June 2, 2020
CFTC Issues Customer Advisory Regarding Commodity ETPs and Funds
Recently, the CFTC issued a customer advisory (Advisory) in response to increased investor interest in exchange-traded products (ETPs) and funds that invest in futures or other types of commodity interests (collectively, Pools). The Advisory highlights the distinctions between ETPs and funds that invest in securities and Pools, which include the…
June 2, 2020
SEC Staff Withdraws Prior No-Action Guidance on State Control Share Acquisition Statutes
On May 27, 2020, the SEC staff (Staff) issued a statement (Statement) withdrawing a prior no-action letter (Boulder Total Return Fund, SEC No-Action Letter (Nov. 15, 2010) (Boulder)) addressing certain aspects of the intersection of the voting requirements of Section 18(i) of the 1940 Act and state control share acquisition…
May 21, 2020
SEC Charges Three Former Audit Firm Partners for Exam Sharing Misconduct
On May 18, 2020, the SEC entered into settlement agreements with three former partners of an independent public accounting firm (Firm) in connection with the partners’ conduct involving improperly receiving and sharing information about internal continuing professional education exams conducted by the Firm. The former partners participated in soliciting or…
May 15, 2020
ETF Sponsors Submit Letters to Major Exchanges Regarding ETP Categorization
On May 13, 2020, a group of six ETF sponsors submitted letters to Cboe Global Markets, Inc., NASDAQ, and Intercontinental Exchange Inc. (the parent of NYSE Arca) urging that each exchange adopt exchange listing rules or other means to categorize exchange-traded products (ETPs) differently (ETP Letter). The ETP Letter proposes…
March 25, 2020
Federal Reserve Opens Expanded Money Market Fund Liquidity Facility
On March 23, 2020, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced the opening of an expanded Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMFLF). The MMFLF will last until September 30, 2020 and applies to money market funds (MMFs) that identify themselves as prime, single state, or other tax exempt MMFs on Form…
March 19, 2020
Federal Reserve Creates Money Market Fund Liquidity Facility
On March 18, 2020, the Federal Reserve (Fed) announced the creation of a Money Market Mutual Fund Liquidity Facility (MMFLF). The MMFLF will last until September 30, 2020 and applies to money market funds (MMFs) that identify themselves as “prime” MMFs on Form N-MFP. Under the MMFLF, eligible borrowers (certain…
February 15, 2019
SEC’s Division of Investment Management Issues Information Update Regarding Updated Forms
On February 1, 2019, the staff of the SEC’s Division of Investment Management issued an Information Update to indicate that several forms (e.g., Forms N-1A, N-2, N-14 and N-CSR) on the SEC website have been updated to reflect amendments recently adopted by the SEC.
September 18, 2018
Elad Roisman Sworn in as SEC Commissioner
On September 11, 2018, Elad L. Roisman was sworn into office as an SEC Commissioner by SEC Chairman Jay Clayton. Mr. Roisman was nominated to the SEC by President Donald J. Trump, and his nomination was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 5. Commissioner Roisman comes to the SEC from the Senate Banking Committee, where he served as Chief Counsel.
December 27, 2017
Final Tax Reform Legislation
On December 20, 2017, Congress passed tax reform legislation (the "Tax Act"). President Trump signed the Tax Act into law today. Most provisions take effect for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. This Memorandum updates our previous analysis of the House and Senate Tax Acts, and focuses particularly on the issues that are most relevant to our Investment Management, Trusts & Estates and Family Office clients. Seward and Kissel's Trusts and Estates group has also reviewed the Tax Act and offered guidance on year-end planning. Section I of this Memorandum describes notable individual and corporate income tax changes. Section II describes certain provisions that affect investment managers. Section III describes certain provisions that affect investment funds.
October 27, 2017
SEC Guidance on Non-GAAP Financial Measures
On October 17, 2017, the SEC Division of Corporation Finance issued new guidance on the use of non-GAAP financial measures.