In a recent decision, the US District Court for the Southern District of New York dismissed a proposed class action against Seeking Alpha, Inc., ruling that the financial content platform falls within the "publisher's...more
FINRA Updates its Sweep on Social Media Influencers, Customer Acquisition and Related Information Protection -
On February 28, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) provided an update for its sweep on Social...more
Investment advisers that manage private funds should promptly review their compliance policies and procedures, practices and disclosures to ensure these address, and are not inconsistent with, the areas of concern raised in a...more
On February 9, by a vote of three to one, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposed five sweeping new rules governing private funds. The comment period on the proposal expires 60 days from February 9 or 30 days...more
Key Points -
Effective as of August 16, the dollar amount tests specified in the definition of “Qualified Client” in Rule 205-3 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act) will increase for the net-worth...more
The recent defaults by Archegos caused several large broker-dealers to incur significant losses. Archegos represented that it operated as a single-family office, which made it exempt from many provisions of the federal...more
SEC/CORPORATE -
Acting SEC Chair Lee Provides Public Statement Welcoming Public Comment on Climate Change Disclosures -
On March 15, Acting Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Allison Herren Lee made a public...more
3/22/2021
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Climate Change ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Investment Adviser ,
NFA ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Key Points -
- Beginning February 1, new and amended rules will go into effect in New York that require certain individuals associated with investment advisers to register with the state and to meet examination...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission issued a proposed order that, if adopted, would provide an exemption to certain "finders," persons who connect potential buyers and sellers of securities for a fee, from broker-dealer...more
BROKER-DEALER -
FINRA Requests Comments for Proposed Amendments to FINRA Rule 2165 -
On October 5, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued Regulatory Notice 20-34, which requests comment on proposed...more
Key Points -
- The Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) recently released a Risk Alert warning investment advisers, broker-dealers, investment companies,...more
Key Points -
- Recent Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement actions against investment advisers and fund managers point to continued pressure points in the areas of conflicts of interest and disclosures to...more
SEC/CORPORATE -
SEC Further Extends Filing Deadlines for Companies Impacted by COVID-19 -
On March 25, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order extending conditional relief (the Modified Order) for...more
BROKER-DEALER -
FINRA Issues Investor Alert Regarding Required Minimum Distributions -
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) issued an Investor Alert regarding a new law raising the age for required...more
2/18/2020
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Cryptoassets ,
Digital Assets ,
EMIR ,
European Commission ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
IOSCO ,
MiFIR ,
National Futures Association ,
Required Minimum Distributions ,
SECURE Act
KEY POINTS -
- Amendments to FINRA Rules 5130 and 5131, which govern the offer and sale of "New Issue" securities went into effect on January 1.
- FINRA Rule 5130 prohibits a broker-dealer from selling New Issues to...more
1/10/2020
/ Amended Rules ,
Broker-Dealer ,
Business Development Companies ,
Charitable Organizations ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Foreign Investment ,
Foreign Sovereigns ,
Initial Public Offering (IPO) ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Portfolio Managers ,
Regulation S ,
Retirement Plan ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
BROKER-DEALER -
SEC Issues Guidance on Substituted Compliance Applications by Non-US Security-Based Swap Dealers and Major Security-Based Swap Participants -
On November 25, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s...more
12/16/2019
/ Broker-Dealer ,
Capital Requirements ,
CFTC ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) ,
Emissions Trading System ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
Final Rules ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Markets ,
Green Finance ,
Popular ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Security-Based Swaps ,
Senior Management Regime (SMR) ,
Swap Dealers ,
Swaps
BROKER-DEALER -
FINRA Expands Transparency Initiative Related to OTC Equity Trading Volume -
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) previously announced an expansion to its ongoing transparency initiative...more
12/9/2019
/ Banking Sector ,
Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Derivatives ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Investment Management ,
MiFID II ,
NFA ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
SEC/CORPORATE -
SEC Proposes New Amendments to Modernize Shareholder Proposal Rules -
On November 5, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted to propose amendments to Rule 14a-8 of the Securities Exchange of 1934...more
11/11/2019
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Corporate Governance ,
Derivatives ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Investment Adviser ,
No-Action Letters ,
Proxy Season ,
Proxy Voting Guidelines ,
Publicly-Traded Companies ,
Rule 14a-8 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Shareholder Proposals ,
UK Brexit
DERIVATIVES -
See also “CFTC Extends Public Comment Period for Proposed Rules Pertaining to Cross-Border Clearing” and “CFTC and European Commission Issue Joint Statement Following Meeting on Cross-Border Derivatives...more
9/23/2019
/ Broker-Dealer ,
CFTC ,
Commodities ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Derivatives ,
Derivatives Clearing Organizations ,
Final Rules ,
Foreign Investment ,
Major Swap Participants ,
Swap Dealers ,
Swaps
SEC/CORPORATE -
Federal Court Rules Investment Fund is 10 Percent Owner in Section 16 Case -
On August 20, a federal magistrate judge in the Eastern District of New York granted a motion for summary judgment in a...more
BROKER-DEALER -
FINRA Files Proposed Rule Change to CAB Rules Governing Qualification, Registration and Continuing Education of Associated Persons of CABs -
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) is filing...more
On September 26, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged a dually registered broker-dealer and investment adviser (the "Registrant") with deficient cybersecurity procedures. This is the first SEC action alleging...more
BROKER-DEALER -
FINRA Seeks Comment on Rule Proposal Regarding High-Risk Brokers -
On May 30, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority published Regulatory Notice 18-16, which seeks comment on proposed rule...more
On April 18, concurrently with its publication for comment of a proposed fiduciary rule for brokers,1 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) took several actions that broadly implicate investment advisers....more
SEC Finalizes Rule on Pay Ratio Disclosure -
On August 5, the Securities and Exchange Commission adopted the final rule regarding pay ratio disclosure that amends Item 402 of Regulation S-K to implement Section 953(b)...more
8/10/2015
/ Broker-Dealer ,
Derivatives Clearing Organizations ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
EU ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Greece ,
NASD ,
Pay Ratio ,
Proxy Access Rule ,
Regulation S-K ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
UK