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Broker-Dealer Update: FINRA and the OCIE Release Guidance on Broker-Dealer Branch Inspections

Written by Peter J. Chess On November 30, 2011, FINRA and the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) released a National Exam Risk Alert on effective procedures and policies for broker-dealer branch inspections. This follows other recent guidance for broker-dealers regarding the Market Access Rule and reasonable investigations…

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Reminder Re Form 13H Filing

Written by Ildiko Duckor An entity that meets the definition of a “Large Trader” after October 3, 2011 must file its initial Form 13H with the SEC by December 1, 2011 to be assigned a large trader identification number (LTID).  The filing is done electronically through the SEC’s EDGAR system. …

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Three Investment Advisers Penalized by the SEC for Compliance Failures

Written by Jay Gould On November 28, 2011, the SEC charged OMNI Investment Advisors, Inc. of Utah, Feltl & Company Inc. of Minneapolis and Asset Advisors LLC of Troy, Michigan for failing to adopt and implement compliance procedures designed to prevent securities law violations. The three enforcement actions discussed below…

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Over $3.3 Million Charges Against Morgan Stanley Investment Management for Improper Fee Arrangement

Written by Jay Gould On Wednesday, November 16, 2011, the SEC charged Morgan Stanley Investment Management (“MSIM”) with violating securities laws in a fee arrangement that costs a fund and its investors approximately $1.8 million in sub-adviser fees. MSIM is the primary adviser to The Malaysia Fund (the “Fund”), a…

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Accounting for Cybersecurity: SEC Guidance on Disclosures to Investors and Regulators

Written by John L. Nicholson On October 13, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Corporation Finance released CF Disclosure Guidance: Topic No. 2 – Cybersecurity (the “Guidance”), which is intended to instruct companies on whether and how to disclose the impact of the risk and cost of cybersecurity incidents…

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FINRA Proposes Rule to Require Additional Notice Filing and Delivery to Hedge Fund Investors

Written by Jay Gould On October 18, 2011, the SEC released a notice of FINRA’s filing of Proposed Rule 5123 (the “Proposed Rule”) which would require FINRA members and associated persons to: 1) provide to investors disclosure documents in connection with private placements prior to sale and 2) file with…

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San Diego-Based Investment Adviser and Its President Charged with Fraud

Written by Michael Wu By order released by the SEC on November 10, 2011, Western Pacific Capital Management LLC, a San Diego-based investment adviser, and its President, Kevin James O’Rourke, were charged with fraud for failing to disclose a conflict of interest to clients and materially misrepresenting the liquidity of…

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Hedge Fund Marketing Boot Camp: Turn Your Audience Into Your Investors

Date & Time11/10/2011 12:30 pm – 7:00 pm PT 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm PTWorkshop5:30 pm – 6:30 pm PT Panel and Q&A6:30 pm PTCocktails LocationPillsbury’s SF office50 Fremont StreetSan Francisco, CA 94105 Join us for an interactive, instructional workshop to learn step-by-step how to create unique and individualized marketing…

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New DDQ Inquiry Spells Potential Liability for Fund Managers

Written by Jay Gould The Pillsbury Investment Funds Team has over the past month reviewed several new Due Diligence Questionnaire (“DDQ”) forms on behalf of fund manager clients from institutional investors and family offices that contain a new inquiry that is potentially problematic for certain fund managers. Generally, this new…

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Reminder: 2012 IARD Account Renewal obligations for investment advisers

Written by Jay Gould, Ildiko Duckor and Michael Wu An investment adviser must ensure that its IARD account is adequately funded to cover payment of all applicable registration renewal fees and notice filing fees.  Beginning November 14, 2011, Preliminary Renewal Statements (“PRS”), which list an adviser’s renewal fee amount, are…