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DWS hit with huge €25m fine for greenwashing

A view of the DWS building on August 20, 2021 in Frankfurt, Germany.
Photo: Jeremy Moeller/Getty Images

What this fine means for other firms and why it is a stark reminder of why a whistleblowing policy is needed in the UK.

Deutsche Bank’s asset management arm, DWS Group, has been hit with a historically high €25m ($27m) fine by the Frankfurt Public Prosecutor’s office after being accused of extensive greenwashing. The penalty marks the culmination of a multi-year joint investigation with the Federal Criminal Police Office in Wiesbaden.

The prosecutor’s office