Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Lorenzo v. SEC, determining that a person who knowingly disseminates a misstatement about a security can be primarily liable under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws. This significant holding opens the door for the SEC and private plaintiffs to charge misstatement cases as scheme cases, and … Continue Reading
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) recently provided issuers with a reminder of the potential for enforcement for insufficient cybersecurity. The SEC continues to emphasize the importance of measures such as up-to-date compliance and incident response programs in order to maintain the integrity of the capital market system, and a recent Report of Investigation … Continue Reading
On October 12, 2017, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Committee (“SEC”) held an Investor Advisory Committee (“IAC”) meeting which largely focused on blockchain technology and the implications for securities markets. Based on the discussion at this meeting, the SEC is currently considering both the merits and risks linked to blockchain technology. Several IAC members in … Continue Reading
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance (“Corp Fin”) recently updated its guidance concerning how it will evaluate requests for waivers by Well Known Seasoned Issuers (“WKSI”) who would otherwise become ineligible to be WKSIs under Rule 405 of the Securities Act.. According to Corp Fin, this update is more of a … Continue Reading
This post was written by Terence Healy and Daniel Herbst. On March 1, 2013, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) published a sweeping request for comments that may determine whether a uniform fiduciary standard will be required for all broker-dealers and investment advisers providing services to retail customers. Under the present regime, registered investment advisers … Continue Reading
This post was written by Amy J. Greer, Terence Healy, and Lisa G. Blackburn. A recent insider trading prosecution has shown once again that, when you are an officer of a public company with material nonpublic information, you can never be too careful about what you say, even in what should be a secure environment. … Continue Reading
Yesterday, November 15, the SEC issued its 2012 whistleblower report. A total of 115 (3.8%) tips were FCPA related. Additionally, 324 tips (10.8% of total) originated from overseas. The top overseas sources of tips were the UK (74, 23%), Canada (46, 14%), India (33, 10%), China (27, 8%), and Australia (21, 6%). No other single … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Francisca M. Mok. On November 14, the Securities and Exchange Commission and Department of Justice released their long-awaited guidance titled, A Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. According to the government’s press release, the 120-page guide “provides a detailed analysis of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices … Continue Reading
What do the SEC and Leonardo DiCaprio have in common? Both have brought attention to the area of “conflict resources” in Africa. But whereas Leo has acted in a movie about so-called “blood diamonds,” the SEC is turning the spotlight on “conflict minerals.” Regrettably, the public will not be enjoying an SEC-produced summer blockbuster regarding … Continue Reading
This post was written by James L. Sanders. An unnamed individual who provided information to the SEC about a securities fraud has been awarded $50,000 under the SEC’s Whistleblower Program. The award represents 30 percent of the monetary sanctions collected by the SEC in the case in which the whistleblower provided information. The whistleblower has … Continue Reading
This post was written by Amy J. Greer. In a recent appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, there is little doubt that the SEC thought its case was something of an easy win. The story is not pretty. Richard L. Goble, the remaining defendant in the matter – everyone … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Pablo Quinones and Joseph Prater. On March 23, 2012, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) announced that it had entered into cooperation arrangements with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority (“CIMA”) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”) in its continuing effort to improve global regulation of transnational … Continue Reading
