According to Sean McKessy, the head of Securities and Exchange Commission’s Whistleblower Office, the agency has a $453 million fund from which to award bounties under its new whistleblower program. Kessey recently spoke during a BNA webinar. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act requires that certain…
Articles Posted in Securities and Exchange Commission
Ban on Private Securities Offerings Solicitations Could Be Revised by SEC or Congress, Says Ex-Official
According to ex- SEC’s Office of International Corporate Finance chief Sarah Hanks, there is the strong possibility that Congress or the Securities and Exchange Commission will modify the agency’s ban on the general solicitation for private securities offerings and the number of shareholders that trigger reporting requirements. Hanks says that…
SEC to Propose Rule Banning “Felons and Bad Actors” From Involvement in Private Offerings
In a 3-2 vote, the Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to propose a rule (mandated by Congress) that exempts Felons and Bad Actors” from private offerings pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D under the 1933 Securities Act. The SEC has also agreed—again in a 3-2 vote—to adopt final…
SEC Has Lax Revolving Door Policy, Says POGO
According to the Project on Government Oversight, the Securities and Exchange Commission has too loose of a revolving-door policy. The independent nonprofit issued a report early this month and is calling on the agency and Congress to “strengthen and simplify” restrictions post-employment. POGO says that even though the SEC appears…
UBS Financial Reaches $160M Settlement with the SEC and Justice Department Over Securities Fraud, Antitrust, and Other Charges Related to Municipal Bond Market
UBS Financial Services Inc. has consented to a $160 million settlement over charges that it took part in anticompetitive practices in the municipal bond market. The Securities and Exchange Commission and the US Justice Department announced the settlement together. 25 state attorneys generals and 3 federal agencies had accused the…
Impartiality of SEC Report by Boston Consulting Group Questioned by Key House Republicans
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-Texas), who is the Financial Services Oversight Subcommittee chairman, and Rep. Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), the House Financial Services Committee chairman, have sent a letter to US Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro asking her about Boston Consulting Group Inc.’s recent report on the recent report on…
Goldman Sachs Reports $3.4 Billion in “Reasonably Possible” Losses from Legal Claims
In its latest 10-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. says that its “reasonably possible” losses from legal claims may be as high as $3.4 billion. The investment bank’s admission comes after the SEC told corporate finance chiefs that the should disclose losses “when…
SEC Adopts New Rules Regarding Shareholder Say-On-Pay
The Us Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted a “say-on-pay” rules that will allow the shareholders of publicly listed companies to weigh in on executive compensation via advisory votes. The new rules, which implements a Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, gives shareholders more input regarding executive compensation.…
SEC Proposes New Rule to Verify Swap Transactions
Under Rule 15Fi-1, the Securities and Exchange Commission’s proposed rule under the 1934 Securities Exchange Act, certain security-based swap participants and security-based swap dealers would provide counterparties with an electronic “trade acknowledgement” to acknowledge and verify specific security-based swap transactions. The SEC’s proposal comes under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform…
SEC Extends Temporary Rule Allowing Principal Trades by Investment Advisers Registered as Broker-Dealers
The US Securities and Exchange Commission has adopted amendments to delay the expiration date of Rule 206(3)-3T under the 1940 Investment Advisers Act. The temporary rule, which was supposed to expire on December 31, 2010, will now stay in effect until December 31, 2012. Rule 206(3)-3T gives investment advisers that…