Recently, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Mary Jo White announced a plan to transform the fixed income markets by promoting price competition, improving market efficiency, and facilitating best execution.
SEC Unveils Plan to Increase Transparency in Bond Market
Court Approves Department of Justice Fraud Case Against Bank of America
SEC Approval of Amendments to FINRA Corporate Financing Rules Will Reduce Burdens on Parties in Public Offerings
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently approved two proposals by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA) to amend FINRA Rules 5110 (the Corporate Financing Rule) and 5121 (the Conflicts of Interest Rule). The amendments include modifications that will affect not only underwriters and issuers in public offerings, but investment banks acting as independent financial advisors to issuers, and investment funds and other investors that are significant stockholders in public companies.
The Second Circuit Grants the S.E.C. Power Over Settlements
Earlier this month, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit made a decision that would give the S.E.C. greater authority to settle cases. This was the result of an earlier decision in 2011 by U.S. District Judge Jed S. Rakoff who “refused to approve a $285 million settlement between Citigroup and the S.E.C.”
SEC Targets High-Frequency Traders, Dark Pools
Yesterday, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Jo White announced a broad set of initiatives to tackle the growing concerns about the influence of computer-driven trading on the stock market. Included in these initiatives is the proposed increase in regulation of high-frequency traders and dark pools, in order to boost market stability, improve markets for smaller companies, and enhance transparency.
SEC Postpones Payment Disclosure Rule for Oil and Gas Companies
In 2012, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) adopted a rule that would require companies that extract oil, natural gas, and minerals to disclose payments made to the U.S. government along with foreign governments. Such companies would need to “disclose the information annually by filing a new form with the SEC called Form SD.” The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act mandated this rule and hoped that the rule would “encourage transparency and fight corruption in resource rich countries.”
Flash Boys–Concerns Over High Frequency Trading
High frequency trading is gaining significant media attention recently as Michael Lewis published his book, Flash Boys: A Wall Street Revolt, on the subject. While high frequency trading (HFT) was introduced into the markets in 1999, this platform for conducting rapid electronic trades of securities has been gaining significant attention by federal regulators including the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (“CFTC”), and most recently, the Senate.
SEC Staff Provides Guidance on Fund Deregistration Applications
The staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management (the “Staff”) issued IM Guidance Update No. 2014-5, which provides guidance on responding to selected items in Form N-8F, the from used to apply for deregistration under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Among other matters, the Guidance Update addresses issues particular to unit investment trusts and appropriate responses for different “Abandonment of Registration” scenarios. (more…)
SEC Forms a Group to Examine Private Equity and Hedge Funds: Sources
According to a Reuters report, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) has recently formed a group (the “Group”) dedicated to examine private equity funds and hedge funds. The Group will focus on how these entities value their assets, disclose their fees, and communicate with investors.
Poison Pills in the Era of Shareholder Activism
Shareholder activism is the way in which shareholders leverage their equity stake to put public pressure on a corporation’s behavior. In his keynote address at the 2014 Berkeley Center for Law, Business and the Economy, and Berkeley Business Law Journal Shareholder Activism Symposium, Larry Sonsini, Chairman of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, declared that there has been a noticeable shift from a director-centric model to a shareholder-centric model. Until recently, shareholders were fighting defensive measures and managerial successions. Nowadays they are engaged in battles over corporate sales, spinoffs or corporate sustainability.