLX:  An undisclosed SEC investigation is again confirmed.  This is our third time warning of an undisclosed SEC investigation at Netflix since Sep-2019.  The first FOIA response indicating an SEC investigation was dated 06-Jul-2019, again confirmed as ongoing as of 21-Apr-2021.  In the past we observed Netflix investors appeared highly focused on recently emerged competitors as well as changes to subscriber numbers and margins. Maybe the SEC noticed?  Maintained on Watch List. 

PayPal Holdings, Inc. – PYPL:  Confirmed, Undisclosed SEC Investigation. Added to Watch List.  Undisclosed SEC investigative activity first found at PayPal on 9-Mar-2021, and then later confirmed as ongoing on 21-Apr-2021.  The company had two undisclosed SEC investigations in recent periods; one ended in Feb-2019, the other remains ongoing and undisclosed.  This is a change from a response dated 5-Apr-2018, at which time no signs of ongoing SEC investigative activity were found.

Smith & Nephew PLC – SNN:  Confirmed, Undisclosed SEC Investigation. Added to Watch List.  Undisclosed SEC investigative activity first found at Smith & Nephew on 19-Feb-2021, and then later confirmed as ongoing on 23-Mar-2021.  This is a change from a response dated 06-Mar-2020, at which time no signs of ongoing SEC investigative activity were found.  

Tilray, Inc., the Aphria, Inc. unit – TLRY/APHA:  An undisclosed SEC investigation is again confirmed at Aphria.  The first FOIA response indicating an SEC investigation at Aphria was dated 22-Jan-2020.  On-going enforcement proceedings now confirmed on appeal three times since, most recently on 21-Apr-2021. Maintained on Watch List.

Clients are invited to contact us anytime, in total confidence, to discuss the data and/or risks we identify here.

Notes: The SEC’s assertion and/or confirmation of the law enforcement exemption should not be construed as an indication by the Commission or its staff that any violations of law have occurred with respect to any person, entity, or security.

New SEC investigative activity could theoretically begin or end after the date covered by the latest information in this report, which would not be reflected here. Where applicable, the SEC did not disclose the details on investigations referenced herein. All we know is that they somehow pertain to the conduct, transactions, and/or disclosures of the companies.  Companies with undisclosed SEC investigations are maintained on our Watch List of companies with undisclosed SEC investigations.  The SEC reminds us that its assertion of the law enforcement exemption should not be construed as an indication by the Commission or its staff that any violations of law have occurred with respect to any person, entity, or security. 

Probes Reporter® research provides data, commentary, and analysis on public company interactions with investors and with the SEC.   Our work is heavily reliant on company disclosures and our expertise in using the Freedom of Information Act.

Disclosure Games®” is a trademarked term we use to highlight those public companies engaging in disclosure practices that in our opinion may be misleading, confusing, evasive, or otherwise lacking the transparency needed for investors to make well-informed investment decisions regarding a potentially material exposure. 

 

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