On February 9, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed new rules and amendments to existing rules under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, that would have notable practical implications for private funds advisers, in many cases regardless of the adviser’s registration status. At
Christopher Wells
Chris heads Proskauer’s Hedge Fund Group and has been a leading lawyer in the hedge fund industry for more than 30 years. During that time, he has assisted on hundreds of hedge fund launches, counselling and assisting hedge fund managers as they grew from often very modest beginnings to become some of the world’s largest and best known hedge funds.
He advises fund managers and investors on all aspects of the hedge fund business, including fund structuring and formation, seed investments, asset manager M&A transactions, agreements among principals, employment and compensation issues, and regulatory and enforcement matters.
Chris’s long and deep experience in the hedge fund industry gives him a unique ability to counsel clients dealing with some of the most challenging situations that fund managers can encounter, including complex fund restructurings, evolving hedge fund investment terms, hybrid and alternative fund structures, liquidity challenges and constraints, internal disputes, and complex enforcement matters.
SEC Proposes Advisers Act Reforms Focusing on Private Fund Investor Protections
On February 9, 2022, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) proposed new rules and amendments to existing rules under the U.S. Investment Advisers Act of 1940 that would have notable practical implications for private fund advisers, in many cases regardless of the adviser’s registration status. The Proposed Rules…
California District Court Upholds SEC’s Novel “Shadow Trading” Theory
The SEC prevailed on a motion to dismiss a closely watched lawsuit alleging that a company employee had engaged in insider trading based on news about a not-yet-public corporate acquisition when he purchased securities of a third-party company that was not involved in the deal. The January 14, 2022 decision in SEC v. Panuwat (N.D. Cal.) marks the first time a court has considered the theory of “shadow trading,” which involves trading the securities of a public company that is not the direct subject of the material, nonpublic information (“MNPI”) at issue.
The Panuwat ruling does not appear to break new ground under the misappropriation theory of insider trading under the particular facts alleged. But the “shadow trading” theory warrants attention because it can have wide-ranging ramifications for traders, including hedge funds.
SEC Revises Marketing Rule for Registered Investment Advisers
The SEC recently finalized a new rule under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 to govern advertisements by registered investment advisers and payments to solicitors. The amendments create a single marketing rule that (i) revises the definition of an “advertisement,” (ii) sets forth seven general principles governing the use of…
OCIE Publishes Cybersecurity and Resiliency Observations
On January 27, 2020, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) published its Cybersecurity and Resiliency Observations. Cybersecurity and data protection for market participants have been key focuses of OCIE for several years. These observations provide useful insights into OCIE’s examination priorities in…
Five Things to Think About Before a Surprise SEC Exam
If a team from the SEC arrives at your office and says, “We are conducting an on-site examination and would like to talk to the CCO right now,” are you prepared? A handful of registered investment advisers have faced surprise SEC exams in recent months. These exams come in two flavors: either a “for cause” exam arising from SEC staff concerns relating to a specific ongoing issue, or a standard exam that for some reason has a surprise component.
There are several logistical items that a fund manager might consider before the SEC shows up unannounced in the lobby, regardless of the substance of the SEC’s inquiry. Thinking and planning ahead can minimize unnecessary stress and confusion in the moment. Fund managers should consider the following questions:
U.S. House Bill Aims to Curtail SEC Staff’s Ability to Obtain Algorithmic Trading Source Code
On October 4, 2017, U.S. Representative Sean P. Duffy [R-WI-7] introduced U.S. House of Representatives Bill H.R.3948 entitled the “Protection of Source Code Act.”
If enacted, the Bill would amend the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act, the Investment Company Act and the Investment Advisers Act to prohibit the SEC staff from obtaining algorithmic trading source code without a subpoena. This would prevent the SEC staff from obtaining source code through OCIE exam requests or during the early stages of an investigation before the staff has obtained authority to issue subpoenas.
SEC Flags the Top Six Advertising Rule Deficiencies for Investment Advisers
The SEC staff recently published an alert highlighting the most common deficiencies seen in investment advisers’ marketing materials. Based on its recent examinations and initiatives, the Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) issued its risk alert to highlight compliance issues relating to Rule 206(4)-1 (the “Advertising Rule”). Here…
Private Fund Advisers Must Pay Close Attention to Nuances under Pay-to-Play Restrictions in Light of Upcoming Elections Nationwide
As the elections approach nationwide, advisers to private investment funds with current or prospective state or local government entity investors should be mindful of political activities by their personnel which could raise concerns under existing pay-to-play regulations. While seemingly straightforward in application, the SEC’s pay-to-play regulations have the potential to…
SEC Adopts Higher Net Worth Threshold for Qualified Clients under the Advisers Act
In an order dated June 14, 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted its prior proposal to increase the net worth threshold for “qualified clients” under Rule 205-3 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (the Advisers Act) from $2 million to $2.1 million. This adjustment is being made pursuant to a five-year indexing adjustment required by §205(e) of the Advisers Act.