On April 16, 2021, the staff of the SEC Division of Trading and Markets reminded broker-dealers borrowing fully paid and excess margin securities from their customers (FPL programs) that they are obligated to comply with Exchange Act Rule 15c3-3 (Customer Protection Rule), and in particular, paragraph (b)(3). This reminder was…
On March 15, 2021, ISDA published the ISDA 2021 Security-Based Swaps (SBS) Top-Up Protocol (the SBS Top-Up Protocol). The SBS Top-Up Protocol enables SBS dealers (SBSDs) and other market participants to comply with certain SBS rules implemented by the SEC under Title VII of the Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and…
The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) has published a letter sent to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The ICO confirms that it is possible for SEC regulated UK firms to transfer personal data to the U.S. where the transfer is necessary for important reasons of public interest (the derogation in Article…
On March 17, 2021, Acting CFTC Chairman Rostin Behnam announced that the derivatives regulator had established a new interdivisional group called the Climate Risk Unit or the “CRU” to focus on the derivatives markets’ role in addressing climate-related risk and transitioning to a low-carbon/net-zero economy. The CRU (sounds like an…
On March 11, 2021, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management issued a statement addressing cross trading among affiliated registered funds and soliciting feedback in this area. The staff issued the statement in response to public feedback on the SEC’s recent adoption of the “Valuation Rule,” which will…
The Department of Labor (DOL) recently announced that it will not enforce its own rule on investment duties under ERISA. The rule makes it more difficult for investment fiduciaries to consider environmental, social, governance and similar (“ESG”) issues in their decision-making. The ESG rule was finalized under the Trump administration…
A flurry of recent climate-related announcements from the SEC forecasts an upcoming policy battle at the agency. Acting Chair Allison Herren Lee has signaled that “ESG” will clearly be in focus across the SEC’s various divisions, including Examinations, Corporation Finance, and Enforcement. Presumptive incoming SEC Chairman Gary Gensler also indicated…
On February 8, 2021, staff in the SEC Division of Corporation Finance (Corp Fin) issued a letter cautioning that market and stock volatility can create risk for companies and investors, especially when companies are raising capital during these periods. In the letter, Corp Fin staff identifies several examples of comments…
On January 11, the OCC issued an interpretive letter in which it took the position that Section 27(a) of the National Bank Act permits the OCC to charter a national bank that limits its operations to those of a trust company and activities related thereto. According to the interpretive letter, activities of…
On December 22, the SEC adopted amendments to modernize and combine the existing advertising and cash solicitation rules for advisers registered or required to be registered with the SEC. Among many other things, the amendments: Streamline the advertising and cash solicitation requirements under the newly named “Investment Adviser Marketing Rule” (numerous long-standing…