Investment Advisers Act of 1940

SEC Staff Issues Guidance Update and Investor Bulletin on Robo-Advisers

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On February 23, 2017, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC“) published information and guidance for investors and the financial services industry on the use of robo-advisers, described by the Staff as “registered investment advisers that use computer algorithms to provide investment advisory services online with often limited human interaction.” Press Release.

The guidance update (the “Update“) was issued by the SEC’s Division of Investment Management in order to address the unique issues raised by robo-advisers. It makes a number of specific suggestions on meeting disclosure, suitability and compliance obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act“). The Update, however, is less prescriptive than the “Report on Digital Investment Advice” issued by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA“) in March 2016 (the “FINRA Report“).

The FINRA Report generally addressed the issues faced by “financial services firms” (including both broker‑dealers and investment advisers) in the use of “digital investment advice tools.” As stated by FINRA, the effective practices discussed in the FINRA Report are “specifically intended for FINRA-registered firms, but may be valuable to financial professionals generally.” Accordingly, it is suggested that the Update be read carefully in conjunction with the FINRA Report, particularly by dually registered broker-dealers and investment advisers.

The Update notes that there may be a variety of means for a robo-adviser to meet its obligations to clients under the Advisers Act and that not all of the issues addressed in the Update will be applicable to every robo-adviser.

Also on February 23, 2017, the SEC’s Office of Investor Education and Advocacy (OIEA) published an Investor Bulletin that “provides individual investors with information they may need to make informed decisions if they consider using robo-advisers.”

The Investor Bulletin describes a number of issues investors should consider, including:

  • The level of human interaction important to the investor,
  • The information the robo-adviser uses in formulating recommendations,
  • The robo-adviser’s approach to investing,

The fees and charges involved.

SEC Adopts Amendments to Form ADV

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On August 25,  2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amendments to Form ADV that are designed to provide additional information regarding advisers, including information about their separately managed account business, incorporate a method for private fund adviser entities operating a single advisory business to register using a single Form ADV, and make clarifying, technical and other amendments to certain Form ADV items and instructions. The SEC also adopted amendments to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 books and records rule.

In particular, the amendments to Part 1A of Form ADV are intended to provide a more efficient method for the registration on one Form ADV of multiple private fund adviser entities operating a single advisory business (“umbrella registration”). Although under existing staff guidance a large number of advisers have already been making umbrella registration filings, the method outlined in the staff guidance for filing an umbrella registration was limited by the fact that the form was designed for a single legal entity. These amendments are intended to eliminate confusion for filers and the public. Press release.

SEC Issues Order Increasing the Net Worth Test Under Rule 205-3 Under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to $2.1 Million

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Section 205(a)(1) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”) generally prohibits an investment adviser from entering into, extending, renewing, or performing any investment advisory contract that provides for compensation to the adviser based on a share of capital gains on, or capital appreciation of, the funds of the client. Rule 205-3 under the Advisers Ac exempts an investment adviser from this prohibition in certain circumstances when the client is a “qualified client.”  The definition of “qualified client” includes an assets under management standard set as $1,00,000 and a net worth test that set at (in the case of a natural person, with assets held jointly with a spouse), more than $2,000,000.

The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) amended Section 205(e) of the Advisers Act to provide that, by July 21, 2011 and every five years thereafter, the SEC shall adjust for inflation the dollar amount thresholds included in rules issued under Section 205(e), rounded to the nearest $100,000.  Rule 205-3 now states that the SEC will issue an order on or about May 1, 2016, and approximately every five years thereafter, adjusting for inflation the dollar amount thresholds of the rule’s assets-under-management and net worth tests based on the Personal Consumption Expenditures Chain-Type Price Index (published by the United States Department of Commerce).  Based upon this requirement, no change in the assets under management test is required, but the dollar amount of the net worth test would increase to $2,100,000.

Accordingly, on June 14, the SEC issued an Order, effective as of August 15, 2016, that:

  1. for purposes of Rule 205-3(d)(1)(i) under the Advisers Act, a “qualified client” means a natural person who, or a company that, immediately after entering the contract has at least $1,000,000 under the management of the investment adviser; and
  2. for purposes of Rule 205-3(d)(1)(ii)(A) under the Advisers Act, a “qualified client” means a natural person who, or a company that, the investment adviser entering into the contract (and any person acting on his behalf) reasonably believes, immediately prior to entering into the contract, has a net worth (together, in the case of a natural person, with assets held jointly with a spouse) of more than $2,100,000.

SEC’s Division of Investment Management Issues Letter Regarding Independent Verification Required by Rule 206(4)-2 Under the Advisers Act

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On April 25, 2016, the Staff of the Division of Investment Management of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a no-action letter that provides that it would not recommend enforcement action to the Commission under Section 206(4) of, and Rule 206(4)-2 under, the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 if an investment adviser does not obtain a surprise examination by an independent public accountant (as is generally required) where it acts as a sub-adviser in an investment advisory program for which a “related person” “qualified custodian” is the primary adviser (or an affiliate of the primary adviser), and the primary adviser is responsible for complying with Rule 206(4)-2.  A “related person” of another generally is a person who is directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by the other person or under common control with such person.  A “qualified custodian” is a bank, a registered broker-dealer, a registered futures commission merchant and certain foreign financial institutions.”

The Staff’s position was based, in particular, on the following:

  1. the sole basis for the sub-adviser having custody is its affiliation with the qualified custodian and the primary adviser;
  2. the primary adviser will comply with Rule 206(4)-2 (including by having client funds and securities in the investment advisory program verified by a surprise examination conducted by an independent public accountant registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) pursuant to an agreement entered into by the primary adviser);
  3. the sub-adviser does not: (i) hold client funds or securities itself; (ii) have authority to obtain possession of clients’ funds or securities; or (iii) have authority to deduct fees from clients’ accounts; and
  4. the sub-adviser will continue to be required to obtain from the primary adviser or qualified custodian annually a written internal control report prepared by an independent public accountant registered with and subject to regular inspection by the PCAOB as required by Rule 206(4)-2(a)(6).

SEC Extends Expiration of Rule 206(3)-3T, Regarding Principal Trades, to December 31, 2016

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On December 17, the Securities and Exchange Commission amended Rule 206(3)-3T under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to extend the expiration date of the Rule from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2016.  Rule 206(3)-3T is a temporary rule that establishes an alternative means for investment advisers that are registered with the Commission as broker-dealers to meet the requirements of Section 206(3) of the Advisers Act when they act in a principal capacity in transactions with certain of their advisory clients.  Report.

SEC Proposed Rule on Principal Trades with Advisory Clients

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On October 9, the SEC proposed an amendment to rule 206(3)-3T under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, a temporary rule that establishes an alternative means for investment advisers registered with the SEC as broker-dealers to meet the requirements of section 206(3) of the Act when they act in a principal capacity in transactions with certain of their advisory clients.  Comments must be received within 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.  SEC Proposed Rule.

SEC No-Action Letter on the Registration of Affiliates of Registered Advisers

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On January 18, the SEC Division of Investment Management issued a No-Action Letter in response to a request from the American Bar Association Subcommittee on Hedge Funds, exempting from registration under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 certain control affiliates of SEC registered advisers, subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions. The No-Action Letter also confirms prior SEC staff guidance from 2005, which provides a registration exemption to special purpose vehicles created by registered advisers. SEC No-Action Letter.

SEC Custody Rule No-Action Letter

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On July 21, the SEC provided no-action relief under Section 206(4) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to investment advisers that for purposes of compliance with Rule 206(4)-2 (the “Custody Rule”), engage auditors for broker-dealers to: (i) perform surprise examinations required by the Custody Rule; (ii) prepare internal control reports; or (iii) audit the financial statements of a pooled investment vehicle. This no-action relief will expire upon the earlier of the approval of a permanent Public Company Accounting Oversight Board inspection program for broker-dealer auditors or December 13, 2013. SEC No-Action Letter.

California Extension of Private Adviser Exemption From State Registration

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On July 7, the State of California Department of Corporations issued an emergency regulatory action amending Section 206.204.9 of the California Code of Regulations to extend the exemption from adviser licensing requirements under Section 25230(a) of the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968. This exemption was available to advisers that were able to rely on Section 203(b)(3) of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Private Adviser Exemption”). With the repeal of the Private Adviser Exemption by the Dodd-Frank Act on July 21, the action amends Section 206.204.9 by replacing references to Section 203(b)(3) with the substantive conditions of the Private Adviser Exemption. The action is effective as of July 21 and will expire on January 17, 2012. Emergency Regulatory Action.

SEC Final Rules for Private Fund Adviser Registration

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On June 22, the SEC adopted final rules and rule amendments under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 implementing provisions of Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Act. As anticipated, the SEC announced that it will extend the deadline for advisers that had been relying upon the “private adviser exemption” under Section 203(b)(3) of the Advisers Act to register with the SEC until March 30, 2012. (The private adviser exemption was rescinded by the Dodd-Frank Act, effective July 21.) We will provide an analysis of the final rules adopted and other actions taken upon reviewing them in their final form. SEC Release. Implementing Release Final Rules. Exemptions Release Final Rules.