The Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has issued proposed Rule 192 pursuant to Section 27B of the Securities Act of 1933. Section 27B requires the SEC to issue rules for the purpose of implementing that section’s prohibition against a securitization participant’s entering into a transaction that would involve or result in a material conflict of
Offerings and Communication Reforms for BDCs and Closed-end Funds
This article discusses the amendments adopted by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in 2020 that modernize the offering related provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), and the communications safe harbors available to business development companies (“BDCs”) and closed-end funds (“CEFs”), including interval funds but excluding open-end funds, exchange-traded
US Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Examinations 2022 Exam Priorities
On March 30, 2022, the Division of Examinations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced its examination priorities for 2022. This year’s priorities specifically focus on: (i) private funds; (ii) environmental, social and governance investing; (iii) standards of conduct, including Regulation Best Interest, fiduciary duty and Form CRS; (iv) information security and operational
US SEC Includes “Greenwashing” in Its Examination Priorities for the First Time
In its 2022 Examination Priorities, issued on March 30, 2022, the Division of Examinations (“Division”) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC” or “Commission”) uses the term “greenwashing” for the first time, as it outlined ESG as an area of continued focus for the Division.
Specifically, the Division stated that it will continue
SEC Proposes a “Sea Change” Set of New Rules Applicable to SPACs and Other Market Participants
On March 30, 2022, the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed new rules and amendments to existing rules and forms (the “Proposed Rules”) addressing the treatment of special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) in connection with their initial public offerings (“IPOs”) and subsequent de-SPAC transactions. Comments on the Proposed Rules are due 30 days after
SEC Proposal Significantly Impacts Private Fund Advisers and Investors
On February 9, 2022, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) voted to propose a suite of new rules and amendments (the “Proposal”) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended. If adopted, the Proposal would significantly increase the compliance obligations of advisers to “private funds” and would fundamentally reorder the relative rights,
The Social Media Guide: Social Media Compliance for Issuers, Broker-Dealers, & Investment Advisers
You are an issuer, investment adviser, or broker-dealer. You want to communicate to the public about securities. Should you (a) type a letter and drop it in the mailbox; (b) chisel out a prospectus on two stone tablets; or (c) use social media?
If you chose (c),
SEC Examinations Division Issues Risk Alert on ESG Products and Services
On April 9, 2021, the Division of Examinations (“Division” or “staff”) of the US Securities and Exchange Commission issued a risk alert that highlighted its observations from its recent examinations of investment advisers, registered investment companies and private funds offering ESG products and services. The risk alert also provides observations of effective practices.
Noting that
SEC’s Division of Examinations 2021 Exam Priorities – Investment Advisers and Investment Companies
On March 3, 2021, the Division of Examinations of the US Securities and Exchange Commission announced its 2021 examination priorities, which, as in previous years, provide insight into its risk-based approach for the year with respect to the entities it examines. In this Legal Update, we discuss the announced priorities applicable to investment advisers
SEC Announces the Creation of a Climate and ESG Task Force
The past few weeks have seen a flurry of ESG-related announcements coming from the SEC Acting Chair and staff. The most recent press release announced that the SEC has created a Climate and ESG Task Force in the Division of Enforcement:
[T]he Climate and ESG Task Force will develop initiatives to proactively identify ESG-related misconduct.