In Episode 4 of our Podcast Series, Todd Zerega and Andrew Cross discuss the use of derivatives on cryptocurrencies by institutional investors. Specific attention is given to regulatory and product development considerations for registered investment advisors and fund sponsors, as well as technical considerations related to exchange-traded futures on bitcoin and other similar listed
Fund Organization and Governance
SEC Proposes Regulations for Determining Fair Value of Securities Held by Investment Companies
The Securities and Exchange Commission recently provided a long-promised and needed update, in the form of a proposed rule, to guidance on determining the fair value of securities held by registered investment companies. Although the Investment Company Act of 1940 tasks the boards of directors of these funds with determining in good faith the fair…
OCIE Announces Risk-Based Exam Initiatives for Mutual Funds—Part 2
My first post discussed the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examination’s (“OCIE’s”) recent Risk Alert (the “Alert”) and specific fund categories in its crosshairs. This post will cover the three remaining fund categories and general examination issues identified by OCIE in the Alert.
SEC Chair’s Suggested Expansion of Executive Liability Unlikely to Occur
By Lou Mejia & Perkins Coie on
Posted in Compliance, Fund Organization and Governance
Apparently lost in the news of the impending departure of SEC Chair Mary Jo White is her recent suggestion to expand liability of corporate executives. In a speech on November 18, 2016, Chair White suggested a potential change in federal securities law that would hold executives accountable even if they are not involved in the misconduct and did not know about it. Given recent signals from the new administration in Washington, we believe this potential expansion of liability is unlikely to occur.
SEC Division of IM Issues Guidance Update on Personal Securities Transactions
By Perkins Coie on
On June 26th, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Investment Management issued IM Guidance Update No. 2015-03 titled, “Personal Securities Transactions Reports by Registered Investment Advisers: Securities Held In Accounts Over Which Reporting Persons Had No Information or Control.” As its name suggests, the update deals with the reporting exception in subsection (b)(3)(i) of Rule 204A-1 to the rule’s general requirement that an access person report their personal securities holdings and transactions (the “Reporting Exception”).