August 31, 2011
SEC Seeks Public Comment on Asset-Backed Issuers and Mortgage-Related Pools Under Investment Company Act
The SEC is seeking comment on the treatment of asset-backed issuers as well as real estate investment trusts (REITs) and other mortgage-related pools under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). Additionally, through a separate concept release, the SEC is seeking public comment on interpretations of a provision in the 1940 Act – Section 3(c)(5)(C) – that may be used by some companies engaged in the business of acquiring mortgages and mortgage-related instruments such as some REITs. The SEC describes a concept release to be an SEC-approved document that poses an idea or ideas to the public to get their views.
August 31, 2011
SEC Seeks Public Comment on Use of Derivatives by Mutual Funds and Other Investment Companies
The SEC is seeking comment on a wide range of issues raised by the use of derivatives by mutual funds and other investment companies regulated under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (1940 Act). The SEC staff is considering issuing a “Concept Release” that would solicit public comment on funds’ use of derivatives and on the current regulatory regime under the 1940 Act as it applies to funds’ use of derivatives. The SEC would review the comments to the Concept Release and determine whether regulatory initiatives or guidance is needed in this area.
August 24, 2011
Court Backs Advisers in Mutual Fund Fee Case
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s decision in favor of Capital Research and Management (CRMC) in a suit brought by plaintiff shareholders claiming CRMC’s advisory fees were excessive. Plaintiffs had argued that CRMC had misused advisory fees earned from investment companies over the year, which amounted to over $6 billion. They further argued that the shareholders of the funds did not receive any benefits from the economies of scale realized by CRMC. The District Court had ruled that the plaintiffs failed to prove that the advisory fees charged by CRMC were so disproportionately large that they bore no reasonable relationship to the services rendered. In upholding the District Court’s ruling, the 9th circuit stated that the District Court had meticulously applied the Gartenberg standard for determining when fees are excessive.
August 19, 2011
SEC and CFTC Seek Public Input for Joint Stable Value Contract Study
The SEC and the CFTC have approved for publication in the Federal Register a request for public comment that is expected to assist in conducting a joint study on stable value contracts.
August 12, 2011
SEC’s New Whistleblower Program Takes Effect
The SEC launched a new webpage for people to report a violation of the federal securities laws and apply for a financial award. The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act) provided the SEC with the authority to pay financial rewards to whistleblowers who provide new and timely information about any securities law violation. Among other things, to be eligible, the whistleblower’s information must lead to a successful SEC enforcement action with more than $1 million in monetary sanctions.
August 10, 2011
SEC Adopts Technical Amendments to Rules and Forms Related to the FASB’s Accounting Standards Codification
The SEC adopted technical amendments to various rules and forms under the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the Investment Company Act of 1940. These revisions were necessary to conform those rules and forms to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification. The technical amendments include revision of certain rules in Regulation S-X, certain items in Regulation S-K, and various rules and forms prescribed under the Securities Act, Exchange Act and Investment Company Act. The technical amendments will be effective on the date of publication in the Federal Register.
August 5, 2011
Commissioner Casey to Leave SEC
SEC Commissioner Kathleen L. Casey is leaving the SEC, having completed her five-year term on June 5, 2011. During her tenure at the SEC, she was actively engaged on international matters, particularly in her capacity as chair of IOSCO’s Technical Committee and as the SEC’s representative to the Financial Stability Board.
July 22, 2011
DC Court of Appeals Strikes Down Proxy Access Rule
The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington struck down the “proxy access rule” adopted by the SEC pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The rule, had it been effective, would have allowed investors or shareholder groups that own at least 3% of a company’s stock for three years to put their own board nominees on proxy statements.
July 21, 2011
David Blass Named Chief Counsel in Division of Trading and Markets
The SEC named David W. Blass Chief Counsel and Associate Director for the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets. The Division’s Office of Chief Counsel provides legal and policy advice to the SEC in establishing rules on matters affecting broker-dealers and the operation of the securities markets. The office also issues interpretations regarding matters arising under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
July 19, 2011
SEC Adopts Technical Amendment to Procedures for Filing Applications for Orders for Exemptive Relief under Section 36 of the Exchange Act
The SEC is making technical amendments to the rule by which applications for exemptive relief under section 36 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 may be submitted electronically. The amendments are intended only to clarify and update references to an SEC website address and to eliminate certain formatting requirements.