The Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued a risk alert on November 19, 2020 related to the Advisers Act compliance rule, Rule 206(4)-7. Some key takeaways for Chief Compliance Officers (CCOs) are as...more
On November 19, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to adopt amendments that will modernize, simplify and enhance certain financial disclosure requirements in Regulation S-K. The amendments are intended...more
As the UK approaches a “no deal” exit from the EU, the FCA has issued to the Luxembourg CSSF (and thus to all of us) a reminder that the window of time to access the UK’s temporary regime to market alternative investment...more
On October 15, 2020, the CFTC unanimously adopted amendments to Rule 3.10(c) that will be of assistance to foreign-located persons acting as commodity pool operators on behalf of offshore commodity pools. Rule 3.10(c) will...more
On November 2, 2020, the SEC’s Division of Enforcement issued its 2020 Annual Report for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2020. While the Enforcement Division filed 405 standalone enforcement actions – the lowest total in...more
11/12/2020
/ Audits ,
Compensation ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Custody Rule ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Fund Transfers ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Misallocation of Funds ,
MNPI ,
Past Performance ,
Private Funds ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
On October 23, 2020, the SEC Division of Investment Management’s Chief Accountant’s Office (“IMCAO”) issued three separate “Dear CFO” letters addressing (i) the determination of when a fund commences operations, (ii)...more
On November 2, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) voted to amend its rules in order to harmonize, simplify, and improve the multilayered and overly complex exempt offering framework. The SEC believes the...more
On October 28, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (referred to as SEC or Commission) voted to adopt new rules, and rule and form amendments, designed to provide an updated, comprehensive approach to the regulation...more
On October 15, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”) announced settled charges against Andeavor LLC for internal accounting controls violations relating to a stock buyback plan it implemented...more
For investment advisers, managers/general partners of private funds, registered funds, private funds, and pension funds, among others, you have until October 30 to file Form BE-180, but you must do so electronically. (Yes,...more
SEC Speaks, the annual PLI conference that gives practitioners the chance to hear directly from SEC Staff, was held on October 8 and 9 in a virtual setting. While the conference (like everything else) felt a bit different...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (“Commission” or “SEC”) recently instituted settled administrative and cease-and-desist proceedings against a chief compliance officer of a registered investment adviser for record...more
A September 30, 2020 enforcement action brought by the SEC pivoted on a failure to effectively exercise “substantial investment authority”. Day to day investment advisory services were provided by an affiliated RIA of the...more
On October 7, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) adopted a new rule, Rule 12d1-4, and related amendments designed to permit a registered investment company or business development company or...more
On October 7, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) voted to propose a new limited, conditional exemption from the broker registration requirements of Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange...more
On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) changed the investment landscape as we know it by modestly relaxing the eligibility rules for investment in private offerings. The Adopting...more
9/10/2020
/ Accredited Investors ,
Certifications ,
Family Offices ,
Federal Register ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Investment Company Act of 1940 ,
Investors ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC) ,
Private Offerings ,
Proposed Amendments ,
Qualified Institutional Buyers ,
Rural Business Investment Companies (RBICs) ,
Securities Act of 1933 ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has recognized that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused, and may cause, disruptions that limit investment advisers’ access to facilities, personnel, and third party...more
Sender Primary Liability for Misstatements in PPMs and Prospectuses: Lorenzo v. SEC (No. 17-1077 -- U.S. – 2019).
On March 27th, the Supreme Court issued a 1934 Act Rule 10b-5 opinion that will have implications for...more
4/5/2019
/ Corporate Officers ,
Custody Rule ,
Digital Assets ,
Directors ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Intent to Defraud ,
Investment Funds ,
Janus Capital Group Inc v First Derivative Traders ,
Lorenzo v SEC ,
No-Action Relief ,
Personal Liability ,
Proposed Rules ,
Puerto Rico ,
Retirement Plan ,
Rule 10b-5 ,
SCOTUS ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud
Enforcement -
AXA Prevails in Excessive Fee Trial -
Beware of Failing to Properly Disclose Fees and Assess Adequate Penalties -
Non-Enforcement -
Business Continuity Planning -
SEC Rule Designed to...more
Non-Enforcement -
Mutual Fund Directors Must Be Vigilant in Addressing Risks -
In remarks to the Mutual Fund Directors Forum, SEC Chair Mary Jo White outlined some of the risks and challenges that mutual fund...more
6/3/2016
/ 12b-1 plan ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Custody Rule ,
Directors ,
Disgorgement ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Liquidity ,
Mutual Funds ,
No-Action Relief ,
PCAOB ,
Permanent Injunctions ,
Prejudgment Interest ,
Private Funds ,
Risk Assessment ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Sub-advisers ,
Summary Judgment ,
Third-Party Service Provider
Non-Enforcement -
Amendments to the Venture Capital Fund Adviser and Private Fund Adviser Exemptions -
Last month the SEC’s Division of Investment Management issued a guidance update (Update) addressing recent...more
5/2/2016
/ Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
Exemptions ,
Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) ,
Guidance Update ,
Investment Advisers Act of 1940 ,
Joint and Several Liability ,
Multi-Employer Pensions ,
Multiemployer Pension Plan Amendments Act (MPPAA) ,
Partnership-in-Fact ,
Private Equity Funds ,
Private Funds ,
SBIC ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Sun Capital Partners ,
Venture Capital ,
Withdrawal Liability
Non-Enforcement -
Remember to Update Your Risk Disclosure on an Ongoing Basis -
The staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued guidance reminding mutual funds, exchange traded funds, and other...more
4/4/2016
/ Breach of Duty ,
Conflicts of Interest ,
Directors ,
Disclosure Requirements ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Exchange-Traded Products ,
Fees ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
Form ADV ,
Intermediaries ,
Investor Protection ,
Mutual Funds ,
New Guidance ,
Penalties ,
Registered Investment Advisors ,
Registered Investment Companies (RICs) ,
Risk Assessment ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Non-Enforcement -
The EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program has Provided a Breeding Ground for Securities Fraud -
Back in 1990, Congress created the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) EB-5...more
3/3/2016
/ EB-5 ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investment Funds ,
Material Nonpublic Information ,
Mergers ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
State Regulators ,
Target Company ,
Unregistered Brokers ,
Venture Capital
Non-Enforcement -
FINRA’s Proposed Pay-to-Play Rule Will Impact Investment Advisers -
Late last year (December 24, 2015), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) submitted a proposed rule to the U.S....more
2/3/2016
/ 12b-1 plan ,
Cybersecurity ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) ,
Fund Managers ,
Investment Adviser ,
Investor Protection ,
OCIE ,
Pay-To-Play ,
Sanctions ,
SEC Examination Priorities ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Securities Fraud ,
Transparency
Non-Enforcement -
Investment Management Division Director Address to Investment Company Institute -
Division Director David Grim addressed the ICI on December 16, 2015. In his remarks, Grim noted 2015 was the 75th...more
12/30/2015
/ CFTC ,
Data Collection ,
Derivatives ,
Dodd-Frank ,
EB-5 ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Insider Trading ,
Investment Companies ,
Liquidity Risk Management Rule ,
Portfolio Managers ,
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ,
Unregistered Brokers