On February 4, the SEC released certain technical corrections to rules that were published in the Federal Register on September 24, 2014. The changes effect Regulation AB and other rules governing the offering process, disclosure, and reporting for asset-backed securities. The corrections are effective February 6, 2015. Release.
Securities and Exchange Commission
SEC Extends Expiration Dates to Interim Final Rules Providing Exemptions for Certain Security-Based Swaps
On February 5, the SEC adopted amendments to the expiration dates in its interim final rules that provide exemptions under the securities laws for certain security-based swaps. Under the amendments, the expiration dates in the interim final rules will be extended to February 11, 2017. Release.
SEC Suspends S&P From Rating Certain CMBS As Part Of $77 Million Settlement
On January 21, 2015, the SEC suspended Standard & Poor’s Rating Services (S&P) from rating conduit/fusion CMBS for one year as part of a settlement between McGraw-Hill Financial Inc., S&P’s parent company, and the SEC. The settlement stems from S&P’s disclosures in 2011 that it would utilize a certain methodology to rate six CMBS transactions and provide a preliminary rating for two others, when it actually used a different methodology, forcing S&P to pull a rating on a $1.5 billion bond that same year. In addition, S&P agreed to retract an allegedly untrue and misleading article that it published in 2012 and settled another claim that it failed to maintain and enforce internal controls regarding changes to its monitoring standards for certain RMBS. S&P further agreed to parallel settlements with New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman and Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. The rating agency has also agreed to pay more than $77 million to settle these claims with the federal and state regulators ($58 million to the SEC and another $19 million to New York and Massachusetts). SEC Settlement Order 1. SEC Settlement Order 2. SEC Settlement Order 3.
Priorities Focus on Protecting Retail Investors, Assessing Market-Wide Risks and Using Data Analytics
On January 13, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced its Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations’ (OCIE) priorities for 2015 which focus on three areas: protecting retail investors, especially those saving for or in retirement; assessing market-wide risks; and using data analytics to identify signs of potential illegal activity.
The 2015 examination priorities address issues across a variety of financial institutions, including investment advisers, investment companies, broker-dealers, transfer agents, clearing agencies, and national securities exchanges. Of particular interest are the following areas of examination:
Retail Investors – Retail investors are being offered products and services that were formerly characterized as alternative or institutional, including private funds, illiquid investments, and structured products. Additionally, financial services firms are offering a broad array of information, advice, products, and services to help retail investors plan for and live in retirement.
Market-Wide Risks – OCIE will examine for structural risks and trends that involve multiple firms or entire industries, including: monitoring large broker-dealers and asset managers in coordination with the SEC’s policy divisions, conducting annual examinations of clearing agencies as required by the Dodd-Frank Act, assessing cybersecurity controls across a range of industry participants, and examining broker-dealers’ compliance with best execution duties in routing equity order flow.
Data Analytics – OCIE will use its enhanced analytic capabilities to focus on registrants and registered representatives that appear to be potentially engaged in illegal activity. Press Release. Full Report.
SEC Adopts New Rules for Security-Based Swap Market
On January 14, the SEC adopted new rules that will require security-based swap data repositories (SDRs) to register with the SEC and prescribe reporting and public dissemination requirements for security-based swap transaction data. The SEC also proposed certain additional rules, rule amendments and guidance related to the reporting and public dissemination of security-based swap transaction data. The rules implement Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Act. The new rules will become effective 60 days after they are published in the Federal Register. Release.
SEC Proposes Amendments to Implement JOBS Act Mandate for Exchange Act Registration Requirements
As mandated by the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act), on December 17 the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the issuance of proposed amendments to revise the rules related to the thresholds for registration, termination of registration, and suspension of reporting under Section 12(g) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Among other things, the proposal would:
- Amend Exchange Act Rules 12g-1 through 4 and 12h-3 which govern the procedures relating to registration, termination of registration under Section 12(g), and suspension of reporting obligations under Section 15(d) to reflect the new thresholds established by the JOBS Act
- Apply the definition of “accredited investor” in Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 to determinations as to which record holders are accredited investors for purposes of Exchange Act Section 12(g)(1). The accredited investor determination would be made as of the last day of the fiscal year.
The JOBS Act revised Exchange Act Section 12(g) to raise the threshold at which an issuer is required to register a class of equity securities. Under the revised threshold, an issuer that is not a bank or bank holding company is required to register a class of equity securities under the Exchange Act if it has more than $10 million of total assets and the securities are “held of record” by either 2,000 persons, or 500 persons who are not accredited investors.
The SEC will seek public comment on the proposed rule amendments for 60 days following their publication in the Federal Register.
SEC Extends Expiration of Rule 206(3)-3T, Regarding Principal Trades, to December 31, 2016
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 Proposes Rules on Crowdfunding
On October 24, the Securities and Exchange Commission voted unanimously to propose rules under the JOBS Act to permit companies to offer and sell securities through crowdfunding. Title III of the JOBS Act created an exemption under the securities laws so that this type of funding method can be easily used to offer and sell securities as well. The JOBS Act also established the foundation for a regulatory structure for this funding method. Press Release.
Final Rules Affecting Private Fund Advisers Adopted Under the Dodd-Frank Act
On June 22, 2011, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) adopted final rules and rule amendments implementing the provisions of Title IV of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (the “Dodd-Frank Act”) through the issuance of two Releases. Release IA-3222 (the “Exemptions Release”) defines terms and addresses certain issues with respect to the new exemptions from registration provided to investment advisers. Release IA-3221 (the “Implementing Release” and, together with the Exemptions Release, the “Releases”) implements companion amendments to the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the “Advisers Act”).
The exemption provided by Section 203(b)(3) of the Advisers Act (the “Private Adviser Exemption”), on which many advisers to “Private Funds” have relied, was repealed by the Dodd-Frank Act, effective July 21, 2011. As anticipated, the SEC granted relief to such advisers by providing, pursuant to new subsection (e) of Rule 203-1, that such an adviser is “exempt from registration with the [SEC] as an investment adviser until March 30, 2012,” provided that such adviser satisfies conditions which closely follow the requirements of the Private Adviser Exemption. This Alert provides an overview of how the new exemptions will be interpreted under the Exemptions Release and implemented under the Implementing Release.
Credit Risk Retention – Joint Regulatory Proposed Rules
On March 28, 2011, the Office of the Comptroller of Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Housing Finance Agency released a joint notice of proposed rulemaking to implement the credit risk retention requirements of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The paper linked below provides an in-depth examination of the proposed rules and their implications for financial markets. Click here to read more.