On April 7th, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued two risk alerts: Examinations that Focus on Compliance with Regulation Best Interest and Examinations that Focus on Compliance with Form CRS. These risk alerts provide broker-dealers and investment advisers with advance information about the expected scope and content of the initial examinations for compliance with Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS. Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS are key components of a broad package of rules and interpretations that was adopted contemporaneously on June 5, 2019. The package is intended to enhance the quality and transparency of retail investors’ relationships with broker-dealers and investment advisers.
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Wednesday, April 08. 2020
SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations Publishes Risk Alerts Regarding Initial Inspections
Monday, April 06. 2020
Notice to Users Regarding CUSIP Database
The SEC’s latest update to the published CUSIP database contained an internal formatting change that causes additional whitespace in the CUSIP data. This is in turn causing issues when users check CUSIPs using the tools available in Form 13F View. This problem will be resolved in our next update (currently scheduled for April 20). Until then, we are providing the following workaround for users.
Continue reading "Notice to Users Regarding CUSIP Database" »SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant Issues Statement on the Importance of High-Quality Financial Reporting in Light of COVID-19
On April 3rd, the SEC released a statement concerning the importance of high-quality financial reporting given the significant impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Along with other divisions and offices of the SEC, the Office of the Chief Accountant (OCA) is closely monitoring the issues raised by COVID-19 on investors and global capital markets. The pandemic has presented a serious challenge with significant implications for financial reporting, national markets, and the US economy more generally.
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Continue reading "SEC’s Office of the Chief Accountant Issues..." »
Friday, April 03. 2020
Federal Agencies to Consider Comments on Volcker Rule Modifications Submitted After the Expiration of Comment Period
On April 2nd, a group of five federal financial regulatory agencies announced that they will consider comments submitted before May 1, 2020 on the proposal to modify the Volcker rule’s general prohibition on banking entities investing in or sponsoring hedge funds or private equity funds. These funds are generally known as “covered funds.”
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Continue reading "Federal Agencies to Consider Comments on..." »
Thursday, April 02. 2020
SEC Small Business Advocate to Host Virtual Coffee Breaks Discussing Small Businesses Raising Capital
The SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation announced on March 31st that it is hosting a series of virtual coffee breaks to engage with the public to discuss updates, trends, and perspectives on how COVID-19 is impacting raising capital. Each virtual coffee break will spotlight what is currently happening in a particular area of the market and incorporate feedback from entrepreneurs, investors, and other market participants.
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Wednesday, April 01. 2020
SEC Announces Meeting of Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee in Response to COVID-19 Challenges
On March 31, the SEC announced its Small Business Capital Formation Advisory Committee will host a meeting via video conference on April 2, 2020. This meeting is in response to the challenges small businesses are facing in coping with COVID-19.
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Continue reading "SEC Announces Meeting of Small Business Capital..." »
Monday, March 30. 2020
Corporation Finance Disclosure Guidance Topic: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
On March 25th, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance released Guidance Topic No, 9, which focuses on guidance for disclosure given the impacts of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. This guidance provides the Division of Corporation Finance’s current views regarding disclosure and other securities law obligations that companies should consider in light of business and market disruptions. The Division of Corporation Finance reminds readers that this guidance is not a rule, regulation, or statement of the SEC. Like all staff guidance, the advice has no legal force or effect. It does not alter or amend applicable law, and it creates no new or additional obligations for any person.
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Continue reading "Corporation Finance Disclosure Guidance Topic:..." »
Friday, March 27. 2020
SEC Adopts Temporary Final Rule to Address Form ID Notarization Challenges
The SEC and its staff recognize that the COVID-19 public health crisis has presented challenges for some entities and individuals who require initial access to file through the EDGAR system, particularly those applicants who have experienced trouble obtaining notarization of the authorized signature on the Form ID application. This notarization process is required by Rule 10(b) of Regulation S-T.
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Continue reading "SEC Adopts Temporary Final Rule to Address Form..." »
SEC Provides Additional Temporary Regulatory Relief and Assistance to Market Participants Affected by COVID-19
On March 26th, the SEC announced it will provide additional temporary regulatory relief to market participants due to the impacts of Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). These actions involve 1) parties needing to gain access to make filings on the EDGAR system, 2) certain company filing obligations under Regulation A and Regulation Crowdfunding, and 3) a filing requirement for municipal advisers.
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Continue reading "SEC Provides Additional Temporary Regulatory..." »
Wednesday, March 25. 2020
SEC Extends Conditional Exemptions From Reporting and Proxy Delivery Requirements In Light of Coronavirus Disease 2019
The SEC announced on March 25th that it is extending the filing periods covered by its previously enacted conditional reporting relief for certain public company filing obligations under the federal securities laws. It is also extending regulatory relief that was previously provided to funds and investment advisers whose operations may be affected by COVID-19. In addition, the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance has now issued its views regarding disclosure obligations and other securities law matters as the impact of COVID-19 increases.
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Tuesday, March 24. 2020
Form ID and Notorization Issues
The SEC released an announcement concerning Form ID and difficulties with form notorization given the recent coronavirus pandemic and its impact on business. The SEC understands that the COVID-19 public health crisis is presenting challenges for some entities and individuals who are seeking initial access to file submissions through the EDGAR system. In particular, users are encountering trouble in meeting the notary requirement in the Form ID access application process. This problem with notary access is also affecting other EDGAR access processes that require notarization.
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Continue reading "Form ID and Notorization Issues" »
SEC Provides Temporary Additional Flexibility to Registered Investment Companies Affected by Coronavirus
On March 23rd, the SEC announced temporary flexibility for registered funds affected by recent market events. New exemptions will provide additional flexibility for registered open-end management investment companies other than money market funds (“open-end funds”) and insurance company separate accounts registered as unit investment trusts (“separate accounts”) to obtain short-term funding. The flexibility detailed in this order will permit these funds to borrow funds from certain affiliates and to enter into certain other lending arrangements. The relief is designed to provide funds with additional tools to manage their portfolios for the benefit of all shareholders as investors possibly seek to rebalance their investments in light of market turmoil.
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Continue reading "SEC Provides Temporary Additional Flexibility..." »
Monday, March 23. 2020
SEC Enables Immediate Effectiveness of Changes to Facilitate NYSE Electronic Auctions in Light of Trading Floor Closure
The SEC released for immediate effectiveness a proposed rule filing submitted by New York Stock Exchange LLC (NYSE) to facilitate electronic auctions in light of the NYSE’s decision to temporarily close its New York trading floor. NYSE announced that it will temporarily close its trading floor effective Monday, March 23, as a precautionary measure in response to COVID-19. The NYSE rule filing modifies certain rules to set wider price parameters and to remove volume limits, within which NYSE designated market makers (DMMs) can facilitate auctions in an electronic trading environment.
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Continue reading "SEC Enables Immediate Effectiveness of Changes..." »
SEC Provides Regulatory Relief for Registered Transfer Agents and Others Affected by the Coronavirus Disease 2019
The SEC announced on March 22nd that it is providing further regulatory relief due to the effects of COVID-19, in this case for registered transfer agents and certain other persons with regulatory obligations under the federal securities laws. The impacts of COVID-19 may directly or indirectly present challenges for transfer agents and other persons. To address these challenges, the SEC issued an order that provides registered transfer agents and certain other persons with exemptive relief for certain regulatory obligations under the federal securities laws subject to certain conditions. This relief is applicable through May 30, 2020. Importantly, at all times transfer agents are subject to the requirements of Exchange Act Rule 17Ad-12. This rule requires transfer agents to ensure that they adequately safeguard securities and funds in their possession or custody, and the mandate is unaltered by the current situation.
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Continue reading "SEC Provides Regulatory Relief for Registered..." »
Friday, March 20. 2020
Webinar: Transitioning to Remote Operation with GoFiler
To aid our clients in their efforts to transition to telecommuting and remote work, we are offering a webinar on Tuesday, March 24 from 11:00am to 12:00pm EDT that will cover the different methods of deploying GoFiler remotely.
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