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SEC Adopts Interim Rules Implementing Provisions of the FAST Act
On January 13, the SEC announced that it approved interim final rules to implement certain sections of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (“FAST Act,”), revising Forms S-1 and F-1 for emerging growth companies and smaller reporting companies. Specifically, the rules amend Forms S-1 and F-1 to allow emerging growth companies to omit financial information for certain historical time periods prior to the offering, provided registration statements include all required financial information at the time of the offering. Additionally, under the revised Form S-1, smaller reporting companies, excluding blank check companies, shell companies, or issuers for offerings of penny stocks, will be allowed to use incorporation by reference for future federal securities laws filings after the registration statement becomes effective. These eligible smaller reporting companies will be required to be current by having filed: (i) an annual report for its most recent fiscal year; and (ii) “all required Exchange Act reports and materials during the 12 months immediately preceding filing of the Form S-1.” These rules will become effective when published in the Federal Register.
SEC Files Complaint Against Former Bank Executives, Alleges Fraudulent Reporting of Loan Losses
On January 13, the SEC filed a complaint against 11 former executives and board members of an Alabama-based federal savings bank and its holding company for allegedly participating in various schemes to mislead investors and bank regulators by concealing loan losses, and for violating reporting, internal controls, books-and-records, and proxy solicitation provisions. According to the SEC, the bank’s officers and directors extended, renewed, and rolled over loans, and/or used straw borrowers to “avoid properly classifying the loans as impaired and increasing the Allowance for Loan and Lease Losses (‘ALLL’).” The SEC’s complaint further alleges that in 2009 and 2010, the bank misstated its reported income by approximately 99% and 54%, respectively. The SEC is charging the defendants with, among other things, various counts of fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, circumvention of internal controls and falsified books and records, and false statements to accounts in violation of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. Nine out of the 11 named defendants agreed to settle the charges against them, with penalties ranging from $100,000 to $250,000, and the remaining two defendants are contesting the charges in federal district court in Tallahassee, Florida.
SEC Outlines 2016 Examination Priorities
On January 11, the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations issued its Examination Priorities for 2016. The examination priorities, which address issues across a variety of financial institutions, include (i) protecting retail investors, including those planning for retirement, by undertaking examinations to review exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and ETF practices, variable annuity recommendations and disclosure, and potential conflicts and risks involving advisers to public pension funds; (ii) evaluating market-wide risks by, among other thing, continuing to focus on cybersecurity controls at broker-dealers and investment advisers; and (iii) using enhanced data analytics to assess anti-money laundering compliance, detect microcap fraud, and complete reviews of excessive trading. Additional areas of examination priority for 2016 include (i) municipal advisors; (ii) private placements; (iii) investment advisers and investment companies that have not yet been examined; (iv) private fund advisers; and (v) transfer agents.
FINRA Releases 2016 Regulatory and Examination Priorities Letter
On January 5, FINRA released a letter regarding its regulatory and examination priorities for 2016. The letter focuses on the following three broad issues within the securities industry: (i) culture, conflicts of interest and ethics; (ii) supervision, risk management and controls; and (iii) liquidity. Regarding FINRA’s assessment of firm culture, the letter notes that FINRA “will focus on the frameworks that firms use to develop, communicate, and evaluate conformance to their culture,” assessing five specific indicators of a firm’s culture, including (among others) whether policy or control breaches are tolerated. In connection with supervision and risk management, FINRA will focus its examination efforts on the following four areas that continue to affect firms’ business conduct and market integrity: (i) management of conflicts of interest; (ii) technology; (iii) outsourcing; and (iv) anti-money laundering. Finally, in connection with liquidity, FINRA plans to review firms’ contingency funding plans as they relate to their business models, noting that the framework for FINRA’s reviews will be driven by the effective practices contained in Regulatory Notice 15-33. Additional areas of regulatory and examination focus for FINRA in 2016 will include but are not limited to: (i) protecting seniors and vulnerable investors from fraud, sales practice abuse, and financial exploitation; (ii) private placements and Regulation A+ public offerings; (iii) financial and operational controls concerning exchange-traded funds and fixed-income prime brokerage; and (iv) market integrity.
Massachusetts-Based Imaging Company Discloses Settlement Offer to End FCPA Investigations
In a quarterly securities filing made on December 9, a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of airport security equipment, disclosed that the SEC and DOJ have made separate proposals to end their FCPA investigations into the company that would include payments totaling approximately $15 million. The company had previously announced in a September 2015 press release that it had offered the SEC $1.6 million to settle the SEC’s FCPA investigation of the company. The company’s 10-Q disclosed that the SEC rejected that offer. The company stated that it remains in discussion with the SEC and DOJ about settlement and is also discussing a settlement with the Danish government concerning a resolution of these matters.
The company previously reported that the DOJ and SEC had “substantially” completed their investigations of potential bribery involving transactions by the company’s Danish subsidiary. The transactions at issue involved distributors paying the subsidiary more than was owed, and the subsidiary then allegedly transferring the excess money to third parties identified by the distributors. At the time of its 2011 disclosure of the potentially problematic transactions, the company stated that it had not ascertained the ultimate beneficiaries or purpose of the transfers.
SEC Reports on Dodd-Frank Whistleblower Program
On November 16, the SEC’s Office of the Whistleblower (OWB) issued its 2015 annual report to Congress on its Whistleblower Program established pursuant to Dodd-Frank. According to the report, in Fiscal Year 2015, the OWB received more than 3,900 whistleblower tips – a 30% increase since 2012, which the SEC attributes to increased public awareness of the program due to Dodd Frank’s implementing rule awarding tipsters 10 to 30 percent of a securities violation when the penalty is greater than $1 million. Additional items to note from the report include: (i) the SEC brought its first enforcement action against a company for using language in confidentiality agreements that impeded a whistleblower from reporting possible securities law violations; (ii) the SEC received whistleblower submissions from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, along with tips from individuals in 95 countries outside of the U.S.; and (iii) the most common complaint categories reported were Corporate Disclosures and Financials, followed by Offering Fraud and Manipulation.
Claims Management Company Discloses Possible FCPA Violations
On November 9, an Atlanta-based claims management firm disclosed that it reported possible FCPA violations to DOJ and SEC. The company discovered the possible violations during an internal audit and has since launched an investigation, using outside counsel and external forensic accountants. The company stated that it intends to cooperate with the SEC and the DOJ in this matter, but the filing did not elaborate on the nature or location of the potential violations.
DOJ Joins SEC's Investigation of Pharmaceutical Company
On November 2, a pharmaceutical company disclosed that the DOJ requested documents and other information related to the company’s compliance with the FCPA. The SEC is also investigating the company’s compliance with the FCPA, a fact the company disclosed in May. The SEC’s subpoena sought information about the company’s grant-making activities worldwide, specifically naming Japan, Brazil, Turkey and Russia in its request, and also addressed non-FCPA items. The company said that it plans to cooperate with DOJ’s investigation.
SEC Announces Senior Staff Changes
On November 12, the SEC named Marc Wyatt as the Director of the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) and the leader of the agency’s National Exam Program. When Andrew Bowden left the SEC in April 2015, Wyatt stepped in to serve as the agency’s Acting Director. Prior to joining the SEC in 2012, Wyatt was a principal and senior portfolio manager of a global multi-strategy hedge fund and a senior investment banker in both the U.S. and the U.K. In a separate November 13 announcement, the SEC appointed Sanket Bulsara as the Deputy General Counsel for Appellate Litigation and Adjudication, succeeding Michael A. Conley, who was appointed as SEC Solicitor. Former SEC Solicitor Jacob H. Stillman will continue to serve as senior advisor.
SEC Announces Bryan Bennett as Head of Los Angeles Exam Program
On November 5, the SEC announced Bryan Bennett as head of its Los Angeles examination program. Bennett will oversee examiners, accountants, and attorneys based in Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Guam. Bennett joined the SEC in 2008 and was later named manager, leading various teams in the investment adviser and investment company examination program. In January 2015, the SEC named Bennett the assistant director of the Los Angeles examination program. Prior to joining the SEC, Bennett was a litigator in private practice.