Securities Act

SEC Issues Guidance Regarding Standards Applicable to Waivers of Disqualification under Regulation A and Rules 505 and 506 of Regulation D

The disqualification provisions of Rules 262 and 505 under the Securities Act make the exemptions from registration under Regulation A and Rule 505 of Regulation D unavailable for an offering if, among other things, an issuer, any of its predecessors, or any affiliated issuer is subject to certain administrative orders, industry bars, an injunction involving certain securities law violations or specified criminal convictions. Disqualification also occurs if any of the issuer’s directors, officers, general partners, 10 percent beneficial owners of any class of the issuer’s equity securities, or promoters, underwriters, persons compensated for soliciting purchasers, or any of the underwriters’ or paid solicitors’ partners, directors, or officers, is subject to administrative orders, injunctions, associational bars or specified convictions.

On March 13, the SEC clarified that it may waive Regulation A or Regulation D disqualifications upon a showing of good cause that it is not necessary under the circumstances that the exemptions be denied.  A waiver could include conditions or limitations. The SEC has delegated authority to grant these waivers to the Director of its Division of Corporation Finance.

Morgan Stanley to Settle RMBS Securities Claims by the SEC for $275 Million

On February 25, Morgan Stanley disclosed that it had reached an agreement in principle with the SEC staff to pay $275 million in disgorgement and penalties in settlement of an investigation into subprime RMBS sponsored and underwritten by Morgan Stanley in 2007.  The settlement would cover alleged violations of Sections 17(a)(2) and 17(a)(3) of the Securities Act, and Morgan Stanley would neither admit nor deny the allegations.  The settlement remains subject to final approval by the Commission.  SEC Filing.

Orrick Alert: Jumpstart Our Business Startups (“JOBS”) Act Eases Restrictions on Rule 144A and Private Offerings – ABS Considerations

President Obama signed the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (the “Act”) into law on April 5. The Act includes many provisions intended to facilitate capital raising and reduce regulatory burdens for certain types of issuers, but does little for the asset-backed securities market, which continues to grapple with the Dodd-Frank Act and related regulations and the looming specter of Reg AB II.

ABS issuers, underwriters and investors, however, will be interested in the sections of the Act that amend the exempt offering provisions of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Securities Act”) and direct the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) to revise regulations to permit general solicitation and advertising in connection with offerings that are exempt from registration under the Securities Act.  Click here to read more.

Exemptions for Security-Based Swaps

On March 30, the SEC issued final rules adopting exemptions for certain security-based swaps under the Securities Act (other than the Section 17(a) anti-fraud provisions), the Securities Exchange Act, and the Trust Indenture Act.  Exempt security-based swaps must be issued by certain clearing agencies and satisfy certain conditions.  The final rules are effective April 16.  Final Rules.

SEC Amends Net Worth Standard for Accredited Investors

On December 21, pursuant to Section 413(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act, the SEC amended several rules under the Securities Act, the Investment Company Act, and the Investment Advisers Act to exclude the value of an individual’s home from net worth calculations used to determine whether such individual qualifies as an accredited investor. The amendments also: (i) clarify the treatment of loans secured by a primary residence for purposes of this new net worth calculation and (ii) permit individuals who qualified as accredited investors under the prior definition of accredited investor to use the previous net worth standard for certain follow-on investments. The amendments will be effective on February 27. SEC Release. SEC Final Rule.

Federal District Court Remands Morgan Stanley MBS Suit to Ohio State Court

On December 20, 2011, Judge S. Arthur Spiegel of the Southern District of Ohio granted the plaintiffs’ motion to remand and denied Morgan Stanley’s motion to transfer to the Southern District of New York an RMBS suit based on the alleged failure to disclose claimed departures from underwriting guidelines. The court found that related-to bankruptcy jurisdiction did not exist given that Defendants had not filed indemnification claims in the bankruptcy of the sole bankrupt originator prior to the bar date. Plaintiffs, which include the Western and Southern Life Insurance Company, bring claims under Section 11 of the Securities Act and Ohio securities blue sky laws. Decision.

SDNY Grants Class Certification to Investors in RMBS Suit Against Credit Suisse

Judge Paul A. Crotty in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York certified a class of investors in a $2.4 billion suit against Credit Suisse for alleged misrepresentations in connection with the sale of RMBS. Credit Suisse argued that no class should be certified because several investors were sophisticated, had large claims against Credit Suisse, and could therefore bring individual claims. The court found, however, that “sophistication and size of certain class members are not bars . . . .” The court also rejected Credit Suisse’s argument that the proposed class was in conflict given its members’ investments in different tranches of RMBS, and that the wide availability of sufficient information about the RMBS collateral meant that the investors’ degree of knowledge regarding the falsity of the alleged misrepresentations should be determined on an individualized basis. The investors are suing under Sections 11, 12, and 15 of the Securities Act. Decision.

National Credit Union Administration Sues Goldman Sachs Over Sale of MBS

On August 9, 2011, the National Credit Union Administration Board (“NCUA”) sued Goldman Sachs in federal court in Los Angeles over Goldman’s sale of mortgage-backed securities to credit unions. NCUA claims that Goldman misrepresented the quality of the loans backing the securities in its offering documents. It also claims that the loans did not satisfy the underwriting guidelines Goldman included in its offering documents. The Complaint cites the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission Report issued in January 2011 in support of its claims that mortgage loan originators disregarded prudent underwriting practices and securitizers like Goldman did not perform sufficient due diligence, leaving investors without access to critical information about the loans. NCUA alleges claims under Sections 11 and 12(a)(2) of the ’33 Act, Sections 25401 and 25501 of the California Corporate Securities Law of 1968, and Section 17-12a509 of the Kansas Uniform Securities Act. NCUA seeks more than $491 million in damages. NCUA has brought four actions against other RMBS issuers since June 20, 2011. Complaint.

Several Institutional Investors Sue Countrywide In California Federal Court Over Misstatements Regarding Loan Quality

On July 28, 2011, several institutional investors filed a complaint against Countrywide Financial, Bank of America, several former Countrywide officers, and KPMG in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California. Plaintiffs allege that Defendants made false and misleading statements regarding the quality of loans originated by Countrywide, which allegedly inflated the value of Plaintiffs’ Countrywide securities, in violation of Sections 10(b), 20(a), and 20A of the Exchange Act and Sections 11, 12(a)(2), and 15 of the Securities Act. Plaintiffs opted out of the recently-settled class action against Countrywide to pursue their own claims. Complaint.