DWS Group controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
SEC settlement concerning ESG disclosures and anti-money-laundering controls
DWS agreed to pay $25 million to settle SEC charges alleging misstatements about its ESG investment process and failure to establish an adequate mutual-fund anti-money-laundering program. DWS neither admitted nor denied the SEC's findings.
2022
German searches and executive resignation
German authorities searched DWS offices as part of the ESG investigation. CEO Asoka Wöhrmann resigned afterward and was replaced by Stefan Hoops.
2021
U.S. investigation into sustainable-investment claims
The U.S. Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission investigated DWS's statements and processes concerning sustainable investing. The allegations were widely characterized as a potential greenwashing issue.
2020
Dispute over the scale of ESG integration
DWS reporting described a large share of assets as subject to ESG criteria, while an internal assessment reportedly found that only a much smaller portion met the practical standard implied by the company's public description. The discrepancy led to regulatory and public scrutiny.