SEC Activity with Fixed Income and Credit Funds
Broker-dealers had been preparing for the sunset of the prior time-based relief that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission provided in respect of compliance with Rule 15c2-11 as to certain fixed income...more
Last week, SIFMA released its annual Capital Markets Fact Book, which reports comprehensive data on capital markets activity generally. The U.S. equity markets represent 42.6% of the $115 trillion global equity markets, with...more
Secondaries. The share of secondary sales done at a discount to NAV increased in 2023 according to Jefferies data cited in the Financial Times. Overallocations to PE, better returns in fixed income, and cash outflow needs for...more
More than 1,800 industry players attended the 13th annual Global Fund Finance Symposium that wrapped up yesterday afternoon at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach. There was a lot to talk about in terms of market evolution...more
On January 9, 2024, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority published its 2024 FINRA Annual Regulatory Oversight Report. Previously titled Report on FINRA’s Examination and Risk Monitoring Program, the Report is released...more
On October 30, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued an order granting broker-dealers exemptive relief from Rule 15c2-11 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for fixed-income securities sold in...more
On October 30, 2023, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued an order (the “Order”) that grants exemptive relief under Rule 15c2-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to brokers and dealers that publish...more
On October 30, 2023, after continued pressure from legislators and industry participants—and a recent lawsuit—the SEC issued an order providing relief for fixed-income securities sold pursuant to Rule 144A from the public...more
On October 30, 2023, the US Securities Exchange Commission (the "SEC") issued an order (the "Order")1 granting broker-dealers exemptive relief from Rule 15c2-11 ("Rule 15c2-11") under the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934...more
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has granted an order exempting Rule 144A fixed-income securities (fixed-income securities that are issued in accordance with the requirements of Rule 144A) from Rule 15c2-11....more
Quick Take: The SEC charged an investment adviser in connection with improper trading in certain fixed income securities. The SEC’s order alleges that the adviser improperly traded the securities between advised clients,...more
In February, FINRA provided an update (Update) concerning the targeted exam (Sweep) launched in September 2021 to review firms’ practices concerning customer acquisition through social media channels and the way firms share...more
In order to provide an overview for busy in-house counsel and compliance professionals, we summarize below some of the most important SEC enforcement developments from the past month, with links to primary resources. This...more
On Sept. 16, 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted amended Rule 15c2-11 (the Amended Rule) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). The Amended Rule, most of which became...more
With the January 3, 2023, deadline fast approaching for compliance with Exchange Act Rule 15c2-11, as amended and reinterpreted by the staff of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) to apply to fixed income...more
The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets issued a new no-action letter yesterday that removes the requirement that Rule 144A information be made publicly available prior to a broker-dealer publishing a quotation or...more
The SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets has issued a no action letter that extends its prior relief as currently provided under “Phase 1” in its prior letter in relation to the application of Rule 15c2-11 to fixed income...more
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently affirmed a District Court’s finding that Principal Life Insurance Company (“Principal”) did not breach its fiduciary duties regarding its stable value contract for...more
Securitization, and structured finance generally, is a critical capital-raising tool for many companies. Utilizing one or more bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities to legally isolate the credit risk of quality,...more
On August 2, 2022, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) proposed to amend FINRA Rule 6730(a)(1) (the “FINRA Proposal”) to reduce the Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (“TRACE”) reporting timeframe...more
Seyfarth Synopsis: On July 8, 2022, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”) published its final rule (“Final Rule”) on the Special Financial Assistance (“SFA”) Program established under the American Rescue Plan Act...more
The SEC has made a concerted effort in recent years to look more closely at the fixed income markets. But under the new leadership of Chairman Gary Gensler, that spotlight seemed to have dimmed—or so some thought....more
Our Investment Management Alert from earlier this month described to private fund advisers the importance of the Security Exchange Commission’s (SEC’s) Division of Examinations recent Risk Alert on cross trades and principal...more
On July 21, 2021, the Division of Examinations (“Exams”) issued a risk alert on principal and cross trading practices by investment advisers (the “Risk Alert”). This Risk Alert supplements a prior risk alert published by...more
Insurers and fund advisers should consider newly proposed guidance from insurance regulators on funds’ use of derivatives in the context of regulatory capital treatment of a fund’s units, shares or interests. Once finalized,...more