SEC Charges Swiss Trader with Involvement in Two International Insider Trading Schemes

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed on November 30, 2021, insider trading charges against Marc Demane Debih, a Swiss national, who generated at least $49 million in illicit profits in connection with his active participation in two multi-year insider trading schemes.

The SEC alleged that Debih was a central figure in two separate schemes to trade in the securities of U.S. public companies in advance of news that these companies had been targeted for acquisition. Debih allegedly received illicit tips through a network that included two London-based investment bankers and a U.S.-based investment banker, all of whom the SEC charged in October 2019. Debih traded on the tips he received from the investment bankers and that he tipped others to trade.

The SEC's complaint, filed in federal court in Manhattan, charges Debih with violating the antifraud provisions of Sections 10(b) and 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rules 10b-5 and 14e-3 thereunder. Debih has consented to the entry of a judgment which, if approved by the court, would permanently enjoin him from violating the charged provisions and would impose civil penalties, if any, to be decided later by the court.

In a parallel action, the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York brought criminal charges against Debih, who pleaded guilty to securities fraud. He is scheduled to be sentenced next month.

Debih is the eighth person the SEC has charged in connection with these schemes.