Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2008
Clean Water Act violation at Salt Lake City facility
Johnson Matthey Inc admitted a felony violation of the United States Clean Water Act after selectively screening wastewater samples for compliance analysis at its Salt Lake City precious-metals refining facility. The company paid a $2.25 million fine, made a $750,000 contribution to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and entered a three-year EPA compliance agreement.
1984
Johnson Matthey Bankers collapse and rescue
Johnson Matthey Bankers expanded into high-risk lending outside its traditional bullion activities during the early 1980s. Concentrated exposures and inadequate loan quality left the bank’s loans larger than its capital base. The Bank of England intervened and purchased the bank for £1 to reduce the risk of contagion across bullion and banking markets. A borrower was later imprisoned for lying about assets during a High Court inquiry into the collapse.